DiscussMormonism.com

In Saturday’s afternoon session of the church’s 189th Semiannual General Conference, church leaders announced that Young Men presidencies (adult men who lead the groups) will no longer be formal positions in local wards. Instead, the church says, the bishop of each congregation will take a more direct role and responsibility in working with the boys.

Congregations will also have “Aaronic Priesthood quorum advisers and specialists” to assist the bishops.

Young Men presidencies (adult males who lead young men) at the ward level are now discontinued so local bishops can more directly lead and mentor youth. Elder Cook said this practice aligns with a scripture on Church government given to Joseph Smith in 1835: “The bishopric is the presidency of this [Aaronic] priesthood, and holds the keys or authority of the same.” This means, Elder Cook said, that a congregation’s young men and young women should be a bishop’s highest priority.

“These adjustments will help bishops and their counselors focus on their core responsibilities to the youth and Primary children,” Elder Cook said. “[The adjustments will also] place the power and duties of the Aaronic Priesthood at the center of every young man’s personal life and goals.”

In their responsibilities with youth, bishoprics will be assisted by adult men serving as Aaronic Priesthood quorum advisers and specialists and Young Women leaders.

“Young Women presidents will now report to and counsel directly with the bishop of the ward,” he said. “In the past, this assignment could be delegated to a counselor, but going forward, young women will be a direct responsibility of the one who holds presiding keys for the ward.”

Finn the human wrote:I think we need to look at the problem of child predators having access to children from a birds-eye view. It is true that a Mormon bishop could potentially be a child predator, but this could be true of any man, or any woman to be frank. The solution becomes simple when you give the problem any serious thought: we need to let our children be raised by packs of wild wolves. I’m not aware of a single documented case of a wolf sexually abusing a child, and I don’t even need to list the benefits of feral children roaming our streets, so I won’t.

“The No. 1 rule of any institution that works with children is never, ever, ever is there one-on-one child-adult interactions,” Sandusky declared. That statement was met by loud cheers from the crowd.

“And again, that’s a very simple concept ... we should all be able to get behind. It protects the institution as much as it protects the child.”

Holy Ghost wrote:This move seems towards stricter role models. YM presidencies have seemed to be more human, less rigid than bishops. This has meant a more relaxed approach with teen boys than what bishops becoming more involved will likely be. It seems that the Brass doesn't want as loose, fun an approach with the teen boys as there has been in the past. This move at this time signals that the bleeding during late teen years has not been abated by moves such as lowering the mission eligibility ages.