My Calling as a Bishop

What Should I Focus On?

“Leaders encourage members to engage in God’s work by becoming ‘true followers of … Jesus Christ’ (Moroni 7:48)” (General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4.1). Your bishopric’s focus is to help all members of your ward prepare to make the next covenant they need on the covenant path and then keep the covenants they have made.

In President Russell M. Nelson’s first address as President of the Church, he counseled: “Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants with Him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to men, women, and children everywhere. … The end for which each of us strives is to be endowed with power in a house of the Lord, sealed as families, faithful to covenants made in a temple that qualify us for the greatest gift of God—that of eternal life” (“As We Go Forward Together,” Ensign, Apr. 2018, 7).

You are given five main responsibilities when you are set apart as a bishop (see General Handbook, chapter 7). These responsibilities are as follows:

• Presiding high priest

• President of the Aaronic Priesthood

• Common judge

• The work of salvation and exaltation, including caring for those in need

• Records, finances, and the meetinghouse

Each of these responsibilities is explained further in a section below, along with sections explaining other duties that will help you fulfill these five main responsibilities.

Lead in the Savior’s Way

You are a disciple of Jesus Christ. Discipleship includes loving, teaching, leading, and serving others. President Henry B. Eyring taught: “You are called to represent the Savior. Your voice to testify becomes the same as His voice, your hands to lift the same as His hands” (“Rise to Your Call,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2002, 76).

Study Doctrine and Covenants 121:34–46 to help you understand how the Lord leads and how He expects His servants to lead.

The following leadership principles will help you and your bishopric as you seek to bless the members of your ward:

• Prepare spiritually.

• Minister to all of God’s children.

• Teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Preside in righteousness.

• Counsel together and build unity.

• Delegate responsibility and ensure accountability.

• Prepare others to be leaders and teachers.

• Plan meetings, lessons, and activities with clear purposes.

For more information about these principles, see General Handbook, 4.2.

Know and Minister to Each Ward Member

As you come to know and love the ward members you are called to serve, you can help them progress toward lifelong conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Prayerfully counsel together as a bishopric and with the ward council to decide who needs your time and attention. As you reach out to those you are inspired to serve, you will find that your love for ward members increases. As you pray for the gift of charity, your heart will be filled with love for the Savior and for others (see Moroni 7:46–48).

Elder Dale G. Renlund taught: “In the Church, to effectively serve others we must see them through a parent’s eyes, through Heavenly Father’s eyes. Only then can we begin to comprehend the true worth of a soul. Only then can we sense the love that Heavenly Father has for all of His children. Only then can we sense the Savior’s caring concern for them. … Only when we see through Heavenly Father’s eyes can we be filled with ‘the pure love of Christ’ [Moroni 7:47]” (“Through God’s Eyes,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 94).

You can come to know and love the ward members you serve by:

• Praying for each ward member.

• Getting to know each member’s interests, strengths, and challenges.

• Giving special attention to the needs of new members or less-active members.

• Showing love to members in ways that are suited to their needs.

• Being willing to share your personal experiences and testimony of the gospel to help guide members along the covenant path.

Preside Over the Aaronic Priesthood

“The bishopric is the presidency of [the Aaronic] priesthood, and holds the keys or authority of the same” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:15). As a bishopric, you oversee Aaronic Priesthood quorums and Young Women classes, watching over and nurturing the young men and young women in the ward. This is your highest priority.

Members of the bishopric should seek opportunities to:

• Help young men serve faithfully, advance in the priesthood, and accomplish the purpose of the Aaronic Priesthood (see General Handbook, 10.1.1).

• Help young women serve faithfully and accomplish the purpose of the Young Women organization (see General Handbook, 11.1.1).

• Help all youth live the standards in For the Strength of Youth.

• Invite all youth to participate in the work of salvation.

• Teach the youth their duties and let them act in those duties (see Doctrine and Covenants 107:99–100).

Bishoprics provide orientation to all newly called Aaronic Priesthood quorum presidencies and Young Women class presidencies (see “Quorum and Class Presidency Resources”). This is an important step in helping youth leaders succeed in their callings.

As bishop, you serve as the president of the priests quorum (see Doctrine and Covenants 107:87–88), and your counselors have responsibility for the teachers and deacons quorums. Each member of the bishopric should attend the quorum presidency meetings of the quorum for which he is responsible. For more information on the organization, purpose, and activities of Aaronic Priesthood quorums, see General Handbook, chapter 10.

Meet regularly with the Young Women president to learn how you can support and encourage the young women in your ward.

Lead the Ward as the Presiding High Priest

As a bishop, you hold the priesthood keys to receive revelation and direct the work of the Church within your ward. You and your counselors form a bishopric and minister to ward members with love and concern, helping them become true followers of Jesus Christ. The stake presidency provides guidance and counsel as needed.

Some of your responsibilities as the presiding high priest include:

• Being an example of love and leadership as you provide a welcoming and reverent environment to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and strengthen ward members and families.

• Preaching the gospel, including during Sunday meetings and classes.

• Teaching doctrines and principles related to spiritual and temporal self-reliance to ward leaders and members.

• Directing the administration of the following ordinances and blessings in the ward: the sacrament, naming and blessing of children, baptism and confirmation of eight-year-old children of record, and conferral of the Aaronic Priesthood and ordination to the offices of deacon, teacher, and priest.

• Determining ward members’ worthiness to receive temple ordinances.

• Training your counselors in their duties and teaching them how they can assist in moving the work of salvation and exaltation forward. Encourage them to watch or read the transcript of the 2020 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction broadcast (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) to learn more about how temple and family history work can help them minister to individuals in your ward.

• Counseling with each ward leader to share your vision of his or her important responsibility to minister to ward members. Make sure ward leaders have the training and resources they need to be successful.

• Ministering to ward leaders with genuine friendship and service.

• Helping ward leaders create opportunities where ward members can feel Heavenly Father’s love for them, feel and recognize the Spirit, and learn gospel principles.

Plan and Conduct Bishopric Meetings

Hold regular bishopric meetings with your counselors, the executive secretary, and the ward clerk. Work with the executive secretary to prepare an agenda for each meeting. Ask the ward clerk to record notes and assignments during these meetings. Suggested agenda items for bishopric meetings are listed below:

• Read and discuss scripture passages and instructions from Church leaders that relate to your responsibilities as ward leaders. Relevant sections in the General Handbook may be helpful.

• Counsel together about the strengths and needs of ward members, especially the youth, and their families.

• Review the status of ministering in the ward and discuss how you can minister to ward members.

• Discuss upcoming ordinances, blessings, and priesthood ordinations for ward members.

• Prayerfully counsel together about individuals for callings.

• Plan upcoming sacrament meetings (see “Plan and Preside Over Sacrament Meetings” below).

• Review the ward calendar and upcoming activities and meetings.

• Review the ward budget and expenditures.

• Review counsel and assignments from the stake presidency. Plan ways to follow the counsel and fulfill the assignments.

• Share and act on the impressions you receive as you counsel together as a bishopric (see Doctrine and Covenants 8:2; 121:26).

Never make a major ward decision without counseling together and having unanimous approval and support.

Plan and Preside Over Sacrament Meetings

Sunday meetings are sacred opportunities for ward members to increase in knowledge and testimony of our Savior. The bishopric plans sacrament meetings using the guidelines in General Handbook, 29.2.1–29.2.2. As bishop, you preside over sacrament meeting, although one of your counselors may preside if you are absent. You and your counselors may take turns conducting sacrament meeting.

The bishopric is also responsible for the use, care, and security of the meetinghouse (see General Handbook, chapter 35). As needed, assign one of your counselors or call a ward member to assist with this work.

Preside Over Ward Council and Ward Youth Council Meetings

“The Church of Jesus Christ is governed by councils at every level” (General Handbook, 4.3). As the bishop, you lead the ward council and the ward youth council in seeking to understand and respond to the needs of individuals and families in the ward. The ward council meets regularly to discuss and plan how to support members in:

• Building testimonies.

• Receiving saving ordinances.

• Keeping covenants.

• Becoming consecrated followers of Jesus Christ.

The ward council assists you as you lead and oversee the work of salvation and exaltation in the ward. This includes living the gospel of Jesus Christ, caring for those in need, inviting all to receive the gospel, and uniting families for eternity (see General Handbook, chapters 16–28; see also the 2020 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction broadcast for additional information about coordinating the work of salvation and exaltation through the ward council). Work with the ward council to determine members’ needs and make plans to meet those needs. Delegate assignments as appropriate.

One of your counselors may lead ward council meetings in your absence. However, major decisions are not made in the bishop’s absence.

The ward youth council has the same purposes and objectives as the ward council, but with a focus on youth and their families (see General Handbook, 29.2.6).

Act as a Common Judge

The bishop is a “common judge” in the ward (see Doctrine and Covenants 107:72–74). Prayerfully study General Handbook, chapters 31–32, to learn about conducting interviews, counseling ward members, and assisting members with repentance.

As a common judge, you are responsible to:

• Conduct worthiness interviews and other interviews as outlined in General Handbook, 31.1. The interviews you conduct personally are listed in General Handbook, 31.1.5. Other interviews, listed in General Handbook, 31.1.6, may be delegated to your counselors (see “Delegate the Work” below).

• Counsel ward members who seek spiritual guidance (see General Handbook, 31.2). Seek guidance through study, prayer, and if necessary, fasting to discern members’ needs and provide inspiration and counsel. You may also consult Counseling Resources on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, where you can find resources to help you address the most difficult and sensitive situations.

• Counsel ward members during the repentance process. As a bishop, you hold priesthood keys to represent the Lord in helping members who desire to repent. The Holy Ghost will help you discern how to help members make necessary changes in their lives. Be patient, supportive, and positive, not punitive. Inspire hope that each person can be made whole through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

• Preside over ward membership councils. When determining whether a membership council is necessary, carefully study General Handbook, chapter 32. Confer with the stake president and obtain his approval before holding the membership council.

Keep the following principles in mind as you interview and counsel ward members:

• Interviews are excellent teaching opportunities and can be spiritual experiences. Act in such a way as to invite the Spirit to be present in every interview.

• Respect confidentiality (see General Handbook, 31.3). Do not share information about serious issues with anyone else, even your counselors or your wife.

• Depending on the issue, and with the member’s agreement, you may refer a member to another ward member who is qualified to assist or to outside professional counseling. You do not need to be the only person helping or counseling others.

• Seek counsel from your stake president on challenging cases.

Oversee Ward Self-Reliance Efforts

“Caring for those who have temporal needs is part of the work of salvation and exaltation” (General Handbook, 22.0). As bishop, you oversee Church welfare work in your ward. You have a sacred responsibility to seek out and care for ward members in need. Read General Handbook, chapter 22, to learn more about directing welfare work in the ward. Some of your welfare responsibilities are listed below:

• Teach ward members the law of the fast and the doctrines and principles of self-reliance.

• With the help of the ward council and ministering brothers and sisters, prayerfully reach out to members who are poor and needy and help them become self-reliant. Do not wait for them to come to you, as they may be reluctant to seek help.

• Protect the privacy of those who are receiving welfare assistance (see General Handbook, 22.4.5).

• Administer ward fast-offering expenditures in accordance with principles of self-reliance, as explained in General Handbook, 22.4.

• Delegate working with those who have welfare needs to the elders quorum and Relief Society presidencies.

• Direct the ward’s efforts to prepare for and respond to emergencies.

Ensure That Accurate Records Are Kept

Keeping Church records is a scriptural mandate (see Moroni 6:4; Doctrine and Covenants 20:81–83; 21:1). Your responsibilities for keeping the ward records include the following:

• Work with the ward clerk to oversee the records, reports, and finances of the ward. (See General Handbook, chapter 33, for more information about required records and reports.)

• Ensure that the records and reports are accurate and are submitted on time (see Leader and Clerk Resources).

• Use these records to help you and your counselors better understand the strengths and needs of the ward.

• With the help of the ward clerk and quorum and organization leaders, create and maintain an annual ward budget and record of expenses for the ward (see General Handbook, 34.7).

Use Sacred Funds According to Church Policies

“The office of a bishop is in administering all temporal things” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:68). This responsibility includes overseeing use of the ward budget allowance and distributing fast-offering funds to care for ward members in need. These sacred funds come from tithes and offerings contributed by faithful Church members. They should be protected and handled with utmost care.

To ensure that Church funds are used properly:

• Teach members why we pay tithing and other offerings, and encourage them to obey the Lord’s commandments in these matters.

• Distribute sacred funds according to Church policies and as guided by the Spirit.

• Conduct a tithing settlement interview with each member of the ward once each year.

• Learn and consistently apply Church financial principles, policies, and procedures.

Delegate the Work

As the bishop, you hold the priesthood keys to receive revelation and direct the work of the Church within the ward. Some responsibilities are yours alone as the bishop; others you can and should delegate to your counselors and the ward council.

You cannot delegate the following responsibilities:

• Presiding over the Aaronic Priesthood and serving as president of the priests quorum.

• Overseeing the elders quorum, the Relief Society, and the Young Women organization.

• Performing the duties of a common judge, including conducting the interviews listed in General Handbook, 31.2.2.

• Guiding members through the repentance process.

• Approving fast-offering expenditures.

• Conducting temple recommend interviews with ward members who are to receive temple ordinances for themselves, who have lived in the ward for less than one year, or who are new converts seeking a limited-use temple recommend.

• Presiding at ward meetings and councils (though a counselor may temporarily preside when you are unable to attend).

• Calling, setting apart, and releasing presidents of ward organizations.

You can delegate the following responsibilities to your counselors:

• Overseeing Primary and Sunday School, including holding regular stewardship interviews with presidents and ensuring that organizations are staffed and functioning appropriately.

• Conducting the interviews listed in General Handbook, 31.2.2.

• Calling, setting apart, and releasing individuals for positions in ward organizations (except for presidents; see “Chart of Callings” in General Handbook, chapter 30).

You can delegate the following to members of the ward council as appropriate:

• Duties related to the work of salvation in the following areas:

  • Member missionary work

  • Activation

  • New member retention

  • Ministering work with members

  • Temple and family history work

  • Teaching the gospel

• Care and maintenance of the meetinghouse