The Changing of the Guard; how did it go in your meeting?

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

So, today was the first meeting of the new, "Elder's Quorum". Our Stake President acted immediately, and called a new Elders Quorum President, in our Ward. He released everyone connected to the Leadership in both the High Priest Group, and the Elder's Quorum Presidency that was in place. The "roll out" was our Bishop reassuring the Elders that this was not going to be a takeover by the High Priests. The Relief Society and the Elders Quorum Presidents were told to put everyone in a large circle. We are a very large Ward, and their was no place for the size of the new Elder's Quorum to do so, and many Relief Society sisters just left the room because it was not doable. So we of the Priesthood were in the chapel, and it was just opened up for anyone to say how "they felt" things should be done. 

It turned into the High Priests giving their imput, only to have Elders trying to assert themselves, some were even saying how they knew this was going to happen, that the Lord revealed it to them months ago. Some want no more classes, they want to just openly talk about the families they feel need minstering. Oddly enough, we are having our Stake Conference next Sunday, which would have given time to explain, organize, and plan for changes that are to come. Instead, everyone was told to be sure to answer any phone calls from the Bishopric over the next two or three weeks to fill all of the new callings. Ther were people in the hallways who were angry, some near in tears, others who decided they would pick their plates up in a couple of weeks, as today was "linger longer", were we eat after Church once a month. 

I remained silent, and was silently praying for our new Elder's Quorum President, who looked like he wanted to make a run for it. For a very large Church, who handles change very well, be it new Presidents, new Apostles, new Bishops, new everything, this was the most awkward meeting, or Sunday in my 39 years as a member this very month. My wife was visibly upset all the way home from Church, and nothing really changed in Relief Society, except as she put it, a lot of upset sisters being told that they just need to take their husband visiting teaching now, just calling it by another name now. 

I just waited and quietly offered to help in any way I could, and got my wife home quickly. So, great day, how was yours everybody?   

Edited April 8, 2018 by Bill “Papa” Lee

[JulieM]

Our Relief Society went smoothly.  However, my husband said priesthood meeting was kind of a disaster.  He’s an Elder and was honestly excited about the change.  But I guess some were quite negative and didn’t care for many of the “know it all” High Priests joining them now.  And some of the HPs had an attitude of feeling demoted and that they were there to school the younger elders now.  I’m thinking it will evolve and get better each week (hopefully) and my husband is trying to be positive too.  Some just plain old don’t like change, I guess?

[Jeanne]

7 minutes ago, JulieM said:

Our Relief Society went smoothly.  However, my husband said priesthood meeting was kind of a disaster.  He’s an Elder and was honestly excited about the change.  But I guess some were quite negative and didn’t care for many of the “know it all” High Priests joining them now.  And some of the HPs had an attitude of feeling demoted and that they were there to school the younger elders now.  I’m thinking it will evolve and get better each week (hopefully) and my husband is trying to be positive too.  Some just plain old don’t like change, I guess?

Uh oh...hope things iron out there...hope it is not egos...

[Calm]

I would suggest those wards having problems right away show the conference talks in class that are relevant to the changesand then go around the circle giving everyone a chance to talk, bypass anyone who doesn't want to and ask people to keep things short to begin with to get around the circle and then if there is more time, have people raise their hands if they want to speak again and chose from alternate sides so as to not have a person always sit at the beginning to make sure they get to have as  much time.

[Duncan]

no change................I made the comment that EQ have nothing to say and the HP forgot what they were going to say

[mnn727]

Stake President released all the HP Group Leaders  and EQ Presidents yesterday but asked that they continue as planned today, except for meeting together. He said he would have new EQ P's called by next Sunday.

We all met together in a lopsided circle in the Cultural Hall talking about the changes with the former HP GL leading the discussion. One nice thing, they got a microphone out so us older folk could hear, there were 41 of us in the meeting.

[Storm Rider]

I did not hear any complaints; there was some friendly joking going on, but that is always the case.  We are one of the smaller wards in the stake and maybe that has something to do with it.  I did hear a few comments that this is the way it should have been all along in priesthood.

The more things change the more they stay the same.

[Jeanne]

4 minutes ago, Storm Rider said:

I did not hear any complaints; there was some friendly joking going on, but that is always the case.  We are one of the smaller wards in the stake and maybe that has something to do with it.  I did hear a few comments that this is the way it should have been all along in priesthood.

The more things change the more they stay the same.

Actually..that is the best attitude...no expectations...then always pleasantly surprised!!

[Prof]

Meetings went okay.

I was a bit concerned at first. Our WIFI was down. I was told it was a local problem and would be fixed soon. But I was afraid that the April fools joke wasn't a joke!

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Calm said:

I would suggest those wards having problems right away show the conference talks in class that are relevant to the changesand then go around the circle giving everyone a chance to talk, bypass anyone who doesn't want to and ask people to keep things short to begin with to get around the circle and then if there is more time, have people raise their hands if they want to speak again and chose from alternate sides so as to not have a person always sit at the beginning to make sure they get to have as  much time.

Our Bishop did suggest that all who did not see it, do so. However the new Elders Quorum President was taking notes on how those who spoke through the things should be. The High Priests were all for the change, but a number of Elders were not happy. The Stake President told the new Elder's Quorum President to study the Priesthood lit, and conduct accordingly. However, instead of "Leading", he was taking suggestions. He will find his footing soon enough, but it was not a very positive meeting for many. I think that maybe the Bishop was joking a little about how the High Priests were not taking over, but the comment might have had a negative effect. As I said, for a Church that does well with change, even rapid change, almost unannounced change, this was not one of those days. 

[Traela]

Our ward was told to meet in the old quorums and the new system will start up next week.

 

[The Nehor]

We had Stake Conference.

[Gray]

One guy was obviously upset - he made it clear he thought the changes weren't in harmony with the D&C. Otherwise mostly non-eventful

[Guest]

9 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

We had Stake Conference.

We do next Sunday, so it just seemed rushed for no good reason, caught everyone a little off guard, I guess. 

[Calm]

49 minutes ago, Bill "Papa" Lee said:

Our Bishop did suggest that all who did not see it, do so. However the new Elders Quorum President was taking notes on how those who spoke through the things should be. The High Priests were all for the change, but a number of Elders were not happy. The Stake President told the new Elder's Quorum President to study the Priesthood lit, and conduct accordingly. However, instead of "Leading", he was taking suggestions. He will find his footing soon enough, but it was not a very positive meeting for many. I think that maybe the Bishop was joking a little about how the High Priests were not taking over, but the comment might have had a negative effect. As I said, for a Church that does well with change, even rapid change, almost unannounced change, this was not one of those days. 

It is easier to handle change when it happens to others.  This is probably one of the more up close and personal changes for many adults and it is about changing their own behaviour too.

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Gray said:

One guy was obviously upset - he made it clear he thought the changes weren't in harmony with the D&C. Otherwise mostly non-eventful

Having served for five years as a High Priest Group Leader, 30 years ago. I assure that the current High Priest Group Leader was doing a happy dance. No more early morning meetings, PPI's, Home Teaching reports, etc. the one guy is right, it is not in harmony with D&C, but that is why we have continuing revelation. However, there is still a High Priest Group, just more narrowly defined. 

[Guest]

Just now, Calm said:

It is easier to handle change when it happens to others.  This is probably one of the more up close and personal changes for many adults and it is about changing their own behaviour too.

True, one of the problems with us old folks, resistant to change. In no time at all, and for those in the Arronic Priesthood, it will now be the norm, when they go on missions.  

[Rain]

I don't know.  The letter was read in sacrament meeting. RS was the same as usual.My husband is in YM so nothing different happened in there. I'll ask him when he gets home if anything was different in opening exercises.

[strappinglad]

Are the High Priests still allowed to sleep in church, 'cause that would be a deal breaker in my ward ?

[bsjkki]

Leaders were released. No one was called. The men and ym all met together and a stake presidency member spent time convincing them all this was a good change. My spouse did not need the hard sell and left early. If the prophet made the change, why the need for a lecture? 

[Calm]

I bet the stake leaders were getting a lot of blow back (possibly from many, but just maybe some over the top stuff from a few) and thus went agressive.

[Rain]

Ok, my husband said, nothing changed in opening exercises. The bishop stayed and then came back toreport to the young me. The SP councilor came. The HPGL were released. The EQ presidencies were not. They were told some EQ presidencies in the stake would stay. Some would be released and recalled. Some would have an all new presidency called.

[Rain]

30 minutes ago, bsjkki said:

Leaders were released. No one was called. The men and ym all met together and a stake presidency member spent time convincing them all this was a good change. My spouse did not need the hard sell and left early. If the prophet made the change, why the need for a lecture? 

My husband figured he would hear some grumbling from a few. He figured if he did he would tell them he just got done sustaining the prophet so he was going to support them in this change. 

[carbon dioxide]

We are bringing pillows in next week for a group nap with the high priests.

[sheilauk]

Nothing was said in our sacrament meeting, no letter was read out, but our Bishop was away.  I don't know what happened with the men's meetings,  but there was no change in relief society nor any mention of any of the changes, but again the RS president was away. 

Edited April 8, 2018 by sheilauk