Comments on: Elder Eyring on Decision Making

By: Robert C.

Robert C. — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 10:20:39 +0000

Julie, thanks for emphasizing the unity-after-the-decision point, I think that’s very important. This kind of unity is, I think, like how love should be viewed—more of a promise that points us toward something to work for, and not so much a declaration of something that is already in place or established….

By: jose

jose — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 22:24:16 +0000

Julie,

thankyou for directing me to that insight into Eyring’s experience of church government at work. It is the hidden gem of conference. Too often, from the outside of church councils we get a misperception of authority and sustaining–confusing blind agreement with sustaining.

By: Charles Sakai

Charles Sakai — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 22:09:28 +0000

President Eyring phrased it so perfectly! I have seen that principle at work on the ward level, and it helps ensure that the decision-maker does not operate in a vacuum, that all possibilities have been explored, and that the parties involved understand how and why the church unit decides on a certain course of action.

By: BrianJ

BrianJ — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:02:47 +0000

FWIW, I’ve heard Elder Scott give the same description of the deliberations of the 12, but in the context of using that as a model in marriage (i.e. total unity).

By: kevinf

kevinf — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:07:13 +0000

Alan, re # 12,

That’s the whole point, though. The institutions of politics and business are not run the way that Elder Eyring described. It’s a lot easier for them to run afoul of personalities, pre-determined agendas, and subterfuge, and for managers/leaders to try and position outcomes, regardless of what they see and hear. It’s not only the current administration in the White House, but Enron, WorldCom, and countless other creations of the human mind work this way. Pres. Eyring said that it was a group of individuals not seeking their own fulfillment, but seeking the truth, a rare commodity in politics and business these days.

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 19:30:40 +0000

A selection from the SLTribune about President Beck’s selection of her counselors seems appropriate:

“Beck knew the way Allred, who was raised Catholic in El Salvador and came to the LDS Church in her teens, worked and wanted a counselor who would disagree with and challenge her, tactfully.” (Oct. 8, 2007, RS leaders mesh fast).

There’s something useful about not surrounding yourself with “yes” people. Too bad President Bush never figured this out.

[Editors: please avoid drive-by political snarking in this thread. Thank you.]

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 19:03:43 +0000

I read selections from President Eyring’s press conference in the Deseret News yesterday morning and instantly thought that this insight into the workings of the Twelve, or other church bodies, was very significant. It is a model of leadership that we should flesh out a little more. Rather than mindless puppets following the lead of the presiding authority, and placing all the responsibility of revelation on that single person, we see an example of group work and input in creating the best answer to the problem. Rather than a situation where a counselor might think to himself months after a decision was made, “I always knew this wouldn’t work,” this is a model where honest input and disagreement was encouraged, and where individuals in the group were given the time to either bring themselves around to the point of the majority, or voice a strong dissenting opinion.

By: Tatiana

Tatiana — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 18:43:35 +0000

This was awesome. I love President Eyring. He is so spontaneous and enthusiastic and genuinely good. I feel really privileged to have him as a leader.

By: Sonny

Sonny — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 18:09:56 +0000

I loved this part of the press conference. President Eyring’s answer was totally unexpected and spontaneous.

It brought to my mind something I had read about the Twelve and the FP taking up some issues concerning evolution, back in the time of James Talmadge and Joseph F. Smith. Deep differences were expressed and nothing even resembling a consensus emerged on the issue.

Note: I’m not trying to start an evolution threadjack!

By: kevinf

kevinf — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:57:45 +0000

That part of the press conference was one of the high points for me of the entire General Conference. I serve on the HC of a Stake President who works exactly like that. I’ve seen this in action, and it is really amazing when it happens.

On the other hand, I’ve also sat in ward council/PEC meetings that were not the same, so I have to say that this is the standard to shoot for, or as Elder Oaks said, “best”, practice to try and achieve. Not the rule yet, but good to hear Elder (excuse me, President!) Eyring verbalize it.

Just a side note, I am glad to see Pres,. Eyring in the Presidency. He is always one of my favorite speakers, and now we will get to hear him more often.