I have never been one for clubs. There are lots of great organizations that men belong to that do lots of good things: Service clubs like Rotary, Lions. Kiwanis, groups like Toastmasters, fraternities, sports clubs, etc. I have never been a member of The Royal Order of Moose. I’ve never been a Shriner, but I have to give it up for them for their good work, and their awesome little parade cars.
Many of these organizations do tremendous work, and I admire people who join them and make that service a part of their lives. As for me, I’m not much of a “joiner.” I never joined clubs in college or High School, I haven’t belonged to any civic or business groups, even though I have been recruited heavily. The only group I currently participate in is the ANWA writer’s organization and critique group – and that is only over the past couple years.
What I have belonged to since I was a boy are Priesthood Quorums. Since I was twelve, I have always been a member of a quorum of brethren. From Deacon, to Teacher, to Priest, to Elder, to High Priest. Being a member of each quorum was part of my self-identity. They were my “service club,” and in all of those groups, there were plenty of opportunities to serve.
During the Priesthood Session of the most recent General Conference, our new Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson dropped this bombshell”
“Tonight we announce a significant restructuring of our Melchizedek Priesthood quorums to accomplish the work of the Lord more effectively. In each ward, the high priests and the elders will now be combined into one elders quorum.” (link)
My first thought? Weird. All my life I have attended quorum meeting with the brethren who correspond to my priesthood office. This is different. But I listened with an open mind and heart, and also listened to and studied the follow up explanations from Elder Christofferson and Elder Rasband with an open heart and mind. There is no need for me to revisit what they said, as you probably already hear/read their thoughts. What I would like to instead is offer some thought of my own on this positive change, and maybe offer a couple of warnings.
(Before I move forward, let me point out again that I am just a guy with zero authority, who sustains those who Do have authority. What I write are my own thoughts and opinions.)
My resulting conclusion? Sounds good to me. The Lord is making some changes in His Church through the Prophet – I’m not going to kick. Besides, this change feels so right. Here a few reasons why I think so.
#1 Unity:
Due to a call into the High Council, I was ordained a High Priest when I was in my early thirties- a common occurrence. Before that call, I was serving as an Elder’s Quorum President to about 150 wonderful Elders and their families.
I entered the tiny High Priest Group with a little trepidation, but was was immediately accepted and loved, even though I was the youngest guy, and some of those brethren were 50 years older than me.
My problem was that all of my friends were still in the Elder’s Quorum.
I enjoyed listening to the High Priests dig into doctrine, cringed when they started “exploring the mysteries,” and was provided with many opportunities for service. But my heart was with the Elders. They were talking about raising families. marriage, and things that served my needs at that time. I missed it, and I missed being with those men who I considered m peers and contemporaries.
Over the next 25 years, many of those Elder’s joined me in the HP group as they were given callings that required the change in office. I was no longer the young guy, and became less and less the “young guy” as time went on. Now I sit somewhere in the middle. There are High Priests in my ward who have me by 25 years in either direction.
It has been over eight years since I served as bishop in our ward. At that time, I knew EVERYONE. Since then, that is no longer the case. Many moved into our ward that belong to the EQ. As I go from Sacrament to Sunday School to HP group, I didn’t have much opportunity to get to know the younger, newer brethren and their families. I look around now and am surprised how many people in my ward I don’t know – and they don’t know me.
Combining the priesthood quorums will help people like me. We will be more likely to serve together, minister to each other, and spend time in conversation with each other. I think that is the part of the change that I am most excited about – getting to know the rest of the men in the ward.
#2 Broadened Service Opportunities.
Historically, the widows and single sisters were home taught by the High Priests. I’m not sure that it was always a good fit. Now, the EQP and Bishop can look at the entire Melchizedek priesthood to find who might best meet the needs of those sisters, from the priesthood side.
The High Priest Quorum has traditionally been tasked with the Temple and Family History efforts in a unit. However, things have evolved and now the charge is being taken on by all ages, both men and women – everyone. Broadening this oversight is a natural progression in the increased temple work we see around us.
Elder Rasnad explained that, “There will be a greater diversity of gifts and capacities within the quorum. There will be more flexibility and availability to meet current and urgent needs within the ward and quorum and in fulfilling our various ministering assignments.” (Ibid)
#3 Less Meetings for Me:
I can’t be sure if President Nelson took that into consideration when he announced this change, but it does impact my life. In our Stake, we had two High Priest Quorum meetings a year, typically at 6:00am. They are now gone. So, in the past few months we have lost one session of General Priesthood Conference and two Stake High Priest Quorum meetings. I guess less is more?
Concerns: I have tremendous faith in my leaders and the influence of the Spirit in priesthood matters, so the following concerns will probably iron themselves out. The first two involve the possibility of someone not feeling a part of the bigger group.
#1 The Back-Row Elder: In our ward, when we combined last week with the High Priests, the HPs outnumbered the Elders in Quorum meeting. When you look at our HPs, it is a pretty remarkable bunch. From former Bishops to Stake Presidents, Patriarchs, to High Councilors, etc., there is a tremendous amount of Priesthood experience. One visiting authority lamented that here in Gilbert we have “Priesthood leaders stacked up like cord wood.” It is true.
For those Elders and prospective Elders who are new, returning to activity, or struggling to find their place in the new EQ, this army of old men could be very enlightening, or they could be a little intimidating. It could very possibly stifle participation, because…
While there is a tremendous amount of expertise available in a HP group, there are those among us who like to talk. And talk. And talk. It only takes a few verbose High Priests to dominate a class discussion. I hope we are sensitive to this and allow plenty of participation from those who might benefit most from it.
If a young Elder wants to learn a few tricks from those who have gone before, all he will need to do is ask. There is a wealth of knowledge, born from experience, available from some wizened, gray heads.
#2 The Old-Timers. Our new EQ is large enough that the only room that can accommodate us is the Cultural Hall. A big, cavernous gymnasium, with terrible acoustics. I taught Gospel Doctrine for years in there and hated the lack of ambiance. If you don’t have a big voice in that big room, people tune out.
I know that many of the High Priests could not hear a word of what transpired in our class last week. Why? Excellent men, with very peaceful voices, taught and testified. We need to be aware, and use all technology and logistics available so that people don’t “tune out” because they can’t hear.
#3 Differing Needs: A young Elder might relish a lesson on how to hold FHE with little kids. I wouldn’t. Been there…etc. An older High Priest might be fascinated by a lesson on writing a personal history, but a young Elder with two kids and two jobs might not be so exited about it. There will need to be a balance to best serve all. On the opposite end, we risk is “homogenizing” everything so that it is so broadly applicable that it enters the ZZZzzzz Zone.
Some final broad-brush notes: I have witnessed that many High Priests I have known in my life have tremendous gospel knowledge from age and experience- often more than the average Elder. That is a good thing. However, I have witnessed High Priest group classes go so far off the rails into speculation and opinion that I have wondered if I was still at the right church. It cuts both ways. Hopefully the HPs will be wise, and the Elders will be discerning in taking the best of what is offered.
I also believe that HPs can get pretty set in their ways, and their view of the world and the church. It will be a good thing to have younger voices contributing to the dialogue. Hopefully the Elders will be wise, and the HPs will be discerning in taking the best of what is offered.
Personally, I am looking toward to this new adventure. It isn’t very often that the Lord and his Prophet shake things up like this. It must be the right time, and the need must be real. I am excited to be around to witness it, and help in any way I can to make it work.
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Thanks for this! I have just a couple of thoughts.
First, the struggle of the age difference. In Relief Society, I spent years admiring and learning from the older sisters. They were my mentors–the people I looked to for advice, and the people I hoped would guide me. Interestingly, I married a man 12 years older than I am. I’m suddenly one of the older sisters (I don’t know how that happened). I’m struggling. I don’t know how to give that same wisdom to the younger sisters. I don’t like to comment because I don’t want to appear as the old lady who doesn’t understand the problems of today. I don’t want to be seen as “judgmental” — a word I’ve grown to detest — when I stand behind prophets and apostles. I don’t have the energy for all the “guidance” and “mentoring” that is expected of me. I find it harder to “stand in holy places,” at Church than out and about in liberal California. If anyone has suggestions, I’m open to hearing them.
Second, thank you for mentioning hearing difficulties. My pet peeve is people who say, “I don’t need to use the microphone, I have a loud voice.” Yes, you do; and no, you don’t. I have specifically asked one of our gospel doctrine teachers to please use the microphone. I did this in private, explaining my hearing difficulties. He adamantly refused (in a not so pleasant tone of voice). My insurance plan pays $1,000 every three years for a hearing aid. I received the first one three years ago, and had to wait three years for the second one. I just got that second hearing aid. Since I was diagnosed with hearing loss at 10 years old, this is the first time in my life I’ve actually been able to hear (such as it is). I do all that I can. I sit in the middle of the room so I can hear the teacher, but also hear comments from the back. I’m an excellent lip reader (except my eyesight is now so bad that it’s hard to see lips across the room). I listen attentively. I ask people to repeat what I don’t hear (without doing it so often that it is obnoxious). Yet, I struggle.
Our chapel building is equipped with the finest microphones on the market, but they only work if they are used. And what’s up with people who refuse to pray over the microphone? This is a GROUP prayer, and all should be able to hear what they are agreeing to when they say, “Amen.” We pray over a microphone in Sacrament meeting, so why won’t we use the microphone to pray in the other meetings?
Love reading your posts. Thanks so much for your insight. I like a couple others feel happy…there shouldnt be distinctions we are all of one heart mind and work….why the break out? Relief Society has been doing this stuff always…so glad its removed from the block. I just read this and thought…yup just because you have been Bishop or Stake Pres etc — perhaps its time to listen to others and minister. I love your thoughts, and loved this former bishops thoughts as well and hence the share. https://www.facebook.com/richard.ostler.5/posts/10214337743710608
The only way we survive class meetings in the cultural hall (or chapel) is with 3 mics. One corded one for the leader and 2 cordless, each held on opposite sides of the room by a “runner.” Any time the leader calls on someone, a runner scurries to bring them a mic. This has made all the difference to me and many others who struggle with hearing loss. Participation is much greater than it used to be, and the quality and spirit of the meetings has increased accordingly.
And yes, I love getting to know the younger sisters through RS. I’m glad my other half will now get to know their husbands.
I really enjoyed this posting but I laughed the most because I so totally agree with you. Here is what I wrote to my missionary granddaughter that day: “This is a wonderful change because many, many times they will ordain someone to be a High Priest just because he’s older and feels uncomfortable being the old geezer with all the younger guys (even though he didn’t have a church responsibility that called for it). Also we have had some really young Bishopric members who would still like to be with the Elders their own age for activities but they were ordained High Priests because of their calling. Win-Win all the way around for the men!” So I guess great minds think alike!
I would like to offer another perspective. Today was our second combined meeting, and I struggled. I love all the brethren in our quorum, And I know most of them, High Priests and Elders alike. But I don’t do well in large group settings. I am outgoing enough when it is a smaller group, but I struggle to contribute in the larger setting. I set int his group today, and there where only 4 empty seats. One was on my right. Another was on my left. I sat in the midst of this group of nearly 50 brothers with my 7 month old asleep in my lap. I felt I had nothing to add to the conversation that someone else was not already contributing. I felt alone in the crowd.
I am now less excited for this change than I was 2 weeks ago. And,for the time being, I am unsure of how to change that. I am sure the answers will come in time, but for now, I struggle. Today I just wanted to become a “back row elder.” I could not keep myself from glancing at the clock the whole meeting.
We have, in our ward, a brother that we have been working to re-activate. He has come to the last 5 or 5 Quorum meetings, including last weeks. But he looked so uncomfortable last week. Today he did not even come to Sacrament Meeting. I am hoping he just had a conflict in his schedule,
There are kinks to be worked out, as my post and your comment show. Thankfully, the Lord is in charge and our leaders have access to discernment and promptings as to how to best serve these new quorums. It will be an adventure. I’m guessing that in cases like you highlighted, the importance of one-to-one ministering will probably be of more value that the actual quorum meetings.
I’m a 72 year old convert to the Church. My wife and I joined when I was 32 and she was 28. Since I was in the Army at the time we have had the experience of being members in a variety of different branches and wards. I’ve held most all the callings a man can hold in a ward and now serve as a Stake Assistant Clerk following five years as bishop. We live in Middle Georgia and our ward covers most of five counties. I enjoyed the Elders Quorum and then the High Priest Group. I especially enjoyed the discussions in the somewhat smaller HP Group as most of the brethren who survived and remain active in the Church had both a rich understanding of the gospel and the ability to intelligently discuss differences of opinion without all the hurt feelings that seem to afflict both the Relief Society and Elders Quorum at times. Even after a lengthy discussion where we all left without changing our opinions in the least, we could walk our of our room as friends with no hard feelings. I suspect I’ll miss the small group discussions but look forward to being in the same quorum with my son and have no doubt that the change will stir things up a bit but in the end it will be OK and the Church and members will be benefitted. The only real downside is that inevitably there will be a few who won’t be able to accept the change and will wander. Hopefully the number will be few. We certainly live in interesting times.
It’s important to remember that many of these young elders and sisters have been blessed with powerful testimonies and insights. They have been taught in their youth with the “Come Follow Me” lessons, and served missions using the powerful principles in Preach My Gospel. There is much we can learn from them as well. Even Elder Eyring used the example and words of a 14 year old boy in his Priesthood Session address. The words of a hymn keep coming to my mind:
As sisters (and brothers)in Zion, we’ll all work together;
The blessings of God on our labors we’ll seek.
We’ll build up his kingdom with earnest endeavor;
We’ll comfort the weary and strengthen the weak.
How vast is our purpose, how broad is our mission,
If we but fulfill it in spirit and deed.
Oh, naught but the Spirit’s divinest tuition
Can give us the wisdom to truly succeed.
We’ve been told for years now that the Lord is hastening his work. I think that this is just another step in that plan. We need to step up and do our part to all work together and prepare the world for the return of our Savior.
I know you’re only speaking from your experience and perspective but just to add another – In my unit, they were combining on Sundays anyway because of low numbers and the leadership would rotate taking turns teaching/facilitating lessons (options for leaders are slim btw so this change will help alleviate that a bit). When service needs have come up, the invite has been to all YM, EQ and HP – again, low numbers. I think you get the idea. Anyway, I understand the issue with the room but for some of this, the sisters have dealt with it for years so welcome to the ‘club’. 😉
That wink emoji didn’t turn out the way I pictured it…
Well out here in the boondocks where we are 50 minutes from our branch meeting house and almost 2 and a half hours from the stake center we are pleased as Punch about the changes! Instead of half a dozen HP’s and half a dozen Elders, they get to meet together and feel like MORE! Also out here are lots of Elders (and even Priests) who are middle aged and older. This is a great “adjustment” and we look forward to more unity, more ministering and more growth! All you “first worlders” have challenges of your own to overcome.
As usual — spot on. As a 70-something HP, I was called to teach the 7 year olds in Primary in January. It is great!. Not only do these kids make me unbelievablly happy, I have become very close and appreciate having a 30-something Elder as my co-instructor. I would have never gotten to know what a outstanding brother, dad, and all-around guy he and his family are — if it was not for this new calling. It has worked out well for me. I’m sure this will too.
You are such a Yoda….in all the best ways…. I love your inspired posts, MMM !
Your last paragraph says it all (for me)!
I feel like these changes will help facilitate the discussions we are encouraged to have instead of lessons. If we are discussing doctrine ( reviewing conference talks) and counseling in ward/group needs then the stage of life differences really are minimized. The application of the gospel in our own lives will be encouraged and directed by increases confidence in our own ability to receive and act upon personal revelation. Thanks for sharing your perspective as always.
Thanks for the perspectives. I am grateful to live in this day and be part of the hastening of the work Truly, we need to continually strengthen our testimonies of living prophets and ongoing revelation. Love and support President Russell M. Nelson. When I met him at one of our stake conferences, what I carried away and have never forgotten is the intense love that radiated from him to everyone he met. What a Christlike man.
Since we in the relief society have dealt with some of your “drawbacks” forever, maybe it would be a good idea to get ideas on how to approach the problems from them 😉
In my discussions about that. it seems the sisters have many of the same concerns.