The general auxiliaries of the Church are "trying something new," said Elder Bruce C. Hafen of the Seventy.

Photo by Julie Dockstader Heaps

Stake Relief Society presidencies file out of the Salt Lake Tabernacle following an afternoon training meeting. These sisters and other stake auxiliary leaders will share what they learned at the sessions with their ward counterparts.

Under direction of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, the five auxiliaries of the Church — Sunday School, Relief Society, Young Women, Primary and Young Men — are holding annual spring training for newly called stake auxiliary presidencies.

Under this training, new stake auxiliary leaders learn how to train and orient ward or branch auxiliary leaders, under the direction of the stake president and bishops. "There is an important message in this about the importance of those stake auxiliary presidencies. They are the teachers for those at the ward level."

Elder Hafen, executive director of the Priesthood Department, emphasized that when stake auxiliary leaders take home what they've learned from this training, "then the programs and the organizations are simply a means to the end of serving the people better."

Following are excerpts from those sessions:

Sunday School

In the Sunday School pre-conference workshop, directed toward stake Sunday School presidencies, the focus was on orientation of ward Sunday School leaders. Speaking in a general session were Elder Spencer V. Jones of the Seventy and A. Roger Merrill, Sunday School general president. Workshop attendees were then assigned to break-out sessions conducted by members of the presidency.

President Merrill spoke, among other things, on the role of Sunday School leaders as members of ward councils. "Counseling together in the Church and in families is a process of receiving revelation," he said. "The Lord seems to withhold the needed inspiration until there is unity and humility sufficient to receive it and enough real intent."

He admonished the assembled leaders to remember that officers in the Church are called to represent the Savior. "That gives a flavor and a light and a perspective to everything we do," he said.

Primary

Primary General President Cheryl C. Lant and her counselors, Margaret S. Lifferth and Vicki F. Matsumori, asked stake primary leaders to seek direction, counsel with others and teach, train and minister as invited by priesthood leaders. Replicating a hypothetical presidency meeting, the women — along with members of the Primary general board — used role playing as a way to teach and train the stake primary presidencies.

"Our calls do come from the Lord," Sister Lant said. "He doesn't expect us to do them all by ourselves.... He wants to help us."

She said people can seek direction through prayer, the scriptures, fasting, and in the temple. "You can teach your ward leaders how to seek direction for themselves," she said.

Sister Lifferth said as presidencies counsel together and with their priesthood leaders, they can seek revelation, fulfill administrative duties and teach doctrine. They must also remember to keep confidences, she said.

Relief Society

"Your first role is to be a minister and a teacher to these ward leaders," Relief Society General President Julie B. Beck told stake Relief Society leaders. Encouraging stake auxiliary leaders to assist ward Relief Society leaders as invited by the bishops, Sister Beck reminded those attending, "Don't forget what your work is."

This work, she emphasized, "is the same as the work of the Savior."

Addressing the gathering in an informal setting, Sister Beck was accompanied by her counselors in the general presidency, Silvia H. Allred and Barbara Thompson, who both offered remarks.

Sister Thompson related a time when she served as a ward Young Women president and became overwhelmed with her responsibilities. She finally sought the counsel of her bishop, who taught her she was trying to work alone. "We need that divine direction that comes from our priesthood leaders."

Young Women

Young Women General President Susan W. Tanner and her counselors Elaine S. Dalton and Mary N. Cook spoke of receiving revelation in one's calling and realizing what one's focus really is in nurturing and teaching the young women of the Church. "We need to be worthy if we're going to receive revelation — if we're going to be instruments (in the hands of the Lord)," Sister Tanner said.

Sister Dalton emphasized that Young Women leaders are to assist parents and priesthood leaders "watch over and strengthen" young women. She asked stake auxiliary leaders if that seemed "less daunting than all the things you're asked to do in your calling."

Referring to Doctrine and Covenants 84:88, she added, "You are called by revelation, you are led by revelation and you will be magnified by revelation."

Young Men

The primary responsibility of stake Young Men leaders is to help prepare young man for full-time missions as directed by the stake president and bishops. That was the message the Young Men general presidency shared with stake Aaronic Priesthood leaders during training sessions.

It's vital that young men commit to serve a mission at a young age. Stake leaders assist ward leaders in their pivotal role in helping young men make life-altering decisions, said Young Men General President Charles W. Dahlquist II.

The adversary is working overtime on the young men of the Church. "We must also serve overtime and give our very best," Brother Dahlquist said.

Brother Dahlquist showed how stake Young Men leaders can assist ward Young Men leaders in loving each boy; in recognizing each of them and speaking to them of missions, of Duty to God and of Scouting advancement; showing confidence in them, bearing witness of "what you know," and teaching the boys to minister and to lead.

• Church News staff writers R. Scott Lloyd, Jason Swensen and Sarah Jane Weaver co-authored this article.

E-mail to: julied@desnews.com