Remember who you are

I have been reading through some of my journals and have found some interesting thoughts that I would like to preserve here for easier future reference. While I was serving as a deacon’s quorum adviser I had this experience--

I've been interested to watch a new deacons quorum presidency. Two of them, the counselors, are best friends, and are kind of jokesters. They have had a hard time adjusting to being examples to the rest of the quorum. Where before they could have their fun and still participate with the quorum – now they are in positions of responsibility and need to be examples. Others are going to follow whatever example they set.

Case in point: We have the 1:00pm church schedule and so priesthood opening exercises are held in the chapel. When these two entered, they went to the very back of the chapel over flow which is back at the half court line, and sat down. The president was right behind them. Within 90 seconds half of the quorum was there with them. They were quite pleased with themselves.

I went to the back to talk with them. I shook the hands of the presidency members, called them by their proper quorum titles, and said, “I want you three to notice how the rest of the quorum follows your example.” I didn't tell them to go up and sit with their fathers, but that is what they did.

What did I learn from this?

One possible lesson is about the temple. The temple doesn't teach anything specific about running a scout troop or a quorum or how to raise children. The temple reminds us who we are. Then we can go and do with proper focus. General conference is the same way. As I am reminded of who I am, I can better focus on what is truly important and improve. Just like the deacons, remembering who I am is a motivator to change and do better. 

Deacon Principles

Christmas Day 2011 was a little unusual in that it was Sunday, and attending church on Christmas caused me to ponder the meeting with deeper reverence.  I watched the deacons pass the sacrament. I was once the deacon’s quorum adviser and I used to watch them much more attentively than I usually do now. Near the end of them distributing the bread a new deacon was a little confused as to what he should do next. An older quorum member noticed the young deacon, and quietly and discretely he helped his younger quorum member know what he should do. If I hadn’t been watching so intently the reverent exchange between the deacons would have gone unnoticed.

I pondered what I had witnessed. In my mind I tried to answer the questions, “What does passing the sacrament teach the young men about priesthood service, and why is it effective?” I came to four conclusions.

First, passing the sacrament is important – it’s not made up work. Partaking of the sacrament is the most important reason for assembling on Sunday. The deacons understand that they are up front and center passing the sacrament.

Second, the deacons know that it is a privilege to participate in passing the sacrament. The young men have to live to a particular standard in order to be worthy to participate.  If the young man disqualifies himself for service, the sacrament will still be passed.

Third, the deacons are in charge. The leaders aren’t in the aisles whispering to the young men what to do. Instruction on how to pass the sacrament happens in other settings, not during the sacrament. During the sacrament the deacons are in charge of their responsibilities.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the deacons know that as they pass the sacrament they represent Christ. This knowledge invites reverence.

I think these four deacon principles can be applied to many settings. Is it important? Is it a privilege to participate? Were they taught before the test? And do they represent something larger than themselves?  That is a great focus for me going forward.