Discuss Doctrine and Covenants 107:27
And every decision made by either of these quorums must be by the aunanimous voice of the same; that is, every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions, in order to make their decisions of the same power or validity one with the other—
Comments? Anyone?
There was once a comment by my stake president that really stuck with me. He said he had heard from several GAs about the decision-making process among the quorum of the 12 and the first presidency. Apparently there is very often a lot of discussion among the apostles on diverse issues. Debate will go on for some time. But at the end of the debate, the prophet will make a decision, and, without exception, the vote will be unanimous and the apostles will line up with the prophet’s decision. The Spirit is a great guide toward making the people One. This has always been a great lesson to me on how people can be different and individual but at the same time be unified.
Wouldn’t it be nice if our government worked this well? Honest debate about an issue, time to resolve concerns, and a final decision that everyone can support. Of course given the weakness of most men, and politicians specifically, if this were the case nothing would ever get done.
I’ve experienced what Geoff talks about to a lesser degree in an EQ presidency. Everyone’s ideas were heard, discussed, and considered. Everyone would think about the best solution and when we’d get back together, or at the same meeting, the President would offer a solution. Oddly enough the presidency as a whole managed to get behind that solution and support it every time. Even when it meant extra work all around. That is the difference between having the spirit present and being guided by the intelligence (good) and pride (bad) of man.
@Geoff B.
Great comment, Geoff.
My experience in an Elder’s quorum presidency was very similar. We would discuss ideas freely and openly and then the president would make a decision. There was no discord or acrimonious feelings, only unity and resolve.
Great cartoon, btw, Joanna. I have the entire C&H collection, and I can spend hours reading that cartoon.
Pres. Packer (this was I think about 5 years ago) painted a somewhat different picture about this, at least in the process of arriving at decisions among the 12. He said that things were nearly always done by consensus. So if even one quorum member did not agree on an issue, they held off until things were unanimous.
He then related another bit about the FP and 12 together when Pres. Hinckley was president of the church. There had been a long discussion about decision-making. Then an issue was raised and each person spoke regarding the thing. It came around to Pres. Hinckley and he said something like it was his feeling that they should go a certain way on the issue. So Pres. Monson, who was conducting, said “well that’s settled then.” Whereupon Pres. Hinckley objected, saying that he was just expressing himself like everybody else.
Pres. Packer’s point with the second story was that the president of the church had a certain cachet and that Pres. Hinckley observed that he would be careful how he expressed himself in the meetings, since they were trying to encourage discussion.
The memories are a bit vague, but that’s the upshot of what he said to us. In any case, it stuck with me, because it’s a little different than the model suggested in some of the comments.
Geoff-I am jealous. All our C&H books have been loved to death. Someday I hope to get the newly released set.
My daughter Jie Jie wondered if the comic was a good representation of what happens in Priesthood Quorums before the unanimous decision was made. Given that Jie Jie is almost a Beehive, this is what she believes Deacons are all about.
WVS-I have heard that scenario as well.
However the process works, I am pleased despite human imperfections, the church government works smoothly.