Conducting a meeting — Missionary Training Center presentation
Conducting a meeting, maintaining dignity and reverence, the Unwritten Order of Things
- When conducting, stand in front of the group or congregation.
- Always use an agenda, be prepared, ‘…my house is a house of order…”
- Arrange for hymns, pianist, conductor, and prayers before the meeting begins.
- If a visiting presiding authority is present, always ask him if he would want to make any changes to the services or announcements. Do this before the meeting begins.
- Avoid using the word ‘program’ when referring to the services. Use the words ‘services’ or ‘sacrament services’.
- Do not ask for ‘volunteers’. The Lord’s church is a church of callings and assignments.
- We sing hymns, not songs.
- We designate hymns by hymn numbers, not page numbers.
- Recognize the presiding authority and other authorities, using the proper title of their office.
- Avoid casual, informal, or trivial words or comments (‘program’, ‘volunteer’, ‘guys’, etc.). Avoid using the phrases “… turn the time over to…” and “…we would like to excuse…”.
- The presiding authority and the conducting authority always sit next to each other on the stand or rostrum.
- If possible, the first counselor sits to the right of the president or bishop, and the second counselor sits to the left.
- If the presiding authority speaks, he is to be the last speaker. Nothing should be said over the pulpit after the authority concludes his remarks. The closing hymn and prayer should be announced before the presiding authority begins his concluding remarks.
Additional items from “The Unwritten Order of Things”, by Elder Boyd K. Packer
- We do not aspire to callings in the church.
- We do not ask to be released from callings.
- We do not ask to remain in a calling beyond the usual length of service.
- When requesting a priesthood blessing, we should approach a parent or family member first, a ministering brother second, and a member of the bishopric third.
- In the Lord’s church, revelation is received vertically, not horizontally.
- A good leader is first a good follower.
- ‘Sunday best’ should be exactly that.
- Use formal names in formal places.
- Priesthood assignments require white shirts and ties for the brethren.
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