Finding ways to involve members in Family History work as we prepare for our Stake Family History Conference

TO: Bishops, High Priest Group Leaders and members of the Stake Priesthood Executive Committee

Dear Brethren,

This morning we had a conference call with all High Priest Group Leaders in the stake to extend two assignments to them in preparation for the Stake Family History Conference, March 8-9. It's important that you're aware of this so we can all support the HP Group Leaders in fulfilling these assignments in time for the conference just one month away.

The assignments are:

ASSIGNMENT 1: Take ownership of the training of Family History Consultants and Specialists

(Reminder: FH Specialists are those assigned to man computers at the FH Conference; they are not trained consultants or researchers; they are not sustained or set apart; their service will end with the conference)

Key elements of this assignment:

a) The stake has provided a simple training outline (attached) involving 4 exercises on how to navigate www.familysearch.org

b) HPGL are to assign seasoned consultants in the ward to help the specialists become familiar enough with those 4 exercises that they will be able to teach conference visitors how to navigate the website and search for their own ancestors. A list of consultants and specialists is also attached.

c) FH Consultants are also to be scheduled (via Brian McCann, Stake Family History Center Director) to serve as support staff to the specialists and to assist visitors who may be more advanced in family history research.

d) HP Group Leaders have authority (once names are cleared by the bishop) to assign and train even more specialists (ESPECIALLY YOUTH) from their ward recognizing that this experience will be a great blessing to members, who have wanted to learn about Family History but didn't know where to start.

ASSIGNMENT 2: Ensure every household in the ward receives a commitment invitation to invite neighbors and friends

Key elements of this assignment:

a) The principle objective of this conference is an outreach to the community, giving our neighbors and friends an opportunity to learn more about how to search their own roots and, if they choose, to learn more about us, our church and our beliefs.

b) Members will be blessed as they attend, invite their neighbors and, in the case of the FH Conference Specialists, teach others how to navigate www.familysearch.org

c) The most effective way to draw the community to our conference is for every member of our stake to personally deliver an invitation to their neighbors and friends.

d) HP Group Leaders are assigned to utilize others in the ward (HPG assistants, EQ presidency, Ward Mission Leader, ward missionaries, full-time missionaries, home teachers) to ensure every household in their ward receives before the end of February a commitment invitation to invite their neighbors and friends to the FH Conference.

The commitment invitation to each household in the ward can be as simple as: 

"Will you deliver a Family History Conference invitation to your neighbors and friends?" 

If the member answers yes, then ask:

"How many invitations do you want?"

The blessing and power of extending commitments to members is well explained in Chapter 11 of Preach My Gospel. I commend that chapter to all of us to review again.

Finally…

For more details on these assignments and why we're having this Family History Conference, you can listen to a recording of today's conference call by dialing:

1-712-775-7399  when asked for an access code dial 902633#  then when asked for a reference number hit the # sign

I express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your many efforts to do our part to hasten the Lord's work (D&C 88:73) that is unfolding before us.

With deepest appreciation,

President Lewis

Thoughts on improving teaching in the ward

Sent on Jan 27:

Bishops,

During my visits to wards this month, I have tried to attend as many youth classes (both 2nd and 3rd hour) as possible. Overall, many teachers are catching the vision. Others are not making any attempt to change.

I realize this is only the first month and it may take months, if not years, for the New Youth Curriculum to take root. I believe we can accelerate the results if you'll consider doing the following:

1. Assign members of your bishopric (and Sunday School presidency) to sit in all youth classes in your ward during the month of February. Only on one occasion did I observe a leader sitting in on a class that I visited this month. You'll want to see for yourself what's happening in your ward.

2. Help each teacher understand that if they're speaking more than the students, they've missed the point of the New Curriculum. In one class today, the teacher spoke 95% of the time. It broke my heart. The key to the new curriculum is learning to ask questions (not knowledge questions) and expecting ALL the students to come up with answers from their hearts. Learners' souls are touched when they share from their heart.

3. Have all teachers of youth (Sunday School, Young Men, Young Women) meet after the block meetings each Sunday for a 10-minute "huddle" to compare notes as to what they're finding is successful and what is not.

Please help youth take ownership of their learning by teaching teachers how to facilitate discussion with the right questions and silence.

We have such an amazing opportunity to enhance the teaching of our youth. Please don't miss this opportunity in your ward.

Gratefully,

Pres Lewis

Sent on Feb 5:

Bishops,

Few things in our worship impacts members' testimony more than teaching the gospel either in the classroom or over the pulpit. I have felt for some time that we can deepen testimonies of members by giving them more opportunities to teach and preach. To that end, will you consider…

1. Where feasible, create smaller gospel doctrine classes and rotate several teachers to give more members the opportunity to teach (note that in smaller classes, learners must take ownership of their learning…a key principle that is being stressed in the new youth curriculum);

2. I have asked the stake presidency to consider having high councilors only speak in sacrament meeting every other month (6 times per year) instead of monthly opening opportunities for more of your ward members to speak in sacrament meeting.

If so inclined, would you give me your feedback as to these thoughts? We will be discussing this in stake presidency this Sunday and I would welcome your counsel, as well.

Gratefully,

President Lewis