GENERAL HANDBOOK: SERVING IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS • MARCH 2021 SAINTS • MARCH 2021 GENERAL HANDBOOK: SERVING IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST LATTER-DAY GENERAL HANDBOOK Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints MARCH 2021 MARCH 2021 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: 3/21 PD60010241 000 Printed in the United States of America Contents 0. Introductory Overview . 14 0.0. Introduction . 14 0.1. This Handbook . 14 0.2. Adaptation and Optional Resources . 14 0.3. Updates . 15 0.4. Questions about Instructions . 15 0.5. Terminology . 15 0.6. Contacting Church Headquarters or the Area Office . 15 Doctrinal Foundation 1. God’s Plan and Your Role in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation . 16 1.0. Introduction . 16 1.1. God’s Plan of Happiness . 16 1.2. The Work of Salvation and Exaltation . 17 1.3. The Purpose of the Church . 18 1.4. Your Role in God’s Work . 19 2. Supporting Individuals and Families in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation . 20 2.0. Introduction . 20 2.1. The Role of the Family in God’s Plan . 20 2.2. The Work of Salvation and Exaltation in the Home . 23 2.3. The Relationship between the Home and the Church . 25 3. Priesthood Principles . 26 3.0. Introduction . 26 3.1. Restoration of the Priesthood . 26 3.2. Blessings of the Priesthood . 27 3.3. Melchizedek Priesthood and Aaronic Priesthood . 27 3.4. Priesthood Authority . 28 3.5. Priesthood Power . 31 3.6. The Priesthood and the Home . 32 4. Leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ . 33 4.0. Introduction . 33 4.1. The Purpose of Leadership in the Church . 33 4.2. Principles of Leadership in the Church . 34 4.3. Evaluation of Progress . 37 3 M ARCH 2021 Church Organization 5. Stake Leadership . 38 5.1. Purposes of a Stake . 38 5.2. Stake Presidency . 38 5.3. Differences between the Authority of District Presidents and That of Stake Presidents . 42 5.4. Stake Executive Secretary, Stake Clerk, and Assistant Stake Clerks . 43 5.5. High Council . 43 5.6. Stake Patriarch . 45 5.7. Stake Organizations . 47 5.8. Stake Specialists . 50 6. The Bishopric . 51 6.1. The Bishop and His Counselors . 51 6.2. Differences between Branch Presidencies and Bishoprics . 54 6.3. Ward Executive Secretary . 54 6.4. Ward Clerk and Assistant Ward Clerks . 55 7. Councils in the Church . 56 7.1. Councils in the Church . 56 7.2. Bishopric . 56 7.3. Priesthood Executive Committee . 56 7.4. Ward Council . 56 7.5. The Work of the Ward Council . 57 7.6. Ward Council Meetings . 57 7.7. Preventing and Responding to Abuse . 60 8. Elders Quorum . 61 8.1. Purpose and Organization . 61 8.2. Participating in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation . 62 8.3. Elders Quorum Leaders . 65 8.4. Helping Prospective Elders Prepare to Receive the Melchizedek Priesthood . 68 8.5. Additional Guidelines and Policies . 69 9. Relief Society . 70 9.1. Purpose and Organization . 70 9.2. Participating in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation . 71 9.3. Relief Society Leaders . 74 9.4. Helping Young Women Prepare to Participate in Relief Society . 77 9.5. Stake Relief Society Leaders . 77 9.6. Additional Guidelines and Policies . 77 4 G EnERAL HAnDBOOk: SERVInG In THE CHURCH of JESUS CHRIST of LATTER-DAY SAInTS 10. Aaronic Priesthood Quorums . 78 10.1. Purpose and Organization . 78 10.2. Participating in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation . 80 10.3. Bishopric . 84 10.4. Youth Quorum Leaders . 84 10.5. Advisers and Specialists . 86 10.6. Helping Young Men Prepare to Receive the Melchizedek Priesthood . 86 10.7. Stake Young Men Leaders . 87 10.8. Additional Guidelines and Policies . 87 11. Young Women . 89 11.1. Purpose and Organization . 89 11.2. Participating in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation . 90 11.3. Ward Young Women Leadership . 94 11.4. Helping Young Women Prepare to Join Relief Society . 97 11.5. Stake Young Women Leaders . 97 11.6. Additional Guidelines and Policies . 98 12. Primary . 99 12.1. Purpose and Organization . 99 12.2. Participating in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation . .101 12.3. Ward Primary Leadership . 104 12.4. Stake Primary Leaders . .107 12.5. Additional Guidelines and Policies . 107 13. Sunday School . .109 13.1. Purpose . ..