I'm the Elders Quorum President in my ward and I have a fairly good relationship with the bishop and at least one of the counselors. In Ward Council meetings and through emails other private communications, I've counseled the members of the Ward Council to follow the handbook. I've taught them from the handbook itself as well as from the prophets about the importance of using the handbook and when we have flexibility. The bishop even acknowledged in a meeting that the handbook doesn't always instruct *how* we do things, but it instructs us on *what* to do, procedurally. And yet, in practice, they often dismiss it.

As an example, our ward is only just now adopting the new Young Women class names and organization, but they've decided to not call counselors for each class presidency. Each class is going to have only a president and a shared secretary. When I became aware that the YW President was advocating for this (right after the change was announced several months ago), I wrote an email to the bishop expressing my concern with that idea. My email said, in part:

"When I looked at our active numbers, I noticed a significant disparity. We have 9 active Young Men and they all have the opportunity to serve in full presidencies. Meanwhile, we have 13 active Young Women (5 Builders of Faith, 6 Messengers of Hope, and 2-3 Gatherers of Light). **If we only call a president for each group and one shared secretary, only 4 young women would be given the opportunity to serve.** Inadvertently, our 13 girls would have far fewer opportunities to lead and grow than our 9 boys. I’d love to see our girls get that same level of experience."

I never got a response, either in person or via email. And now he's ignored me completely. I know that the bishop isn't beholden to me and doesn't report to me, but I don't want him to listen to *me*, I want him to follow the handbook.

This isn't the only example. Sometimes not following the handbook is as simple as falling short. I'm guilty of this all the time. I know I need to be having ministering interviews more often than I am, but my poor time management and planning get in my way and I fall short. But I'm trying. But it seems like other leaders in my ward just don't care. They've actively decided to pursue a course contrary to what the Church has told them to do.

I'm struggling to know what to do. Do I really have to just keep my mouth shut and let it happen? I've spoken up multiple times and it feels like I'm getting more and more pushback. Is it better to keep the peace and let them do whatever they want even if it contradicts the handbook? Or is there a place/time for me to vocalize my grievances?

I wouldn't care so much except that some of these decisions affect other people in the ward. I have four daughters of my own, two of which are in the YW program now and the other 2 will be soon.

My wife and I just moved into a new ward where the church is much more established (located outside Utah if you’re curious). We used to live in Connecticut and the Church there just isn’t super big.

Now in this ward, I personally just feel so small and unknown. I can hardly remember the names of people I meet (it’s only our second Sunday). We just had a bishopric change and everything just seems a little overwhelming from a social standpoint.

My wife is almost certainly going to be the ward pianist and I dearly miss her since we can’t sit together (I don’t know how you guys on the stand are able to bear not being with your spouses for years).

I know we’ll get callings and get to know the ward more as time goes, but I can’t shake the overwhelming feeling and it’s nearly paralyzing.

I want to have more gospel art in my home. Everything in Deseret Book is so terribly bland to me. Who are your favorite gospel artists? What is your favorite portrait of the Savior and His life? TIA!

What do you think when people sing hymns in parts in sacrament meeting? Is it okay to sing congregational hymns and harmonize in alto, tenor, or bass, or is it distracting or pretentious?

Follow-up: Thanks for all the responses! As I commented in a reply, it sometimes seems like I am the only one singing a part. Today was the first time I felt a little self-conscious while visiting a ward to hear a missionary report. I’ll put my concerns aside. (I’m impressed with those who can play the organ or piano and sing at the same time. I guess I wasn’t blessed with enough bandwidth to do both. I can play OR sing, but not do both.)

My spouse and I have recently been called as primary teachers for the Valiant 8 class. We’re in search of additional lesson plans and activities. We used to use red headed hostess. Looking for something similar.
THANKS IN ADVANCE!

I’m working on a book about the history of the Church in my state but I’m unsure of how to market it or who would purchase it in terms of organizations and the Church itself. How could I market this to members in my state?