Why Latter-day Saint Leaders Should Switch to Digital Permission Slips

If you’ve ever organized a youth activity in your Latter-day Saint ward or stake, you know collecting paper permission slips can be a headache. Between forms getting lost, incomplete signatures, and last-minute scrambles before a youth camp, it can feel overwhelming.



More wards and stakes are moving to digital LDS permission slips because they simplify activities, protect sensitive information, and save time for leaders and parents.

Why LDS Permission Slips Are Important

An LDS permission slip isn’t just paperwork. It protects leaders, keeps parents informed, and ensures your ward or stake has emergency contacts and health details on file with an LDS medical release form.

Whether it’s for youth conference, young men’s or young women's camp, an overnight campout, or trek; having a permission slip signed before an activity keeps your ward or stake compliant and gives peace of mind to leaders and parents.

But chasing paper forms takes time and creates unnecessary stress.

The Problems with Paper Permission Slips

• Forms get lost or damaged
• Missing signatures and incomplete information
• Constant counting of forms to make sure you have them all before heading out.
• Sensitive information is not secure

This is why many wards and stakes are choosing digital LDS youth permission slips to make activities safer and more organized.

The Benefits of Digital LDS Permission Slips

• Fast Delivery and Collection: Parents receive permission slips by email or text, and sign instantly.
• Accurate Details: Parents can easily update medical and emergency information through a medical release form online.
• Instant Access for Leaders: Leaders can pull up a dashboard and individual forms on a phone, ensuring readiness during activities.
• Paperless Organization: No paper stacks to store or lose, with secure digital storage for easy access.
• Better Compliance: You confirm all youth have a signed permission slip before leaving for activities.
  

How Going Digital Supports Stewardship

Switching to digital LDS permission slips also helps your ward or stake support environmental stewardship by reducing paper waste and printing resources. Learn how going digital makes a positive environmental impact here: Environmental benefits of switching to digital waivers.

Real-World Scenario: Preparing for Youth Camp

Picture your next youth camp. Instead of reminding parents constantly to hand in their child’s permission slip, you can send a secure link by text. Parents can complete the permission slip and medical release form in minutes from their phones or computer.



Before the activity, leaders can check a simple dashboard confirming every youth has a signed form and updated health details. No last-minute stress, no lost forms, and leaders have immediate access to medical and emergency contacts.

Is It Allowed?

Many leaders wonder if digital LDS church youth permission slips are compliant with Church guidelines. The Church Handbook encourages gathering permission and medical release information before activities, and secure digital forms fulfill these requirements for most wards and stakes. Always check with stake leaders for local direction, but many Latter-day Saint wards and stakes are using digital permission slips with confidence.

Tips for Transitioning to Digital

1. Let parents know you’re moving to digital LDS permission slips for safety and organization.
2. Test your system with a small activity first to get comfortable.
3. Use a secure platform that protects personal data and allows you to archive or delete forms.
4. Train leaders on how to view permission slips on their devices before activities.
   

How WaiverSign Helps

WaiverSign, based in Salt Lake City,  helps Latter-day Saint wards and stakes simplify collecting LDS permission slips and LDS medical release forms with a paperless system:

• Send LDS church permission slips by email or text
• Collect secure digital signatures
• Store and access forms easily from any device
• Reduce paper clutter and improve compliance
• Give leaders and parents peace of mind before activities



If you want to reduce stress and simplify youth activities in your ward or stake, see how going paperless with WaiverSign can help you protect your youth and save you time. Request a demo to see how digital LDS permission slips can work for your ward or stake.