Regardless of your calling, it is my guess that you want to have a positive impact on those within your stewardship. And, it is also my guess that having such a positive impact on those in your stewardship involves trying to create certain outcomes. Such outcomes...
“Spiritual understanding rarely comes from a lecture. It comes in classrooms where questions are welcome, where doubts and fears can be expressed, and where honest opinions are never dismissed. It comes from obedience, private study, and prayer. Spiritually, the...
Does how you speak as a member of the LDS church matter? Does how we speak influence the degree to which those not of our faith want to join our church? Does how we speak influence the degree to which members who infrequently attend church want to attend more...
This is an article co-authored by Adam Ellsworth, a full-time attorney and former elders quorum president; and Ryan Gottfredson, Ph.D., a leadership professor. Did you feel that? That was the heavy weight of responsibility being placed on your shoulders. As a new...
This is an article co-authored by Ryan Gottfredson, Ph.D., a leadership professor and Adam Ellsworth, a full-time attorney and former elders quorum president You have recently been called to a position that, while it has a familiar name, is essentially a brand new...
Repentance is the second principle of the gospel, and as such, it plays a foundational role in LDS theology. But unfortunately, it is a topic that many LDS leaders and teachers have misconceptions about. This is problematic from a church perspective because if LDS...
If 114 members of the church (mostly local leaders) were asked to define a core gospel principle, how many different definitions would there need to be for you to say, “we have a problem”, “this is not clear”, or “Salt Lake, we could use improved direction”? As a...
If you are a church leader, it is likely that you have at least considered the idea of setting goals within your sphere of responsibility. Goal setting in the church can be a tricky business. Some principles that are important when setting personal goals may not be as...
Conflict is the beginning of consciousness. – M. Esther Harding Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it. – Mahatma Gandhi Whether you realize it or not, conflict is likely at the surface or bubbling just beneath the surface in your wards...
During a recent Sunday School lesson, I heard a former bishop state, “What bishop hasn’t had to deal with a member thinking about or actually leaving the Church?” Whether that represents reality or not, I am not sure, but according to the Pew Research Center, the...
