1 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:07,679 Hey. If you think Leading Saints is just 2 00:00:07,679 --> 00:00:10,480 a podcast, well, that's a big mistake. We 3 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:12,480 are so much more than a podcast. We've 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:16,144 established online a Leading Saints community. That's right. 5 00:00:16,144 --> 00:00:18,564 If you go to leadingsaints.org/zion, 6 00:00:18,945 --> 00:00:21,445 you'll be pushed towards a community online where 7 00:00:21,585 --> 00:00:23,824 the discussion is really happening. Sure. You're gonna 8 00:00:23,824 --> 00:00:25,425 listen to this episode. You'll get some great 9 00:00:25,425 --> 00:00:27,844 tips and ideas and hear a thought provoking 10 00:00:27,984 --> 00:00:31,399 discussion, but the conversation doesn't end there. We, 11 00:00:31,559 --> 00:00:34,119 go over to the Leading Saints community and 12 00:00:34,119 --> 00:00:35,719 talk further there. You can make comments. You 13 00:00:35,719 --> 00:00:37,640 can ask questions, and we'll probably do some 14 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,060 follow-up live streams with maybe the same guest, 15 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,039 but a lot is going on at the 16 00:00:42,039 --> 00:00:44,475 Leading Saints community. So check out the show 17 00:00:44,475 --> 00:00:47,375 notes for the link, leadingsaints.org/zion, 18 00:00:47,674 --> 00:00:49,614 and join the Leading Saints community. 19 00:00:57,049 --> 00:00:59,609 So before we launch into this podcast episode, 20 00:00:59,609 --> 00:01:02,170 maybe you are brand new to Leading Saints 21 00:01:02,170 --> 00:01:04,489 and you're wondering, okay, what is this? Why 22 00:01:04,489 --> 00:01:06,489 is there this platform talking about all things 23 00:01:06,489 --> 00:01:08,489 church leadership? Yeah. That's what we do at 24 00:01:08,489 --> 00:01:11,150 Leading Saints. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated 25 00:01:11,209 --> 00:01:13,545 to helping Latter day Saints be better prepared 26 00:01:13,545 --> 00:01:14,984 to lead and that may be in a 27 00:01:14,984 --> 00:01:16,905 formal leadership role or it may just be 28 00:01:16,905 --> 00:01:19,245 as a Zion builder. How can I just 29 00:01:19,305 --> 00:01:21,005 contribute more? How can I influence 30 00:01:21,465 --> 00:01:23,385 the culture of my ward or my community 31 00:01:23,385 --> 00:01:25,064 in a positive way even though I don't 32 00:01:25,064 --> 00:01:25,885 have a formal 33 00:01:26,219 --> 00:01:27,900 role? Or maybe there are those in a 34 00:01:27,900 --> 00:01:29,500 more formal role and they just want to 35 00:01:29,500 --> 00:01:32,000 understand how they can best execute their, 36 00:01:32,620 --> 00:01:33,120 responsibilities 37 00:01:33,579 --> 00:01:35,340 in a way that will benefit the ward 38 00:01:35,340 --> 00:01:37,579 and keep people coming back and just bless 39 00:01:37,579 --> 00:01:39,260 the lives in general. So that's what we 40 00:01:39,260 --> 00:01:41,385 do at Leading Saints. We are the go 41 00:01:41,385 --> 00:01:43,864 to platform where we explore all these things, 42 00:01:43,864 --> 00:01:46,745 sharing best practices, ideas, thoughts, what's what you've 43 00:01:46,745 --> 00:01:48,825 tried, what's worked, what hasn't worked. So we 44 00:01:48,825 --> 00:01:52,344 welcome you to Leading Saints. Go to leadingsaints.org/zion 45 00:01:52,344 --> 00:01:53,165 to get started, 46 00:01:53,579 --> 00:01:56,140 ask questions, explore answers, and I think your 47 00:01:56,140 --> 00:01:57,979 life and leadership will be blessed because of 48 00:01:57,979 --> 00:01:58,479 it. 49 00:02:05,019 --> 00:02:07,179 Hey. Welcome back to another episode of Leading 50 00:02:07,179 --> 00:02:09,335 Saints. This is I wanna share a portion 51 00:02:09,395 --> 00:02:11,474 of a conversation I had with a group 52 00:02:11,474 --> 00:02:11,974 of 53 00:02:12,354 --> 00:02:15,794 ward leaders, stake leaders, former ward leaders, former 54 00:02:15,794 --> 00:02:17,814 stake leaders, where we talk all things 55 00:02:18,115 --> 00:02:21,129 ward conferences. I know. You're probably maybe you 56 00:02:21,129 --> 00:02:22,650 jumped onto this because you're looking for a 57 00:02:22,650 --> 00:02:24,490 sleep aid, but I promise you there's some 58 00:02:24,490 --> 00:02:27,129 great content here that you're gonna love, especially 59 00:02:27,129 --> 00:02:28,889 if you're brand new, either on the word 60 00:02:28,889 --> 00:02:30,650 level or the stake level when it comes 61 00:02:30,650 --> 00:02:31,710 to word conferences. 62 00:02:32,254 --> 00:02:34,335 And I so much appreciate a question that, 63 00:02:34,574 --> 00:02:36,655 Bishop asked in this conversation, which was a 64 00:02:36,655 --> 00:02:38,574 vulnerable question of, hey. Wait a minute. I 65 00:02:38,574 --> 00:02:40,495 know it says we gotta do ward conferences 66 00:02:40,495 --> 00:02:42,735 in the handbook, but why are we doing 67 00:02:42,735 --> 00:02:44,415 this? What's the point? What are we trying 68 00:02:44,415 --> 00:02:47,189 to accomplish? And a great conversation ensued, and 69 00:02:47,189 --> 00:02:48,949 we talked about everything from getting the youth 70 00:02:48,949 --> 00:02:51,750 involved to second hour meetings to the days 71 00:02:51,750 --> 00:02:53,750 leading up toward conference. And how do you 72 00:02:53,750 --> 00:02:55,909 just make it an experience that members actually 73 00:02:55,909 --> 00:02:57,270 care about or want to be a part 74 00:02:57,270 --> 00:02:59,509 of rather than just another Sunday where, hey, 75 00:02:59,509 --> 00:03:01,694 look, the stake president actually showed up to 76 00:03:01,935 --> 00:03:03,295 to to talk in church. It can be 77 00:03:03,295 --> 00:03:04,754 so much more of that. It can be 78 00:03:04,895 --> 00:03:06,034 a a unifying 79 00:03:06,335 --> 00:03:08,655 point in in the calendar for for the 80 00:03:08,655 --> 00:03:11,135 ward, a place to reflect and reengage and 81 00:03:11,135 --> 00:03:13,375 really establish a strong culture and vision for 82 00:03:13,375 --> 00:03:16,019 the ward. So here is a portion of 83 00:03:16,019 --> 00:03:16,759 this conversation 84 00:03:17,219 --> 00:03:19,459 all about word conferences. And to get the 85 00:03:19,459 --> 00:03:19,939 full, 86 00:03:20,500 --> 00:03:23,060 conversation, you can go to Zion Lab and 87 00:03:23,060 --> 00:03:25,319 find it there. So let's jump in. 88 00:03:32,355 --> 00:03:34,515 So does anybody have, like, a burning question? 89 00:03:34,515 --> 00:03:37,175 Is anybody, like, week two of stake presidency, 90 00:03:37,395 --> 00:03:37,895 or, 91 00:03:38,355 --> 00:03:40,455 this is your first ward conference 92 00:03:40,754 --> 00:03:43,075 and you've got you just have a question 93 00:03:43,075 --> 00:03:44,855 you wanna start with? Or 94 00:03:45,569 --> 00:03:48,389 alright. Mister Chad Frankem. I'll start. 95 00:03:50,770 --> 00:03:52,310 How do we get past the, 96 00:03:53,650 --> 00:03:56,069 it's always been done x way and 97 00:03:56,930 --> 00:03:57,430 how, 98 00:03:58,504 --> 00:04:01,064 if you will, Sacrament meeting can't be changed 99 00:04:01,064 --> 00:04:01,885 a whole lot. 100 00:04:02,665 --> 00:04:04,905 We kinda have our setup there, but how 101 00:04:04,905 --> 00:04:05,564 can we 102 00:04:06,985 --> 00:04:08,525 make it better or 103 00:04:08,985 --> 00:04:11,245 change it up so that people find 104 00:04:11,829 --> 00:04:12,969 value in the meeting 105 00:04:13,590 --> 00:04:14,090 meetings. 106 00:04:14,549 --> 00:04:15,049 Right. 107 00:04:15,829 --> 00:04:18,069 Love it. Any any thoughts on that, how 108 00:04:18,069 --> 00:04:19,449 you'd respond to 109 00:04:20,310 --> 00:04:21,910 how to not fall into the trap of 110 00:04:21,910 --> 00:04:23,850 doing it, just how it's always been done? 111 00:04:24,454 --> 00:04:25,355 Yeah. David, go 112 00:04:25,894 --> 00:04:27,254 ahead. I think one of the things we've 113 00:04:27,254 --> 00:04:28,314 tried to do 114 00:04:28,694 --> 00:04:31,115 is have a meeting after 115 00:04:32,055 --> 00:04:33,595 after all of them are done, 116 00:04:34,535 --> 00:04:36,454 to say what went well, what would we 117 00:04:36,454 --> 00:04:37,355 like to change. 118 00:04:38,399 --> 00:04:40,660 And it was hard when we would do 119 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:43,759 previously, I was state president with 11 wards. 120 00:04:43,759 --> 00:04:45,279 We would do one a month because it 121 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:46,959 was just so much to get 11 done 122 00:04:46,959 --> 00:04:48,319 at the beginning of the year. So we 123 00:04:48,319 --> 00:04:50,240 would try to do one a month and 124 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:52,160 take up most of the year. That was 125 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:52,980 really hard. 126 00:04:53,654 --> 00:04:55,595 We tried a couple of times to do 127 00:04:56,375 --> 00:04:58,535 do them closer, and that was easier. And 128 00:04:58,535 --> 00:05:00,214 now our state split, and we have five 129 00:05:00,214 --> 00:05:02,055 wards, so it's quite easy. We get them 130 00:05:02,055 --> 00:05:04,295 done, you know, in two months. And and, 131 00:05:04,615 --> 00:05:07,279 but we try to meet. What we haven't 132 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,079 done is ask any award members. It's all 133 00:05:10,079 --> 00:05:12,879 been, like, feedback from leaders. And I as 134 00:05:12,879 --> 00:05:14,740 I'm been thinking about it, 135 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:16,879 more of what I'd like to do is 136 00:05:16,879 --> 00:05:19,360 try to understand from a member's perspective if 137 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,014 they're getting value out of the changes that 138 00:05:22,014 --> 00:05:24,595 we're making or what we're focusing on. 139 00:05:24,975 --> 00:05:26,735 Nice. And, David, are you you're currently a 140 00:05:26,735 --> 00:05:27,475 stake president? 141 00:05:28,095 --> 00:05:29,615 Yeah. Mhmm. And how how long you've been 142 00:05:29,615 --> 00:05:30,514 serving there? 143 00:05:31,055 --> 00:05:32,975 Four four years. Okay. So you've had a 144 00:05:32,975 --> 00:05:34,274 few iterations to 145 00:05:34,574 --> 00:05:36,740 test out. So Yeah. Yeah. I love that 146 00:05:36,740 --> 00:05:38,740 thought of, you know, how can we just 147 00:05:38,740 --> 00:05:40,680 get the general ward's perspective 148 00:05:41,620 --> 00:05:43,939 on on on on the meeting. Right? And 149 00:05:43,939 --> 00:05:46,259 I've often been a proponent of obviously, we 150 00:05:46,259 --> 00:05:47,879 have our traditional ward councils, 151 00:05:48,334 --> 00:05:50,415 but maybe at least once, maybe twice a 152 00:05:50,415 --> 00:05:53,134 year have a literal ward council where whether 153 00:05:53,134 --> 00:05:55,154 it's a fifth Sunday, you look by everybody 154 00:05:55,855 --> 00:05:58,415 into a room, circle up, and say, alright. 155 00:05:58,415 --> 00:06:00,175 What are you seeing? What do you what 156 00:06:00,175 --> 00:06:01,935 should we start, stop, and or continue type 157 00:06:01,935 --> 00:06:03,634 of thing? And that could be an opportunity 158 00:06:03,774 --> 00:06:04,230 to 159 00:06:04,790 --> 00:06:06,970 get some perspective there. Sean, go ahead. 160 00:06:08,550 --> 00:06:09,770 Yeah. As far as the 161 00:06:10,150 --> 00:06:11,770 feedback portion goes, 162 00:06:13,589 --> 00:06:15,750 we've we've never been directly asked on it, 163 00:06:15,750 --> 00:06:17,270 but I'm a bishop, but we've never been 164 00:06:17,270 --> 00:06:19,375 directly asked by the stake. Like, hey. How 165 00:06:19,375 --> 00:06:20,735 did it go? How did you like it? 166 00:06:20,735 --> 00:06:22,415 Like, what what can we do better? And 167 00:06:22,415 --> 00:06:22,915 so, 168 00:06:23,295 --> 00:06:24,735 whether they liked it or not, this year 169 00:06:24,735 --> 00:06:26,435 I proactively offered it. 170 00:06:26,895 --> 00:06:27,395 And, 171 00:06:28,495 --> 00:06:29,875 unfortunately, I've missed 172 00:06:30,300 --> 00:06:32,620 the last two years of word covers because 173 00:06:32,620 --> 00:06:34,160 I've just been out of town for work. 174 00:06:34,300 --> 00:06:36,459 And so I really was leaning heavily on 175 00:06:36,459 --> 00:06:38,139 our leaders like, hey, I was I went 176 00:06:38,139 --> 00:06:40,139 to all of our organization presidents and said, 177 00:06:40,139 --> 00:06:41,339 hey, how did it go? Like, give me 178 00:06:41,339 --> 00:06:42,079 your feedback, 179 00:06:42,459 --> 00:06:45,019 like, just raw feedback, positive and negative. And 180 00:06:45,019 --> 00:06:45,839 I and I 181 00:06:46,274 --> 00:06:47,795 compiled that all and gave it kind of 182 00:06:47,795 --> 00:06:49,415 an email to the stake presidency. 183 00:06:50,115 --> 00:06:51,714 And I feel like they sort of kind 184 00:06:51,714 --> 00:06:53,235 of received it well, there was a little 185 00:06:53,235 --> 00:06:54,055 bit of defensiveness 186 00:06:54,355 --> 00:06:55,014 in it. 187 00:06:55,795 --> 00:06:58,115 And, and, you know, we had really tried 188 00:06:58,115 --> 00:06:59,394 to reach out in advance to say, Hey, 189 00:06:59,394 --> 00:07:00,754 we'd like you to do this, we would 190 00:07:00,754 --> 00:07:02,490 we really want to have this. And it, 191 00:07:02,490 --> 00:07:04,250 like, honestly, was kind of a disaster and 192 00:07:04,250 --> 00:07:05,069 it fell apart 193 00:07:05,449 --> 00:07:07,210 and didn't really work out all that great. 194 00:07:07,210 --> 00:07:08,810 But that's why I wanted to offer that 195 00:07:08,810 --> 00:07:10,569 feedback, not to be critical, but to say, 196 00:07:10,569 --> 00:07:11,310 hey, like, 197 00:07:11,689 --> 00:07:13,610 we would love to see these things improved 198 00:07:13,610 --> 00:07:15,050 and changed so that it is a good 199 00:07:15,050 --> 00:07:16,569 experience. And so that we do feel like 200 00:07:16,569 --> 00:07:17,389 there's value 201 00:07:17,704 --> 00:07:19,084 that comes from it. And 202 00:07:19,464 --> 00:07:20,904 so I but I do like that thought 203 00:07:20,904 --> 00:07:22,125 of even getting even 204 00:07:22,665 --> 00:07:25,625 in addition to leaders, more members input for 205 00:07:25,625 --> 00:07:27,404 that as well to provide to the stake. 206 00:07:28,185 --> 00:07:30,105 Yeah. And, you know, Chad brings up an 207 00:07:30,105 --> 00:07:31,625 interesting point in the comments here as far 208 00:07:31,625 --> 00:07:33,149 as a lot of the members, you know, 209 00:07:33,229 --> 00:07:35,470 it's just another Sunday for them. Like, other 210 00:07:35,470 --> 00:07:37,790 than maybe the bishop and stake president is 211 00:07:37,790 --> 00:07:40,610 is talking in sacrum meeting. Right? And and 212 00:07:41,149 --> 00:07:42,990 but I think there's some things to be 213 00:07:42,990 --> 00:07:44,509 done to make it a little more of, 214 00:07:44,509 --> 00:07:46,750 like, a rallying point or, like, a reflection 215 00:07:46,750 --> 00:07:48,209 point for the ward in general, 216 00:07:48,685 --> 00:07:50,524 not just to say, oh, yeah. Next week 217 00:07:50,524 --> 00:07:52,365 is ward conference. It's sort of like, okay. 218 00:07:52,365 --> 00:07:54,764 Whatever. Like, get the sacrament. It oh, and 219 00:07:54,764 --> 00:07:55,964 then when we have some you know, the 220 00:07:55,964 --> 00:07:57,884 steak is maybe speaking the second hour or 221 00:07:57,884 --> 00:07:59,805 whatever. So I think there's more to be 222 00:07:59,805 --> 00:08:00,464 done there. 223 00:08:02,379 --> 00:08:04,459 And and and going back to Chad mentioned 224 00:08:04,459 --> 00:08:06,540 earlier, you know, just how to not fall 225 00:08:06,540 --> 00:08:07,040 into 226 00:08:07,579 --> 00:08:09,100 the the same old or just doing what 227 00:08:09,100 --> 00:08:11,439 the last guy did. I remember our first 228 00:08:11,740 --> 00:08:13,819 iteration of word conferences when I was in 229 00:08:13,819 --> 00:08:14,639 a state presidency. 230 00:08:15,574 --> 00:08:17,175 We really forced ourselves to say, let's go 231 00:08:17,175 --> 00:08:19,014 to the handbook and and read it, you 232 00:08:19,014 --> 00:08:20,235 know, word for word 233 00:08:21,014 --> 00:08:23,415 as if we've never experienced a word conference 234 00:08:23,415 --> 00:08:25,654 before. And just take it from there, and 235 00:08:25,654 --> 00:08:27,415 then and then from there, we can lean 236 00:08:27,415 --> 00:08:30,475 on revelation, inspiration, ideas, brainstorm, 237 00:08:31,839 --> 00:08:34,720 rather than asking the previous stake presence. Hey. 238 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:36,559 What was that format, you know, you gave 239 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:38,320 us that you printed out or the packet 240 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,080 you'd give words? You know, we'd like to 241 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:41,839 keep using that and maybe, you know, maybe 242 00:08:41,839 --> 00:08:43,600 it is effective. Maybe you'd wanna do that. 243 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:44,100 But, 244 00:08:46,144 --> 00:08:48,144 anyways, I think there's just like most things, 245 00:08:48,144 --> 00:08:50,065 you can just assume you know nothing, and 246 00:08:50,065 --> 00:08:52,144 what would it look like if if you've 247 00:08:52,144 --> 00:08:54,325 never experienced something? Chad, go ahead. 248 00:08:55,264 --> 00:08:58,325 So I I was released to stake president, 249 00:08:58,384 --> 00:09:00,779 oh, six months ago when I was first 250 00:09:00,779 --> 00:09:02,000 made state president. 251 00:09:03,740 --> 00:09:06,080 The previous state president handed out 252 00:09:06,539 --> 00:09:09,980 about an 18 page document that gave everything 253 00:09:09,980 --> 00:09:11,679 that they wanted to do 254 00:09:12,884 --> 00:09:14,024 in ward conference. 255 00:09:14,565 --> 00:09:15,065 And, 256 00:09:15,605 --> 00:09:17,465 talking to the bishops, it was 257 00:09:18,325 --> 00:09:21,785 too much. So we shortened it down, 258 00:09:22,725 --> 00:09:23,545 and gave 259 00:09:24,725 --> 00:09:26,665 and just really focused. 260 00:09:27,860 --> 00:09:30,259 I would one thing I learned there is 261 00:09:30,259 --> 00:09:31,080 don't overwhelm. 262 00:09:31,539 --> 00:09:31,860 Don't 263 00:09:32,419 --> 00:09:34,820 I mean, in there, there was, hey. We're 264 00:09:34,820 --> 00:09:38,340 gonna do these four visits, and we want 265 00:09:38,340 --> 00:09:41,365 to visit eight kids, and and it just 266 00:09:41,365 --> 00:09:43,544 brought so much stress to the ward. 267 00:09:44,084 --> 00:09:47,304 How how do you keep stress low, 268 00:09:47,845 --> 00:09:48,584 but yet, 269 00:09:50,164 --> 00:09:51,704 the message and the spirituality 270 00:09:52,084 --> 00:09:52,584 high 271 00:09:52,980 --> 00:09:55,459 is a question I would ask. Yeah. That's 272 00:09:55,459 --> 00:09:55,959 awesome. 273 00:09:56,339 --> 00:09:58,200 I'm just gonna share my screen here. 274 00:10:00,339 --> 00:10:03,720 Here is the actual you know, in the 275 00:10:04,500 --> 00:10:05,399 in the handbook. 276 00:10:06,375 --> 00:10:09,095 So it's just, obviously, four paragraphs says word 277 00:10:09,095 --> 00:10:12,715 conferences word conferences planned to meet local needs. 278 00:10:13,014 --> 00:10:15,175 That's interesting way to start it. It includes 279 00:10:15,175 --> 00:10:17,675 a sacrament meeting planned by the stake president. 280 00:10:17,940 --> 00:10:20,659 The stake president usually presides at the meeting, 281 00:10:20,659 --> 00:10:22,759 and a member of the bishop usually conducts. 282 00:10:23,299 --> 00:10:24,980 During this meeting, a member of the stake 283 00:10:24,980 --> 00:10:27,860 presidency or high council presents the name the 284 00:10:27,860 --> 00:10:30,259 names of general stake and ward leaders for 285 00:10:30,259 --> 00:10:31,799 sustaining. He uses the 286 00:10:32,174 --> 00:10:34,654 officer sustaining form prepared by the ward clerk. 287 00:10:34,654 --> 00:10:36,735 The bishop and stake president usually speak in 288 00:10:36,735 --> 00:10:37,315 the meeting. 289 00:10:37,695 --> 00:10:38,434 The ward 290 00:10:38,815 --> 00:10:41,235 holds regular priesthood and organization 291 00:10:41,855 --> 00:10:44,174 meetings as part of the ward conference. Stake 292 00:10:44,174 --> 00:10:45,554 leaders may give instruction 293 00:10:45,934 --> 00:10:46,674 and assist, 294 00:10:47,860 --> 00:10:50,019 and assistance they minister to ward leaders and 295 00:10:50,019 --> 00:10:50,519 members. 296 00:10:51,460 --> 00:10:54,040 In connection with ward conference, the stake presidency 297 00:10:54,500 --> 00:10:56,899 meets with the bishopric. Together, they review the 298 00:10:56,899 --> 00:10:58,679 progress of God's work of salvation 299 00:10:58,980 --> 00:10:59,480 and 300 00:11:00,215 --> 00:11:02,535 exaltation in the ward. This meeting may be 301 00:11:02,535 --> 00:11:04,535 held on the ward conference Sunday or at 302 00:11:04,535 --> 00:11:06,695 another time. So a few things jump out. 303 00:11:06,695 --> 00:11:08,315 One, the, you know, focus on 304 00:11:08,695 --> 00:11:10,615 the meetings, focus on local needs. I think 305 00:11:10,615 --> 00:11:12,615 that's, you know, what Sean was getting after 306 00:11:12,615 --> 00:11:14,230 as far as giving feedback. Like, what do 307 00:11:14,230 --> 00:11:15,829 we actually need from you or want from 308 00:11:15,829 --> 00:11:16,329 you? 309 00:11:16,709 --> 00:11:18,149 And this way, you know, the bishop and 310 00:11:18,149 --> 00:11:19,449 stake president usually 311 00:11:19,750 --> 00:11:22,470 speak in a sacrament. So it's obviously not 312 00:11:22,470 --> 00:11:23,049 a mandate 313 00:11:23,429 --> 00:11:24,649 there. Some autonomy 314 00:11:25,029 --> 00:11:25,850 to work towards. 315 00:11:27,654 --> 00:11:29,595 And, yeah, I you know, going back to 316 00:11:29,735 --> 00:11:31,335 what Chad says, I I remember in that 317 00:11:31,335 --> 00:11:33,575 Bishoprig kind of getting that packet. Like, here 318 00:11:33,575 --> 00:11:35,115 it is. It was sort of this 319 00:11:35,654 --> 00:11:36,134 this, 320 00:11:37,014 --> 00:11:39,254 burden that was put on the, 321 00:11:39,735 --> 00:11:42,309 on the words. Right? Like, here here's how 322 00:11:42,309 --> 00:11:44,549 we here's the general template we want to 323 00:11:44,549 --> 00:11:45,049 go, 324 00:11:45,509 --> 00:11:46,009 and, 325 00:11:47,990 --> 00:11:49,990 and, you know, that here's your marching orders 326 00:11:49,990 --> 00:11:51,269 type of thing. And then it kind of 327 00:11:51,269 --> 00:11:53,350 being this big assignment that the bishop came 328 00:11:53,350 --> 00:11:54,870 in. And when we shifted to when I 329 00:11:54,870 --> 00:11:56,179 was in this the 330 00:11:56,674 --> 00:11:57,815 the stake presidency, 331 00:11:58,355 --> 00:12:00,514 I I you know, we we came together 332 00:12:00,514 --> 00:12:01,014 and 333 00:12:01,475 --> 00:12:03,495 wanted to be more of, like, a treat 334 00:12:03,794 --> 00:12:06,514 for the wards. Right? Like, hey. We're coming 335 00:12:06,514 --> 00:12:08,274 in. Like, we got it. You show up. 336 00:12:08,274 --> 00:12:09,861 Yeah. We may have you speak in this 337 00:12:09,861 --> 00:12:11,919 meeting or that meeting, but that's really all 338 00:12:11,919 --> 00:12:13,977 you're worrying about rather than, you know, line 339 00:12:13,977 --> 00:12:16,035 up this list of visits or these things. 340 00:12:16,035 --> 00:12:18,093 Right? And visits are great. And, obviously, it's 341 00:12:18,093 --> 00:12:20,151 kinda hard for the state presidency to do 342 00:12:20,151 --> 00:12:22,209 that or if they're not as familiar, but 343 00:12:22,209 --> 00:12:24,267 it can be sort of this burden that, 344 00:12:24,605 --> 00:12:26,684 you know, there can be some ambivalence that 345 00:12:26,684 --> 00:12:29,485 the Bishopric has towards word conferences. And and 346 00:12:29,485 --> 00:12:31,425 I think anytime we can create a positive 347 00:12:31,485 --> 00:12:31,985 experience 348 00:12:32,845 --> 00:12:34,445 on the stake level, for the word level, 349 00:12:34,445 --> 00:12:36,205 and show that, hey. We're actually here to 350 00:12:36,205 --> 00:12:38,129 help you, assist you. Like, what is your 351 00:12:38,129 --> 00:12:39,490 ward need? What do what what can we 352 00:12:39,490 --> 00:12:40,610 do there? I think it goes a long 353 00:12:40,610 --> 00:12:41,370 way. So 354 00:12:41,809 --> 00:12:43,509 alright. Anybody else wanna, 355 00:12:44,769 --> 00:12:46,850 share thoughts or some great comments happening in 356 00:12:46,850 --> 00:12:47,429 the chat? 357 00:12:48,209 --> 00:12:50,149 Morgan says, we found that the meetings 358 00:12:50,610 --> 00:12:52,924 surrounding the ward conference can provide a lot 359 00:12:52,924 --> 00:12:55,725 of meaning. Organized visits involve the word and 360 00:12:55,725 --> 00:12:58,125 state council, a joint stake and word council 361 00:12:58,125 --> 00:13:00,384 focused on understanding word needs and strengths, 362 00:13:01,164 --> 00:13:03,804 and an activity involving the stake presidency and 363 00:13:03,804 --> 00:13:05,884 the youth before the word conference. It's a 364 00:13:05,884 --> 00:13:09,050 new practice. Yeah. Love that. I I know, 365 00:13:11,290 --> 00:13:12,889 you know, there was a word when I 366 00:13:12,889 --> 00:13:15,050 was serving the state presidency that really did 367 00:13:15,050 --> 00:13:17,929 a fantastic job of making it, like, sort 368 00:13:17,929 --> 00:13:19,470 of a weak experience 369 00:13:19,924 --> 00:13:21,684 for the ward. And it wasn't, like, heavy 370 00:13:21,684 --> 00:13:23,365 handed. Like, you know, the ward members have 371 00:13:23,365 --> 00:13:25,204 to come to everything, and they did everything 372 00:13:25,204 --> 00:13:27,365 from having, like, a temple day the week 373 00:13:27,365 --> 00:13:28,664 prior to work conference. 374 00:13:29,125 --> 00:13:30,884 They'd have an activity on one of the 375 00:13:30,884 --> 00:13:32,804 days. I forget all the other things, maybe 376 00:13:32,804 --> 00:13:34,264 a youth focused activity. 377 00:13:35,039 --> 00:13:36,879 And it it maybe was a lot, but 378 00:13:36,879 --> 00:13:37,940 it definitely made, 379 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:40,820 like, the it it helped members really, 380 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:43,360 engage members in a different way to be 381 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:44,799 like, this is sort of a special week 382 00:13:44,799 --> 00:13:46,500 to really focus in on 383 00:13:47,075 --> 00:13:49,075 on our ward and our culture and all 384 00:13:49,075 --> 00:13:51,475 things happening in our ward that then by 385 00:13:51,475 --> 00:13:53,794 Sunday was sort of this capstone to the 386 00:13:53,794 --> 00:13:54,534 the week. 387 00:13:55,315 --> 00:13:56,914 And I always thought that was a a 388 00:13:56,914 --> 00:13:58,274 unique approach. There was a lot of work, 389 00:13:58,274 --> 00:13:59,634 but they were, like, willing to take it 390 00:13:59,634 --> 00:14:01,174 on because they knew it could be 391 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:03,840 focused and more special for the the ward 392 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:04,660 members. So, 393 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:07,860 Brad says here, 394 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:11,200 we've always held ward conferences in the first 395 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:13,120 four to five months at a pace of 396 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:15,279 about two per month. This makes for a 397 00:14:15,279 --> 00:14:17,834 busy season with eight wards. Have others 398 00:14:18,294 --> 00:14:20,455 tried with a slower pace? Yeah. I'm curious 399 00:14:20,455 --> 00:14:22,695 what, others have tried with just, you know, 400 00:14:22,695 --> 00:14:24,375 how you schedule these. Obviously, you have the 401 00:14:24,375 --> 00:14:25,195 autonomy of 402 00:14:25,815 --> 00:14:27,115 of, doing them 403 00:14:27,815 --> 00:14:29,815 at whatever time that you want throughout the 404 00:14:29,815 --> 00:14:32,379 year. I've seen some that just, like, you 405 00:14:32,379 --> 00:14:34,299 know, book them back to back as much 406 00:14:34,299 --> 00:14:36,059 as they can, you know, skipping fast Sundays. 407 00:14:36,059 --> 00:14:37,579 And, you know, we're gonna get through our 408 00:14:37,579 --> 00:14:39,360 eight, nine, 10 wards 409 00:14:39,820 --> 00:14:40,559 in the next 410 00:14:40,940 --> 00:14:42,940 twelve weeks. And then, you know, sort of 411 00:14:42,940 --> 00:14:44,059 the first of the year, you get them 412 00:14:44,059 --> 00:14:45,419 over, and then you can focus on other 413 00:14:45,419 --> 00:14:45,919 things. 414 00:14:46,964 --> 00:14:49,684 But, curious to know, anybody have a unique 415 00:14:49,684 --> 00:14:52,004 approach or seen a unique approach as far 416 00:14:52,004 --> 00:14:53,204 as how to space them out in the 417 00:14:53,204 --> 00:14:54,824 year? David says, 418 00:14:56,164 --> 00:14:58,485 Brad, we did, one a month for eleven 419 00:14:58,485 --> 00:15:00,100 months, but found that it was hard to 420 00:15:00,100 --> 00:15:02,259 get the similar message out across all awards 421 00:15:02,259 --> 00:15:03,879 because our emphasis was changing. 422 00:15:04,339 --> 00:15:05,860 Not the end of the world, but the 423 00:15:05,860 --> 00:15:08,120 later awards missed out on the early instruction, 424 00:15:08,179 --> 00:15:10,019 and the early ones missed out on the 425 00:15:10,019 --> 00:15:13,245 later instruction. We've also powered through and done 426 00:15:13,245 --> 00:15:15,085 for a month for a few months, and 427 00:15:15,085 --> 00:15:17,404 that was too much mostly just for the 428 00:15:17,404 --> 00:15:19,644 stakeholders. Yeah. That's that's for sure. And that 429 00:15:19,644 --> 00:15:21,585 is a thing. Right? Like, you generally want 430 00:15:22,684 --> 00:15:24,065 a a message, a theme, 431 00:15:24,684 --> 00:15:25,665 as part of 432 00:15:26,250 --> 00:15:27,450 of what you're doing. But if you have 433 00:15:27,450 --> 00:15:29,370 11 wards and, you know, by you're just 434 00:15:29,370 --> 00:15:30,910 doing one a month, like, that 435 00:15:31,290 --> 00:15:33,129 Ward 1 seems like a long time ago 436 00:15:33,129 --> 00:15:35,309 when you finally get to Ward 11. Right? 437 00:15:35,690 --> 00:15:36,910 Morgan, go ahead. 438 00:15:37,370 --> 00:15:39,370 I'm curious how many of the ward how 439 00:15:39,370 --> 00:15:40,954 many of the stakes are coming with a 440 00:15:40,954 --> 00:15:42,095 consistent message, 441 00:15:43,034 --> 00:15:44,735 across the the word conferences, 442 00:15:45,595 --> 00:15:47,695 or is this something that they're catering 443 00:15:48,074 --> 00:15:51,195 to individual awards based upon their needs? Our 444 00:15:51,195 --> 00:15:53,115 stake is one in which we we have 445 00:15:53,115 --> 00:15:54,014 11 units, 446 00:15:54,750 --> 00:15:57,070 and so as a result, we we end 447 00:15:57,070 --> 00:15:57,570 up, 448 00:15:58,350 --> 00:16:00,029 doing it over the course of the full 449 00:16:00,029 --> 00:16:02,929 year. And so that message can definitely change, 450 00:16:03,710 --> 00:16:05,309 and does change over the course of the 451 00:16:05,309 --> 00:16:07,570 year. So I'm I'm curious as to that. 452 00:16:08,205 --> 00:16:10,125 Love it. Any any thoughts on that as 453 00:16:10,125 --> 00:16:13,565 far as, Morgan, like, themes. Right? Yeah. Chad, 454 00:16:13,565 --> 00:16:14,225 go ahead. 455 00:16:14,764 --> 00:16:15,665 I sometimes, 456 00:16:16,125 --> 00:16:18,365 I we would have a main theme, and 457 00:16:18,365 --> 00:16:18,865 then, 458 00:16:19,565 --> 00:16:21,345 once or twice, I would 459 00:16:22,740 --> 00:16:25,720 pray about a given ward and would adapt 460 00:16:25,779 --> 00:16:28,579 my message for the ward. So I did 461 00:16:28,579 --> 00:16:30,919 it both ways. I don't think that there's, 462 00:16:32,899 --> 00:16:35,715 a perfect way of doing it. They both 463 00:16:36,254 --> 00:16:37,475 worked out the same. 464 00:16:37,774 --> 00:16:39,375 So I I didn't see a plus or 465 00:16:39,375 --> 00:16:40,434 minus either way. 466 00:16:42,335 --> 00:16:43,934 Yeah. And and I don't know. I mean, 467 00:16:43,934 --> 00:16:45,394 it's always nice to have a theme. 468 00:16:46,575 --> 00:16:48,414 You know, I guess it kinda helps mold 469 00:16:48,414 --> 00:16:50,649 and shape the direction and help everybody sort 470 00:16:50,649 --> 00:16:52,990 of talk about similar things, but, you know, 471 00:16:53,049 --> 00:16:55,289 sometimes you just visit the ward and share 472 00:16:55,289 --> 00:16:57,789 the gospel and, you know, move on. So, 473 00:16:58,730 --> 00:17:00,409 I think this is also a good time 474 00:17:00,409 --> 00:17:03,309 for stake presidencies to be self aware of, 475 00:17:04,055 --> 00:17:04,295 you know 476 00:17:05,255 --> 00:17:07,174 I often mention this in the context of 477 00:17:07,174 --> 00:17:09,335 stake conference that it's like every six months, 478 00:17:09,335 --> 00:17:11,414 they finally get a venue where they can 479 00:17:11,414 --> 00:17:13,654 speak directly to the entire stake. And so 480 00:17:13,654 --> 00:17:16,315 it's this over overly or or passive, 481 00:17:16,615 --> 00:17:17,914 you know, heavy handed, 482 00:17:18,460 --> 00:17:21,019 like, hey, temple numbers or, hey, you know, 483 00:17:21,019 --> 00:17:22,886 missionary work or, you know, there's sort of 484 00:17:22,886 --> 00:17:22,940 this, 485 00:17:24,539 --> 00:17:26,539 they're the pounding of the drum of, like, 486 00:17:26,539 --> 00:17:27,920 do more, do better. 487 00:17:28,299 --> 00:17:30,860 Here's our numbers. Like, do you really understand 488 00:17:30,860 --> 00:17:32,380 how awesome the temple is? Like, we're gonna 489 00:17:32,380 --> 00:17:34,195 give you three talks to kinda beat over 490 00:17:34,195 --> 00:17:35,394 the head with that doctrine so that you 491 00:17:35,394 --> 00:17:37,255 go to the temple more. And 492 00:17:38,195 --> 00:17:40,434 just be aware of, like, when you have 493 00:17:40,434 --> 00:17:42,674 visiting authorities come to your stake. Right? Like, 494 00:17:42,674 --> 00:17:44,115 what are the things you like they do 495 00:17:44,355 --> 00:17:45,955 like that they do or like that they 496 00:17:45,955 --> 00:17:48,115 don't or don't like that they do? And 497 00:17:48,115 --> 00:17:48,615 then, 498 00:17:49,059 --> 00:17:49,720 you know, 499 00:17:50,339 --> 00:17:52,420 we've all had the maybe visiting authority that 500 00:17:52,420 --> 00:17:53,779 comes, and there's like, let me see the 501 00:17:53,779 --> 00:17:56,180 numbers and just go, oh, wow. Like, you're 502 00:17:56,180 --> 00:17:56,580 you're, 503 00:17:57,059 --> 00:17:59,299 endowed without recommend list. Like, alright. Now I 504 00:17:59,299 --> 00:18:00,660 know what we're gonna speak about, and then 505 00:18:00,660 --> 00:18:02,894 they kinda, you know, beat the stake up 506 00:18:02,894 --> 00:18:04,335 about that. And then they they leave town, 507 00:18:04,335 --> 00:18:05,934 and you're like, woah. Your your head's kinda 508 00:18:05,934 --> 00:18:08,734 spinning. Like, what was that about? Right? And 509 00:18:08,734 --> 00:18:10,894 so this is sort of very similar of 510 00:18:10,894 --> 00:18:12,734 an experience where the stake leaders coming to 511 00:18:12,734 --> 00:18:13,315 the ward 512 00:18:13,789 --> 00:18:15,150 and what are you know, how would you 513 00:18:15,150 --> 00:18:17,309 want that visiting authority to act, and you 514 00:18:17,309 --> 00:18:19,250 can maybe learn from that as well. So, 515 00:18:19,630 --> 00:18:21,789 Sean, go ahead. Yeah. I have all these, 516 00:18:21,789 --> 00:18:23,710 like, thoughts in my head, and I don't 517 00:18:23,710 --> 00:18:25,309 know how to exactly get it out. So 518 00:18:25,309 --> 00:18:26,450 wish me luck. But 519 00:18:26,954 --> 00:18:28,714 it I don't and I don't want it 520 00:18:28,714 --> 00:18:30,394 to come across as cynical, but it kind 521 00:18:30,394 --> 00:18:32,554 of is. I I know that we we 522 00:18:32,554 --> 00:18:34,894 read that handbook section of, like, you know, 523 00:18:35,115 --> 00:18:37,835 they adapt to meet local needs, and there's, 524 00:18:37,835 --> 00:18:39,515 you know, so many things that you could 525 00:18:39,515 --> 00:18:41,710 do with that. And that's really, like, the 526 00:18:41,710 --> 00:18:43,630 focus of it. But I'm I just wanna 527 00:18:43,630 --> 00:18:45,950 ask that kind of especially to those that 528 00:18:45,950 --> 00:18:47,809 are state leaders now or have been, 529 00:18:48,109 --> 00:18:49,630 because I've never held a state calling. And 530 00:18:49,630 --> 00:18:51,309 so I've never been on that end of 531 00:18:51,309 --> 00:18:51,809 things. 532 00:18:52,429 --> 00:18:53,950 But I just wanna ask kind of a 533 00:18:53,950 --> 00:18:55,890 semi cynical question of what's the point 534 00:18:56,325 --> 00:18:57,944 or conference like, what's the point? 535 00:18:58,404 --> 00:19:00,804 And and I'm like, I can self answer 536 00:19:00,804 --> 00:19:02,884 my own question by like reading that. But 537 00:19:02,884 --> 00:19:05,204 I guess I've just never experienced like a 538 00:19:05,204 --> 00:19:06,585 word conference where 539 00:19:07,125 --> 00:19:09,200 the stake leaders left and we all got 540 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:10,880 got back together. We're like, that was so 541 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:12,480 good. We got this. We got this. It 542 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:14,080 felt like a treat, like like you said, 543 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,000 Kurt. And so I would love I would 544 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:17,700 love to hear positive, like, 545 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:20,980 specifics of what made it a treat, what 546 00:19:21,234 --> 00:19:24,034 what specific local needs, like, were truly met 547 00:19:24,034 --> 00:19:25,815 by stake leaders coming once 548 00:19:26,755 --> 00:19:27,255 and 549 00:19:28,194 --> 00:19:29,875 meeting for a few hours or joining a 550 00:19:29,875 --> 00:19:32,115 sacrament meeting. Like, I I guess I'm trying 551 00:19:32,115 --> 00:19:33,315 not to be cynical, but at the same 552 00:19:33,315 --> 00:19:35,230 time, I've just I've never experienced a truly 553 00:19:35,230 --> 00:19:37,069 positive word conference where I'm like, man, I 554 00:19:37,069 --> 00:19:38,829 was fed and it was good, and I'm 555 00:19:38,829 --> 00:19:40,990 so grateful that the stake came. Yeah. Hopefully, 556 00:19:40,990 --> 00:19:42,210 that comes across right. 557 00:19:42,829 --> 00:19:44,130 Yeah. And that's why I'm like, 558 00:19:45,150 --> 00:19:46,990 at bare minimum, like like, let's just give, 559 00:19:46,990 --> 00:19:49,505 like, a an easy week for that ward 560 00:19:49,505 --> 00:19:51,105 leadership to just show up, and we'll do 561 00:19:51,105 --> 00:19:52,704 the rest. Right? Like, even if we don't, 562 00:19:52,704 --> 00:19:53,365 like, have 563 00:19:53,664 --> 00:19:55,744 a barn burner of a talk or a, 564 00:19:55,744 --> 00:19:57,984 you know, whatever, at least we can do 565 00:19:57,984 --> 00:19:58,464 that. But, 566 00:19:59,184 --> 00:20:00,325 Brad, go ahead. 567 00:20:00,990 --> 00:20:02,670 I'm a stake clerk, so I'm not in 568 00:20:02,670 --> 00:20:04,450 a stake presidency or a bishopric, 569 00:20:04,990 --> 00:20:07,069 but I do I do sit in all 570 00:20:07,069 --> 00:20:08,369 the meetings. And, 571 00:20:09,630 --> 00:20:12,509 what our stake presidency did in terms of 572 00:20:12,509 --> 00:20:13,890 local needs versus 573 00:20:14,974 --> 00:20:16,494 kind of a state focus is they took 574 00:20:16,494 --> 00:20:18,815 that second hour, then they assigned a high 575 00:20:18,815 --> 00:20:21,394 counselor to focus in on something that's 576 00:20:21,855 --> 00:20:24,035 that's of high priority for the state presidency. 577 00:20:24,255 --> 00:20:26,195 And in this case, this year, it was, 578 00:20:27,809 --> 00:20:29,649 temple, a temple focus. And it was a 579 00:20:29,649 --> 00:20:31,329 how to, it was how to use family 580 00:20:31,329 --> 00:20:31,829 search, 581 00:20:32,369 --> 00:20:33,990 how to do ordinances ready, 582 00:20:35,250 --> 00:20:37,269 you know, a focus on what is 583 00:20:38,450 --> 00:20:40,454 a what is a what is a family 584 00:20:40,454 --> 00:20:42,615 search discovery experience? What can a Temple of 585 00:20:42,615 --> 00:20:43,434 Family History, 586 00:20:44,775 --> 00:20:47,194 consultant do to with the family? And 587 00:20:47,894 --> 00:20:50,134 while they were doing that, the presidency was 588 00:20:50,134 --> 00:20:51,815 in with the youth who had turned in 589 00:20:51,815 --> 00:20:54,075 questions, and they were answering questions to youth. 590 00:20:54,409 --> 00:20:55,309 And that felt 591 00:20:55,929 --> 00:20:57,609 like a way to kind of address kind 592 00:20:57,609 --> 00:20:59,849 of the big stake needs, their focus, that 593 00:20:59,849 --> 00:21:01,210 they felt like they needed to focus on 594 00:21:01,210 --> 00:21:02,990 was on the temple portion of things 595 00:21:03,769 --> 00:21:04,829 and family history. 596 00:21:05,529 --> 00:21:07,470 And then, the stake presidency 597 00:21:07,849 --> 00:21:10,325 adjusted, the the stake president adjusted his message 598 00:21:10,384 --> 00:21:11,125 by ward 599 00:21:11,424 --> 00:21:13,365 with the bishops when he when he went 600 00:21:13,744 --> 00:21:14,144 to, 601 00:21:14,704 --> 00:21:16,484 give his talk in sacrament meeting. 602 00:21:18,144 --> 00:21:18,644 Awesome. 603 00:21:19,105 --> 00:21:20,384 David, do you have something to add to 604 00:21:20,384 --> 00:21:20,759 that? 605 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:23,400 Yeah. One one of the things that I 606 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:25,400 think we did that worked well was in 607 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,400 that portion of the handbook where it says 608 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:29,400 meet meet with the bishoprics and talk about 609 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:30,299 the work of salvation, 610 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:31,420 we 611 00:21:31,799 --> 00:21:32,539 we asked 612 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:35,420 instead of meeting individually with the bishoprics, 613 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,414 we met as all of the stake bishoprics 614 00:21:38,475 --> 00:21:40,654 together, and we asked them to bring 615 00:21:41,035 --> 00:21:41,535 certain 616 00:21:41,994 --> 00:21:44,795 numbers, certain ideas, certain efforts, and then we 617 00:21:44,795 --> 00:21:46,955 treated that meeting as a council. Whereas a 618 00:21:46,955 --> 00:21:50,075 bishopric, he thought, we're we're working on this 619 00:21:50,075 --> 00:21:50,555 area. 620 00:21:51,599 --> 00:21:53,759 What is everybody else doing? What's working well? 621 00:21:53,759 --> 00:21:55,200 What's not work I mean, kind of a 622 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:56,740 meeting like we're having right now. 623 00:21:57,039 --> 00:21:58,500 And that seemed to be 624 00:21:59,279 --> 00:22:01,759 a good way to not just focus in 625 00:22:01,759 --> 00:22:03,440 on one word and say you need to 626 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:05,065 do this better or that better. It was 627 00:22:05,065 --> 00:22:06,865 a chance for them to reflect on their 628 00:22:06,865 --> 00:22:07,765 own efforts 629 00:22:08,144 --> 00:22:09,765 and then come with questions, 630 00:22:10,465 --> 00:22:12,305 come with thoughts, come with ideas, and we 631 00:22:12,305 --> 00:22:13,984 try to get all of them to share 632 00:22:13,984 --> 00:22:16,305 and be able to ask questions and not 633 00:22:16,305 --> 00:22:17,365 just have it be 634 00:22:17,664 --> 00:22:18,484 stake presidency 635 00:22:18,785 --> 00:22:20,565 driven, but more of a council. 636 00:22:22,410 --> 00:22:24,269 Yeah. That's great. That's good. 637 00:22:24,809 --> 00:22:26,569 Any other anybody else as far as what 638 00:22:26,569 --> 00:22:27,230 the purpose 639 00:22:27,769 --> 00:22:28,269 of 640 00:22:29,369 --> 00:22:31,369 you know, I obviously, we have the purpose 641 00:22:31,369 --> 00:22:33,470 in the handbook says award conference. 642 00:22:34,115 --> 00:22:37,234 At word conference, stake leaders instruct, support, and 643 00:22:37,234 --> 00:22:39,255 minister to award leaders and members. 644 00:22:39,715 --> 00:22:42,855 Ward members sustain general and local leaders. Right? 645 00:22:44,355 --> 00:22:46,115 And I guess, you know, feel free to 646 00:22:46,115 --> 00:22:47,750 raise your hand if you share, 647 00:22:48,369 --> 00:22:49,650 if you have something to share. One thing 648 00:22:49,650 --> 00:22:51,170 I was gonna add on is that I 649 00:22:51,170 --> 00:22:51,670 think, 650 00:22:52,049 --> 00:22:54,289 like, I've had opportunity to be in the 651 00:22:54,289 --> 00:22:56,710 priesthood and family department several times. I'm familiar 652 00:22:57,089 --> 00:22:59,650 with some of their processes and, you know, 653 00:22:59,650 --> 00:23:01,730 the councils they hold and things like that. 654 00:23:01,730 --> 00:23:04,515 And it's really interesting to see how they're 655 00:23:04,515 --> 00:23:06,515 trying to influence the church from that level. 656 00:23:06,515 --> 00:23:08,275 And they're very self aware of, like, you 657 00:23:08,275 --> 00:23:09,954 know, just because we write in the handbook 658 00:23:09,954 --> 00:23:11,634 or or they don't you know, they're very 659 00:23:11,794 --> 00:23:13,634 as you can see, all these qualifiers in 660 00:23:13,634 --> 00:23:17,710 this, like, you know, usually, regularly, or isn't 661 00:23:17,710 --> 00:23:19,090 isn't necessary. Right? 662 00:23:19,470 --> 00:23:20,990 Because they don't want it to feel like 663 00:23:20,990 --> 00:23:22,750 a heavy mandate, a lot of things they 664 00:23:22,750 --> 00:23:23,890 put in the the handbook. 665 00:23:24,269 --> 00:23:26,130 And so but I'm just thinking, like, 666 00:23:26,524 --> 00:23:28,524 the general church often looks at the local 667 00:23:28,524 --> 00:23:30,944 church and I think, okay. Like, obviously, priesthood 668 00:23:31,005 --> 00:23:33,164 keys are in motion here. How do we 669 00:23:33,325 --> 00:23:35,484 like, what are the touch points from the 670 00:23:35,484 --> 00:23:37,024 the stake presence keys 671 00:23:37,325 --> 00:23:39,244 and the bishop's keys, and how can the 672 00:23:39,244 --> 00:23:41,179 stake be a resource to the you know, 673 00:23:41,179 --> 00:23:42,619 to the wards. And then it's sort of 674 00:23:42,619 --> 00:23:43,279 like, well, 675 00:23:43,740 --> 00:23:45,579 now then we get into these modes of, 676 00:23:45,579 --> 00:23:47,500 like, well, the high council can speak, right, 677 00:23:47,500 --> 00:23:49,339 on a regular basis, and that's maybe a 678 00:23:49,339 --> 00:23:51,259 touch point. And then every year, we'll do 679 00:23:51,259 --> 00:23:53,099 these word conferences, and that's a touch point. 680 00:23:53,099 --> 00:23:53,839 So I think 681 00:23:54,644 --> 00:23:56,184 I don't think there's, like, a clear, 682 00:23:57,525 --> 00:23:59,305 you know, obvious purpose unless, 683 00:24:00,005 --> 00:24:01,845 you know, a specific word has one and 684 00:24:01,845 --> 00:24:04,005 and turns to the stake for that. But 685 00:24:04,005 --> 00:24:06,085 it's sort of like, let's just make sure 686 00:24:06,085 --> 00:24:08,805 that because especially outside of maybe the Wasatch 687 00:24:08,805 --> 00:24:09,305 Front, 688 00:24:10,470 --> 00:24:12,470 it's probably very easy for a ward to 689 00:24:12,470 --> 00:24:13,210 kinda be 690 00:24:13,750 --> 00:24:14,570 on an island. 691 00:24:14,950 --> 00:24:17,509 And, yeah, maybe the state presidency checks in 692 00:24:17,509 --> 00:24:18,950 every once in a while, the high council 693 00:24:18,950 --> 00:24:19,849 or whatever, but 694 00:24:20,630 --> 00:24:22,470 maybe this forces those sort of words say, 695 00:24:22,470 --> 00:24:24,470 okay. Just, like, at least take one one 696 00:24:24,470 --> 00:24:26,845 Sunday a year and just go focus on 697 00:24:26,845 --> 00:24:28,285 that as a stake and see if you 698 00:24:28,285 --> 00:24:29,105 can offer 699 00:24:29,484 --> 00:24:31,964 something to them. Right? But, unfortunately, just in 700 00:24:31,964 --> 00:24:33,644 our human nature, it kind of becomes rote 701 00:24:33,644 --> 00:24:35,484 or just like, well, what what what do 702 00:24:35,484 --> 00:24:37,005 you mean what the purpose is? The handbook 703 00:24:37,005 --> 00:24:38,525 says it's that's just what we're doing. Right? 704 00:24:38,525 --> 00:24:39,664 So, Sean, go ahead. 705 00:24:40,559 --> 00:24:41,759 Yeah. I think you hit it on the 706 00:24:41,759 --> 00:24:43,140 head for me there is that 707 00:24:43,759 --> 00:24:45,839 at least my experience here in Tennessee is 708 00:24:45,839 --> 00:24:48,079 that we are so far apart from each 709 00:24:48,079 --> 00:24:49,460 other's list. The 710 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:52,559 we have third we have 12 units in 711 00:24:52,559 --> 00:24:53,220 our steak 712 00:24:53,599 --> 00:24:54,099 and 713 00:24:54,494 --> 00:24:57,214 and we spread out it takes it easily 714 00:24:57,214 --> 00:24:58,894 will take three to four hours to drive 715 00:24:58,894 --> 00:25:00,335 from one end of the stake to the 716 00:25:00,335 --> 00:25:01,234 other, I think. 717 00:25:01,535 --> 00:25:02,035 And 718 00:25:02,815 --> 00:25:04,734 so we feel very distant. And we also 719 00:25:04,734 --> 00:25:06,095 kind of have a style of leadership in 720 00:25:06,095 --> 00:25:08,430 our state presidency that they're very hands off. 721 00:25:09,390 --> 00:25:10,990 And it's which makes us be very, very 722 00:25:10,990 --> 00:25:12,610 self reliant. And so 723 00:25:13,070 --> 00:25:14,910 that's my experience is the stake is this 724 00:25:14,910 --> 00:25:16,369 very, very distant thing 725 00:25:16,750 --> 00:25:19,250 that I honestly only ever reach out to 726 00:25:19,549 --> 00:25:22,369 when the handbook says I have to, otherwise, 727 00:25:22,654 --> 00:25:24,974 I don't ever talk to stake leaders, and 728 00:25:24,974 --> 00:25:27,054 they don't ever necessarily reach out. And I 729 00:25:27,054 --> 00:25:28,575 know that I could probably reach out to 730 00:25:28,575 --> 00:25:30,174 them more to involve them. But at the 731 00:25:30,174 --> 00:25:30,835 same time, 732 00:25:31,375 --> 00:25:33,134 I just don't feel the need to. And 733 00:25:33,134 --> 00:25:34,414 so I guess that's where some of my 734 00:25:34,414 --> 00:25:36,255 cynicism comes in of, like, I would love 735 00:25:36,255 --> 00:25:37,075 to hear how 736 00:25:37,390 --> 00:25:39,890 there's some just like really, really positive interactions. 737 00:25:40,269 --> 00:25:42,029 And I've heard like all these examples that 738 00:25:42,029 --> 00:25:43,950 have kind of been shared here and there, 739 00:25:43,950 --> 00:25:45,630 you know, since I asked my that question 740 00:25:45,630 --> 00:25:46,609 a few minutes ago. 741 00:25:47,069 --> 00:25:49,230 And I just like, I go, Yeah, that 742 00:25:49,230 --> 00:25:50,865 sounds great. But it just hasn't been my 743 00:25:50,944 --> 00:25:52,304 experience, and and I just don't know how 744 00:25:52,304 --> 00:25:54,304 that would help because they feel so distant. 745 00:25:54,304 --> 00:25:56,144 Because they feel distant, when they do come, 746 00:25:56,144 --> 00:25:57,585 it's kinda just like, wow. Why are you 747 00:25:57,585 --> 00:25:59,765 here? It kinda throws off our cadence and 748 00:25:59,825 --> 00:26:01,365 doesn't feel all that helpful. 749 00:26:01,744 --> 00:26:03,664 Yeah. Yeah. And I think having that real 750 00:26:03,664 --> 00:26:04,164 conversation, 751 00:26:04,545 --> 00:26:06,565 you know, I remember being that bishop, and 752 00:26:06,730 --> 00:26:07,470 I I, 753 00:26:08,329 --> 00:26:10,169 I knew this was a helpful data for 754 00:26:10,169 --> 00:26:12,329 my stake president in in, one of our 755 00:26:12,329 --> 00:26:13,389 one on one meetings. 756 00:26:13,769 --> 00:26:15,049 I just said, hey. Just so you know, 757 00:26:15,049 --> 00:26:17,609 like, when we have our stake bishop meeting 758 00:26:17,609 --> 00:26:20,444 or bishop meeting, like, it's long. It's boring. 759 00:26:20,444 --> 00:26:21,644 I feel like most of that can be 760 00:26:21,644 --> 00:26:22,605 in an email. I just want you to 761 00:26:22,605 --> 00:26:24,525 know, like, I struggle with that meeting. Happy 762 00:26:24,525 --> 00:26:26,204 to show up, happy to participate, and have 763 00:26:26,204 --> 00:26:27,724 a good attitude about it. But I think 764 00:26:27,724 --> 00:26:28,924 this is important for you. You know? Right? 765 00:26:28,924 --> 00:26:30,545 And he really appreciated that. 766 00:26:31,740 --> 00:26:34,059 And I think there's a dynamic with this, 767 00:26:34,779 --> 00:26:35,680 stake ward 768 00:26:36,220 --> 00:26:36,720 relationship 769 00:26:37,019 --> 00:26:37,759 to consider. 770 00:26:38,460 --> 00:26:39,900 You know, I'm serving as a state or, 771 00:26:40,140 --> 00:26:42,619 elders quorum president right now, and my stake 772 00:26:42,619 --> 00:26:44,859 president does a phenomenal job of meeting with 773 00:26:44,859 --> 00:26:46,695 us quarterly. Like ever since I've been called, 774 00:26:46,695 --> 00:26:48,214 I've met with him quarterly and I know, 775 00:26:48,214 --> 00:26:49,974 and I've even mentioned him. I'm like, I 776 00:26:49,974 --> 00:26:51,894 hope, you know, like not all elders core 777 00:26:51,894 --> 00:26:52,394 presidents. 778 00:26:53,095 --> 00:26:55,015 Get this treatment. Like this is, I really 779 00:26:55,015 --> 00:26:56,075 appreciate this. And, 780 00:26:56,695 --> 00:26:57,835 and he was kinda 781 00:26:58,134 --> 00:26:59,434 surprised by that, but anyways, 782 00:26:59,910 --> 00:27:01,750 and and meeting with them and and the 783 00:27:02,549 --> 00:27:05,029 you can imagine my my world as a 784 00:27:05,029 --> 00:27:06,710 lay member is a little bit weird because 785 00:27:06,710 --> 00:27:07,690 I'm, you know, 786 00:27:08,150 --> 00:27:09,830 my ward and stake leadership know I'm the 787 00:27:09,830 --> 00:27:11,509 leading saints guy, you know, and I don't 788 00:27:11,509 --> 00:27:13,430 want to perceive, like, I'm walking around my 789 00:27:13,430 --> 00:27:14,869 ward with a clipboard and be like, oh, 790 00:27:14,869 --> 00:27:16,674 that's that's terrible culture. I'm gonna do an 791 00:27:16,674 --> 00:27:18,115 episode about that. Right. So I try and 792 00:27:18,115 --> 00:27:18,855 play it cool. 793 00:27:19,234 --> 00:27:21,554 But my state president was really open. He's 794 00:27:21,554 --> 00:27:23,154 like, hey, wait a minute. Like, we can 795 00:27:23,154 --> 00:27:25,394 talk about whatever your quorum needs, but I 796 00:27:25,394 --> 00:27:27,894 got some questions about some things we're doing. 797 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:43,575 Hey, thanks for listening to this episode. We're 798 00:27:43,575 --> 00:27:44,934 actually gonna cut it short a little bit. 799 00:27:44,934 --> 00:27:46,775 If you wanna listen to the entirety of 800 00:27:46,775 --> 00:27:48,934 this conversation, head on over to the Leading 801 00:27:48,934 --> 00:27:51,015 Saints community. You can, find the link in 802 00:27:51,015 --> 00:27:52,855 the show notes and you can watch the 803 00:27:52,855 --> 00:27:55,609 extended cut there and I think you'll benefit 804 00:27:55,609 --> 00:27:57,130 from it. So come join us over at 805 00:27:57,130 --> 00:27:59,609 the Leading Saints community. Now that we've reached 806 00:27:59,609 --> 00:28:00,669 the end of the episode, 807 00:28:00,970 --> 00:28:03,210 I quickly wanna thank you for supporting the 808 00:28:03,210 --> 00:28:04,429 Leading Saints podcast. 809 00:28:04,809 --> 00:28:06,970 There's so much content out there to consider 810 00:28:06,970 --> 00:28:09,565 and you picked this one. If Leading Saints 811 00:28:09,565 --> 00:28:11,644 has made an impact in your life, we 812 00:28:11,644 --> 00:28:13,725 would sure like to hear about it at 813 00:28:13,725 --> 00:28:15,664 leadingsaints.org/contact. 814 00:28:15,965 --> 00:28:18,285 And if you could quickly text or email 815 00:28:18,285 --> 00:28:19,025 this episode 816 00:28:19,325 --> 00:28:21,164 to a leader you know, I bet it 817 00:28:21,164 --> 00:28:23,029 will bless their life. You can mark off 818 00:28:23,029 --> 00:28:25,029 your good turn daily and let's even call 819 00:28:25,029 --> 00:28:27,669 it ministering. Okay. Maybe not that far. But 820 00:28:27,669 --> 00:28:29,829 seriously, thank you and help us share this 821 00:28:29,829 --> 00:28:30,329 content. 822 00:28:55,299 --> 00:28:57,880 It came as a result of the position 823 00:28:57,940 --> 00:29:00,919 of leadership which was imposed upon us 824 00:29:01,460 --> 00:29:03,944 by the God of heaven who brought forth 825 00:29:03,944 --> 00:29:04,924 a restoration 826 00:29:05,304 --> 00:29:07,565 of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 827 00:29:08,025 --> 00:29:10,204 And when the declaration was made 828 00:29:10,505 --> 00:29:13,464 concerning the own and only true and living 829 00:29:13,464 --> 00:29:15,644 church upon the face of the earth, 830 00:29:16,150 --> 00:29:18,730 we were immediately put in a position of 831 00:29:18,950 --> 00:29:19,450 loneliness. 832 00:29:19,829 --> 00:29:21,369 The loneliness of leadership 833 00:29:22,230 --> 00:29:25,289 from which we cannot shrink nor run away, 834 00:29:26,270 --> 00:29:28,750 and to which we must face up with 835 00:29:28,750 --> 00:29:30,290 boldness and courage 836 00:29:30,990 --> 00:29:31,810 and ability.