Is Your Ward Suffering From STP?

Is your ward suffering from STP?  And are you one of them?

The purpose of my post is to raise awareness for a very common affliction of LDS wards.  In fact, I'm pretty sure that the majority of wards suffer from this syndrome at least to some extent.  My dad introduced me to a name for this syndrome, which is STP.  But before we get into that, let me start with a case study.

In a certain ward, there are about 80 Elders.  If about half are active, that means about 40 will be willing to do assignments like helping people move in and out of the ward.  If the ward has about 20 moves per year, that means that at least 2 Elders should be at every move, even if they only show up to 1 move a year.  But as we all know, if only 2 Elders do show up at a move, it will probably be the 2 Elders that showed up at the last move.  And the move before that.

The same people seem to always be the ones to volunteer for everything.  And it tends to happen for everything that goes on in the whole ward.  The same people are the ones bringing dinner to someone whenever a dinner is needed.  They are the same ones stacking the chairs after Stake Conference when everyone else has gone home.  They are the same people who sign up to bring a dessert to the ward party.  They are the same ones who show up first and work the hardest at any service project. 

They are the STPs.  The S-ame T-en P-eople.  I've got to admit, when my dad told me his name for this, I had to laugh because it was just so true!  STP.  Same Ten People, faithfully doing most of what goes on in the ward.

And it is the same in almost any ward you go to.  The same ten people do 90 percent of the work that is done in the ward.  After a move where only two Elders and a few Young Men showed up, my husband declared one of those Elders to be in line for the next Bishop of our ward because he is there at almost every move.  I laughed, but I had to agree that it might just be true.  He is one of the STPs of our ward.

So let's raise awareness for this condition and see if we can't do a little to help.  Who knows, maybe it could stand for Same Twenty People.  And then maybe Same Thirty People.  I know, I'm a crazy optimistic dreamer.  But just imagine what life would be like if the same ten people got a day off every now and then to relax and take their kids out for ice cream.

And to those STPs out there, let me say I salute you.  You are wonderful!  You are amazing!  Our wards could not run without you!  As President Monson said, "The good you have done, the kind words you have spoken, the love you have shown to others can never be fully measured."