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Paul Barker is currently serving as 1st counselor in a Young Single Adult (YSA) Stake in the Phoenix, Arizona area. He has also served in a few bishoprics, and as a bishop. In this episode we focus on the unique characteristics of being a leader in a YSA stake and how these stakes are more elite compared to conventional family wards. We also discuss the unique approaches to home teaching, how activities play an important role in YSA wards, and how to appeal to those that don’t enjoy large social activities.
Paul’s 5 Leadership Principles
- Define the Objective: What is the goal or purpose?
- Counsel: It takes two or more to counsel.
- Plan: Draw up plans and specifications. In other words Build Spiritually. (Moses 2:5)
- Build: Build physically, “by the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread,”…
- Watch it Until it Obeys: Make adjustments as necessary to fulfill the purpose of its creation.
I hate to nit-pick, but I think Pres. Barker isn’t remembering his time in New York City quite accurately. If I understood his timeline correctly, he lived here in New York City in either the 1970s or early 1980s. In the podcast he said that the stake was created at that time.
In fact, the New York New York Stake was created in 1934 — the first stake east of the Mississippi. He may be referring to a division of the stake or the creation of the New York New York East Stake (covering Brooklyn and Queens).
I have been a resident of New York City (Manhattan) since 1988, and I have been researching the history of the Church here since the mid 1990s.
But, aside from that minor mistaken memory, I really enjoyed Pres. Barker’s comments. The issues surrounding singles are very important, and I don’t think we have clear answers for how to help and support single members — especially as they age out of the YSA units.
What a pleasure to hear from President Barker! I was one of his seminary students many years ago. Still remember his love of the gospel to this day.