Policies and Announcements

The following was announced in the 1992-2 Bulletin:

Ecclesiastical Endorsement Policy for Brigham Young University

Beginning with the 1993–94 academic year, Latter-day Saint students applying for admission to Brigham Young University will be required to obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement from a member of their stake or district presidency as well as from their bishop or branch president. (Applicants currently serving missions need only be interviewed by their mission president.) Because faithful Church members support so much of BYU’s operation, and because more and more academically qualified people are applying for admission, the university is placing more emphasis on admitting students of faith, testimony, and moral worthiness. It is hoped that the judgment of a member of the stake presidency will supplement that of the bishop in helping identify those students who would truly benefit from a BYU education. Questions on admission to the BYU should be directed to the BYU Admissions Office at A-153 ASB, Provo, UT 84602, or by telephone to (801) 378-2507.

CES Coordinators to Use Ward MIS Information

Church Educational System coordinators are authorized to collect name, address, and age information about potential seminary and institute students from ward and branch Member Information Systems (MIS) software. This limited information will be used to encourage youth to participate in the Church’s seminary and institute programs.

Coordinators have software that will extract only this approved information from MIS files.

Members to Use Church Administrative Computers

The Church policy statement of April 1992, “Computers in Stakes, Meetinghouses, and Family History Centers, United States and Canada,” contains the following: “The stake president directs the placement and sharing of all Church computers in the stake to obtain the most efficient use of the computers and the space in which they are located.” Under this policy, stake presidents should arrange to make ward and stake administrative computers available for members to use Personal Ancestral File^®, FamilySearch^®, and the Universal Data Entry software used in family record extraction. These computers are not authorized for other personal uses.

Dating or Get-Acquainted Enterprises Aimed at Single Members

Increasing numbers of private dating and get-acquainted businesses in the United States and Canada are promoting their services to single adult members of the Church. Church policy precludes the use of meetinghouses, classes, or programs for private business ventures. This applies to private dating and get-acquainted businesses or services.

Church leaders are obligated to protect the privacy of members. Church records, reports, lists, directories, and similar materials should never be used for personal, political, or commercial purposes.

Gospel Principles Course

Leaders are reminded that the Gospel Principles course, formerly Gospel Essentials, is a twelve-month class. The manual for both teachers and class members is Gospel Principles (31110). There is no additional supplement for teachers. However, both teachers and class members should use the scriptures regularly in this class. Class members may be investigators, the newly baptized, those returning to activity, and those who may need or desire a stronger understanding of basic gospel principles. This class would be especially helpful for prospective missionaries or other young adults.

Gospel Doctrine Class Member Study Guide for 1993

A new 32-page Gospel Doctrine class member’s study guide is available for this year’s study of the Doctrine and Covenants. This guide provides historical background and helpful insights into each reading assignment. The study guide will enhance personal study of the Doctrine and Covenants and will be very useful in family scripture study. Every member of the Gospel Doctrine classes should have a copy (34516; $.15).

The Gospel Doctrine teacher’s manual for the Doctrine and Covenants has been revised. It includes the material from the class member’s study guide and significant historical visuals (34517; $1.00).

Copying Music

The Church has made every effort to obtain permission for members to get the maximum use of musical works contained in Church publications such as Hymns and the Children’s Songbook. However, the rights of the authors and copyright owners must be respected. Songs that have the notice “© (year) LDS” located near the bottom left corner of the page and songs that have no copyright notice may be copied for noncommercial Church or home use. Songs with copyright notices other than “© (year) LDS,” unless otherwise noted, must not be copied.

Stake and ward meetinghouse libraries must not have or keep any printed or audiotaped music that has been illegally copied or duplicated.

Christmas Decorations inside Meetinghouses

Christmas decorations that are modest, inexpensive, and fireproof or that have been treated with fire retardant may be placed temporarily in the foyer or the cultural hall of a meetinghouse, as approved by the agent bishop. Trees may not be placed in the chapel area of the meetinghouse. Hay, straw, palm fronds, other dehydrated materials, and candles are not to be used. Christmas trees should be artificial or properly flameproofed and displayed without electric lights or candles. Local fire and safety codes and ordinances are to be observed.

Decorations on the exterior of the meetinghouse or on the grounds are discouraged and are not to be paid for from Church funds.