15 January 2015
Dear Bishops,
Thank you for
attending Elder Ballard’s training last weekend and our special meeting on January
8 when we discussed how to turn the keys to move forward the Lord’s work in our
stake.
You are all
mighty men, called of God specifically in this day and time, to unlock the door
of revelation and powers of Heaven on behalf of the members of your ward.
As a stake presidency, we feel that the Lord
has planted in our hearts the vision to add two new units (wards or branches)
in our stake before the end of 2016. We believe strongly He will bring it
about, if we will do our part through (1) convert baptisms, (2) reactivation of
less-actives, and
(3) retention of current members by strengthening testimonies.
(3) retention of current members by strengthening testimonies.
We also feel
strongly to encourage you to consider the following two matters:
WARD MISSIONARIES: As we review the monthly mission report
(prepared by the ZLs), we continue to have deep concerns about the commitment
level of the ward missionaries. Few are attending weekly coordination meetings
and even fewer, it seems, are making themselves available in the evenings to
work side-by-side with the full-time missionaries.
Will you please identify and address the
commitment level of your ward missionaries by helping them to re-commit to
their calling…or, if necessary, consider calling new ward missionaries?
WARD MISSIONARY FAMILIES: You may remember that Elder Risenmay, our Area
Seventy, taught us that if we are not having success we should not become
discouraged, but learn from the prophet Alma and consider approaching the work
“by another way” (Alma 8:18).
You will recall
we were taught “another way” in a presentation by Elder Daniel Johnson, of the
First Quorum of Seventy, last November. We were introduced to the concept of calling
Ward Missionary Families.
Here’s how it can
happen:
· The bishopric prayerfully considers 5 to 10…or more…families in the ward
(including the families of the stake leaders, bishopric and ward council
members, even empty-nest couples and singles) to be called as Ward Missionary
Families.
· The bishopric personally visits each home, briefly teaches the doctrine of the
Work of Salvation, and then calls the
family or individual to serve as a Ward Missionary Family. You may want to
make it for a specified time, such as six months or a year. This does not
replace their current stake or ward callings.
· If the family accepts, the bishopric explains the expectation: to schedule a time in which
the full-time missionaries will meet with them for 10-15 minutes at the same
time each week and to allow the missionaries to pray with them and help
them with their commitment to share the gospel — as Elder Ballard taught us —
by regularly taking three actions: 1) set a goal or date, 2) pray daily to know
who to approach, and 3) regularly invite others to learn more.
· Hold the Ward Mission Leader or his assistant accountable to receive a report from
the full-time missionaries each week on the progress of each family. A report
is then made weekly to the bishopric.
As these families
respond to the commitment to 1) set a date, 2) pray, and 3) invite, miracles
will begin to happen in their lives and in their home. Eventually the
excitement for the work will spread like a brush fire throughout the ward as other
members observe the excitement and love these Ward Missionary Families are
experiencing.
Will you please give serious consideration to implementing
this “other way” in your ward?
this “other way” in your ward?
The key to this
approach will be in the commitment level of the leaders and the expectation of
accountability. Specifically:
· The full-time missionaries must be committed
and organized so they never fail to keep the established follow-up appointment each
week.
· The Ward Mission Leader (or his assistant) must
be committed to hold the full-time missionaries accountable on the progress of
each weekly follow-up appointment and be ready to send ward missionaries to
fill in, should the full-time missionaries have a conflict.
· The bishopric must be committed to expect and,
if necessary, request a weekly report from the WML on each Ward Missionary
Family’s progress.
Brethren, as we
take bold and ambitious steps to move the work forward, let us also follow the
patterns of success that are being taught to us by our leaders. There are few
things we can do that will have more impact in our stake than having 30 to 60 committed
families regularly 1) setting a date, 2) kneeling in prayer, pleading for the
Lord’s assistance in meeting their goals, and 3) then exercising faith by
inviting others to “come and see” the majesty of the Lord’s Plan of Happiness.
We love you and thank
you for your faithfulness. We are especially grateful that each of you has a
deep desire to turn the keys of missionary work in your ward to bring forth the
blessings and miracles of Heaven in this part of His vineyard.
