Bombarded With Virtual Church Meetings

[Scott Lloyd]

11 hours ago, Calm said:

I have seen several bishops as well as others report this is what they were told by their area authority through their SP.  therefore it may not be consistent throughout the Church as any one of those levels could be adding to instructions from SL to withhold stuff or interpreting them in such a way to allow stuff that SL would prefer not to allow.  A problem with any sort of centralized authority, there are many ways this increases continuity between local units but unless they start coming down hard, locals do things their own way in many areas.  It is that way with governments, businesses, churches...any large human organization I would guess.

Area Seventy. Or Area President. 

[Scott Lloyd]

10 hours ago, rongo said:

It's totally a matter of leader roulette/local area leadership; there is no central directive from Salt Lake on this. 

We've actually enjoyed having talks, lessons, etc. as a family, but we aren't judging others who aren't doing this. I'm surprised that some area authorities took it upon themselves to expand and add the "don't replicate" language, but it's fine. That happens in the Church sometimes . . .  

Area Seventies. Or Area Presidents. “Area Authority” is outmoded terminology. 

[mfbukowski]

On 4/16/2020 at 8:48 AM, Calm said:

I have.  Health reasons though, not just because I don't want to.

Good point

 When I was Bishop I visited a sister to renew her Temple recommend just before she passed. She hadn't been out for at least a year or more.  It was the most spiritual interview of my life.  It was as if I was giving her a recommend to Paradise.

[mfbukowski]

8 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Area Seventies. Or Area Presidents. “Area Authority” is outmoded terminology. 

How do you know which is which?

Is there anything generic for "them guys above Stake presidents"? 

 

[Calm]

Area authorities with little ‘a’ should cover it, imo. 

[Rain]

3 hours ago, mfbukowski said:

How do you know which is which?

Is there anything generic for "them guys above Stake presidents"? 

 

 

2 hours ago, Calm said:

Area authorities with little ‘a’ should cover it, imo. 

Yes. I didn't remember which way it was and I didn't know exactly what position he was.  I just could see at the site I was at that he was not over my area. Besides it slips from my mind every single time anyway.  I figured that if I was talking about someone in the "area" who had "authority" for the area I was covered by nearly everyone reading the thread.  

[mfbukowski]

23 minutes ago, Rain said:

I figured that if I was talking about someone in the "area" who had "authority" for the area I was covered by nearly everyone reading the thread.  

Yeah, that's the way I understood it, including even Bishops.

Maybe "area/local leaders" would cover it.

Middle managers.

 

[Scott Lloyd]

7 hours ago, mfbukowski said:

How do you know which is which?

Is there anything generic for "them guys above Stake presidents"? 

 

Every area has an area presidency. Each is presided over by either a General Authority  Seventy or an Area Seventy. 
 

So when people say their “Area Authority” said or did this or that, probably what they mean to say is that their area president said or did this or that. 
 

There’s no such thing as an “area authority” anymore. There are two types of seventies: General Authority Seventies, who have general jurisdiction and serve until age 70 and are then granted emeritus status, and Area Seventies, who have limited geographical jurisdiction and serve for a few years and are then released. 
 

So if you need a generic term, it’s quite as convenient to use the correct one, Area Seventy, as it is to use the outmoded one, “Area Authority.” 

Edited April 18, 2020 by Scott Lloyd

[Scott Lloyd]

3 hours ago, Rain said:

 

Yes. I didn't remember which way it was and I didn't know exactly what position he was.  I just could see at the site I was at that he was not over my area. Besides it slips from my mind every single time anyway.  I figured that if I was talking about someone in the "area" who had "authority" for the area I was covered by nearly everyone reading the thread.  

Why not just call him the area president if that’s what he is? Or if you don’t know that he is the president, just say Area Seventy. 

Edited April 18, 2020 by Scott Lloyd

[rongo]

12 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

So when people say their “Area Authority” said or did this or that, probably what they mean to say is that their area president said or did this or that. 

There’s no such thing as an “area authority” anymore. There are two types of seventies: General Authority Seventies, who have general jurisdiction and serve until age 70 and are then granted emeritus status, and Area Seventies, who have limited geographical jurisdiction and serve for a few years and are then released. 

No, what most people usually mean is an Area Authority Seventy, not an area president. As in, the man whom several stake presidents report to in a coordinating council, but it's a lay position, not a paid one as with seventies* and apostles.

I just continue to use area authority because a) the nomenclature constantly changes in the Church, and I'm used to that. And b) it triggers you, Scott. I always use it intentionally.

*I did it again. Triggered!  

[Scott Lloyd]

Just now, rongo said:

No, what most people usually mean is an Area Authority Seventy, not an area president. As in, the man whom several stake presidents report to in a coordinating council, but it's a lay position, not a paid one as with seventies* and apostles.

I just continue to use area authority because a) the nomenclature constantly changes in the Church, and I'm used to that. And b) it triggers you, Scott. I always use it intentionally.

*I did it again. Triggered!  

Not “Area Authority Seventy,” just Area Seventy. 
 

The “paid position” you refer to here is General Authority Seventy, to distinguish it from Area Seventy. 
 

And the Area Seventy or General Authority Seventy to whom several stakes report in a coordinating council is indeed the Area President. He has two counselors in the area presidency who are Area Seventies. 

[strappinglad]

When I was a youth , men were ordained as an Elder or a Seventy or a High Priest. Are any of these men still ordained as a Seventy or are they set apart as a Seventy or none of the above??

Edited April 18, 2020 by strappinglad

[Scott Lloyd]

14 minutes ago, strappinglad said:

When I was a youth , men were ordained as an Elder or a Seventy or a High Priest. Are any of these men still ordained as a Seventy or are they set apart as a Seventy or none of the above??

Stake seventies quorums were discontinued many years ago. 
 

At the time it happened, I had recently been ordained a seventy. I retained my office, but at that point, it was only a matter of form. I was given the choice to join in with either the elders or the high priests in my ward. I elected to go with the elders. 
 

Not long afterward, I was ordained a high priest so I could be the high priests group leader in a newly created ward to which I belonged. 
 

Recently, of course, high priests groups in wards have been discontinued, so those of us who hold that office now meet with the elders quorum. 

[Ratbag]

On 4/16/2020 at 3:29 PM, amo said:

About a week after all church public meetings were suspended due to COVID-19, a new trend has seen the light in many of the units of my stake: VIRTUAL church meetings.

These meetings, according to one of the bishops who implemented them in his ward, are meant “to help individuals be fed by the good word of God”, and are part of a block of 2 Sunday meetings—a devotional by the bishopric (40 mnts.), followed by a Sunday school, priesthood or Relief Society meeting (40 mnts.)

Now, add to this newly born virtual block of Sunday meetings a weekly bishopric meeting, a biweekly WC meeting and a few other board meetings and the result is a real virtual church meeting bombarding… 🤪

 

How about in your units, are you getting bombarded as well ?  😁

 

Amo

Fortunately, not for me.  I prefer being able to continue doing what my wife and I have been doing for several years now.  The Come Follow Me program is something we have been doing in our family for about 5 years now and I get more out of what we do than anything I get in church.  One of my favorite things to do is research the Gospel.  I have downloaded every official publication of the Church available on PDF.  It took me 7 years to find it all and comes to over 9200 magazines and other books and publications.  On certain topics, I have searched through all of it, reading articles of interest and we use what I learn in conducting church, only that, for my family, we discuss some aspect of the Gospel almost every single day. 

[rongo]

43 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

And the Area Seventy or General Authority Seventy to whom several stakes report in a coordinating council is indeed the Area President. He has two counselors in the area presidency who are Area Seventies. 

No, it isn't. The area president is always a member of the 1st or 2nd quorum of the Seventy (maybe only 1st), and the counselors are always as well. That's what the area presidency is. The "area seventies," or what I call the area authorities, are local men who serve as intermediaries between the stake presidents and the governing quorums of the Church. These men retain their occupations, and meet regularly with area stake presidents in coordinating councils. They also have (had, until the pandemic) annual or semi-annual meetings in Salt Lake with the 1st and 2nd quorums and the Quorum of Twelve and the First Presidency. They essentially replaced regional representatives (I think it's odd how frequently the Church changes titles and names of things like this or programs). 

For example, your area presidency consists of Elder Christensen, Elder Funk, and Elder Gonzalez (formerly of the presidency of the Seventy). Mine consists of Elder Pieper* (pronounced "piper"), Elder Ochoa, and Elder McKay. But, none of these men are your or my local area seventies; that's something different. My son in Norway's is Elder Sabin, Elder De Feo (Italy), and Elder Kopischke (Germany; brother of a district president in one of my areas on my mission). All of these are 1Q70 or 2Q70. 

While on my mission, Elder Neuenschwander was the area president as a member of the 1Q70, but our area authority was Ernst Husz, a direct descendant of the Czech/Bohemian Reformer Jan Hus. 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/first-presidency-announces-2019-area-leadership-assignments?lang=eng

Elder Pieper is missing a finger on his right hand. I didn't ask him how he lost it, but both my dad and I met him as we were recommended for interviews in choosing a YSA stake president. You notice it when you shake his hand.  

 

 

Edited April 19, 2020 by rongo

[mfbukowski]

53 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Every area has an area presidency. Each is presided over by either a General Authority  Seventy or an Area Seventy. 
 

So when people say their “Area Authority” said or did this or that, probably what they mean to say is that their area president said or did this or that. 
 

There’s no such thing as an “area authority” anymore. There are two types of seventies: General Authority Seventies, who have general jurisdiction and serve until age 70 and are then granted emeritus status, and Area Seventies, who have limited geographical jurisdiction and serve for a few years and are then released. 
 

So if you need a generic term, it’s quite as convenient to use the correct one, Area Seventy, as it is to use the outmoded one, “Area Authority.” 

So they are both "Area Seventies"?

I suppose I should study up on this. I mean I have met them and at least know their last names but I don't necessarily know their designation. I just know them as "Elder". 

[mfbukowski]

9 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Stake seventies quorums were discontinued many years ago. 
 

At the time it happened, I had recently been ordained a seventy. I retained my office, but at that point, it was only a matter of form. I was given the choice to join in with either the elders or the high priests in my ward. I elected to go with the elders. 
 

Not long afterward, I was ordained a high priest so I could be the high priests group leader in a newly created ward to which I belonged. 
 

Recently, of course, high priests groups in wards have been discontinued, so those of us who hold that office now meet with the elders quorum. 

I have also followed that same path, at one point I was one of the "Seven Presidents" of the Seventies in the stake.

Too many chiefs and not enough.... oh, I guess I say that one today!

I guess I have just not kept up with all the changes.

I remember being told that if I was ever called as a Seventy today, I would just be set apart and not ordained to the office because I already have it.

Fat chance of that happening.

 

[Scott Lloyd]

27 minutes ago, rongo said:

No, it isn't. The area president is always a member of the 1st or 2nd quorum of the Seventy (maybe only 1st), and the counselors are always as well. That's what the area presidency is. The "area seventies," or what I call the area authorities, are local men who serve as intermediaries between the stake presidents and the governing quorums of the Church. These men retain their occupations, and meet regularly with area stake presidents in coordinating councils. They also have (had, until the pandemic) annual or semi-annual meetings in Salt Lake with the 1st and 2nd quorums and the Quorum of Twelve and the First Presidency. 

For example, your area presidency consists of Elder Christensen, Elder Funk, and Elder Gonzalez (formerly of the presidency of the Seventy). Mine consists of Elder Pieper* (pronounced "piper"), Elder Ochoa, and Elder McKay. But, none of these men are your or my local area seventies; that's something different. 

Elder Pieper is missing a finger on his right hand. I didn't ask him how he lost it, but both my dad and I met him as we were recommended for interviews in choosing a YSA stake president. 

 

 

I was incorrect in that General Authority Seventies may serve as counselors in area presidencies. 
 

But you are incorrect in saying that only General Authority Seventies (or members of the First and Second quorums) may serve in area presidencies. 
 

This is from the recent announcement on the Church’s website about changes in area leadership:

“The new assignments include eight new area presidents, with four of the outgoing presidents now assigned as counselors in other area presidencies. Two of the area presidency counselors are Area Seventies living in their respective areas, and three other counselors are newly called General Authority Seventieswho were sustained in April 2020 general conference.“ 

(Emphasis added) 

Area Seventies are members of Seventies quorums, the Third through the Eighth Quorums of Seventy.  When they meet in Salt Lake City, they meet with their respective quorums as members of the Seventy while they convene with General Authorities. 

Edited April 19, 2020 by Scott Lloyd

[Scott Lloyd]

20 minutes ago, mfbukowski said:

So they are both "Area Seventies"?

I suppose I should study up on this. I mean I have met them and at least know their last names but I don't necessarily know their designation. I just know them as "Elder". 

An area seventy might be a member of an area presidency. 
 

An area president is probably a General Authority Seventy. 

[rongo]

4 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

I was incorrect in that General Authority Seventies may serve as counselors in area presidencies. 
 

But you are incorrect in saying that only General Authority Seventies may serve in area presidencies. 
 

This is from the recent announcement on the Church’s website about changes in area leadership:

“The new assignments include eight new area presidents, with four of the outgoing presidents now assigned as counselors in other area presidencies. Two of the area presidency counselors are Area Seventies living in their respective areas, and three other counselors are newly called General Authority Seventieswho were sustained in April 2020 general conference.“ 

(Emphasis added) 

Area Seventies are members of Seventies quorums, the Third through the Eighth Quorums of Seventy.  When they meet in Salt Lake City, they meet with their respective quorums as members of the Seventy while they convene with General Authorities. 

You're good people, Scott.   My wife and kids can't stand that phrase, but after I used it, they saw it on something (an episode of The Rockford Files) and read it in a different source. So, I continue to refer to singular subjects with the plural "good people" to razz them. Ditto with me eliciting reactions from you in using "area authority." 

I wondered if there might be a couple of area seventies serving in area presidencies, and you pointed out two. It's still a small number, and in areas of the Church where the Church isn't as strong. 

I've been aware of a lot of things running through these area seventies. The preference in the Church is for things to go "up the chain of command," and they form the first layer from the stake before the area presidency. 

[Scott Lloyd]

18 minutes ago, mfbukowski said:

I have also followed that same path, at one point I was one of the "Seven Presidents" of the Seventies in the stake.

Too many chiefs and not enough.... oh, I guess I say that one today!

I guess I have just not kept up with all the changes.

I remember being told that if I was ever called as a Seventy today, I would just be set apart and not ordained to the office because I already have it.

Fat chance of that happening.

 

When you became a bishop, though, weren’t you ordained a high priest? And didn’t that supersede your seventy office?

[Scott Lloyd]

2 minutes ago, rongo said:

You're good people, Scott.   My wife and kids can't stand that phrase, but after I used it, they saw it on something (an episode of The Rockford Files) and read it in a different source. So, I continue to refer to singular subjects with the plural "good people" to razz them. Ditto with me eliciting reactions from you in using "area authority." 

I wondered if there might be a couple of area seventies serving in area presidencies, and you pointed out two. It's still a small number, and in areas of the Church where the Church isn't as strong. 

I've been aware of a lot of things running through these area seventies. The preference in the Church is for things to go "up the chain of command," and they form the first layer from the stake before the area presidency. 

There may well be more than the two I pointed out. That just happened to be what I ran across in a Google search. 
 

My memory is that an area seventy is likely as not to serve in an area presidency. 

[rongo]

Just now, Scott Lloyd said:

There may well be more than the two I pointed out. That just happened to be what I ran across in a Google search. 
 

My memory is that an area seventy is likely as not to serve in an area presidency. 

I believe, in reading through the area presidencies I linked to above, that almost all of them are 1Q70 or 2Q70. I think area seventies are only tapped in areas where the Church isn't as strong.

[Rain]

 

4 hours ago, Rain said:

 

Yes. I didn't remember which way it was and I didn't know exactly what position he was.  I just could see at the site I was at that he was not over my area. Besides it slips from my mind every single time anyway.  I figured that if I was talking about someone in the "area" who had "authority" for the area I was covered by nearly everyone reading the thread.  

 

1 hour ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Why not just call him the area president if that’s what he is?

"I didn't know exactly what position he was"

1 hour ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Or if you don’t know that he is the president, just say Area Seventy. 

"it slips from my mind every single time anyway.  I figured that... (it) was covered by nearly everyone reading the thread."

 

 

[strappinglad]

Maybe they could start to use the office of ' cardinal '  or some such to clarify . 😈