bluebell Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 It is strange but not all that unusual. Think of all the Stake priesthood Leadership meetings (often associated with stake conferences) you've ever been to and ask yourself how many times there's been a focus on YW classes or leadership. Then ask yourself how many times YM organization, leadership, scouting has been talked about. Is there a difference? It seems like the obvious difference is that the YW and RS leadership aren't invited to those meetings, but the YM leadership is so it makes sense to discuss YM stuff at such a time and place. Having been a YW's president and RS president i can tell you that the women leaders do have stake leadership meetings where YW and RS stuff is talked about.
HappyJackWagon Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 It seems like the obvious difference is that the YW and RS leadership aren't invited to those meetings, but the YM leadership is so it makes sense to discuss YM stuff at such a time and place. Having been a YW's president and RS president i can tell you that the women leaders do have stake leadership meetings where YW and RS stuff is talked about. True. They often break out into smaller groups during these meetings so its not one big group. Regardless, my point is that the Bishoprics receive specialized training for YM in many instances like this and almost NEVER get the same focus on YW. It's a sad truth in my experience.
bluebell Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 True. They often break out into smaller groups during these meetings so its not one big group. Regardless, my point is that the Bishoprics receive specialized training for YM in many instances like this and almost NEVER get the same focus on YW. It's a sad truth in my experience. I know that in our ward the entire bishopric is part of the YM's program (the bishop, obviously, but each counselor is assigned to the deacons and teachers as well and attend their lessons and their weekly youth activities) so it makes sense that they would focus on YMs during a priesthood leadership meeting-since they are specifically leaders in the YM's quorums. I'm guessing they don't do that in your ward though so you see less of a reason for them to focus on the YMs.
HappyJackWagon Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 I know that in our ward the entire bishopric is part of the YM's program (the bishop, obviously, but each counselor is assigned to the deacons and teachers as well and attend their lessons and their weekly youth activities) so it makes sense that they would focus on YMs during a priesthood leadership meeting-since they are specifically leaders in the YM's quorums. I'm guessing they don't do that in your ward though so you see less of a reason for them to focus on the YMs.This actually helps make my point. Bishopric members are all assigned both a YM Quorum and the corresponding YW class. How oftendoes the bishopric attend YW classes? They should attend regularly. 1
readstoomuch Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 This actually helps make my point. Bishopric members are all assigned both a YM Quorum and the corresponding YW class. How oftendoes the bishopric attend YW classes? They should attend regularly.they do in my ward. my daughter complains and wonders why the men have to come. same the few times i was in there. 1
bluebell Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 This actually helps make my point. Bishopric members are all assigned both a YM Quorum and the corresponding YW class. How oftendoes the bishopric attend YW classes? They should attend regularly. Technically, they are over primary as well. We have our counselor in there at least once a month. I honestly don't remember how often they visited when i was serving in YW's. I don't disagree that the girls need some more focus in our church. I just don't see the correlation between inviting YW to a lesson on the YM's Duty to God and not talking about YW's during a priesthood leadership training meeting.
bluebell Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 they do in my ward. my daughter complains and wonders why the men have to come. same the few times i was in there. This can turn into one of those 'damned if they do, damned if they don't' type of situations. I have heard women complain that the men are too involved in women's calling, suggesting that the women should have no oversight or visits by male leadership during church ever. And of course others are upset or annoyed that the men aren't more involved. I don't envy those trying to figure out which group to please and which to make angry! 2
stemelbow Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 Technically, they are over primary as well. We have our counselor in there at least once a month. I honestly don't remember how often they visited when i was serving in YW's. I don't disagree that the girls need some more focus in our church. I just don't see the correlation between inviting YW to a lesson on the YM's Duty to God and not talking about YW's during a priesthood leadership training meeting. You have a point, but if there is an issue of the Church ought to spend more time and energy on girls and women in the Church, then anything that indicates men and boys have focus is just more data to explain that girls and women need more focus. So I can definitely see where HappyJack is coming from on this. 2
hope_for_things Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 I thought I'd post regarding how the lesson went yesterday. I feel that it went really well and the Bishop was pretty happy with it too. There were a few tense moments and some things were brought up that I feel the Bishop handled well. Thanks so much for sharing, this is excellent. Just curious, how were things left at the end of the class. There is so little time to discuss such a large topic like this. Did the Bishop offer an open door for further discussion, were additional resources recommended for members who may want to discuss this issue further?
ALarson Posted June 1, 2015 Author Posted June 1, 2015 (edited) Thanks so much for sharing, this is excellent. Just curious, how were things left at the end of the class. There is so little time to discuss such a large topic like this. Did the Bishop offer an open door for further discussion, were additional resources recommended for members who may want to discuss this issue further?We had prepared a handout with some sources, links, etc., for those who wanted to read more on this topic (many of these sources came from others on here that I'd shared with the Bishop ). I do wish we'd had more time for the "question and answer" time at the end. We only had about 5 minutes and then ran overtime another 5 minutes for this. There were still lots of hands up that we couldn't get to. So, the Bishop invited anyone with questions to meet with him and he expressed how happy he'd be to further discuss this topic with anyone and that he would try to answer their questions. It will be interesting to see how many take him up on this offer. (We also had to cut the lesson short to even get to the Q&A time, so you're correct that this is a large topic to try and cover, but at least it was a start.) A couple of the questions were regarding the other essays (specifically the polygamy one came up) and it seems people are anxious to discuss them. So, that will be interesting too. Thanks to everyone here who offered help, sources and suggestions. It was very helpful! Edited June 1, 2015 by ALarson 2
Stargazer Posted June 2, 2015 Posted June 2, 2015 I thought I'd post regarding how the lesson went yesterday. I feel that it went really well and the Bishop was pretty happy with it too. There were a few tense moments and some things were brought up that I feel the Bishop handled well. <snip /> I wanted to thank you for inspiring me to take the initiative on this in my High Priests Group in which I'm the regular instructor. I taught the fourth week lesson from the essay on Race and the Priesthood. I didn't go to the extent you did by advertising it the previous week, but I passed out the link to the essay on slips of paper, and some of the brethren went digging into the essay while I was teaching from it. I felt the lesson went really well, and there were actually no problems at all from anyone over anything in the essay. I can't say if there was anyone who had any problems with what was taught who did not speak up, however. I was watching them all carefully, however, and I couldn't see anything that suggested a problem. All in all, we have a really decent group of HP's. There's a couple of "troublemakers", so to speak, who like to stir things up, but even they are jewels in the rough. One of them is a good friend and I've been his family's home teacher for close to 20 years. Like I said, nobody had a problem with what was taught. The Group Leader was quite pleased with the lesson, too, so it's all good. Thanks again for giving me the idea! 1
ALarson Posted June 2, 2015 Author Posted June 2, 2015 I wanted to thank you for inspiring me to take the initiative on this in my High Priests Group in which I'm the regular instructor. I taught the fourth week lesson from the essay on Race and the Priesthood. I didn't go to the extent you did by advertising it the previous week, but I passed out the link to the essay on slips of paper, and some of the brethren went digging into the essay while I was teaching from it. I felt the lesson went really well, and there were actually no problems at all from anyone over anything in the essay. I can't say if there was anyone who had any problems with what was taught who did not speak up, however. I was watching them all carefully, however, and I couldn't see anything that suggested a problem. All in all, we have a really decent group of HP's. There's a couple of "troublemakers", so to speak, who like to stir things up, but even they are jewels in the rough. One of them is a good friend and I've been his family's home teacher for close to 20 years. Like I said, nobody had a problem with what was taught. The Group Leader was quite pleased with the lesson, too, so it's all good. Thanks again for giving me the idea!Wow Stargazer! Good for you and thanks for sharing this. I hope that more and more leaders and teachers will start doing the same.
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