Elder Ballard talks about councils and their importance in the church. The church would not function today without its councils and organization. Elder Ballard talks about a few principles of councils and we can use those same principles and apply them to our family organization to find more organization and more effectiveness to be a more loving a family. Below are a few steps that Elder Ballard speaks about which I have taken and tried applying in my family councils.
1. Agenda – Distributed night before, read and pondered overnight. During meeting each agenda item is gone over one by one
2. Opening Pray- Spirit involved
3. The Recommendation- Each person is free to express feelings on each topic.
4. Vote- Making a final decision after all sides have been brought up and feelings of faith and harmony. Everyone must agree
As my wife and I have tried followed implementing these ideas into our family councils we have found great love and kindness for each other.
1. Agenda- Since we both only have a few topics to go over we don’t have an agenda distributed the night before but we do write down a few topics that we would like to discuss. Everything gets put on the table. For now its just a meeting between her and I but as our children get a little older we hope to involve them more. For larger topics and any major decisions we try and plan a short presentation, like any changes to a budget we would express how we would take from one area and give to another area.
2. Opening Prayer- Following the spirit in our conversation has been key to the success of what we do as a family council. When we start and end with a prayer we tend to not argue or complain but we openly listen to each other because the spirit is there.
3. Recommendation- We both know that as we come to these meetings we might have some difference of opinions but we understand that we both are just trying to make our family better. We discuss our opinions and make our points clear of what we want. We both try and listen to each other with loving ears as we go through this. Then we come to a conclusion
4. Vote- By this time after we have discussed our thoughts and impressions we try and come to a win win scenario where we both get what we want. After we see eye to eye we both have a better understanding of each other. Most of the time we can compromise and come to a good conclusion but we also know not everything will be that simple, if we need to wait, we let the topic settle and sleep on it until another family council.
Elder Ballard says “The President of the Twelve then asks for the vote of the Quorum; thus, the Twelve make decisions in harmony, unity, and faith, with the combined judgment of each member and in harmony with the Spirit. (Called to the Work, 111–13)” My wife and I try and incorporate that same harmony in our meetings and the progress we have made has been extraordinary.
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