PPI. And Here’s Why.

Personal Priesthood Interviews, or PPIs as they’re commonly called, are the single greatest resource for success that nearly everyone in the Church doesn’t use.

What’s a PPI? A PPI is a one-to-one interview with a leader. Don’t focus on the name. PPIs can and should be used in auxiliaries run by women. The Church would ideally call PPIs a PSI or Personal Stewardship Interview, except the acronym has already been taken by inflated tires, worldwide.

If PPIs are taking place in wards and branches around the world, it’s generally only in the context of someone meeting with their bishop for purposes of a temple recommend interview, or some worthiness issue. Or, in the case of young men and women, or young single adults, a member of the bishopric will generally meet with members of those groups on at least an annual basis, as dictated by the general handbook of instructions, and the Church’s “Bishopric Action and Interview List.” For the rest of us, there is no set schedule of interviews, and we’re lucky if a member of the bishopric or an auxiliary leader asks to meet with us for anything other than to extend a calling or give our monthly home or visiting teaching stats.

Here’s why PPIs are crucial to the success of any member: 1) Having an opportunity to meet one-to-one with a leader generally conveys the feeling that the person is known and loved; 2) If done on a regular basis (at least quarterly), the member and leader will eventually develop enough of a rapport, friendship, love, that both will feel confident and comfortable in sharing struggles, expressions of faith, sacred experiences, etc.; 3) PPIs are the best way to make and follow up on commitments, challenges, requests or assignments. If someone knows that they’re going to be called to account for their actions or commitments, and within a reasonably narrow window of time, they’re far more likely to ensure they act on those commitments; and 4) PPIs promote and ensure unity among members. As we’re all getting PPI’d and giving PPIs, it’s evident we’ll all be working on the same things, and getting to know each other more along the way.

In the last three or four weeks, I’ve been conducting PPIs with all of the members of the group over which I am currently assigned to lead. I could share with you a number of things which have come to my attention, as a result of these interviews. I could also share with you some sacred experiences I’ve had. The point is, they work; and I feel closer to the brethren I’ve interviewed as a result.

Ideally then, here’s how the flow chart of PPIs should work:

If done properly, every member should have a PPI with a member of the bishopric every year, in addition to having at least one or more PPIs with an auxiliary leader or their counselor. In short, a member should be having multiple PPIs with various leaders every year, in addition to those instances where a member might seek out the bishopric for reasons mentioned previously. Frankly, we should be a church of constant interviews. And given the rotation of leadership assignments, it’s likely most of us will all eventually have both the experience of being the interviewer and the interviewee. Regardless, our church will be stronger, because we will be stronger, because we will be known, challenged and loved.

PPI. That’s why.