Recently I have had several friends called as stake presidents. This has caused me to reflect on principles I have learned from my own experience in a stake presidency and things I have learned from doing hundreds of leadership interviews for Leading Saints. I’d like...
General conference is coming up! Here are four approaches I am taking to get the most out of general conference: 1. Avoid Social Media Social media has become increasingly popular during General Conference. While it may seem like you’re gaining more from the...
So what do we do about this STP problem? (Remember, STP stands for “same ten people,” or the tendency some wards or stakes have to rotate the Same Ten People through influential callings.) As I heard from many readers, most wards are making a concerted effort to...
Someone recently turned my attention toward this paragraph in the handbook: Sometimes the same people are called repeatedly to leadership positions. This can overburden them and their families and take opportunities away from others. Seek to give all members...
Over the last several years, I have often thought about the concept of how spiritual confirmation can trigger confirmation bias and how confirmation bias can trigger the feeling of spiritual confirmation. Quick definitions: Spiritual confirmation is to receive a...
I’m an efficiency nerd. I love tinkering with systems until they work like a well-oiled machine. Since many of you can relate, let’s have some fun and dissect the sacrament meeting system from a leadership point of view and see what ideas we can share. (I’m really...
As many of you know, I have recently developed a friendship with Jeff McCullough who produces Hello Saints on Youtube. In short, he is an evangelical pastor exploring everything he can about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he documents his journey...
Families can be together forever. Is this doctrine? Well, yeah, sure. However, it is more of an attempt to communicate a doctrine in the form of a marketing message. For years, we as a church community have attempted to convert people to the restored gospel by using...
I’ve recently discussed the importance of leaders talking more openly about their personal struggles and the reasons why they need repentance from sin just like everyone else. The temptation is to keep struggles with sin vague and to not get too specific. So, instead...
As church leaders, of course we struggle with sin and need to repent constantly. Right? Yes, of course we do, and I have heard many leaders make a similar confession, even over the lectern at church. However, simply confessing that you struggle with sin and need to...
