{"chapter_no":"18","chapter_title":"We Have Been Cast Out of Our Synagogues!","book_id":"3","book_name":"Springville","subchapter_no":"0","page_no":"463","page_number":"1","verses_count":0,"total_pages":4,"page_content":"

 <\/p>

Chapter 18<\/p>

We Have Been Cast Out of Our Synagogues!<\/h1><\/p>

 <\/p>

Gospel-related man-hours increase immediately in the stake as Mark begins his work—Kathleen
tracks assignments vs. accomplishments—What was in our mind, and how did we feel inside during our
last<\/i> ministering<\/i> visit?<\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

 <\/p>

 <\/p>

The high councilors of the stake, the counselors and clerks of the stake presidency, and
all priesthood leaders in the wards became the main recruiting ground for companions to
accompany President Chandler on his daily visits. He also made many visits using companions
from the general Melchizedek and Aaronic Priesthood (those of sufficient age) populace of the
wards, to train them and to help demonstrate the role of the Spirit in their visits with members.
This proved to be very effective in getting everyone motivated and excited in their ministering
assignments.<\/p>

 <\/p>

President Chandler’s regular activities, performing visits to members in the stake and
closely supervising operations of the wards, provided one major benefit right away––a
substantial increase in gospel-related man-hours, and an increase in gospel activity generally.
This was a very helpful thing all by itself in building momentum towards Zion. But the direct
supervision he now provided proved to be of the greatest value, particularly to the bishoprics and
other ward leaders.<\/p>

 <\/p>

The execution of assignments vs. accomplishments was tracked daily. A stake clerk
played an important role in helping to make this happen, updating the information regularly into
the secure backend screens of the Church website. Thus, Mark had easy access to everything that
was going on. The Church website was like a mini Urim and Thummim for him—key
information was always there right before his eyes.<\/p>

 <\/p>

Empowered with this information, Brother Chandler touched base with all bishoprics,
quorum leaders, and auxiliary leaders throughout the week, reviewing a checklist of all their
tasks in order to monitor their status. No longer were missed assignments forgotten or swept
under the rug, to be reviewed or followed up weeks or months later. Information flow, and the
general communication between key persons in wards and stakes, was changing from being a
weekly thing to a daily thing. The large increase in gospel activity required more immediate
responses. It was no longer acceptable to wait until Sunday or a next meeting to discuss or
resolve issues. <\/p>

It didn’t take long to start seeing results. After only three or four months of this
expansion of the work done every day by President Chandler, it was clear to everyone that the
stake was on the move in the gospel. <\/p>

 <\/p>

There was, however, one unexpected problem. While it was true that things were now
starting to click like never before, President Chandler, able to see the needs better than anyone
else, sometimes went ahead and did tasks himself, not always waiting for them to get done by the
person or persons assigned. <\/p>

 <\/p>

Kathleen brought this problem to his attention on a number of occasions, saying to him
“that in all our enthusiasm to get things done, we need to be careful not to do Church
assignments for others that they should be doing for themselves.” <\/p>

 <\/p>

The Lord, however, might have looked upon this mistake warmly, seeing a man called to
a top leadership position in the stake who was humble enough and willing enough to perform
tasks regardless of how small they were. And this type of problem should not really come as any
surprise to us, because it was precisely this kind of attention to detail, closely watching over a
given process, and chipping in sometimes to take care of tasks himself—like walking a high
priority customer order over to the next workstation—that had made Mark so successful as the
leader at the Provo plant. The proper execution of even the smallest tasks, and how people felt
inside as they did them, was the key to achieving success in the stake. This was the way Brother
Chandler looked at the situation. <\/p>

 <\/p>

The operators in the plant had at first been uncomfortable having him there closely
supervising them, and even more so as he sometimes did things for them. But soon they realized
that all he was trying to do was teach them by example. After a while they came to trust him and
felt comfortable having him there all the time. <\/p>

 <\/p>

Referring again to the earlier chapter, we read:<\/p>

 <\/p>

At first the operators were apprehensive. Here was a top executive of the plant regularly
dedicating time to look at each of their individual processes on the production line. Obviously,
even for only ten or fifteen minutes at a time, there was a little pressure to avoid making mistakes
when he watched. But soon, as the operator<\/i>s became more familiar with Mark<\/i> and had a chance
to meet with him and understand his goals, they became more comfortable having him around.
They saw him more as a helper––someone they could ask for assistance at any time. He was an
extra resource, a friend, a counselor, a supervisor, an advocate, a trainer, a person who could
help fix things on their machine when a tech wasn’t available, and so on. He was there to help
solve any kind of problem at their workstation and to help them do their job<\/i>s<\/i> better.<\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

Kathleen and many around him, however, soon raised another important point. The last
thing he should want to do was become a one-man stake priesthood quorum. He needed to build
up the testimonies and spiritual strength of everyone, starting first with the active members and
then expanding out through them to strengthen the less active members, and strive to inspire
even the nonmembers within the stake boundaries. <\/p>

Using his own analogy of the manufacturing plant, Kathleen commented, “You want to
empower the operators and work center supervisors, not try to do their work for them. If it’s not
being done right or isn't done on time, be patient and try to help them work through it more on
their side.”<\/p>

 <\/p>

Kathleen’s advice to him was the same as that he had received from his counselors and
some of the bishops he had spoken to recently. It was excellent counsel, for there had already
been some pushback from members of the stake—particularly among the older Melchizedek
Priesthood holders and their wives. They had become a little unhappy with what Brother
Chandler was doing. They were somewhat embarrassed at the idea of having their priesthood
assignments done by the stake president, wondering if they might not be needed in the Church
anymore. <\/p>

 <\/p>

Concerns were expressed to bishoprics in the following manner, coming mainly from the
wives of the priesthood holders.<\/p>

 <\/p>

If President Chandler does the work for us, then what is left for us to do in the ward? <\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

I know my husband <\/i>has rarely<\/i> <\/i>done<\/i> his<\/i> priesthood<\/i> assignments<\/i> over the past few years<\/i>,
but can’t you give him another chance? He wants the opportunity to try again to see if he can be
more consistent. I’ll be sure to remind him so he never misses again. <\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

Sincere and humble complaints such as this brought a smile to President Chandler when
he heard them. Commenting to two of the high councilmen who had brought some of these
complaints to his attention, he said, “Excellent! I hope there are more reports like that. This is
exactly what we need!” <\/p>

 <\/p>

These soft complaints had a familiar ring to them, like what Alma encountered when the
poor had been cast out of their synagogues because of their exceeding poverty. They mourned
because they could no longer worship God like their brethren, and they knew not what to do. In
this case, good priesthood holders of the Church were feeling like they had been “cast out” from
the mainstream of the elders quorum because of their lack of faithfulness year after year in doing
their assignments. They suddenly realized how valuable it was to serve others and didn't want to
be left out. Their hearts were now prepared to listen to sermons about priesthood duty and their
responsibilities in the gospel.<\/p>

 <\/p>

In his next weekly email to all stake and ward leaders, a distribution list he called “Zion
Team,” President Chandler exhorted the membership with the following words:<\/p>

 <\/p>

Beloved leaders and members of the stake,<\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

In response to some of the comments, questions<\/i>,<\/i> and concerns I have been <\/i>hearing <\/i>
recently, I would like to ask all of you a few questions<\/i> of my own.<\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

Can we truly inspire and uplift the individuals and families we <\/i>are responsible for<\/i>?<\/i><\/p>

Can we bring the Spirit with us on our visits<\/i> to them<\/i> along with <\/i>the <\/i>chocolate chip
cookies? <\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

Think about your last<\/i> <\/i>visit<\/i> or phone conversation with them<\/i>.<\/i> What was in your mind<\/i> on
that day<\/i>? How did you feel inside? And not only that, <\/i>what<\/i> do you think<\/i> those good members<\/i> you
were visiting on that day were feeling inside? Hopefully<\/i>,<\/i> it was a spiritually rewarding
experience for both you and those you visited. If not, then you have some work to do to prepare
yourself for the next <\/i>time<\/i>.<\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

As the leader of the stake, it is my desire that all members enjoy the blessings of serving
in <\/i>the Church<\/i>. There<\/i> is plenty of work<\/i> for everyone to do. S<\/i>o if you are temporarily removed
from one calling or <\/i>another<\/i>, and are ready to serve, then you will be immediately <\/i>called again <\/i>to
the work. <\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

That’s one of my<\/i> new goals right now––<\/i>to reduce the <\/i>administrative <\/i>time it takes to get
members called <\/i>to and<\/i> released from positions. We need to stop spending so much time honoring
ourselves and patting ourselves on the back with so many fancy titles, formally<\/i> <\/i>defined duties<\/i>,<\/i>
and the like<\/i>. <\/i>If you want or need a formal <\/i>assignment<\/i> to get you motivated in the gospel, then
fine, we’ve got a bushel full of callings<\/i> and position titles<\/i> we can give out to you and others at<\/i>
any time. That’s the easy part; <\/i>a shor<\/i>tage of these things<\/i> is not our problem. <\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

We<\/i> just need to get after it.<\/i> <\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

As President Spencer W. Kimball once said, “Do it Now!” <\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

We need to get to work on that which we were <\/i>foreo<\/i>rdained to do from the foundation of
the world. That is your calling<\/i>,<\/i> and that is my calling. <\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

Higher levels of excellence in the <\/i>gospel of Jesus <\/i>Christ <\/i>await<\/i> us. Zion <\/i>a<\/i>wait<\/i>s<\/i> us<\/i>.<\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

To paraphrase D&C 97:14, “<\/i>we need to become perfected in the understanding of our
ministry, in theory, in principle, and in doctrine, in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God
on the earth, the keys of which kingdom have been conferred upon us.<\/i>”<\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

Sincerely, <\/i><\/p>

President Mark Chandler, <\/i><\/p>

Springville East Stake<\/i><\/p>"}