In response to a High Councilor's concerns about a recommendation

FROM THE HIGH COUNCILOR:

Brethren-
Couple of concerns that I have is that (Name) was recently called as the Young Men’s Secretary which gives him an opportunity to stay close to and work with (Name) who could use that closeness with (Name)  working through life’s challenges of a young man. (Name) needs that constant mentoring and guidance that (Name) is also able to give working in the Young Men’s.
Being recently called and quickly released also disrupts continuity with the young men which had already had recent disruption with Bishop (Name) being called and Bro (Name) being called as Young Men’s President.
Sister (Name) was also recently called as the Young Women’s President of the Ward so being a part of EQ Presidency would be a lot upon on already busy family. There is no question that (name) and (name) would make it work but at what expense? 

FROM THE STAKE PRESIDENT:

Thank you for sharing these concerns, Brother (Name). Hopefully we've given consideration to what you've shared.

When seeking clearance with Bishop (Name) on this recommendation, I reminded him that the bishop's role is to: (1) clear for worthiness; (2) make sure it is appropriate (the new assignment won't have a negative impact on the candidate and his or her family), based on confidential or personal information that the bishop may have; and (3) ensure the change won't be so disruptive to the ward organization that it impacts the effectiveness to move forward the Work of Salvation in the ward.

Bishop (Name) approved the recommendation of Brother (Name)—not without pain, but with the faith that the Lord will provide. As you well know, just about every change in assignment causes a level of angst and even worry, but as long as we weigh the concerns and if we still feel settled, that is a good sign that we are following inspiration in the matter.

So please know if this moves forward, we have weighed your concerns and still feel that we are moving forward as the Lord would have us do.

I hope this helps,

President Lewis

In response to a bishop wanting to seek through prayer whether an EQ president's recommendation was inspired

Bishop,

I don’t mean to overstate this, but that is one of the great challenges we have in leadership: delegating authority to receive inspiration. So any effort "to make sure this is what the Lord wants” implies there’s a possibility the person delegated the authority to receive inspiration was not inspired. That’s what creates what I call “competing revelation.”

It is your responsibility to clear names for worthiness and to make sure calling recommendations are not going to be disruptive to your ward organization and/or inappropriate for the person being called because of confidential information you’re aware of, but confirming revelation is not necessarily our role as presidents and bishops.

We tried to address this challenge of “competing revelation” in the attached document you received in our training with your bishopric.  It’s probably not real clear, but we can avoid such a challenge when we work with the leader (who has been delegated the authority to receive revelation) before they begin seeking revelation.

Hope this helps,

PrL

Helping Leaders with Calling Recommendations Mount Hood Stake • September 2016
The following is prepared to assist priesthood and auxiliary leaders in making recommendations for callings, including instances where inspiration is received but recommendations are declined.
Doctrinal foundations of callings:

• ●  This is the Lord’s true church, He will reveal His will to us (D&C 1:30, 112:10, AofF 1:5)
  
• ●  Revelation, and thus final decisions, flow through priesthood keys (D&C 28:7, 35:25)
  
• ●  Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies (Thomas S. Monson, April Conference 1996)
  
• ●  The Lord sometimes withholds communication so leaders learn to develop judgment and
  become like God; the Lord then stands behind those decisions (see Moses 1:25)
• 
  How do we reconcile ‘competing revelation’ when a recommendation is rejected?
  
  • ●  Right person, wrong time
    
  • ●  As in marriage, there’s no “one­and­only”
    
  • ●  Natural to feel right about those we like or who are dependable
    
  • ●  Additional information was needed before asking in prayer
    
  • ●  Feeling an urgency to decide quickly
    Key factors in approving callings: peace of heart, a settled feeling among all in the bishopric or presidency, worthiness, availability, personal and family circumstances
    Other factors that may affect approvals: dependability, length of service in current calling, willingness to serve, talent, teachable, respect for authority, enthusiasm for work
    Directed by priesthood leader
    Your priesthood leader selects the candidates for you
  • 
    
  • Three Approaches to Making Recommendations
  • ●  Pro: No rejection rate, no frustration from rejection
    
  • ●  Con: No participation in the revelatory experience, may not prefer candidates chosen
    Select from a narrow group
    Your priesthood leader gives you a group of 4­5 names to choose from
    
  • ●  Pro: Some revelatory experience, low rejection rate, low frustration
    
  • ●  Con: Limited flexibility, may not prefer any of the candidates offered for consideration
    Choose from general membership
    You choose from the entire stake or ward membership
    
  • ●  Pro: A sweet, revelatory experience
    
  • ●  Con: Sometimes high frustration from number of rejections due to above factors
    

A recommendation for youth teachers and parents

Bishops and Branch Presidents,

Here are a couple of thoughts for your consideration….

THIS SUNDAY: I received this week the following message from a daughter, whose husband and children live in Utah:

"At Back 2 School night last night, Spencer's 6th grade teacher emphasized 3 main rules: 1. No bullying. 2. No cell phones. 3. No vapes. 6th grade has changed a lot since I was there! “

It’s a good reminder that school life for our children and grandchildren is significantly different than when we were young students. They need all the help they can get in this challenging world. 

You may want to share this with your EQ presidents and suggest they encourage fathers (or ministering brothers) in their quorum meetings this Sunday to give priesthood blessings to the children and youth before school begins.

NEXT SUNDAY: As you know, we’ve been studying 1 Corinthians in our Come, Follow Me gospel learning at home. This is the book of scripture that often leads to a discussion about sexual purity.

You may want to encourage the youth Sunday school teachers (or YMYW teachers) to show the video “Chastity: What are the limits?” in their classes: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/youth/video/chastity-what-are-the-limits?lang=eng

This would also be especially appropriate for parents to show as a reminder the Lord through His prophets has set a standard for sexual purity despite what the world says.

For Young Single Adults, you may find this video helpful: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/youth/video/i-choose-to-be-pure?lang=eng

Thank you for all that you do to give guidance and encouragement to your leaders, teachers and members on the matters that make a difference in our lives.

May this be helpful,

President Lewis