Bishops—Shepherds Over the Lord’s Flock

Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said in the Priesthood session of April 2021 general conference:

. . . . Parents will always have the main responsibility for their families.⁴ Quorum presidencies also provide essential support and guidance to quorum members by assisting them in elevating the duties and power of the Aaronic Priesthood to the center of their lives.⁵

Today my purpose is to focus on bishops and their counselors, who can appropriately be called “shepherds over the Lord’s flock”—with emphasis on being shepherds for the rising generation.⁶ It is interesting that the Apostle Peter referred to Jesus Christ as “the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”⁷

The bishop has five principal responsibilities in presiding over a ward:

1. He is the presiding high priest in the ward.⁸

2. He is president of the Aaronic Priesthood.⁹

3. He is a common judge.¹⁰

4. He coordinates the work of salvation and exaltation, including caring for those in need.¹¹

5. And he oversees records, finances, and the use of the meetinghouse.¹²

In his role as presiding high priest, the bishop is the ward’s “spiritual leader.”¹³ He is a “faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.”¹⁴

In addition, “the bishop coordinates the work of salvation and exaltation in the ward.”¹⁵ The bishop should assign the day-to-day responsibility for sharing the gospel, strengthening new and returning members, ministering, and temple and family history work to the elders quorum and Relief Society presidencies.¹⁶ The bishop coordinates this work in the ward council and ward youth council.

The bishop has a paramount role in serving as a shepherd to guide the rising generation, including young single adults, to Jesus Christ.¹⁷ President Russell M. Nelson has emphasized the seminal role of the bishop and his counselors. He has taught that their “first and foremost responsibility is to care for the young men and young women of [their] ward.”¹⁸ The bishopric supports parents in watching over and nurturing children and youth in the ward. The bishop and ward Young Women president counsel together. They strive to help the youth live the standards in For the Strength of Youth, qualify to receive ordinances, and make and keep sacred covenants.

You might ask, “Why is the bishop directed to spend so much time with the youth?” The Lord has organized His Church to accomplish crucial priorities. Accordingly, the organization of His Church has a structure in which the bishop has a dual responsibility. He has doctrinal responsibility for the ward as a whole, but he also has specific doctrinal responsibility for the priests quorum.¹⁹

. . . . I now desire to say a few things directly to the youth and then to our bishops.

Many of you precious young people may not have a clear vision of who you are and who you can become. Yet you are at the threshold of the most important decisions you will make in your lives. Please counsel with both your parents and your bishop about important choices that are ahead of you. Allow the bishop to be your friend and counselor.

We are aware that you have trials and temptations coming at you from every direction. We all need to repent daily, as President Nelson has taught. Please talk to your bishop about any matter in which a common judge can assist you in getting your life in order with the Lord in preparation for the “great work” He has for you in this final dispensation.²⁷ As President Nelson has invited you, please qualify yourself to be part of the Lord’s youth battalion!²⁸

For Elder Cook’s complete talk see Bishops—Shepherds Over the Lord’s Flock, or page 56 of the Liahona.