1 00:00:00,095 --> 00:00:00,135 - 2 00:00:03,945 --> 00:00:05,415 - How's your teaching calling going? 3 00:00:05,845 --> 00:00:08,095 Have you ever asked a question during the second hour 4 00:00:08,235 --> 00:00:10,815 and suddenly everyone is looking at the carpet in silence? 5 00:00:11,345 --> 00:00:14,135 There are proven methods to stimulate class discussion 6 00:00:14,135 --> 00:00:15,295 that work like a charm. 7 00:00:15,585 --> 00:00:18,815 David Farmsworth does a masterful job presenting on this 8 00:00:18,885 --> 00:00:22,215 very subject in the Teaching Saints Virtual Library. 9 00:00:22,965 --> 00:00:24,455 What questions? Get people talking? 10 00:00:24,875 --> 00:00:26,215 How can you effectively listen 11 00:00:26,235 --> 00:00:29,135 to the answer they're saying without being distracted of 12 00:00:29,185 --> 00:00:30,655 where you want to take the class Next? 13 00:00:31,265 --> 00:00:33,255 These are crucial principles to consider, 14 00:00:33,255 --> 00:00:36,095 especially in this time of Come Follow Me Sunday School. 15 00:00:36,515 --> 00:00:39,135 You can watch David Farnsworth presentation 16 00:00:39,195 --> 00:00:42,255 by visiting leading saints.org/fourteen. 17 00:00:42,665 --> 00:00:45,375 There you can gain free access for 14 days 18 00:00:45,395 --> 00:00:47,215 to the Teaching Saints Virtual Library, 19 00:00:47,505 --> 00:00:48,695 where you'll find hours 20 00:00:48,835 --> 00:00:49,855 and hours of content 21 00:00:50,235 --> 00:00:52,415 to help you be a better prepared Sunday teacher. 22 00:00:57,955 --> 00:01:01,015 So, my name is Kurt Frankham and I am the founder 23 00:01:01,115 --> 00:01:03,135 and executive director of Leading Saints, 24 00:01:03,155 --> 00:01:05,855 and obviously the host of the Leading Saints podcast. 25 00:01:06,115 --> 00:01:09,655 Now, I started Leading Saints back in 2010. 26 00:01:09,675 --> 00:01:12,455 It was just a hobby blog and it grew from there. 27 00:01:12,555 --> 00:01:16,295 By the time, uh, 2014 came around, we started the podcast, 28 00:01:16,555 --> 00:01:17,935 and that's really when it got some, 29 00:01:18,315 --> 00:01:19,735 uh, traction and took off. 30 00:01:19,795 --> 00:01:24,175 Uh, 2016, we became a 5 0 1 C3 nonprofit organization, 31 00:01:24,315 --> 00:01:25,895 and we've been growing ever since. 32 00:01:25,915 --> 00:01:28,255 And now I get the opportunity of interviewing 33 00:01:28,315 --> 00:01:31,055 and talking with remarkable people all over the world. 34 00:01:31,515 --> 00:01:34,295 Now, this is a segment we do on the Leading Saints podcast 35 00:01:34,435 --> 00:01:38,055 called How I Lead, and we reach out to everyday leaders. 36 00:01:38,055 --> 00:01:41,335 They're not experts, gurus, authors, PhDs. 37 00:01:41,335 --> 00:01:43,295 They're just everyday leaders who've been asked 38 00:01:43,315 --> 00:01:45,535 to serve in a specific leadership calling. 39 00:01:45,555 --> 00:01:48,015 And we simply ask them, how is it that you lead? 40 00:01:48,235 --> 00:01:49,975 And they go through some remarkable principles 41 00:01:49,975 --> 00:01:52,735 that should be in a book that should be behind a PhD. 42 00:01:53,125 --> 00:01:54,415 They're usually that good. 43 00:01:54,795 --> 00:01:56,815 And, uh, we just talk about, uh, sharing 44 00:01:56,815 --> 00:01:57,855 what the other guy's doing. 45 00:01:58,195 --> 00:02:00,695 And I remember being a leader just simply wanting to know, 46 00:02:00,885 --> 00:02:02,415 okay, I know what I'm trying to do, 47 00:02:02,435 --> 00:02:03,535 but what's the other guy doing? 48 00:02:03,535 --> 00:02:06,095 What's working for him? And so that's why every Wednesday 49 00:02:06,095 --> 00:02:09,215 or so we publish these How I leads segments to share 50 00:02:39,235 --> 00:02:41,095 It is a how I lead episode. 51 00:02:41,155 --> 00:02:43,895 And this week we are focusing on the calling 52 00:02:44,075 --> 00:02:45,615 of the Sunday School President. 53 00:02:45,615 --> 00:02:48,415 That's right. We're headed to Lin Wood Washington to chat 54 00:02:48,415 --> 00:02:49,815 with Russell Rigby 55 00:02:50,275 --> 00:02:54,855 and Wowa, some phenomenal groundbreaking . 56 00:02:55,055 --> 00:02:56,655 I just wanna hype this up, just so good. 57 00:02:57,045 --> 00:03:00,685 Just ideas of how to, how to lead 58 00:03:01,065 --> 00:03:02,325 as the Sunday School President 59 00:03:02,325 --> 00:03:03,645 or the Sunday school presidency. 60 00:03:03,705 --> 00:03:05,405 The things that Russell's doing with 61 00:03:05,945 --> 00:03:07,685 not just teacher council meetings, 62 00:03:07,985 --> 00:03:09,925 but learner council meetings, 63 00:03:10,265 --> 00:03:12,965 how he's identifying certain demographics, certain groups, 64 00:03:13,155 --> 00:03:16,485 whether it's youth, whether it's empty nesters, uh, 65 00:03:17,055 --> 00:03:18,325 these people in the ward, 66 00:03:18,325 --> 00:03:21,245 and getting them specifically together to talk about 67 00:03:22,005 --> 00:03:23,685 learning and teaching and the ward. 68 00:03:23,825 --> 00:03:27,125 And, uh, , I'm just so impressed with how this is, 69 00:03:27,385 --> 00:03:30,645 um, transforming the ward, how it's stimulating, learning, 70 00:03:30,885 --> 00:03:33,485 stimulating safety, opening people up so that they, uh, 71 00:03:33,555 --> 00:03:34,645 they show up to 72 00:03:34,645 --> 00:03:37,285 that second hour every other week for Sunday school. 73 00:03:37,465 --> 00:03:39,485 But really, I, I shouldn't limit it to Sunday school. 74 00:03:39,615 --> 00:03:42,525 Every class we're teaching is happening, even in the home. 75 00:03:42,645 --> 00:03:45,845 I would say Russell is impacting it through some 76 00:03:45,845 --> 00:03:49,925 of his approaches and, uh, a true revelatory, uh, 77 00:03:49,925 --> 00:03:51,165 process that's happening here. 78 00:03:51,225 --> 00:03:52,405 So let's get into it. 79 00:03:52,405 --> 00:03:54,725 This is my interview with Russell Rigby, 80 00:03:55,145 --> 00:03:57,765 the Sunday School President in the Olympic View Ward 81 00:03:57,785 --> 00:03:58,925 in Linwood, Washington. 82 00:04:28,465 --> 00:04:29,725 - All right, Russell Rigby, welcome 83 00:04:29,725 --> 00:04:30,885 to the Leading Saints podcast. 84 00:04:31,475 --> 00:04:33,485 - Good to be here. - Now you are in, 85 00:04:33,585 --> 00:04:35,005 is it Linwood, right? Washington, 86 00:04:35,205 --> 00:04:36,205 - Linwood, Linwood, Washington. 87 00:04:36,525 --> 00:04:38,885 - Linwood, Washington, uh, just north of Seattle. 88 00:04:38,985 --> 00:04:40,085 Am I remembering the details? 89 00:04:40,345 --> 00:04:42,285 - That's correct. - . Nice. 90 00:04:42,305 --> 00:04:43,925 Now you're A-A-C-P-A by day, 91 00:04:44,045 --> 00:04:46,005 A Sunday School President by, uh, weekend. 92 00:04:46,715 --> 00:04:48,685 - Yeah, that, that, that, that sums it up. Yep. 93 00:04:48,825 --> 00:04:52,965 - Any other weird characteristic of, of Russell? 94 00:04:53,625 --> 00:04:57,245 - Um, I love, uh, rock climbing and, and cycling. 95 00:04:57,345 --> 00:04:59,045 So I'm a I'm an endurance sport guy. 96 00:04:59,045 --> 00:05:00,365 Those are fun activities to do. 97 00:05:00,555 --> 00:05:01,845 - Like are you the, do you do the, 98 00:05:02,025 --> 00:05:03,405 the Ironmans or anything like that? 99 00:05:03,715 --> 00:05:05,565 - Nothing like that. I do long events. 100 00:05:05,565 --> 00:05:08,525 There's one I call the STP where you, you ride from Seattle 101 00:05:08,585 --> 00:05:09,725 to Portland in one day. 102 00:05:09,885 --> 00:05:12,325 I did that stuff like that that I've done. 103 00:05:12,345 --> 00:05:13,725 And then, you know, we, 104 00:05:13,825 --> 00:05:16,405 we even do family vacations where we'll go rock climbing. 105 00:05:16,405 --> 00:05:18,805 Last year we went to Las Vegas and Rock Climbed as a family. 106 00:05:18,865 --> 00:05:20,005 So we'll do fun stuff like that. 107 00:05:20,195 --> 00:05:22,805 - Love it. Nice. So what's the story of you being called 108 00:05:22,805 --> 00:05:23,925 as a Sunday School President? 109 00:05:24,385 --> 00:05:26,725 - Um, nothing spectacular. 110 00:05:27,545 --> 00:05:30,925 Um, I had been a financial clerk funny 111 00:05:30,925 --> 00:05:32,085 enough for a long, long time. 112 00:05:32,265 --> 00:05:36,725 And, um, that was one that came up, um, 113 00:05:37,065 --> 00:05:38,245 as a calling that was opened. 114 00:05:38,465 --> 00:05:41,285 And, um, I, I was asked and accepted. 115 00:05:41,905 --> 00:05:45,565 Um, and so, yeah. Again, nothing fancy, but for 116 00:05:45,565 --> 00:05:46,885 - This, the, the phone rang 117 00:05:46,905 --> 00:05:49,005 or the text message came through, you showed up 118 00:05:49,005 --> 00:05:50,805 and said, sure, I'll be the president. 119 00:05:50,805 --> 00:05:53,405 - Right, exactly. - And how, how long ago was that? 120 00:05:54,355 --> 00:05:58,085 - That was about six, seven months ago, I'd say. 121 00:05:58,105 --> 00:06:01,765 - Oh wow. Nice. So you're maybe finding your feet in 122 00:06:01,765 --> 00:06:02,805 the calling for the most part. 123 00:06:02,995 --> 00:06:04,365 - Correct. Yeah. Cool. 124 00:06:04,705 --> 00:06:07,805 - And we have to give a shout out to Kent Hendricks, 125 00:06:07,865 --> 00:06:10,245 who was the person who originally recommended your name. 126 00:06:10,305 --> 00:06:12,445 And so he, he's not in your pre state 127 00:06:12,445 --> 00:06:14,285 presidency, but used to be, is that right? Used 128 00:06:14,285 --> 00:06:15,285 - To used to be, correct. 129 00:06:15,555 --> 00:06:17,205 - Okay. So how, how did you come become 130 00:06:17,205 --> 00:06:18,325 on his radar? Any ideas? 131 00:06:18,985 --> 00:06:22,685 - Um, you, somebody I've talked to over the years, um, 132 00:06:23,105 --> 00:06:25,165 you know, no, um, good acquaintance. 133 00:06:25,195 --> 00:06:27,725 He's a good guy. So he, he's also an accountant, 134 00:06:27,785 --> 00:06:29,845 so gotta stick together. Right. , 135 00:06:30,805 --> 00:06:33,765 - I can imagine you're conversations are just full of energy 136 00:06:33,825 --> 00:06:35,485 and, uh, you know, spreadsheets. 137 00:06:35,545 --> 00:06:38,445 So Yeah. I love the love, love me a good cpa. 138 00:06:38,665 --> 00:06:41,965 So, um, alright, so just starting into this calling 139 00:06:42,105 --> 00:06:43,365 as the Sunday School President, 140 00:06:43,365 --> 00:06:45,485 when you first got called sustained set 141 00:06:45,485 --> 00:06:46,685 apart, I mean, where do you begin? 142 00:06:47,755 --> 00:06:49,405 - Well, you know, it's interesting that a lot of it, 143 00:06:50,065 --> 00:06:53,285 the success I think is I picked really awesome 144 00:06:54,055 --> 00:06:55,525 counselors to work with me. 145 00:06:56,385 --> 00:07:00,325 One, one guy had really good teacher for forever, um, a lot 146 00:07:00,325 --> 00:07:02,725 of teaching calling, so he was just well versed in teaching. 147 00:07:03,035 --> 00:07:06,245 Another one, there was a stake that was dissolved 148 00:07:06,245 --> 00:07:08,845 and our award absorbed there, so he was released 149 00:07:08,845 --> 00:07:09,925 as a stake patriarch. 150 00:07:10,025 --> 00:07:11,165 So he's an awesome guy. 151 00:07:11,345 --> 00:07:15,365 So just having them with me, um, allowed us 152 00:07:15,425 --> 00:07:16,525 to do really cool things. 153 00:07:16,765 --> 00:07:18,885 'cause you just had a, a wealth of experience 154 00:07:18,985 --> 00:07:20,765 and awesome people. 155 00:07:20,865 --> 00:07:24,485 So just made it easier to do what we were wanted to do. 156 00:07:24,835 --> 00:07:27,325 - Yeah. And so you got some great counselors in place 157 00:07:27,465 --> 00:07:31,085 and you, you had your, your, uh, your team ready to go? 158 00:07:31,795 --> 00:07:33,765 - Yeah. And then like we, we met initially 159 00:07:33,765 --> 00:07:35,925 and we kind of tried to dream up some big things. 160 00:07:36,285 --> 00:07:39,285 'cause you know, from my perspective in, 161 00:07:39,405 --> 00:07:41,405 I don't know about most words, but every ward I've ever 162 00:07:41,405 --> 00:07:44,045 been, it was almost like the Sunday school president 163 00:07:44,785 --> 00:07:47,005 was like, this kush calling. 164 00:07:47,105 --> 00:07:49,565 You didn't really do anything much and 165 00:07:49,675 --> 00:07:51,085 - Ring the bell. Right? Yeah. 166 00:07:51,085 --> 00:07:53,365 - That was kind of it. You know, your ze bell. Yeah. 167 00:07:53,585 --> 00:07:55,725 You know, and it just, it just, there wasn't much. 168 00:07:55,745 --> 00:07:58,845 So, but I, I wanted to, I wanted to create an environment 169 00:07:58,845 --> 00:08:01,405 where we affected change in, in the lives of board members, 170 00:08:01,465 --> 00:08:02,485 and we just did more than that. 171 00:08:03,105 --> 00:08:08,005 Um, and so that was kind of a lot of, you know, us, we, 172 00:08:08,005 --> 00:08:09,325 we met together and we just tried 173 00:08:09,325 --> 00:08:10,445 to dream up some big things. 174 00:08:10,505 --> 00:08:13,485 You know, there, there has been an emphasis from the church 175 00:08:13,545 --> 00:08:15,165 on doing types of councils. 176 00:08:15,545 --> 00:08:17,285 And so we wanted to just take that concept 177 00:08:17,425 --> 00:08:22,245 of teacher councils, but expand it and do it more if, 178 00:08:23,185 --> 00:08:26,605 and, and so what we kind of dreamed up, we, 179 00:08:26,605 --> 00:08:28,005 we dreamed it up on a lot of sides, 180 00:08:28,065 --> 00:08:30,565 but, you know, not just meeting with teachers, 181 00:08:30,585 --> 00:08:33,885 but also trying to identify specific groups that could 182 00:08:34,945 --> 00:08:36,565 use help in certain ways. 183 00:08:36,585 --> 00:08:38,405 So for example, you, you meet 184 00:08:38,405 --> 00:08:40,925 with the young men's presidencies and, and, 185 00:08:40,945 --> 00:08:43,125 and advisors, you know, you talk with them about 186 00:08:43,595 --> 00:08:45,565 what are your needs, what are your concerns? 187 00:08:45,625 --> 00:08:48,725 And, and you, you work with them or, or young women's 188 00:08:48,865 --> 00:08:52,085 or primary teachers that, that was a fun one. 189 00:08:52,145 --> 00:08:54,045 We, we had like the junior primary teachers 190 00:08:54,105 --> 00:08:55,325 and they were excited. 191 00:08:55,325 --> 00:08:57,805 Like, oh, cool, somebody's paying attention to us, you know, 192 00:08:57,805 --> 00:08:59,165 wants to hear what we have to say. 193 00:08:59,305 --> 00:09:03,645 So, um, you just, by, it takes more time and effort, 194 00:09:03,705 --> 00:09:07,725 but by trying to do it in more bite-sized pieces, 195 00:09:08,825 --> 00:09:12,685 um, the discussion was more relevant 196 00:09:12,865 --> 00:09:14,765 and more powerful in, in that way, 197 00:09:14,765 --> 00:09:15,805 if that makes sense. Yeah, 198 00:09:16,275 --> 00:09:17,275 - Yeah. 199 00:09:17,275 --> 00:09:18,525 And I would imagine, because like you mentioned, 200 00:09:18,525 --> 00:09:21,005 the temptation to be called a Sunday school president is 201 00:09:21,005 --> 00:09:23,205 like, listen, I mean, let's get ourselves a good group 202 00:09:23,205 --> 00:09:26,325 of teachers or Sunday school and use Sunday school 203 00:09:26,465 --> 00:09:28,005 or whatever, and make sure 204 00:09:28,005 --> 00:09:30,165 that show someone's showing up every other Sunday 205 00:09:30,305 --> 00:09:31,685 and that we'll call it a day. 206 00:09:31,845 --> 00:09:32,685 Right? Mm-Hmm. The gospels being 207 00:09:32,685 --> 00:09:33,805 taught, what more do we need to do? 208 00:09:33,865 --> 00:09:36,085 But I, and I appreciate that you sort of identify 209 00:09:36,085 --> 00:09:37,645 with being this change maker 210 00:09:37,665 --> 00:09:39,885 or having influence of positive change Mm-Hmm. 211 00:09:39,885 --> 00:09:42,005 Not that it's, it's definitely needed or whatnot, 212 00:09:42,065 --> 00:09:45,165 but, um, was that something you've always felt empowered 213 00:09:45,165 --> 00:09:46,925 to do no matter what calling you're in? 214 00:09:47,315 --> 00:09:49,485 - Yeah, I mean, that's just my style, you know, I don't like 215 00:09:49,485 --> 00:09:52,445 to, I'm not one to wanna sit on the sidelines, you know, 216 00:09:52,485 --> 00:09:53,965 I like to get involved a little bit more. 217 00:09:54,065 --> 00:09:56,245 And, you know, I feel like, you know, 218 00:09:56,245 --> 00:09:58,285 and I, I, the, the scripture I wrote down 219 00:09:58,635 --> 00:10:01,885 that really inspired a lot of this was Alma 31 5, you know, 220 00:10:01,885 --> 00:10:03,645 where it talked about the word 221 00:10:03,645 --> 00:10:06,445 of God has a more powerful effect on people than just about 222 00:10:06,685 --> 00:10:09,045 anything else, than wars or whatever else could happen. 223 00:10:09,705 --> 00:10:12,405 And so felt like we were in a position to do that. 224 00:10:12,505 --> 00:10:15,805 And so it's like, use that, you know, if that's what we, 225 00:10:16,305 --> 00:10:17,605 you know, we have the scriptures 226 00:10:17,605 --> 00:10:19,325 and we have those things, let's try to use those 227 00:10:19,325 --> 00:10:20,565 as an influence to, to, 228 00:10:20,585 --> 00:10:22,565 to affect positive change in the lives of 229 00:10:22,565 --> 00:10:23,565 - People. 230 00:10:23,565 --> 00:10:26,285 Yeah. That's cool. Was there any feeling of, uh, well, 231 00:10:26,305 --> 00:10:29,405 you know, before we take two ambitious of, of, uh, 232 00:10:29,415 --> 00:10:32,485 steps here, uh, let's make check in with the bishop, 233 00:10:32,705 --> 00:10:35,525 or was there's a feeling of like maybe going too radical 234 00:10:35,965 --> 00:10:37,125 , you know, in your word as opposed 235 00:10:37,125 --> 00:10:38,405 to the direction your bishop wanted to 236 00:10:38,405 --> 00:10:39,405 - Go? 237 00:10:39,405 --> 00:10:40,645 You know, what's interesting, and this is where I'll give a, 238 00:10:40,725 --> 00:10:41,965 a really cool shout out to our bishop 239 00:10:42,025 --> 00:10:43,165 and bishop Rick, is they were, 240 00:10:43,165 --> 00:10:44,125 they were a hundred percent 241 00:10:44,125 --> 00:10:45,605 supportive of anything we wanted to do. 242 00:10:45,675 --> 00:10:48,525 It's like, if you guys can dream it up, go for it. 243 00:10:48,525 --> 00:10:50,405 And so that was kind of the perfect storm, I guess, 244 00:10:50,405 --> 00:10:52,405 if you will, is we had a tremendous, 245 00:10:52,645 --> 00:10:55,525 I have a tremendous presidency, so we dreamed up, I remember 246 00:10:55,525 --> 00:10:56,885 that first meeting we got together 247 00:10:56,905 --> 00:10:58,245 and just dreamed up so much. 248 00:10:58,345 --> 00:11:00,685 And it almost seemed overwhelming. Like really, it did. 249 00:11:00,685 --> 00:11:03,285 Like, wow, this is big. There's a lot going on here. 250 00:11:04,025 --> 00:11:07,885 Um, but at no time was the bishop like, I wanna, 251 00:11:08,745 --> 00:11:09,965 trying to think how to describe this. 252 00:11:09,965 --> 00:11:12,205 He, he never, never, we never felt micromanaged. 253 00:11:12,205 --> 00:11:14,925 We never felt like it was just kind of like a, he won, 254 00:11:14,925 --> 00:11:16,805 he encourages go for what you feel good about. 255 00:11:16,865 --> 00:11:19,405 And over time there's been adjustments like, oh, well, 256 00:11:19,405 --> 00:11:20,885 maybe this didn't work as well as we thought, 257 00:11:21,065 --> 00:11:22,525 or whatever it is. 258 00:11:22,665 --> 00:11:25,365 But, but he's always been supportive of, of you. 259 00:11:25,665 --> 00:11:27,045 If you feel it, go for it. 260 00:11:27,105 --> 00:11:28,805 I'm, I'm, I'm on your side kind of thing. 261 00:11:28,805 --> 00:11:31,685 - Nice. And that's so, so empowering that a leader can sort 262 00:11:31,685 --> 00:11:33,485 of just give that space and let you have 263 00:11:33,485 --> 00:11:34,845 some autonomy to run with. Right. 264 00:11:35,315 --> 00:11:36,405 - It's awesome. You know, I, 265 00:11:36,565 --> 00:11:38,085 I think it's something I'd highly recommend 266 00:11:38,085 --> 00:11:40,245 for other leaders out there of just trust your people 267 00:11:40,425 --> 00:11:43,445 to do good and, and, and you'll be surprised. You know, 268 00:11:43,905 --> 00:11:46,365 - So you, you get called, you get some solid counselors 269 00:11:46,365 --> 00:11:47,805 and then you all get in a room together 270 00:11:47,985 --> 00:11:49,765 and you're like, all right, let's, let's think, 271 00:11:49,775 --> 00:11:51,045 let's brainstorm type of a thing. 272 00:11:51,045 --> 00:11:52,365 Mm-Hmm. , is there anything you would say 273 00:11:52,505 --> 00:11:54,525 as far as, as if another, uh, 274 00:11:54,525 --> 00:11:55,805 Sunday school president was trying 275 00:11:55,805 --> 00:11:57,245 to have a similar presidency meeting? 276 00:11:57,245 --> 00:11:59,605 Like how do you stimulate that discussion 277 00:11:59,625 --> 00:12:01,165 and get the revelation flowing? 278 00:12:02,465 --> 00:12:05,175 - I'm trying to think. I mean, I, I assume, 279 00:12:05,375 --> 00:12:06,135 'cause I have two awesome 280 00:12:06,135 --> 00:12:07,495 counselors who probably did the same thing. 281 00:12:07,495 --> 00:12:09,375 I don't know for sure, but I know for me personally, 282 00:12:09,975 --> 00:12:12,415 I did a lot of preparation in the buildup, just a lot 283 00:12:12,415 --> 00:12:15,095 of prayer and, you know, I, I go into the temple 284 00:12:15,155 --> 00:12:18,055 and doing different things so that I could be in tune with 285 00:12:18,055 --> 00:12:19,295 what God wanted. 286 00:12:19,495 --> 00:12:22,735 'cause I, I think for me, that's the big thing of like, 287 00:12:22,915 --> 00:12:24,935 you know, we've done some pretty cool, you know, what, 288 00:12:24,935 --> 00:12:26,415 what I feel is some pretty cool stuff, 289 00:12:26,415 --> 00:12:28,535 but a lot of it was just inspiration from God 290 00:12:28,595 --> 00:12:31,055 and in terms of how we should approach things. 291 00:12:31,155 --> 00:12:34,575 So just trying to be in tune with what God wanted 292 00:12:34,595 --> 00:12:35,975 and how he wanted us to approach 293 00:12:36,415 --> 00:12:37,735 whatever we were doing, you know? Yeah. 294 00:12:38,165 --> 00:12:40,175 - Yeah. And, and I don't mean to like dig into the details, 295 00:12:40,195 --> 00:12:42,335 but a lot of like people they don't know. 296 00:12:42,655 --> 00:12:45,615 I mean, it was just say, uh, a quick, 297 00:12:45,835 --> 00:12:47,095 you know, hallway meeting. 298 00:12:47,475 --> 00:12:49,615 Did you set apart, uh, an afternoon 299 00:12:49,675 --> 00:12:51,455 and go to your house and, and talk through? 300 00:12:51,455 --> 00:12:52,815 Like, how did you structure the meeting? 301 00:12:53,295 --> 00:12:56,015 - I mean, we, we went to the church building, um, 302 00:12:56,835 --> 00:12:59,015 and uh, I mean, it was probably like an hour 303 00:12:59,015 --> 00:13:00,375 and a half, almost two hours, you know? 304 00:13:00,375 --> 00:13:02,255 Okay. Yeah. It, it was while my son was actually at a 305 00:13:02,255 --> 00:13:03,375 mutual, so Oh, cool. 306 00:13:03,415 --> 00:13:06,335 I took him and we, we, we, we met during that whole time 307 00:13:06,395 --> 00:13:07,415 and we had extra time 308 00:13:07,415 --> 00:13:08,335 because I think they were playing like 309 00:13:08,335 --> 00:13:09,735 dodgeball or something afterwards. 310 00:13:09,795 --> 00:13:11,935 So, you know, we had almost two hours, I think. 311 00:13:12,115 --> 00:13:13,655 And it's just nice. It was just trying 312 00:13:13,655 --> 00:13:16,095 to get those ideas flowing and nice. 313 00:13:16,115 --> 00:13:18,695 And if I can pause one sec, I think another way too, 314 00:13:18,775 --> 00:13:20,415 I can answer it similar way, 315 00:13:20,415 --> 00:13:21,815 but just a different way of saying it is. 316 00:13:21,925 --> 00:13:26,455 Sure. I think for, for me, trusting that, 317 00:13:27,195 --> 00:13:29,895 you know, because you, you, you know, you don't have to, 318 00:13:30,375 --> 00:13:31,935 'cause somebody might say, what if I don't have a 319 00:13:32,635 --> 00:13:34,455 old patriarch to be a counselor? 320 00:13:34,515 --> 00:13:36,335 You know, you might not have that as a resource, 321 00:13:36,355 --> 00:13:37,455 you know, or whatever it is. 322 00:13:37,875 --> 00:13:39,895 You know, I think a lot of it is just realizing 323 00:13:39,895 --> 00:13:43,135 and trusting that God has better ideas than I do, 324 00:13:43,475 --> 00:13:45,175 or that any of us would uhhuh. 325 00:13:45,195 --> 00:13:46,455 And if we can trust in that 326 00:13:46,515 --> 00:13:48,535 and trust that God will give us those amazing 327 00:13:48,625 --> 00:13:50,295 ideas to execute them. 328 00:13:50,595 --> 00:13:51,975 That's k that's kind of the source 329 00:13:51,975 --> 00:13:53,855 of all if, if that makes sense. You know? 330 00:13:54,235 --> 00:13:56,015 - That's really helpful. I think that's really helpful. 331 00:13:56,255 --> 00:13:57,855 'cause I, I think we put a lot of the burden on us 332 00:13:57,855 --> 00:13:58,935 of being like, well, I'm not creative 333 00:13:58,995 --> 00:14:00,335 or, you know, I don't know what to do. 334 00:14:00,515 --> 00:14:02,615 And, but you know, at least just create the space, 335 00:14:02,765 --> 00:14:04,575 have the meeting and see what comes out of it. 336 00:14:04,595 --> 00:14:07,495 You know, regardless of how dynamic your counselors are 337 00:14:07,495 --> 00:14:10,015 or the past ideas you've had, but just lean into it. 338 00:14:10,275 --> 00:14:11,275 - Mm-Hmm, - . 339 00:14:11,275 --> 00:14:12,415 - Yeah. Yeah. And, and, 340 00:14:12,415 --> 00:14:14,695 and I can say too, when we did start to implement it, 341 00:14:14,695 --> 00:14:17,055 we felt a, we could sense a great need of people 342 00:14:17,055 --> 00:14:18,975 who wanted this desire, this type of thing. 343 00:14:19,615 --> 00:14:21,535 'cause it was so funny when we started talking about it, 344 00:14:21,535 --> 00:14:23,975 there were groups like, Hey, you know, can we do it? 345 00:14:23,975 --> 00:14:25,175 You know, can we do this? You know? 346 00:14:25,175 --> 00:14:28,215 So it's just, I think there's a, it's interesting that like, 347 00:14:29,015 --> 00:14:32,025 I don't know if I can't pick the right word, almost therapy 348 00:14:32,205 --> 00:14:34,665 or like whatever it is, of just when, when you, 349 00:14:34,665 --> 00:14:37,625 when you give people an opportunity to talk about what works 350 00:14:37,725 --> 00:14:41,025 and what doesn't in, in a setting like that, 351 00:14:41,025 --> 00:14:43,385 where you can facilitate those kind of conversations 352 00:14:43,405 --> 00:14:46,465 and help them, just good things come out of it, you know, 353 00:14:46,565 --> 00:14:49,505 and, and, and they can really, I, I don't know how 354 00:14:49,505 --> 00:14:51,565 to put it any rather than that, but just, yeah. 355 00:14:51,665 --> 00:14:53,205 You know, people I think have really enjoyed 356 00:14:53,205 --> 00:14:55,485 that opportunity to have sessions where they can meet 357 00:14:55,505 --> 00:14:57,645 and talk about what's important to them, 358 00:14:57,715 --> 00:14:59,485 what they're concerned about, you know? 359 00:14:59,485 --> 00:15:02,485 And, and, and we've found that, um, you know, 360 00:15:02,485 --> 00:15:05,005 through doing it too, where, you know, 361 00:15:05,005 --> 00:15:07,285 maybe it's a teacher who's like, man, this is a concern 362 00:15:07,305 --> 00:15:09,325 of mine will, another teacher has that concern. 363 00:15:09,465 --> 00:15:11,645 So, so I think people don't feel like they're so alone 364 00:15:11,915 --> 00:15:13,405 through callings 365 00:15:13,405 --> 00:15:15,565 or whatever they're doing, if that makes sense. Yeah. 366 00:15:16,025 --> 00:15:18,885 - So was this initial meeting sort of framed 367 00:15:18,885 --> 00:15:20,005 as a kickoff meeting 368 00:15:20,025 --> 00:15:21,925 or is this something you regularly do since 369 00:15:21,925 --> 00:15:23,325 then is meet for a couple hours? 370 00:15:23,635 --> 00:15:25,725 - Yeah, we, we do, you know, now it's kind 371 00:15:25,725 --> 00:15:27,205 of like which groups we're gonna meet with, 372 00:15:27,205 --> 00:15:28,605 and I could go more detail on that. 373 00:15:28,625 --> 00:15:30,565 But yeah, that was the initial kickoff meeting 374 00:15:30,565 --> 00:15:32,365 where we're just like, what do we wanna do? 375 00:15:32,585 --> 00:15:34,365 You know, we, we had some guidelines, 376 00:15:34,365 --> 00:15:35,445 but it's like, what do we wanna do? 377 00:15:35,505 --> 00:15:36,605 How do we wanna approach this? 378 00:15:36,625 --> 00:15:38,325 So that's what that one was about, 379 00:15:38,345 --> 00:15:40,925 but then once we kind of figured out something, it's more 380 00:15:40,925 --> 00:15:44,365 of just executing our, our base plan, if that makes sense. 381 00:15:45,035 --> 00:15:46,045 - Love it. Alright. 382 00:15:46,045 --> 00:15:48,405 So you, did you leave with that meeting, like with a, 383 00:15:48,715 --> 00:15:50,485 with a plan, like a step by step? 384 00:15:50,545 --> 00:15:52,205 Or was just a group of ideas, or? 385 00:15:52,505 --> 00:15:53,645 - It was kind of a group ideas, 386 00:15:53,705 --> 00:15:56,005 and that's where things kind of grew quick, 387 00:15:56,005 --> 00:15:57,205 because that's where I said like, 388 00:15:57,205 --> 00:15:58,445 you could sense a need for this. 389 00:15:58,505 --> 00:15:59,925 So we were talking about it 390 00:15:59,925 --> 00:16:01,805 and there was one particular group that was like, yeah, 391 00:16:02,065 --> 00:16:03,085 we, we wanna do this. 392 00:16:03,225 --> 00:16:05,365 And so initially we were like, 393 00:16:05,685 --> 00:16:07,325 'cause you know, we're like, Hey, we have some big plans, 394 00:16:07,425 --> 00:16:09,085 big dreams, so let's take a couple months 395 00:16:09,085 --> 00:16:10,205 and try to iron this out. 396 00:16:10,305 --> 00:16:14,525 But a couple groups were so excited to do it that it kind 397 00:16:14,525 --> 00:16:15,525 of almost forced our hands. 398 00:16:15,545 --> 00:16:18,085 So I think like the next month we actually went ahead 399 00:16:18,085 --> 00:16:20,805 and did one of these, even though we didn't feel ready, 400 00:16:21,145 --> 00:16:23,325 you know, just 'cause we felt such a need. 401 00:16:23,325 --> 00:16:26,525 It was like one of those, like, we couldn't say no, like, 402 00:16:26,585 --> 00:16:28,045 you know, we, we wanted to serve them 403 00:16:28,045 --> 00:16:29,165 and help these people even if 404 00:16:29,165 --> 00:16:30,205 we didn't feel like we were ready. 405 00:16:30,785 --> 00:16:34,485 Um, and so you, you just, we had a couple of those councils. 406 00:16:34,665 --> 00:16:36,365 We did, like young men's, young women's, 407 00:16:36,365 --> 00:16:38,685 and I think trying to remember the other groups we did, 408 00:16:38,685 --> 00:16:43,525 but we just did other isolate, isolated groups and, and, 409 00:16:43,745 --> 00:16:46,245 and we just had a very positive experience, you know, 410 00:16:46,245 --> 00:16:47,405 so we saw, Hey, this works, 411 00:16:47,405 --> 00:16:49,765 people like this, this is gonna work. 412 00:16:49,865 --> 00:16:51,765 And then our subsequent meetings were, Hey, 413 00:16:51,765 --> 00:16:53,845 what other groups do we wanna meet with? 414 00:16:53,915 --> 00:16:55,245 What makes sense? You know? 415 00:16:55,245 --> 00:16:56,245 - Okay. So when you say groups, 416 00:16:56,245 --> 00:16:58,765 you're talking about like teacher council meeting groups? 417 00:16:59,595 --> 00:17:01,525 - Yeah, but like outside of teachers. 418 00:17:01,685 --> 00:17:03,405 'cause like I said, you know, you could do just teachers, 419 00:17:03,405 --> 00:17:05,085 but it's like we met with the young men's 420 00:17:05,085 --> 00:17:08,845 and young women's, you know, um, presidencies. 421 00:17:09,565 --> 00:17:11,045 Presidencies and count Yeah. 422 00:17:11,045 --> 00:17:12,205 Youth or, you know, and, 423 00:17:12,205 --> 00:17:14,525 and that's kind of our big thing is let's break it into like 424 00:17:14,525 --> 00:17:16,365 lowest common denominator possible 425 00:17:16,905 --> 00:17:19,205 to make it relevant discussion for everybody. 426 00:17:19,205 --> 00:17:21,605 Mm-Hmm. So you, you meet with young women's leaders, 427 00:17:22,125 --> 00:17:23,645 presidencies and their, their advisors, 428 00:17:23,645 --> 00:17:25,205 then young men's and their advisors. 429 00:17:25,625 --> 00:17:28,765 We met with primary, but we didn't just meet with primary. 430 00:17:28,945 --> 00:17:31,285 It was, okay, let's meet with junior primary teachers, 431 00:17:31,315 --> 00:17:34,445 isolate them, and senior primary teachers isolate them 432 00:17:34,445 --> 00:17:36,005 because they're gonna experience different things 433 00:17:36,505 --> 00:17:37,965 and they're gonna have different concerns 434 00:17:37,965 --> 00:17:38,965 and different things they're gonna 435 00:17:38,965 --> 00:17:39,965 wanna talk about as a group. 436 00:17:40,465 --> 00:17:45,085 So, so by breaking it out into relevant groups, then 437 00:17:45,625 --> 00:17:47,365 you can stimulate discussions 438 00:17:47,365 --> 00:17:49,005 that's gonna help them the most. 439 00:17:49,555 --> 00:17:52,005 - Yeah. Now with these different groups, it just seems like, 440 00:17:52,025 --> 00:17:55,205 uh, I mean, that's a lot to manage as far as the schedule. 441 00:17:55,345 --> 00:17:57,965 Was it complicated or over overwhelming? Yeah, 442 00:17:57,985 --> 00:17:59,325 - It, I mean, you, you kinda had the feel. 443 00:17:59,325 --> 00:18:01,165 That's why I was like, we, we jumped into it a lot faster 444 00:18:01,165 --> 00:18:02,365 because there was just this need. 445 00:18:02,365 --> 00:18:04,085 It was like, you know, I, I, 446 00:18:04,205 --> 00:18:05,405 I called myself a bleeding heart. 447 00:18:05,445 --> 00:18:06,565 I, I just couldn't say no. 448 00:18:06,665 --> 00:18:07,965 So we jumped into it, but, 449 00:18:08,305 --> 00:18:09,845 but we kind of had a, a feel for it. 450 00:18:10,005 --> 00:18:12,805 'cause we have another sister who's wonderful, 451 00:18:13,185 --> 00:18:15,605 who she's kind of with us, you know, we call, we call, 452 00:18:15,605 --> 00:18:17,565 we can call her a defacto presidency person. 453 00:18:17,735 --> 00:18:19,365 She's, I guess not in name, 454 00:18:19,425 --> 00:18:21,205 but she's every bit part of the group. 455 00:18:21,305 --> 00:18:24,005 So what we do is we'll split the Sundays. 456 00:18:24,005 --> 00:18:25,485 We do what we split into two groups. 457 00:18:25,865 --> 00:18:27,165 So myself 458 00:18:27,165 --> 00:18:29,725 and one of the people will, will meet with the group 459 00:18:29,745 --> 00:18:30,925 and the other counselor 460 00:18:31,145 --> 00:18:33,365 and somebody else meets with another group. 461 00:18:33,465 --> 00:18:36,045 So we will do two every month. 462 00:18:36,225 --> 00:18:38,005 So you basically get four groups a month. 463 00:18:38,425 --> 00:18:39,925 And that, that, that helps us kind 464 00:18:39,925 --> 00:18:41,285 of get everybody, because you're right. 465 00:18:41,285 --> 00:18:44,765 If you, if you don't, we found that if we don't do that, 466 00:18:44,875 --> 00:18:46,325 it's hard to get to everybody. 467 00:18:47,025 --> 00:18:49,325 You know, you, you might get to somebody once a year. 468 00:18:49,425 --> 00:18:52,845 And, and, and that, that seemed to us ineffective 469 00:18:52,845 --> 00:18:55,725 because the power in trying to do it with, 470 00:18:55,725 --> 00:18:58,405 with all these small groups once a quarter is you just, 471 00:18:58,425 --> 00:19:01,525 you just keep on, um, making it relevant. 472 00:19:01,525 --> 00:19:03,605 People feel like they're, you know, 473 00:19:03,605 --> 00:19:05,085 they can present new ideas 474 00:19:05,385 --> 00:19:08,525 and it just, it, it just creates better conversation 475 00:19:08,585 --> 00:19:10,365 as things go forward with each of these groups. 476 00:19:10,675 --> 00:19:12,765 - Yeah. So I, I would imagine for the most part, 477 00:19:12,765 --> 00:19:14,765 you're doing this during the second hour during church? 478 00:19:15,075 --> 00:19:16,205 - That is correct. Okay. 479 00:19:16,505 --> 00:19:19,965 - And maybe when you're doing like junior primary teachers, 480 00:19:20,225 --> 00:19:22,085 are you having to find subs for, 481 00:19:22,825 --> 00:19:24,445 for those people? For, for those classes? 482 00:19:24,915 --> 00:19:26,045 - Yeah. So that's something we had to kind 483 00:19:26,045 --> 00:19:27,325 of work out with the primary president. 484 00:19:27,785 --> 00:19:29,365 But the day we did do it, 485 00:19:29,365 --> 00:19:31,005 it was like the day of the primary program. 486 00:19:31,305 --> 00:19:33,645 So like the kids were doing some, yeah. 487 00:19:33,645 --> 00:19:35,045 The kids were doing a celebratory thing. 488 00:19:35,045 --> 00:19:36,485 So the teachers kind of had the day off. 489 00:19:36,485 --> 00:19:37,925 So we figured, Hey, let's do it that day. 490 00:19:38,065 --> 00:19:41,085 So, you know, some, some you gotta find teachers, 491 00:19:41,085 --> 00:19:43,725 but some finding opportunities, you know, you, 492 00:19:43,745 --> 00:19:45,485 you do things like, okay, well if you're meeting 493 00:19:45,485 --> 00:19:48,085 with three young women, you, you, you, you meet with them 494 00:19:48,985 --> 00:19:50,325 on the Sunday school week, 495 00:19:50,505 --> 00:19:52,925 or if you're meeting with Sunday school people, you meet 496 00:19:52,925 --> 00:19:55,245 with them on the Priesthood Relief Society week. 497 00:19:55,245 --> 00:19:58,165 So you just try to try to frame it and, and, 498 00:19:58,165 --> 00:19:59,325 and schedule it such 499 00:19:59,325 --> 00:20:01,165 that everybody gets their opportunity. Mm-Hmm. 500 00:20:01,205 --> 00:20:03,685 - . Gotcha. And, uh, and so, 501 00:20:03,865 --> 00:20:06,965 and as you approach these, these council meetings, like 502 00:20:06,965 --> 00:20:08,445 for example, when you meet with all the young, 503 00:20:08,505 --> 00:20:10,125 the young men's presidencies 504 00:20:10,125 --> 00:20:12,565 and whatnot, you're basically walking in there 505 00:20:12,565 --> 00:20:13,805 saying, all right, let's council together. 506 00:20:14,025 --> 00:20:16,285 How can we improve teaching in, 507 00:20:16,305 --> 00:20:18,445 in all the youth classes? Is that the idea? 508 00:20:18,625 --> 00:20:21,325 - That's exactly right. You know, you, you just, so, 509 00:20:21,345 --> 00:20:24,245 so we become facilitators is what we're trying to become 510 00:20:24,265 --> 00:20:26,165 and facilitators and offering things. 511 00:20:26,735 --> 00:20:28,765 Often a Bishop Rick member, you know, 512 00:20:28,765 --> 00:20:30,525 will show up just, just to participate. 513 00:20:30,525 --> 00:20:32,565 Well, that's really cool. So yeah, you're just, 514 00:20:32,565 --> 00:20:34,925 you're just trying to facilitate and stimulate those ideas. 515 00:20:35,065 --> 00:20:36,685 And we try to keep a running list of, 516 00:20:37,285 --> 00:20:39,485 'cause you can't get to everything in that hour session. 517 00:20:39,705 --> 00:20:41,445 So you try to keep a running list 518 00:20:41,445 --> 00:20:43,405 and then next time we say, well, we talked about this, 519 00:20:43,655 --> 00:20:45,005 we've got these other seven things 520 00:20:45,005 --> 00:20:46,685 that you talked about being concerned about. 521 00:20:47,195 --> 00:20:48,525 What do you wanna talk about this time? 522 00:20:48,785 --> 00:20:50,445 And, and you just try to build off 523 00:20:50,445 --> 00:20:52,005 of it, you know, so to speak. You 524 00:20:52,005 --> 00:20:53,005 - Know? 525 00:20:53,005 --> 00:20:54,525 Yeah. Yeah. I think that's, like, that alone is 526 00:20:54,525 --> 00:20:57,165 so intriguing because I think generally, you know, 527 00:20:57,165 --> 00:21:00,285 you hear this cons, the idea of the teacher council meetings 528 00:21:00,285 --> 00:21:01,925 and you know, you, you do, 529 00:21:02,005 --> 00:21:04,605 I forget exactly if the handbook says something, you know, 530 00:21:04,605 --> 00:21:07,685 how often, but nonetheless, you sort of, you do your best 531 00:21:07,685 --> 00:21:08,725 to get all the teachers there. 532 00:21:08,745 --> 00:21:10,805 You know, I've heard of some that, you know, 533 00:21:10,805 --> 00:21:12,965 every once in a while they'll find those substitutes 534 00:21:12,965 --> 00:21:14,365 for primary, make sure they're in there 535 00:21:14,365 --> 00:21:15,525 with the Sunday school pres 536 00:21:15,525 --> 00:21:18,565 or with the Sunday school teachers and the youth teachers. 537 00:21:18,565 --> 00:21:20,125 Right. And we sort of have this big council meeting, 538 00:21:20,125 --> 00:21:23,285 but there's power in like focusing on the niches right. 539 00:21:23,345 --> 00:21:24,405 Within the ward. Mm-Hmm. 540 00:21:24,445 --> 00:21:26,525 and just saying like, we're only talking about 541 00:21:26,525 --> 00:21:28,925 junior primary, like what's working, what's not, 542 00:21:29,395 --> 00:21:30,685 what can we counsel together 543 00:21:30,685 --> 00:21:32,925 to discover about teaching really young kids? 544 00:21:33,475 --> 00:21:36,325 - Yeah. Well, and I could tell you that the cool thing is, 545 00:21:36,385 --> 00:21:38,325 is some of the Bishop Rick people that have floated around 546 00:21:38,325 --> 00:21:41,125 to different ones they've talked about that they're like, 547 00:21:41,155 --> 00:21:45,365 it's so crazy because everyone is spiritually impactful, 548 00:21:45,625 --> 00:21:47,045 but everyone is so unique. 549 00:21:47,465 --> 00:21:49,205 And that's the cool part about it, is that, 550 00:21:49,505 --> 00:21:50,765 and what we've learned and why, 551 00:21:50,765 --> 00:21:52,165 because like I said, it takes more effort 552 00:21:52,265 --> 00:21:53,925 to do what we're doing. 553 00:21:54,505 --> 00:21:57,005 But when you make it that lowest common denominator, 554 00:21:57,005 --> 00:21:59,845 like you're talking about, it's, it becomes so relevant 555 00:21:59,845 --> 00:22:02,045 that it become the discussion's wonderful at 556 00:22:02,045 --> 00:22:03,045 - That point. 557 00:22:03,045 --> 00:22:03,285 Yeah, yeah. 558 00:22:03,385 --> 00:22:05,245 So, so applicable and so helpful for those, 559 00:22:05,615 --> 00:22:06,805 those teachers who are in the room. 560 00:22:07,125 --> 00:22:08,685 'cause if you're in the room with, uh, 561 00:22:09,065 --> 00:22:10,685 Sunday school teachers of adults, 562 00:22:10,685 --> 00:22:11,965 you're not gonna talk about how do you 563 00:22:11,965 --> 00:22:13,205 handle behavior problems in the room? 564 00:22:13,445 --> 00:22:14,885 'cause that's probably not a big issue 565 00:22:14,885 --> 00:22:16,485 for the adult teachers, you know? That's cool. 566 00:22:16,835 --> 00:22:18,805 - Yeah. And another thing I, I actually wanna talk about, 567 00:22:18,965 --> 00:22:20,685 'cause we, we flipped this all in its head. 568 00:22:20,885 --> 00:22:22,685 'cause I mean, that's one aspect, you know, 569 00:22:22,685 --> 00:22:23,725 your teacher councils. 570 00:22:24,185 --> 00:22:25,925 But we flipped this idea in our head 571 00:22:25,925 --> 00:22:30,005 because what we did is we did we call, 572 00:22:30,015 --> 00:22:31,565 we're calling them learner councils. 573 00:22:31,785 --> 00:22:35,165 So what we did is we tried to go the other side of it. 574 00:22:35,165 --> 00:22:37,245 Okay, well what do people experience? 575 00:22:37,365 --> 00:22:38,805 'cause I mean, that's a lot of it in the church. 576 00:22:38,805 --> 00:22:40,125 Everybody has their challenges, 577 00:22:40,125 --> 00:22:41,485 everybody has their concerns. 578 00:22:41,545 --> 00:22:44,765 So for example, one week we started doing this where 579 00:22:45,345 --> 00:22:48,365 you did parents of junior primary kids, parents 580 00:22:48,425 --> 00:22:49,485 of senior primary kids. 581 00:22:49,485 --> 00:22:50,725 And we met with them and, and, 582 00:22:50,725 --> 00:22:53,845 and the discussion was in, instead of how you're teaching, 583 00:22:53,865 --> 00:22:56,125 it was, tell us what worries you. 584 00:22:56,305 --> 00:22:59,165 You know, so for example, parents of junior primary kids, 585 00:22:59,525 --> 00:23:01,365 a lot of 'em talked about, oh, you know, I don't know what 586 00:23:01,365 --> 00:23:02,685 to do with attention span issues. 587 00:23:02,945 --> 00:23:04,205 You know, that's, that's a big one. 588 00:23:04,205 --> 00:23:05,605 Or other things that they could talk about. 589 00:23:06,345 --> 00:23:08,045 And we addressed those, you know, 590 00:23:08,185 --> 00:23:11,805 or then we also did parents of young teenagers 591 00:23:11,805 --> 00:23:13,605 and parents of older teenagers and, 592 00:23:13,605 --> 00:23:16,085 and met with those parents and, and heard their concerns. 593 00:23:16,145 --> 00:23:19,245 And, and, and that, that was a really powerful thing 594 00:23:19,245 --> 00:23:22,805 because it just brought in different discussions. 595 00:23:22,805 --> 00:23:25,685 So like one of the parent teenager groups, 596 00:23:26,105 --> 00:23:27,885 it was really cool 'cause some of the parents were like, 597 00:23:28,105 --> 00:23:30,125 you know, they, they would share insecurities of like, 598 00:23:30,125 --> 00:23:32,485 I don't know if I know how to, I'm confident of 599 00:23:32,485 --> 00:23:33,685 how I'm studying the gospel, 600 00:23:34,065 --> 00:23:35,765 so I don't know how to do that with my kids. 601 00:23:35,785 --> 00:23:38,205 And other families would say, oh yeah, you know, we feel 602 00:23:38,205 --> 00:23:39,685 that way, but these are some things we tried. 603 00:23:39,825 --> 00:23:42,445 And it just became, you know, it was cool 604 00:23:42,445 --> 00:23:44,525 because what we found is that 605 00:23:46,085 --> 00:23:48,985 all parents experienced the same concerns and challenges, 606 00:23:49,805 --> 00:23:52,345 but sometimes they felt like they were the only ones. 607 00:23:52,345 --> 00:23:53,385 And when you put 'em in a room 608 00:23:53,385 --> 00:23:55,825 and they all realize, hey, we experienced the same stuff. 609 00:23:56,485 --> 00:23:58,625 It, it was really, it built them all up 610 00:23:58,885 --> 00:24:00,745 and then they could give each other ideas 611 00:24:00,765 --> 00:24:02,465 and build each other up on, Hey, try this, 612 00:24:02,605 --> 00:24:04,625 or we do this and this could work. 613 00:24:04,765 --> 00:24:06,385 Or, you know, whatever it was. 614 00:24:06,385 --> 00:24:09,425 And so those, those were equally as awesome, you know, 615 00:24:09,425 --> 00:24:11,825 getting parents in and talking about their needs as well. 616 00:24:12,215 --> 00:24:15,025 - Yeah. Yeah. , that's such a powerful concept. 617 00:24:15,445 --> 00:24:18,465 Uh, I think generally like the first step is sort 618 00:24:18,465 --> 00:24:22,025 of recognizing or, or dismissing the assumption that like, 619 00:24:22,055 --> 00:24:23,905 come follow me is going really well. 620 00:24:24,245 --> 00:24:27,505 Uh, yeah. 'cause for a lot of people it's not, uh, I, I, uh, 621 00:24:27,505 --> 00:24:29,745 talked with a stake Sunday school president just in, 622 00:24:29,745 --> 00:24:31,905 you know, offline, uh, last week. 623 00:24:32,085 --> 00:24:34,465 And he talked about taking this vulnerable moment, meeting 624 00:24:34,465 --> 00:24:36,385 with his counselors about him sharing 625 00:24:36,385 --> 00:24:39,625 that come follow me was really difficult in his, in his home 626 00:24:39,625 --> 00:24:41,425 with young kids and some mm-Hmm. 627 00:24:41,465 --> 00:24:42,545 , uh, you know, budding, 628 00:24:42,725 --> 00:24:44,145 uh, teenagers and whatnot. 629 00:24:44,325 --> 00:24:47,625 And then one by one his counselors sort of said, yeah, 630 00:24:47,625 --> 00:24:49,025 it's not going well in my home either. 631 00:24:49,165 --> 00:24:51,145 And so, so just to get that out there, 632 00:24:51,145 --> 00:24:53,025 that now we have something to talk about that, 633 00:24:53,095 --> 00:24:55,265 that too often in Sunday school, there's this feeling 634 00:24:55,265 --> 00:24:57,945 of like, well, I'm the only one in the room 635 00:24:58,055 --> 00:25:00,105 that didn't spend a half hour every day, 636 00:25:00,105 --> 00:25:02,545 like diving into the book of Revelation, you know, . 637 00:25:02,545 --> 00:25:04,545 Yeah. When, when, that's not the reality of it. 638 00:25:04,545 --> 00:25:06,025 We're all struggling. It's difficult 639 00:25:06,045 --> 00:25:08,785 and it's beautiful on paper and we should lean in and, 640 00:25:08,805 --> 00:25:10,945 and try and leverage as much as we can in our home, 641 00:25:10,965 --> 00:25:12,305 but let's get rid of the idea 642 00:25:12,305 --> 00:25:13,505 that it's going well for most people. 643 00:25:14,045 --> 00:25:15,585 - And you have to kind of build into it. 644 00:25:15,605 --> 00:25:17,865 You know, like sometimes you start small, I know 645 00:25:17,865 --> 00:25:20,665 with my wife and I, we started small years ago 646 00:25:20,665 --> 00:25:22,545 where you did a little bit, but then you build on that 647 00:25:22,565 --> 00:25:24,385 and you get excited and you do a little bit more 648 00:25:24,385 --> 00:25:26,185 where you have to help people start somewhere 649 00:25:26,685 --> 00:25:29,025 and encourage them in that, you know? Yeah. 650 00:25:29,405 --> 00:25:31,025 - So I'm intrigued by this coun the council 651 00:25:31,025 --> 00:25:32,345 of Learners, is that what you call 652 00:25:32,345 --> 00:25:33,345 - It? 653 00:25:33,345 --> 00:25:33,345 Yeah, that's what we call it. Learner 654 00:25:33,345 --> 00:25:34,385 councils Learn councils. 655 00:25:34,445 --> 00:25:36,785 We had to come up with something. We, we were like parent 656 00:25:36,825 --> 00:25:39,145 councils, but you wanna be inclusive of everybody. 657 00:25:39,165 --> 00:25:41,665 So we, we just started calling 'em learner Councils. 658 00:25:41,695 --> 00:25:44,025 - Nice. And are you focusing on a certain type 659 00:25:44,025 --> 00:25:45,585 of demographic like the other ones or 660 00:25:45,935 --> 00:25:47,905 - Same thing, you know, we, we, you know, you, 661 00:25:48,005 --> 00:25:49,345 you try to build from there. 662 00:25:49,405 --> 00:25:50,545 So we've talked about, hey, 663 00:25:50,545 --> 00:25:53,785 maybe you do an empty nester one, talk about what, what, 664 00:25:53,785 --> 00:25:55,985 you know, because their, their, their concerns 665 00:25:55,985 --> 00:25:57,265 and their challenges 666 00:25:57,265 --> 00:25:59,305 of studying the gospel are gonna be different than a 667 00:25:59,305 --> 00:26:00,465 parent of a 12-year-old. 668 00:26:00,565 --> 00:26:02,265 You know, it's just, that's a fact. 669 00:26:02,285 --> 00:26:05,145 And so you, you know, we, we've tried to come up 670 00:26:05,145 --> 00:26:06,545 with different cross sections of groups. 671 00:26:06,605 --> 00:26:07,825 So what about single adults? 672 00:26:07,925 --> 00:26:09,105 You know, what do they experience? 673 00:26:09,165 --> 00:26:11,705 You know, do you, do you help them in different ways? 674 00:26:11,725 --> 00:26:14,545 And so, yes, you do try to break that out into, 675 00:26:14,725 --> 00:26:16,225 to a lowest common denominator 676 00:26:16,225 --> 00:26:17,945 that makes sense. You know? Yeah. 677 00:26:18,745 --> 00:26:21,505 - I love that idea, that approach of like, it's so easy 678 00:26:21,505 --> 00:26:24,185 to think, well, if we can just get the teachers doing their 679 00:26:24,185 --> 00:26:25,425 thing right then mm-Hmm. 680 00:26:25,465 --> 00:26:27,065 it, it'll be a great class. 681 00:26:27,165 --> 00:26:28,945 But often, you know, the teachers do their best. 682 00:26:28,965 --> 00:26:31,985 And I show the clips. I, I juggle at one point, you know, I, 683 00:26:32,065 --> 00:26:33,265 I tap dance at another point, 684 00:26:33,265 --> 00:26:35,745 but I just can't get, get the class engaging 685 00:26:35,745 --> 00:26:38,225 because oftentimes it's not that the teacher doesn't know 686 00:26:38,225 --> 00:26:40,985 how to teach, but the learner doesn't necessarily know how 687 00:26:40,985 --> 00:26:43,845 to learn in that setting or engage or talk or participate. 688 00:26:44,355 --> 00:26:46,725 - Exactly. So the whole idea is we're working both sides. 689 00:26:46,785 --> 00:26:48,685 So you effect change by helping teachers, 690 00:26:48,745 --> 00:26:50,445 but you also help the learners 691 00:26:50,585 --> 00:26:53,725 and then the whole ward benefits through that process. 692 00:26:53,875 --> 00:26:55,245 Exactly. That's what we're thinking. 693 00:26:55,385 --> 00:26:56,965 - Now, do you do a hybrid of like some, 694 00:26:56,965 --> 00:26:59,325 you have the young men's teachers in there along with some, 695 00:27:00,035 --> 00:27:01,405 some young men learners? 696 00:27:01,545 --> 00:27:03,885 Or do you have do those separately? 697 00:27:04,345 --> 00:27:05,525 - So we do it all separately. Okay. 698 00:27:05,525 --> 00:27:07,725 Just try to keep different groups so that if, if, 699 00:27:08,525 --> 00:27:09,965 'cause this is, this is kind of an offshoot, 700 00:27:09,965 --> 00:27:12,045 but the whole idea of what we try to create is, 701 00:27:12,045 --> 00:27:14,045 we call it safe Conversation partners. 702 00:27:14,405 --> 00:27:16,645 Hmm. So the whole idea is you just try to make it safe. 703 00:27:16,745 --> 00:27:18,525 So if anybody wants to bring up any doubt, 704 00:27:18,665 --> 00:27:21,205 any concern, it's, it's safe. 705 00:27:21,305 --> 00:27:22,845 So where this came from, 706 00:27:22,845 --> 00:27:24,885 and I'll, I'll explain the whole doctrinal thing 707 00:27:24,885 --> 00:27:27,405 behind this, but what inspired is we were, look, 708 00:27:27,565 --> 00:27:31,765 I was looking at, um, um, the whole restoration thing. 709 00:27:31,765 --> 00:27:33,325 You know, it started with James one five, 710 00:27:33,465 --> 00:27:35,725 but everybody kind of always frames it as it starts 711 00:27:35,725 --> 00:27:38,885 with a question, you know, which, which I think is kind 712 00:27:38,885 --> 00:27:40,645 of almost too simplistic of a view. 713 00:27:41,765 --> 00:27:43,365 I think really it started, 'cause you read 714 00:27:43,365 --> 00:27:44,925 what Joseph Smith said is he read that 715 00:27:44,925 --> 00:27:47,085 and he's like, wow, if that's, that's who God is, 716 00:27:47,725 --> 00:27:49,325 I might venture, he says in his account. 717 00:27:49,505 --> 00:27:53,445 So really with us, we realized that it started 718 00:27:53,515 --> 00:27:55,685 with the restoration started with a reassurance 719 00:27:55,685 --> 00:27:57,565 that a question could be answered. 720 00:27:58,265 --> 00:28:00,045 And so what we try to do is you try 721 00:28:00,045 --> 00:28:02,045 to create an environment in all of those is 722 00:28:02,195 --> 00:28:04,325 that people can ask anything that there's no, 723 00:28:04,325 --> 00:28:06,605 there's no stupid questions, if that makes sense, . 724 00:28:06,605 --> 00:28:08,765 Sure. And you create that environment and, 725 00:28:08,785 --> 00:28:10,365 and that's where the power comes. 726 00:28:10,645 --> 00:28:11,645 I, I know that was long-winded, 727 00:28:11,645 --> 00:28:12,765 but hopefully that makes sense. 728 00:28:13,035 --> 00:28:15,005 - Does that's phenomenal principle. I love it. 729 00:28:15,265 --> 00:28:19,125 So how do you go about gathering, uh, uh, 730 00:28:19,545 --> 00:28:20,565 the learner councils? 731 00:28:20,565 --> 00:28:22,085 How do you pick the people to be in that room? 732 00:28:22,425 --> 00:28:24,565 - Um, we just do 'em. 'cause you get the lowest 733 00:28:24,565 --> 00:28:26,005 common denominator groups. 734 00:28:26,745 --> 00:28:27,805 And if everybody in 735 00:28:27,805 --> 00:28:29,405 that group showed up, then it's not too many people. 736 00:28:29,505 --> 00:28:32,365 So we get parents of, for example, 12, 12 737 00:28:32,385 --> 00:28:34,565 and thir parents of 12 and 13 year olds, 738 00:28:35,145 --> 00:28:37,525 and then parents of 14 to 18 year olds. 739 00:28:37,525 --> 00:28:38,565 We kind of looked at the demographics, 740 00:28:38,705 --> 00:28:39,805 how many people are in there? 741 00:28:40,225 --> 00:28:41,885 And we're like, well, if everybody comes in 742 00:28:41,885 --> 00:28:42,965 this group, is it too much? 743 00:28:42,965 --> 00:28:44,605 Well, if it's too much, then you need 744 00:28:44,605 --> 00:28:45,605 to split it further down. 745 00:28:46,225 --> 00:28:48,285 So that's kind of what we did is, okay, well what's a group? 746 00:28:48,285 --> 00:28:49,685 That makes sense. Okay, well if 747 00:28:49,685 --> 00:28:51,445 that's 15 people, then maybe that makes sense. 748 00:28:51,445 --> 00:28:53,965 It's like usually 10 to 15 is our target. 749 00:28:54,625 --> 00:28:56,565 Um, and, and, and that's worked really well. 750 00:28:57,025 --> 00:28:59,165 - And do you text all of them with an invite? Do you 751 00:28:59,235 --> 00:29:00,235 - Call? 752 00:29:00,235 --> 00:29:03,925 No, we, we, we, um, counselors have helped with, we'll, 753 00:29:03,925 --> 00:29:04,965 we'll, we'll create a flyer 754 00:29:05,145 --> 00:29:07,045 and we'll just hand it out on Sundays and, 755 00:29:07,045 --> 00:29:09,925 and they'll announce it, um, as part of Sacra meeting. 756 00:29:09,925 --> 00:29:11,885 Like, Hey, this is coming up, these are the dates. 757 00:29:12,105 --> 00:29:14,205 So if you're in this group, we want you 758 00:29:14,205 --> 00:29:15,725 to show up here in this room and, 759 00:29:15,725 --> 00:29:17,085 and we're gonna have a great conversation. 760 00:29:17,225 --> 00:29:19,285 And the response has been tremendous. 761 00:29:19,285 --> 00:29:20,845 You know, we do that with both the learner 762 00:29:20,845 --> 00:29:22,165 councils and the teacher councils. 763 00:29:22,165 --> 00:29:23,685 We just make sure everybody knows about it 764 00:29:24,145 --> 00:29:25,285 and, and that people show up. 765 00:29:25,515 --> 00:29:27,445 - Yeah, I bet people really walk into there with 766 00:29:27,665 --> 00:29:28,685 so some positive energy. 767 00:29:28,685 --> 00:29:29,725 Like, this is cool. Like, I, 768 00:29:29,945 --> 00:29:31,365 I'd love to have this discussion. Right. 769 00:29:31,715 --> 00:29:33,765 - Yeah. So it's almost like we try to hype it up, you know, 770 00:29:33,925 --> 00:29:34,925 I, I know it sounds weird, 771 00:29:34,985 --> 00:29:37,325 but you just hype it up as this is the coolest thing. 772 00:29:37,345 --> 00:29:39,685 And people, you're right. They get excited, you know? Yeah. 773 00:29:40,155 --> 00:29:42,485 - Even a CPA can do some hype. Huh? This is great. 774 00:29:42,485 --> 00:29:43,485 Yeah, it's great. 775 00:29:44,245 --> 00:29:44,605 - . Nice. 776 00:29:45,225 --> 00:29:47,765 - So, um, I, I, I think we've danced over your, 777 00:29:47,765 --> 00:29:48,965 your principles here, but let's just go 778 00:29:48,965 --> 00:29:50,045 through and make sure we didn't miss anything. 779 00:29:50,045 --> 00:29:52,445 The first one is finding ways to engage with the members 780 00:29:52,505 --> 00:29:54,805 of the ward through the scriptures. Expand on that. 781 00:29:55,225 --> 00:29:58,085 - So that one, we, we actually will, in addition to all 782 00:29:58,085 --> 00:29:59,725 that, we do a weekly email. 783 00:30:00,275 --> 00:30:02,125 Well, there is a weekly email that exists. 784 00:30:02,185 --> 00:30:04,085 And as part of that, we put in, okay, let's, 785 00:30:04,085 --> 00:30:06,005 let's pick a scripture from the, come follow me 786 00:30:06,005 --> 00:30:07,285 and let's talk about it. 787 00:30:07,505 --> 00:30:09,045 Do a paragraph and say, Hey, this is 788 00:30:09,045 --> 00:30:10,405 what this principle is here 789 00:30:10,465 --> 00:30:12,165 and how you can apply it to our life. 790 00:30:12,275 --> 00:30:13,685 Because what, what we're trying 791 00:30:13,685 --> 00:30:15,525 to do is just get people excited about it. 792 00:30:15,585 --> 00:30:19,605 You know, if that's the only thing you know, they're reading 793 00:30:19,605 --> 00:30:21,165 and getting excited about in a given week, 794 00:30:21,165 --> 00:30:22,245 well maybe they can build on that. 795 00:30:22,345 --> 00:30:24,005 So you're just trying to get people excited 796 00:30:24,005 --> 00:30:26,055 about what's there. 797 00:30:26,155 --> 00:30:27,935 So either learn something new 798 00:30:27,995 --> 00:30:30,135 or maybe if they get excited, they read a little bit more. 799 00:30:30,355 --> 00:30:33,175 So you try to engage with people that way through a weekly, 800 00:30:33,555 --> 00:30:36,215 our weekly ward email just to, to put something out there. 801 00:30:36,925 --> 00:30:39,575 - Yeah. And, and so this is a word email 802 00:30:39,575 --> 00:30:40,975 that your Bishoprick sends out every 803 00:30:40,975 --> 00:30:41,975 - Week. 804 00:30:41,975 --> 00:30:45,095 Um, it's, it's, uh, some, not a BISHOPRICK member, 805 00:30:45,115 --> 00:30:48,215 but somebody, it's their calling to do a weekly email. 806 00:30:48,395 --> 00:30:50,695 And so as part of that, we asked permission and, 807 00:30:50,755 --> 00:30:53,055 and got approval to just, we send him, Hey, 808 00:30:53,055 --> 00:30:55,135 this is our message for the week, and they send it out. 809 00:30:55,485 --> 00:30:58,135 - Nice. Maybe just gimme a quick review of like, 810 00:30:58,135 --> 00:30:59,175 what are some other things that are 811 00:30:59,175 --> 00:31:00,295 in that, that weekly email? 812 00:31:00,835 --> 00:31:03,415 - Um, just different announcements, activities, um, 813 00:31:03,435 --> 00:31:04,615 what's going on in the ward. 814 00:31:04,675 --> 00:31:05,895 So it's just kind of a, yeah, 815 00:31:06,015 --> 00:31:07,575 a a a number like's a bulletin, right? 816 00:31:07,605 --> 00:31:09,095 Yeah. It's basically a bulletin, you know, 817 00:31:09,095 --> 00:31:10,775 that's exactly it, but we just do it electronically 818 00:31:10,775 --> 00:31:12,935 and email rather than handing it out on Sundays. 819 00:31:13,555 --> 00:31:17,575 Um, and so our, usually the last one is, is our message, 820 00:31:17,755 --> 00:31:20,015 but, um, people have tended to enjoy it. 821 00:31:20,125 --> 00:31:22,135 - Yeah. Yeah. That's, that's powerful. Love that. 822 00:31:22,315 --> 00:31:23,975 Any, anything else as far as getting the ward 823 00:31:24,235 --> 00:31:26,375 or what is engaging with the ward members 824 00:31:26,565 --> 00:31:27,615 through the scriptures? 825 00:31:27,915 --> 00:31:29,495 - That's kind of it, you know, outside of the, 826 00:31:29,515 --> 00:31:30,575 the learner councils 827 00:31:30,575 --> 00:31:31,975 and the teacher councils, that was kind 828 00:31:31,975 --> 00:31:34,335 of the other thing we've tried to do. Nice. 829 00:31:34,335 --> 00:31:36,575 - So, love it. Uh, second one, finding groups 830 00:31:36,575 --> 00:31:38,295 of council discussions where meaningful 831 00:31:38,295 --> 00:31:39,775 and relevant discussions can happen. 832 00:31:40,195 --> 00:31:42,135 You touched on that a little bit. Anything we've missed? 833 00:31:42,715 --> 00:31:44,175 - No, I don't, I don't think so. It's just, yeah. 834 00:31:44,175 --> 00:31:46,615 Trying to find those lowest common denominator groups Yeah. 835 00:31:46,715 --> 00:31:47,775 For effective discussion. 836 00:31:48,125 --> 00:31:49,775 - Love it. And I, and I love just the one, 837 00:31:49,775 --> 00:31:52,615 like the empty nesters, like that, that's a demographic 838 00:31:52,615 --> 00:31:55,535 that we know is there, but we sometimes don't Mm-Hmm. 839 00:31:55,575 --> 00:31:57,055 , you know, label them as as a thing 840 00:31:57,115 --> 00:31:58,495 or, you know, maybe the widows 841 00:31:58,495 --> 00:32:00,295 or the widowers or whatever it is. Right? 842 00:32:00,565 --> 00:32:01,575 - Yeah. And so you could see, 843 00:32:01,575 --> 00:32:02,735 you could make this a huge thing. 844 00:32:02,775 --> 00:32:04,735 I mean, I could get like probably a couple other people 845 00:32:05,025 --> 00:32:06,095 along with me in the calling. 846 00:32:06,215 --> 00:32:08,495 I mean, you could make this as big as you want, so, yeah. 847 00:32:08,605 --> 00:32:11,335 - Awesome. The third principle is creating an environment 848 00:32:11,335 --> 00:32:12,735 of safe conversation partners. 849 00:32:12,735 --> 00:32:13,975 You touched on this already. Just, 850 00:32:14,115 --> 00:32:16,895 and really that, that safety, that's a powerful thing 851 00:32:16,895 --> 00:32:19,015 to be able to do as a teacher. 852 00:32:19,115 --> 00:32:21,335 And so if you can model that as a Sunday school president, 853 00:32:21,515 --> 00:32:23,895 uh, you know, Sunday school presidency, that that's, uh, 854 00:32:23,895 --> 00:32:25,055 you're, you're really helping a lot. 855 00:32:25,395 --> 00:32:27,415 - That's, that's what we try to do, so. Cool. 856 00:32:27,415 --> 00:32:28,855 - Awesome. Um, 857 00:32:29,635 --> 00:32:33,295 any other like nuance electronic tool thing you do? 858 00:32:33,595 --> 00:32:35,735 Uh, it probably seems normal to you, but for the rest of us, 859 00:32:36,435 --> 00:32:38,415 - Um, the only thing I could think of is one 860 00:32:38,415 --> 00:32:40,805 of our counselor kind of started a, a Google Doc thing, 861 00:32:41,345 --> 00:32:43,325 so it hasn't taken off yet, 862 00:32:43,865 --> 00:32:46,245 but he tried to implement this Google Doc thing of like, 863 00:32:46,245 --> 00:32:49,285 okay, here's your group's Google Doc, you know, everybody 864 00:32:49,385 --> 00:32:51,885 who is in this group, we've invited you to it. 865 00:32:51,905 --> 00:32:55,405 So if they wanted to try to engage in between the sessions, 866 00:32:55,435 --> 00:32:57,965 like, oh yeah, I was doing this thing with my kids 867 00:32:57,965 --> 00:33:00,205 and it really worked, or this is something I'm doing 868 00:33:00,205 --> 00:33:01,645 with my scripture study and it's working, 869 00:33:02,155 --> 00:33:03,405 then maybe they can put it on there 870 00:33:03,405 --> 00:33:04,805 and other people can leverage that kind 871 00:33:04,805 --> 00:33:05,925 of an engage in between. 872 00:33:06,465 --> 00:33:07,605 It hasn't taken off yet. 873 00:33:07,625 --> 00:33:11,085 So maybe that, that is, um, not as a successful at a, 874 00:33:11,085 --> 00:33:12,285 as an idea as we hoped, 875 00:33:12,665 --> 00:33:15,525 but that's something we've talked about and tried. 876 00:33:15,915 --> 00:33:17,645 - Yeah. So I would be put in a group 877 00:33:17,645 --> 00:33:19,125 of maybe five people in the ward 878 00:33:19,145 --> 00:33:21,765 and we would just, if if the come follow me about 879 00:33:22,345 --> 00:33:25,125 the first few chapters of Revelation, then we 880 00:33:25,125 --> 00:33:26,485 - Need, they could put in whatever they want. 881 00:33:26,485 --> 00:33:28,245 Yeah, exactly. You could do something like that. 882 00:33:28,385 --> 00:33:30,205 You could make it any which way you wanted. 883 00:33:30,235 --> 00:33:31,325 - Yeah. Whether it's a thought I had 884 00:33:31,325 --> 00:33:32,645 or maybe, Hey, I found this conference 885 00:33:32,645 --> 00:33:33,885 talk, you should listen to it. 886 00:33:33,995 --> 00:33:36,845 That connects to that, that block of scripture. Right. Yeah. 887 00:33:37,265 --> 00:33:39,765 No, I like that. So you're almost having that, I mean, 888 00:33:39,765 --> 00:33:42,445 Sunday school class is sort of going on throughout the week, 889 00:33:42,445 --> 00:33:43,965 and then by the time you get to Sunday school class, 890 00:33:43,965 --> 00:33:46,525 you've already somewhat have a, had a discussion 891 00:33:46,525 --> 00:33:47,685 with a handful of other people. 892 00:33:48,115 --> 00:33:50,125 - Yeah, no, again, that hasn't taken off, but, 893 00:33:50,125 --> 00:33:51,245 and maybe in other settings 894 00:33:51,245 --> 00:33:53,165 or maybe it will take off, I don't know. 895 00:33:53,395 --> 00:33:55,645 - Yeah, yeah. And you get that, that's one of those things 896 00:33:55,645 --> 00:33:57,405 of like on paper, great idea. 897 00:33:57,405 --> 00:33:58,925 Maybe the execution isn't like 898 00:33:59,085 --> 00:34:00,205 lining up, but it's worth trying. 899 00:34:00,205 --> 00:34:02,645 Mm-Hmm. and, and maybe for, you know, 900 00:34:02,785 --> 00:34:05,165 20 people in the ward, it's a really big blessing. 901 00:34:05,165 --> 00:34:06,365 And other people are like, yeah, I just 902 00:34:06,365 --> 00:34:08,205 don't engage that way. Right. And that's okay. 903 00:34:08,515 --> 00:34:09,605 - Exactly. Yeah. 904 00:34:09,605 --> 00:34:11,285 - Awesome. Cool. 905 00:34:11,705 --> 00:34:14,575 Uh, so let me just, uh, 906 00:34:14,575 --> 00:34:16,775 understand like the dynamics of, of your ward. 907 00:34:16,775 --> 00:34:18,295 Like how many you have. 908 00:34:18,995 --> 00:34:21,055 Uh, one, two adult Sunday school 909 00:34:21,055 --> 00:34:22,095 classes going on at the time. 910 00:34:22,515 --> 00:34:24,335 - We have two adult Sunday school classes. 911 00:34:24,515 --> 00:34:25,535 We became a bigger ward. 912 00:34:25,735 --> 00:34:27,655 'cause when they, they had three stakes 913 00:34:27,655 --> 00:34:30,255 and they took from those three stakes and made two. 914 00:34:30,755 --> 00:34:32,015 So ours, they just took two 915 00:34:32,135 --> 00:34:33,175 wards and combined them together. 916 00:34:33,315 --> 00:34:35,855 So previously the ward I was in was pretty small, 917 00:34:36,035 --> 00:34:38,095 and the other ward that combined with us was small. 918 00:34:38,095 --> 00:34:40,895 But together it's become a pretty big ward. 919 00:34:41,135 --> 00:34:42,735 Probably the biggest ward that I've ever been a part of. 920 00:34:43,195 --> 00:34:44,695 Um, so there is a lot of resources. 921 00:34:44,695 --> 00:34:45,895 That's where you have two adult classes 922 00:34:46,155 --> 00:34:47,615 and quite a bit of people. 923 00:34:47,635 --> 00:34:50,175 So I think that might be part of why it makes us work. 924 00:34:50,195 --> 00:34:53,015 We do have the resources to, you know, dedicate it, 925 00:34:53,155 --> 00:34:55,055 you know, to a Sunday school presidency 926 00:34:55,055 --> 00:34:56,295 and extra resources there. 927 00:34:56,605 --> 00:34:59,015 - Nice. Very good. And then you got your use, 928 00:34:59,035 --> 00:35:00,095 use Sunday school and, 929 00:35:00,195 --> 00:35:03,015 but really you've, which I, you know, it's hard 930 00:35:03,015 --> 00:35:06,055 to say these days to quote that handbook offhand 931 00:35:06,055 --> 00:35:07,575 because it seems like it changes 932 00:35:07,635 --> 00:35:09,055 or updates in the middle of the night. 933 00:35:09,275 --> 00:35:10,775 We don't expect it. But I mean, 934 00:35:10,775 --> 00:35:12,295 you're the Sunday school president in charge 935 00:35:12,295 --> 00:35:13,535 of all teaching in the war. 936 00:35:13,535 --> 00:35:16,095 Mm-Hmm. not just the Sunday School Hour 937 00:35:16,275 --> 00:35:17,535 on every other Sunday. 938 00:35:17,545 --> 00:35:18,735 Right. So, correct. 939 00:35:18,995 --> 00:35:20,575 And that's, this is a great model of 940 00:35:20,575 --> 00:35:22,255 what you've done is you're, you're mindful 941 00:35:22,275 --> 00:35:25,695 of what's happening in Young Men's in, in Elders Quorum, 942 00:35:25,695 --> 00:35:27,295 and you know that you're engaging 943 00:35:27,295 --> 00:35:29,655 with those teachers in a way that will really help them 944 00:35:29,795 --> 00:35:31,855 and you're covering all the teaching in the work. 945 00:35:32,445 --> 00:35:33,775 - Yeah. And that's kind of the idea. 946 00:35:33,835 --> 00:35:36,175 You, you help people know that they're, you know, 947 00:35:36,325 --> 00:35:38,845 they're noticed, you know, power in noticing people, 948 00:35:38,905 --> 00:35:39,925 you know, Hey, I'm there. 949 00:35:40,105 --> 00:35:41,805 And if, if they need something, they know 950 00:35:41,805 --> 00:35:43,685 where they can get help always. Yeah. You know? 951 00:35:43,985 --> 00:35:46,325 - So any fresh inspiration that's come of ideas 952 00:35:46,425 --> 00:35:48,565 or approaches that you're, you haven't tried yet, 953 00:35:48,585 --> 00:35:50,325 but you're maybe gonna experiment with? 954 00:35:50,825 --> 00:35:53,285 - Not so far. I mean, we're relatively in our infancy 955 00:35:53,385 --> 00:35:55,925 and we have a lot on our plate as you can probably tell. 956 00:35:55,955 --> 00:35:57,925 Yeah. Um, maybe, you know, 957 00:35:57,925 --> 00:35:59,725 but so far nothing outside of 958 00:35:59,725 --> 00:36:01,125 what we, what I've shared today. 959 00:36:01,395 --> 00:36:03,245 - Yeah. No, this is just such a great example. 960 00:36:03,345 --> 00:36:06,925 You know, Sunday school presidency calling at times can feel 961 00:36:06,925 --> 00:36:08,325 like, oh, I don't really know what I do. 962 00:36:08,325 --> 00:36:09,445 You know, make sure that, you know, 963 00:36:09,445 --> 00:36:11,045 like I mentioned earlier, that everything's, you know, 964 00:36:11,045 --> 00:36:12,765 the teacher show up and we're good there. 965 00:36:13,225 --> 00:36:16,085 Mm-Hmm. . But this really engages you 966 00:36:16,085 --> 00:36:18,005 and yeah, it makes you a little bit busier and, 967 00:36:18,065 --> 00:36:19,485 and there's a lot more to keep track of, 968 00:36:19,505 --> 00:36:22,445 but you're, I, I sense you go home after Sunday 969 00:36:22,585 --> 00:36:25,485 or with really feeling like you're contributing to the ward 970 00:36:25,485 --> 00:36:26,525 and the teaching that's happening. 971 00:36:26,995 --> 00:36:27,965 - Yeah. And like I said at 972 00:36:27,965 --> 00:36:29,005 the beginning, that was what I wanted. 973 00:36:29,005 --> 00:36:31,805 Yeah. I wanted that feeling for all of us, you know, to, 974 00:36:31,825 --> 00:36:34,205 to have that feeling like you're helping people. 975 00:36:34,205 --> 00:36:35,645 You're, you're affecting positive 976 00:36:35,645 --> 00:36:36,845 change and that's what you wanna do. 977 00:36:36,945 --> 00:36:38,285 You know, that's what church is about. 978 00:36:38,675 --> 00:36:41,845 - Love it. Well, Russell, any other concepts principle 979 00:36:41,845 --> 00:36:43,485 that we've missed or we, we covered all? 980 00:36:44,065 --> 00:36:45,845 - No, thank you for your time. Like I said, 981 00:36:45,845 --> 00:36:47,245 this is a story we want to share 982 00:36:47,265 --> 00:36:49,125 and we want, if people can implement this, 983 00:36:49,155 --> 00:36:50,325 this, they'll have a great time. 984 00:36:50,395 --> 00:36:51,725 Just like we're having a great time. 985 00:36:51,745 --> 00:36:53,125 So we want this story to be shared. 986 00:36:53,125 --> 00:36:56,285 - Alright. Well shout out to the Olympic View Ward in, uh, 987 00:36:56,515 --> 00:36:58,205 Lynn Lin Wood, Washington . 988 00:36:58,435 --> 00:36:59,645 I'll get, I'll get it right sometime. 989 00:36:59,785 --> 00:37:01,965 Um, well, Russell, last question I have for you. 990 00:37:02,025 --> 00:37:04,285 As you reflect on your time as a leader, 991 00:37:04,305 --> 00:37:06,285 as a Sunday school president and other leadership you've, 992 00:37:06,545 --> 00:37:07,965 uh, roles that you've had in the church, 993 00:37:08,465 --> 00:37:10,405 how has being a leader helped you become a better 994 00:37:10,405 --> 00:37:11,685 follower of Jesus Christ? 995 00:37:13,185 --> 00:37:14,845 - It just, you know, when you get in there 996 00:37:14,845 --> 00:37:15,925 and you do stuff like this 997 00:37:15,945 --> 00:37:18,725 and you really care about people, it just shows you 998 00:37:18,725 --> 00:37:20,965 how much it reminds you of how much God 999 00:37:20,965 --> 00:37:22,205 and Jesus care about me. 1000 00:37:22,705 --> 00:37:24,485 And so it just helps me to follow them 1001 00:37:24,485 --> 00:37:26,965 because you just, you, you just reminded all the time of 1002 00:37:26,995 --> 00:37:28,925 what, what they've done for you and, 1003 00:37:29,545 --> 00:37:31,285 and that it's worth following that. 1004 00:37:41,185 --> 00:37:43,725 - And that concludes this how I lead interview. 1005 00:37:44,125 --> 00:37:46,325 I hope you enjoyed it. And, uh, I would ask you, 1006 00:37:46,525 --> 00:37:49,165 could you take a minute and drop this link in an email, 1007 00:37:49,225 --> 00:37:50,845 on social media, in a text, 1008 00:37:51,525 --> 00:37:53,525 wherever it makes the most sense, and share it with somebody 1009 00:37:53,525 --> 00:37:55,965 who could relate to this, this experience. 1010 00:37:56,145 --> 00:37:59,485 And this is how we, how we develop as leaders, just hearing 1011 00:37:59,485 --> 00:38:01,645 what the other guy's doing, trying some things out, testing, 1012 00:38:01,755 --> 00:38:03,445 adjusting for your area. 1013 00:38:03,625 --> 00:38:05,965 And, uh, that's, that's 1014 00:38:05,965 --> 00:38:07,645 where great leadership's discovered, right? 1015 00:38:07,645 --> 00:38:10,205 So we would love to have you, uh, share this with, uh, 1016 00:38:10,485 --> 00:38:11,565 somebody in this calling 1017 00:38:11,665 --> 00:38:14,085 or a related calling and that would be great. 1018 00:38:14,425 --> 00:38:17,325 And also, if you know somebody, uh, any type of leader 1019 00:38:17,585 --> 00:38:20,045 who would be a fantastic guest on the How I Lead segment, 1020 00:38:20,385 --> 00:38:21,405 uh, reach out to us. 1021 00:38:21,405 --> 00:38:23,285 Go to leading scenes.org/contact. 1022 00:38:23,655 --> 00:38:26,605 Maybe send this in individual an email letting them know 1023 00:38:26,605 --> 00:38:28,685 that you're going to be suggesting their name 1024 00:38:28,785 --> 00:38:29,845 for this interview. 1025 00:38:29,905 --> 00:38:31,525 We will reach out to them and, 1026 00:38:31,625 --> 00:38:33,125 uh, see if we can line 'em up. 1027 00:38:33,125 --> 00:38:35,405 So again, go to leading saints.org/contact 1028 00:38:35,825 --> 00:38:37,645 and there you can submit all the information 1029 00:38:38,025 --> 00:38:40,845 and let us know, and maybe they will be on a feature How I 1030 00:38:40,845 --> 00:38:42,765 lead Segment on the Leading Saints podcast. 1031 00:38:44,005 --> 00:38:46,125 Remember up your teaching game by listening 1032 00:38:46,125 --> 00:38:47,725 to the David Farnsworth presentation 1033 00:38:47,745 --> 00:38:50,485 by visiting leading saints.org/fourteen. 1034 00:38:59,025 --> 00:39:02,285 - It came as a result of the position of leadership, 1035 00:39:02,295 --> 00:39:06,165 which was imposed upon us by the God of Heaven, 1036 00:39:06,305 --> 00:39:09,325 who brought forth a restoration of the gospel 1037 00:39:09,425 --> 00:39:10,885 of Jesus Christ. 1038 00:39:11,545 --> 00:39:15,165 And when the Declaration was made concerning the own 1039 00:39:15,265 --> 00:39:16,365 and only true 1040 00:39:16,385 --> 00:39:18,965 and living church upon the face of the earth, 1041 00:39:19,665 --> 00:39:23,045 we were immediately put in a position of loneliness. 1042 00:39:23,305 --> 00:39:25,005 The loneliness of leadership 1043 00:39:25,675 --> 00:39:28,365 from which we cannot shrink nor run away. 1044 00:39:29,745 --> 00:39:33,725 And to which we must face up with boldness and courage 1045 00:39:34,585 --> 00:39:35,205 and ability.