Favorite Talks- The Bishop and His Counselors

The Bishop and His Counselors

Boyd K Packer

I was serving as a bishop when there was a change in our stake presidency. President Packer was the visiting authority. I wondered at the time if there has ever been a General Authority that has called more new stake presidents than Elder Packer. I would guess not because that stewardship is lessoned a bit once an apostle is called to the first presidency. So anyway, I looked forward to the weekend and my particular opportunity and invitation to be interviewed by one of the twelve.

I remember distinctly the first question he asked was concerning the welfare of the widows in my ward. I had close to 40 under my stewardship at the time so I appreciated the priority he demonstrated for these elderly angels.

Here are some of his thoughts regarding the important call of bishop.

“A bishop,” Paul wrote to Timothy, “must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach.” Those words apt to teach have special meaning. Apt means “inclined, ready, prepared.”

In all the world there is nothing quite like the office of bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Except for parents, the bishop has the best opportunity to teach and to cause to be taught the things that matter most.

He is to counsel and correct and to preach the gospel to his flock, individually and collectively. In all of this, he is to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Crucifixion, the Atonement, the Resurrection, the Restoration.

…one does not exactly volunteer or aspire to be bishop. He is called to be bishop, “called of God, by prophecy.”

A man is ordained a bishop, an office in the priesthood; then he is set apart and
given the keys to preside over a ward.

Once ordained, he is a bishop for the rest of his life. When he is released from presiding over a ward, his ordination becomes dormant.

Inherent in the ordination to be bishop is both the right and the obligation to be directed by inspiration. The bishop has the power to discern by the Spirit what he is to do.

Revelation is the one credential that all bishops have in common.

Do not doubt that an ordinary soul called from the ranks to be bishop can give inspired counsel and correction. Unfortunately, some who could be helped so much are reluctant to seek counsel from the bishop, while others endlessly seem to need counseling and comfort and feel neglected if they are not constantly tended.

Bishops are inspired! Each of us has agency to accept or reject counsel from our leaders, but never disregard the counsel of your bishop, whether given over the pulpit or individually, and never turn down a call from your bishop.

When we need help the bishop is there, but be careful not to impose unnecessarily upon his time. Bishops can do only so much. The bishopric must have time to make a living and time for their own families.

While the bishop is sometimes referred to as the “father of the ward,” we should remember he is not called to rear the children of the ward.

Read the entire talk here:

http://lds.org/ensign/1999/05/the-bishop-and-his-counselors?lang=eng