Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ
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PROOF 3/10/2021 Excerpts from “General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” i PROOF 3/10/2021 Excerpts from “General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Salt Lake City, Utah © 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Version: 12/20 Translation of Excerpts from “General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” English PD60012045 000 data-display-instructions = "print-only" Printed in the United States of America 1 Contents Doctrinal Foundation 1. God’s Plan and Your Role in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation . .1 1.0. Introduction . 1 1.1. God’s Plan of Happiness. .......................................................................2 1.2. The work of Salvation and Exaltation. ............................................................2 1.3. The Purpose of the Church .....................................................................3 1.4. Your Role in God’s Work ........................................................................5 2. Supporting Individuals and Families in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation . .5 2.0. Introduction . 5 2.1. The Role of the Family in God’s Plan ..............................................................7 2.2. The work of Salvation and Exaltation in the Home .................................................8 2.3. The Relationship between the Home and the Church ............................................ 10 3. Priesthood Principles . 11 3.0. Introduction . 11 3.1. Restoration of the Priesthood .................. 11 3.2. Blessings of the Priesthood ..................... 11 3.3. Melchizedek Priesthood and Aaronic Priesthood . 12 3.4. Priesthood Authority ........................... 13 3.5. Priesthood Power ............................. 16 3.6. The Priesthood and the Home ................................................................ 17 4. Leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ . 18 4.0. Introduction . 18 4.1. The Purpose of Leadership in the Chu ch . 18 4.2. Principles of Leadership in the Church . 18 4.3. Evaluation of Progress . 21 Church Organization 5. Stake Leadership ................................................................................. 22 5.1. Purposes of a Stake.......................................................................... 22 5.2. Stake Presidency ............................................................................ 22 5.3. Differences between the Authority of District Presidents and That of Stake Presidents ............... 27 5.4. Stake Executive Secretary, Stake Clerk, and Assistant Stake Clerks ................................. 28 5.5. High Council ................................................................................ 28 5.6. Stake Patriarch .............................................................................. 30 5.7. Stake Organizations.......................................................................... 32 5.8. Stake Specialists............................................................................. 35 6. Ward Leadership.................................................................................. 36 6.0. Introduction ................................................................................ 36 6.1. Presiding High Priest ......................................................................... 36 6.2. President of the Aaronic Priesthood ........................................................... 38 6.3. Common Judge.............................................................................. 39 6.4. Welfare..................................................................................... 39 6.5. Records, Finances, and the Meetinghouse ...................................................... 40 i 7. Councils in the Church . 41 7.1. Councils in the Church . 41 7.2. Bishopric ......................... 41 7.4. Ward Council. ..................... ... 41 7.5. The work of the Ward Council. ....... 42 7.6. Ward Council Meetings............. 42 7.7. Preventing and Responding to Abuse . 44 8. Elders Quorum . 45 8.1. Purpose and Organization . 45 8.2. Participating in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation . 46 8.3. Elders Quorum Leaders . 49 8.4. Helping Prospective Elders Prepare to Receive the Melchizedek Priesthood . 52 8.5. Additional Guidelines and Policies . 53 9. Relief Society . 54 9.1. Purpose and Organization . 54 9.2. Participating in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation . 55 9.3. Relief Society Leaders . 58 9.4. Helping Young Women Prepare to Participate in Relief Society . 61 9.5. Stake Relief Society Leaders . 61 9.6. Additional Guidelines and Policies ............................................................. 62 10. Aaronic Priesthood Quorums ..................................................................... 63 10.1. Purpose and Organization................................................................... 63 10.2. Participating in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation ............................................ 65 10.3. Bishopric .................................................................................. 67 10.4. Youth Quorum Leaders ..................................................................... 68 10.5. Advisers and Specialists ..................................................................... 69 10.6. Helping Young Men Prepare to Receive the Melchizedek Priesthood .............................. 69 10.7. Stake Young Men Leaders ................................................................... 69 10.8. Additional Guidelines and Policies ............................................................ 70 11. Young Women................................................................................... 71 11.1. Purpose and Organization................................................................... 71 11.2. Participating in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation ............................................ 72 11.3. Ward Young Women Leadership ............................................................. 73 11.4. Helping Young Women Prepare to Join Relief Society............................................ 76 11.5. Stake Young Women Leaders ................................................................ 76 11.6. Additional Guidelines and Policies ............................................................ 76 12. Primary ......................................................................................... 77 12.1. Purpose and Organization................................................................... 77 12.2. Participating in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation ............................................ 79 12.3. Ward Primary Leadership.................................................................... 82 12.4. Stake Primary Leaders ...................................................................... 83 12.5. Additional Guidelines and Policies ............................................................ 83 ii 13. Sunday School . 86 13.1. Purpose . 86 13.2. Ward Sunday School Leadership . 86 13.3. Sunday School Classes . 87 13.4. Improving Learning and Teaching in the Ward . .89 13.5. Improving Learning and Teaching in the Home . .89 13.6. Stake Sunday School Leaders . .89 13.7. Additional Guidelines . .90 14. Single Members . .94 14.0. Introduction . .91 14.1. Caring for Single Adult Members (Ages 31 and Older) . .91 14.2. Caring for Young Single Adult Members (Ages 18–30) . .92 14.3. Young Single Adults in Conventional Stakes and Wards . .93 14.4. Young Single Adult Wards . .95 14.5. Young Single Adult Stakes .................................................................. .95 14.6. Guidelines and Policies for Young Single Adult Wards and Stakes ................................ .96 14.7. Use of Senior Couple Missionaries with Young Single Adults .................................... .98 15. Seminaries and Institutes of Religion .............................................................. .99 15.0. Introduction .............................................................................. .99 15.1. Seminary .................................................................................100 15.2. Institute ..................................................................................101 15.3. Church Schools ...........................................................................101 Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ 16. Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ . 103 17. Teaching the Gospel.............................................................................104 17.1. Principles of Christlike Teaching .............................................................104 17.2. Home-Centered Gospel Learning and Teaching ...............................................106 17.3. Leaders’ Responsibilities ...................................................................106 17.4. Teacher Council Meetings ..................................................................106 18. Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings .............................................................108 18.6. naming and Blessing Children ..............................................................108 18.7. Baptism ..................................................................................109 18.8. Confirmation and Gift of the Holy Ghost. .....................................................110 18.9. The Sacrament ............................................................................111 18.10. Conferring