Michael Newton

Michael lives in Kaysville, Utah, with his wife SaraJean. He grew up in the Bountiful/Centerville area of Davis County, Utah, attended Brigham Young University, and studied law in Illinois. They lived in New York City where he practiced law before returning to Utah. He now does legal counsel and strategy for a company in the Salt Lake valley. He has served as a counselor in four bishoprics and in Young Men and elders quorum presidencies. He served in the bishopric in his former ward, which recently split.

Highlights

6:50 About Michael's current ward in Kaysville and how the ward split when it was formed

Principles

10:20 1. Candid counsel: saying what needs to be said; speaking up without worrying about what others think

12:20 The leader can help by being willing to listen to everyone's perspectives and to make decisions afterward

14:20 Having the conversation with the leader so they know that you will be candid and push back a little, testing and asking questions

18:40 2. The Savior's title of Counselor: reminder to think of what the Savior did, teaching and ministering without forcing

20:00 Return and report: go and put in your best effort when asked to do something

21:20 3. Lift the burden: support the bishop as he administers so that he can delegate to you

24:55 Frame the conversation as, "I've noticed this... I was thinking we could do this. What do you think about it?"

26:45 Counselors can help lift the heavy burdens that the Bishop alone must carry by listening and ministering to him

31:00 Being a counselor facilitates ministering and teaching as Christ did

Michael Hjorth

Michael lives in Boise, Idaho, but is in the process of moving to Sacramento, California. He has been a counselor in two bishoprics.

Highlights

33:45 His first calling to serve in a bishopric was a surprise and a big learning curve

34:50 Start by praying for your own testimony of the validity of the calling of that new bishop

35:42 Come to training with the stake president with an open mind

36:50 Using technology can make everything better, tracking notes and communicating

Principles:

38:25 1. Leveraging humility

39:30 2. Obedience

40:50 3. Communication: you have to be able to follow-through and go back to handle the tasks you are given

* 43:45 He would leave his binder open to remind himself that he still had tasks to do, then added them into his daily calendar throughout the week

* 45:20 You are the voice to the ward for the bishop. He cannot do it all and needs you to fulfill your tasks and carry his messages to others; prepare people for upcoming meetings so they can be more productive

48:00 4. Duty: Have your own sense of duty and pass it on to others

50:00 Training new leaders in organizations

52:50 Being willing to do the Lord's will in how you approach the work

55:00 Be approachable and willing to befriend more people in the ward

58:50 He learned to be more prayerful and to want the Spirit more in his life