Welcoming Young Women into the Bishop's Office | An Interview with Jennie and Dave Blaser

Jennie Blaser has lived all over the world: Hawaii, Utah, California, Arizona, Argentina, Slovenia, and Hong Kong. She served an 18-month mission in one branch in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and graduated from BYU in International Finance with a minor in Spanish, returning to earn an MBA. Jennie has taught early morning Seminary, Marriage and Family Relations, Relief Society, and Sunday School. She has also served as a second counselor in several Young Women and Relief Society presidencies. Jennie is currently the second counselor in her stake Young Women presidency.
Dave Blaser grew up in an Air Force family, served a mission in Mendoza, Argentina, graduated from BYU in Construction Management, and has worked in commercial construction management for 24 years. He is currently the executive vice president of operations for Layton Construction in Arizona. Dave has served as an elders quorum president, Young Men president, in a bishopric and as a stake executive secretary. He currently serves as the bishop of his ward.
Links: leadingsaints....
Highlights
2:00 Kurt introduces Jennie and Dave and their callings.
3:20 Jennie shares how and why she got started researching the Church handbook. She has been on a journey of learning and has written a few articles about the youth programs.
6:30 Dave was a previous priesthood quorum advisor before he became bishop. He shares what he learned from the handbook and tried to apply it in his calling.
8:15 Always start with the handbook when beginning a calling.
9:20 Helping the young women have more interactions and feel comfortable with the bishop. The bishopric needs to spend regular time with the young women.
10:40 The bishopric is not the Young Men presidency. They have always been the presidency over the Aaronic priesthood and nothing has changed.
12:40 There are four different people that are critical to buy into the new system for the youth to make it a success. The first is the bishopric. They need to balance focus between Young Men and the Young Women programs.
16:10 The responsibilities of the bishop have changed in the past five years with the new focus on the youth. To help him focus on the youth, the Relief Society president and elders quorum president can step in and help with people that need help in their organizations.
18:30 Dave’s ward has begun support groups in the Relief Society for people struggling. It helps take some of the load off of the bishopric and allows them to do more with the youth.
19:40 Empowering the elders quorum president and Relief Society president and delegating to them. Dave shares how he does this.
20:40 When the new handbook now states that the bishop’s role is to be over both Young Men and Young Women. With the release of the Young Men presidencies it allows the young men to step up and take on more leadership and responsibility. There needs to be training done to help get this done.
26:30 Helping the young women feel more welcome, more needed, and like they have a place in the Church.
28:30 There are numerous trainings in the handbook and those trainings should happen twice a year.
31:40 The importance of the Aaronic priesthood advisor and specialist. Their role is critical and they should be present at Sunday meetings and activities to make it possible for the bishopric to also be with the young women.
32:15 Dave’s ward has a meeting inviting all the Young Men leaders: advisors, specialists, and bishopric. In this meeting they council together and make sure they are all on the same page.
34:00 What the handbook says about small wards and combining classes to give the bishopric visit the Young Women classes too
34:40 Even though the Church discontinued the Young Men presidency doesn’t mean that there are fewer adult men serving with the Aaronic priesthood. They are now advisors or specialists instead of presidency members.
35:50 Having the Young Women meet for class in the bishop’s office. It happens once a month. He doesn’t sit behind the desk but sits as part of the class.
37:10 The importance of doing the class in the bishop’s office and not just in the Young Women room. Helping the young women feel equal to the young men.
38:00 Responses that the young women gave about switching it up and having class with the bishop in his office. They got a very positive response from all the girls.
39:00 Why are we trying to do all of this with the youth? If the bishop spends all his time with the young men what message does that send to the young women? Let’s make the young women feel valued, loved, and needed.
42:00 Study the handbook. Each ward has different needs. Discuss and apply the handbook in a way that will be best for those in your ward.
42:30 Dave shares how his experience of serving has brought him to Christ. Jennie also shares how when she focuses on individuals she has been brought to Christ.

[@stevenm247]

As a bishop I consider this revolutionary in how I will work with the youth in my ward. I can’t thank you enough.

[@donelleq]

Such wonderful thoughts and information! Thanks for doing "the homework" and being willing to share. I know that with some minor adjustments the YW can feel loved and valued just as much as the YM. Thank you both for all that you do.

[@BlakeLeSueur-cf5op]

I am currently serving as a Bishop, and this was an amazing insight for me to introduce this to our youth program. I love the YM and YW. I have had the feeling I need to do more with them.

[@lennyherman8923]

Kurt, This podcast has been an inspiration and significant source of knowledge for me. As of today I have been serving as the Bishop of my home ward. This podcast is something I have been trying to get to in my ward and I believe sharing it with my ward members will help me get them to understand how things should be ran. Thank you for all you do and thank you Jennie and Dave.

[@aaronbrown1291]

I am serving as Bishop of our ward, and my only concern is this: the Bishop is still the President of the Priests Quorum. That wasn't acknowledged at all.