Leadership Handbook on Its Way to Leaders

A new Melchizedek Priesthood Leadership Handbook is now being mailed to priesthood leaders in English-speaking areas.

The handbook, which contains new material, supersedes the Melchizedek Priesthood Handbook of 1984. In a letter announcing the new book, President Howard W. Hunter of the Quorum of the Twelve advised: “All Melchizedek Priesthood leaders should study this valuable resource and use it to train in priesthood responsibilities.”

In addition to the new material it contains, the Melchizedek Priesthood Leadership Handbook consolidates material from the older handbook and from other sources into one compact guide for stake and district presidents, bishops and branch presidents, and Melchizedek Priesthood quorum leaders. The book is divided into sections titled “Priesthood Leadership in the Church,” “Accomplishing the Mission of the Church,” “Administering the Quorum and Group,” “Responsibilities of Bishops,” and “Responsibilities of Stake Presidents.”

This new handbook will be available later in languages other than English.

A supplementary videotape, Putting the Melchizedek Priesthood to Work, is also being mailed to priesthood leaders. The videotape offers counsel from President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, and Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve. It includes dramatizations suggesting how priesthood leaders might plan most effectively to carry out the mission of the Church. Interviews with leaders and members illustrate how lives can be changed as stake, ward, and quorum leaders reach out in ministering to individuals.

The first section of the Melchizedek Priesthood Leadership Handbook, “Priesthood Leadership in the Church,” deals with such topics as the importance of the priesthood and ministering as a priesthood leader.

The second section, “Accomplishing the Mission of the Church,” deals with the ways local leaders can apply the three dimensions of the Church’s mission—proclaiming the gospel, perfecting the Saints, and redeeming the dead.

The third section, “Administering the Quorum and Group,” discusses the calling and training of quorum and group leaders, outlines their responsibilities, and gives information about ordinations and ordinances.

The fourth and fifth sections, “Responsibilities of Bishops” and “Responsibilities of Stake Presidents,” generally apply also to branch and district presidents, respectively.

The seventy-minute training videotape is divided into four segments—an introduction and overview, and sections on the mission of the Church, administering the quorum or group, and ministering to members.

The introductory segment emphasizes that “quorum leaders are called to act in the name of God. They are to watch over, be with, and strengthen their members, doing the things the Lord himself would do.” It shows priesthood leaders at work, touching the lives of individuals.

The second segment of the videotape, “The Mission of the Church,” points out that priesthood leaders share Christ’s goal “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39.) President Monson outlines and restates the Church’s commitment to proclaiming the gospel, perfecting the Saints, and redeeming the dead.

In the same segment, Elder Packer points out that “we are to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man by concentrating on ordinances, and on the covenants associated with them.”

He counsels: “A good, and useful, and true test of every major decision made by a leader of the Church is whether a given course leads toward or away from the making and keeping of covenants. Centering our minds on ordinances and covenants gives purpose to all the many things we do in preaching the gospel and perfecting the Saints. We would do well to see that in administering the organizations of the Church, all roads lead to the temple, for it is there that we are prepared in all things to qualify us to enter the presence of the Lord.”

Dramatizations in this segment of the videotape illustrate how a properly organized and functioning priesthood executive committee and ward council can help accomplish the mission of the Church.

The third segment of the videotape, “Quorum and Group Administration,” briefly outlines the duties of priesthood leaders and shows how their tasks can be accomplished using the efforts and abilities of many people. More than once in the narration, a point made by President Harold B. Lee several years ago is reiterated: new programs and organizations are not needed to do the work of the Church; “all that is needed is to put the priesthood of God to work.” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1972, p. 124.)

The last segment of the videotape, “Ministering,” counsels priesthood leaders to work by the Spirit and be flexible as they seek to meet individuals’ needs. It shows, via interviews and case histories, how leaders and quorum members have successfully ministered to others through home teaching.

A videotaped supplement offers helps for leaders in applying principles taught in the Melchizedek Priesthood Leadership Handbook.