Kirby Heyborne is an accomplished actor, narrator, musician, and comedian. He is best known for his roles in Saints and Soldiers, The Singles Ward, The R.M., The Best Two Years, Sons of Provo, and The Three Stooges. He has also starred in numerous television series and national commercial campaigns. Kirby currently hosts the popular BYUTV show, “Making Good.” As an audiobook narrator, Kirby has been nominated for a Grammy, received two Odyssey Awards, and countless Earphones Awards for excellence in narration. He has narrated over 2000 audiobooks, including SAINTS: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days.

At church, Kirby has served as a Primary music leader, Sunday School teacher, and bishopric counselor, and is currently the bishop of his ward. He loves spending time with his wife and kids.

Kirby Heyborne, photographed by Justin Hackworth

Links

When Leaders Accidentally Limit Their Effectiveness | An Interview with Dustin Peterson
Build an A-Team in Your Calling | An Interview with Whitney Johnson
Are Leaders “The Chosen One”?
Bearded Bishops, Rated-R Movies, & the Honor Code | An Interview with John Hilton III
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Highlights

Coming soon

The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes.

Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

Jennie Blaser is the ninth of 11 children and has lived all over the world: Hawaii, Utah, California, Arizona, Argentina, Slovenia, and Hong Kong. She served an 18-month mission in one branch in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and speaks English, Spanish, and Slovenian. She graduated in International Finance with a minor in Spanish from Brigham Young University, returning to earn an MBA. Jennie has taught early morning Seminary, Marriage and Family Relations, Relief Society, Sunday School, and Gospel Doctrine. She has also served as a second counselor in a Young Women presidency twice and second counselor in a Relief Society presidency five times. Jennie is currently the second counselor in her stake Young Women presidency.

Dave Blaser grew up in an Air Force family and also lived all over. He served a mission in Mendoza, Argentina, graduated from BYU in Construction Management, and has worked in commercial construction management for 24 years. He is currently the executive vice president of operations for Layton Construction in Arizona. Dave has served as an elders quorum president, Young Men president, in a bishopric, and as a stake executive secretary. He currently serves as the bishop of his ward.

Jennie recently published her first book, a short novel entitled One Plus One Equals Three. She was an adrenaline junkie until her body literally stopped producing adrenaline—one of the health challenges she deals with daily. Dave runs nearly every day and has finished multiple marathons. He is a parrot-head (Jimmy Buffet fan) and a Swiftie. The Blasers live in Gilbert, Arizona, and have three children.

Links

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Highlights

2:00 Kurt introduces Jennie and Dave and their callings.

3:20 Jennie shares how and why she got started researching the Church handbook. She has been on a journey of learning and has written a few articles about the youth programs.

6:30 Dave was a previous priesthood quorum advisor before he became bishop. He shares what he learned from the handbook and tried to apply it in his calling.

8:15 Always start with the handbook when beginning a calling.

9:20 Helping the young women have more interactions and feel comfortable with the bishop. The bishopric needs to be spending regular time with the young women.

10:40 The bishopric is not the Young Men presidency. Since Doctrine & Covenants 107 was written they have always been the presidency over the Aaronic priesthood and nothing has changed.

12:40 There are four different people that are critical to buy into the new system for the youth to make it a success. The first is the bishopric. They need to balance focus between Young Men and the Young Women programs.

16:10 The responsibilities of the bishop have changed in the past five years with the new focus on the youth. To help him focus on the youth, the Relief Society president and elders quorum president can step in and help with people that need help in their organizations.

18:30 Dave’s ward has begun support groups in the Relief Society for people struggling. It helps take some of the load off of the bishopric and allows them to do more with the youth.

19:40 Empowering the elders quorum president and Relief Society president and delegating to them. Dave shares how he does this.

20:40 When the new handbook now states that the bishop’s role is to be over both Young Men and Young Women. With the release of the Young Men presidencies it allows the young men to step up and take on more leadership and responsibility. There needs to be training done to help get this done.

26:30 Helping the young women feel more welcome, more needed, and like they have a place in the Church.

28:30 There are numerous trainings in the handbook and those trainings should happen twice a year.

31:40 The importance of the Aaronic priesthood advisor and specialist. Their role is critical and they should be present at Sunday meetings and activities to make it possible for the bishopric to also be with the young women.

32:15 Dave’s ward has a meeting inviting all the Young Men leaders: advisors, specialists, and bishopric. In this meeting they council together and make sure they are all on the same page.

34:00 What the handbook says about small wards and combining classes to give the bishopric visit the Young Women classes too

34:40 Even though the Church discontinued the Young Men presidency doesn’t mean that there are fewer adult men serving with the Aaronic priesthood. They are now advisors or specialists instead of presidency members.

35:50 Having the Young Women meet for class in the bishop’s office. It happens once a month. He doesn’t sit behind the desk but sits as part of the class.

37:10 The importance of doing the class in the bishop’s office and not just in the Young Women room. Helping the young women feel equal to the young men.

38:00 Responses that the young women gave about switching it up and having class with the bishop in his office. They got a very positive response from all the girls.

39:00 Why are we trying to do all of this with the youth? If the bishop spends all his time with the young men what message does that send to the young women? Let’s make the young women feel valued, loved, and needed.

42:00 Study the handbook. Each ward has different needs. Discuss and apply the handbook in a way that will be best for those in your ward.

42:30 Dave shares how his experience of serving has brought him to Christ. Jennie also shares how when she focuses on individuals she has been brought to Christ.

The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes.

Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

Kayla Shields works as a Certified Personal trainer and Nutrition Coach. She earned an associate’s degree from LDS Business College and is now headed back to Ensign College to finish a Finance degree. Her church callings have included Primary teacher, Activity Days leader, Relief Society counselor, and Relief Society president. She recently accepted the best calling in the Church: Primary music leader. Despite Kurt and Kayla’s recommendation, we did not title this episode “When Salmonella Forms Friendships”. You’re welcome.

Links

“The Atonement Works for Me”: One Couple’s Recovery from Sexual Addiction
Unashamed/Unafraid
When Being Released Hurts
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Highlights

3:00 Kurt introduces his conversation with Kayla, a recently-released Relief Society president.

4:15 Kayla tells her story of getting called to be the Relief Society president, fear, imposter syndrome, and calling counselors.

9:20 Doing ministering interviews. Take the time to check in with the sisters and see how they are doing and their relationship with God and then you can get to the ministering questions.

11:00 By sharing her story and the hard things that she has been through, Kayla has been able to deepen her connection with the women in Relief Society.

12:45 Ways that Kayla has shared her and her husband’s story of sexual addiction and been vulnerable in her ward. She has decided to remove the shame from it and has found that people have been much more open with her.

15:10 Principle 1 – Acceptance of all

17:10 How Kayla and her presidency did ministering interviews and scheduled them. They decided not to meet with the companionship but have one-on-one meetings.

19:20 Principle 2 – Lean into the awkward

22:10 Working with the bishopric and elders quorum presidency

23:30 Ward counsels, correlation meetings, and personal interviews with the bishop

24:40 Doing monthly activities

27:45 The first year of being president they didn’t call any teachers and had lots of different women teach.

30:00 The overwhelm of organizing the women into ministering routes. Just start and it will work out.

32:30 The shocking grief of being released as the Relief Society president. Kurt shares some advice on ways to still connect to people and gather.

38:00 Kayla shares her final thoughts and testimony of Christ.

The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes.

Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

Scharman Grimmer serves as a member of the Young Women General Advisory Council for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has served as stake and ward Primary president; ward Young Women president, Primary and Relief Society counselor, stake Young Women camp director, Sunday School teacher, Seminary teacher, and in Primary as a music leader, teacher, and Nursery leader.

Scharman and her husband, Matt, have five children and live in Alpine, Utah. Scharman earned a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in Child and Teen Development from Syracuse University. She currently works as a child and teen development specialist, consulting parents on best developmental and relationship practices and healthy habits in families.

Scharman is proud to be from Humble, Texas! Growing up in an area with few members of the Church, she learned valuable lessons as she watched her parents faithfully lead in their ward and stake. Her own experiences as an adult in Texas and New York have given her an appreciation that every member can contribute and is needed.

Links

Finding Strength in the Lord: Emotional Resilience
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Scriptures referenced in this podcast: Acts 8, Acts 3, Doctrine & Covenants 104
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Highlights

3:00 Getting called to be a part of the young women’s general advisory council.

5:20 What does Scharman’s calling entail?

• Council meetings
• Working groups

7:30 Scharman has a masters degree in child and teen development and has been able to use her degree not only professionally but in her calling and personal life. She works a lot with parents and helps them find holy, healthy habits as a family.

8:50 Her experience in Young Women started as a young woman herself and callings in Young Women in her early twenties. She learned to mentor.

12:00 How can you become a mentor for youth? Scharman shares scriptural examples.

15:45 Leading youth to have covenant relationships. The focus of the Young Men and Young Women programs is to build a foundation on Christ. Gathering to Christ.

17:20 Do what works for the youth. Sometimes you have to switch it up for the group you have.

21:40 Build on Christ as your foundation, gather to Christ, and covenant with Christ. The focus of the youth programs are based on these three things.

22:45 What is an AOA? Area Organization Advisors. Women around the world that are trained by the general presidencies and then take those teachings and minister to the people in their areas.

24:00 How can we get the Young Women and Young Men groups to work together better?

27:20 Studies show that participation in religion as teenagers doesn’t mean belonging. When youth are connected to five or more adult members of their congregation and they feel known, seen, loved, and cared about, their feeling of belonging goes sky high.

30:30 How can we make youth-led activities? They need to be idea generators and the adults are the support team.

33:40 Helping stimulate activities with the youth

38:00 Youth can tell when you are genuine and authentic. Be open with your struggles but be careful of oversharing.

41:00 Helping the youth with emotional resilience. Combining the skills of mental health with the gospel of Jesus Christ’s eternal truths is what is life changing. The Church has an emotional resilience course that is a resource for youth age 16 and older.

46:45 Girls camp. Have a strong group of YCLs. Have youth leaders help pick a scriptural theme.

50:15 Questions that Scharman hears the most

• How do you balance leaders and the young women speaking in class?
• How do you work together with the young men’s presidency?

51:45 Scharman’s final thoughts and testimony

The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes.

Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

Bryan Murray was born and raised in Long Beach, California, served in the Japan Sendai mission, and met his future wife, Kristine Clawson, while attending Brigham Young University when they went skiing together with their home evening group. Bryan attended medical school at the University of Kentucky then completed an internal medicine residency with the UCSF San Joaquin Valley Program. He worked with a small group practice in Payson, Utah, before moving the family to Anacortes, Washington, where he joined a small internal medicine group and helped start a hospitalist program at Island Hospital in Anacortes.

Bryan has served in five bishoprics and as bishop of the Anacortes Ward. He retired from medicine in February 2022 and two short months later he and Kristine began a full-time mission as Area Medical Advisor to the North America Northeast Area. They also filled a mission assignment as support to a Young Single Adult branch in the Hingham, Massachusetts Stake. Bryan currently serves as the ward music chairman and Kristine serves as the Relief Society president in the newly-created Fidalgo Island Ward in Anacortes.

Bryan and Kristine enjoy spending time with their six children, five in-laws, and 15 grandchildren. As a family they enjoy skiing, kayaking, biking, hiking, sailing, and camping.

Links

Why Your Ward Needs a Podcast
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Highlights

3:10 Kurt introduces the guest, Bryan Murray. He served as Area Medical Missionary Advisor in Boston, Massachusetts.

5:30 Bryan explains his mission as Area Medical Advisor and some of his responsibilities.

7:40 What led up to Bryan serving a mission with his wife.

11:00 Bryan shares a behind-the-scenes view of what it’s like to be a medical advisor for missionaries. What kinds of issues he dealt with.

15:15 When does a missionary need to go home? Can they stay if they have a medical problem?

16:15 Who helps with the missionaries’ mental health?

18:30 A service mission is great for missionaries that are struggling with mental health or medical problems.

19:40 Advice to bishops and stake presidents sending out missionaries that have medical issues. Helping them prepare missionaries for the field.

21:40 Some of Bryan’s wife responsibilities. They had an area assignment as medical advisors but they also had a mission assignment in the Boston mission in a Young Single Adult ward.

23:30 Bryan encourages other medical professionals to do a medical mission. You will have a lot of other experiences beyond medical.

25:30 What Bryan is doing now

26:30 Bryan has created a podcast for his ward. Even though we go to church with each other we really don’t know each other. A ward podcast can help ward members share their lives and stories.

31:00 How leading has brought Bryan to Christ

The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes.

Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

Brett and Kristin Walker are a dynamic couple, each thriving in their professional and personal lives while deeply committed to their family and community. Brett is a seasoned marketing consultant specializing in professional development and deep technology sectors. He currently serves as a Young Single Adult bishop and is deeply committed to helping others grow. He’s an award-winning writer and loves the outdoors.

Kristin is a professional interior designer known for her innovative designs and attention to detail. She currently serves as a YSA Institute teacher, where she passionately teaches and shares her deep faith in Jesus. Kristin finds joy in traveling, reading, and spending time outside, cherishing every moment with her family and friends.

Together, Brett and Kristin embody a life full of adventure, faith, and continuous growth, always eager to explore new places and help others achieve their potential.

Links

Healing through the Savior: The Addiction Recovery Program 12-Step Recovery Guide
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Scriptures referenced in this podcast: Philippians 4:13, 2 Nephi 25:23
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Highlights

3:45 Introduction to Brett and Kristin. Working with the young single adults and using the 12-step program in an Institute class. This program is not just for addiction but it applies to everyone.

7:10 How Brett and Kristin got involved in the 12-step program. Making it applicable to everyone through their curriculum. Helping people understand and use the Atonement in their lives.

12:15 If you are called to facilitate 12-step meetings then you need to start using the steps in your own life. The steps can bring you to Christ, improve your relationships and any problem you might have.

15:10 The program isn’t just for addiction but can help you with unrealized hopes or something you are struggling with.

16:10 The enabling power of Jesus Christ gives us power to do things we can’t do by ourselves.

17:15 Some leaders think that they are good and don’t need help because they don’t have any big problems. They are not truly using Christ’s Atonement in their lives to heal every part of them.

20:50 Does the 12-step program have to happen in a group setting? If you do things alone then you feel alone. When you do things together, it creates connection.

23:50 How Brett and Kristin run their class. It’s very tight-knit.

26:50 A summarized application of the steps

28:45 Why can’t God part your personal Red Sea?

30:00 Be careful not to adopt a label, like “I’m an addict.” It might be something that you are currently struggling with, it’s not who you are.

31:30 2 Nephi 25:23. We know we are saved by grace after all we can do. This is a confusing and misunderstood scripture. A better translation would be, ‘despite’ all we’ve done.

32:50 Brett and Kristin team-teach their class. The back and forth brings more energy and power to the class. They can both share their experiences. They recommend this approach.

34:00 Give people more bread, more Jesus. Brett has found many of the single adults in his ward stop taking the sacrament because they feel guilty but he wants them to have more Jesus in their lives, not take Him away from them.

37:30 Most of us don’t have the tools we need. The right tool makes all the difference. Create a triangle of support when working out deep problems. For example, a therapist, bishop, and support group can create a triangle of support.

40:00 The bishop is the place of resources and tools. The bishop doesn’t have to have all the answers.

41:10 Helping people find Jesus in their lives. He is the advocate. He is taking your prayers to Heavenly Father.

42:50 Kristin shares a Sherri Dew quote. Helping people past the guilt and to the hope of Jesus Christ.

43:40 Let’s talk about Jesus more. Going past our typical cultural ways of doing things to find more ways to connect with Christ in our lives.

46:00 Having daily reflection. Am I actually doing what I preach?

47:30 You can’t really serve someone without falling in love with them.

The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes.

Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in February 2020.

Dr. Steven G. Rogelberg is a professor of Organizational Science, Management, and Psychology at UNC Charlotte. The author of The Surprising Science of Meetings: How You Can Lead Your Team to Peak Performance, he is a distinguished scholar addressing issues such as team effectiveness, leadership, engagement, health and employee well-being, meetings at work, and organizational research methods.

The book is a culmination of 15 years of research and thousands of surveys and interviews. It’s a collection of evidence-based insights and represents a strategic approach that leaders and organizations can take that’s highly practical and accessible, but also strongly based in science. In this interview, Steve talks with Kurt about applying the insights from his book to improving meetings in the Church environment. This presentation of this episode was originally included in the Meetings With Saints Virtual Conference, which is now part of the Core Leader Library.

Links

The Surprising Science of Meetings: How You Can Lead Your Team to Peak Performance
StevenRogelberg.com
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Highlights

5:00 We know one thing but tend to do a different thing, but there is no formula for meeting success. Instead the key is making good choices, which is more empowering.
7:00 Steve’s experience with members of the Church
8:15 The cost of meetings is underestimated
11:00 Being self-aware as a meeting leader: stewardship and making changes
13:40 Things to reflect on that are signs that there needs to be improvement
14:30 Start with a quick survey, then work on the little things and assess later
17:00 Talking as the leader vs. leading the discussion
20:00 Transparency and honesty allows you to lead from the back or the front in a genuine way
21:10 Three phases of the meeting: planning/designing, facilitating, and post-meeting activity
21:50 Planning a meeting is not time consuming and has a high return on investment
23:45 Taking a “pre-mortem” moment before the meeting
25:00 Agendas are a hollow crutch: what matters most is what is on that agenda and how it is facilitated

• Frame the agenda as a set of questions to be answered
• Allow other people to different agenda items
• Put the most important/compelling issues first

30:10 Parkinson’s Law: Work expands to fill whatever time is allotted

• How much time should it take? Dial it back a bit and create time pressure
• Volunteer time is a precious gift: build trust by respecting it

35:00 Combating minutiae in meetings by making meeting time incredibly purposeful
38:00 Councils and update meetings

• What is a good update? Decide and then put people on the clock
• Silent updates via a shared document

41:20 Silence in a meeting is a way of engaging people
44:25 Technology in a meeting: multitasking is a symptom of a bad meeting

• Keep meeting minutes in real time on the screen instead of a powerpoint
• People focused on their phones is actually feedback

47:00 Avoiding the meeting that should have been an email

• Recording your voice with the message you want to give and sending it out
• Start the meeting with questions about the message(s) you sent out

49:30 Presentations in meetings: have the person write their ideas in a document, then discuss it in the meeting
51:30 Where to find his book and research on the science of meetings

The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes.

Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

Josh Coates studied computer science at UC Berkeley and is the executive director of the B.H. Roberts Foundation.

Links

The Unique Opportunity Local Leaders Have to Encourage Faith Among Latter-day Saint Millennials | An Interview with Jana Riess
Josh Coates articles at Deseret News
Stephen Cranney articles at Deseret News
BH Roberts Foundation
Mormonr.org
LDSBot
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Highlights

3:20 Introduction to Josh Coates, one of the founders of the B.H. Roberts Foundation and Mormoner. They write short articles on controversial topics.

5:45 Who is B.H. Roberts? Why is the foundation named after him?

9:20 Josh and his foundation began a research project surveying Latter Day Saints.

16:00 Creating the survey in order to have useful data. You have to be very careful when formulating questions.

18:15 What were they looking to find out in the survey?

21:30 It seems like people are leaving the Church in droves. Is that really true?

23:30 They have found that there are two types of Latter-day Saints according to their analysis.

• Cluster 1 – 80% are pretty orthodox. Follow closely to the commandments and are very active in the Church.
• Cluster 2 – 20% are scattered in their beliefs even if they identify as Latter-day Saints.

29:40 Millennials are dramatically represented in the 20% of members that have scattered beliefs. We worry about Gen-Z a lot but maybe we are overlooking the millennials.

33:30 The cultural evolution of the Church has improved over the last 20 to 30 years but there have also been things that have eroded the foundation of people’s faith.

34:00 The difference between the different generations in the Church. Why are millennials struggling so much compared to other generations?

35:15 How can leaders better approach or talk to millennials? Separating policy and doctrine.

39:30 The data that Josh found on marriage and divorce in the Church. They found that temple marriages are a big deal.

42:00 Research on moral foundation theory. The five foundational values that go into making a decision:

• Will it hurt someone?
• Is it fair?
• Loyalty
• Authority
• Purity

52:00 The survey data on LGBTQ members of The Church of those that have left The Church and their view on marriage

54:30 Resources and places to go to find out more about Josh’s work.

56:00 Josh’s encouragement to Church leaders

The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes.

Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

Sahr Doe found the Church when he was eight years old but could not be baptized until he was 13. His mission was delayed due to the Sierra Leone civil war, and at age 21 he was called into his Young Men presidency. He was then among the first missionaries to attend the Accra Ghana Missionary Training Center, and served in the Nigeria Lagos/Ibadan mission where he was an assistant to the mission president for 12 months. Two weeks after his mission he returned to the Ghana MTC as a tutor and driver for 18 months.

Sahr served as district high counselor in the Freetown Sierra Leone district before being called as counselor in the district presidency. He then served as administrative assistant to the mission president of the Ghana Accra mission, Sierra Leone zone, while working as physical facilities manager for Sierra Leone. On his release from the district presidency, Sahr was called as the elders quorum president in his branch, then as branch president. He left to attend Brigham Young University-Hawaii for one semester, without his wife and son, but had an accident while working at the Polynesian Cultural Center and returned to Sierra Leone. He then started a construction company and was called as the secretary to the mission presidency, then as counselor to the mission president.

When the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak sent the mission president, senior couples, and missionaries to Ghana, Sahr stayed as acting assistant to the president. He later assisted with orienting new mission leaders to the country and was called again as counselor to the president. In 2016 he was involved in a serious accident that left him partially paralyzed, and in 2017 was released from the mission presidency and called as secretary to the Area Seventy. He currently serves on the Kossoh Town stake high council.

Links

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Highlights

2:45 Kurt introduces Sahr Doe and his background.

4:40 Sahr shares his conversion story. He was baptized at 13-years-old. He has been a member since 1993.

6:30 Making the decision to serve a mission and the civil war in Sierra Leone

7:50 What the church is like now in Sierra Leone in 2024

10:00 Sahr’s leadership callings

12:40 Getting called as branch president

14:00 Responsibilities while serving in the mission presidency

16:15 Working with the young missionaries and teaching them that with a willing heart nothing is impossible.

19:50 Sahr’s advice to missionaries that will go to serve in his country

20:55 Sahr is currently serving on the high council. He describes some of his responsibilities.

21:30 Being grateful amidst the challenges that present the people in Sierra Leone

24:00 Find an excuse to win no matter what you are going through.

27:30 You are in control of your pain.

29:30 Sahr shares a powerful leadership experience. When Sahr overlooked a man for a calling the Lord reminded him that whom the Lord calls, He qualifies.

33:50 More leadership stories and things Sahr learned from them

36:00 The principle of listening. Listen to people as our Heavenly Father listens to our prayers.

39:40 Great followers become great leaders and great leaders become great followers

The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes.

Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

Dr. Nate Sharp is a scholar and academic leader who currently serves as Dean of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, served in the Korea Seoul West Mission, then taught Korean at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, while attending Brigham Young University.

Nate graduated from BYU’s Marriott School of Business with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting and later completed a PhD at the University of Texas at Austin. During his time at Texas A&M, Nate has served in multiple leadership positions, received multiple awards recognizing excellence in research and teaching, and been widely published in top peer-reviewed scholarly journals..

Nate married Holly Carroll, they are the parents of five children, and their oldest daughter is currently serving in the Peru Lima Central Mission. Nate has previously served as an elders quorum president, ward Young Men president, ward executive secretary, bishopric counselor, high councilor, and bishop. He currently serves as stake president in the College Station Texas Stake, a calling he has held since 2016.

Links

Linking Every Sacrament Meeting to Christ | An Interview with Thomas Griffith
Thomas Griffith’s BYU Speech: The Very Root of Christian Doctrine
Why Every Ward Needs Digital Ward Missionaries
There is already a discussion started about this podcast. Share your thoughts here.
Read the transcript of this podcast
Scriptures referenced in this podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 45:3-5, John 5:38-40
Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library

Highlights

2:30 In a previous episode, Nate talked about having digital missionaries for the ward and the blog they created and the impact it made.

4:30 Getting called as stake president

8:40 Their stake has a large number of single adults. The recent changes to put singles and students in leadership has created lots of positive change in the singles ward.

10:45 Nate currently works for Texas A&M and is the dean of the Mays Business School.

12:30 The role of being a dean is about building relationships, selfless service, and elevating the school. The values they have on campus have created an environment similar to BYU.

19:30 Stimulating a positive culture as a stake president. They set a vision of creating a culture and doctrine of belonging. Including more students in leadership opportunities even if they won’t be there very long.

22:50 Approach to mentoring bishops and helping them establish culture in their wards

25:30 The bishop has the opportunity to demonstrate to the youth hopeful repentance.

28:15 How can bishops apply this idea of hopeful repentance? Let the youth know you are proud of them for coming forward with their sins. Share hope filled conference talks about repentance. The more modern resources the better.

35:00 Creating a Christ centered sacrament meeting. Helping people feel lifted up and not weighed down after sacrament meeting.

45:00 Christ is our advocate and pleads our cause. Nate shares Doctrine & Covenants 45:3-5.

50:00 Overcoming our view that our relationship with God is transactional.

55:00 John 5:38-40. Getting over the checklist mentality. The scriptures are an instrument to lead us to Jesus Christ.

1:00:40 Seeing how Jesus changes people’s lives and brings back their testimonies

The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes.

Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

Julie McAllister Hillyard was raised in Vancouver, Washington, served in the Philippines Bacolod Mission, and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Psychology. She taught classes to male inmates and mentored female inmates at the Utah State Prison before and as she launched her career. Julie had the privilege of working and traveling with Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and worked with him as he developed and wrote The 8th Habit. She joined him as he consulted with leaders of countries and companies and helped him prepare and deliver presentations to audiences around the world. Julie has served in various teaching callings, including as an Institute instructor, Relief Society teacher and president, Sunday School and Gospel Doctrine teacher, and Young Women leader. She currently teaches a stake adult religion class and the high school seniors Sunday School class in her ward. Julie is married with three fabulous kids, owns a pickleball paddle company with her husband, and does consulting work in leadership and communications. She is also a host on the Teaching Restored podcast. Links Teaching Restored Podcast Teaching Sunday School with Questions | An Interview with Kevin Jones The Power of Learner Councils | A How I Lead Interview with Russell Rigby The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, by Pria Parker There is already a discussion started about this podcast. Share your thoughts here. Read the transcript of this podcast Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights 2:10 Kurt introduces Julie Hillyard, the co-host of the podcast Teaching Restored. She shares what the podcast is about. 4:00 Julie’s professional background and experience in teaching. She currently teaches the adult religion class for her stake. 6:20 She worked for Stephen Covey, the author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. She shares her experience. 11:00 Julie’s stake offers an adult religion class on Tuesdays and Julie teaches it. It’s for people that want to dive more into the scriptures together. It’s like an institute class for adults. 15:30 Inviting discussion can be a vulnerable way to teach but invites something special. Balance discussion and teaching. 17:40 Her class isn’t about teaching all the content of Come Follow Me but setting people up for further study at home. It lines up with the Come Follow Me lessons. 20:00 Finding simplicity on the far side of complexity. As a teacher you have to dig through the weeds to arrive at what you need to focus on in your class. Discussions can be rich if they are facilitated in the right way. 22:00 Best practices for teaching the youth Be real. No fluff. Don’t talk about the superficial stuff. Connect on a casual level before teaching them. Build their trust with you first. 25:20 How to be real with the youth when teaching them. Bring your vulnerability to get vulnerability back. Engage in their vulnerabilities and empathize with them. Make every individual in the class feel seen, heard, and valued. 27:50 Don’t try to do too much with the youth. Julie recommends not breaking off into groups but in pairs. It works better to get them talking and so that people don’t hide in the background. 29:40 When your problem is too much discussion and your lesson is going all over the place. Balancing lecture and discussion. 32:00 Instead of a teachers council create a learners council. Teach people how to be better learners. Lay ground rules as the facilitator of the class so that the conversation and discussion moves the class forward and not all over the place. 37:00 We can create a culture in Sunday school. It can be awkward depending on how the teacher responds to comments and the questions they ask. 39:40 Set rules of gathering. Have people consider if their comment is helping move the lesson forward, how long their comment is, and how many times they comment.