Brother Bradley R. Wilcox: Young Men Advisers Play a Special Role in the Lives of Those They Serve

This story appears here courtesy of TheChurchNews.com. It is not for use by other media.

Download Photo

By Bradley R. Wilcox, second counselor, Young Men General Presidency, Church News

 
When M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was a teenager, he “enjoyed the mentoring friendship of a great Aaronic Priesthood adviser: G. Homer Durham.”

In his biography, Anxiously Engaged, President Ballard recalls, “Homer came into my life at a very critical and important time.” It’s not that President Ballard was experiencing major difficulties. He was just dealing with the ups and downs all teenagers go through. “It was a time in my life that I needed a special friend,” he said.

All young people need to find a special friend in their class and quorum advisers. Advisers play an essential role, as they focus on relationships, shepherd the shepherds and take responsibility.

Focus on Relationships

Not only can advisers learn names and show interest in the youth, but they can help young people build relationships with the bishop and each other. Advisers must notice when a young person is being left out by peers and look for ways to include everyone in lessons and activities. The ultimate goal is to connect young people to God and Christ, but it is easier to reach that goal as young people connect with leaders and friends along the way.

Shepherd the Shepherds

The adviser’s job is leadership development: Assist quorum and class presidencies as they lead in helping their quorums live the gospel, care for those in need, invite others to receive the gospel and unite families for eternity. Support young presidencies as they hold regular — even weekly — presidency meetings, which should not be long but must be consistent. Give youth the skills they need to succeed by using the resources for presidencies, including leadership lessons that cover topics such as conducting meetings, counseling together, planning and ministering.

Take Responsibility

One bishop was frustrated when a young man approached him minutes before sacrament meeting and reported there was no bread for the sacrament. The bishop sent a counselor to remedy the immediate problem but later pulled quorum presidencies and advisers together to address a bigger problem: people not taking responsibility.

The bishop said, “It’s easy to assume others will pick up the slack when there are no specific assignments made.” He listed tasks that needed to be done on the board and put sacrament bread right at the top. He then divided the tasks among the quorum presidents and advisers. Before the meeting was over, everyone knew who was responsible for organizing the next overnight campout, providing quorum instruction, attending presidency meetings and bringing the bread. After that, things ran more smoothly.

An Adviser’s Influence

Where would the Church be today without President Ballard? Where would President Ballard be without G. Homer Durham? Not only was Brother Durham’s influence felt in the life of young President Ballard but also in the lives of other young men when President Ballard was later called to serve as an adviser himself.

“There were 32 young men in the quorum, and many of them were not attending worship services or Church activities,” President Ballard said in his biography.

President Ballard was determined to have a full quorum, and he tackled the problem head-on. He built relationships, taught leadership and took responsibility. His calling took time and his best efforts, but it was not long before many of the young men in the ward were active and preparing for missions.

Copyright 2021 Deseret News Publishing Company