Getting Started
My Calling as a Technology Specialist
Getting Started
Congratulations on your calling as a technology specialist. Your role in supporting technology use in your ward or stake is vital in spreading the gospel message and strengthening the Latter-day Saints. When members, missionaries, and leaders have reliable access to and support for Church technology resources, they can worship, instruct, and minister to the needs of those they serve more effectively.
Thank you for being willing to serve. As you prayerfully prepare yourself to provide technical help, you will find great joy and satisfaction in the service you render. This is our Savior’s work, and He will bless you as you seek His guidance in your responsibilities.
You Are Not Alone
You have been called as a technology specialist to support either your ward or stake. Within the stake, there are typically numerous technology specialists who have also been called to serve in their ward or the stake, and you will be able to collaborate and support them in their callings, just as they will help you in your calling.
As a newly called technology specialist, you will likely feel a range of emotions about your responsibilities. Remember that you are not alone. This calling is a partnership with the Lord. As you seek the Lord’s guidance in serving, He will magnify your efforts at home and in your calling. You will feel His love for you, for those you serve, and for their families.
Where to Start
Before You Are Sustained
After you have been called, there will be a short time before your name is presented to the ward congregation(s) where you will be sustained. Here are some things you might do during that time:
Counsel with the person who called you about where you should begin.
Seek guidance from the Spirit through prayer, scripture study, fasting, and, if possible, temple attendance. Read “Stake and Ward Technology Specialists” in General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 33.10 (Gospel Library), to learn about your responsibilities as a technology specialist. Please note that the technology specialist for the ward does not have the same broad access to technology as the technology specialist for the stake and that the technology specialist for the stake may need to provide support or coordination to the technology specialist for the ward.
Begin to familiarize yourself with the content in the Meetinghouse Technology section of the Help Center site at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. You will find overview materials that will direct you to training, policies, technology articles, details about roles and responsibilities, and troubleshooting guides.
View the technology specialist training videos.
After You Are Sustained and Set Apart
With so many responsibilities, remember that your family is your first priority.
Continue to pray for guidance about your service.
Counsel with the stake presidency or bishopric about your assignments, including any meetings you need to attend.
Ensure that the stake or ward clerk updates your calling in Leader and Clerk Resources (LCR) so you have access to all the tools provided for technology specialists.
If possible, talk with other technology specialists to understand more about the technologies to use and specific tasks you will need to perform.
Study the information under “Roles and Responsibilities” in the Meetinghouse Technology section of the Help Center site at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
- Send calling suggestion to your church leader ✅ 2024-08-04
What Should I Focus On?
“Leaders encourage members to engage in God’s work by becoming ‘true followers of … Jesus Christ’ (Moroni 7:48)” (General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4.1, Gospel Library). Your focus is to help the Lord hasten His work through the use of technology in the ward or stake.
In President Russell M. Nelson’s first address as President of the Church, he counseled: “Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants with Him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to men, women, and children everywhere. …
“The end for which each of us strives is to be endowed with power in a house of the Lord, sealed as families, faithful to covenants made in a temple that qualify us for the greatest gift of God—that of eternal life” (“As We Go Forward Together,” Ensign, Apr. 2018, 7).
Understand Stake or Ward Technology Needs and Expectations
As a technology specialist, you will work with many different people and technologies to help spread the gospel. Elder David A. Bednar said: “We are blessed to live, learn, and serve in this most remarkable dispensation. An important aspect of the fulness that is available to us in this special season is a miraculous progression of innovations and inventions that have enabled and accelerated the work of salvation: from trains to telegraphs to radios to automobiles to airplanes to telephones to transistors to televisions to computers to satellite transmissions to the internet—and to an almost endless list of technologies and tools that bless our lives. All of these advancements are part of the Lord hastening His work in the latter days” (“Flood the Earth through Social Media,” Liahona, Aug. 2015, 48–53).
You will want to:
Meet with those who called you to learn about their expectations for your role and their vision for technology use in meetinghouses. Their instruction may include what meetings you attend, how you receive assignments, how you report progress or issues, and how you align your work with the Church’s policies and tools.
If you are a technology specialist for your ward, meet with the technology specialist for your stake and the physical facilities representative (PFR) for your stake to determine their expectations for your role, how frequently you should send updates, and best communication practices.
Tour your meetinghouse(s) to understand what technology is available and in good repair.
When possible, meet with those who have supported these technologies previously. Seek advice about how to best set up and support meetings and broadcasts.
Use Technology to Help Hasten the Lord’s Work
Technology specialists are called to help hasten the work of the Lord in local units. Your work will focus on the following basic responsibilities:
Set up, test, operate, take down, and store equipment for ward or stake conferences, broadcasts, virtual meetings, and other meetings.
The technology specialist for the stake manages Wi-Fi and network connectivity, computers, internet routers, and Church firewalls for all wards in the stake. This includes computers and equipment for stake family history centers (FHCs).
The technology specialist for the ward manages virtual meetings and media setup for ward meetings and other streaming events. They manage microphone setup and usage.
All technology specialists stay up to date on Church technology policies, products, and services.
Help priesthood leaders and members become self-reliant in using technology for classrooms and meetings. Provide support to priesthood leaders, teachers, and stake FHCs.
If needed, request that additional technology specialists be called to support you in meeting the needs in the ward or stake.
As requested, provide quarterly training to priesthood leaders and clerks on technology policies, products, and services.
Troubleshoot equipment problems. For help, contact the Global Service Department (GSD). For FHC equipment problems, contact the FHC Support group.
Ensure Equipment Is Available and Secure
Know what technology is available for use in your ward or stake.
Understand how equipment is requested, planned for, purchased, installed, supported, scheduled, shared, and replaced.
If you are a stake technology specialist, coordinate with the facilities manager (FM) through the PFR for repairs and replacements needed throughout the stake. (See “Facilities Management Group (FMG) and Facilities Manager” in the “Who Do I Work With?” section of this resource.)
Coordinate with the FMG through the PFR to set up internet service through an internet service provider (ISP) and choose locations for wired and wireless access.
Verify that equipment is secure.
Verify that confidential information on computers is secure and that data is backed up regularly.
Know How to Set Up and Operate Meetinghouse Technology
As a technology specialist, you should know how to set up and operate all technology approved for use in your meetinghouse(s). This section outlines the equipment you will work with and gives examples of when you will be called on to provide support.
Equipment All Technology Specialists Will Work With
As a technology specialist, you will want to familiarize yourself with the following equipment in order to best serve your ward or stake.
Printers, Copiers, and Multifunction Devices
Work with clerks and ward librarians to determine when printers or copiers need toner, ink, or paper. In most stakes, the agent bishop of each building purchases these items. For repairs, work with your PFR and FM.
Audio/Video (A/V) Equipment
Audio and video equipment available in your meetinghouse(s) may include televisions, projectors, projection screens, computers, media players, audio systems, microphones, translation systems, assistive listening devices, and set-top boxes. You may be asked to support use of audio and video equipment to meet many different needs.
Keep in mind that there are only a certain number of A/V devices in each meetinghouse. Work with your PFR, FM, and other technology specialists in your stake to determine how to meet technology needs for your ward, including when equipment needs to be purchased, repaired, or replaced.
Virtual Broadcasting
As the Church continues to grow, Church leaders’ ability to communicate with other leaders and members in remote locations has become increasingly important. As a technology specialist for a ward, you will be asked to help stream sacrament meetings or other meetings as needed. Zoom software is provided by the Church to make facilitating these meetings easy.
For conferences or meetings, refer to the Meetinghouse Technology section of the Help Center site at ChurchofJesusChrist.org for information about setting up and testing equipment before an event.
You are responsible to ensure that policies on the use of cameras are followed.
Equipment Technology Specialists for the Stake Will Work With
Some technology specialists will be called by their stake president and will have more duties and responsibilities than those technology specialists called by bishops. Along with the equipment listed above, the technology specialists for the stake will also be responsible for the following:
Computers
When called by the stake president, you are responsible for all computers in all stake meetinghouses. These include clerk computers, FHC computers, or others used for gospel-related purposes. You may be asked to do the following:
Keep operating systems current.
Install security patches and approved licensed software.
Keep passwords secure.
Check firewall compliance.
Work with ward clerks to install the Member and Leader Services (MLS) program and keep it current.
Erase hard drives before computers are disposed of.
Meetinghouse Internet
As a technology specialist for the stake, you will need to know how each building has been wired for internet service, where access points are located for wireless networking, and what ISP provides the service.
Church networks use a smart firewall device. To protect the network, ensure that all devices connect through the firewall. There should be no personal routers that bypass the firewall.
As part of your responsibilities, you may need to help reset routers or otherwise troubleshoot internet connection issues. At these times, you may need to contact the Global Service Department (GSD) at Church headquarters to help troubleshoot issues, check information on the Meetinghouse Technology section of the Help Center site at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or contact other technology specialists called for stakes.
If you have questions about how the internet in a building is set up, you need additional services from a local ISP, or components need to be replaced, work with your PFR and FM.
- “Technology specialists are called to help hasten the work of the Lord in local units.”
- Calendar of events and lessons (Children, Young, and Adult)
- Broadcast Events and Self-Reliance Groups
- Zoom Operator
- Digital Bulletin
- Multi-Lingual Lesson Support
Who Do I Work With?
You will work with those within the ward or stake who have called you and who have resources that will enable you to meet the needs of the people in your ward or stake. If you are called as a technology specialist, you will work primarily with the following people.
All Technology Specialists
Physical Facilities Representative (PFR)
Each stake calls a high councilor to act as the PFR. He works with the facilities management group (FMG) to take care of all meetinghouse maintenance, including technology equipment. Work closely with the PFR to educate him on the technology needs of your ward or stake and help him prepare to discuss those needs with the FMG.
Members
You may assist or train priesthood leaders, clerks, teachers, or other members on the policies and use of technology.
Former and Other Technology Specialists
The technology specialist for a ward will need to work with you on meetinghouse network, computer, or other coordination issues. Be open and listen to their needs. As there are often multiple wards or branches in a meetinghouse, you will be responsible for coordinating technology use as needed.
Contact former technology specialists in your stake for advice, information, and best practices. You can use the Church Directory of Leaders (CDOL) to contact technology specialists in neighboring stakes. You can access this resource at CDOL.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. You will need to sign in to your account on ChurchofJesusChrist.org to access CDOL.
Technology Specialists for Stakes
In addition to those listed above, if you have been called to be the technical specialist for your stake, then you will also be asked to work with the following:
Stake Presidency
The stake president presides over the stake and determines which technologies will be used and for what purposes. You can assist the stake presidency in identifying needs and the technology to meet those needs. Stakes work with the FM to determine what budget and resources are available to meet needs. Stake presidencies are asked to follow Church technology policies as outlined in General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 38.8.10 (Gospel Library), and under “Roles and Responsibilities” on the Meetinghouse Technology section of the Help Center site at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Stake Clerk
As the technology specialist, you can also look to the stake clerk for direction in your calling.
Facilities Management Group (FMG) and Facilities Manager (FM)
The FMG is a professional team of Church employees that oversees the care of all Church buildings, including meetinghouses. The stake president and PFR work with an FM, who is a member of the FMG and is assigned to your stake. The stake president and PFR may ask you to work directly with the FM on hardware needs. The FMG has an annual operating budget to purchase, install, repair, and replace any technology equipment that is approved to go into meetinghouses. They are also responsible for the internet service in a building.
Global Service Department (GSD)
When you cannot find answers on your own, contact the GSD. This group at Church headquarters offers technical support and can assist in troubleshooting issues with computers, internet connections, broadcasts, and so on. Contact information is available under the “Meetinghouse Technology” wiki.
Meetinghouse Technology Coordination Team
The Meetinghouse Technology Coordination Team, located in Salt Lake City, helps coordinate news, announcements, and training for technology specialists. They manage the content under the Meetinghouse Technology section of the Help Center site and content in the “Meetinghouse Technology” wiki, and they respond to feedback that comes to mht@ChurchofJesusChrist.org. This coordination team uses this feedback to improve the website and communicate to those who make decisions regarding Church technology.
Area Information and Communications Services (ICS) Teams
Some areas outside the United States and Canada have an ICS team. This team consults with and trains technology specialists in their respective areas on meetinghouse technology.
- Branch Presidency
- Sunday School Presidency
- Technology Specialists
Resources
Instructional Materials and Handbooks
General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 33.10, Gospel Library
Meetinghouse Technology, Help Center, ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Additional Resources on ChurchofJesusChrist.org for Your Calling
CDOL: Leadership lists
Technology Wiki: “How-to” training articles
Technology Forums: Peer to peer support
General Resources
Example Digital Bulletin Outline
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Children list-grid
- Calendar
- Leadership Contacts
- Scripture Study - Come Follow Me
- Blog & Announcements
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Youth
- Calendar
- Leadership Contacts
- Scripture Study - Come Follow Me
- Blog & Announcements
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Adults
- Calendar
- Leadership Contacts
- Scripture Study - Come Follow Me
- Blog & Announcements