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Leadership
for Saints,
Part 19: Councils:
Strength in Unity by
Rodger Dean Duncan and Ed J. Pinegar
The suspension
bridge is one of the most impressive accomplishments of modern engineering.
It begins as individual wires not much stronger than the ones you’d
use to hang pictures on your living room wall. Spun together, these
individual wires become strands. Then several of the larger strands
are combined into a giant wire rope or cable that can bear thousands
of tons of weight and safely cross enormous obstacles like canyons
and rivers.
This same principle
is part of the miracle of Christian service in the Lord’s
Church. In wards and branches and families around the globe, ordinary
people achieve extraordinary things because they have discovered
strength in unity.
The principle
of strength in unity is especially evident in the council form of
leadership.
Councils involve
an assembly of people who sit in consultation with one another.
This does not preclude a leader of the council nor the leader’s
authority to direct all things. Rather, a council is a setting where
important matters are addressed and counsel is sought and received.
We are encouraged
today, both in our families and in our Church callings, to sit in
council. Elder M. Russell Ballard clarified this when he wrote:
Church and
family councils are one of the best resources available to us
in winning the battle for the souls of our Father’s children.
I feel strongly that the best way to help lift the burden of leadership—both
in the Church and in the family—is to invite council members
to assist in finding the answers and implementing the solutions
that the gospel of Jesus Christ provides.
This statement
underscores the vision we need concerning councils. We must understand
that priesthood councils, ward councils, presidencies in council
and family councils are the method by which we share the burden
of leadership. The council form of governance is simply the best
way to use teamwork in our service to the Lord.
It’s also
important to remember that while counseling through councils is
critical to the success of Church government, this is government
different from what we hear about on the evening news.
In Church government
there is no “majority rule.” There are no veto overrides.
The council form of leadership and government invites input and
discussion from all the council members. Then, through direction
from the Holy Spirit, those who hold priesthood keys make decisions.
In the Lord’s Church, even the most “learned”
dialogue never supercedes revelation.
The Power of Alignment
Coordination
is a constant challenge for most leaders. In the Church we call
it “correlation.” Correlation involves careful communication
and collaboration by and between the various parts of the organization.
It’s much more than just scheduling the cultural hall or getting
a ward social on the calendar. These are of course administrative
details that need attention. But true correlation is about all the
parts of the organization operating in complete harmony, each drawing
strength from the others, all contributing to the effectiveness
of the whole.
The opposite
of correlation is fragmentation. This is when the various parts
of the organization “do their own thing” with little
regard to their effect on the whole. Fragmentation always results
in wasted effort and missed opportunity, and frequently leads to
frustration and even discouragement. Unfortunately, there’s
sometimes a temptation to apply a temporary bandage rather than
identify and address root causes. This kind of “tampering”
often produces a cure that can be as frustrating as the original
ailment.
Example: if
you walked into an overheated control room of a nuclear power plant
and began adjusting dozens of instruments randomly, the results
could be catastrophic. So it is with organizations.
It’s been
said that every organization is perfectly aligned to get the
results it’s getting. A sobering thought. And doesn’t
it apply to your quorum, your council, your presidency, your bishopric,
your family?
If your organization
is perfectly aligned to get the results it’s getting, and
if you’re not satisfied with those results, alignment—or
correlation—is not a luxury. It is an imperative.
Think of your
organization not as a machine to be “fixed,” but as
a living organism with many interrelated elements. Now think of
yourself—the leader—not as a mechanic but as a gardener.
Successful leaders invest energy in “growing” rather
than in “fixing.” Successful leaders are gardeners.
They don’t rely on position or authority. They create a nurturing
environment where people can learn correct principles, perform great
work, and love each other in doing it.
The council
provides an ideal gardening place.
The council
is where we are most able to view the big picture of our organization
as well as the individual needs of the people we serve.
The council
is where good ideas are cross-pollinated and allowed to germinate.
The council
is where plans are formed and assignments are given and accepted.
The council
is where we cultivate relationships of trust and cooperation that
flow like refreshing water to the rest of the organization.
In our Church
and family work, strong correlation—all the parts working
in harmony—is clearly a critical key to effectiveness.
Quotes to Remember
Zion was not
redeemed earlier in this dispensation because the Saints were not
united, nor can it be until we practice the strength found in unity.
– Alexander B. Morrison
The genius of
our Church government is government through councils . . . I have
had enough experience to know the value of councils. Hardly a day
passes but that I see the wisdom, God’s wisdom, in creating
councils . . . to govern his Kingdom.
– Stephen L. Richards
The Lord has
given us the broad organization outline, the purposes, and the objectives.
But he leaves to us much of the working out of the methods. And
this is where correlation and leadership training come in …
– Ezra Taft Benson
Shepherds should
use self-imposed discretionary time for important things: to plan
and meditate, to think about what really must be done if they are
to be successful, to make certain their priorities are in full alignment
with the mission of the Church. – Alexander B. Morrison
If the Grand
Council provides us with an excellent illustration of gospel governance
through large councils (such as ward councils and stake high councils),
another premortal council teaches important lessons about working
with smaller, more intimate groups (such as presidencies and bishoprics).
– M. Russell Ballard
Note:
The excerpts of Leadership for Saints posted on Meridian
are only a fraction of the contents of this 349-page book. To learn
more about this ground-breaking book and to order copies, click
here.
Contents
Section 1: Understanding the Role of Leadership
Chapter 1
- What Great Leadership Is
Chapter 2 - What Great Leaders Are
Chapter 3 - What Great Leaders See
Chapter 4 - What Great Leaders Do
Section 2: Getting
the Results You and the Lord Want
Chapter 5
- Planning the Work, Working the Plan
Chapter 6 - Councils: Strength in Unity
Chapter 7 - Creating a Climate of Hope and Energy
Section 3: Skills
That Help You Sleep at Night
Chapter 8
- Communication: Building Bridges to Their Hearts
Chapter 9 - Stewardship Delegation: The Great Multiplier
Chapter 10 - The Power of Influence
Chapter 11 - Gatherings of Saints: Think Purpose, Not Meeting
Section 4: Special
Challenges and Opportunities
Chapter 12
- Discernment: The Gift of Great Price
Chapter 13 - Personal Balance: Your "Being" vs. Your
"Doing"
Chapter 14 - Common Questions, Humble Responses
About
the Authors:
Rodger Dean
Duncan, a descendant of 19th century Protestant evangelists, was
baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at
the age of 18. Early in his career he was an award-winning journalist,
editor and syndicated columnist. He has been a consultant to cabinet
officers under two U.S. presidents, members of the U.S. Senate,
and senior officers of major corporations. He earned a Ph.D. at
Purdue University, and is founder and president of The Duncan Company,
a consulting firm focused on leadership development and organizational
effectiveness.
Brother Duncan
has served on several stake high councils, twice as bishop, as stake
president, and as stake mission president. Under President Spencer
W. Kimball he served on the Advisory Council that first recommended
the subtitle to the Book of Mormon, "Another Testament of Jesus
Christ."
Brother Duncan
is married to Rean Robbins-Duncan, a fifth-generation Latter-day
Saint. They have four children and two grandchildren. The Duncans
live in Missouri, only a short walk from Historic Liberty Jail.
Ed
J. Pinegar, a dentist by training and vocation, graduated from Brigham
Young University and attended dental school at the University of
Southern California. While practicing dentistry, he taught seminary
for several years, then taught the Book of Mormon and Gospel Principles
and Practices courses at BYU for 18 years.
Brother
Pinegar's Church assignments include stake high councilor, bishop
(twice), stake president, member of the General Board for Young
Men, and member of the Missionary Programs Advisory Committee. He
also presided over the England London Mission and the Missionary
Training Center in Provo, Utah. He is author of several books for
the LDS market.
Brother
Pinegar is married to Patricia Peterson Pinegar, former General
President of the Primary for the Church. They are parents of eight
children and have 32 grandchildren. The Pinegars live in Orem, Utah.
