Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
We are instructed in the General Handbook (8.1.1) that “Members of the elders quorum work together to help accomplish the work of salvation and exaltation. They serve others, fulfill priesthood duties, build unity, and learn and live doctrine.” How effective is your quorum at succeeding in this purpose? Is the more that can be done to leverage the inspired quorum structure that has been restored in these latter days? The reality is, men live lives of quiet desperation even while attending elders quorum once a week. They attend elders quorum with the hope of brotherhood, unity, and a restoration of their heart. Every man is striving to answer one question, “do I have what it takes?” They wonder if they have what it takes to support a family, keep their job, overcome addiction, maintain their worthiness. They know the restored gospel can help them answer that question but they don’t know where to find the answer. In this episode, Kurt Francom discusses some points to consider related to the heart of men and how the adversary is winning the heart of many men in ways we may not expect. There is great opportunity to build brotherhood in our quorum in order to give more purpose in the lives of those who attend. Kurt also discusses the powerful experience he and others have had by attending a Wild at Heart Boot Camp and how it can help establish an effective model for increasing elders quorum brotherhood and unity.
Next Boot Camp Details & Registration
Summary
- The typical elders quorum (1:40)
- What would you change about elders quorum?
- What is the purpose of a quorum?
- Handbook 2 – 7.1.2 (6:15)
- “The primary purposes of quorums are to serve others, build unity and brotherhood, and instruct members in doctrines, principles, and duties.”
- President Kimball said, “We often do vigorous enlistment work to get members to come to church but then do not adequately watch over what they receive when they do come.”
- A Quorum of Strangers: On the isolation of Mormon Men, by Sheldon Lawrence (11:30)
- “A recent article in the Atlantic points out that men, especially middle-aged white men, are increasingly dying from lives lived in isolation and addiction. I would like to believe that Mormon men somehow buck this trend. After all, aren’t we part of a tight-knit community capable of self-organizing in a moment’s notice? Just hand us a natural disaster and we’ll show up with rakes and shovels. But despite the Church’s obvious strength in organizing labor, it’s my observation that Mormon men lead surprisingly isolated and lonely lives. “
- “The substance of a diligent man is precious.” Prov. 12:27
- What is the biggest threat to men in our current day? (14:15)
- The hearts of men are under attack (16:25)
- “The devil has sought to lay a cunning plan, that he may destroy this work” Doctrine & Covenants 10:12
- How the adversary works
- “Yea, he stirreth up [our] hearts” Doctrine & Covenants10:24
- “And thus he flattereth them, and leadeth them along until he draggeth their souls down to hell; and thus he causeth them to catch themselves in [our] own snare.” Doctrine & Covenants 10:26
- Wild at Heart Boot Camp (21:05)
- Principles based on the Wild at Heart book
- A battle to fight
- An adventure to live
- A beauty to rescue
- Wild at Heart Boot Camp Story Continued (27:45)
- Real life experiences
- Chris (33:10)
- Steve (47:40)
- James (from California) (53:45)
- James (from Utah) (59:05)
- Orin (1:06:25)
- Conclusion (1:11:25)
Links
- See Boot Camp Schedule & Register (Promo Code: LeadingSaints)
- Unashamed Unafraid Podcast
- Doug Nielsen Episode
- Steve Shields Episode
- Wild at Heart Book
- Heart of Man Movie
- A Quorum of Strangers: On the isolation of Mormon men
- Find a Wild at Heart Book Camp in your area
This podcast was good and well, but didn’t answer the question of how is your Elder’s Quorum working? You shared incredible testimonials of men who went to this boot camp, but you didn’t address how can we apply the principles of the boot camp to Elder’s Quorum. You addressed “connection”, but why did you have a whole podcast about Elder’s Quorum and how it “should” work, when it was really a podcast about the boot camp. My interest, as the wife of husband who is in the Elder’s Quorum presidency, is how can you, how do you apply this boot camp, into the Elder’s Quorum, Relief Society? How can we change lives every other Sunday, and every day like you do at this Boot Camp.
I have the same comment at T Lively above. The podcast turned into a promotion for the Wild at Heart retreat. We’d like to know how to duplicate that experience in our elders quorum. My wife is also in the Relief Society presidency so she’s interested in this too (they do have more consistent activities).
BUT, I did get a LOT out of this podcast. First of all, I just downloaded the book, “Wild at Heart” to my audible account and will start listening to it today. And second, I’m going to start doing consistent quorum activities with the men. Something we haven’t done because of our focus on the ministry program.
I would benefit from some ideas of activities we can do that men would find interesting enough to come to. Like you said Kurt, all the men say they want more connection, but when we hold an activity, few take the time to come and participate. Everyone’s time is at a premium, so maybe I just need to have activities they would find more interesting.
I think what you describe about what happens at a Wild at Heart retreat, would be difficult to duplicate on a Sunday, with the men all dressed up sitting in a chapel room. Although some of this happens in a fast and testimony meeting, so maybe it can be duplicated in one way or another.
But an entire podcast dedicated to creating brotherhood in the elders quorum or sisterhood in the relief society and have some guests on to give their ideas would be a very popular podcast.
Keep up the great work!
As a single my needs are never talked about in elders quorum. All that is done is marriage and family focused even the activitys. I hate elders quorum and frankley find the brotherhood that should exist elsewhere.