How I Lead with Priesthood Blessings | An Interview With Mike Novakovich

Mike Novakovich currently serves as elders quorum president in his
ward in Orem, Utah. He has served in the bishopric, as a gospel
doctrine teacher "more times than I have fingers on my hand", and
has taught Seminary and Institute for many years. He claims to have
been fired as a membership clerk after the bishop realized his
talent was in teaching and not keeping records. Mike is originally
from Alaska and works as a consultant for commercial roofing
systems and enjoys marching to the beat of a different drummer in
entrepreneurial endeavors. He has served as president of various
school boards on local, county, and state levels, and has a passion
for finding what doesn’t work and thinking outside the box to make
it function. He believes change always requires someone to stand up
and face the headwinds—usually alone—until others see the positive
results and rise to join them. Highlights 02:15 Introduction and
Mike’s background 04:30 How Leading Saints has impacted Mike and
helped him in his calling. 08:10 Mike explains and shares his
experience of how he implemented what he learned from Leading
Saints in elders quorum. He was able to create unity and provide
Priesthood blessings to men right in elders quorum meeting. 16:50
Creating unity in elders quorum. 19:00 Implementing new things and
uncomfortable changes. 20:20 Elders quorum is not another Sunday
school class. Making it different. 21:30 Mike shares a personal
experience. He teaches us about using the church’s tools but with
our own flavor. 26:10 Do you know what your gift of the spirit is?
Find your gift and use it. 27:00 Mike shares more on giving
blessings during elders quorum 29:00 Mike starts elders quorum
every time with 30 seconds of introspection and the opportunity for
anyone to receive a blessing and share what they are going through
31:00 Let’s get rid of the concept of oversharing in our faith.
It’s not a bad thing. 33:00 In Mike’s quorum there are no
instructors and never have a lesson planned. The meeting is more
discussion based. 34:50 We’ve been given this Ferrari of priesthood
power but many don’t know exactly how to drive it 36:00 Mike’s tips
for starting a discussion in elders quorum instead of a very
structured lesson. Ways to teach a conference talk without just
rereading it. 40:15 Discussion creates a brotherhood and a quorum
feeling rather than a formal instruction. Plan topics and some
questions to start a discussion. 43:15 Besides just talking about
gospel topics in quorum, they talk about and bring up other topics
that need to be discussed. For example, talking about specific
people that need help. 44:30 How to deal with helping move people.
Mike’s ward has constant move ins and outs. He has had to come up
with solutions so that his quorum doesn’t feel overworked and under
pressure to help every single Saturday. 47:00 Mike’s unique
approach to ministering and including the quorum in the
assignments. His overall goal is to remove the guilt. Everyone
needs something different out of ministering and he gives everyone
a voice to say what they need and want. 49:45 Mike collects all the
information and knowledge about his quorum and then takes it to the
Lord. He doesn’t rely solely on getting inspiration without getting
to know the members of his quorum first. 53:50 Mike shares his
final thoughts and testimony of being a leader Links Is Elders
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