We’ve had a little time to digest the new Handbook. All of us can look at it, because it’s online at www.lds.org. I think it’s significant that it’s available to all of us. We are all expected to be active members of this Church. Understanding “The Church Plan” allows all of us to get involved and work where we stand.

We are all familiar with “The Gospel Plan”, more commonly called The Plan of Salvation, etc. “The Church Plan” is a little different. It’s the mechanics that makes “The Gospel Plan” possible. The Church now has a four-fold mission to fulfill:

1) Helping members live the gospel of Jesus Christ

2) Gathering Israel through missionary work

3) Caring for the poor and needy

4) Enabling the salvation of the dead by building temples and performing vicarious ordinances

These focus areas should involve everyone, not just the leadership. We are all responsible for the time we spend individually, as well as together.

Elder Porter said, “Every unit of the Church has access to the doctrines, the ordinances, the priesthood power, and the gifts of the Spirit necessary for the salvation and exaltation of God’s children.” Where are we really going to spend the time we have? Face it, the world (and Satan) demand our attention. Only we can make the decision to hold them off. I think the Church is preparing us to choose sides.

I’m seeing a correlation with what they’ve done with Enrichment Meetings. The Church is helping us focus more on the basic doctrines, principles, and ordinances of the gospel. With this focus comes an urgency to simplify from the world and devote ourselves more to the Kingdom of God. Elder Nelson expressed these three hopes: “1) simplification will allow the time and resources of members to be utilized with greater effectiveness, 2) the power of the priesthood will grow in each priesthood holder to bless every individual and every family in the Church, and 3) each member may feel a greater sense of devotion and discipleship.”

The Church leaders are telling us to simplify. Well, we can take that two ways: Literally, or Spiritually. Literally- we can have less meetings, allowing members to use that time in other ways. Spiritually- even though there are less meetings, we can induce members to activate their thinking following the four above areas.

I can see how the Church is completely inspired as they go in this direction. The pressure is on members to figure things out, to recommit, to choose whom they will serve on a daily basis; Church meetings, or not. By working together as a ward we can strengthen one another, but we have to commit ourselves and work toward goals, step by step, commandment by commandment. The ward council can be a great help in this way. “ “The ward council has to love the members of the ward so much they are willing to work ‘as a team’ to set goals and reach out to the one.” As parents do for their children, so the ward council must do for the ward.

“Ward council members strive to stay informed about the needs, well-being, and spiritual progress of members in their organizations. They also stay informed about members who face special challenges or changing circumstances. This information allows them to strengthen those who most need their help.”

Because the ward council is now in charge of the activities of the ward, they are able to guide and direct the ward into more spiritual areas of strengthening. The Activities Chairman was in charge of parties. Of course, everyone loves a good party, but the Church appears to want us to take things more seriously. Ward gatherings can be a learning and training experience, formulated from what the ward council sees as needs in the ward. Likewise, the Relief Society can eliminate many of their “monthly” meetings and instead, serve the ward, as a whole.

This change may force wards to let go of traditions. But by being obedient, and finding new ways to do things, you will see your ward grow and strengthen and develop into individuals that are prepared in every way.

I have many ideas on this blog of activities for the Relief Society that can certainly be adapted for an entire ward. For example:

The Bishop could decide that one month all the lessons that are taught should emphasize the family. Everyone knows how lessons can be tweaked to emphasize any gospel principle. Each organization can discuss any given topic through lessons, through challenges, through testimony. They might want to draw from professionals, or examples, from within the ward. Then, for the next Fast and Testimony meeting, the Bishop could announce that that particular meeting will be spent allowing members to share how they have grown closer as a family by living what was learned in the lessons taught, challenges that were successfully met, or experiences that were gained because the ward focused on this one thing.

The Family History Coordinator could be asked to take a special assignment. For three months, classes, trips to the Family History Center, several temple sessions, could all be organized. A goal could be set for a number of family names to be found, and taken to the temple. The Primary could focus on Family History stories. Every part of the ward could work on some aspect of Family History work, just for those three months.

It would be easy to take any subject: Preparedness, Reading the Book of Mormon, Service, Missionary work, Preparing to go to the temple, etc., and make it into a ward activity. A party might be arranged when the goal is met, or not. And these goals may take one, two, or four months of serious focus and involvement as a ward. Theoretically, revelation could come from any ward member with a good idea.

It would be important to evaluate how much members grow from each of these focuses and experiences. But think of what growth could be accomplished.

All quotes taken from Handbook 2