Expectations of Candidates Preparing to Serve Full-Time Missions • Updated in 2018

24 April 2018

Candidate’s Standards of Worthiness and Goals

·   Be worthy and prepared to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood

·   Be worthy and prepared to make covenants in the temple

·   Worthily hold a limited-use temple recommend and use it

·   Graduate from Seminary or receive a Certificate of Completion

·   Receive a patriarchal blessing

·   Be active in the Young Men and Young Women programs; achieving the Duty to God award and Young Women Recognition are especially worthy goals

Candidate’s Spiritual Preparation

·   Personally read the Book of Mormon cover to cover

·   Use Preach My Gospel in your personal study

·   Have personal prayer night and morning

·   Personally study the scriptures daily

·   Learn to fast with a purpose

·   Attempt to make regular entries in a personal journal

·   Regularly bear your testimony in a testimony meeting or class

Candidate’s Preparation Activities

·   Once ordained, consecrate oil and administer to the sick

·   Serve as a faithful ministering brother or sister

·   Go on exchanges with the full-time missionaries in your ward

·   Regularly attend a Missionary Preparation class

·   Discover Family History and prepare at least one name for temple ordinances 

·   Invite a friend or acquaintance to come to church or learn more about your faith

·   Learn to conduct music enough to lead a hymn in a meeting

Expectations of Parents of the Candidate

·   Help your son or daughter to prepare spiritually through regular family prayer, family scripture study and Family Home Evening

·   Help them to prepare financially ($400 per month x 18 or 24 months)

·   Assist them in completing the online Missionary Recommendation application

·   Teach them the Temple Preparation course

·   Use Preach My Gospel as the curriculum for regular Family Home Evenings

Expectations of Ward Leaders of Youth

·   Instruct youth, parents, youth leaders and teachers about these expectations

·   Prepare classes and activities with these expectations in mind

·   Meet regularly with candidates and their parents to monitor progress

All candidates should become familiar with two websites on lds.org:

·   https://www.lds.org/callings/missionary?lang=eng

·   https://www.lds.org/topics/missionary-preparation?lang=eng

A plea to help parents prepare more diligently their young men to serve missions

25 April 2018

Bishops, Branch Presidents and Stake Leaders,

I must confess I’ve become a bit disheartened lately as I’ve begun to visit individually with all high school seniors in our stake (or as many as will accept an invitation to visit with me). So far I’ve met with four young men from the Damascus, Estacada, Sandy River and Walters Hill wards.

First let me say, these are still boys. They’re teenagers! So I need to remember they're still young and consequently cut them some slack. Also, I recognize that meeting with four doesn’t mean this is a valid reflection of all 20 of our high school seniors (9 YM, 11 YW). But all are 18 years of age and on the brink of graduating from high school thus being eligible to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, make covenants in the temple and serve a full-time mission. 

All four YM come from active homes where the father holds the Melchizedek Priesthood. So, frankly, I expected a bit more.

So far, I have found that…

…none are reading scriptures daily;

…none are praying daily (usually 2-3 times per week);

…none are even attempting to say morning personal prayers in addition to their occasional evening prayers;

…none have personally read the Book of Mormon cover to cover;

…none have been taught by their father about the Melchizedek Priesthood;

…only one fasts regularly;

…only one attends the missionary prep class at the Institute;

…only two pay tithing consistently;

…only two received their patriarchal blessing;

…only two are on track to serve a full-time mission.

I forgot to ask about a current, limited-use temple recommend. My guess is that there would be two.

You can see why this has been a disheartening experience. 

This is NOT an indictment of the youth in our stake. But it may be an indication that parents are not stepping up to prepare their sons to (1) receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, (2) make covenants in the temple and (3) serve a full-time mission.

I am attaching an updated version of the Expectations of Full-Time Missionary Candidates that the stake presidency first issued four years ago. Please consider using this document to teach parents about their sacred role in preparing their children at an early age—as early as eight years of age, if not earlier—to understand the expectations and importance of their sons (and daughters) being prepared to (1) receive the Melchizedek Priesthood (for YM), (2) make covenants in the temple and (3) serve a full-time mission (optional for YW).

Regular family prayers, family scripture study, Family Home Evening, and personally ministering to each of their children have never been more important in the lives of our youth. We need parents who are engaged in their children’s personal devotions—helping them become converted so they are prepared for a life of enjoying the blessings of the gospel.

Please make this a topic of discussion in stake, ward, quorum (RS class) and family councils. 

As stake and ward leaders, our role is to minister to parents and do all that we can to assist them in preparing their families—their posterity—for the Second Coming. Hopefully the Brethren’s emphasis on ministering will give us an even more effective vehicle for reaching and aiding parents.

Gratefully,

President Lewis

P.S. Feel free to forward this email, if you choose.

Resources, including mini-lessons, for training on Effective Ministering in our stake

18 April 2018

To help create a culture of ministering in the Mount Hood Stake, the following are outlines of mini-lessons to be used in classes, councils and presidency meetings. The videos can be downloaded off of the ministering.lds.org website.

Doctrine of Ministering

Why Do We Minister?

·   Luke 22:32, John 21:15-16, Handbook 2: 3.2.3

·   Video: “Why We Minister” (2:44), “A Vision of Ministering” (1:19)

·   Discuss: Why is it so important to the Lord that we become effective ministers?

Principles of Ministering

1. With Love

·   Matthew 22:37-39, John 10:11

·   Video: “A Vision of Ministering” (1:19)

·   Discuss: What does it mean to minister in a “bold, new, holier way” (see Elder Holland’s charge in the video) and how can we implement it in our ward or branch?

2. Simple and Individualized

·   Matthew 10:39, 3 Nephi 11:15, 17:21

·   Video: “Simple, Individualized and Led by the Spirit” (2:20)

·   Discuss: How can we make our ministering more simple and individualized?

3. Led by the Spirit

·   D&C 43:15-16, 49:27, 64:29

·   Video: “Effective Ministering” (start at 2:50)

·   Discuss: What can we do to be led by the Spirit in our ministering?

4. Invitation to Act

·   Alma 5:62, D&C 20:53 (“strengthen”)

·   Video: “Invitation to Act” (3:24)

·   Discuss: Just as Church leaders have given us an invitation to act, what kinds of invitations to act should we make to those we minister to?

OTHER ELEMENTS OF MINISTERING

1. Accountability

·   John 17:18, D&C 20:51

·   Videos: “Overview of Ministering Interviews” (3:53), “Ministering Interviews” (19:17)

·   Discuss: Why are we to obtain an “account” and not a “count” in ministering interviews? How will ministering interviews bless those we minister to?

2. Unity

·   John 13:34-35, Mosiah 23:18

·   Video: “One Coordinated Effort” (2:49)

·   Discuss: How does “one coordinated effort” help the bishop in his responsibilities and bless all the members of the ward or branch?

3. Involve Youth in Ministering

·   Mormon 1:15, D&C 84:106

·   Videos: “Ministering Interviews” (start at 1:50, and at 11:07); “The Faith of Youth: The Ennis Family” (3:34) see “Hastening the Work of Salvation” website on lds.org

·   Discuss: What is the purpose of youth companions in ministering and how can we help them catch the vision of their role?

4. Use Technology

·   D&C 20:53, 104:15

·   Video: “Ministering Interviews” (start at 9:03)

·   Discuss: How can we effectively use—and not ‘mis-use’--technology in our ministering?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

·   Videos: “Ministering” (7:07), search for title on YouTube Mormon Channel; “Ministering The Lord’s Hands” (2:40), Mormon Channel; “Peter and John Heal a Man Crippled Since Birth” (3:22), Bible videos; “Ministering: Know and Love Those You Serve” (1:50), Mormon Channel; “The Savior Understands Me” (3:37), Mormon Channel.

·   Additional Scriptures: Exodus 18:20, Matthew 9:10-13, Mark 2:15-17, Luke 5:27-32, John 15:8-9-10, Galatians 5:13, Mosiah 2:17, 18:8-9, Alma 17:1-3,
3 Nephi 13:25, Moroni 6:4, D&C 18:10-16, 20:47 and 51, 42:29, 108:7

·   Publications: Handbook 2: 3.2.3; Preach My Gospel, Chapter 11: “How Do I Help People Make and Keep Commitments?”

·   Websites: comefollowme.lds.org, click on Relief Society or Elders Quorum, then click on “April 2018: Come Follow Me” and finally select Fourth-Sunday Meetings for support material to be used in 4^th Sunday class discussions on the topic for the next six months of “Ministering to Others.”

Guidelines for training ministers brothers, sisters and couples in our stake

18 April 2018

Bishops, Branch Presidents and Stake Leaders…

We are very enthused about the recent announcements by Church leaders that we are to take a new approach to ministering.

Please review the attached documents (a cover letter plus an “Effective Ministering” document with mini-lesson outlines) from the Stake Presidency explaining actions that Relief Society and elders quorum presidencies are to take immediately.

Our desire is to introduce promptly to all adult members the principles taught in the training videos outlined on the ministering.lds.org website with the hope that we can begin to create a culture of ministering in our stake and help all to understand this is a new direction—not the “old” home and visiting teaching just re-packaged.

Will you please forward this email to all leaders within your stewardship?

Also attached is the 4-page document shared earlier with additional clarifications on how our ministering efforts are to be structured in each ward and branch.

Thank you for giving this your immediate attention and moving forward the ministering efforts in our stake.

The Stake Presidency

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Following the guidance received earlier this month in that historic General Conference, we desire to create a culture in our stake of “Ministering in the Savior’s way.”

To help facilitate this, as we’ve been instructed to do, the presidencies of the new, combined elders quorums will be reorganized by end of this month (Sunday, April 15: Pioneer Branch, Estacada Ward; Sunday, April 22: Damascus, Powell Valley and Walters Hill Wards; Sunday, April 29: Sandy River and Tickle Creek Wards.)

We ask that all Relief Society and elders quorum presidencies move forward as quickly as possible with the implementation of the announced changes in the following two ways:

·   TEACH THE PRINCIPLES OF MINISTERING: Begin immediately to conduct a brief
(5-7 min.) discussion each Sunday in your third-hour class or quorum meeting around one of the doctrines, principles or key elements of ministering listed on the attached document. We recommend that at the beginning of each class that you read one of the scriptures or watch one of the designated training videos and then pose a question followed by a brief discussion including how to apply that principle to our personal ministering efforts.

This does not apply to your 4^th Sunday class since the entire time is to be used in discussing  “Ministering to Others” as outlined on comefollowme.lds.org.

·   BEGIN TO IDENTIFY NEEDS: The Relief Society and elders quorum presidencies are to meet soon to make recommendations of ministering companionships for approval by the bishop. We have been taught to individualize or customize our ministering to each household. One step you can take immediately is to have the current ministering sisters and brothers (formerly visiting and home teachers) counsel with the ACTIVE members they’re assigned to on how they want to be ministered to—a monthly or quarterly visit? a lesson? an occasional phone call? That way you can begin to identify the households with the most and least needs so that ministering assignments can be focused on those who merit the most attention, including new converts, less-active, elderly, singles, etc.

We appreciate so much your desire to follow the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve in establishing a “bold, new, holier way” approach to ministering in our stake. We testify that you have been called of the Lord for this day to help all of us minister more effectively in our stake.

Reminding a bishop to avoid drawing attention from the ordinance of the sacrament to the young men

10 April 2018

Bishop,

Thank you for allowing me to participate in your sacrament meeting last Sunday. You and your bishopric are doing a wonderful job.

I did come away with one concern. It may not be a concern after all, and maybe just happened that one time. But I noticed the young men blessing and passing the sacrament seemed to stand at attention waiting to be “excused” by Brother Pierce.

Our preference is that the bishopric member conducting the meeting doesn’t say anything about the young Aaronic Priesthood holders, especially NOT thank them or excuse them to sit with their families. We ask that they complete their priesthood duty and then immediately and reverently excuse themselves—without any recognition or fanfare--to sit with their families. 

While we appreciate very much their service, going through the formality of thanking and excusing them uses precious sacrament meeting time and it becomes a formality that can draw attention to the young men and away from the ordinance itself. It’s the same reason we ask them not to place their left hand behind their back when passing the trays...or wear bright colored shirts or ties...or comb their hair in a wild way—it draws attention away from the sacrament and to the young man himself.

Thanks for helping to correct that, if needed, in your ward.

President Lewis