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In a segment of the 2010 Worldwide Leadership Training, a group of currently serving members of ward councils modeled some examples of how a ward council can work together to meet the needs of their members and accomplish the Church’s purposes. This was followed by a panel discussion by Church leaders on some of the principles found in the new Church handbook.
The discussion was led by Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve, and included Elders Jeffrey R. Holland and David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Walter F. Gonzalez of the Presidency of the Seventy and Sister Julie B. Beck the Relief Society general president.
At the outset, Elder Ballard asked panel members for observations regarding the model ward council meeting that had just been presented.
Sister Beck said it exemplified the principle in Doctrine and Covenants 88:122 about letting one speak at a time that all may be edified of all.
Elder Holland said the council kept bringing the discussion back to how parents could be involved and strengthening the home.
"I would add," Elder Bednar said, "that consistently through the entire council, they were focused on people, not programs. And they were ministering to individuals and families. I think that’s the spirit that’s intended in the new handbook."
Elder Gonzales said he noticed that the level of participation in the meeting fostered revelation and that the meeting was highlighted by the principle of follow-up.
"I think we saw a very good example of how a bishop can direct, but not dominate, what takes place in a council," Elder Bednar said. "The bishop listened more than he talked."
Elder Ballard remarked that the mark of a great leader in any setting is being "willing to understand that there is an issue, but then having the gift to be able to draw from all of the resources the Lord has provided."
If a bishop understands this principle, he will not be overburdened, Elder Ballard said.
"One of the things that we also ought to take away from that, I think, is that the Relief Society presidency is a council; the Sunday School presidency is a council. Each of those people that were represented there would go back to their own council, hopefully, and talk about the things that the ward council was concerned about."
Elder Holland observed that the members of the ward council could not, by themselves, do all the things they were assigned in the meeting. "If they try to go out and do that personally, they’re going to be as burdened as the bishop was. So they’re going to have to go to their councils; they’re going to have to spread this concept. That’s great for participation."
Elder Holland noted that a council meeting ought to be preceded by preparation. Elder Gonzales observed that the model meeting exemplified that, with the bishop having given the members an assignment to think beforehand about how to help improve the spirituality and strengthen the testimonies of the youth in the ward. "So individually they will also be receiving inspiration before the council," Elder Gonzales said.
Sister Beck said it can be difficult for some to learn to "counsel in the Lord’s way."
"But when you’ve come into the gospel of Jesus Christ, and you make those covenants and He becomes your model, then you start bit-by-bit trying to adapt to His culture and His way and His model of how to talk to one another and communicate."
Elder Bednar said there is a mistaken notion that every element of revelation coming to the ward has to be through the bishop. "By virtue of his keys, he has to acknowledge it and affirm it, but he doesn’t necessarily have to be the only vehicle through whom it comes. So in that council, as you have that spirit of unity and acting under the influence of the Spirit, the contributions of all of the council members add elements to the inspiration."
Elder Holland observed from the model council meeting that prior to the meeting, a member with health problems already had been visited. "How terrific that everybody in the entire ward didn’t wait to see, well, is the bishop going to be the first one to get over there and we’re not going to do anything till he gets there. ... There’s a step toward helping an overworked bishop, to share the wealth, share the blessing."
"What a wonderful thing," Elder Ballard added, "when a Relief Society president or a Young Women’s president or a Primary president can come to the council and say, ‘Bishop, we want to report to you. This is what we found and this is what we did.’ What just happened? Part of the burden was automatically lifted off of the bishop’s shoulders."
Elder Ballard asked the panel, "Have you ever been asked a question that’s already answered in the handbook?"
Elder Holland replied that the secretary to the First Presidency once said that 80 percent of the questions that come to the First Presidency are already answered in the handbook.
One of the challenges in growing areas of the Church, Elder Gonzalez said, "is we don’t have models on how to do things. The handbook is the closest thing we have to a model. So if we have doubts about how to do something because we don’t have a model, then we have the handbook."
