Training on Patriarchal Blessings

20 April 2016

Bishops (please forward to your counselors)…

Thank you for participating in our Bishopric Training last night.

I wanted to personally correct a reference I made. I suggested that Genesis 49 talks about “Isaac blessing Ephraim and Manasseh.” Actually it’s chapter 48 of Genesis and it was Jacob, who blessed his grandsons (Joseph’s sons) Ephraim and Manasseh…and Joseph.

Chapter 49 tells about Jacob (Israel) blessing his other sons. Both chapters may be helpful in instructing about patriarchal blessings.

My apology for not checking the scriptural source before speaking.

More importantly, I can’t emphasize enough the need for us to teach more effectively why we have patriarchal blessings and why members will want to “claim their blessings.” Many are missing out (Brother Hardy gives fewer than two dozen blessings in our stake per year) only because they’re not aware of it or unaware of it’s importance.

Please consider ways you can address this in your interviews and possibly involve other ward leaders in teaching and training on patriarchal blessings. I remind you that it is always appropriate to invite Ken Hardy, our stake patriarch, to speak in your ward sacrament meeting or at a BYD.

On the other hand, we remind you to be cautious about encouraging new converts to receive a patriarchal blessing too soon in their gospel journey. In our zeal to get new converts involved in all the exciting blessings of the gospel, we can sometimes move them too soon to patriarchal blessings. Yes, we want new converts to participate in family history and temple work immediately upon their coming into the Church, but give more time and gospel maturity before introducing them to patriarchal blessings. 

If necessary, please address this with your Ward Mission Leader and the full-time missionaries. From a new convert’s perspective, where spiritual things may be very new,  such a blessing can appear to be a fortune-telling experience, which we must avoid.

Thank you for the many ways you bless the members of this stake through your teaching and gospel training.

Gratefully,

President Lewis

Emphasizing building security

20 April 2016

Bishops, Zone Leaders and Other Leaders…

We are concerned about the security of the stake center. You may have heard that recently there were break-ins and tens of thousands of dollars in damage to two LDS chapels in the area, one in Hillsboro and the other in Vancouver.

 Just yesterday during the daytime a member of our stake found the stake center vacant but three exterior doors unlocked—the north (or stake) entry, the Family History Center entry and the single exterior door leading from the bishops’ offices.

We are grateful these wonderful meetinghouses are used often and treated well. Missionaries come and go throughout the daytime. Members and visitors frequent the FH Center. Sports activities are going on often into the late hours.

However, security of the building must become a high priority for everyone.

Will you please give this added attention by emphasizing with all stake and ward leaders, full-time missionaries and all members of the importance of protecting these beautiful meetinghouses in our stake, especially at a time when vandalism at other LDS buildings is in the news?

Thank you,

The Stake Presidency

Impact of Sabbath Day training in the Mount Hood Stake

February 26, 2016

What have you seen happening in our stake regarding faith and the Sabbath day?
The following are excerpts from stake and ward leaders:

• ●  “I think as a whole, the training has opened up the topic of reverence for the Sabbath Day to a level that hadn't existed prior.”
  
• ●  “I have seen many many more talks and lessons about increasing faith and keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. I hear a much greater emphasis on both of those from general members as they speak about church.”
  
• ●  “I now try to concentrate on the spirit of the Sabbath, rather than the thou­-shalt-­nots of the Sabbath.”
  
• ●  “There are a few families who have taken the message to heart and are implementing changes in their home. I can report at least one marriage strengthened that had been struggling.” (Bishop)
  
• ●  “I have felt a noticeable appreciation for the Sacrament. I feel that the effect of our efforts to teach Sabbath day observance has helped members reduce travel and attend meetings when out of town.” (Bishop)
  
• ●  “We don’t always see what is happening. But in interviews and conversations, the principles of sabbath observance is constantly talked about and acknowledged.” (Bishop)
  
• ●  “I’m aware of in two wards the ward councils have watched the videos and held discussions on the various topics, discussing how they can implement the teachings and lead by example personally.”
  
• ●  “What I’ve noticed is more talks, lessons and discussions about Sabbath Day observance and what that means. I believe the ward leaders have taken to heart the training and are implementing the ideas.”
  
• ●  “After our training in a combined Priesthood ­ Relief Society meeting, the reverence the next sacrament meeting was amazing. The reverence before the meeting was incredible and the spirit was great.” (Bishop)
  
• ●  “We are meeting with our Young Men and Young Women in a BYD to discuss their role in reverence, especially with sacrament preparation. We are having fewer problems with children running in the building. Families report that they’re having FHE lessons on reverence and it's making a difference.” (Bishop)
  
  
• What, if anything, has changed in sacrament meetings because of this training?
  

• ●  “I have seen a gradual increase in reverence. For the most part many are respectfully in their seats between 10 and 5 min til the start listening to prelude music.”
  
• ●  “After the singing, the organist plays another verse of the sacrament hymn at a quieter level. It has been very effective. Also the sacrament is passed to a quieter, more reverent congregation.”
  
• ●  “The bishopric and ward leadership try to take their seat at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Members are following the instruction to confine visiting in the foyer.”
  
• ●  “Talks are more focused on the Savior and members are having spiritual experiences during the sacrament.”
  
• ●  “More talks have been centered on the Sabbath so we know members are getting the message.”
  
• ●  “More talks are focused on the blessings of Sabbath Day and our sacrament meetings are more reverent.”
  
• ●  “I’ve noticed more input from the ward council on the planning of sacrament meetings.”
  
• ●  “The changes we have made in the our sacrament meetings, coupled with increased attention to Sabbath observance, seemed to have helped our overall reverence in the meeting.”
  
• ●  “The ward is changing its habits. Members are greeting each other in the hall and the foyer before entering the chapel. This is creating a more reverent start to our meeting.”
  
• ●  “Families have made standards that will help them in making sacrament meeting more reverent.”
  

What have families been doing to observe the Sabbath at home?
We had occasion to survey several families in the stake in answer to this question. Here are excerpts:

• ●  “As a result of the last few months' emphasis on Sabbath day observance our family has made two noticeable changes. We always use music in the morning to bring the spirit into the home and we always arrive on time to church meetings. Also we've decided to make and eat simpler meals. It has been a bit liberating for me. I'm not sure the children really notice, but now we have more people in the kitchen helping to prepare the simple meal and it is easier for everyone because we had always cleaned the kitchen together on Sundays.”
  
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• ●  “We have tried to focus more on doing specific things to observe the Sabbath, such as encouraging the kids to really focus on reverence during the Sacrament, writing letters to missionaries, playing games or doing puzzles together as a family.”
  
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• ●  “We have tried to put a larger emphasis on building personal relationships with each other on Sunday. We have noticed that with technology today they forget the importance of the personal touch our personal conversation. So we have encouraged them to build their relationships with one another specifically on Sunday because during the week we are so busy. So we play games together, watch old family videos together, board games, visiting individuals and taking them a treat, spending time talking to each other at the lunch and dinner table.”
  
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• ●  “We've made watching the trainings a part of our scripture study and talked about them as a family. We loved that the approach was to find the Sabbath day a delight. We wanted to have ‘fun’ in our family, but we were typically so busy we felt like fun was a secondary priority. We are so glad to get a green light to enjoy the day with our families. I know that sounds silly, but we are so excited about some of the things we can do now. The Sabbath day is a delight!”
  
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• ●  “I have been trying to feel the spirit of the Sabbath more and make it more of a delight. When I do this, I actually find myself saying ‘yes’ more often to the children. I already feel blessed by some of the routines we have on Saturday that make Sunday such a joy. I have committed to making sure I call my mother or grandmother each Sunday. Our daughter Nicole has chosen Sundays as the day to visit Sharon Cook in the nursing home. She has ‘adopted’ her as a grandparent. I have a goal of teaching the children about family history on Sundays.”
  
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• ●  “Our changes have been subtle and some weeks have been better than others but these are some of the slight changes that we've made and/or are re­making: focusing on Fast Sunday beginning on Saturday; we take time on Sunday evening to do family business where discuss the upcoming week's activities and who has the FHE lesson; we're making an extra effort to be at church not only on time but we're trying to be in our seats 10 minutes early while keeping the visiting to the foyers.”
  
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• ●  “We haven't really changed much of our actions, but as our son, Jacob, put it, we have changed our attitude. Our thoughts are more on making sure what we are doing has a purpose, that it is something which is part of serving the Lord, whether that is studying scriptures, spending time with our extended family or visiting the sick or lonely. We also have tried to focus more on the Sacrament and the purpose and meaning of it, why we take it weekly, how we personally should be prepared to partake fully of its blessings.”