Leading Saints Podcast

The following quote and story come from President Packer's address entitled "I Say Unto You, Be One" at a BYU devotional back in February of 1991. He touches on priceless principles of unity in a council when seeking the Lord direction and revelation. In recent years, the board of education of the Church and the board of trustees for Church colleges and universities has been the First Presidency, six members of the Quorum of the Twelve, a member of the Presiding Bishopric, and the presidents of the Relief Society and the Young Women of the Church. I can best tell you how you are governed today, how the board of trustees functions, by explaining the principles and procedures we follow in the meetings of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. These procedures protect the work from the individual weaknesses apparent in all of us. When a matter comes before the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in a temple meeting, one thing that is determined very quickly is whether it is of serious consequence or not. One or another of us will see in an apparently innocent proposal issues of great and lasting consequence. It is clear from the revelations that the decisions of the presiding quorums “must be by the unanimous voice of the same. . . . Unless this is the case, their decisions are not entitled to the same blessings” (D&C 107:27, 29). In order to ensure that to be the case, matters of consequence are seldom decided in the meeting where they are proposed. And, if the proposal is a part of a larger issue, sufficient time is taken to “bring us all along” so that it is clear that each of us has either a clear understanding of the issue or, as is often the case, has a very clear feeling about it. The Doctrine and Covenants instructs us: 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] It would be unthinkable to deliberately present an issue in such a way that approval depended upon how it was maneuvered through channels, who was presenting it, or who was present or absent when it was presented. Often one or more of us is away during regular meetings. We all know that the work must proceed and will accept the judgment of our brethren. However, if a matter has been studied by one of the Quorum in more detail than by the others or he is more familiar with it either by assignment, experience, or personal interest, the matter is very often delayed until he can be in on the discussion. And, always, if one of us cannot understand an issue or feels unsettled about it, it is held over for future discussion. I remember occasions when a delegation was sent to the hospital to discuss with a member of the Council who was ill some urgent matter that could not be delayed but which needed that “unanimous consent.” There are occasions, as well, when one of us will leave the meeting temporarily to call one of our number who is abroad to get his feelings on a matter under discussion. There is a rule we follow: A matter is not settled until there is a minute entry to evidence that all of the Brethren in council assembled (not just one of us, not just a committee) have come to a unity of feeling. Approval of a matter in principle is not considered authority to act until a minute entry records the action taken—usually when the minutes are approved in the next meeting. Sometimes an afterthought keeps one of us restless over a decision. That is never dismissed lightly. It cannot be assumed that that restless spirit is not in fact the Spirit of Revelation.

"Someone is singing flat! It's one of the tenors.", said Mr. Christmas (no relation to the man in the North Pole, although they shared the same physique). This was high school junior choir back in 1998. I had joined the choir under the encouragement of my sister who promised me it would be fun. I had no background in singing nor did I really want to sing. But here I was sitting among the tenors being accused of singing flat (which was probably true). Mr. Christmas then wanted to go through each row of tenors and make three of them sing at a time so he could determine who was flat. He was simply trying to fix the problem, but he didn't realize how terrifying he was making it for self-conscious high schoolers. I was in the 3rd row, so once he determined the flat note wasn't in the first 2 rows, he glared at my row. There were three of us. He played a simple measure of notes on the piano and told us to sing it. I didn't know what to do. I was about to be ousted as the flat tenor. So I did what any other insecure kid would do, I lied by mouthing the notes without stimulating my voice box with air from my lungs. After a few measures, Mr. Christmas looked at me and asked, "Are you singing?" I replied, "Yup." Praying he would believe me and then move on. My prayer was answered and I hope my lie is written off in the afterlife. Later in the school year I found myself in the audience at the school musical. Seeing people sing and dance on stage looked like something that would be fun, plus there were a lot of cute girls on stage. I told myself the following year I would try out for the school musical hoping to be a part of the background--maybe a rock or a forgotten tree would work for my talent. Over the next few months further practice improved my singing ability. I soon found that I enjoyed singing once I was able to hold a note and to sing with depth to my voice. The next school year, musical tryouts came and I did my best to sing and awkwardly dance to hopefully get a small role in the play. The final cut was posted and I found my name on the list--as on of the lead roles. I'd never felt so out of my comfort zone as I did in that very moment. How was I supposed to do this? I even found out later that I needed to learn an Indian accent in order to read my lines (my character was from India). It was a trying time and I even made the decision at one point to quit the musical and move on because I just wasn't cut out for it. Thankfully, the urging of good friends kept me on board. The musical in high school was a pivotal point. It pushed me so far out of my comfort zone that it uncovered a talent I didn't know I had. I had a talent for public speaking, training and feeling comfortable in front of a crowd. I later went on to travel North America for a large supplement company, presenting to crowds of 500 or more. I kept the audience engaged for 90 minutes and became a natural entertainer. Your Stories Need to Be Heard As a Leader You too have stories like this. My story is nothing amazing. I doubt I ever get a phone call from someone wanting to buy the movie rights to "Mr. Christmas Scolds the Tenors", but it impacted me personally in a way that helps me to teach others that life is about growing out of our comfort zone. Being a storyteller is synonymous with being a leader. No PowerPoint slide or data chart will ever move an audience as much as a story will move an audience. When you prepare a talk or have to open up a ward council meeting or training, starting with a story will get everyone off to the right start. Most stories aren't as well told when you just tell them off the cuff. A leader should take time daily or weekly to write down the unique stories in their life that taught them a lesson and record them (create your own topical guide...

Jessica Mortensen and her family live in Meridian, Idaho just west of Boise. She is married and has 4 children between the ages of 13 and 7. Jessica has been serving as the Primary President for the past 2 years in her ward that has about 80 primary children. Her previous callings include, among others, Wolf Den Leader, Ma for Trek, Counselor and Secretary in Primary. In this conversation Jessica talks about serving as a Primary President and the many roles that entails. From planning the annual primary program to supporting those that serve in nursery, the teachers and the primary chorister, she explains how she works to strengthen and support those that serve in the primary and most importantly how to strengthen and support the primary children to help them nourish and develop their testimonies. As a bonus, we learn how bubbles and ribbons can be a nursery leader’s best friend. Leadership principles: * Teach the primary children about the Holy Ghost and help them recognize it’s presence on a daily basis * Attend the temple * Create unity with primary workers * Keep raising the bar for the children * Be in the children’s home, look for them in their school, show them love * Be active in the ward council

Justin Ropelato is a father of three living in Roy, UT. He grew up in Hooper, UT and works for his family business. His grandmother, an Italian immigrant, was the first member of the church in his family, starting the faith-filled legacy he enjoys now. Currently serving as Second Counselor in the Bishopric, Justin has previously served in various roles in the Elders Quorum Presidency including President, Counselor and Secretary. Justin served a mission in Rome, Italy, where he continued the work his father started as a missionary years before. Justin's legacy of focus on individuals is evident through his service. Key Leadership Principles * Teach the Atonement and everything else will fall into place * It isn't important what others think of your leadership legacy; making a difference in the lives of a few matters! * Never complain or talk bad about others   Nathan Waldron replaced Justin Ropelato as Elder's Quorum President. You can listen to his interview HERE. 

President Boyd K. Packer "The Power of The Priesthood" President Joseph F. Smith made this statement about the priesthood in the home: “In the home the presiding authority is always vested in the father, and in all home affairs and family matters there is no other authority paramount. To illustrate this principle, a single incident will perhaps suffice. It sometimes happens that the elders are called in to administer to the members of a family. Among these elders there may be presidents of stakes, apostles, or even members of the first presidency of the Church. It is not proper under these circumstances for the father to stand back and expect the elders to direct the administration of this important ordinance. The father is there. It is his right and it is his duty to preside. He should select the one who is to administer the oil, and the one who is to be mouth in prayer, and he should not feel that because there are present presiding authorities in the Church that he is therefore divested of his rights to direct the administration of that blessing of the gospel in his home. (If the father be absent, the mother should request the presiding authority present to take charge.) The father presides at the table, at prayer, and gives general directions relating to his family life whoever may be present.” During the Vietnam War, we held a series of special meetings for members of the Church called into military service. After such a meeting in Chicago, I was standing next to President Harold B. Lee when a fine young Latter-day Saint told President Lee that he was on leave to visit his home and then had orders to Vietnam. He asked President Lee to give him a blessing. Much to my surprise, President Lee said, “Your father should give you the blessing.” Very disappointed, the boy said, “My father wouldn’t know how to give a blessing.” President Lee answered, “Go home, my boy, and tell your father that you are going away to war and want to receive a father’s blessing from him. If he does not know how, tell him that you will sit on a chair. He can stand behind you and put his hands on your head and say whatever comes.” This young soldier went away sorrowing. About two years later I met him again. I do not recall where. He reminded me of that experience and said, “I did as I was told to do. I explained to my father that I would sit on the chair and that he should put his hands on my head. The power of the priesthood filled both of us. That was a strength and protection in those perilous months of battle.” Another time I was in a distant city. After a conference we were ordaining and setting apart leaders. As we concluded, the stake president asked, “Can we ordain a young man to be an elder who is leaving for the mission field?” The answer, of course, was yes. As the young man came forward, he motioned for three brethren to follow and stand in for his ordination. I noticed on the back row a carbon copy of this boy, and I asked, “Is that your father?” The young man said, “Yes.” I said, “Your father will ordain you.” And he protested, “But I’ve already asked another brother to ordain me.” And I said, “Young man, your father will ordain you, and you’ll live to thank the Lord for this day.” Then the father came forward. Thank goodness he was an elder. Had he not been, he soon could have been! In the military they would call that a battlefield commission. Sometimes such things are done in the Church. The father did not know how to ordain his son. I put my arm around him and coached him through the ordinance. When he was finished, the young man was an elder.

Sunny Morton and her family live east of Cleveland on the shores of Lake Erie near the Canadian border. She was raised in the Chicago area and grew up as the only sister of 5 brothers, which she says prepared her well to work within a ward council setting. When she was 24 she served as a missionary in the California Arcadia Spanish Speaking Mission. After returning home she married and began a family with her husband that includes 3 children ages 8 to 13. She is the primary care giver to her daughter who has Spina Bifida and also helps with her husband who has some health challenges as well. She refers to herself as a busy mid-lifer who also works part time in the genealogy industry. She is a contributing editor and content provider for the Genealogy Gems podcast and blog. A few weeks prior to this interview she was released as her wards Relief Society President where she served for the last 2.5 years. It is evident in this interview that her background and life’s experiences prepared her well to serve the people of that area. Leadership Principles Discussed Include: - How she helped prioritize the focus of the Ward Council to family history work through the formation of a family history committee - What she did as the first relief society president of a newly formed ward to create a sense of community and togetherness - How she used social media and Facebook to help sisters connect and what she did when dissenting views crept up on the walls - How she operated as a woman on the ward council and worked with her fellow quorum and auxiliary leaders - Living like a full time missionary as much as you can both in your personal life and in the ways you serve others - Keeping peoples confidence - Letting the Spirit magnify your calling but also teach you the boundaries - Growing the STPs (Same Ten People) to the NTPs (Next Ten People) - How her transition period worked with the recent calling a new relief society president. - How she got out of the way of families, friends and visiting teachers to respond to their stewardships Links and references mentioned in this episode: The Genealogy Gems Podcast Instructions on how to create free access to premium genealogical services using your LDS account ancestry.com findmypast.com myheritage.com Use of social media and online resources in church callings LDS Tools Google Docs

Elder F. Burton Howard "Commitment" April 1996 General Conference Our justifications are many. We say we will do it later. We have something more important to do right now. We don’t feel well or we don’t feel qualified or we don’t want to be fanatical about it. When I think of those who want to postpone performance until another time, I remember a question someone once asked at a stake conference.A man said, “Brother Howard, do you know why we can never get more than 83 percent home teaching in the Church?” I said, “No, why?” He said,“Because no one wants to go on Halloween and New Year’s Eve.” When I hear someone say they can’t serve because they don’t feel well, I remember a stake I once visited in Mexico. The stake president spoke about a lesson he learned from his wife. He said that a week before the conference, he had scheduled some home teaching visits but came home from work and didn't feel well. He told his wife that he guessed he wouldn't go home teaching because he was sick. Her reply to him was,“Go sick!” And he went. I once talked with a man who said, “I know I could do a little more, but no one wants to be a fanatic.” His statement reminded me of a definition I heard once: “A fanatic is a person who does what he thinks the Lord would do if only He had all the facts.” But He who really does know all things isn’t a fanatic; neither are those who do what He would have them do. When I listen to people say they have something more important to do, I wonder what it could possibly be. What could be more important than keeping a commitment we have made with the Lord? As I travel the Church I often ask stake presidents what their concerns are and what they perceive to be their greatest need. Frequently the reply is,“We have wonderful people. Some of them just need to be more committed and more dedicated. They need to be more anxiously engaged in the work.” The Church does have many needs, and one of them is for more people who will just do what they have agreed to do, people who will show up for work and stay all day, who will quietly, patiently, and consistently do what they have agreed to do—for as long as it takes, and who will not stop until they have finished. *Leaders to Leaders is a series of posts that share what leaders of the church have learned from other leaders of the church. This might include stories from general conference, accounts of one leader attending a stake conference with another leader, or simply recollections one leader’s interaction with someone they respected. There are great leadership skills one can learn by pondering these interactions. Listen to other stories in this series HERE.  

Chris Staggs is a father of four boys who lives in Overland Park, Kansas (suburb of Kansas City) and works in marketing for a multi-national corporation.  He grew up in western Kansas and, through a friends courageous question was led to the gospel.  He was baptized after high school, weeks before starting college at the University of Kansas, where he met his wife. He was recently released as bishop, where he served for 5-1/2 years. Prior to his service as bishop, Brother Staggs served as a counselor in the bishopric and in several Young Mens presidencies.  He currently serves as high councilor. Leadership principles: Don't fret over regrets, don't compare your service to that of others, learn from mistakes Don't bear others' burdens, help them apply the Atonement Work smart, especially with meetings and sharing the work Life balance  and delegation, learning to and being comfortable saying "no" Key principles of home and visiting teaching including:  honoring covenants and the power of return-and-report

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLaEW0X-_rA&feature=youtu.be The Consequence Stick is a visual aid made out of solid wood. The lettering and design is lazer cut to precision. I keep my own consequence stick on my bishop's desk. It has become a powerful tool in teaching the atonement. Ideas and Examples of How to Use the Consequence Stick The Consequence Stick isn't just a good bishop's tool, it is also a great item to have around the home with children. As they make poor choices a parent may refer to the stick to teach the child that every choice (good or bad) has a consequence. I'd also recommend you read the following posts for more ideas about how to use the Consequence Stick. When the Bishop Doesn't Pay the Rent   Photos Price: $29.99 Shipping: $15.00 (local pick up is available) Specs: 18" long 1.25" thick Color: Black   Purchase One Now:

Have you been in a fast and testimony meeting with long drawn out silence? Most members of the church are used to this and don't necessarily find the moment "awkward". However, If you are a leader, those minutes feel like hours. All these people that have come seeking a spiritual meeting and now they sit in silence. In contrast, there are testimony meetings when the speakers line up and time runs short. This is good--sometimes. What about that lady that stands and talks about her cats. Or the testimony full of expressions of roommate love. This LDS dynamic of "Open Mic Sunday" could probably be studied in university psychology classes. Here's the bottom line, each church meeting is under the direction of a presiding authority. That means, if you preside, you own it. You can't blame the bad meetings on yakking cat ladies. You have the power to guide and direct the meeting in any way necessary. Most sitting in the pews don't realize you are guiding the meeting (if you are good at it) but all are thankful you are. Nobody likes their time wasted. Give them reason to stand It is customary for the conductor of the testimony meeting to kick-off the testimony football--be the first to share a testimony and then open up the mic for others to carry on. This task comes with more responsibility than one may think. The words you speak will set the tone for the rest of the meeting. Not only do the attendees need to hear your testimony and feel the spirit, but they also need to feel a spirit of invitation--to stand and testify. I don't mean a mumbled sentence at the end of your testimony: "We now invite you, brothers and sister, to share your testimony..." They need more inspiration than that. They need specific direction. Members in a fast and testimony meeting are in various states of mind. You have people that can't wait to stand and share their testimony (unfortunately some of these share travel-monies, cat-a-monies, or just ramble). There are also people whom wouldn't stand even if Angel Gabriel himself appeared and told them to (the fear of public speaking is powerful). You also have people who don't mind sharing their testimony but simply forgot it was even fast Sunday. They shamefully hid their pop-tart breath when they realize they are not participating in the ward fast. If you concede the meeting to those that have a preconceived plan to participate you may end up with a lot of silence of a lot of cat stories. The leader needs to mix the pot with ideas. With a simple topic suggestion the lethargic suddenly have a reason to stand. "I invite all to stand today and share your testimony of Jesus Christ. If you don't know where to start, tell us about why temples are important to you, tell us why you serve, tell us why your scripture study changes your daily life, tell us what priesthood means to you." Your testimony invited the spirit and now you have given them a way to participate. You will be amazed at how effective this is to getting people to stand and share sincere testimonies. Invite the doubter In most fast and testimony meetings you will have a handful of people stand and give the most convincing testimony--almost to a degree that is unbelievable. These individuals stand and use phrases like, "I know with ever fiber of my being..." or "The gospel's validity is a fact in my life..." or "I know without a shadow of a doubt...". These testimonies are inspiring to hear and I would never discourage these people to participate in the meeting. I must admit, sometimes I second guess the validity of a testimony when little room is left to question or even doubt; however, it isn't my place to judge the strength of individual testimonies. The reason I bring this up, is there are many that sit in the pews during fast and testimony meeting that aren't so certain of each doctrine of the gospel.

Mary Wilson and her husband live in Puyallup, Washington outside of Seattle. They are the parents of four children and five grandchildren. She is a convert to the church and was baptized shortly after marrying her husband. Education is very important in their lives. Both she and her husband have earned advanced degrees that includes her PhD from the University of Colorado in Leadership Research and Policy. Sister Wilson explains she pursued this doctoral degree not only to further her career but to also prepare her to serve more fully in church callings. In this interview we learn great wisdom from Sister Wilson who has served twice in recent years as a Relief Society President. Leadership principles discussed include: * What leading by example truly means * The art of selective neglect * The difference between conflict and contention * That conflict resolution is a skill that takes practice and time to develop * Striving for excellence and goodness instead of perfection * What a typical week looks like for a Relief Society President * Thoughts on helping Visiting Teachers fulfill their assignments   Links and References Mentioned in this Episode: - October 2014 General Conference - Which Way Do You Face? - Elder Lynn G. Robbins - October 2014 General Conference - General Conference Talks about Conflict and Contention - GoodReads.com recommended books about Conflict Resolution - Dan Clark - BYU Devotional - “The Art of Significance: Achieving the Level Beyond Success.” - “Opportunities come, and then they are gone” - President Thomas S. Monson - “There is an irrigation analogy normally used in the Church of “getting the water to the end of the row.” However, at stake and ward levels, it would be far better for you priesthood leaders and auxiliary officers to simply “let it rain” from heaven.” - Elder Richard G. Scott

Greg Memmot is a 17 year-old priest from Draper, Utah. In addition to earning his Eagle Scout Award, he achieved the amazing accomplishment of earning all 138 merit badges. In this interview with Greg and his father Lester, Greg touches on how youth leaders in the ward and his parents supported him in his effort to tackle this feat. Greg shares how the effort has strengthened his testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have written in the past with regards to public speaking. It's a core competency of being a great leader. It's a skill that takes refining, but can be powerful when mastered. Every leader that wants to have a greater impact should study public speaking. One way to do so is to analyze how others excel and what tactics they use. I recently came across a video with great public speaking tips by Phil Waknell. These can be applied to anyone speaking in church or teaching a lesson (listen up, High Council). Take a watch and then let's discuss these principles in the LDS perspective below. Death by PowerPoint, Death by Reading, Death by Boredom Thankfully PowerPoint slides are not allowed in sacrament meeting (and so help me...they never will be). However, occasionally a bishop wheels in the projector for a 5th Sunday combined lesson, or even a Sunday school teacher will use the projector. There's rumor of some church building installing a projector in the ceiling for quick access. This isn't a bad idea; however, it can be dangerous in the wrong hands. In the video, Phil also mentions death by reading and death by boredom, which I have discussed in past posts. (See Preparing a Sacrament Meeting Talk Without PowerPoint, and What Sunday School Needs is a Flash Mob) 3 Goals for Any Church Lesson/Talk When is the last time anyone walked out of Sunday School thinking, "I didn't know that", or "I'm glad I do now", or "I'd like to know more"? What a great model for preparing anything you teach in church. Before you think regurgitating the generic questions listed in the manual is going to inspire people to want to learn more, one should consider these 3 goals. How can you focus the lesson on topics that the class may not understand completely? What angle of [said lesson topic] is not obvious and would stimulate further discussion? What resources can I give them that would allow them to study the topic on a deeper level during their personal study? Make Your Message Stick With a Powerful Conclusion (Testimony) Those first two topics are worth considering; however, making your message stick with a powerful conclusion is by far the most important part of any public speaking--especially in the LDS context. Most people sort of know this, that is why they end with their testimony. The reality is, Mormons are awful at bearing testimony. That's right, I said it, and I'm not going to apologize! I know what you are thinking, "but we Mormons have the exclusive rights on the concept of bearing testimony." That is the problem; we have been "bearing testimony" for so long it has turned into a standard list of clichés. "I know the church is true", "I know Joseph Smith was a prophet", "I love my family". These are all phrases that have been so overused their intrinsic value is inflated and therefore has little impact on the hearts of the listener who have heard it over and over. Elder Holland said it best (as he always does). Back in the 2007 World Wide Leadership Conference Elder Holland commented on this concept of how to conclude a less. I'd recommend you listen to his complete training when you have time; however, here is the main take-home message: We may not give the fanciest lesson, we may not be just terrifically skillful with audio visual aids...but we can share with every student the fire of our faith,

In this episode of How I Lead, I had the pleasure of interviewing Carola Strauss, a Relief Society president serving in Lincoln, Nebraska. She is a German immigrant with an inspiring story of leadership. During the interview she shared stories from her life that illustrated great leadership principles. I didn't expect such lessons to come from the interview, but I am happy they did. Even though Sister Strauss was raised in the church doesn't mean she had a simple upbringing. She shares about her time away from the church, various struggles she witnessed, and even an experience she had with President Gordon B. Hinckley that started her journey back to full-fellowship in the church. Since her reactivation she has seen her husband get baptized (later sealed in the temple), and in May of 2014 she was called as her ward's Relief Society president. She shares how she loves those she serves, her approach to helping her bishop with ward welfare and food orders, and her approach to guiding her fellow sisters in the visiting teaching program.

This is a powerful guest post by a new author (who will remain nameless). There are fantastic leadership lessons to be learned--focused on ministering to the one. Enter Anonymous Guest Author... We are called to lead a stake, ward, auxiliary, quorum or group.  Leading the many is not the way of the church.  Though it is absolutely necessary, ultimately our challenge and calling is to minister to the one.  We administer to the many but minister to the one.  Let me relate my experience of being “the one” and some of what I learned. It was several years ago and I distinctly remember the moment.  I passed my Elders Quorum President (I’ll call him John) in the hall on my way to Sunday School.  He turned and asked me if I was available for a PPI the next night.  I agreed.  As we met that Monday night, he started talking about the dangers of pornography and his personal experience fighting it.  He related his long struggle with this horrendous addiction and the repentance process he went through.  Although I was listening, I kept repeating in my mind, “Don’t ask!  Don’t ask!”  Then it happened and he questioned, “when was the last time you viewed pornography?”  I lied and said it had been in the last couple of weeks. John continued by informing me what he was willing to do to help me overcome this repulsive sin.  The next day the weight of my lie was upon me and I sent a quick text confessing my lie to John.  He lovingly responded and expressed his confidence in me.  From that point forward I don’t remember the exact order in which everything occurred.  I confessed to my wife and then met with my Bishop.  Within the course of four days I had gone from living in sin continually to coming to a realization of all that I had done. I spent the next several months working out my salvation with my Heavenly Father and truly learned the significance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I met with my Bishop regularly and spent time leaning on John, his faith and determination to help me through this trial.  He would organize car pools to Addiction Recovery classes offered by the church.  John regularly checked in with me and continuously offered his support and encouragement.  Over the course of several months, John became a dear friend and one I can count on. So what is the point of all this?  Being on the receiving side of someone’s ministering provided me great insight as I now sit in a leadership position.  I hope some of these will be helpful to other leaders in their ministrations. Dedicated First and foremost, John was absolutely dedicated to the cause.  He was truly available whenever I needed him.  Whether it was a blessing late at night or a text early in the morning, he was there for me.  Despite John’s calling, family and school, he never made me feel like I wasn’t important.  As is the case in true devotion, John’s wife became involved and made herself available to my wife.  My wife made the contact and opened up to her.  This proved to be very beneficial to allow my wife time to mourn, heal and forgive. As leaders, we often feel pulled in several directions all at the same time.  We all have competing priorities but as Brad Wilcox stated in The Continuous Conversion (a book I highly recommend), “As we are thronged by people and projects all competing for our time and attention, we can trust the Spirit to touch the hem of our garments [in reference to the story of Christ in Matthew 9:20-22] and turn us about to focus on the most important need then.