Elder Holland

Elder Holland came to Australia to choose a new stake president for the Deer Park Stake, releasing our friend David Hoare. While there, he spoke publicly to the YSA of 6 stake, the Leadership meeting of conference and two cinference session, then the 6-stake seminary graduation, then all day on Monday to the two combined Melbourne missions. These notes are hastily taken and, it goes without saying, he should not be held accountable for my note taking nor my extrapolations. I will say that it was one of the most spiritual, instructive and inspiring 4 days of my life.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Priesthood Leadership Meeting

Deer Park Stake

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

November 19, 2005

We see, once again, where the spirit touches someone’s life and give them insight and inspiration. Again, revelation comes with an assignment, with something TO DO, not just insight but also work to do to assist in the Kingdom.

Elder Holland starts his remarks noting that Joseph was not only inspired by James 1:5, but went and did something about it.

JS 1:14-16 The word “power” is used here over and over.

However, one thing we learn here is it is not given to Lucifer to take a life – he cannot do it. If there ever was anyone Lucifer would like to have killed, it was Joseph. He would have if he could have.

So instead, Lucifer binds his tongue so he could not speak! There is a great lesson here. All we need to do for this church to fail is to keep our mouths shut! DO NOT LET LUCIFER BIND YOUR TONGUE AND DO NOT DO IT VOLUNTARILY!

After Joseph finds himself delivered from the power of the adversary, he is suffused in a heavenly light whose brightness and glory defy all description. It takes a moment, but he remembers why he came into the grove in the first place. We do not have his exact words, but we know his intent was to find which church he should join. So he asks. His answer comes in JS 1:19.

I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: "they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof."

Two important points regarding this statement by the Lord to Joseph. The first one is personal. “They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

Lips vs. Hearts. This is one of the marks of apostasy and the biblical term for this is Hypocrisy.

“Brethren, we need to put our hearts where our mouths are!”

ily Home Evening -- better than we hold Family Home Evening. This applies to missionary work, temples scripture study and so forth. We talk better than we perform.

Point number two is more institutional in nature. It concerns “having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof.”

The ultimate maek of the true church is having the keys and power of the priesthood. The churches on the four corners of the main street in Palmyra all looked like churches. They had steeples, the Bible, etc. That is, they had the form of the church, but not the power.

"Behold, I say unto you, the redemption of Zion must needs come by power; Therefore, I will raise up unto my people a man, who shall lead them like as Moses led the children of Israel. For ye are the children of Israel, and of the seed of Abraham, and ye must needs be led out of bondage by power, and with a stretched–out arm." (D&C 103:15-17)

The power spoken of here is clearly the Priesthood. Not just the authority of the priesthood, but the power thereof, ie, the priesthood exercised in righteousness. (see D&C 121:36-38) Moses with his staff defied the most powerful man in the world. His outstretched arm with the staff was the priesthood – the power by which he did all that he did, including the parting of the Red Sea. This staff is the scepter referred to in D&C 121. See also D&C 84:19-22.

What this world needs is the “power of godliness made manifest in the flesh.” (D&C 84:22). We’ve got to get beyond the form of religion and get the power. We spend a lot of time in the forms – it is not enough just to show up at the buildings!

God said to Joseph, You give me your heart and I’ll give you the power and we will change the world! The answer to every problem in this stake lies in the exercise of priesthood power by someone.

There are 3 ways to increase the number of Melchizedek Priesthood holders.

1. Prospective elders and less active elders. Activate them and ordain them.
2. Advance Aaronic Priesthood holders. We lose too many of them.
3. Baptize them. NB: “Missionaries are not going to find adult men – the members have to do this.”

Ekder Holland to YSA

This Generation

Instruction by Elder Jeffrey Holland

Young Single Adult Fireside

Melbourne, Australia

November 18, 2005

The President of the Church appreciates your prayers, as surely as he prays for you.

Testimony “from me to you” that God lives and Jesus is the Christ and this is His church.

You live in the greatest moment of the history of the planet. I don’t know why we were born here and now, but this is the brightest hour in history – this is the best time and into it comes the restoration of the gospel with Priesthood, temples and missionaries around the world. I can only imagine the responsibility we have fro living here and now.

This time also offers the toughest challenges ever faced. The good and evil which has always existed is at a fever pitch.

I ask you to take seriously your moment on the stage and your role in the drama in these latter days. We need you. Were we to lose you and others in your generation, we would have to go back to New York and find 6 people and start all over again. When Brother Sybrowsky said you are the church, he was not exaggerating. You must carry it forward!

Every other dispensation was able to too keep working and keep sacrificing, not because they knew they would succeed – they knew they would not – but because they knew we could get it done. That puts a great responsibility on all of us. We owe them a great burden of success. We live in the dispensation when priesthood and apostles and temples, and all we are trying to do will continue and not be taken from the earth until the Savior comes.

A brief Joseph Smith Chronology

Event Age

First vision 14

Moroni’s first visit 17

Receives plates 21

Book of Mormon,

Church organized 24

Move to Kirtland 26

Zion’s Camp 28

Calls the 12 29

Kirtland Temple 30

Liberty Jail 33

Nauvoo City and Temple 34

Martyrdom 38

Christmas 2004

Christmas 2004

If you could be at some historical event, some time in history, what would that be? My brother raised that question when he said he would have liked to be on a hillside in Judea many years ago when the heavenly choir of angels announced to the world the birth of the Messiah.

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10 - 11)

Here was announced the birth of the Messiah – the one looked for by all Israel, the object of all holy writ, of all the Law and the Prophets. Also was announced His role – the Saviour.

Who expected the announcement would come to shepherds? Why such a humble beginning? Who would hear their testimony?

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. (Luke 2:16 - 17)

Was this any way to usher in the reign of the Messiah?

In the words of Janice Kapp Perry:*

His birth was so simple, the manger so plain

Where was the majesty fit for a King?

Born without fanfare, born without show,

That only the faithful might know.

Goliath found out the hard way that the Lord often chooses the weak and simple things of the earth to work out his purposes. They are the ones who be trusted to work in the Lord’s way and by His Spirit, not by their own designs.

So the Savior was born into a carpenter’s family, not one of the great houses of the time. He came from the wrong side of town, so many asked, “Who is this fellow?”

Who were his parents?

What kind of car does he drive?

What schools did he attend?

What honors has he acquired?

What – no scholarships, no sports trophies, no fine clothes, no professional

degrees, not the right clubs?

Who could have known on that Bethlehem night

The babe in the manger brought heaven’s pure light?

Only those who were wise, who followed the signs

Only they knew the child was divine.

And so in our time, when God decided to “restore all things in one,” (Eph 1:10) He again called upon the weak and simple things of the earth. A Boy prophet? Absurd! Why, he was from a poor family – why should we listen to this fellow. He’s a menace. You might as well accept the testimony of . . . shepherds!

But truly wise men, who watched for and followed the signs, came, and brought gifts and worshipped. Today, wise men still seek him.

What gifts will we bring? “What do you want for Christmas?” What does Jesus want for Christmas this year?

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:15 - 17)

And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. (Doctrine and Covenants 15:6)

Who could have known that the baby so small

Was sent by the Father to rule over all?

Only those who have seen, who heard angels sing

Only they knew the child was a King.

Only they knew the love He would bring.

Only those who believed, who knelt at his feet

To worship the wee perfect one.

Only they knew the child was God’s son.

My Christmas wish is that we may be privileged to hear the angels sing and then, in gratitude and wonder, feed His sheep.

*”Who Could Have Known,” from Sing a Song of Christmas, Prime Recordings, Provo, 1988.

Introduction to Temple Preparation

I have been teaching the temple preparation course in the ward since our return from Australia. This is very rewarding and we have a high graduation rate (defined as the number who go to the temple after the class). Of course, most are intending to go when they first sign up, so . . .

Anyway, I have put a short piece at the beginning of the class about learning spiritual things. I believe these concepts apply to learning gospel doctrines generally, learning in the temple and learning after the temple. My personal belief is too many of us do not connect the temple and the things we learn with our day-to-day world. Thus we do not learn more about the temple when we are not in it. We do not see the big picture of our lives here as a macrocosm of the temple experience – the temple being, in part, a type or shadow of our daily lives, albeit with the distractions and misdirection eliminated.

Introduction to Temple Preparation

The gospel is not necessarily learned in a linear way. We are accustomed to our learning being organized for us, step by step, one idea or fact building on the previous one. But the gospel isn’t always learned that way.

Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, taught the multitudes with great power. (Acts 2) They were “pricked in their hearts” and began the repentance process. They asked Peter, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (v. 37) The right question, and inspired question. Peter’s answer:

Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ

for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (v. 38)

Notice that hearing the word of God through the spirit (“pricked in their hearts”) leads them to want to do something about it. And then the obedience brings a blessing and more light. This is the pattern. Christ gave this in a very important statement in John7:17:

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of

God, or whether I speak of myself.

This is further discussed in Doctrine and Covenants Section 50. We will choose verse 24, although so many preceding it have much to instruct us.

That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light and

continueth in God receiveth more light; and that light growth

brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

So this introduction to learning gospel principles is helps us understand that we cannot teach about the temple in traditional (worldly) ways. In fact, the best way to learn about the temple is to attend the temple. It is a place of constant learning. Our goal is to prepare you for the temple. There are several parts to this.

1. Review the basic concepts of the Plan of Salvation (The Great Plan of our God, The Plan of Happiness, The Plan of Mercy, etc.). Knowing these doctrines will help you understand the steps you go through in the temple. As you go to the temple more and more, you will begin to see allusions to the temple throughout the scriptures. Others don’t see them, but they have not gone through the proper cycle of learning: hearing, believing, acting receiving more, believing, ………. People who are not spiritually alive miss all the good clues. They do not see, hear, understand or feel what they need to feel to come into the light.
2. Discuss the role of worthiness as it applies to temple attendance and temple worship. We can’t learn line upon line if we are stuck on line one. As an example, a Priest Advisor in one of our wards was working with a young man who was not committing to mission as were his peers. He asked the young man if he believed the Book of Mormon was true. “I don’t know, I just don’t know,: said the young man. Obvious question now, “Have you read it?” An unsurprising answer, “No.” We can all fill in the blanks here! We are not trying to learn facts or memorize concepts as we did in school. We are trying gain light. We light in this world if we are faithful to the light we have received – then we gain more light to guide is through the world if we “hearkeneth to the voice of the spirit.” (D&C 84:46)
3. Prepare you for the steps required to get a temple recommend and review the questions you will be asked so you will be prepared for them. There are no surprise questions. You have heard them all. Those who are converts will recall being asked a series of questions before baptism. At that point they were asked “will you keep the word of wisdom,” or “will you keep the Sabbath Day holy”? But when we go to the temple the questions are a little different. They are now “Do you?” questions instead of “Will you?” questions.

So, this short introduction to gospel learning is important. It is through the ministrations of the spirit that we come unto God. We receive these as we treasure up and follow the prompting we receive. Then we receive more. This is how new converts catch up so quickly – not that they are smart, but they are obedient. Obedience is the key to gospel learning, that we can be clean vessels to receive and understand sacred instruction.

Suggestions for further study on this topic.

John 3:16-21

Romans 1:20

D&C 50:13-29

D&C 84:43-48

2 Nephi 2:5

D&C 93:31-32

So this is cheating a little bit because these are not notes from leadership meetings, but something I used as a talk or two and now have written it down. The reason I haven't had access to my training notes until last night, when I pulled apart the closet in the library and found them under bably items, old clothes and food storage! All gooe things. So anyway, here is today's post. Don't worry, I will soon lose some steam and not lumber you with a post every day!

Abundant Life

A topic rarely addressed is the church is the abundance with which the Savior blesses us – or the Savior’s desire to abundantly bless us. In reality, we are small thinkers when it comes to the abundant life the Savior has in mind for us. The scriptures are full of examples. Three of my favorite ones are real life parables – that is, instead of using a story parable to teach us, He uses real life circumstances to teach this principle.

#1. John Chapter 2

1 And the ^athird day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

4 Jesus saith unto her, ^aWoman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the ^apurifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

We have all heard this story and we know it is the first public, recorded miracle of Jesus. Put yourself in that setting. This wedding feast had been going on long enough for all the 7-up and sherbet punch to have been consumed. The wine also. They run out and for some reason Mary goes to Jesus and asks tells him about the problem. Tells him in such a way that he knows she wants him to fix it. He demurs, but ineffectively – because she’s his mother and she worries about stuff like this. So, rather than debate she simply turns to the servants and tells them to do whatever he tells them to do. The water is provided and it is turned into wine. Voila, first miracle.

But let’s look a little closer. He tells the servants to fill six stone waterpots. These pots hold 2-3 firkins of water. A firkin is about 9 gallons. So each pot holds somewhere between 18-27 gallons. So let’s say, just to be conservative, they average 20 gallons apiece. The six pots, therefore, would provide 120 gallons of wine! So here we are at the back of the celebration and 120 gallons (or a hundred, or a hundred and fifty, doesn’t matter) of high quality wine is provided. Far more and far better quality than needed or expected. Jesus had provided not just more, but an abundance – possibly multiples of what was necessary.

#2 Luke Chapter 5

4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a ^adraught.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have ^atoiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net ^abrake.

7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt ^acatch men.

11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they ^aforsook all, and ^bfollowed him.

So the disciples had been fishing all day to no avail. They were professionals who made their living this way, so a bad day of fishing was also a bad day at work. As night came on, Jesus bade them let down their nets. They were not excited or hopeful about doing so. However, they were willing, if not hopeful. Again, put yourself there in the boat. What if you brought up 20-30 fish after being skunked all day? That would be pretty exciting. But again, the Lord wanted them to know of the abundance of gifts awaiting them if they were to follow him. So when they tried to bring up their nets, the catch was so heavy they could barely bring it up. Then the nets began to break and they called another boat over and together they brought in the abundant catch, filling both boats to overflowing and threatening to sink them both. Peter understood immediately this was the Master and pled his own unworthiness.

Again, the blessings in obedience were answered with abundance.

#3 Matthew Chapter 14

15 ¶ And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves ^avictuals.

16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

18 He said, Bring them hither to me.

19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and ^abrake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they ^atook up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

21 And they that had eaten were about ^afive thousand men, beside women and children.

Again, not just a little bit for each person, but they all ate their fill and there was yet more left over; twelve basketsful. The symbolism here, I think, is that when we think we have all the blessings and are full, there is yet more in store, even an abundance. Indeed, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9. See also D&C 76:10)

In Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the revelation on the degrees of glory is introduced by the Lord, stating his willingness to desire to bless us. A small part of that ten verse introduction is as follows:

5 For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am ^amerciful and gracious unto those who ^bfear me, and delight to honor those who ^cserve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.

6 Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their ^aglory.

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more ABUNDANTLY.

---John 10:10

At the End of Three Years

This was previously circulated by e-mail, but I wanted to get it on this blog as well.

At the End of Three Years

As Alzina and I were completing our mission to Melbourne, Australia, we were invited by the Area Presidency to attend one last Mission Presidents Seminar. Presiding at the seminar would be Elder Henry B. Eyring, accompanied by Elder Todd D. Christofferson. Each mission president was assigned to prepare a talk on the subject “What Have I Learned These Last Three Years.” I thought this to be an impossible task. It would require three things: 1) Cull through numberless wonderful experiences and identify specific things worth presenting to the brethren; 2) Find words to explain experiences and feelings which are almost beyond description; 3) Stand up before these brethren and speak.

Each one of these tasks seemed daunting in and of themselves.

After some days of pondering, I started to write in my study journal, and lots of thoughts came to me. I wrote them down as best I could. I thought it might be worthwhile to share some of these thoughts with you all of you.

Ironically, I never did give this talk. President Paul Sybrowsky, our area president, assigned me a different topic based on some material I had sent him beforehand. But I am glad to have these thoughts preserved and hope you enjoy them also.

What Have Learned These Last Three Years?

1. We don’t get it yet on retention.
2. You can talk over the heads of some missionaries and they “check out.” “I’m just not that good, so it doesn’t apply to me.” We have the same problem in the church generally. We can overburden people and bury them in guilt. They don’t see themselves as good enough for the temple, so they don’t internalize those talks. Same on tithing and missions and many other things. President Packer said the church moves forward on the teaching that is done. That doesn’t mean the talks or lessons that are given (my interpretation) but when there is actual teaching. [see D & C 50:21-22]
3. Most of the things I learned I don’t really have language to describe. But I will try.

Learning the Gospel. I have always taken John 7:17 to be an important scripture. [If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself.]

We teach people that they cannot know if our message is true without obeying what they have received. And this is a correct usage of that scripture. But like most scriptures, there are deeper layers. You really learn what the gospel is about by living it. This immersion experience is priceless – and real understanding of the gospel is attainable only as we live it.

· In my life, which I take to be typical of church members, I have gone through stages of believing its true, then deepening that testimony, then realizing that the gospel is the most important thing, then realizing the gospel is the only thing I know for sure! Everything else I have learned in my life is changing or has changed. History, economics, philosophy, science and certainly politics have all been turned upside down in my lifetime – but the gospel has burst forth, bright as the sun, fair as the moon and terrible as an army with banners.

· At a deep and abiding level I have learned the problems of mankind can be solved by the application of the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ – and in no other way.

· I have learned the Lord’s work is a team sport and that He intends it that way. I come from a corporate environment where serving mammon was the order of the day. Though I battled against those tactics, they still impinge. I have several performance evaluations which where my superiors tell me, “Joel, you are politically naïve.” My response was always, “Thank you.” The fact is, I prefer naïveté, even getting corporately outflanked or fired to winning and becoming something I didn’t want to be. In Animal Farm, after a while you couldn’t tell the pigs from the people!

In the Kingdom, it is very important HOW you work. We have to use the principles of righteousness. Section 121 of the D & C tells us what these principles are – persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, and love unfeigned; by kindness and pure knowledge and without hypocrisy or guile. (verses 41-42). It is only through these principles that the powers of heaven can be put to use. The Lord created an organization designed to perfect the workers. It is the only system I know where the “bottom line” is the welfare of the workers. When President Faust called us to this assignment, he told us we would not be judged on the number of baptisms, but how our missionaries were doing 20 years from now. I had to remind myself of this many times when I was tempted to use the management techniques ingrained in me in the world of mammon. The church is the only organization where the statistical outputs depend on us working in the Lord’s way. If we err and begin to think the real output is something other than the lives, character and future of those under our stewardship, we come under the condemnation of D & C 50:18, 20. Doing the work some other way means it is not of God, does not edify and is darkness.

So we labor in the right way, i.e., using principles of righteousness as our guide, and we can be confident in success because the Harvest is the Lord’s and He will gather as seemeth Him good.

· This takes us to the final point. I came into the mission with an awareness of the necessity of teaching by the spirit. I did not fully appreciate the centrality of that concept to all missionary work – indeed, all of the work of the Kingdom. I learned about finding by the spirit, planning by the spirit, and so forth. What I finally realized is this applies generally – not just to missionary work or whatever calling I will receive back home – but to all our lives.

I cannot help but note the increasing emphasis of the brethren on the role of the spirit in out lives, on the necessity of revelation to get us through the days ahead. Is this a change in the church, or am I just slow to get the message. At any rate, it’s very clear to me that we have reached the time when we will not be able to endure on borrowed light.

This brings us back to the beginning and true faith. Faith is light, listening to and acting on the promptings of the spirit. Being obedient to that light is being faith-ful. And whatsoever is not of faith is sin, (Romans 14:23) because it is some other way and not of God.

So I hope I have learned this well enough to take it home with me – take it to my next calling and do it better because I do it faith-fully.

Learning Through Serving:

Training in the Church

I have had the privilege of serving in a variety of positions in the church. It has been a great blessing to me and to my family. Service in the church is critical for us – through service we assist others and we ourselves become what the Savior wants us to become. James ends his epistle with: “. . . He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” [James 5:20]

Similarly, Paul tells Timothy, a young Bishop, that his service, if he is faithful, “. . . shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.” [1 Timothy 4:16] Indeed, the Doctrine and Covenants is full of promises, such as the one in Section 4, that teaching and serving is saving service. “. . . And lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul.” [D&C 4:4]

Thus has the Lord designed his church so that we all need to serve, get to serve, ought to serve. This is more for our good than for any other reason. We need it more than the people we serve. In fact, our inefficiencies and weaknesses often present stumbling blocks for those whom we serve. This offers them an opportunity to forgive us and rise to the stature of a disciple.

Paul said we are called to these positions “ . . . for the perfecting of the saints . . . Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God.” [Ephesians 4:12-13] I had always assumed this meant those who were called to serve did so in a way that the members under their stewardship could be perfected. While this is undoubtedly true, there is likely a deeper meaning here. We are called that we may serve, and thus ourselves be perfected.

This is why, I believe, each calling stretches us and teaches us new things. By calling us to positions which we do not feel qualified for, the Lord is allowing us to develop what we lack. We discover this kind of growth is not always easy, but it is rewarding. Thus, each calling is a blessing.

However, we cannot find ourselves receiving a calling “ . . .with a doubtful heart and keeping it with slothfulness.” For such, there is no reward. [D&C 58:26-29] In fact we are “damned,” in that we do not progress, we do not learn and we do not develop in that calling as the Lord has designed for us. So we end up doubting the inspiration of the call, of the bishop. We blame others for the lack of success and we may, ultimately, doubt that the Lord's work is involved at all. For such, the “. . . reward lurketh from beneath and not from above.” [D&C58:33]

Training – a Priesthood Responsibility

All too often, however, the person called to serve does not get much guidance from his or her leaders. There is often a dearth of training. Sometimes the relevant handbooks are not provided. People are just supposed to know instinctively what to do. Then the leaders get to share the difficulties when the service experience does not go well. This is something that needs to be improved in almost every ward, branch and stake I have served in. However, on a church-wide basis, there is much training and follow-up going on. The entries for this blog will serve as a testament to that fact. I have been the joyful recipient of much wonderful and inspiring training. I am going to attempt to summarize and organize the notes taken over 20 years of leadership councils and training meetings in the hope they may be interesting and instructive to those who read it. Perhaps the reader will, in turn, improve on their own opportunities to train and develop workers in the Lord's vineyard!

One comment and one story.

The Comment

Leadership meetings are where much good training takes place. Unfortunately, many leaders do not make this a priority and thus lose the opportunity to be instructed in their duties. Sometimes the excuse is given that the material presented is the same old stuff we have heard before. This attitude betrays a misunderstanding of how the spirit teaches us. First, we are under obligation to go to these meetings prepared to receive “. . . the word of truth . . .by the Spirit of truth.” [D&C 50:19] If we are not so prepared, we receive in “some other way” and it is not of God. Therefore we are not edified nor rejoice together. [see verses 21-24] When we go to a leadership meeting we go as a representative for all in our stewardship. We owe them a report on what we learned and we owe them better leadership as a result of having been instructed by our leaders and by the Spirit of truth.

Our constituency may include quorum or class members, our spouse, our families, those we home teach or visiting teach and anyone else we might reach out and touch as active members of God's Kingdom. We need to be there, we need to participate, we need to go prepared to receive by the Spirit. Then even if the presentations are the “same ol' thing,” the Spirit can speak to us and tell us what the Lord wants us to do in our stewardships.

The Story

Elder Jacob de Jager was a delightful man. A Dutch convert to the church, he was full of good stories and good fellowship. In a stake presidency meeting he told us approximately this [to get the full effect, you need to hear this in a Dutch accent]:

We like to say that Joseph Smith said “I teach them true principles,
and they govern themselves.” That is not what he said. What he really said is
“We teach and teach and teach and teach and teach,
and then they govern themselves.”

That little story has stayed with me since. Do not be concerned that the same material is presented over and over. This is as it should be. When we hearken to that we have been given, then we get more. In the meantime, the Spirit will teach us and we need not be bored. We need this teaching, those in our stewardship need this teaching. Following is an attempt to summarize and highlight teaching I have received in some very special settings.

JW

Note

It might be useful to identify the types of meetings from which this material derives. Here is a general list of the meetings I have been privileged to attend.

As a stake president or a counselor in the stake presidency I attended meetings such as:

Area Stake President's Training. This meeting is no longer held. In the past, members of the 12 and the 70 would annually travel the world to hold training for stake presidents. These were normally a Friday night and Saturday affair. I attended 7 of these while stake president. Members of the 12 who conducted these included L. Tom Perry, Neal A. Maxwell, Joseph B. Wirthlin, Dallin H. Oaks, Richard G. Scott, Jeffrey R. Holland and Henry B. Eyring. These were magnificent and aimed right at us. The substance of this training was taken from the general authority training held at the previous general conference. Seventies who were part of this were F. Burton Howard, Gene R. Cook, Monte Brough, Stephen D. Nadauld, and Richard Allred.

Mission President Seminars. In addition to the MTC training, which included many general authorities, I attended 6 mission president seminars while serving in Australia. Three of these were conducted by a member of the 12, including Russell M. Nelson, L. Tom Perry, and Henry B. Eyring. One was conducted by Earl C. Tingey, Senior President of the Seventy; another by D. Todd Christofferson, also of the Presidency of the Seventy. Elder Christofferson also accompanied Elders Nelson and Eyring. The Area president conducted the remaining one. Elder Perry was accompanied by Robert C. Oaks of the Presidency of the Seventy.

Seventies in the Area Presidency who participated in these included Kenneth Johnson, John M. Madsen, Paul K. Sybrowsky, Richard D. Stone. Participating Area 70's included Dirk Smibert, John R. Gibson and Lindsay T. Dil.

These were typically 3-4 days in length and were quite refreshing and regenerative.

Regional Conferences. These are multi-stake conferences presided over by general authorities. We have attended 2 of them; one in Oklahoma and one in Jacksonville, Florida. In Oklahoma the visitors were Bruce R. McConkie and Neal A. Maxwell. Sister McConkie attended as well. Robert Hales attended, also, I believe – and was in the presiding bishopric at the time. The one in Florida was attended by Thomas S. Monson, with Dallin H. Oaks and Steven D. Nadauld in attendance.

Coordinating Councils. These are meetings with multiple Stake Presidents and the local mission president and are usually presided over by an Area Seventy. I have attended multiples of this meeting in both roles – stake president and mission president. Usually a specific Area Seventy presides over this council for several iterations. This provides continuity from one meeting to another. These began as missionary meetings occasioned by the need to increase retention. Over time they have become more of a multistake planning meeting. This is partly due to the reduction of the number of regional meetings [welfare, scouts, public affairs, etc.] and the natural order of things.

Stake Conferences. The general rule is for each stake to get a visitor at alternate stake conferences. This works about ¾ of the time. The visitors tend to be members of the Seventy or Area Seventies. In any case, they come with great instruction and often assigned material.

Whatever notes are taken, the most important instruction comes through the Spirit. Instruction comes from the leaders, specific assignments and greater insight come through the Spirit. My habit of note taking is to leave about 2/3 of a page for note-taking and about 1/3 for insights which come from the Spirit. These insights might be, for example, things to do for/with a specific person, programmatic things to do, training needed in the stake, or personal insight of doctrine or principles. So these notes are very important. I believe that all Latter-day Saints should be prepared to take notes in any meeting where they might get good instruction. This includes sacrament meeting, priesthood meeting, Relief Society, etc. If we are prepared for the Spirit to speak to us and honor that by recording it in our study journals, we are much more likely to receive more. This is on the assumption that we act on that which we receive!

Joseph Smith said the following about the importance of writing down the spiritual insights we receive:

Here is an important item. If you assemble from time to time, and proceed to discuss important questions, and pass decisions upon the same, and fail to note them down, by and by you will be driven to straits from which you will not be able to extricate yourselves, but you may be in a situation not to bring your faith to bear with sufficient perfection or power to obtain the desired information; or, perhaps, for neglecting to write these things when God had revealed them, not esteeming them of sufficient worth, the Spirit may withdraw, and God may be angry; and there is, or was, a vast knowledge, of infinite importance, which is now lost. [Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.73.]