Bishops—Shepherds over the Lord’s Flock

Shall the youth of Zion falter? We must ensure that we give them the support that they need in these times so that they don’t falter. That is a special responsibility of parents and bishoprics.

5 roles of a Bishop

1. Presiding high priest
2. President of the Aaronic priesthood
3. Common judge in Israel
4. Coordinates the work of salvation and exaltation
5. Oversees records, finances and use of the meetinghouse

Bishops should spend their greatest effort to support the youth. Many issues relative to the adults should be delegated to others and/or should work themselves out.

Bishops are in a unique position to counsel both youth and parents at a time when youth may find themselves in conflict with their parents.

“We recommend delegating counseling with ongoing and less urgent matters to other people so that bishops can focus on supporting the youth.”

One of the most memorable lines in a much-loved hymn asks, “Shall the youth of Zion falter?” My heartfelt and resounding declaration in answer to that question is “No!”

To make sure that answer holds true, I testify today that supporting the rising generation in a time of unusual challenges and temptations is an essential responsibility given to parents and bishoprics by Heavenly Father.

The bishop has a paramount role in serving as a shepherd to guide the rising generation, including young single adults, to Jesus Christ. President Russell M. Nelson has emphasized the seminal role of the bishop and his counselors. He has taught that their “first and foremost responsibility is to care for the young men and young women of [their] ward.” The bishopric supports parents in watching over and nurturing children and youth in the ward. The bishop and ward Young Women president counsel together. They strive to help the youth live the standards in For the Strength of Youth, qualify to receive ordinances, and make and keep sacred covenants.

I had good bishops growing up who did this but I don’t think I recognized at the time how much they focused on the youth.

The young men who are priests and the young women of the same age are at a very important stage in their lives and development. During a short period of time, they make decisions that have significant lifelong implications. They determine whether they will qualify for the temple, serve a mission, strive to be married in the temple, and prepare for their life’s work. These decisions, once made, have profound spiritual and practical implications for the remainder of their lives. Bishops, please know that a relatively short time spent with a young priest, young woman, or young adult can help them understand the power available to them through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It can provide a vision that will have a profound influence upon their entire life.

The youth need as many people in their lives as possible who will help them understand the power of Christ in their lives and have a vision for their own lives.

Now, bishops, wherever you serve, in your interviews and other associations, you can provide that kind of vision and build faith in Jesus Christ. You can extend powerful invitations to change behavior, prepare them for life, and inspire them to stay on the covenant path.

In addition, you may help some youth who are in conflict with parents over things that are relatively unimportant. At a time when young people seem to have maximum conflict with their parents, the person who presides over their quorum and to whom they answer ecclesiastically is also the person to whom their parents go for temple recommends. This puts the bishop in a unique position to counsel both the youth and their parents when contention has created a division. Bishops can help both view things with an eternal perspective and resolve issues of more or less importance. We recommend that bishops not have assigned ministering families so they can focus their time and energy ministering to the youth and their families in these kinds of situations.

I am aware of one bishop who was able to resolve extreme contention between a son and his parents, bringing harmony to the home and enhanced commitment to the gospel. The bishop helped the parents understand that striving to be a disciple of Jesus Christ was more important than exactly how and when family chores were accomplished.

That is an interesting perspective. How many youth or parents open up to bishops about contention in their families?

While bishops can counsel on acute and urgent matters, we recommend that delegation of ongoing counseling with chronic, less urgent matters that do not involve judgments as to worthiness be assigned to members of the elders quorum or Relief Society—usually presidencies or ministering brothers and sisters.

Many of you precious young people may not have a clear vision of who you are and who you can become. Yet you are at the threshold of the most important decisions you will make in your lives. Please counsel with both your parents and your bishop about important choices that are ahead of you. Allow the bishop to be your friend and counselor.

This will require that bishops be very much in tune with the core of the gospel of Christ because in counseling youth with the challenges they face there is so much opportunity to go wrong in a way that drives them away from Christ for years to come.