Dean Andersen has served as a counselor in a stake presidency, high councilor, Seminary teacher, scoutmaster, and bishopric counselor, among many other callings. He was recently released as a stake president. He speaks Japanese, French, and Spanish after serving a mission in Japan, living in France while working for a French company, and serving with three Spanish-speaking wards in his stake. Dean and his wife Colleen live in Houston, Texas, where he works as a CPA/CFO. They have eight children and 28 grandchildren.

“Pressing toward the Mark”, by Elder Edward Dube

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3:10 Introduction to Dean Anderson and his background.

4:30 Getting called as stake president when their plan was only to be in that area for a year. Dean was over an inner-city stake with a lot of students and a lot of immigrants.

7:10 The difficulty and unique dynamic of having a lot of students in the stake

10:20 Choosing counselors for the stake presidency. Dean had only been in the ward and area for six months so he didn’t really know very many people.

11:00 Dean’s leadership experience and the unique circumstances of their stake. Switching from an all-Spanish stake to integrate English and Spanish wards into a new stake. Starting a stake from scratch basically.

17:40 The difficulty of finding bishops

19:15 Principle one – Focusing on your inadequacies is actually selfish

22:40 Principle two – God can do amazing things through weak, simple and flawed servants that keep humbling trying

24:40 Dean shares a story of a bishop that felt completely inadequate and shocked when he was called but eventually flourished in his calling and is now a counselor in the new stake presidency.

26:00 Principle three – As priesthood leaders we can only be effective according to principles set forth by section 121. Kindness, gentleness, meekness, love unfeigned, etc.

29:10 Principle four – God doesn’t punish people

35:10 Things that Dean has found that work for running an effective stake conference

38:50 Dean reflects on his time as a stake president and the miracles he has witnessed.

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Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, 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, 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 700 episodes.

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