Part 1: The Unwritten Order of Things—A Review

Kurt Francom, Executive Director of Leading Saints, shares his thoughts on the unwritten order of things—a term popularized by Elder Boyd K. Packer in a BYU devotional in October 1996. This phrase has influenced leadership culture in the Church, often being used as a trump card to justify certain practices or norms that are not explicitly documented in church handbooks. Listen to a reading of the original devotional. Links Is Aspiring Wrong? Church Doctrine, Policy, & Leadership | An Interview with Anthony Sweat Y Religion: Defining Church Doctrine, with Michael Goodman The Role of Doubt and Faith | An Interview With Prof. Michael Goodman Share your thoughts in the Leading Saints community Read the transcript of this podcast Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights Kurt explores the context of Elder Packer’s talk, highlighting the challenges of leadership in the 1990s when handbooks were not publicly accessible. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the principles behind leadership practices rather than blindly adhering to unwritten rules that may not serve the best interests of the community. He outlines the ten unwritten orders of things mentioned by Elder Packer, assessing whether each principle is supported by the church handbook. While some of these principles align with current guidelines, others are not formally recognized, raising questions about their validity and application in modern leadership. Kurt encourages listeners to consider the implications of using the unwritten order of things as a means of manipulation or control, and advocates for a more open dialogue about leadership best practices, urging leaders to communicate their expectations clearly rather than relying on vague traditions. He invites listeners to engage in this conversation, share their experiences, and contribute to a culture of effective leadership where the church can more-effectively draw people to Christ. 00:02:47 – Context of Elder Packer’s Talk 00:04:11 – The Unwritten Order of Things Explained 00:05:24 – Weaponization of the Unwritten Order 00:06:05 – Importance of Context in Leadership 00:07:51 – Changes in Handbook Accessibility 00:09:05 – Elder Packer’s Teaching Style 00:10:08 – Challenges in Communicating Leadership Guidelines 00:11:22 – The Role of General Authorities in Leadership 00:12:03 – Misinterpretation of the Unwritten Order 00:13:40 – Elder Packer’s Ten Unwritten Orders 00:14:01 – Analysis of Each Unwritten Order 00:19:05 – The Role of Personal Counsel in Leadership 00:20:30 – Observing Church Customs and Traditions 00:21:23 – Setting a Tone of Dignity in Meetings 00:22:06 – The Balance of Leadership and Followership 00:23:20 – Binding Nature of the Unwritten Order 00:24:03 – Current Unwritten Orders in Leadership 00:25:07 – The Tyranny of General Authority 00:26:20 – The Importance of Local Leadership Autonomy 00:27:34 – Principles vs. Prescriptions in Leadership 00:29:41 – Establishing Best Practices in Leadership 00:30:57 – Conclusion: Moving Beyond the Unwritten Order The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.