In response to the warnings issued by Julie Rowe following her near-death experience

A response to an email from a member of our stake on Dec 22, 2014 asking my opinion about the works of Julie Rowe:

Thank you for your kindness in sharing this information and for your desire to bless and protect your family…and possibly to reach out to others and help them prepare, as well...for the coming tribulations that will surely beset the world.

While I don’t doubt this writer's experience, her testimony or even her motives, I simply remind you of a phrase often used by priesthood leaders: “Don’t get ahead of the Brethren.” There are many ways of doing just that, including: 1) feeling we, and others, need to fast every week, or 2) move our family to Missouri, or 3) stock up on more than just food, water and fuel. There are other books that have been written by well-meaning members, who have had similar near-death experiences. The late Lance Richardson’s very compelling book “The Message” is another example.

My counsel is that you take Julie Rowe’s work for what it is—a personal experience that has compelled her to want to do things differently in her life. But it is NOT revelation for the Church. That only comes through the Prophet. In the last days I’m confident there will be many well-many members who will proclaim revelation and that they feel compelled to serve as “another witness” to the truth. But we should act only on what comes from the Prophets, not from personal witnesses or experiences of others. Now, having said that, remember the Brethren expect us to make common sense decisions. We live in a cold part of the planet. It makes sense to have a 72-hour kit or other provisions that include protection against the elements. But that decision should be based on common sense and not because of information gleaned from her warnings.

Finally, while Julie Rowe's motives may be altruistic, remember she is still selling books…and probably, in time, DVDs or paid online content. 

I caution you against accepting her testimony any more than face value. She is not a prophetess. She is not the Lord’s mouthpiece. Despite what she may say, she was not given a “mission” to return to life or earth to warn anyone beyond her own family. The Lord simply does not work that way. We have been told repeatedly to stay with the Church, stay with the Brethren. And do not get ahead of them. Quoting scripture and Church leaders and bearing testimony of the Savior and His Plan is nice, but it only lends inappropriate credence to her claims that she is to warn everyone. That is not her place nor is it the Lord’s way of warning His people. He promises over and over He will lead us through the last days; preserve His covenant people. We trust in Him by keeping the commandments and by trusting His prophets…and not getting ahead of them.

To me, Julie Rowe is getting ahead of the Brethren. I would not follow her.

2015 Finances, Including Summer Camp Funding

Dear Bishops,

We are pleased to report that the summer camp funding plan, instituted in our stake in 2012, has successfully completed its first full-year. Thank you for helping parents appreciate the benefit of having to pay only $100 per child regardless of gender.

In short, we provided this year a summer camp experience for 215 young people in our stake. Here’s how the camps were funded without having to resort to fundraising:

                  $21,500 raised by families (215 summer camp attendees @ $100)

                  $11,800 the Church’s “extra” allocation for youth activities in our stake

                  $33,300 total revenue earmarked for summer camps

                  - 34,400 total cost of all summer camps in 2014

                  <$ 1,100> deficit  

The 2014 stake budget was adjusted to cover the deficit in summer camp funding. The stake also plans to cover the anticipated shortfall in 2015.

This means the family obligation for summer camps in 2015 will remain $100 per child, even though we anticipate a significant increase—from 215 to 265—in the number attending summer camps next year. Will you please notify families as soon as possible so they can anticipate this obligation by spring 2015 when you begin collecting fees?

Also we are pleased to announce that your ward budget allocation for 2015 will remain based on your sacrament meeting attendance.  It appears nearly every ward will have a substantial carry-over from 2014 into their 2015 budget, which raises two matters:

·   We continue to receive requests from ward Scout leaders asking to reinstate fundraising because of a lack of funds, they say, to adequately conduct their programs. We encourage you to be more transparent with leaders about your ward’s financial status and to establish reasonable, even generous, budgets, with all your organizations.

·   Earlier this year we asked each ward to pay $500 per year for the next six years to help fund the Stake Trek in 2019 (a $3,000 per ward obligation). Because we also expect a carry-over from the stake budget this year, we have decided to waive the $500 per ward payment for 2014 reducing the overall six-year obligation to $2,500 per ward. Because some wards expect a sizable carry-over this year, you are permitted to pre-pay in a lump sum as much as you want toward your ward’s $2,500 trek obligation.

Thank you again for using the Lord’s funds wisely in blessing the members of your ward.

The Stake Presidency

Ward Conference Plans for 2015

7 December 2014

TO: Bishoprics, Ward Councils and Stake Leaders

RE: 2015 Ward Conference Schedule and Format

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We are honored to associate with you in this sacred work and thank you for your faithful service. We look forward to worshipping with you on the special occasion of your ward conference, as indicated above.

Please use the following guidelines in your planning, as referenced in Handbook 2, 18.2.5:

Theme

In consequence of the teaching received from the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 2014, we have chosen as the ward conference theme in 2015 “Strengthening Families by Bringing the Work of Salvation into the Home.” Our hope is that we will provide greater understanding and emphasis to the five elements of the Work of Salvation — (1) member missionary work, (2) convert retention,
(3) activation of less-active members, (4) temple and family history work, and (5) teaching the gospel in the Savior’s way. (See Handbook 2, Chapter 5, first paragraph)

Our desire is to help members remember we were foreordained to labor in the Lord’s vineyard in this day of hastening “for the salvation of the souls of men.” (D&C 138:56) As we do so in the home, we will find our burdens lifted, our testimonies strengthened and our families united.

The scriptures remind us that as we labor diligently in the Lord’s Work of Salvation that we, too, will “come to the knowledge of [our] Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that [we] may know how to come unto him and be saved.” (1 Nephi 15:14)

Sacrament Meeting

The stake president presides and a member of the bishopric conducts. The meeting is to be 70 minutes in length. During the business, a member of the stake presidency will present the general, stake and ward leaders for sustaining vote. Please review the sustaining list carefully for accuracy prior to sacrament meeting. The bishop will speak for about 15 minutes followed by a special musical number by the ward choir. President Lewis will then be the concluding speaker.

2^nd Hour: Sunday School and Primary

Sunday School: All classes will proceed as usual. Stake leaders are encouraged to attend the classes that correspond to the age group they serve.

Primary: The stake president and bishop, along with the full-time missionaries assigned to your ward, will visit the Primary at the beginning of the second hour. If possible, have both junior and senior Primaries meet together for President Lewis’ message to the children. If not possible, we ask that the senior Primary be invited to hold their opening exercises at the beginning of the second hour.

3^rd Hour: Special COMBINED Meeting (Junior Primary teachers to remain with their classes)

We are planning a unique presentation during a combined meeting for all ward members 8 years of age and older to be held in the cultural hall or chapel, whichever is available at that hour. Please ask families to sit together and arrange to have projection equipment to show a video. A member of the bishopric will conduct the meeting beginning with an opening hymn and prayer.

The meeting will then be turned over to Presidents Hansen and Christiansen to conduct a discussion on the key elements of the Work of Salvation and how to incorporate them in the home. We will then ask families, including couples, to break out into family units and hold a brief family council on how to implement the elements of the Work of Salvation in their home. Singles will be organized into small groups and stake leaders will serve as facilitators to discuss ways individuals can implement the Work of Salvation in their lives.

President Lewis will offer a closing testimony followed by the closing prayer. Please assign members beforehand to give the prayers.

home Visits

On a weekday evening, before or after your ward conference, please schedule with the stake executive secretary a time when five members of the Stake PEC (stake presidency and two high councilors) can pair off with the three members of the bishopric plus the high priest group leader and elders quorum president to visit ward families of your choosing. Please make appointments with the families, where possible.

TEMPLE SESSION

On a date before or after your ward conference, please invite all endowed members to attend a designated endowment session together (no chapel meeting). Please notify us of the date and time.

Additional Training Sessions

Stake auxiliary presidencies are asked to schedule and conduct personalized training with their ward counterparts within a few weeks before or after ward conference.

CONFERENCE REVIEW

Immediately following the conference, the stake presidency will conduct a one-hour conference review with the bishopric in the bishop’s office. The bishopric will be asked to report on: (1) your success in hastening the Work of Salvation in the ward; (2) your personal/family missionary goals; and (3) your ward’s 2015 goals. At that same time, or on another date of their choosing, the stake clerk and executive secretary will conduct individual training with their ward counterparts.

We very much look forward to meeting with your ward and we fervently pray the Lord will bless us with His Spirit that all may be “…edified and rejoice together.” (D&C 50:22)

Baptismal Service Guidelines for our stake issued in 2014

The Stake Presidency recommends the following guidelines for baptismal services conducted in our stake, as outlined in Handbook 2 and Preach My Gospel.

Recommended Elements of a Baptismal Service

·   Prelude music

·   Brief welcome by the priesthood leader conducting

·   Opening hymn

·   Opening prayer

·   Talks: One or two brief talks on gospel topics, such as baptism and the Holy Ghost; other appropriate topics may include the Restoration, the Godhead, the Atonement, principles and ordinances of the gospel, priesthood authority

·   Special musical number

·   Performance of baptismal ordinance

·   A reverence time while awaiting those involved in the ordinance; the time could be used effectively by: (1) having the full-time missionaries teach about the Restoration,
(2) bearing of testimonies; (3) inviting attendees to write their testimony or feelings on a 3x5 card to the new converts; (4) listening to music; (5) singing hymns, etc.

·   Brief testimony or remarks by converts, if desired (we encourage it – see D&C 20:37)

·   Optional: Closing remarks or testimony by the presiding authority or bishopric member

·   Closing hymn

·   Closing prayer

·   Postlude music

Additional Guidelines

·   Baptismal services should start on time and be simple, brief and spiritual.

·   The Ward Mission Leader (WML) organizes the service under the bishopric’s direction.

·   Candidates can be consulted, but do not have the final say about the program.

·   Ward and/or family members are encouraged to participate in the service.  

·   Full-time (FT) missionary involvement in the service or preparations should be minimal.

·   Consider assigning young men in the priests quorum to serve as witnesses.

·   The WML or bishopric member conducts the service, but is not required to speak or give a “welcome to the ward” message.

·   FT missionaries should encourage and prepare candidate(s) to share a testimony or feelings following the performance of the ordinance.

·   Set an expectation that home and visiting teachers, all ward missionaries and all ward council members (or their representative) attend all convert baptismal services and provide support, especially in a fellowshipping role.

·   Consider holding the service at a time conducive to fitting ward families’ busy schedules.

·   Create a culture in the ward that all members attend baptismal services.

·   Refreshments are allowed, but not required and should not detract from the ordinance.

·   Remind family and friends that photographs or video of the ordinance are not allowed.

·   The WML or assistant should fill the font, not the FT missionaries. It takes over an hour to fill the font and, for safety reasons, he should remain there until it’s full and later drained.

·   Ward leaders or members, not FT missionaries, should be responsible for other baptismal service preparations, such as printed programs, clean clothing, extra towels, etc.