So I recently found out that I'm giving a talk in my new ward on Elder Ellis's General Conference talk, "The Lord's Way." I was wondering if you guys had any thoughts on the talk while I start planning my talk.
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/the-lords-way?lang=eng
This was actually one of my favorite talks from General Conference. My favorite parts are the beginning about being an Idaho farm boy (I feel like I can sorta' relate) and governing ourselves. I acutally want to find a way to use Elder Bednar's "The Character of Christ" in my talk because I just really liked it and the idea of acting and not being acted upon. Thoughts, insights, ideas?
What stood out to me was the section on governing ourselves and the two examples that Elder Ellis used:
ReplyDelete1. "One thing we have often been taught is to bloom where we are planted. Yet sometimes we are tempted to migrate to some new area, thinking our children will have more friends and therefore better youth programs. Brothers and sisters, do we really think the critical factor in the salvation of our children is the neighborhood where we live? The apostles and prophets have often taught that what happens inside the home is far more important than what our children encounter outside. How we raise our children is more important than where we raise them."
I remember on my mission we had a stake conference that was broadcasted from Salt Lake, and President Uchtdorf talked. The one thing I remember about his talk is that he counseled the Saints not to move to other countries in search of work. It is pretty common for the Ecuadorians to seek work in other countries, because the economy is so poor there. President Uchtdorf said that the Saints should seek to build up Zion there, in their homeland.
I see this again here in Ohio. Our youth program in our ward is really struggling. Scott, for example, doesn't have a single ordained priesthood holder in his Young Men's organization--just 20 boys who were blessed and/or baptized but never ordained. Young Women's is about the same. We've had a few youth migrate to nearby wards seeking better youth programs. I can totally see where they're coming from, but I understand Elder Ellis's point too. Among other things, the youth who migrate to stronger units are missing out on opportunities to fellowship the less active members. That's a pretty awesome testimony- and character-building opportunity in and of itself. (I think of President Monson's pigeon story: http://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/what-are-prophets/bio/thomas-s-monson.)
This leads to Elder Ellis's second example, which is closely related:
2. "Another question is 'Where are we needed?' For 16 years I served in the presidency of the Houston Texas North Stake. Many moved to our area during those years. We would often receive a phone call announcing someone moving in and asking which was the best ward. Only once in 16 years did I receive a call asking, 'Which ward needs a good family? Where can we help?'"
I read this and I can't help but think of Brother Richard's Devotional address (a fave of Al's and mine): http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=507. He says:
"As you seek to discover your divine mission, learn to grow where you are planted. In fact, learn to look for places where you can make a difference. . . . I once heard wonderful counsel about selecting a career. When a man was asked why he had chosen to become a minister, he replied, 'I looked where the fighting was the heaviest and where the lines were the thinnest, and that's where I chose to go.' Part of your opportunity to serve the kingdom of God depends more upon where you live than on the specific career you select. Seeking the comforts of an exclusive neighborhood may exclude you from significant opportunities to make a difference. Don't aspire to comforts, be they economic or religious. Don't stay here too long. The world needs you!"
LOVE THIS!!!
"Joseph Smith was taught from his youth the ways of the Lord. When asked how he led the Church, he explained that he taught correct principles and the members governed themselves.14 Brothers and sisters, our living apostles and prophets are still teaching correct principles. The question is “Are we using these principles to govern ourselves?” "
ReplyDeleteSo I was thinking about how we govern ourselves and what comes to mind is my experience using Handbook 2 when I was a young Relief Society president. I had been home from my mission for 6 months and I better applied the lessons of my mission to my "civilian" life. I was a very obedient missionary to the Mission Manual and I decided I was going to be a very obedient RS pres to Handbook 2. After counseling with my presidency some small changes were made to the Sunday RS meeting, and not everyone of the sisters appreciated the tweaking. I wasn't sure how to react when someone said "The manual doesn't apply to us (as YSA).
I also encouraged the counselor over the weekday/enrichment meetings to follow the handbook criteria exactly. (I am not a fan of purposeless crafts.) I told my counselor that she should not plan any activity, but facilitate the planning done by the enrichment activity co-chairs, who should come up with the ideas, organize their committee and execute the activity. I told her whatever she needed I would do for her. And what ever help the co-chairs needed she should do for them. But I didn't want to micromanage and I didn't want to do anyone's calling for them. I was only there to verify that the handbook was being followed and to offer any help.
I got this leadership strategy from Stephen R. Covey's book The 7 Habits. I love that book because it is full of applicable principles on leadership. He related the story of giving his son stewardship over the yard. He gave his son two rules and a lot of autonomy. The yard has to be clean and green. He told his son that he would weekly inspect the yard with him to evaluate his performance and offer any needed help his son requested, but that the yard was the son's responsibility and Stephen Covey was just a facilitator/helper. I liked that a lot! Probably because I used to be really good at micromanaging. I am grateful I got to implement that principle of stewardship and see the success.
At first the sisters who served as co-chairs were confused. They came up with good ideas for activities but they got rejected because they weren't aligned with the purposes stated in the handbook. Things got a little hairy but then they really began to see the vision I was trying to pass on through my counselor. They planned activities like a testimony bonfire, service for the wives of bishopric members, and time and money management workshops. Activities finally focused on faith, family, and providing relief. I was a really happy camper because it was a personal victory for me that I didn't micromanage or get bossy.
Anyways, I think thats how people act in doctrine, or govern themselves. In my ward the sisters probably didn't know there was "doctrine" given on activities. The sisters were probably used to being managed instead of governing themselves.
*And thanks to all for the insights on perfection- my talk went well.
You're awesome, Shan! :o)
DeleteI have 7 Habits on my Kindle, but I've only read the first chapter. I'll have to read the whole thing sometime.