The 14th Article of Faith

If you haven’t heard, the 14th Article of Faith is, “We believe in meetings. We believe in all meetings. We have endured many meetings and hope to be able to endure all meetings. If there are any meetings which are of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things….”

The Church has done its best over the years to rid itself of meetings. The three-hour block helped a lot. Bishops have been encouraged to keep meetings to a minimum with none on Sunday. Let’s see, there’s bishopric meetings, welfare, ward council, BYC, PEC, PPIs, tithing settlement, stake bishops council, stake priesthood leadership. Some things can be delegated, some cannot. In other words, a bishop attends LOTS of meetings. That doesn’t count the many hours conducting interviews and visiting with members of the ward who MUST see the bishop.

The bishop’s time is a very valuable commodity. That’s why he has an executive secretary who makes sure members of the ward have access to him without infringing on his other responsibilities, i.e., family, work and vacations.

As the bishop’s wife, you have the right to his time and attention. Yes, more so than other members of the ward. Remember, he may be the “Father of the Ward”, but the children in your home are his first and greatest responsibility.

The Church has imposed a Monday night rule. Nothing is to be scheduled on Monday night except Family Home Evening. You may have to move FHE to another location in order to avoid interruptions, but DO IT!! You may have to ask your husband to step out on the porch while you tell someone on the phone that “He’s NOT IN”…Do whatever it takes to protect your family’s time together. Children spell love “T-I-M-E”. They will resent the fact that dad has to miss their games for too much church stuff. Remember, families are forever and we only get one chance. A happy child is one who knows he is #1 on his dad’s priority list. Yes, that includes above his church callings!!