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A very faithful sister in your ward named Mary asks to speak with you after church. She enters your office and starts to tell you her story. She tells you that in 1987 she was a newly married 22 year old who wanted to be a nurse. She had always wanted to be a nurse [...]
For this poll we are going to try something a little different. You are going to be the Stake President! I’ve never been a Stake President, but the following happened to a ward I know, and I’m sure it happens more then we’d like it to. Three years ago you called a new bishop for [...]
There is a man in your ward who moved in about a year ago. He is separated from his wife and is working through a divorce. He tells you that they have been “emotionally” divorced for many years, and that his grown children have wondered why he took so long to finalize the divorce. For [...]
A man in your ward has come to you for his temple recommend renewal. Usually your counselors do renewal interviews, but this brother asked you personally, and you had a few minutes. He answers all the questions correctly, but in talking afterwards, he tells you that he does not believe the Book of Mormon to [...]
You are sitting in your office after church one Sunday, and a young woman (16 yrs old) from another ward that meets in your building asks to speak to you. She is a long time friend of your daughter, and has been in your home many times over the years. She sits down, and proceeds [...]
I always wondered how a General Authority could just show up at a Stake Conference and select a new Stake President (SP) in just 24 hours, most of the time not knowing anybody in the stake prior to his arrival. With a Stake President selecting a new Bishop, he at least knows the people in the ward, [...]
During a fast and testimony meeting, a new sister gets up to bear her testimony. She starts off pretty good, but then delves into her past, and explains that her father sexually molested her, and that the church didn’t do anything about it and he still holds his recommend. You have heard this story before [...]
Your local community has a ballot initiative to uphold the traditional definition of marriage, and you’ve been asked as bishop to support the measure. During this same time frame, you notice a reliable elderly couple has suddenly stopped coming to church. They had previously been very active, but are now conspicuously absent from the pews during sacrament meeting. You drop [...]
Something a little different from Bishop Bill this week: The other day I was thinking about all the “inactive” Mormons I’ve talked to over the past 30 years. In that time, I’ve been an Elders Quorum President twice, a bishop’s counselor twice, and a bishop. By inactive, I mean people that haven’t been to church [...]
A brother in your ward has been soliciting investments from members of the ward and stake for a business venture that involves food trucks at local county fairs. Many church members, including a member of the Stake Presidency, have invested amounts of $5000 to $10,000 in this business venture. The man has not paid anybody back [...]
You have a small ward, and it is tough getting enough people to fill all the required callings. During interviews with both your Relief Society President and your Primary President, they each (on the same night) give you the name of a sister they want to call in their organization. They both tell you that they [...]
The single hardest thing I had to do as bishop, repeatedly, was deciding who would get fast offering help, and who would not. So, I’ll let you help me on this one. You’re the bishop! There is a family in your ward that runs hot and cold with church attendance. They come for 6 months, [...]
The Slippery Slope: Ask the Bishop! Poll #9 A sister asks to visit with you. She is very distraught. Once in your office, she tells you that last week she drank a can of a new type of fruit juice, and after she drank it, she read the ingredients and saw that it had “Green [...]
Name Removal Request: You’re the Bishop! Poll #8 In PEC you learn that there is an inactive man in the ward that does not want any contact with the church, and wants his name removed from the membership records. In accordance with the Church handbook of Instructions, you must get it in writing from him before [...]
Bishop Bill, back after a long needed vacation! Just to reintroduce this section, its called “You’re the Bishop”. My name is Bishop Bill. I was Bishop for 6 years in a medium sized ward in the South West. Once every few weeks I’ll post a situation that I had while I was bishop, and let [...]
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