anyways…

Counsel with the Youth
By Michael Smith
For the Bangor Maine Stake Conference
Priesthood Leadership Session
May 19, 2007My Elders Quorum president recently set a high mark to aim for. Within the last month, some or all of the seven people in our family were touched with illness (or repeated illness), an ankle sprain, back problems, a 3-year-old’s broken leg, financial difficulty, culminating schoolwork, finals and church callings. President Marden was made aware of our family’s adventures and came on a visit during our home teacher’s regular appointment. As it turned out, I was at the hospital with my daughter. My wife recounted the stories, told him where I was and that my nursing school finals were the next day. I was stressed, and I think President Marden sensed that from Kim’s description. They left. I actually met them on my way home. We both rolled down the windows and chatted very quickly. He made sure to build my confidence and said that he knew I would do well on the exam. The next day, I indeed passed with flying colors. I could someday tell you more about the ministering of angels and the help I received from a loving Heavenly Father. But for now, I would like to tell you about the support I received from my quorum president. Vern called shortly after I arrived home. I felt his caring, sincere concern and love as he anxiously sought a report of my exam results, Kim’s ankle condition and my daughter’s broken leg. He asked if there was anything that could be done and encouraged us to press forward.

President Marden’s example of leadership is indicative of the Lord’s way, and the Lord’s Church. As priesthood leaders, we should strive to lead our youth’s quorum and class presidents in such a path. We must prepare all of the youth to readily be about the Lord’s errand and lead the Church in the future. It is even more imperative that they learn to lead their own lives and families the Lord’s way.

Our beloved Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley has the following to say about our youth:

I have a great and compelling sense of gratitude and optimism about the youth of the Church. In saying this, I do not wish to imply that all is well with all of them. There are many who have troubles, and many who live far beneath the high expectations we have concerning them. But even considering these, I have great confidence in our young people as a whole. I regard you as the finest generation in the history of the Church. I compliment you, and I have in my heart a great feeling of love and respect and appreciation for you.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “This Favored Season,” Liahona, Sep 1995, 3)

President Hinckley properly arranged his description of the youth - including their challenges. As a student nurse, I have been studying the needs of adolescents in their schools. I find the environment in which our youth operate to be caustic. Teen pregnancy rates are fairly high and drugs are claiming the lives of their users. “For the Strength of Youth” values of agency and accountability, gratitude, education, family, dress, entertainment, media, language, dating, sexual purity, repentance, honesty, Sabbath day observance, tithing, health and service are all tested and sometimes mocked on a daily basis. Our youth face the difficult and sometimes overwhelming task of defending the Faith alone.

Proper inoculation against such potential decay of the soul demands that the family provide the gospel focused tools necessary. Church leadership and organizations are meant to be a supportive and oh so powerful scaffolding to our homes. Today, I will briefly outline the logistical mechanisms by which we can counsel with our youth. However, I believe the core of counseling with our youth lies in the following statement:

“Man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh - but that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the World; That faith also might increase in the earth; that mine everlasting covenant might be established; that the fullness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.” (D&C 1:19-23)

To summarize and interpret for our subject the verse from doctrine & covenants: Don’t rely on the arm of flesh to accomplish tasks with the youth; speak with authority. Teach the Savior’s message and His glorious work among the children of men. And if I may read into that a bit, use the scriptures and be worthy to handle the delicate controls of the Spirit and priesthood. Teach these principles to the youth. Missionary work and temple marriage are represented in these verses and happen to be important markers to successful spiritual development.

Bishop’s Youth Council, Aaronic Priesthood Committee Meetings, Aaronic Priesthood-Young Women Committee Meetings and Quorum, Class and Auxiliary Presidency Meetings are all meetings that should be had on a regular basis. Use these meetings to discuss ways to serve the needs of the individual, not the needs of the organization. The Bangor Stake Vision and Key Priorities for 2007 states that we should, “Counsel together to achieve oneness of effort.” Let us remember that the scriptures are replete with examples of how counseling together fails when we fail to be guided by the Spirit of the Lord. Go home and look up counsel in the topical guide - you’ll see. We will not achieve oneness without humble supplication of the God who made us. Center our counsels and teachings on the Savior and the needs of the individuals whom we serve will naturally be carried forward. As we apply this principle personally, we will also find ourselves (and I’m quoting from the Stake’s Key Priorities), “mov[ing] from being individuals trying to work by the Spirit to a whole body of Christ working together by the Spirit.”

I counsel with youth. I am the advisor for the Farmington Ward’s Deacon’s Quorum. My main dealings with them are during Sunday quorum meeting lesson time. I have prayerfully assessed their greatest need as a group for quorum instruction to be scripture study development and opportunities to feel and recognize the Spirit. Additionally, their simple testimony of God the Father, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon are also to be nurtured and encouraged. Duty to God, For the Strength of Youth, lesson manuals and Church approved videos, music and pictures are often effective in meeting their needs. To encourage their active involvement, I ask them to interact with the scriptures during the week by assigning a subject to research. We use study tools in the classroom to model this research. Most of the quorum has begun to fill out a missionary recommend. The Bishop has these and can use them during youth interviews, further focusing an Aaronic Priesthood holder’s mission preparation.

I recently discovered Section 88 of the Doctrine and Covenants, where the School of the Prophets was being organized. Joseph’s revelation included, “Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once, but let one speak at a time, and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege” (D&C 88:122) This method of teaching is what I aim for in the classroom.

Lately, all of the above forces blended together into a breathtaking scene. The walls of the classroom melted. I had a view of each Deacon’s eternal perspective and their future rendezvous at the temple, and on their missions. Heavenly Father prompted me to work on bearing Testimony as their lesson. I used a video from the “Church History” DVD. We discussed the video and Brigham Young’s testimony. I shared my own testimony, then opened the time for the bearing of testimonies as each of them felt moved upon by the Spirit. Every one of the brethren in that room shared their testimony. It was an unforgettable moment. Their testimony was simple and, “without eloquence,” but powerful and piercing. I knew that these boys’ testimonies were beginning, but now I felt their testimony developing. If there were investigators in the classroom while they were bearing their testimony, they would feel the conviction, truth, promise and power of it and come closer to the Savior - they may have even wanted to know more. It impressed upon my mind and soul that these boys are learning to handle the powers of the Priesthood and the companionship of the Spirit. Afterwards, I sat in the room for a while to collect my thoughts and come down from the place I knew Heavenly Father brought us.

I see a future bright with possibilities. We have not reached a plateau or accomplished the tasks I mentioned before of scripture study, and feeling the Spirit. These are always going to be present. What I see as a new long-term spiritual development task for the Deacons Quorum in Farmington is as Elder Clayton M. Christensen puts it in February’s Ensign: “A strong youth program is not defined by the numbers of youth. Nor is it defined by the charisma of youth leaders. Rather, it is one that gives every young person the opportunity to lose his or her life for the sake of the Savior.” (Clayton M. Christensen, “My ways are not your ways,” Ensign, Feb. 2007, 54) In other words, Service.

I gave testimony to end the talk. The testimony had to do with how we can further prepare the youth to be the future leaders of the Church (like Vern), that Jesus is the Christ, that the Church is True, we have a living prophet today and that Joseph Smith is a true prophet.

“Guide us Safely Home”
By Michael Smith
Talk given during sacrament meeting at the Farmington Ward, August 28th, 2005

“And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.” (Moroni 6:4)

I have had many experiences and lessons while working with the Bishopric as Ward Executive Secretary over the last two years – and something stands out among all of them: how much the Lord loves each and every one of us. He knows us. He longs for our return. Insomuch, that His only begotten Son suffered that we may return. As I stated from Moroni just a moment ago, we need to “[rely] alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of [our] faith,”

The following small list illuminates our Heavenly Father’s love:

1. He has given us the Holy Ghost, scriptures and revelations - that we may be guided home to live with him again. For that is his work, “To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39)

2. He restored a Church with power and divine authority through the boy prophet Joseph Smith.

3. He has revealed tools like computers to assist record keeping and temple work.

4. He has chosen worthy leaders.

5. He has engineered programs like priesthood home teaching that we may be remembered and, “nourished by the good word of God, to keep [us] in the right way.”

The news is replete with stories of suffering, bloodshed, fighting, horrible acts, murders, natural calamities, wars, rumors of wars, lying, deceit and anguish. Disease is around us at every turn.

Mormon saw our day – we read in Mormon, “Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you. Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.
 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.” (Mormon 8:34-36)

Heavenly Father knew that we were to be here on earth during a very troubling time. Without the necessary instruments, we would be alone on the road home, not knowing exactly what to do, where to go and how to get back. Much of the responsibility lies within each of us to make it back and live with him. Faithful study of the scriptures, coupled with fasting and prayer will clear the misty path and show us the way. Nephi, too saw our day. In 2 Nephi, he tells us about the words, which he writes, and the prayers he prays. Here’s what he says – and it ends in much hope:

“But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry. And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal. And it speaketh harshly against sin, according to the plainness of the truth; wherefore, no man will be angry at the words which I have written save he shall be of the spirit of the devil. I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell. I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment-seat.” (2 Nephi 33:3-7)

He has seen us - what he writes will help men to come unto Christ and return to our Creator. Nephi leads and guides us home through his great work, courage and faith.

Now, I wish to discuss another of those gifts designed to help us and our families return home: home teaching. In an address by Elder Boyd K. Packer, he tells bishops, “When you were called, bishop, you were given an extension of your family – several hundred souls – old and young, some responsive, some responsible, a few not quite so responsible…but all of them are individuals…You must not lose sight of that. You are teamed up in a powerful way with Melchizadek Priesthood quorums…You have under-shepherds, the home teachers.” (Elder Boyd K. Packer, Regional Representatives Seminar, October 2, 1968)

From the Church website, in the section titled, Serving in the Church, we find the following: “The scriptural foundation of home teaching is the commandment for priesthood holders to “watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them” (D&C 20:53; see also D&C 20:54–55; Moroni 6:4) . Through home teaching, priesthood holders join with the Lord in watching over and strengthening Church members.” (http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,4657-1,00.html)

President Marion G. Romney, in general conference, declared:

“Home teaching, properly functioning, brings to ‘the house of each member’ two priesthood bearers divinely commissioned and authoritatively called into the service by their priesthood leader and bishop. These Home Teachers—priesthood bearers—carry the heavy and glorious responsibility of representing the Lord Jesus Christ in looking after the welfare of each Church member. They are to encourage and inspire every member to discharge his duty, both family and Church” (Marion G. Romney, General Conference Home Teaching Meeting, 8 Apr. 1966, p. 3)

President Ezra Taft Benson states, “God bless the home teachers of this Church. You are in the front line of defense to watch over and strengthen the individual and the family unit.” (Ezra Taft Benson, “To the Home Teachers of the Church,” Ensign, May 1987, p. 48)

If it is as Elder Packer puts it, “[Home Teachers] … are guardians of the individual and of the family,” (Boyd K. Packer, “The Saints Securely Dwell,” Ensign, Jan. 1973, p. 88) then it is here that many of us err. How many of us run to our home teachers at the first sign of trouble or when we seek spiritual strength? Home teachers, do we know our families well enough to recognize warning signs – and are we ready to administer to their personal, spiritual and temporal welfare? Are you the home teacher who represents the Bishop and even the Lord?

“Properly functioning,” home teaching will help in many ways. Permit me to highlight a few.

1. Home teachers should help us and our families come closer to Christ and rely, “upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of [our] faith.” (Moroni 6:4)

2. Many times, home teachers can supply companionship to those who have no other.

3. Home teaching can help Nephi, “meet many souls spotless at his judgment seat”

As I stated in the beginning, I have seen much at the hands of this Bishopric, and have learned a great deal. This is one of the things…Heavenly Father shows his love through Jesus Christ – and he shows his love through home teaching. A great majority of the Bishop’s work is the same work that is available through home teachers. They can expound and teach, they can help in time of need, they can lift the weak and walk with the strong. The apostle, Elder Boyd K Packer has told us this about home teaching:

“It is interesting that things so basic are taken so for granted. For example, there is within us a coursing supply of blood delivering nourishment to sustain the body, carrying away waste materials, and armed with a protection against disease and infection. The blood supply is kept in motion by the incessant and dependable pumping of the heart. It is vital to life. Ordinarily, however, a sliver in the finger gets more attention and is of more concern. No one pays much thought to the beating of the heart until there is the threat that it may be interrupted or stopped. It is then that we pay attention. Home teaching, strangely enough, is so taken for granted that most members pay little attention to it, participating routinely, sometimes almost with annoyance. Through it, nevertheless, there come to members of the Church a protection and a watch-care not known elsewhere.” (Boyd K. Packer, “The Saints Securely Dwell,” Ensign, Jan. 1973, p. 88)

Here are some figures given to us during last General Conference: Stakes 2665, missions 338, districts 646, wards 26,670, church members 12,275,822, child of record baptized in 2004 98,870, new converts baptized in 2004 241,239, full time missionaries 51,067, temples dedicated in 2004 – 3, total temples worldwide 119.

For the Bishops and Stake Presidents to see to every need of every family and individual is unattainable. We are not capable of being in more than one place at a time. The work that needs to be done must be carried out by worthy Priesthood holders – the home teacher.

Trust them and utilize the authority they have been given to help us return home and live with our Father in Heaven – for it is their duty – even as an Aaronic Priesthood holder in the office of a teacher – “to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them.” (D&C 20:53)

They may ask you how you’re during in a monthly visit. Sincerely answer this question. Home teachers may inquire after your scripture reading, temple attendance and prayer habits. Be honest. Ask for their help and guidance. Home teachers are instructed to prayerfully teach your family. Participate in the lesson, or ask them to come with a certain topic in mind. Through the Holy Ghost and by the authority they have been given, home teachers may be prompted to offer words of encouragement, correction or advice. Think of this as an opportunity to consider thoughts given by a priesthood holder and one having been commissioned of Jesus Christ.

Home teachers: remember that you bear the priesthood and it comes with power, responsibility and accountability. Do not take this assignment lightly – for it has been designed with His own mission in mind… “To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”

I testify that as we read the Holy Scriptures, listen to the Holy Ghost and heed the words of our Prophet, we will be guided safely home. Faith in Jesus Christ, Baptism, Repentance and other ordinances will safely guide us home. And I further testify that the Lord’s program of Home Teaching will safely guide us home. Pray for our home teachers and bishop. Pray for the prophet. Pray for us to make it safely home.