Beginning a ward council meeting with an inspiring spiritual thought sets the tone for a spiritually-centered and uplifting discussion. As ward leaders gather to counsel together about strengthening individuals and families, a thoughtful message reminds them of their divine purpose and stewardship.
Crafting such a message requires care and prayerful consideration. The spiritual thought should nourish souls, provide perspective, enlighten minds, and invite the Spirit. With the Lord’s help, ward leaders can start their meeting off right by feeding one another a short spiritual feast.
Finding Inspiration for Your Ward Council Spiritual Thought
When preparing a spiritual thought to share, seek the Lord’s guidance through study and prayer. There are many sources to spark ideas and inspiration as you prepare a message to strengthen and edify ward leaders.
Study the Scriptures
The scriptures contain numerous passages that teach essential gospel principles relevant to leadership. Study verses that have inspired you personally or that you feel prompted to share. Select a passage that teaches a principle needed in your ward currently.
For example, you may share Mosiah 2:17 on selfless service, Mosiah 4:27 on caring for the poor, or Ether 12:4 on hope and faith. Study context and background to better understand the verses. Prayerfully reflect on insights and personal applications.
Add explanatory commentary and bear heartfelt testimony to bring the passages to life. The scriptures are a rich source for substantive spiritual thoughts.
Draw from General Conference
Modern prophets and apostles regularly provide invaluable instruction at General Conference on a wide range of relevant topics. Their recent teachings on strengthening families, caring for those in need, building unity, and inspiring hope make excellent spiritual thought material.
Review the last 2-3 conferences for a key quotation or timely counsel to share. Study talks from the Relief Society and Priesthood sessions for perspectives to specifically bless and strengthen ward leaders.
Highlights principles taught that fill a need, provide encouragement, or supply corrected perspective. General Conference talks offer a wealth of inspiring thoughts tailored for our day.
Study Words of Leaders
Publications and online content containing writings and teachings from latter-day prophets and apostles also provide thoughtful material for spiritual thoughts. Consider sharing a meaningful excerpt from a recent First Presidency message or New Era article.
Many Christian values and leadership principles are taught in these inspired resources. Study content prayerfully looking for a passage that resonates with needs you feel inspired to address. The teachings of living apostles and prophets shared in church magazines yield valuable insights for ward leader spiritual thoughts.
Crafting Meaningful Spiritual Messages for Ward Councils
After finding inspiration from the scriptures, words of prophets, or other sources, prayerfully craft your ideas into an impactful message. Keep the needs of your specific ward council members firmly in mind.
Tailor content to nourish their souls, enlighten their minds, and bless their service. To create genuinely meaningful messages, focus on teaching relevant principles clearly, sharing truthful principles powerfully, and structuring thoughts simply.
Teach Relevant Principles
Intentionally select a gospel principle that meets current needs or provides timely perspectives for leaders. For example, you may feel inspired to focus on cultivating patience and love amidst growing ward challenges. Or, perhaps principles of unity from King Benjamin’s teachings would stabilize vacillating relationships.
Seek the Lord’s guidance to know what message will best build leaders up. Zero in on a single, focused principle rather than attempting to teach several ideas. Clarify the principle by explaining it simply using the scriptures and words of prophets.
Share personal applications and insights. Help leaders understand the principle and apply it with greater wisdom and commitment in their service. Choose truly relevant principles the Spirit highlights to bless your ward council.
Share Truths Powerfully
Sharing personal experiences, analogies, and testimony makes principles come alive with deepened meaning and convincing power. Relate how living the principle has blessed you. Use fitting metaphors and object lessons to reinforce understanding.
Bear heartfelt testimony of the principle’s eternal truth. Such powerful delivery gives a spiritual thought lasting impact. Sincere expression brings the Spirit to amplify the message and witness of truth in leaders’ hearts and minds.
Structure Thoughts Simply
Organization, brevity and clarity help leaders easily grasp concepts and feel the Spirit. Share one uplifting, focused message rather than attempt to relay multiple principles. State the main idea clearly upfront.
Explain the principle’s meaning through teachings of prophets and personal insights. Share how the doctrine blesses lives when applied. Finally, bear brief but powerful testimony. This creates a simple framework easing understanding and retention.
For example, share how practicing patience manifests charity, draws on Christ’s enabling power, transforms family relationships through small kindnesses, and invites greater peace. Simple structure aids spiritual learning.
Delivering Spiritual Thoughts Impactfully in Ward Councils
When ward leaders assemble prayerfully seeking the Spirit’s guidance in serving Heavenly Father’s children, they are prepared to receive inspiration. Spiritual thoughts provide nourishment and perspective empowering leaders to accomplish greater good.
As the Spirit fills your heart with light and truth, open your mouth to share dividends from your preparation. Trust the Lord to magnify the message to meet His purposes.
Seek the Spirit
Just before the meeting, offer a heartfelt prayer for the Holy Ghost to inspire message delivery. Humble dependence on the Lord loosens your tongue to impart truths He desires emphasized. Listen for any last minute impressions guiding you to adjust your plan.
As you have prayerfully studied and prepared over days or weeks, the Lord will fill your mind with the thoughts and principles He would have most impress upon leaders’ hearts and minds. Yielded fully to righteousness, your words will carry divine influence.
Edify with Love
The aim is to nurture ward leaders spiritually, strengthen their vision, capacity, and unity, thus empowering them to more abundantly bless Heavenly Father’s children. Teach and testify with warm concern for each leader.
Truths spoken directly to the heart with loving conviction touch and motivate leaders to rise higher. Sincere care and charity is the lasting power behind truly uplifting spiritual thoughts.
Invite Application
Conclude your remarks by issuing an invitation to apply the principle or insight taught. Extend a challenge appropriate for both personal life and priesthood/auxiliary responsibilities. Be specific – provide one or two ideas for practical implementation.
For example, after teaching about developing Christlike patience, invite leaders to evaluate areas for improvement. Suggest demonstrating greater patience by adding 15 minutes of attentive listening to each family evening. Recognize manifestations of patience in others by expressing heartfelt gratitude.
Leaders will feel greater motivation acknowledging current weaknesses and concrete ways to improve with God’s help. Issuing a clear call to action gives spiritual thoughts lasting impact. Inspired personal application leads to positive change.
After prayerful preparation and having done your very best to teach and testify powerfully, leave the outcomes to the Lord. You have delivered the spiritual message as His appointed servant. He will now carry the principles to leaders’ hearts by the Holy Ghost.
Trust Him to nourish minds and touch hearts according to the leaders’ needs and readiness. His purposes will be fulfilled. Continue to pray for opportunities to reinforce key lessons taught to solidify understanding and growth.
Dreams, spirit, growth – I explore them all. Laugh, learn, grow with me. Unlock your inner guru.
