Raising an expectation of 100% ministering interviews accountability

22 October 2018

High Councilors and Bishops / Branch Presidents...

Now that the 3rd Quarter report is complete, we are able to monitor the ministering interviews in each unit. See attached report.

While 76% for Elders and 78% for Relief Society is a good start (for which we are most grateful), we also note that these interviews can be conducted over the phone or even by email or text, if necessary (not ideal, but better than no contact at all). In my opinion, there really isn’t any valid reason every ministering companionship cannot receive some level of stewardship accountability over a three-month period.

Will you please make every effort to help the EQ and RS presidencies understand the importance of these interviews (contacts) during the 4th Quarter and that 100% is a reasonable expectation?

Thank you,
President Lewis

In response to a bishop who was hurt by the stake calling his Scoutmaster after getting counsel from a high councilor

22 October 2018

Bishop,

I was concerned, after visiting with you about how (Name) was called, that we might have a “rogue” HC using his position to undermine you.

I can certainly see how it appeared that way. 

I visited at length with Stake YM President (Name) yesterday, and without telling him why I was asking I questioned him abut what (Name) had told him about (Name). (I later explained why I was asking…(Name) felt badly that he may have been influenced in this way.)

(Stake YM President), of course, was oblivious to the fact that there was a misunderstanding between you and (Name) with regard to the operation of the Scout troop. He simply wanted to find someone for secretary in your ward so the Stake YM presidency could have representation from (Ward). He wasn’t sure how (Name) even came into the picture, but when he did he naturally looked to him as a credible member of the ward in a stake position he could counsel with. 

He shared with me that (Name) was very complimentary of (name) (as you might expect) and the only thing he said that could have suggested Tyler was trying to manipulate things was that (Name) was "more effective working with adults than with youth.” 

So my suspicion is that (name) did not go out of his way to promote a stake calling for (name), but likely took advantage of recommending him when the opportunity “fell into his lap” (a pretty strong temptation for anyone, but one that he should have given “full disclosure"). 

I believe, in the future, President (Stake YM president) will also counsel with you and not just a HC to avoid this happening again.

I’m so very sorry. I owe you an apology for allowing this to happen on my watch. 

In the end, as you well know, the Lord has a marvelous way of turning these types of things into positives—He’s the “Lord of the Silver Linings” is the way I describe it. This will turn out to be a blessing to you and your ward, though a bit painful at first.

I appreciate your patience with us.

Pres Lewis

Announcing special Leadership training meeting

Bishops and Branch Presidents…

Thank you for planing to attend the Stake Leadership Training meeting at 3:00 pm this Saturday. If you watched all sessions of General Conference live then this will be the second weekend in a row where your personal time, like ours, is being limited greatly.

The Lord is mindful of our sacrifice and, as you so well know, will honor our obedience and extra-mile service—He always does.

You may be wondering how long the Leadership Meeting will go? Will you have time to go home and return for the 5:45 pm New and Returning Member meeting, if you choose to attend, and then the 7:00 pm Adult session?

We are hopeful that the Leadership meeting will last 90 minutes (hour and a half). While we were directed by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to focus on ministering in this meeting, we received new instructions right after General Conference to conduct training soon for all Stake and Ward Councils  on the new Come, Follow Me curriculum designed for the new two-hour block schedule. (BTW…this is training the Brethren are asking you to give to all members of your ward or branch before the end of the year).

So rather than call a later meeting for all those coming to the Leadership meeting this Saturday, we decided to present an abbreviated version of this new training in our meeting this Saturday. 

We recognize our hope to complete the training of both subjects in 90 min. may be optimistic. But we’re going to try very hard to do it so we can avoid calling another stake meeting for you and your ward / branch leadership and still get you out of the meeting in time to go home, if possible.

There are two reasons we want to complete this training in 90 minutes.

1. As you were notified earlier, we plan to have you and your ward/branch leaders sit together in the chapel. The reason is that we would like to give all of you 10 minutes after the meeting to discuss briefly what you heard in the training and what you feel is what the Lord wants you to emphasize or focus on in your training before the end of the year.

2. During that same 10 minutes, we are asking all bishops and branch presidents to go into the High Council room for a brief, but very important, meeting with the stake presidency. There is a matter we would like to present to you. So please assign either one of your counselors or your EQ president to conduct the brief discussion with the ward council in the chapel after the Leadership meeting while you go into the High Council room for a brief presentation from the Stake Presidency.

So…questions:

1. Will you please make an extra effort to invite and encourage your ward council members (and their counselors and secretary) to attend this special Leadership Training at 3:00 pm this Saturday. And then reply to this email to report to me who you’ve designated to conduct the brief council meeting immediately after the Leadership meeting in the chapel?

2. Will you please reply to this email and let me know if you plan to attend the Leadership Training this Saturday? I very much hope all of you can be there. But, if not, will you please let me know which counselor will fill in for you in the special meeting afterwards in the High Council room?

Gratefully,

President Lewis

P.S. Please respond ASAP with answers to questions 1 ad 2 above,

Proposed Message to Parents on how to more effectively teach their children and prepare them to receive the gospel ordinances

13 October 2018

Dear Parents of the Mount Hood Oregon Stake,

In the beginning God commanded parents to teach their children the gospel of Jesus Christ (see Moses 5:12). It is a commandment that is integral to the Lord’s Plan and has never been rescinded (see Deut. 6:7, 11:19; 3 Nephi 18:21, D&C 68:25-31).

We commend all who have accepted this sacred responsibility to teach their children the gospel in the home. Prophets have declared there is no other work more important.

The Church’s role, as explained in Handbook 2:1.1.5, is to assist parents or guardians in two ways: (1) provide guidance on gospel instruction in the home; and (2) provide priesthood ordinances so children can make and keep sacred and binding covenants.

The parents’ role is “to bring them (their children)” (D&C 20:70) to priesthood leaders prepared to receive the saving ordinances and enjoy all the blessings of the gospel (see Handbook 2:1.3.1).

In consequence of this direction, the Stake Presidency asks all parents in our stake to strengthen the rising generation in the following ways:

· PREPARE TO MAKE COVENANTS: Take responsibility in the home of preparing children for the key ordinances and milestone events in each of your children’s spiritual journey, including baptism, entering the Young Women program, priesthood ordinations, making temple covenants, and serving a full-time mission, if called.

· DEVELOP A SERVING HEART: Above the worthy pursuits of sports, music, drama, dance, etc., is helping children develop this divine quality: a love for service by encouraging them to serve in the home, perform community service, share the gospel with friends, actively participate in ministering opportunities, and become engaged in temple and family history work as well as in classroom instruction at church.

Attached are some suggestions on how to help the rising generation prepare for these ordinances and milestone events. Please counsel together as a family on how to fulfill this guidance and receive all the blessings of “children of the covenant” (3 Nephi 20:26).

With love and admiration,

The Stake Presidency

Suggestions for Strengthening the Family

Ideas on how everyone can help strengthen the rising generation

PARENTS / GUARDIANS:

·    Be an example by living the gospel in the home.

·    Teach children the essential doctrines of the gospel found in Chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel.

·    Help children apply the doctrines and repent as needed so they can enjoy the blessings of the gospel throughout their lives.

·    Consistently hold daily family prayer and family scripture study.

·    Provide opportunities for all family members to bear their testimonies in the home.

·    Teach children to have daily prayer and personal scripture study.

·    Counsel regularly with the bishop on what he expects of you to prepare your children for
(1) baptism, (2) receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, (3) be ordained in the priesthood or advance in the Young Women program, (4) make temple covenants and (5) serve a mission.

·    Seek the Lord’s guidance on what more He wants you to do to prepare each of your children to enjoy all the blessings of the gospel and to receive eternal life.

YOUTH AND CHILDREN:

·    Allow your parents/guardians to teach you.

·    Listen to their counsel and follow their righteous example.

·    Be supportive of family prayer, family scripture study and Family Home Evening.

·    Establish your own righteous routines of daily personal prayer and scripture study.

·    Receive a patriarchal blessing.

·    When in high school, consistently participate in Seminary.

·    Seek the Lord’s guidance daily in how to serve and bless others.

·    Participate in family history research and temple ordinances.

GRANDPARENTS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS:

·    Set a righteous example for all in your family.

·    When you can, serve in the temple and/or serve a support or service mission.

·    Fast and pray for family members.

·    Continue to hold family and/or personal prayer and scripture study.

·    Where possible, bear your testimony often to your family.

·    Guide or assist your family in temple and family history work.

CHURCH LEADERS

·    Encourage family members in their responsibilities to strengthen the rising generation.

·    Where children are not being taught the gospel in the home, assign ministering brothers, sisters or couples to assist in that effort with the parents’ or guardians’ permission.

·    Use the classroom to support parents’ efforts to teach the gospel in the home.

·    Counsel regularly with parents on what more Church leaders and teachers can do to support their efforts to bless and help their children prepare for ordinances and milestone events.

What Parents Can Teach to Prepare

Children to Receive Gospel Ordinances

Here are some teachings and resources parents can use to prepare their children during the 12 months before they reach the age to receive the saving ordinances and enjoy milestone events.

We remind parents these teachings should not require additional meetings, but are best shared in Family Home Evening with all family members.

PREPARING FOR BAPTISM

·    Why does the Lord require us to be baptized by immersion? (D&C 20:10)

·    What is the baptismal covenant? (D&C 20:75, Mosiah 18:8-10)

·    What are ordinances and covenants? (Preach My Gospel, pp. 12, 13)

·    What does it mean to be accountable for our sins? (D&C 29:10)

·    What does it mean to repent and how can the Gift of the Holy Ghost help us? (2 Nephi 31:2)

Additional Resources: Preach My Gospel, chapter 12 • “Helping Children Prepare for Baptism,” Ensign, April 2013 • “I Can Prepare for Baptism,” Lesson 12, Primary manual available online • search on www.lds.org for “Prepare children for baptism”

PREPARING FOR ORDINATION TO THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD

·      Review regularly together the “Faith in God” booklet for boys

·      How was the Aaronic Priesthood restored? (D&C 13; 107:20; JSH 1:68-73)

·      What are the duties of a Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood? (D&C 20:57-60)

·      What does it mean to do your duty? (“Faith in God,” Fulfilling My Duty to God: For Aaronic Priesthood Holders, page 7)

·      What are the expectations of a new Deacon? (visit with Deacons Quorum Presidency)

·      Why is education so important and how can it prepare you for your future? (D&C 88:77-80; 88:118; 130:19)

·      What is the difference between power and authority of the Priesthood? (search www.lds.org )

Additional Resources: True to the Faith: Aaronic Priesthood • search www.lds.org for “Aaronic Priesthood” • search for “Aaronic Priesthood Leader Traiing” • For the Strength of Youth

PREPARING TO ENTER THE YOUNG WOMEN’S PROGRAM

·      Study the Articles of Faith and identify how each can be applied in your life

·      Invite the Beehive Class presidency to your home to explain the purpose and importance of the YW program

·      Write in your journal how you can “stand for truth and righteousness”

·      Discuss with your family how education will prepare you for your future (D&C 88:77-80; 130:19)

·      Review the Family Proclamation and discuss ways youth can strengthen the family

·      Memorize the Young Women Theme and discuss the values

Additional Resources: True to the Faith: Young Women • search www.lds.org for “Young Women” • For the Strength of Youth • video in LDS Media Library titled “A Bright Light for Generations”

PREPARING TO BE ORDAINED TO THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD

·    What is the difference between the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood? (D&C 107:1-20)

·    What are keys of the priesthood and what is their purpose? (Handbook 2:2.1.1)

·    What is the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood? (D&C 84:33-44)

·    What are the duties of an elder and the purposes of a quorum? (D&C 20:42-45; 124:137)

·    What is the purpose of ordinances and blessings and how are they to be performed? (Handbook 2:2.1.2; Handbook 2: Chapter 20)

Additional Resources: Gospel Principles, Chapters 13-14 • True to the Faith, “Melchizedek Priesthood” • Handbook 2: Chapter 7, “Melchizedek Priesthood” • Gospel Topics on www.lds.org, “Priesthood” and “Melchizedek Priesthood”

PREPARING TO MAKE COVENANTS IN THE TEMPLE

·    What is the Plan of Salvation and how do we fit in? (Preach My Gospel, Section 3, Lesson 2)

·    Why is there a standard of worthiness to enter the temple? (1 Nephi 10:21)

·    What are the worthiness requirements? (Endowed From On High, chapter 2)

·    What is the Work of Salvation and how does the temple fit in? (Handbook 2:5.4)

·    What are the blessings of making temple covenants? (Endowed From On High, chapter 3)

·    Why does the Lord use ordinances and covenants? (Endowed From On High, chapter 4)

·    What role does symbolism play in temple ordinances? (Endowed From On High, chapter 5)

·    How do we best prepare to enter the temple? (Endowed From On High, chapter 6)

·    How do we gain the most out of our temple experience? (Endowed From On High, chapter 7)

Additional Resources: Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple booklet • For the Strength of Youth • www.lds.org/temples • “Preparing to Enter the House of the Lord,” by Elder Kent F. Richards, Ensign, July 2015; “Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings,” by President Russell M. Nelson, April 2001 General Conference

PREPARING TO SERVE A MISSION, IF CALLED

·      Why does the Lord need missionaries? (2 Nephi 2:8)

·      What are the purposes of teaching missionaries? (PMG, Chapter 1; D&C 123:12)

·      What does it mean to teach by the Spirit? (PMG, p3)

·      What are characteristics of effective missionaries? (Alma 17:3, 9; D&C 35:13-14)

·      Why are missionaries endowed in the temple before they depart? (D&C 109:22)

Additional Resources: Preach My Gospel; Missionary Portal at www.missionary.lds.org • www.lds.org/callings/missionary, especially Frequently Asked Questions and Manuals

Message to our children to review the stake presidency's proposed document on needing parents to teach their children

Dear family (our children and sons-and-daughters-in-law, all of whom we love as our own),

Using the “One Coordinated Effort” video found on www.lds.org under Effective Ministering, our stake presidency has tried over the past six months to encourage ward EQ and RS presidencies to assume more responsibility—including missionary work, teaching the gospel and temple and family history—in order to shift that load from the bishopric so they can focus on the youth and their families (a direction we have felt come from the Brethren).

Now we want to give the bishops a tool to work with parents of all children to teach them how to assume more responsibility for teaching the gospel to their children in the home—especially in preparing their children to receive the saving gospel ordinances.

As a stake presidency, we have drafted the attached four-page document that we are planning to give to bishops during our stake conference training the weekend after General Conference (Oct 13-14). We will ask bishops to personally present this document (or a variation of it) to ALL parents in their wards with an explanation of how strongly the stake presidency feels that we need parents to step up if we’re going to prepare, in some cases rescue, the rising generation.

Because all of you are amazing parents (or parents-to-be), in my opinion, would you be a sounding board for this often-apprehensive priesthood leader before we move forward?

How would you react if you received this document from your bishop?

Would you feel overwhelmed or guilty?

Would you want to follow this counsel or would you feel burdened by it?

I hope it’s not too much to ask of you during these busy days to review this. I’ll take whatever feedback you can give me. I welcome your candid feelings. 

Please know how much I love all of you, admire you so much and consider you the most amazing parents on the planet. Wish we could clone all of you and move you into our stake…or better yet, just move you into our stake! :)

With the deepest of love and gratitude for your marvelous examples of faithfulness,

Dad Lewis

An idea for bringing the Spirit into a Testimony Meeting

Bishops and Branch Presidents…

We have a daughter and family who live in Maryland. Her ward has a relatively new bishop. He did something in their Testimony meeting last Sunday that I had never considered, but thought it was an idea worth passing along.

Feel NO obligation to do this, but wanted you to know that while the guidelines for sacrament meeting are appropriately very confining, there’s still room to think outside the proverbial box.

Apparently, in the Testimony Meeting, the bishop, who was conducting did the following:

1. When he announced the sacrament hymn, “I Stand All Amazed,” he also announced that they would sing the 2nd and 3rd verses without accompaniment (a cappella). Our daughter said it really helped focus the congregation on the lyrics.

2. Then after he bore his testimony of the Savior’s love in his own life, to start the testimony portion of the meeting, he asked everyone to turn to a neighbor or someone sitting in the pew to the side or behind and share back and forth in just one minute “How have you seen the Savior’s love bless your life?" He cautioned: “We must be very quiet. Please use your temple voice” 

Our daughter said it was not only a sweet, tender, sprit-filled moment, but the testimonies that followed during the meeting were all focused on the Savior.

Again, feel NO obligation to do this, but I was so impressed by this bishop’s approach, within the Handbook guidelines, to bring the Spirit into his ward’s Testimony meeting that I thought I would share.

Thank you, all of you, for what you’re doing to lift and bless the members of your ward spiritually each Sunday in sacrament meeting.

Gratefully,

President Lewis

P.S. By the way, Vivienne and I recently attended the sacrament meeting of another daughter’s ward (in Utah) where the speaker (apparently a “popular” knowledgeable Sunday school teacher and she knew it) spoke in sacrament meeting. She brought a teaching object into the sacrament meeting and interacted with the congregation like it was a classroom. In my opinion, it detracted from the spirit of the meeting not enhanced. Her husband then spoke and he had lots of stories to tell, finally closing his talk 20 minutes after the hour. 

The handbook guidelines are very important and I’m not suggesting that we should go outside that "box.”