Big News! › Forums › AUXILLIARY › Primary › What if we disregard Handbook 2 in running our Primary?
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Our Primary still goes by discarded handbooks. We still have opening and closing exercise so class time and sharing time are compromised. Sharing time format is askew; there’s no opening prayer, no scripture, no articles of faith nor talks, that spiritual part is non-existent. As a member of the primary presidency, I’d read the current handbook instructions on sharing time to the president and the other counselor but they insisted that they’re doing everything right . The more I talk to them about it the more I feel that I’m talking to a stone wall. Needless to say, reverence is a rarity in primary; one primary teacher had jestingly said that our ‘Primary is like a mini juvenile hall .” My question is, what else can I do, give up, keep the peace and adhere to outdated rules or badger them to change?
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Be patient, you are not alone. Follow your leaders but look for kind opportunities to read from the new manual.
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I would talk to your Bishop or the counselor in the Bishopric that is over Primary. Tell them your concerns. They could then intervene without ever mentioning your part in coming to them. They could call the Primary Presidency to a meeting to go over how things are going and to go over the Handbook and how those changes can be made. I am sure the Bishopric will want to have the Primary following the handbook. The sisters in your primary presidency need to remember one thing, this is NOT their primary, it is the Lord’s. Hope this helps. Unfortunately, sometimes if you’ve tried going straight to the source and that doesn’t work, you need to go above them to get things done right.
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It can be hard. You have to make sure your heart is in the right place first – in the, “I feel like this is right” not the “I think I am right” place. Do that with prayer and patience both with the other ladies you work with as well as the roudy issues in primary. Then, do what you are led to do as answer to those prayers. I can think of lots of possible resolutions. 1. Go with the flow and try your best to bring spirituality in every chance you get – perhaps the others will feel it and pay attention. 2. Speak privately with the President – so she does not feel put on the spot in front of the other members of the presidency – and tell her your concerns and offer specific ways to help bring things in-line with current handbook guidance. 3. Talk to either the bishopric member over primary or the stake primary leader that you work with the most and seek out their cousel and assistance. In any case, keep the prayers going for the best possible resolution of things.
Good luck!
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The handbook doesn’t say to not have talks, scripture etc. It is part of sharing time. The opening exercises was done away with but we still do all those things as part of Sharingtime.
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I was in a very similar situation years ago – in my early 20s. Since then I have been in lots of primary presidencies, including at the stake level. What I wish I had known and done then was to place a call to my stake primary presidency. they can then discreetly cover the new Handbook the next time they visit. They can not help if they are not aware, but they will be glad to help.
I know it’s a hard place for you to be. Know that the Lord is pleased that you want to do right by His children. -
I was in a very similar situation years ago – in my early 20s. Since then I have been in lots of primary presidencies, including at the stake level. What I wish I had known and done then was to place a call to my stake primary presidency. they can then discreetly cover the new Handbook the next time they visit. They can not help if they are not aware, but they will be glad to help.
I know it’s a hard place for you to be. Know that the Lord is pleased that you want to do right by His children. -
I tend to agree with the poster above who said contact your stake Primary president. Training is her responsibility. You can also see my response to what I assume is an earlier post by this same person:
http://mormonshare.com/forum/news-primary-classsharing-time-changes#comment-3069
Pass this up the food chain, and let it go. As long as you’re not seeing rampant false doctrine, this is really an annoyance more than anything. Don’t get me wrong: I would be bugged, too, but I think that on the apostasy scale, this is pretty low :)
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Have you had a visit from your stake leaders since the new handbook was issued? They are a great resource to you and can clear up any misunderstandings or misinterpretations of policies.
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Stake Primary Presidency…they are there to train!
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