How I Lead a Spanish-Speaking Ward in an English-Speaking Stake | An Interview with Walter Franco

Walter Franco most recently served as a bishop and has previously
served as an elders quorum president, Young Men president, Sunday
School teacher, ward mission leader, and as a missionary in
Jacksonville, Florida. He is a principal for a boutique sports
business consulting firm based out of Park City, serves on a few
University of Utah boards and the KSL Community Board, and is
president of a non-profit that raises college scholarship funds for
DACA students in Utah. Walter and his wife have been married for 14
years, have three daughters, and currently live in Herriman, Utah.
Highlights 02:30 Getting called as a Bishop in a Spanish-speaking
ward and ward dynamics 10:00 There is actually a lot of diversity
in a Spanish-speaking ward. They are united by language but there
are a lot of different cultures. It can cause drama and cliques and
Walter talks about how they created more unity. 12:40 Principle #1:
See them as the Lord sees them. 16:00 Walter gives examples of how
he goes about helping people in the Bishop’s office. He strives to
give the individual ownership of their repentance rather than just
giving them a prescription like a doctor. 19:30 Walter elaborates
more on how he works with other leaders in the ward and the
struggle in the Spanish-speaking ward to have strong leadership. He
gives examples of how he gives feedback. It’s important to
understand that it’s a process not an event. 24:45 Principle #2:
Listen first and listen a lot before you speak This is the way to
gain confidence and create great relationships Ask lots of
questions and really understand where they are coming from and
going through 30:00 Helping individuals with doctrinal questions.
They might not get answers to certain questions in this lifetime
but you can bring them back to core principles and doctrines. 31:15
Principle #3: My role is to lead by serving. Be the first one to
extend your hand or respond 36:50 Leading a Spanish unit in an
English Stake. Walter shares his view on how to address common
misconceptions that English speakers have. Remember that we are
united by faith and struggle with a lot of the same things. 49:00
Apps they use in the ward. Whatsapp has helped them create
different groups and communicate easier. Links Read the TRANSCRIPT
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