Template.chat_message.helpers({ sender: function () { const me = Meteor.userId(); let result; if (this.message.sender === me) { if (me) { result = Meteor.user(); } else { result = { profile: { username: "Anonymous", avatar: "anonymous.png" } }; } } else if (this.message.sender === this.other._id) { result = this.other; } else { result = { profile: { username: `Unknown user ${this.message.sender}.`, avatar: "ghost.png" } }; } console.log("returning", result); return result; } });