LDS Activity Forms and Safety: Medical Releases, Permission Slips, and Youth Protection

By Ward Waivers Team · · Updated · 10 min read

LDS activity forms are the documents leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints use to plan safe activities, mainly the Permission and Medical Release form (written parent consent and medical details) and the Event and Activity Plan. Together with the two-adult rule and children and youth protection training, they form the core of Church activity safety.

Most leaders land here with one question: do I need the medical release form for this activity? The table under "When is written permission required?" answers that in ten seconds. Everything else on this page is the detail behind it, with links to the Church's own pages.

Which forms do Church activity leaders use?

Form When it's used Source
Permission and Medical Release form Written parent consent for activities with an overnight stay, lengthy travel, or higher than ordinary risks General Handbook 20.7.4; official PDF
Event and Activity Plan All overnight activities and activities involving long-distance travel General Handbook chapter 20
Performance Contract Hiring a band, orchestra, or disc jockey for a Church dance General Handbook chapter 20
Certificate of insurance Rentals, contracts, or permits that ask for evidence of insurance (U.S. and Canada) General Handbook 20.7.3.5
Incident report Accidents, injuries, missing persons, property damage, or threatened legal action incidents.ChurchofJesusChrist.org (General Handbook 20.7.6.3)

What is the LDS medical release form?

The "LDS medical release form" people search for is the Church's Permission and Medical Release form. Parents or guardians use it to give written consent for a child or youth to participate and to authorize adult leaders to approve emergency treatment if parents cannot be reached. It collects event details, participant and parent information, and medical information such as allergies, medications, and conditions.

The General Handbook says: "Parents and guardians give this consent by signing the Permission and Medical Release form. The person who leads the activity should have a signed form for each participant" (General Handbook 20.7.4).

The form itself states that the information "is collected to help event and activity leaders or medical personnel so they can be prepared and appropriately respond to health concerns or an emergency. It will be kept confidential and shared only as needed." It also notes that units "may not have the ability to meet all medical, physical, and other accommodations" and should counsel with parents about what is possible.

For a full walkthrough, a free template for ordinary local activities, and sample texts to parents, see our LDS youth activity permission slips guide.

When is written permission required?

The handbook gives three triggers. Written consent is necessary for Church activities that include:

  1. An overnight stay
  2. Lengthy travel
  3. Higher than ordinary risks

For all other activities, children and youth still "may not participate in a Church activity without the permission of their parents or guardians," but that permission does not have to be written.

Activity Written consent?
Weekly game night at the meetinghouse No (parents informed)
Ward trunk or treat with parents present No
Young Women camp or quorum camp Yes (overnight)
Youth conference or trek Yes (overnight)
Temple trip several hours away Yes (lengthy travel)
Kayaking, rafting, climbing Yes (higher risk)

For every yes in that table, each participant needs a signed form. You can text parents one Ward Waivers link. They read the details and sign on their phone, and you see who still needs to sign. It does not replace any official form your bishop or stake president asks you to use. Set up your activity.

What is the two-adult rule?

"At least two adults must be present at all Church activities attended by children and youth. Additional adults may be needed depending on the size of the group, the skills required for the activity, or other factors. Parents are encouraged to help" (General Handbook 20.7.1).

Some members call this "two-deep leadership," a term many remember from Scouting. The current handbook simply requires at least two adults. For children in Primary, the handbook adds that the two adults "could be two women, two men, or a married couple."

What is LDS youth protection training?

"All who work with children and youth must complete the children and youth protection training" (General Handbook 20.7.1). For adults working with children in Primary, the handbook specifies the training must be completed "within one month of being sustained" and repeated "every three years thereafter" (General Handbook 12.5.1).

The training is available through the Church's Protecting Children and Youth page.

The handbook also says any abuse that occurs during a Church activity "should be reported to civil authorities," and the bishop should be contacted immediately.

What are the rules for overnight activities?

From General Handbook chapter 20:

  • Permission from parents or guardians is required for all Church overnight activities involving youth.
  • Combined young men and young women overnight activities "must be approved by the bishop and stake president" and "should be rare."
  • Male and female participants and leaders have separate sleeping accommodations (a married couple may share).
  • Each youth has his or her own bed or sleeping bag.
  • If adults and youth share a cabin or tent, there must be at least two adults in each, of the same sex as the youth.
  • Youth may not stay in a tent or room with only one adult, unless that adult is their parent or guardian.
  • All Church overnight activities include at least two adult leaders.
  • Leaders fill out an Event and Activity Plan.
  • Overnight activities at meetinghouses or on meetinghouse grounds are not approved.

What are the travel rules?

  • "Travel for Church activities should be approved by the bishop or stake president."
  • "Participants should not travel long distances (more than a few hours) for activities. Any exceptions require approval from the Area Presidency."
  • "When feasible, Church groups should use commercial transportation for long-distance travel."
  • In private vehicles, every vehicle must be safe, everyone uses a seat belt, and each driver is a licensed, responsible adult with reasonable automobile liability insurance.
  • "Whenever possible, an adult should not be alone with a youth in a vehicle unless the youth is his or her child."

Source: General Handbook 20.7.7.

What should leaders do if there is an accident?

The handbook lists these steps (20.7.6.2):

  1. Render first aid, and contact emergency medical services if more care is needed. Contact the parent or guardian and the bishop or stake president.
  2. If someone goes missing or dies, immediately notify local law enforcement.
  3. Provide emotional support.
  4. Do not encourage or discourage legal action, and do not make commitments on behalf of the Church.
  5. Gather names and contact information of witnesses, accounts of what happened, and photos.
  6. Report the accident at incidents.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

In the United States, the Church Activity Medical Assistance (CAMA) program "provides secondary medical and dental assistance for injuries sustained while participating in a Church activity." It supplements, rather than replaces, personal insurance (20.7.3.4).

Where can leaders find official safety resources?

Which of our guides cover forms?

How should leaders store forms and medical information?

The General Handbook does not set one retention period for activity forms in its parental permission section, so ask your bishop or stake president for local direction. Some practical habits help protect families' privacy:

  • Share medical details only with leaders who need them, such as the activity leader and the medical volunteer.
  • Keep forms with the activity leader during the event, since the handbook says the person who leads the activity should have a signed form for each participant.
  • Avoid loose papers in cars and campsites, where they can be lost or read by others.
  • Dispose of or store forms securely afterward according to local direction.

How can leaders build a culture of safety, not just paperwork?

Forms matter, but safety is really about habits. Brief adult leaders before every higher-risk activity: who is in charge, where the first-aid kit is, how to reach emergency services, and which youth have medical needs. Count heads at every transition. Encourage youth to speak up if something feels unsafe. After an activity, ask what could be safer next time, and write it down for the next leader.

Medical release form checklist before the activity

Use this the week before any activity that needs the Permission and Medical Release form.

  • ☐ Event details filled in by the planner before it goes to parents (dates, description, leader name, phone, email)
  • ☐ One signed form for every participant, including leaders consenting for themselves
  • ☐ Allergies and medications read by the activity leader and the medical volunteer
  • ☐ "Can the participant self-administer his or her medication?" answered for every youth on medication
  • ☐ Conditions that limit activity discussed privately with parents where needed
  • ☐ Event and Activity Plan completed for overnight or long-distance travel
  • ☐ Two adults confirmed for every group, all with current protection training
  • ☐ Driver list checked: licensed, responsible adults, seat belts for everyone
  • ☐ Forms stored with the activity leader and kept private

Which rules apply to which age group?

Group Key rules (General Handbook)
Primary children (3 to 11) Two responsible adults; restroom help only from a parent or guardian; Valiant activities have no overnights
Youth (12 to 18) Overnight camps from January of the year they turn 12; dances, youth conference, and FSY from the year they turn 14 (20.7.2); written consent for overnight, lengthy travel, or higher risk
Adults No parental permission; the medical release form includes language for a leader attending the activity to consent on their own behalf
Mixed groups When children or youth are present, the child and youth rules apply to the whole activity

Forms timeline for an overnight activity

When Steps
8 weeks out Bishop or stake president approves; start the Event and Activity Plan
6 weeks out Send the Permission and Medical Release form to every family
3 weeks out Follow up personally with missing families
1 week out Activity leader and medical volunteer read every medical section
Day of Forms travel with the activity leader
After Store or dispose of forms according to local direction; report any incident at incidents.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

Frequently asked questions

What is the LDS medical release form?

It is the Church's Permission and Medical Release form. Parents use it to give written consent for an activity and to authorize leaders to approve emergency medical treatment, and it collects allergies, medications, and other medical information.

When do LDS activities require a signed permission form?

When the activity includes an overnight stay, lengthy travel, or higher than ordinary risks. The person leading the activity should have a signed form for each participant.

What is LDS youth protection training?

It is the Church's children and youth protection training, which all who work with children and youth must complete. Adults working with Primary children complete it within one month of being sustained and repeat it every three years.

Is two-deep leadership still required in the Church?

The General Handbook requires at least two adults to be present at all Church activities attended by children and youth. Many members still call this two-deep leadership.

What is an Event and Activity Plan?

It is a Church planning form leaders fill out for all overnight activities and for activities that involve long-distance travel.

What should leaders do after an injury at a Church activity?

Render first aid, call emergency services if needed, contact parents and the bishop or stake president, gather witness information, and report the incident at incidents.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

What is CAMA?

The Church Activity Medical Assistance program provides secondary medical and dental assistance in the United States for injuries sustained during a Church activity. It supplements personal insurance.

Can an adult drive alone with a youth to a Church activity?

The handbook says that whenever possible, an adult should not be alone with a youth in a vehicle unless the youth is his or her child.

Keep planning

Ward Waivers is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These resources provide general organizational information, not legal advice. Follow current Church guidance, local leader direction, and any required official forms.