The high priests group leader coordinates the ward council’s efforts to encourage temple and family history work in the ward. He is accountable to the bishop for the results of these efforts. He also directs the work of family history consultants. He receives assistance and training from the high councilor assigned to temple and family history work.
In wards or branches where there is no high priests group leader, the elders quorum president or another assigned Melchizedek Priesthood holder in the ward council fills this role.
Coordinates the Ward Council’s Efforts
The high priests group leader coordinates the ward council’s efforts as he:
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Works with the ward council to develop a plan to encourage individuals and ward auxiliaries to participate more fully in temple and family history work. Learn more about coordinating the work in the ward council.
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Consults with each member of the ward council to determine specific ways that temple and family history work can be used to help the members of their organizations.
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Encourages members of the ward council to discuss temple and family history matters in their meetings.
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Organizes ward temple visits.
Directs the Work of Consultants
The high priests group leader directs the work of family history consultants as he:
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Recommends members to be called and set apart as family history consultants, as requested by the bishopric. Learn more about who to recommend as consultants.
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Works with the bishopric to ensure that enough consultants are called to meet the needs of the ward.
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Provides assignments to consultants, including assignments to work with certain ward members. Learn more about directing the work of consultants.
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Ensures that consultants are properly prepared to perform their callings and makes them aware of the training resources at ChurchofJesusChrist.org/familyhistorycallings.
“If I were a bishop again, my approach would be to charge the high priests group leader with the responsibility to lead out in the ward council on this subject. I would ensure that we had one or more . . . family history consultants who were ‘people persons’ who could work under his direction. . . . I imagine that in the course of a year we could help at least ten families. In five years, we could have a corps of fifty families active at some level in family history and its attendant temple work. That to me would be a successful, well-run program.”
Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Religious Educator, vol. 6, no. 2 (2005), 10–11
Additional Resources
- To Turn the Hearts Guide Take some time to study and ponder the information on pages 12-21, "Ward Leadership." Consider how you might apply the principles discussed in your service as a high priests group leader.
- To Turn the Hearts Video This video shows the real-life stories of four families from the Springfield Illinois Stake. It documents how they became involved in temple and family history work and the blessings they received from their participation.
