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Dan Duckworth is a disciple, family man, and changemaker. As a teacher and coach, he guides elite leaders to the top of their game. He’s the author of Stop Asking Why: Your Purpose is Self-Evident, a frequent contributor to Leading Saints, and a member of its Board of Directors. Kurt Francom is the Executive Director of Leading Saints. In this podcast, Kurt and Dan open up the conversation to address leadership issues stemming from political and social tensions in the world. 
Highlights
6:30 Scenario: A Relief Society President is worried about the political dynamic and divide in her ward due to COVID-19. 11:15 Politics are beginning to affect our church experience. There is starting to be a division in many wards. Leaders should bring up the problems and open up discussion instead of being passive. 19:45 Political issues are not only creating problems in our wards but also in families. 21:30 Leaders try to avoid having conflict and keep the peace. As leaders we want to be peacemakers but we need to be changemakers. Many times making trouble and change can bring about peace. 26:30 How do we go about addressing these political issues?
- Open up discussion with the whole group despite the discomfort. It’s so important to listen to each other.
- Be authentic. Talk about feelings opposed to “I’m right and you’re wrong”.
- There may be a need to talk to specific people privately about political comments.
29:50 Start having consistent, open conversations. Don’t wait for a huge issue to have the conversations. Our classes at church should be a place to connect and be open. 31:00 There will be situations that you need to address with the community but there might also be situations where it might be more appropriate to address an individual one-on-one. 32:30 How to set boundaries with members who create tension and make politically motivated comments at church. 37:50 Our goal is not just to censor or shut someone down to avoid conflict but it’s to help them grow and create unity in the ward. 40:45 When bringing up issues in class, the goal of the leader is not to talk at people but to invite others to join the conversation. 44:20 Conclusion: There is no right answer to dealing with these leadership challenges. Keep praying and learning.
Links
Clarifying Values PDF, from The Confidence Gap by Russ Harris Sheri Dew – “Will You Engage in the Wrestle?” Connect with Dan at https://danduckworth.net Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library
I am a relief society president in my branch. We have always encouraged the members of the branch to keep “politics” out of the church. However, I have witnessed two situations in the last couple of years that concerned me. 1. A member speaking to another member in the foyer about how he doesn’t understand how anyone could believe in the church and come to a different political conclusion that he did regarding the last election. The conversation was overheard by another member that I knew to belong to the other political party. she chose to be quiet and not say anything, but inside I knew that she felt like perhaps she made a mistake in choosing to be baptized into a church in which her views were not in the majority. 2. a sister shared with me that when she was attending relief society virtually one day, she was listening to the conversation among the sisters before the lesson began and overhead one sister talking to another sister about how it was important for each of us to get involved in local school politics because it is important to have the parents express to the school leadership that the religious freedom of our children should not be suppressed. The sister attending virtually immediately logged off. Her comment to me was “politics does not belong at church”. When selecting conference talks for discussion from the April 2021 conference, our presidency selected “Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution” By President Dallin H. Oaks. The first half of the class discussion was having the converts in the room share what it is like to attend church for the first time. What actions can we take to make a new person feel welcome in that situation. That creating a Zion-like community requires that everyone feel like they belong. Then the discussion turned to several of Elder Oaks’ statements at the end of his talk. “We also insist, and we ask our local leaders to insist, that political choices and affiliations not be the subject of teachings or advocacy in any of our Church meetings.” “We should never assert that a faithful Latter-day Saint cannot belong to a particular party or vote for a particular candidate.” How can these kinds of statements inhibit the formation of Zion in our branch? Then we finished up with “We should be knowledgeable citizens who are active in making our influence felt in civic affairs.” Is it possible to encourage each other to be politically involved without promoting a specific political choice or affiliation? I believe that a good spirt was felt in the room as we discussed how we could all be more intentional about helping others feel like they belong by being more aware about our conversations in the church building and how they can be perceived by those who overhear those conversations.
I like that you attempted to broach this subject, but I feel like you didn’t mention a huge elephant in the room: The first presidency has asked us to wear masks when we can’t social distance. I don’t know if a place (other than Australia) where COVID isn’t raging, so shouldn’t most congregations be doing this?! My observation is that it’s not so much two political parties as it is members of one putting their politics over everything, and another side just wanting to follow the prophet, love their neighbor, etc.
I feel it sad that it is so difficult to discuss politics at Church; after all, if there is to be a place that Gospel principles are invoked to resolve differences, it should be there. One problem, it is natural for each of us to think we are right. I like that it was mentioned with leadership that there is not always one right solution. Holly mentioned Australia; well, here in New Zealand we had enjoyed 18 months without Covid after eliminating it the first time, until an Aussie came though with Delta variant and that one case put our biggest city into lock down, but not before spreading to 1000’s of people. We are only just getting that under control. What I have found interesting is that some Stake Presidents have allowed members to go back to Church and others, like mine, are still having services by Zoom. As mentioned this might be a difference in values, i.e. safety vs social interaction. In these cases it’s hard not to make judgements based on our own values and perspectives. I think it’s an opportunity to understand other members. When we go back I am glad I can socially distance from everyone in Sacrament meeting by barricading myself behind the piano on the organ.
Holly- Let’s first quote our prophet correctly… “we urge the use of face masks in public meetings whenever social distancing is not possible”. There is a big difference between being asked by our prophet and being urged by our prophet. Either way, because it’s left to choice, we must allow people that agency without judgment; it’s dangerous to assume one’s wearing of the mask is politically motivated and worse you feel the wearing of a mask signifies whether one follows the Prophet and loves their neighbor. SMH
Long time listener here. I feel like you really missed the mark on this one. As the wife of a man doing chemo treatments this spring, this issue isn’t about politics but safety. He could have died had we contracted covid. Teaching love for our vulnerable ward members and compassion for those at risk, not to mention following prophetic direction are higher values here that were completely overlooked in your discussion. I am disappointed. I absolutely have love and compassion for those in our ward who won’t mask, but that doesn’t mean their choice is neutral for my family.
Thank you, you did well on a complicated topic. I have always felt that the members who are health compromised will stay at home or socially distance. I have a strong testimony and love the prophet. But I am unvaccinated for personal reasons. Politics should not define us or our Church membership.