In response to an evangelical friend who invited me to see the new Christian movie 'I Can Only Imagine'

29 March 2018

Hi, (Name)…

You and I have a lot in common. We both believe in large families. We both love the Lord and enjoy having Him in our lives. We both seek good, kind and caring people as friends.

You are that to me. You’ve always been a kind and caring friend, for which I appreciate very much.

I hope you will receive the enclosed copy of the Book of Mormon as a gift from a kind and caring friend.

When you mentioned to me last week that you once received a copy of the Book of Mormon from a friend in college, it occurred to me—we’re no spring chickens any more J—that it’s been a l-o-o-o-ng time since you’ve even thumbed through a copy.

Scott, I share this with all good intentions—not to try and convert you, but simply as a way of sharing the goodness of my faith just as you shared the goodness of your faith and the faith of the wonderful makers of “I Can Only Imagine.”

Please don’t judge my faith…whatever you think of us…like a commodity based on a 4- or 5-star rating (or 1- or 2-stars J), i.e. what others think of us and what others say we believe.  Please go to the source before passing judgment. The Book of Mormon is one of those sources.

We love the Bible as you can see by the many footnotes (cross-references) in the enclosed book. And we love you and all of God’s children. We don’t consider ourselves better or more favored of Him. We’re in this together and, like you, we seek happiness through Jesus Christ.

I hope this is helpful. Thanks for being a great friend.

Crismon 

A recommendation on how the Sunday School can quickly get a last-minute substitute teacher for a class without a teacher

26 March 2018

Bishop (name),

It is always good to visit our ward. Brother (name)’s talk on the Plan of Salvation was an especially timely and well prepared pre-Easter message. Great job!

I appreciate you allowing my grandsons to assist with the sacrament during their visit this past weekend. Sadly, they reported later that they attended Sunday School class but a teacher never showed up and no one apparently looked in. I think the boys said the class members (14-15 year olds) decided to play “spiritual hangman.” (I don’t know if they were being sarcastic.)

I don’t bring this to your attention to criticize you or our ward SS presidency. I know these things happen (and, of course, Murphy’s Law says they’re going to always happen with the stake president’s family visits :)

But, if that’s really what happened, you may want to work with (name) and his counselors and remind them that one of the most important tasks they have is to look in on all classes—especially the youth classes—every Sunday to make sure a teacher is in place. 

I also realize this is every SS presidency’s most difficult challenge and fear that a teacher won’t show and won’t even alert the presidency. It really puts leaders in a bind when they do that. Good SS presidencies will quickly fill in, which may be what happened yesterday...that they were all last-minute substituting and couldn’t check on the other classes.

If this hasn’t been done already, can I suggest that a SS presidency identify the members of each class, especially the youth classes, and create a list of potential on-the-spot substitutes for each class, preferably parents of the youth in each class. Then ask the parents who would be willing to be called on to teach their child’s class last minute should a teacher not show up. So those times when the stake president’s family visits :) and a teacher doesn’t show the SS presidency can quickly turn to parents or other adult members, who have agreed to pinch-hit teach. 

That way the SS presidency doesn’t have to fill in but can continue to check on all the classes and observe the teaching in anticipation of what training is needed in the next Teacher Council Meeting.

Hope that helps,

PrL

In response to a bishop, who received a confession of fornication from a sister in his ward

23 March 2018

Bishop May,

I’ve been thinking about our conversation on this subject. 

I feel there’s yet another way for the sister in question to demonstrate her true desire to repent and that is she helps her boyfriend seek repentance, too. While she is not responsible for his actions or his activity in the Church, she can show the Lord how much she wants to be forgiven by helping her friend to understand the importance of him going to his bishop and making things right with the Lord, as she is doing.

Frankly, she’s going to want to know if he’s willing to do that. If he’s not interested in confessing and forsaking, she will then know that their relationship will not end well. There’s no possibility of a happy, long-term relationship, which is what she really desires…not just to be held and cared for by a man.

So in addition to forsaking their behavior that has led to this deep sorrow, she will want to do everything she can to convince him to get his life in order. If he responds favorably, then they’ll have a solid footing on which to base a new relationship of respect, admiration and mutual yearning to regain trust with God. If he declines, then she’ll know she can't trust him, that in his eyes their relationship is all about his personal gratification.

When we visit again to determine if a disciplinary council is needed, among other things I’ll want to know what efforts she’s making to help him and how she is responding to his response.

Thanks,

PrL

In response to Paul Hansen giving up his time in an elders quorum during ward conference

20 March 2018

Paul,

I appreciate your kindness to Pres. Leavenworth last Sunday that you didn’t want him to feel badly that he misread our ward conference instructions. it was very nice of you to give your time to their assigned instructor and ask him to facilitate the topic on Personal Sanctification.

I don’t expect that situation to arise again, but just so you’re aware, if it should, that my preference is that you invite the instructor (and the quorum leadership) to teach their prepared lesson the following Sunday.

It’s important to me for two reasons:

1) I feel strongly the elders need to hear from you and come to feel how strongly the stake presidency feels about the subject;

2) We need everyone, especially in Estacada, to see how to facilitate such a discussion, especially with pair shares and small group discussions—something apparently they’ve never been taught or seen in action in the Estacada TCM.

A prime example was the Estacada TCM in the ward last Sunday. We had a wonderful discussion, but there was no modeling of how to engage EVERYONE in the discussion. I feel badly the Stake SS presidency apparently has not responded to my request that we teach and train their ward SS how to conduct the TCM and model the “Teaching in the Savior’s Way” with the leaders and teachers.

Anyway, please know I’m not upset or disappointed in you…but should the occasion arise again, my preference is that you facilitate the discussion and model how such a discussion should be conducted to result in a change in the lives of those in attendance. I confess, while I tried to model in the HP group, I failed in some ways to get the message into the hearts of the brethren. 

Hopefully our “practicing” in ward conferences will help us become more effective in training the wards and branches down the road.

Thanks for your wonderful leadership…and unselfishness, which you demonstrated in the EQ last Sunday.

Crismon

Expectations of all High Councilors in the Mount Hood Stake

19 March 2018

The Lord and the Stake Presidency value greatly your service on the Stake High Council. As stated in Handbook 2, 15.3, you serve as an extension of the presidency empowered to “help oversee the work of the Church in the stake.” Because you are called by the Lord with a scriptural mandate (D&C 102:1), we honor you and trust you will succeed in your service.

This document was prepared to help you become the most effective High Councilor possible, empowered to move forward the Work of Salvation in our stake.

As a member of the Stake Priesthood Executive Committee:

• Live the gospel so you can receive revelation and be an example to others
• Bear fervent testimony of the gospel and of the Lord’s hand in stake matters
• Be a faithful home teacher
• Attend the temple regularly, including service in the temple when circumstances allow
• Complete assignments as outlined by the Stake Presidency and Handbook 2, 15.3.

To assist in being an effective High Councilor:

• Notify a presidency member in advance when you are unable to attend a PEC meeting
• Monitor and report on your assignments listed on the online High Councilor Tasks tracking sheet at least weekly
• Regularly check your box in the stake clerk’s office
• Check and reply to emails, phone messages and text messages at least once every 24 hours and notify a member of the stake presidency when you are unable to check that often
• Make yourself available at least once each month to meet personally in a stewardship interview with your assigned member of the stake presidency
• Prior to each Stake PEC meeting review the online agenda and update any stake business or agenda items that pertain to you to help expedite stake business discussions

Empowering High Councilors and Making Our Stake PEC Meetings More Effective

19 March 2018

After 1) reviewing the Brethren’s admonition to “reduce and simplify” and 2) referencing Handbook 2, 15.3 and 18.3.6, the Stake Presidency has made the following changes effective March 15, 2018 to the Stake Priesthood Executive Committee (PEC) with the desire to help all of us become more effective in our priesthood leadership responsibilities.

Objectives for regular Stake PEC meetings (in order of priority):

1. Reduce and simplify, as we have been trained by the Brethren (new 1 hour meeting)
2. Train High Councilors (HC) to take initiative in their assignments and how to become more effective and accountable (new monthly stewardship interviews)
3. Seek PEC counsel on stake direction and business (15-30 min for stake business)
4. Fulfill responsibility of Stake Disciplinary Councils (scheduled for 9:00 am PEC Sundays)
5. Guide and prepare HC to speak to the congregations in our stake (gospel discussion)
6. Educate on direction from Brethren and seek counsel on how to implement in our stake (training in Stake Council following quarterly Coordinating Council Meetings)

Plans to achieve these objectives:

• Continue to hold PEC meetings on the 1st and 3rd Sundays
• Eliminate MP and AP committees
• Rearrange assignments so High Councilors may have both Melchizedek priesthood quorum and stake auxiliary advisory responsibilities (see attached chart)
• Align stewardship reporting as follows:
• 1 HC assigned to President Lewis
• 6 HC assigned to President Hansen
• 5 HC assigned to President Christiansen
• In place of committee meetings after each PEC meeting, members of the Stake Presidency will conduct brief stewardship interviews (SI) with two to three High Councilors from 8:00 to 8:45 am
• Limit PEC meetings to one hour beginning at 6:55 am and using the following format:

6:55 - 7:15 AM - Opening devotional, including hymn, prayer and 15-minute training by
   Stake Presidency on “Teaching in the Savior’s Way”

7:15 - 7:45 AM - Discuss and sustain leader recommendations, including assignments
   to extend calls, sustain and set apart those approved

7:45 - 8:00 AM - Review stake calendar, business and/or missionary report(s)

8:00 - 8:45 AM - Stewardship interviews

Introducing a way to empower High Councilors as well as reduce and simplify

19 March 2018

Brothers J. Anderson, Budge, Brandt, Dobson and D. Brown… 

(with a copy to members of the Stake Council plus the bishops and branch presidents in our stake)

We missed you in Stake PEC meeting yesterday. We hope you are feeling better and/or home safe from your travels.

During our meeting yesterday we introduced a plan to empower High Councilors and hopefully make our Stake PEC meetings more effective.

Following are some of the changes that were announced (as you can also see in the attached “Empowering HC Overview” document):

1. Our meetings have been moved to 6:55 am on the 1st and 3rd Sundays; 

2. Quarterly Stake Council meetings will begin at 7:30 am;

3. Both the PEC and Stake Council meetings are to last only an hour, if possible;

4. The PEC meetings will be followed by monthly stewardship interviews with your assigned member of the stake presidency;

5. Melchizedek and Aaronic Priesthood committees have been eliminated and your assignments may include both Melchizedek Priesthood and stake auxiliary responsibilities.

The attached documents hopefully will help explain the changes announced yesterday. We hope you will find the Description of Assignments especially helpful. You will receive an invitation soon to access the Google Docs with detailed descriptions of your assignments. We hope all High Councilors will help us keep these documents updated and complete to serve as a resource in your monthly stewardship interviews and a blessing to those who will some day succeed us in the Stake PEC.

It is an honor to serve with you in this wonderful work of the Lord. We appreciate very much you studying the attached documents as we seek to raise the stature of High Councilor in our stake and follow the Brethren’s counsel to reduce and simplify.

Gratefully,

The Stake Presidency

An idea for the YSA branch and how to raise the stature of Sunday School

17 March 2018

President Westover,

I was thinking about your branch the other day and this thought came to me.

My observation over the years is that many, if not most, YSA units gave announcements AFTER sacrament meeting (like you do) because so many YSA arrive late and we understandably want as many as possible to hear the announcements about the branch activities that week.

I wondered: what if you turned that time into an abbreviated Sunday School opening exercise? In other words, instead of the branch presidency member getting up and making the announcements, have a member of the SS presidency go to the stand during the closing hymn and and after the prayer have him stand at the pulpit and do the following:

1. Welcome everyone to Sunday School;

2. Make the announcements of what’s coming up in the branch that week (as the branch presidency would have done);

3. Explain which classes will be taught that day in SS and where the classrooms are located for each;

4. Excuse everyone to go to their classes.

The benefits:

1. It gives stature to your SS presidency and that YSA provide key leadership in the branch;

2. It gives the congregation an expectation that everyone is expected to attend a SS class (and not leave);

3. It can encourage members to please go to class, don’t loiter too long in the chapel;

4. It adds importance to Sunday School classes so hopefully teachers will recognize the importance of their class and invest time in preparation.

Just a thought. Hope it helps,

PrL

An appeal for financial support of the Hawkins family with four missionary sons

16 March 2018

Bishops and Branch Presidents...

In all my years in the Church (all my life…and this is my big 7-0 year—a lot of years) I don’t think I’ve personally known a family with 4 children on a mission at the same time. I’ve not seen anything like it since the four sons of Mosiah! :)

We have that amazing “feat” in our stake right now. I had the privilege of setting apart Dustin and Austin Hawkins this week and Bishop and Sister Hawkins, of the Estacada Ward, now have both sets of their twin sons serving in the field—and will have for the next 16 months.

Preston is in Colorado, Dustin is in the Dominican Republic (the older twins), with the younger twins, Trenton in Argentina and Austin in the MTC in Provo headed soon to Minnesota.

We salute the Hawkins family and are grateful for their family’s sacrifice, example and service.

Speaking of sacrifice…the Hawkins are not asking for financial help, but needless to say supporting four missionaries is going to be strain, as it would be on any family. While they are blessed with extended family, many who will be helping, it’s still going to be a financial stretch to support all four boys, who fortunately raised enough to get themselves into the field and some through their first months.

Many of you, if not all, have built up a surplus of funds in your ward or branch General Missionary account where members have donated over the years for missionaries in your ward and you just haven’t needed all of the funds to support those missionaries. Please review your account and if you feel there are extra funds you can spare, this would be a great time to send a check from your ward or branch to the Estacada Ward to deposit in their General Missionary account. Feel no obligation, but we want you to be aware. 

This is also a good time to approach those families in your ward who have come to you privately to say, “If there’s ever a need to support a missionary, please let me know.” Feel free to forward this email to those wonderful, generous members so they’ll now know there is an opportunity to bless a missionary family. They can donate to your ward/branch Missionary Fund and you can then transfer money to the Estacada Ward.

Thank you for giving this your consideration as we all rally around this family with four mighty missionary sons.

Gratefully,

President Lewis

Photo: Preston (Colorado), Trenton (Argentina), Austin (Minnesota) and Dustin (Dominican Republic)

In response to Leslie Hatton, who was released as a temple worker because of refusing to change her hair style

1 March 2018

Dear (name),

Thank you so much for taking the time to write and to share your feelings so forthrightly. 

Please know you are wonderful and the Lord loves you very much. I’m confident He’s not upset at you and He finds you worthy of every blessing He has to offer. Thank you for living worthy of a temple recommend and for using it as much as you do. By the fact that you can enter the temple without limitation says you are “acceptable” to God. I’m so sorry there have been times when you didn’t feel you were acceptable to Him or to others.

I would caution you not to confuse standards with sin. 

As you know, sin is making unwise choices, due to our weaknesses or natural tendencies, and, even more seriously, an out-and-out rebellion by rejecting God’s laws. On the other hand, standards are established by those called of God to set man-made guidelines…sometimes rules...to help us follow the admonition of the Paul who declared: “Wherefore come out from among them (the world), and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing…” (2 Corinthians 6:17)

So standards are simply a way to separate ourselves from the world. (Aren’t we glad the Lord--not the world--runs the temple? If a business were to run the temple, there would be an admission fee at the door and a huge neon sign on I-5 with the message: “Mormon Temple. Get salvation here.” :)

Fortunately, it is the House of the Lord and so those called to preside over this sacred edifice are doing everything they can to make it a place of the most sacred worship, prayer and contemplation possible—a place  separate from the world. In the end, it is the leaders’ decision what standards are needed to make it such a place. God doesn’t call perfect leaders. So leaders make mistakes, sometimes decisions that hurt feelings, as has happened for you—for which we deeply regret.

Sometimes, offense can be taken when, as you’ve noticed, standards vary. For instance, you can enter the temple with a beard but you can’t enroll at BYU. So it can appear to be hypocritical. But it’s really an opportunity for us to demonstrate faith in the Lord by trusting and supporting the decisions of those the Lord has called. If a leader makes a mistake, then in time the Lord will correct or rectify that mistake. Even though it may be the wrong decision by the leader, the Lord will still deliver the  promised blessings when we choose to support and sustain the leaders He had called. That's why we sustain leaders so freely in our meetings, no matter their performance, we will still trust God that He deliver the promised blessings despite the leader's capacity, judgement or opinions.

One other thing…you have mentioned multiple times that the sparkle and color in your hair is you; it’s who you are.

I don’t agree. If it were you—your identify--you would have been putting sparkle and color in your hair since you were a little girl. The only reason you do it now is because it is now a popular style and, when you tried it, your family really liked it so naturally you want to continue with it. But wouldn’t you want your children and grandchildren to be more proud of you for following your leaders, even when you don’t agree with them, than the compliments and strokes you get by insisting on keeping that look? Wearing stylish hair does NOT say you are evil or rebellious. But because it’s a style, made popular in the world, the temple president has chosen to require workers not to adopt the look of the world. It’s simply a standard (a man-made rule) to help us live Paul’s admonition to “be ye separate.”

I hope this helps. I apologize if I have rambled. Please know you are loved by the Lord, by me and by everyone else who knows you. You are acceptable to God in every way. You have not sinned by choosing a hair style over a standard. But, as with all standards (whether at a job or in church), failure to abide by the standards can result in consequences—even restrictions in how we work or serve. 

I hope in time, as this hair style fades in popularity, you will let us know when you are ready to change it back so we can re-submit a recommendation for you to serve in the temple. You were a wonderful ordinance worker and I know the temple presidency would love to have you back when you’re ready.

Gratefully,

Crismon Lewis

President, Mount Hood Stake