Dear Brother Cahoon,
Brother Cahoon, I am a new second counselor in the elders quorum presidency and would appreciate any ideas that would help me in this calling and the brethren in the quorum. What does your quorum do for projects, activities, and motivation of the quorum? I am trying to get ideas. Hope to hear from you soon.
Vic Moloney
Congratulations on your new calling. I remember when I was called as a counselor in the elders quorum presidency for the first time. I had been a member of the church seven years and wasn’t sure that the counselor in the stake presidency had the right person when he issued me the call! However, that was the beginning of some incredible spiritual experiences, as I’m sure you will experience as well.
The key to having a successful experience in any calling is petitioning our Father in Heaven to pour out his Spirit to guide and direct you in supporting your elders quorum president. Having the Spirit guide you will allow you to assist your quorum president to prepare lessons, projects, and activities that will bring the Spirit into the lives of the elders in your quorum.
Here are some specific things that I made sure happened on a regular basis in my quorum:
Plan for a quality lesson each week. Make the effort to call a capable quorum instructor who can bring the Spirit into the meeting. On the other hand, if the presidency is teaching, make sure that you pray as a presidency to be successful in your teaching.
Give the quorum the opportunity to serve one another. If someone in the quorum is struggling, plan a service project to clean his yard. Ask the bishop for names of people who might benefit from a little extra attention.
Challenge the quorum to be 100% home teachers. Then challenge them again, and again, and again! One of the most effective ways to understand what it means to hold the priesthood is to exercise it in behalf of others.
Have personal interviews with each member of the quorum on a regular basis. Do this in their home, if possible.
Have fun! Friday night volleyball matches, dinner at the local smorgasbord, a progressive dinner during Christmas, going to the temple together as a quorum, going to a church cannery for a dry-pack date night. Find ways to spend time together outside of church. Oftentimes, this will bring you closer as a quorum than just about anything else.
If you are unsure on how to proceed with something, talk with your quorum president. He holds the keys for the quorum, and can give you insight and direction that will allow you to experience success in your calling.
Posted by John in Home Teaching, Ask Brother Cahoon