June 28, 2025

Part 1: The Unwritten Order of Things—A Review

42 minutes

Kurt Francom, Executive Director of Leading Saints, shares his thoughts on the unwritten order of things—a term popularized by Elder Boyd K. Packer in a BYU devotional in October 1996. This phrase has influenced leadership culture in the Church, often being used as a trump card to justify certain practices or norms that are not explicitly documented in church handbooks.

Listen to a reading of the original devotional.

Links

Is Aspiring Wrong?

Church Doctrine, Policy, & Leadership | An Interview with Anthony Sweat

Y Religion: Defining Church Doctrine, with Michael Goodman

The Role of Doubt and Faith | An Interview With Prof. Michael Goodman

Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community

Highlights

Kurt explores the context of Elder Packer’s talk, highlighting the challenges of leadership in the 1990s when handbooks were not publicly accessible. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the principles behind leadership practices rather than blindly adhering to unwritten rules that may not serve the best interests of the community.

He outlines the ten unwritten orders of things mentioned by Elder Packer, assessing whether each principle is supported by the church handbook. While some of these principles align with current guidelines, others are not formally recognized, raising questions about their validity and application in modern leadership.

Kurt encourages listeners to consider the implications of using the unwritten order of things as a means of manipulation or control, and advocates for a more open dialogue about leadership best practices, urging leaders to communicate their expectations clearly rather than relying on vague traditions. He invites listeners to engage in this conversation, share their experiences, and contribute to a culture of effective leadership where the church can more-effectively draw people to Christ.

00:02:47 – Context of Elder Packer’s Talk

00:04:11 – The Unwritten Order of Things Explained

00:05:24 – Weaponization of the Unwritten Order

00:06:05 – Importance of Context in Leadership

00:07:51 – Changes in Handbook Accessibility

00:09:05 – Elder Packer’s Teaching Style

00:10:08 – Challenges in Communicating Leadership Guidelines

00:11:22 – The Role of General Authorities in Leadership

00:12:03 – Misinterpretation of the Unwritten Order

00:13:40 – Elder Packer’s Ten Unwritten Orders

00:14:01 – Analysis of Each Unwritten Order

00:19:05 – The Role of Personal Counsel in Leadership

00:20:30 – Observing Church Customs and Traditions

00:21:23 – Setting a Tone of Dignity in Meetings

00:22:06 – The Balance of Leadership and Followership

00:23:20 – Binding Nature of the Unwritten Order

00:24:03 – Current Unwritten Orders in Leadership

00:25:07 – The Tyranny of General Authority

00:26:20 – The Importance of Local Leadership Autonomy

00:27:34 – Principles vs. Prescriptions in Leadership

00:29:41 – Establishing Best Practices in Leadership

00:30:57 – Conclusion: Moving Beyond the Unwritten Order

The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes.

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