Have you ever considered what offerings only the Church can provide?
Obviously, the restored gospel has offered us priesthood authority and revealed eternal truth through scripture.
But what are the things that ONLY the church can offer us on a regular weekly basis that we can’t find anywhere else?
Potlucks? No.
Youth activities? No.
Talks about faith and repentance? Nope.
Scripture reading schedules? Naw.
Women’s societies? No way.
Gorgeous places for weddings? Not really.
Saving ordinances? Uh… yeah!
Really, the thing only the Church has to offer on a regular basis are rites and ordinances via restored priesthood keys.
With that said, what if we saw all other efforts, organizations, activities, and programs as simple tools on the shelf we can use if needed?
You see, what happens is that we tend to rank activities and organizations closer to saving rites and ordinances than they really are.
If you don’t believe me, have your bishop try to cancel Come Follow Me for the year.
Many will respond as if you were trying to remove the sacrament table from the chapel.
I met a bishop a few weeks ago who stood in front of his ward and released everyone (and I mean everyone) from ministering.
Don’t you feel the resistance?
We can’t cancel Come Follow Me or ministering!!!
Why not?
I am not saying we should, but I think it is important that those who hold the keys to direct their organization do recognize the extent of their authority.
What happens is that most lay leaders see all programs, activities, and organizations as mandated, and then we create our own monsters from which we run.
Traditional activities become a burden to get done.
Conference talks in elders quorum cancel out needed discussions among men not related to a specific Liahona message.
New Testament Come Follow Me scriptures push people away from a message in Alma that the ward needs to hear that week.
Please hear me out.
I am not trying to cancel beloved and often effective programs and activities in a ward, many of which were given to us by general authorities.
I simply encourage lay leaders to step back and consider who or what is really holding the keys of the ward.
Our tradition and well-organized handbooks often steal the keys of presidency when we are sleeping at night.
Let’s yank them back and turn on the engine of revelation.
What does your ward need?
What programs, traditions, and activities need to be put back on the shelf for a while?
You’ve got the keys: now drive!
Sincerely,
Kurt Francom
Executive Director
Leading Saints
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