Endless Meetings

Lately I have heard several complaints about the so called 'endless meetings' that members are required to attend.  One sister complained that her husband (who is an EQ President) is overworked and not at home enough.  I disagree. 

As members we have covenanted to give of our time and talents and even our lives if necessary to establish the Lords Kingdom upon the Earth.  Let's compare that covenant with the actual hours spent doing church service.

As an Elders Quorum President on Sundays he will attend PEC for an hour and will then be present like the rest of his family for the 3 hour block. 

He will most likely stay after church to conduct personal priesthood interviews and home teaching interviews.  He will have his own Presidency meeting (which I encourage to be weekly).  He will often spend his evening’s home teaching or attending training and other priesthood meetings.  With the new policy in place he will get to clean the chapel regularly with his family.  

 

While I understand that he will often be away from his family his wife needs to understand that she and her children will be blessed as they sustain him in his office.  There should never ever be any hint of a complaint from her.

Wives have the primary responsibility to nurture the children in the home and need to be supportive in every way. 

At the last stake priesthood meeting I counseled the brethren that wives that complain need to be reproved betimes with sharpness as moved upon by the Holy Ghost (as per the Doctrine & Covenants), lest the children should see the church in a negative light and a spirit of contention should enter the home. 

One way to do this is during family or couple prayers.  This is one of the most effective means the Lord has given us as priesthood holders to correct and uplift our wives.  During prayers they remain silent and cannot talk or interrupt.  This is a unique opportunity.  A prayer may include many corrective steps that wives need to take, whether it be with regards to her living the Word of Wisdom more faithfully (to help her perhaps lose a little weight so she can feel better about herself) or to ask her to stop repeating the same things over and over again (I have learned to not use the word nagging during such prayers). 

I told the brethren that this was the most correct way to reprove your wives and that a man would get closer to her through this means than by any other.