Aaronic Priesthood Quorums
What Should I Focus On?

“What Should I Focus On?” My Calling as a Counselor in a Teachers Quorum Presidency (2020).

“What Should I Focus On?” My Calling as a Counselor in a Teachers Quorum Presidency.

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Savior carrying a lamb

My Calling as a Counselor in a Teachers Quorum Presidency

What Should I Focus On?

“Leaders encourage members to engage in God’s work by becoming ‘true followers of … Jesus Christ’ (Moroni 7:48)” (General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4.1). Your presidency’s focus is to help each young man in your quorum increase his faith in Jesus Christ and progress along the covenant path toward receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood and making temple covenants.

Lead in the Savior’s Way

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.

Know and Minister to Each Young Man in Your Quorum

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 as a presidency and with the first 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.

Participate in Presidency Meetings

Participate in regular presidency meetings with the other members of the quorum presidency and the quorum secretary, the first counselor in the bishopric, and your Aaronic Priesthood quorum adviser. Some suggested agenda items for presidency meetings are listed below (see Sample Presidency Meeting Agenda):

Help Plan and Conduct Sunday Quorum Meetings

Sunday quorum meetings are sacred opportunities for young men to increase in knowledge and testimony of our Savior. There are two parts to a Sunday quorum meeting. In the first part of the meeting, quorum members and leaders recite the Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme, after which a member of the quorum presidency will lead a 10- to 20-minute council. In the second part of the meeting, you and the members of your quorum learn doctrine from the scriptures and Come, Follow Me―For Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women Classes,, discuss how the doctrine applies to your lives, and counsel together about how you can act on what you are learning. You, members of your quorum, bishopric members, and other adult quorum leaders may teach the lesson.

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.

Help Plan Quorum Service and Activities

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 presidency has the primary responsibility to plan and implement service and activities for your quorum. The first counselor in the bishopric and your quorum adviser will guide and support you as you plan and carry out service and activities. Involve other quorum members in planning so all can contribute and gain experience.

As you 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).

Support Quorum Members in Their Ministering Assignments

Young men in your quorum have a duty to participate in ministering as companions to Melchizedek Priesthood holders. Encourage and support the young men in your quorum in their ministering assignments. Find opportunities through lessons and activities to help quorum members prepare for and effectively participate in this important work.

For more information about Aaronic Priesthood holders and ministering, see the General Handbook, 21.2.2.

Participate in Ward Youth Council Meetings as Invited

“The Church of Jesus Christ is governed by councils at every level” (General Handbook, 4.3). The teachers quorum president may invite you to attend a ward youth council meeting when he is absent. The council meets monthly to discuss and plan how to “strengthen the youth in the ward [and] help them participate in the work of salvation and exaltation” (General Handbook, 29.2.6).

Encourage Quorum Members to Participate in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation

The members of your quorum will be blessed as they participate in the work of salvation and exaltation, including temple, family history, and missionary work. Counsel with your presidency about ways you can encourage the young men in your ward to participate in the work of salvation and exaltation. Also consider how participating in the work of salvation and exaltation can help your presidency minister to individual young men in your ward.

See 2020 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).