"Hold my root beer" - the Russell M. Nelson thread

[Eddie]

To instruct, support, and minister to the ward leaders and members. I had this discussion in a formal meeting recently, so I knew the answer. My questions are a) do the ward leaders and members need that b) is ward conference an effective way to provide that; and c) is that how ward conference is received by the ward leaders and members? I submit to you that the answers to those questions are, for the vast majority of ward leaders and members, are :
a) yes
b) no
c) no

I'm still trying to figure out the difference between ward conference and a regular Sunday - and why you would care.

For us - ward conference just means that the Sacrament Meeting speakers will be the Stake President and the Bishop. Primary is the same either way. It's maybe 70/30 as to whether or not the 2nd hour will be any different than the norm. Sometimes it's like a 5th Sunday, but more often than not it's just regular classes with visitors from the stake sitting in.

The only person it really impacts in the ward is the Bishop/Bishopric - who get to meet with the Stake Presidency during the week before conference, and then the Bishop speaking. But that's about it.

I suppose the other difference is the sustainings - but who cares about that?

What don't you like about ward conference? I'm not sure it would impact me either way - but I don't care enough to speak out against it.

[Pelado]

Embedded Tweet

It sounds like we'll only have one Sacrament Meeting per year, now:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced it will only hold sacrament meetings on Easter Sunday.

Well done, President Nelson!

[Donuthole]

I'm still trying to figure out the difference between ward conference and a regular Sunday - and why you would care.

For us - ward conference just means that the Sacrament Meeting speakers will be the Stake President and the Bishop. Primary is the same either way. It's maybe 70/30 as to whether or not the 2nd hour will be any different than the norm. Sometimes it's like a 5th Sunday, but more often than not it's just regular classes with visitors from the stake sitting in.

The only person it really impacts in the ward is the Bishop/Bishopric - who get to meet with the Stake Presidency during the week before conference, and then the Bishop speaking. But that's about it.

I suppose the other difference is the sustainings - but who cares about that?

What don't you like about ward conference? I'm not sure it would impact me either way - but I don't care enough to speak out against it.

I just think it is a relic of a bygone era. And it's a hassle for bishops/bishoprics who already have a ton on their plates.

[Bo Diddley]

It sounds like we'll only have one Sacrament Meeting per year, now:



Well done, President Nelson!

[BlueK]

I just think it is a relic of a bygone era. And it's a hassle for bishops/bishoprics who already have a ton on their plates.

what is exactly the hassle to the bishopric? From my time as an exec sec I seem to remember it's one week they don't have to plan and find speakers for sacrament meeting which is less hassle. That was a stressor for them. Active members are a hundred times more likely to say no to giving a talk than turning down a calling, which surprised me in that calling but was a fairly consistent thing. The only other thing I remember about ward conference being different was the meeting right after church in the bishop's office with the stake leaders for about 30 minutes.

[myboynoah]

Yes, very hilarious, Pelado.

[Donuthole]

what is exactly the hassle to the bishopric? From my time as an exec sec I seem to remember it's one week they don't have to plan and find speakers for sacrament meeting which is less hassle. That was a stressor for them. Active members are a hundred times more likely to say no to giving a talk than turning down a calling, which surprised me in that calling but was a fairly consistent thing. The only othrr thing I remember about ward conference being different was the meeting right after church in the bishop's office with the stake leaders for about 30 minutes.

• Stake weeknight visits the week of WC
• Expanded Ward Council w stake leadership in attendance
•Coordinating rooms big enough for combined 2nd hour meetings (especially problematic when wards are starting every 1.5 hours and the RS room doesn’t fit all of the adults)
•Extra meeting after WC to discuss takeaways

Thats all way more hassle than finding a couple speakers and just having a regular Sunday schedule.

[bluegoose]

• Stake weeknight visits the week of WC
• Expanded Ward Council w stake leadership in attendance
•Coordinating rooms big enough for combined 2nd hour meetings (especially problematic when wards are starting every 1.5 hours and the RS room doesn’t fit all of the adults)
•Extra meeting after WC to discuss takeaways

Thats all way more hassle than finding a couple speakers and just having a regular Sunday schedule.

Your stake is being a little extra with their WC schedule. Mid-week meetings with the Bishopric and Ward Council? Get out of town. And every stake I can recall has just taken over the second hour completely from the ward, giving leaders and teachers the week off. What's the downside?

[BigPiney]

Your stake is being a little extra with their WC schedule. Mid-week meetings with the Bishopric and Ward Council? Get out of town. And every stake I can recall has just taken over the second hour completely from the ward, giving leaders and teachers the week off. What's the downside?

Our stake always wanted to go on visits after church. At least 2-3 people per member of the bishopric. So this would go till 4 or 5 in the afternoon after starting with wears council at 8:30 and then going non stop from there. GTFO.

We have finally put a stop to that now that we only have 2 members one the bishopric. Not enough people for a 2nd counselor.

[Eddie]

I can see how some of you would hate it depending on how it's being done.

In our stake, the Bishop and counselors meet with the Stake President and counselors the week before for about an hour. That's it. No expanded ward council - that meeting is the same. High Counselor is probably there, but then he's there more often than not in our ward. No meeting after the meetings. No visits to ward members after the meetings. That's the kind of stuff that happens during Stake Conference - but only when there is a visiting authority.

Stake President was talking about upcoming ward conferences last night. Looks like it will be him and the Bishops speaking in sacrament meeting - again. So that is an added thing for the Bishop to write a talk. Stake leaders are going to teach a combined YM and a combined adult meeting during the second hour. Stake Primary Presidency will go sit in Primary singing time and might ask to join a class or two.

Honestly - the way our stake does things, it isn't that much of a hassle for anyone except for the Bishop. I didn't love the extra weeknight meeting as a counselor, but I can live with an hour once a year to talk to the stake president about how our ward is doing.

I understand how others wouldn't love it. Especially with some of the descriptions of how your stakes do things. But in our stake it's kinda NBD.

[smokymountainrain]

i know wc was more work for us when i was a counselor. too long ago to remember the details, but it was definitely a busier week leading up to it and day of.

[Green Monstah]

I don't really see the need for stake conference, either, but one aspect of ward conference has really baffled me. About a decade ago, our stake presidency really pushed us to invite non-member friends to ward conference, which tends to have a higher percentage of time dedicated to administration in the very weird, cult-like way in which we speak by common consent (yes, you can dissent, but hardly anyone ever does, and we just robotically raise our hands repeatedly; if you didn't grow up with it, I imagine it looks ridiculous). To top it off, stake presidencies don't always have the best orators. In fact, on my mission, I remember specifically delaying inviting an investigator to church to avoid a ward conference once.

[BlueK]

Your stake is being a little extra with their WC schedule. Mid-week meetings with the Bishopric and Ward Council? Get out of town. And every stake I can recall has just taken over the second hour completely from the ward, giving leaders and teachers the week off. What's the downside?

Yeah, this sounds like how mine does it as well.

[Jeff Lebowski]

RMN is selected for an award from an HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia. I can't think of a more triggering event for the SLTrib comment section.

Embedded Tweet

[Bo Diddley]

RMN is selected for an award from an HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia. I can't think of a more triggering event for the SLTrib comment section.

Well deserved. Haters gonna hate.