Nelsonian reform revisited
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the central decisions of the Church are made, with the guidance and inspiration of Jesus Christ, by the First Presidency.
The President of the Church cannot in most cases act unilaterally. Joseph Smith who set the Church up initially by revelation that directed him, later established the councils that would run the Church, counsels that make direction not just from one man.
Most decesions on the course of the Church are made by the First Presidency and Quorum of the 12 together. While many decisions on such subjects as granting permission to be sealed in the temple again to men who have been divorced are done by the First Presidency, heavily rellying on the fact finding done by the bishops and stake presidents of the people involved, most policy decisions on the course of the Church are done by the First Presidency and Quorum of the 12 together.
Some would wisely argue that this staement overemphasizes policy in the course of the Church, and at the same time underestimates the impacts of decisions by Area Presidencies, stake presidencies, mission presidencies, in their own complex multi-faced existance, temple presidencies and bishoprics and branch presidencies. In addition just as the first presidency does not unilaterally run the church, at other levels the church is not run unilaterally either.
I am not sure if Area Presidencies ever hold council meetings with the Area Seventy in the Areas they preside over. However I can speak to several important councils at other levels.
At the general Church level the role of people besides the President of the Church is sometimes overlooked but is very important.
So how does this relate to the Nelsonian reforms. The basic way it relates is because Russell m. Nelson has had key roles in the development of the Church since at least 1984, but arguably going back further.
Preaident Nelson was the first general Sunday School president of the Church. Prior to him the title was General Sunday School Superintendent. He was in that position through the reforms that lead to the 3 hour Sunday Church block.
This means that most of the time President Nelson was over Sunday School it covered all gospel instruction to children of all ages. Prior to 1980 primary was a week day program, and all Sunday instruction was under the auspices of Sunday School. For those like me born in 1980 or later the way the Church operated before 1980 is very hard to understand.
So why are Nelsonian reforms being revisited.
The key is that President Nelson was the Chair of the Missionary Executive Committee of the Church at the time of the missionary age change. I am pretty sure he also held this position through the introductions of coordinating sisters and added rules for the missionary president's companion.
The President of the Church cannot in most cases act unilaterally. Joseph Smith who set the Church up initially by revelation that directed him, later established the councils that would run the Church, counsels that make direction not just from one man.
Most decesions on the course of the Church are made by the First Presidency and Quorum of the 12 together. While many decisions on such subjects as granting permission to be sealed in the temple again to men who have been divorced are done by the First Presidency, heavily rellying on the fact finding done by the bishops and stake presidents of the people involved, most policy decisions on the course of the Church are done by the First Presidency and Quorum of the 12 together.
Some would wisely argue that this staement overemphasizes policy in the course of the Church, and at the same time underestimates the impacts of decisions by Area Presidencies, stake presidencies, mission presidencies, in their own complex multi-faced existance, temple presidencies and bishoprics and branch presidencies. In addition just as the first presidency does not unilaterally run the church, at other levels the church is not run unilaterally either.
I am not sure if Area Presidencies ever hold council meetings with the Area Seventy in the Areas they preside over. However I can speak to several important councils at other levels.
At the general Church level the role of people besides the President of the Church is sometimes overlooked but is very important.
So how does this relate to the Nelsonian reforms. The basic way it relates is because Russell m. Nelson has had key roles in the development of the Church since at least 1984, but arguably going back further.
Preaident Nelson was the first general Sunday School president of the Church. Prior to him the title was General Sunday School Superintendent. He was in that position through the reforms that lead to the 3 hour Sunday Church block.
This means that most of the time President Nelson was over Sunday School it covered all gospel instruction to children of all ages. Prior to 1980 primary was a week day program, and all Sunday instruction was under the auspices of Sunday School. For those like me born in 1980 or later the way the Church operated before 1980 is very hard to understand.
So why are Nelsonian reforms being revisited.
The key is that President Nelson was the Chair of the Missionary Executive Committee of the Church at the time of the missionary age change. I am pretty sure he also held this position through the introductions of coordinating sisters and added rules for the missionary president's companion.
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