Notifying a Bishop of his impending release

26 February 2019

Bishop (Name),

Thank you so much for your additional insights and counsel relative to the (Name) family. 

And thank you for being so mindful of the (Name). How is Sister (Name) doing?

As I mentioned, you are a wonderful shepherd to your flock, for which we are most grateful. And I know the Lord is deeply grateful, too.

As for your question about timing. We have prayerfully considered the matter as a stake presidency and have felt the Lord needs your strengths—and they are many—in another direction, which I will visit with you about soon. In the meantime, we are looking at a reorganization of your ward’s bishopric in late April, likely April 21.

Typically we don’t give “notice” like this to a bishop (without an official release), but you’ve been such a faithful servant, so deeply devoted to your calling that I feel appropriate to give you notification so you can plan emotionally for this change. Knowing your pure heart and having had the honor of serving with you for so long, I am absolutely certain this notification will not affect your efforts to serve the ward with all your heart to the end.

A new bishop has not been called yet. I would very much welcome and value your thoughts on the matter, such as observations and evaluations of the brethren in your ward you feel that you and the Lord have been preparing to serve in this sacred calling.

We can visit further when we meet to go on ministering visits next Tuesday evening, March 5.

With love and the deepest of gratitude for your faithful service,

President Lewis

P.S. We agree with your counsel that there is a benefit to having an overlap with a new bishop or new RS president so we would appreciate you not releasing Sister Richards for now and leave that for the new bishop.

Response to Bishop Hawkins on his 2018 Budget Surplus

Earlier email response from Bishop Hawkins:

A few questions:

1. What is your current ward budget balance? Did you transfer any budget funds into the Other account for Scout Camp? If so, how much?

I will verify the budget and get back to you later tonight. 

2. How many boys do you anticipate wanting to go to Scout camp and how much were you hoping to put towards their registration?

There is a group of about 7 to 10 that have expressed interest to go to scout camp this year. I hadn’t set an amount of money until I knew it where we were at funding wise.

3. Why are you using a projector? Hardly anyone in the stake is using a projector except when we (the stake) have large gatherings in the chapel or cultural hall.

The projector was purchased so that we could show videos on the fifth Sunday in the chapel and it was also requested by the seminary because in the years past there was not one supplied by the stake for seminary. It has also been used by larger groups of people when there has been presentations in primary, young men’s, EQ, etc. so that everyone can see. The one item that could be purchased to go along with the projector is a better sound speaker possibly wireless.

4. Flat screens are relatively inexpensive and the quality is so much better than a projector (plus more convenient for teachers). Where would you put flat screens if you had them?

We looked at possibly putting one in the relief society room last year but just the layout of the room with the windows,  the piano,  the closet’s,  the chalkboards it didn’t seem to fit well especially with the desire to have everyone in somewhat of a circle. Would have to look at wall space in the different rooms for possible locations.


THEN THIS REPLY FROM ME TO HIM:

Bishop Hawkins,

With regard to the $1,500…sorry for any confusion. What I’m asking is that if, at the end of the summer, you still have a sizable budget balance (beyond the $2,600 income you would have received by then after two quarters of allocation) will you please send us a check for something up to $1,500 to help defray costs of the trek? In other words, let's wait until we see how your expenses go through the summer. Please don’t spend just to get your balance down. But spend it wisely, getting additional technology, if needed, and helping to subsidize (but not totally pay for) any summer camp fees for your youth.

Does that sound OK?

Thanks so much,
PrL

Miracle on I-84: Remembering an experience of one of our many trips between Utah and Oregon

This is a story that I sent to granddaughter Kenna Johns, who was compiling a book of faith-promoting stories in our family for her Personal Progress;

One summer probably around 2010, after a family reunion, we drove Seth and Tiffany’s family (who lived in Minnesota at the time) from your home in Utah to our home in Oregon in our 8-passenger mini-van.. It was blazing hot and the four Lewis boys were still quite young. Asher was likely a baby.

Years before the gas gauge had broken on our van and I was too cheap to get it repaired. We left from your home on a very hot summer morning with a full tank of gas, but made a “detour” to Cache Valley to see Grandma’s family before heading to Oregon. Because of the heat, I’m sure we were running the car air conditioning at full blast. We finally got on the road and around the middle of the day we were about a mile from our exit at Mountain Home, ID where we usually stop for gas. 

Uncle Seth was driving when suddenly the car died. We had run out of gas. We were still rolling along, but the engine had stopped. Fortunately, there was an exit just a few yards ahead so I asked Uncle Seth to take that exit. The momentum of the car allowed us to coast right up behind a flat bed truck that was stopped on the exit ramp. There were no gas stations or any buildings that I could see even close to this exit.

I was so embarrassed that I had miscalculated the amount of gas we had (confident we’d make it to our usual exit) and now stranding these dear little boys along with Grandma Lewis and Aunt Tiffany in 100-plus-degree weather on the side of I-84 and no civilization in sight—except for this flat bed truck in front of us.

I sheepishly went up to the truck cab and was relieved to find a driver inside eating lunch. I asked if there was any chance he had some spare gas on him.

He hardly said a word, but just got out of his truck, reached up onto the bed of his truck and removed a gas can, the lone item on the huge flatbed. He walked over to our car and began pouring in several gallons of gas into our tank.  As he did so, he asked me, “Did you say your prayers this morning?” I answered I surely had. “Well,” he said, “so did I. And I prayed that I would be able to help someone on the road today.”

I offered to cover the cost of the gas, but he declined. He just reminded me that the Lord had watched over us both that day.

We then drove off easily reaching the next exit where we filled up to the brim—all within about 5 minutes of running out of gas.

It happened so fast the children didn’t even have time to get out and stretch their legs. As I have thought back on that experience, I have marveled how many things had to happen so perfectly and precisely for us to roll up right behind that flat bed truck with a driver who had loaded an extra can of gasoline on his struck and prayed God would allow him to help someone that day.

We were the answer to his prayers and he was the answer to ours.

It was a miracle I’ll never forget.