Navigating Burnout in Church Leadership

Golden Lund holds three degrees in music from the University of Utah, Indiana University and the University of Nebraska. He is currently a music instructor at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, where he helps direct the marching band, pep band, and teaches tuba and other brass instruments. He also performs regularly on the tuba with a semi-professional orchestra in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Golden was recently released as a bishop and served in several leadership capacities previously including elders quorum president, high priest group leader, Young Men president, and on his stake high council. Golden and his wife Sandy have been married for 17 years and are the proud parents of two children—a daughter and son who are 12-year-old twins and amaze them every day.

Links

Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community

Highlights

In this episode of the Leading Saints podcast, Kurt interviews Golden, a former bishop from Bettendorf, Iowa, who shares his experiences and insights from his five-year tenure in leadership during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation focuses on mental health, vulnerability in leadership, and the importance of community support.

Key Insights:

Mental Health Awareness: Golden discusses his struggles with mental health, particularly during a significant crash after a year and a half of service. He emphasizes the importance of seeking help and the positive impact of counseling and medication.

Vulnerability in Leadership: By sharing his personal challenges with his ward, Golden fostered a culture of openness, encouraging others to share their struggles and creating a supportive environment.

The Sariah Factor: Golden introduces the concept of the Sariah Factor, highlighting the need for leaders to trust their perspective and discernment, even when others may not understand the decisions being made.

Delegation and Empowerment: He shares how he empowered his ward leaders, such as the Relief Society and Elders Quorum presidents, to take on responsibilities, which helped alleviate his workload and fostered a sense of ownership among leaders.

Community Support: Golden underscores the importance of community, noting that members often overlook the challenges faced by their leaders. Simple expressions of gratitude can significantly uplift those in leadership roles.

Leadership Applications:

Encourage Open Communication: Leaders should create an environment where members feel comfortable sharing their struggles, which can strengthen community bonds and support.

Prioritize Mental Health: Leaders should recognize the importance of mental health and seek help when needed, setting an example for others to do the same.

Empower Others: By delegating responsibilities and trusting ward leaders, bishops can manage their workload more effectively while fostering leadership skills in others, ultimately benefiting the entire ward.

05:32 – Calling as Bishop During COVID-19
07:18 – Navigating Early Days as Bishop
08:58 – Demographics of the Ward
10:45 – Reflection on Serving as Bishop
11:19 – Responsibilities of a Bishop
15:43 – Challenges and Overwhelm in Leadership
17:00 – Mental Health Struggles and Support
20:05 – Finding Help and Guidance
21:57 – The Importance of Vulnerability in Leadership
30:02 – Opening Up to the Ward About Struggles
33:44 – The Sariah Factor in Leadership Decisions
38:21 – Examples of Leadership Challenges
49:02 – The Messiness of Revelation in Leadership
51:19 – Normalizing Struggles in Leadership

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. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

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