by Dallan Wright

Something amazing happened recently and the world needs to take note — particularly the world involving stake presidencies, bishoprics, elders quorums, high priest groups, and relief societies. A piece of mobile software that was easily worth the cost of $30 is now available for free, and you need head on over to LDS Tools and download it for your favorite mobile device.

Ward Tools is a mobile app which allows you to take all of your wards MLS information from your ward computer and conveniently carry it around in your pocket. As an elders quorum president it allows you to stop killing trees by printing out new home teaching lists every week, and instead update it to your Palm, Windows Mobile, iPod Touch, or iPhone device (sorry Blackberry users… no app for you), and pull up home teaching records quickly and easily.

Depending on the level of confidential data your bishop wants you to have you can have the complete ward list including children and information on home and visiting teaching companionship’s, birthdate’s, if someone has served a mission, currently holds a temple recommend, or what their calling is. If it’s in MLS and it doesn’t’ involve money it’s probably in this program.

I’ve used Ward Tools for around four years. First on the palm, then on a windows mobile device, and currently on my iPhone. There is no better tool for a bishop or member of PEC to have than this program. Whenever I need to pull critical information on the ward or a member I can easily find what I need and act on it.

I’ve had temples call about ward members who’ve forgotten temple recommends, and I can double check if their recommend is current, and give an answer right there on the phone. Callings are easier to fill when you check the list of those without callings. Probably my favorite use is having an emergency in the ward and being able to find who home and visiting teachers are for a particular family so appropriate help can be rendered.

You do need to have access to MLS and be able to export the proper files from it but if you’re in the bishopric this won’t be a problem. If you’re in another auxiliary explain to a member of the bishopric what this software would help you to do and hopefully he’ll help you out. If you’re not in such a calling please let your bishop know about this essential tool available to him. I have found this to be an invaluable program in my church service and I say thank you to Calvin Gaisford of LDS Tools for working so hard for so many years to develop this and now offer it for free.

If you’re not in such a calling please let your bishop know about this essential tool available to him and the leadership of the ward.

Ward Tools
http://www.ldstools.com
Free and available for Palm, Windows Mobile, and iPhone/iPod Touch
Click here for the Apple App Store link