A timely lesson — 1992
Today was a wonderful day in the Rudd family, and I learned a valuable lesson as well. Charles was called to serve as the Bishop of a newly-formed ward in his stake, and it was marvelous to be present as his father ordained him a Bishop and gave him a beautiful setting-apart blessing. I stood in the circle and felt the spirit strongly. After his counselors and clerks were set apart, Elder Rudd was asked by the Stake President to make a few remarks. His advice to Charles was to load his counselors with work and assignments until they felt as if the Bishop had nothing left to do. The role of counselors is one of effort, leadership, determination, and decision-making, not just following the Bishop around and waiting to be told what to do. Elder Rudd mentioned that when he was Bishop, he never dealt with any problems in the auxiliaries because he gave total responsibility for them to his counselors. He would give final approval for changes, but he counted on his counselors to solve problems and to give direction to the auxiliaries. If anyone in the ward asked him about a problem in any auxiliary, he could refer them to the appropriate counselor. The Stake President concurred with those remarks, and it left me with a greater understanding of the role of counselors. It is wonderful to share these great experiences with the Rudd family. I am privileged to have married into such a wonderful family; not only did I get a wonderful and sweet wife, but also a faithful and exemplary family of in-laws.
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