thatjimguy Posted August 4, 2016 Posted August 4, 2016 I am sure we would all agree that baptisms, home teaching, and the like are not about the numbers. I would agree. But, I also can tell if very much is, otherwise we would not keep tallies the way we do. Even then, I do some truth to using them. But the question is, does the church focus on numbers as ward being successful? Are leaders more prominent in the church that lead their people that acquire such results?
Kenngo1969 Posted August 4, 2016 Posted August 4, 2016 Regarding the (un)importance of numbers, yes and no. Numbers are not important, except that behind every number there's a name, and behind every name there's a person. So, while it's not the numbers themselves that are important, I understand why they might be useful in some respects. The Good Shepherd in the Parable of the Lost Sheep knew how many sheep He had: otherwise, He wouldn't have been able to tell when one of them went missing. We should follow His example. As for whether leaders gain prominence through numbers, your mileage may vary, but I don't see that happening in my neck of the woods (though I'm not currently in a position to know). If I were in leadership, one of the things I would teach is that how much one cares is much more important than how much one knows. I'd be more impressed with someone who gets 66% home teaching every month (alternating which 2/3 of his families get visited each month) whose families know he genuinely cares about them than I would with someone who says, "Not sure if my families know I give a dang, but I checked off the box! Got 100% home teaching!" 1
Duncan Posted August 4, 2016 Posted August 4, 2016 3 hours ago, thatjimguy said: I am sure we would all agree that baptisms, home teaching, and the like are not about the numbers. I would agree. But, I also can tell if very much is, otherwise we would not keep tallies the way we do. Even then, I do some truth to using them. But the question is, does the church focus on numbers as ward being successful? Are leaders more prominent in the church that lead their people that acquire such results? I think trends in statistics are the interesting thing and why ups and downs are happening. I have a hazy recollection of Pres. Hinckley saying something like the Brethren weren't super stake presidents, super bishops, super Mission Presidents. Read this talk by Elder Dean L. Larsen https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1980/04/self-accountability-and-human-progress?lang=eng
CV75 Posted August 4, 2016 Posted August 4, 2016 3 hours ago, thatjimguy said: I am sure we would all agree that baptisms, home teaching, and the like are not about the numbers. I would agree. But, I also can tell if very much is, otherwise we would not keep tallies the way we do. Even then, I do some truth to using them. But the question is, does the church focus on numbers as ward being successful? Are leaders more prominent in the church that lead their people that acquire such results? I think (from the D&C) that the record-keeping component is to serve as one resource (by study and by faith) for receiving divine inspiration to continue and expand the work of the Lord that is undertaken.
ksfisher Posted August 4, 2016 Posted August 4, 2016 (edited) 11 hours ago, thatjimguy said: I am sure we would all agree that baptisms, home teaching, and the like are not about the numbers. I would agree. But, I also can tell if very much is, otherwise we would not keep tallies the way we do. Even then, I do some truth to using them. But the question is, does the church focus on numbers as ward being successful? Are leaders more prominent in the church that lead their people that acquire such results? Numbers help leaders measure the effectiveness of what they are teaching. A ward that is completing 10% of it's home teaching probably wants to focus on different things than a ward that is at 80 or 90% If a bishopric sees that only 25% of it's ward members are attending sacrament meeting if may want to emphasize the importance of sacrament meeting as it teaches other ward leaders and the congregation. The extent to which this teaching is understood and acted upon can be measured over the coming months. The same with percentage of endowed members holding a temple recommend, members without a calling, etc. Numbers help us to identify where we may be weak and help to measure our effectiveness in responding. I believe that a ward or stake leader who is able to do this, identify areas for improvement and then successfully respond to these areas of weakness, should be put in a position to train other leaders how to do so. Edited August 4, 2016 by ksfisher 1
Recommended Posts