LDS.io APIs: Good News / Bad News / Call to Action

[AJ ONeal]

Hey Everybody,

The great news is that I finally got a meeting setup with key managers at ICS that have the power to make positive change and enable us as developers and designers to use APIs and easily create tools for our callings, our leaders, etc.

That meeting will be this Thursday morning.

The not-as-great news is that no-matter whether the outcome of the meeting is great or terrible, it's it's very likely that it's going to slow down development of LDS.io for a few months.

The desired outcome is that we find a way to work together.

What I ask of you guys:

If you know someone (including yourself) who works at ICS (the Riverton Tech Building) or does contract work with them, explain why this is important to you and encourage them to speak up to their managers and bring up use cases.

Now is the time to let them know we need their support.

Since this is primarily a secular (ICS) issue, I see it as more a matter of helping the upper-tiers of the IT department see the benefit of creating a more secure system than we currently have and one that attracts developers to work with and help them.

Since this definitely a spiritual (Church) issue of being empowered to follow the Lord's council and modern revelation speaking to the use our talents in our local units for building the kingdom, I'd also say bring up the conversation with leaders you know - your Bishop, Stake President, Area President - even the Prophet and Apostles (if it so happens that you know them), etc.

I know that a lot of people at ICS that already see the need and see that it's inline with what we've been taught, but they don't see that there's also a path to fulfill the need that is low-risk and high-yield.

We definitely can create secure APIs that protect member data and enhance user experience at the local level that don't violate our member's privacy or the security of the APIs.

Also, please pray for all of us that will be in that meeting that we can better understand the Lord's will and a way to achieve it.

My purpose hasn't been to make the LDS.io APIs the definite solution, but rather to be a prototype of a solution that can work to securely provide APIs. I'd love it if LDS.io becomes an official solution, but as long as something that has comparable ease and security becomes available, I'm all for it.

AJ ONeal

[AJ ONeal (Home)]

Bryson and I had our meeting with ICS this morning about LDS.io. Here's the update:

First, a moment of honesty: I was really prepared for the worst. I was deadly afraid that I was going to be walking into a room that reeked of ironclad bureaucracy and control.

Thankfully, I couldn't have been more wrong. In the meeting were two of the employees that have encouraged me along this path as well as three managers: in charge of security, authentication, and APIs.

I definitely got the feeling that we're all on the same team, we all see the value, and we all want to find the right way to move forward to enable developers in the Church.

The immediate result is that there will be more discussion on the topic, the meeting notes are going to be shared with a few more key people, and once a few details get sorted out there will be a follow-up meeting to answer more questions and discuss next steps.

It'll probably be a slow process and there will likely be changes to make and difficulties to overcome, but at the very least we've opened communication and overcome the static friction barrier. The ball is rolling.

AJ ONeal

AJ ONeal
(317) 426-6525

[John Potter]

Congrats AJ!

I imagine the positive responsehad a lot to do with your skills and efforts. Your not the wanna be shoddy coder they are used to dealing with!

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[Peter Pavlovich]

Well done, AJ. Thank you for spearheading this effort on our collective behalf! We appreciate all of the time and energy you put into LDS.io. Please know we are all praying for you and for the Lord to strengthen and support your efforts.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.

Best regards,

Peter Pavlovich

[J. Cameron Gull]

AJ:

I also want to jump in here and say thank you for your efforts. Stay the course. This will be absolutely phenomenal once it's all there.

Cameron

[AJ ONeal (Home)]

I just spoke again with Matt Christensen, the head of IT Security at ICS. He let me know that he was able to schedule an internal meeting about LDS Connect for the middle of next week.

If that meeting goes well I'll be brought back in to discuss remaining concerns and questions related to security and technical needs that week or the following week.

Again: prayers and crossed fingers everyone. :-D

AJ ONeal
(317) 426-6525