Priorities for Wards
Invitation
As a stake presidency, we invite wards to create four simple plans to guide them as they engage in God’s work of salvation and exaltation.
These four plans are outlined below and can be adapted for each ward.
Gospel Study Plan
Support families through teacher council meetings and ministering interviews
Why: Deepen our conversion and become more like Jesus Christ.
What details should your plan include?
Consistent with GH 13.4, 13.5, and 21.3, include feasible steps to:
Support ward members in creating and implementing their gospel study plans
Hold quarterly ministering interviews and teacher council meetings, including for parents
What goals should your plan include?
Quarterly ministering interviews
Quarterly teacher council meetings
Self-Reliance Plan
Support families in their temporal preparedness and being ready for emergencies
Why: Stand ready to care for ourselves and others in need
What details should your plan include?
Consistent with GH 22.7, include feasible steps to:
Support ward members in creating and implementing their self-reliance plans
Respond to emergencies, while at home or at church
What goals should your plan include?
Goals as you see fit
Mission Plan
Organize efforts to find and fellowship scattered Israel
Why: Gather Israel on this side of the veil
What details should your plan include?
Consistent with GH 23.6.6, include feasible steps to:
Support individuals and families in creating and implementing their mission plans
Measure progress towards ward goals
Fellowship those who are taught and those who come to church
Effectively utilize weekly coordination meetings
Prepare edifying Easter and Christmas Sundays
What goals should your plan include?
Missionary referrals (referrals can live anywhere in the world)
Fellowshipping those being taught by the missionaries
Temple & Family History Plan
Organize temple and family history efforts in the ward
Why: Gather Israel on the other side of the veil
What details should your plan include?
Consistent with GH 25.2.6, include feasible steps to:
Support ward members in creating and implementing their temple and family history plans
Help every eligible new convert go to the temple with family names within one month of baptism
Assist youth (especially new youth) in finding deceased relatives and performing savings ordinances for them
Effectively utilize regular coordination meetings
What goals should your plan include?
Help youth, new converts, and ward members engage in temple and family history work
Goals as you see fit, recognizing that we do not establish quotas or other reporting systems (GH 25.1.1)
Why are stake leaders asking us to create these plans?
We have sought the Lord's guidance regarding what our priorities should be as a stake. As we have done so, we have sought to align our priorities with what the Lord has already provided through our inspired leaders, including the guidance found below:
God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation (General Handbook (GH), Section 1.2)
The 2025 youth theme: Look Unto Christ (D&C 6:36)
The Utah Area Plan
The Stake Theme: Invite all to come unto Christ and partake of His goodness
Our hope is that by focusing on the actionable steps involved in creating plans and working to fulfill them, we can align our efforts with the priorities our general and area leaders have already established.