Helping Our Stake Use Social Media Wisely

Why social media

We do not pretend that social media is the best way to communicate within our stake. It is simply one more tool that, when used properly, can help us communicate more effectively with our members and even neighbors. If the Brethren have asked full-time missionaries to replace knocking on doors with daily use of social media…and if members of the First Presidency are now on Facebook…then it is time all of us become more familiar with it, too.

How social media may benefit our stake

·   Enhances our ability to publicize events

·   Encourages stake members to use social media in sharing the gospel

·   Offers a repository for links to other stake Facebook pages, such as the Stake Trek

·   Provides a way for our non-LDS neighbors to learn what is happening in our Church,
including ministers and pastors with whom we’re trying to build a relationship

Steps to implementing a stake presence in social media

·   Launch a Facebook page (completed this week)

·   Encourage stake members to “Like” the stake page, accomplishing two things:
1) Members will see posts about stake activities and events
   2) Members’ friends will begin to see posts about these stake events

·   Begin producing content for the stake Facebook page on a weekly basis, including:
   1) Publicity of stake activities
   2) Follow-up reports with photos of major events, such as the trek
3) Inspirational messages from stake leaders

How do we avoid inappropriate content

The stake Facebook page is currently set up so that anybody can comment or post. We now have three page administrators with the potential for more. These administrators will be tasked to monitor content and remove anything found to be inappropriate or not in line with the stake’s goals. If there are any questionable posts by readers, we can restrict posts to administrators only at any time.

Are we an official Church site?

No, because we have a disclaimer stating we are not an official site for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as directed in Handbook 2 - 21.1.22. Many stakes are now setting up pages for publicity purposes. Our Facebook page will be administered by the Stake Public Affairs Council.

Home Teachers assignment for Stake Food Drive in September 2013

Dear Brethren,

In this day of hastening, where we as members are being asked to step up our efforts to reach out and bless those around us, you have a special opportunity to help your assigned families to participate in a very unique, out-reach service project.

Will you please accept the assignment to invite your families to participate in our neighbor-to-neighbor, community food drive as part of our Stake Day of Service on September 14?

This is a very exciting project for two reasons: (1) churches of other faiths are joining with us in this food drive; and (2) the neighbor-to-neighbor element of this food drive gives all of us an easy, non-intimidating way to meet and invite five or more of our neighbors (or friends) to join in this worthy cause to help those in need. Many neighbors or friends do not attend a church and seldom have an opportunity to give or serve. They will give generously!

To help your families, we ask that you do the following:

·   During the first two weeks of August contact your assigned families, teach them about the food drive and invite them to participate, asking them for a count on how many grocery sacks they want for their neighbors and their own personal use. Report your count to a member of your quorum presidency or group leadership by August 18.

·   Around August 25 you will receive from your quorum/group leaders the grocery sacks you requested for your families. Please distribute them to your families no later than Sunday, September 1. Instructions as to what members are to do with the grocery sacks will be included with each sack.

Thank you for accepting this assignment. It’s more important than ever that we become involved in our communities “to be the light of this people.” (3 Nephi 12:14)

Gratefully,
Stake Presidency

Melchizedek Priesthood leaders responsibility in our Stake Food Drive in September 2013

Dear Brethren,

There are two reasons we are very excited about the upcoming Stake Food Drive to be conducted as part of our Stake Day of Service on September 14.

First, other churches, not of our faith, are joining with us to participate in this faith-based, community food drive. The potential for a “fishes-and-loaves miracle” is very real. (See the letter to pastors that is being emailed to you for additional details.)

Second, the neighbor-to-neighbor element of this food drive provides all participants, especially our members, an easy, non-intimidating way to meet and invite their neighbors to join in this worthy cause. Many of our neighbors do not attend a church and seldom have the opportunity to give or serve. They will appreciate this opportunity and give generously.

Last year less than a third of our members participated in this food drive. We desire that many more enjoy this unique, out-reach opportunity of meeting and extending an invitation to their neighbors.

Will you please accept the assignment to insure all families assigned to your quorum or group are invited by their home teachers to participate in this food drive?

Hopefully the attached letter, addressed to home teachers, will be helpful in explaining their assignment. We ask you to distribute copies of that letter to your assigned home teaching companionships. Note this is an excellent opportunity for home teachers to invite less-active families to participate. Please don’t miss this opportunity!

Please take these steps in completing this assignment:

·   During the first two weeks of August, distribute the attached single-sheet letter to all home teachers asking them to contact their assigned families and get a count on how many grocery sacks they want for their neighbors and for their own personal use. We encourage all families to reach out to at least five or more neighbors.

·   By August 18, have the home teachers report to your presidency or group leadership the count of how many sacks each family is requesting. Report these counts to your assigned high councilor, who will give the counts to Ryan Pond, of the High Council.

·   On August 25, when the paper grocery sacks are delivered to you, begin distributing the sacks to the home teachers, based on their requested counts, and ask them to deliver the sacks to their families no later than Sunday, September 1. Instructions as to what members are to do with the grocery sacks will be included with each sack.

For your information, the filled grocery sacks are to be delivered between 8:00 and
9:00 am on Saturday, September 14, to any of the participating churches on the list. Then members are to go to the site of their ward’s service project(s) to continue our Day of Service activities.

In a show of neighborliness, we hope many of our members will deliver their filled grocery sacks to their nearest participating non-LDS church. A list of participating churches, with addresses, will be included in the instructions.

Brethren, please know that this is not just a food drive or service project.

This is an organized effort to provide our members an opportunity to meet and engage their neighbors. We hope lasting friendships will develop from this out-reach that will lead to improved relations with those of all faiths in our communities.

In this day of hastening, it’s more important than ever that we become involved in our communities “to be the light of this people.” (3 Nephi 12:14)

Suggestions for Ward Councils on how to be more effective from observations made by the stake presidency after visits in June 2013

Core Principles: A ward council is most effective when...
(1) agendas are followed to give structure and focus so you don’t try to cover too much in your meeting and yet enough for action to be taken;
(2) every discussion ends with one or more assignments being made;
(3) assignments are tracked by the ward clerk and follow up reports are given before the next meeting; and
(4) the needs of individuals or families are identified through inspiration prior to the meeting so the ward council can focus on seeking prayerful solutions.

Areas of Emphasis: Agendas should include discussions on several, if not all, of the elements of the “Work of Salvation” listed in Chapter 5 of Handbook 2, including (1) Missionary Work,
(2) Convert Retention, (3) Reactivation, (4) Temple and Family History Work, and
(5) Teaching the Gospel.

Use Reports: There is never enough time to discuss everyone. The bishop, or others to whom he delegates, will want to identify, by inspiration, a select number of individuals on each of the three key reports: (1) Investigator Progress Report listing all investigators (WML responsible), (2) Focus Reports listing less-actives (aka Focus Five; RS, HP, EQ responsible); both reports feed into the (3) New and Returning Member Report identifying those who are new members or new into activity (Bishop responsible).

Create a Ward Mission Plan: Every successful ward missionary program begins with a Ward Mission Plan created by the ward council. See guidelines in Handbook 2 - 5.1.8.

Devotionals: We recommend the devotional consist of a brief discussion, led by a member of the ward council, from the following sources: (1) scriptures listed in the 4-page stake document on conversion, (2) Preach My Gospel, or (3) other references from the Standard Works, as directed by the Bishopric.

Training: We recommend you draw from (1) Handbook 2, especially chapters 1-6, with emphasis on chapter 4 about ward councils, or (2) the principles taught in the Youth Curriculum.

Council Environment: Create an environment of discussion and equality of voice by arranging the chairs in a circle, semi-circle or around a table.

Function as a Council: Do not go around the room asking for organizations to report, but require members to contribute to the agenda beforehand and ensure all topics of discussion become the business of everyone.