FHE-Leadership
by Shauna Gibby

God has ordained among you presidents, apostles, prophets, high priests, seventies, bishops and other authorities; they are of his appointment, empowered and directed by him, under his influence, teaching his law, unfolding the principles of life, and are organized and ordained expressly to lead the people in the path of exaltation and eternal glory. ~ President John Taylor

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Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read “Three Presiding High Priests,” by William R. Walker, Ensign, May 2008, 37–39.

Thought:

Every one of us who serve in presidencies anywhere in the Church should look to the First Presidency as our pattern and the example that we seek to follow as we carry out our stewardships. We should strive to be like them and to work together in love and harmony as they do. (William R. Walker, “Three Presiding High Priests,” Ensign, May 2008, 37–39.)

Song:

“Called to Serve” Children’s Songbook, p. 174.

Scripture:

Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord. (Alma 37:37)

Lesson:

Ask a family member to be a scribe for Family Home Evening. Give him or her a piece of paper and something to write with. Have your family think of a church leader they really admire, and ask: “What is it about this leader that you admire?” Have your family list as many qualities about this leader as they can while the scribe records their responses. Take turns reading 2 Corinthians 6:1–10 and compare your list with Paul’s list about God’s ministers. Ask:

• Which of the attributes Paul mentioned do you like the best? Why?

• Why do you think it is so important for Church leaders to have these attributes?

• Do you think others should also possess these same attributes? Why or why not?

• Why do you think it is important to show love for your Church leaders?

• What can we do as a family to demonstrate our gratitude for our leaders?

Make a family plan to show an expression of thanks to a Church leader. (Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Doctrine and Covenants, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006], p. 219.)

Story:

by Ezra Taft Benson

At a stake presidency’s meeting in Boise, Idaho, years ago, we were trying to select a president for the weakest and smallest elders quorum in the stake. Our clerk had brought a list of all the elders of that quorum, and on the list was the name of a man whom I had known for some years. He came from a strong Latter-day Saint family, but he wasn’t doing much in the Church. If the bishop made a call to do some work on the chapel, he’d usually respond, and if the elders wanted to play softball, you would sometimes find him out playing with them. He did have leadership ability; he was president of one of the service clubs and was doing a fine job.

I said to the stake president, “Would you authorize me to go out and meet this man and challenge him to square his life with the standards of the Church and take the leadership of his quorum? I know there is some hazard in it, but he has the ability.”

The stake president said, “You go ahead, and the Lord bless you.”

After Sunday School I went to this man’s home. I’ll never forget the look on his face as he opened the door and saw a member of his stake presidency standing there. He hesitantly invited me in; his wife was preparing dinner, and I could smell the aroma of coffee coming from the kitchen. I asked him to have his wife join us, and when we were seated, I told him why I had come. “I am not going to ask for your answer today,” I told him. “All I want you to do is to promise me that you will think about it, pray about it, think about it in terms of what it will mean to your family, and then I’ll be back to see you next week. If you decide not to accept, we’ll go on loving you,” I added.

The next Sunday, as soon as he opened the door I saw there had been a change. He was glad to see me, and he quickly invited me in and called his wife to join us. He said, “Brother Benson, we have done as you said. We’ve thought about it and we’ve prayed about it, and we’ve decided to accept the call. If you brethren have that much confidence in me, I’m willing to square my life with the standards of the Church, a thing I should have done a long time ago.” He also said, “I haven’t had any coffee since you were here last week, and I’m not going to have any more.”

He was set apart as elders quorum president, and attendance in his quorum began going up—and it kept going up. He went out, put his arm around the inactive elders, and brought them in. A few months later I moved from the stake.

Years passed, and one day on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, a man came up to me, extended his hand, and said, “Brother Benson, you don’t remember me, do you?”

“Yes, I do,” I said, “but I don’t remember your name.”

He said, “Do you remember coming to the home of a delinquent elder in Boise seven years ago?” And then, of course, it all came back to me. Then he said, “Brother Benson, I’ll never live long enough to thank you for coming to my home that Sunday afternoon. I am now a bishop. I used to think I was happy, but I didn’t know what real happiness was.” (Leon R. Hartshorn, Classic Stories from the Lives of Our Prophets, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1971].)

Activity:

Give each person a sheet of paper folded into thirds. On the first third, have them draw a head and neck without permitting the others to see what they have drawn. They then fold the paper so the head is not visible and pass their papers to the next person. Now everyone draws a body and trunk on the second third. The paper is folded and passed again. The next drawing should be of the legs and feet. After the “works of art” are completed, the papers are unfolded and the creations are put on display.

Note that when the organizations of the church need people to serve, it is not by random that a person is called, but under the direction of the Lord.

(adapted from Alma Heaton, The LDS Game Book, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], p. 52.)

Refreshment:

Amazing Low-Fat Pumpkin Cookies Delicious cookies made in minutes.

1 spice cake mix

1 (29-ounce) can pumpkin

1 (11-ounce) bag chocolate chips (optional)

In a bowl, mix together cake mix and pumpkin. Add chocolate chips if desired. Drop by tablespoons onto greased baking sheet, about 1 inch apart. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. Makes about 4 dozen.

(Julie Badger Jensen, Essential Mormon Celebrations, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2005], p. 115.)

Deseret Book

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