What Should I Focus On?

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).

These leadership principles will help your quorum presidency as you seek to bless the young men in your quorum:

• 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, see the General Handbook, 4.2.

As you come to know and love the young men in your quorum, you can help them progress toward lifelong conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Prayerfully counsel together with the quorum presidency and with the second counselor in the bishopric and Aaronic Priesthood quorum adviser 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 each young man 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).

You can come to know and love the members of your quorum by:

• Praying for each young man.

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

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

• Visiting quorum members in their homes.

• Being a friend and showing love to each young man.

• Sharing your personal experiences and testimony of the gospel.

• Seeking opportunities to be of service to your quorum president.

Participate in regular presidency meetings with the members of the deacons quorum presidency, the second counselor in the bishopric, and your Aaronic Priesthood quorum adviser. Help the quorum president prepare agendas for presidency meetings, take notes, and keep track of assignments (see Sample Presidency Meeting Agenda). Some suggested agenda items for presidency meetings are listed below.

• Follow up on assignments from previous meetings.

• Discuss ways to get to know your quorum members and minister to them with genuine friendship and simple service.

• Counsel together about upcoming topics for Sunday quorum meetings. Consider who should teach each lesson, including assigning quorum presidency members opportunities to teach. (See “Help Plan Sunday Quorum Meetings as Requested” below.)

• Plan service and activities that will bless and strengthen the young men you serve and bring unity to the quorum. (See “Help Plan Quorum Service and Activities as Requested” below.)

• Consider items to discuss in ward youth council meetings (see General Handbook, 29.2.6).

• Discuss how the quorum can better participate in the work of salvation and exaltation.

• Receive leadership training from the second counselor in the bishopric and Aaronic Priesthood quorum adviser. (See “Quorum and Class Presidency Resources.”)

Sunday quorum meetings are sacred opportunities for young men to increase in knowledge and testimony of our Savior. As the quorum secretary, you keep attendance records for these meetings. The quorum presidency may give you additional assignments to help with planning and carrying out Sunday meetings.

For more information about Sunday meetings and to learn about the role of your presidency in planning, conducting, and teaching in these meetings, see “Using Come, Follow Me—For Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women Classes” on the Come, Follow Me website.

Church activities bring Church members and others together as “fellowcitizens with the saints” (Ephesians 2:19). Purposes for activities may include the following:

• Build faith in Jesus Christ.

• Provide fun and foster unity.

• Provide opportunities for personal growth.

• Strengthen individuals and families.

• Help members participate in the work of salvation and exaltation.

Your quorum presidency has the primary responsibility to plan and implement service and activities for your quorum. You support the quorum presidency as you take notes of decisions made in presidency meetings and help them follow up on assignments made to prepare for service and activities. You also help by accepting and fulfilling assignments the presidency gives you.

As you help plan service and activities, follow the guidelines in the General Handbook, 10.2.1.3 and chapter 20. See also ChildrenandYouth.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, paying particular attention to the “Service and Activities Guidelines for Youth”; the annual First Presidency safety letter; and the Church’s Safety and Health website (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

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

• Keep attendance records for Sunday meetings. Prepare reports as requested. Submit attendance records to the ward clerk or Aaronic Priesthood quorum adviser or specialist.

• Use these records and reports to help the quorum presidency better understand the strengths and needs of the quorum.

• Make sure that the quorum presidency is aware of young men who will be entering the quorum.