A group of young single adults who come from great homes and who have no serious problems.

A group of young people who are very busy with school and friends; and who don’t need to be involved in time consuming church callings.

A group of young single adults who simply need to find a good person and get married.

A group of less mature men who are avoiding commitments, and a group of more mature women who are ready for commitments.

A few members with concerns (<5%), that will largely go away when they get married.

A few members (<3%) have made serious mistakes; yet will likely come around as they mature.

Testimonies are generally strong. Most members understand the importance of scripture study, prayer, and other gospel principles.

Hold a lot of activities & large group mixers that encourage introductions, dating and marriage.

Have only ward FHE – more introductions in the hope of more marriages

No need to worry about callings since they are busy and won’t be there very long anyway.

Give regular admonitions to date and get married – particularly to the men

Have interviews only when absolutely necessary, by request.

No need to seriously change our approach

50%+ of your members are functionally inactive and will likely remain that way for life.

40%+ of your members did not grow up reading the scriptures, having family prayer, etc. They do not know how to get and keep the spirit.

30%+ of your members have made serious mistakes that, left unresolved, will lead to a lifetime of inactivity and marriage out of the temple.

15% of your members are currently suffering with depression, anxiety or self destructive behaviors and don’t know how to get out of it.

10% of your members have been abused and have never discussed it with anyone.

If you do not intervene, at least ½ of your members will never enjoy the blessings of the temple.

You will want to hold frequent & deep interviews with each and every member.

You will marshal every one of your leaders in finding and assisting less active members.

You will take great pains to bring members to Christ through the power of the atonement.

You will ensure that there are meaningful callings and leadership opportunities for each member

You will work to teach members how to have spiritual experiences and how to get and keep the spirit.

You will work to develop “holy habits and righteous routines” among each and every member.

You will devote whatever time you have in assisting members to overcome the affects of abuse, depression, anxiety, etc.

You will see a critical need to change our approach

Testimony & Activity – How do we define it? Attendance at Sacrament and other Meetings Temple Attendance Tithes & Offerings Temple Marriage Regular Prayer and Scripture Study Meaningful Service in the Kingdom

Defined this way – Activity is probably less than 50% with this group.

Loss of the spirit Loss of confidence Loss of motivation Loss of blessings Poor decision making – major transgressions? Development of habits for life

Struggle with commandments such as meeting attendance, tithing, fast offering, word of wisdom, etc

Lack of desire or confidence to serve Weak leadership skills

Worthiness Moral Problems – Loss of Spirit and Confidence Addictions – Loss of Control and Free Agency Guilt that Creates Barriers to Progress Inability to Fully Enjoy the Blessings of the

Temple

Abuse and its Effects Self Esteem Guilt Perpetuation into Future Generations

Depression Suicide Giving up on Life

Anxiety, OCD, Eating Disorders, Cutting Stress Withdrawal from others Guilt Lack of self confidence

Lack of Social Skills and Friendship Loneliness Withdrawal from others

Loss of blessings that attend each commandment

Loss of spiritual promptings Loss of confidence & self esteem Loss of control & motivation Loss of trust Ongoing guilt

All are barriers to Temple Marriage and full enjoyment of the blessings available to Church members.

Few serious concerns = Dating Service A lot of activities & large group mixers Little, if any, opportunities to serve Ward FHE Regular admonitions to date and get married Interviews only when absolutely necessary, by request. No need to change our approach

Many serious concerns = Spiritual Hospital Frequent & deep interviews with every member Bringing members to Christ through the power of the atonement. Meaningful callings and leadership opportunities for each

member Spiritual experiences and training in ways to get and keep the

spirit. Assistance in overcoming the affects of abuse, depression,

anxiety, etc. A critical need to change our approach

“Every new member needs a friend, a calling, and to be nurtured with the good word of God.” – Gordon B. Hinckley

“Priesthood leaders consult with members to understand their needs and then make plans to meet the need.” - Church Handbook of Instructions

1. Friendship & association with other active single adults

2. Opportunities to serve in the kingdom

3. Nurtured with the good word of God

4. Help from priesthood leaders in overcoming the effects of sin, abuse, depression, addictions, and other personal problems.

1) Friendship and association with other active single adults “one friend equals five therapists” Positive peer to peer experiences Reinforcement of gospel direction with peer

group

2) Opportunities to serve in the kingdom Leadership experience Involvement in ward councils Service to others = opportunity to get outside of

self

3) Nurtured with the Good Word of God Spiritual meetings and lessons Holy habits and righteous routines – A spiritual

challenge. Teach the basics of the gospel Experiences with the spirit

4) Help from priesthood leaders in overcoming the effects of sin, abuse, depression, addictions, and other personal problems. A safe place to get help and make changes Easier to change now than in later years. Much better to deal with these issues now than when

married with children Regular meetings with bishop and or councilors

builds confidence, sense of security, testimony. Temple worship – always part of the solution Referrals to professionals, group sessions, as needed.

1) The bishop and his councilors regularly meet one-on-one with each and every member of the ward.

2) The bishop devotes a significant portion of his time in assisting members who are repenting in the development of “holy habits and righteous routines”.

3) The ward is largely organized and administered by the young single adult members themselves.

4) Every member is given the opportunity to serve in a meaningful calling, each semester.

5) Leaders devote significant time in teaching members how to get and keep the spirit. Members are challenged to live to a higher standard.

6) Ward and stake leaders develop and rely upon a clear set of measures to monitor progress and to develop improvement plans.

Frequent and Deep Interviews with the Bishop Every Member – Every Six Months Minimum ½ Hour Never Rushed – Sometimes 1-2 hour interviews Member Encouraged to do Most of the Talking Open-ended questions. Listen, Listen, Listen

Frequent and Deep Interviews with Bishop’s Councilors Every Member – Every Six Months

Bishop and Councilors Frequently (Regularly) Meets with Members with Serious Problems: Sin, Abuse, Depression, etc.

Create a specific plan for helping the member overcome their problems and move forward with faith. Includes ongoing return and report meetings with the bishop.

Assigns reading and spiritual activities such as temple attendance, temple ground visits, service, etc. – Member returns and reports.

Kneeling prayer. Gospel discussion. Optimism. Work to ensure a spiritual experience with

each visit. Use programs such as pornography group

sessions, therapy, etc.

Leadership & ministering opportunities Smaller Elders Quorums and Relief Societies Young single adult clerks and secretaries Conducting all ward meetings except Sacrament

Meeting.

Meaningful callings & opportunity for friendship

Councils – Three fold mission councils Councils – Auxiliaries Council leaders – Male and Female leaders

CallingsLeadership Callings = 59 Other Callings = 101Total Callings =160

Ward DemographicsBrothers = 60Sisters = 100Total Members = 160

Bishopric YSA Leaders = 2Members = 6Total Callings = 8

One presidency for each 30 persons Staffed by single adults Greater emphasis on home and visit teaching Allows more opportunities to serve and lead Allows more realistic ability to find “lost”

single adults Allows more realistic ability to personally

minister to singles; by their own peer group.

Quorums & Relief SocietyLeaders: 15Members: 15Total Callings: 30

Small group of individuals (male & female) called for a period of time to focus on one of the six major elements of the three fold mission Temple work Family history work Missionary work Fellowship Spiritual welfare Temporal welfare

Led by a chair and co-chair – male and female Small group – approximately 10 people on a

council Meets each week – develops a plan to meet the

key objectives of their council. Works to carry out that plan

Reports progress and accomplishments in ward council each month.

Redeem The Dead

Proclaim The GospelPerfect The Saints

Temple Council – Increase Temple Attendance Temple Workers Baptism Excursions Endowment Sessions

Family History Council – Increase Family History Work Names for Temple Work Journals Personal Four Generation Work Research of Family History

Missionary Council – Increase Personal and Ward Missionary Work Encourage Missions Find and Teach Non-Members in the Ward

Boundaries Support the Full Time Missionaries

Fellowship Council – Increase Friendship and Activity Find and Fellowship Less Active Members Sponsor Small and Large Group Activities Friendship to all Members

Spiritual Welfare Council – Increase Personal Spirituality through Gospel Study and Service Encourage Personal Study of Scriptures, Prayer, etc. Individual and Group Service Opportunities Helps Bishopric with Coordination of Sunday

Meetings and Music Temporal Welfare Council – Increase the

Temporal Welfare of each Member Employment Education Personal Preparation Personal Finance

Small group of individuals (male & female) called for a period of time to focus on one of the five auxiliary areas below Sunday School Family Home Evening Music Activities Publicity

Led by a chair and co-chair – male and female Small group – approximately 10 people on a council Meets each week – develops a plan to meet the key

objectives of their council. Works to carry out that plan

Reports progress and accomplishments in ward council each month.

CouncilsLeaders = 42Members = 80Total Callings = 122

More callings – more leadership Friendship - small groups doing service

together. “Anxiously engaged in a good cause”.

More involvement in PEC, Ward Council, etc. More input and direction from the members

Focus on three fold mission Teaches the basics of leadership in the church Increases the spirituality of the ward Experience with meaningful callings

CallingsLeadership Callings = 59 Other Callings = 101Total Callings =160

Ward DemographicsBrothers = 60Sisters = 100Total Members = 160

Sacrament Meeting Focus on Christ and atonement Two musical numbers Fundamentals of the gospel

Gospel Doctrine Classes More mature single adult instructors Stick to the topics and the manual No other classes that may detract from the

spirit A Spiritual Challenge

Daily, Weekly & Monthly habits and routines

Clearly define the measures: Sacrament Meeting attendance Home & Visit teaching Priesthood and Relief Society attendance Council meeting attendance Tithing & Fast Offerings Temple Recommends

Monitor progress by individual not just by group.

Frequently (weekly) review progress on each metric.

Make and carry out immediate plans to meet the need of the individual.

Sacrament meeting improved to 90% (includes visitors)

Priesthood attendance improved from 69% to 81% Relief Society attendance improved from 66% to 83% Home Teaching improved from 76% to 95% Visit teaching improved from 79% to 96% Fast offering increased from an average of $4.77 per

person to $20.92 per person Missionaries sent out increased from 11 per year to

15 per year. Temple workers increased from an average of 32 per

year to 44 per year. Two convert baptisms occurred in one year. 56 persons received help overcoming the affects of

abuse Approximately 200 persons received help in

overcoming the effects of sin and addiction

Smaller Wards – Maximum of 160 Members Mandatory for Every Single Adult age 18-30

All Temple Recommends and Tithing Settlements must be Through the Single Adult Bishop

Specific Location Boundaries – Ward Hopping not Allowed

Help from SLC in Finding Single Adults whose Records are “lost” or listed in a Home Ward Records then Transferred to the Single Adult Ward

where the Single is currently located.

Improve Selection and Training of Bishops and Councilors. Selection: Capability, Time, Interest Training: Interview Skills, Abuse, Repentance

Process, Shadow Leadership, Measures, etc. Organizational Structure that Supports

Single Adult Needs Smaller Elders Quorums and Relief Societies Small Group Callings (Councils) Organized

Around the Three Fold Mission of the Church Smaller Single Adult Wards Single Adult Stakes

Capability Understanding of Young Adult needs Ability to relate to this group Strong Background in the Gospel Good listening and communication skills

Time & Means Ability to devote 20-30 hours per week to the

calling Support from Spouse for this kind of

commitment Desire

Wants to make a difference Energy for the calling

How to conduct interviews (see next) How to help a member through the process

of repentance. How to help a member work through the

effects of abuse How to delegate and provide shadow

leadership How to use measures to improve

performanceRecognize that the Lord will bring his children to a place where they can feel his spirit and be healed. Therefore Bishops need to be prepared.

How to help members to overcome pornography and other addictions

How to use councils and the three fold mission to enhance friendship, service in the kingdom and spirituality.

How to train and utilize young adult leaders Do’s and Don’ts when working with single

adults How to deal with Depression, Anxiety, &

Loneliness

Stake Presidents Training of Bishops and Councilors (See

above) How to select Bishops who have the Time,

Skills and Motivation for this Work Single Adult Concerns and Needs

Use of Fast Offering Funds to help with Abuse, Depression, etc.

Working through the Process of Repentance Consistency between Priesthood Leaders

Student Leaders Ministering to the One – How to recognize a need and

then make plans (and carry out the plans) to meet that need.

Leadership Basics Council with our Councils Meeting Management Interview Skills

Members How to Make and Keep Friends How to Overcome the Effects of Sin, Abuse, Depression,

etc. How to Find an Eternal Companion How to Lead, Serve and Magnify Callings The Basics of the Gospel How to recognize the Promptings of the Spirit

Serious concerns facing young single adults

A Spiritual Hospital vs. a Dating Service The needs of young single adults Six recommendations for improving the

outlook for young single adults

Testimony & Activity Worthiness Abuse and its effects Depression, Anxiety, Loneliness

All are barriers to Temple Marriage and full enjoyment of the blessings available to Church members.