The following was an announcement made in the Sandy River Ward prior to the change in that ward's bishopric and the ensuing conversation with my counselors on the subject of speculating.
To the members of the Sandy River Ward,
This is to announce that your ward Bishopric will be reorganized next Sunday, June 5, during Fast and Testimony meeting.
We cannot express adequately our gratitude for the service of your bishop and his counselors over the past five-and-half years. They have all served so faithfully and blessed your ward with extraordinary dedication and exemplary lives.
We recognize there is a tendency, when major changes in leadership occur, to speculate on who will now be sustained. Will you please not speculate during the coming week? But join with us in praying that the Lord will bless us with an outpouring of His Spirit so we can come together in a unity of faith and follow His will.
We look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday, June 5.
Sincerely,
The Stake Presidency
President Paul Hansen suggested that there were some chuckles when the announcement was read about not speculating. He added:
That is the 64 dollar question! I did not want to sound as though it was received poorly. I do think it is important to have people come to sustain the new bishop and that message was heard and received. I cannot even influence my brothers and sister and extended family from speculating over the years so I have not been very effective obviously. I just think we teach the doctrine of calls and releases and the Lord's hand in the work and refrain from speculating personally. That is really our focus and you model that well so please do not take my report as a negative one. The Ward is prepared to sustain the new bishopric I felt. Thx!
My response:
I certainly don’t want to make a major issue of it, but in time I hope we can help members understand how their speculating can be hurtful. if they only knew how hurtful it can be, they would not do it.
I realize it’s natural to want to “guess right.” But in speculating they must mention the names of brethren they may “favor” or feel it’s “his turn.” To the speculator, it’s a compliment. To the brethren they name, it can be hurtful simply because when the call does not go to them there is a natural tendency to wonder why he was “passed over by the Lord.” Usually it doesn’t take long before we re-group and are grateful we weren’t called as we look at all the work and time the new leader is putting in :) but for some the pain of appearing to be “overlooked by the Lord” can be very real and lingering.
I feel as strongly about this as I do the pain we can inflict with the traditional Mother’s Day programs (thank you for helping to end or minimize that in our stake). If members only knew how painful these traditions or practices can be on others, they would not continue them.
I share this much detail with you in hopes we can find ways to teach this without making it major issue that needs to be addressed with a letter or series of talks. But I’d like to do something more than just set an example. We have been called to help all come unto Christ. Inflicting pain on each other, even subtly and unwittingly, keeps us from drawing close to Him.
I appreciate you sharing feelings on the subject and maybe, in time, we can help our stake in this part of becoming one.
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