Update on sacrament meeting attendance results after new guidelines allowing up to 100 persons

28 December 2020

Good morning wonderful Stake Leaders,

I thought I would update you on members’ response to the new guidelines allowing attendance of up to 100 at sacrament services.

Having visited in-person all of the units in our stake, I estimate that most wards are typically drawing 50-60 members, including the YSA branch. I suspect most units are able to open up attendance to any who want to attend and not have to “assign” who can attend as we did before when limited to 50 and then 25 persons.

You may find interesting that the Estacada Ward continues to assign: A-M one Sunday and N-Z the next. Because of that they chose to have two special (Come and See) sacrament meetings on Dec 20 and 27.

Attendance was 75 on Dec 20 and 81 yesterday, Dec 27. They’re opening the curtain into the cultural hall, though so far they’re able to accommodate everyone with social distancing in the chapel and overflow.

I suppose there could be a variety of reasons why they’re drawing such numbers, not the least of which may be the “refiner’s fire” they endured earlier in the year.

I’m deeply impressed by the faith of the members of our stake and how well the bishoprics are taking every precaution to make our sacrament services a safe haven for members who yearn to worship at church.

President Lewis

Can wards and branches start holding in-person interviews and council meetigns?

10 December 2020

Bishops and Branch Presidents…

One of you asked if the new flexibility we have with meeting attendance also means we can now conduct interviews or even ward council meetings in person?

Originally (around summer) the word from the Area Presidency was to keep those types of meetings virtual only. As you can see by the attached Sept. 11 document from the First Presidency, that those types of meetings are to be “virtual or safely in person.” So both options are there.

Our Area Seventy has confirmed that this decision now resides at the stake and ward level.

We therefore leave it to bishoprics and branch presidencies to counsel together in making this decision for your ward or branch. However, we remind you that Covid cases and deaths are surging and we’ve been urged by the First Presidency to exercise an abundance of caution in all that we do.

A good rule of thumb is to simply ask those who would attend a meeting or interview as to whether they feel comfortable in meeting in person. We recommend that you always provide the virtual option. We don’t want anyone to feel obligated either by leaders or peers to do anything they think might jeopardize their health.

Another good rule of thumb is to ask yourself: “Is there a valid reason that this meeting should be face-to-face or can we accomplish the same thing virtually?” A setting apart would be considered one of those valid reasons.

So..just because we can doesn’t mean we should.

If you choose to hold in-person meetings and interviews, remember that indoor safety guidelines are still required, including wearing face coverings and social distancing.

We hope this is helpful. Thank you for prayerfully counseling together on this matter for your ward or branch. We support your decision.

Stake Presidency

Making assignments for a Christmas toy collection project

7 December 2020

Bishops,

My apologies for another Urgent message, but we’ve received from our Area Seventy and Multi-Stake Communications Directors a unique opportunity to use our surplus budget funds.  Unfortunately, the deadline is THIS WEEK.

As you may have heard, Church headquarters has recently established a strong relationship with the Salvation Army (SA) for Humanitarian assistance. We’ve now been asked to assist the Salvation Army locally with their Rescue Christmas project—providing as many 3,000 unwrapped toys for children ages 7-12 in the Portland Metro area. We are told because of the major reduction in donations to the SA this year (no bell ringing as in the past) many of these children will have no Christmas without our help.

Our Area Seventy has decided the Church will step up and provide the 3,000 gifts (unwrapped toys) requested by our friends in the Salvation Army.

As you can see below, each stake in the Portland Coordinating Council has been assigned to provide an allotment of toys:

We now ask you to accept an assignment to full our stake’s allotment to provide at least 225 toys (it’s OK if we go over). The chart above identifies the number of toys needed by gender and age.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

We are dividing our stake allotment among the 6 wards in our stake:

Damascus - 34 toys for Boys ages 7-8

Estacada - 34 toys for Boys ages 9-10

Powell Valley - 41 toys for Boys ages 11-12

Sandy River - 34 toys for Girls ages 7-8

Tickle Creek - 41 toys for Girls ages 9-10

Walters Hill - 41 toys for Girls 11-12

All of the toys in our stake are to be delivered to Chuck Allen, our Stake Communications Director, who will collect by this Saturday, Dec. 12, all 225+ UNWRAPPED toys and arrange for the Salvation Army to pick them up on Monday, Dec. 14.

DEADLINE

• All toys are to be delivered to Brother Allen preferably by this Saturday, Dec 12.

• If any toys will be delivered later than this Saturday, please notify Brother Allen so he can arrange to receive them before the Salvation Army picks up the toys at his home on Monday, Dec. 14.

WHERE TO DELIVER 

Please arrange for all toy deliveries to go to:

Chuck Allen

1447 SW 19th Court

Gresham, OR 97080

503-705-6108

allenfamily25@comcast.net

WHO TO MAKE PURCHASES

We encourage you to consider assigning this immediately to your ward Relief Society presidency, if not burdensome to them, or to another dependable member of your Ward Council, who can make the time to shop in person or online. 

Or you may want to assign half of your allotment to the elders quorum and half to the Relief Society. We think mothers may have a better feel as to appropriate toys for gender and age.

HOW TO PAY FOR THIS PROJECT

With this short notice, the two ways for you to fund this project are:

1. Contact ward members, who regularly offer funds to help needy families during the holidays, and invite them to contribute to your ward Other account;

2. You are authorized to use budget funds; each ward has surplus budget funds due to the lack of activities during the pandemic.

The bishop should establish the budget amount for this project based on available funds.

HOW TO PURCHASE THE TOYS

Again, with this short notice, we suggest the following two ways to purchase the toys and deliver them to Brother Allen’s home:

1. Go to store(s) and buy the toys, take them directly to Brother Allen’s home and then seek reimbursement from the ward (remember the toys are to be UNWRAPPED);

2. Shop online, having the toys shipped directly to Brother Allen’s home.

While there are still some good deals online, like this link for a good price on footballs, you’ll notice they are backordered and Amazon cannot promise delivery by Dec 12. Store shopping may be the safest option.

IMMEDIATE ACTION

Most importantly, please communicate immediately with Brother Allen ASAP on:

1. Who is your ward’s point person (with contact info) for this project;

2. When you plan to fulfill your assignment so he can schedule the Salvation Army for pick up by this coming Monday;

3. Whether or not you can label each toy—all toys are to be UNWRAPPED and labeled with gender and age group (i.e. Girl 9-10—or if you need Brother Allen to label the toys for you.

Thank you so much for accepting this last-minute assignment and for making sure it happens on time.

With heartfelt gratitude for your quick response…and for sharing in the Christmas joy for children.

President Lewis and the Stake Presidency

P.S. Please confirm receipt of this assignment and that you have a plan in place to meet the above deadline.

In response to a high councilor, whose feelings had been hurt, by my mishandling of an assignment

3 December 2020

Dear (Name),

I’m the culprit here. I owe you an apology for the miserable handling of this assignment. I had no intention of causing hurt feelings. Please forgive for me for the offense I have caused.

Maybe some background on how this came about would be helpful.

A year ago I was approached by a sister in our stake, who had been seriously betrayed by her priesthood leader husband. He did not commit adultery, but had hidden for more than 20 years in their marriage some deep-seated addictions that only came to light when he was arrested and she had to get him out of jail. Besides being horribly embarrassed by the incident, her years of trust in a husband, who had deceived many members and priesthood leaders (including myself) over the years, had been shattered. 

Many wives would eventually forgive and try to forget. But it sent this sister on a tireless crusade to understand how pornography can re-wire a man’s brain and pull off such a deception for decades.

After more than a year of searching and learning, she felt compelled to come to me last fall to raise awareness of how prevalent pornography addiction is among priesthood holders, including leaders, and how it affects them. She also was concerned about how many priesthood leaders respond to these types of confessions. I, too, was guilty of failing to detect her husband’s addictions and frankly the bishop and I had handled the confession and discipline very poorly unwittingly hurting the wife deeply. 

After meeting with her the first time, I wanted to repent by learning more. So I set up an almost-weekly schedule of hour-long meetings for two months or more with this sister and her ward Relief Society president and asked her to just teach me all that she has learned about this pernicious addiction and how priesthood leaders should handle it when it comes to light.

After our meetings, I felt a desire to begin a spouse support class feeling that if the pornography addiction (or levels of addiction) was as prevalent as she suggested (I thought maybe 25% among men in our stake; she said 75%) that the women of our stake would “speak” with their feet. Hence, the desire to have a women-only meeting so sisters would have confidence that they could share with complete privacy and not fear priesthood leaders were on a “witch hunt” looking for men who are addicted. My only concern is not to “discover” those who are addicted but to make sure the wife, who has suffered the most in this type of marriage, gets help…that she knows we love and care for her and that she gets the “tools” she needs to keep her life and marriage together, if possible.

That’s why I asked that you not attend the class, even though you would have oversight.

As you know, our first attempt at starting this class fell apart with the onset of the pandemic precisely at the same time of the fist class (March 12). Later this year, in my monthly Stewardship Interview with the Stake RS president, the subject came up again—it was on the minds of both Sister Richards and myself. So we began discussing it, along with Bro Hawkins who attends my monthly SI’s with Sister Richards. Frankly, I simply forgot that we had put the original class under your umbrella of responsibilities before. So I naturally just pushed forward with the Stake RS, inasmuch as the impetus for the class in the first place had initiated with me and it was easy for me to work through the RS directly since I have direct responsibility for the State RS. 

Sister Richards and her counselors recommended Sister Newell to be the specialist to give direction to the class. That’s how her name came before the HC. Once approved, Brother Hawkins went ahead with the call (before the oversight was re-assigned to you). Dave met with both Matt and Beth to discuss at length the calling. So she has been called, but I asked that she not be sustained in the stake until we have a date, time and place for the first class so it could be announced at the same time of her sustaining…so sisters would put the two together—Sis Newell’s call and the beginning of the class. Once she is sustained, you will be asked to set her apart.

I hope you could tell how embarrassed I was when you spoke up in HC when Beth’s name was presented. I hadn’t realized or remembered until that moment that I failed to discuss this with those (you) who have Addiction Recovery Program oversight. Please know it was totally inadvertent. So when I realized what I had done, as you’ll recall, I suggested we discuss this in presidency, which is what we did and ultimately we changed direction and brought the oversight back to you.

However, because of how the initiative came about (my meetings over months with the two sisters in our stake) and how strongly I feel that we work through the RS to make sure that sisters feel comfortable in attending and sharing (and that this is not a witch hunt), it was natural and important to me that we keep this under the guidance of the Stake RS presidency. So I am asking that you take a different adviser role. That you not feel a responsibility to direct this initiative, but to be an “assistant,” ready to help however and whenever the stake RS needs you. If the class fails, you will not be blamed or chastised.

I hope you can see this is not too unique. It’s not uncommon for a high councilor like yourself, assigned to a very competent and seasoned EQ president, to recognize that his (HC) role is not to step in and be a mentor, but to some extent stay out of the way and take on a more supportive role.

I hope this background helps soothe the hard feelings I’ve caused because of my poor memory and weak management style. If you have any other questions, I welcome hearing from you. Please know how grateful I am that you spoke up so feelings don’t fester, as you suggested. I want you to be happy and feel needed in your service. Please know how much I appreciate your dutiful and faithful service on the High Council.

With love and gratitude for your diligence,

Crismon

Heightened emphasis on sacrament meeting safety

1 December 2020

TO: Bishoprics and Branch Presidencies

Brethren,

As we enter this new phase of potentially increased in-person sacrament meeting attendance (up to 100, if they choose to come), please give an even higher priority to safety.

Such as:

1. Read the attached introductory statement at the beginning of every in-person sacrament meeting. Soon you may begin to see members attend who have not attended before. They may not have heard this message. Please don't forget this.
   
   
2. Give safety guidance to speakers when you assign them to speak or pray at the pulpit. Use the instructions for Testimony meeting in the attached document when assigning those to speak or pray. We continue to see members set their mask on or to the side of the pulpit. And many are failing to use hand sanitizer before and after speaking at the pulpit. Bishopric members conducting the meeting, please teach by example.
   
   
3. Give extra caution to safety when administering the sacrament. If you choose to have priesthood holders wear gloves (it's not necessary as long as they sanitize well), make sure they are instructed how to use them, i.e. not touch their face, not set them down, not put them under the arm when putting them on, etc.
   
   
4. Prepare for more members to partake of the sacrament in the chapel. While attendance may not increase immediately, due to the recent surge in cases, please coordinate with the other units in your building to make sure you have plenty of water trays. Where we're using water trays for passing both the bread and water plus for disposing of used cups, you may need extra water trays soon. It appears on the  Church's online store that water trays are on back order. 
   
   As a back up to water trays for capturing used cups (please do not ask members to hold on to their cups and dispose of them later), small baskets that the passer can carry in his free hand are readily available at craft stores.

Also, with the added flexibility, it means there's now capacity for...

• Speakers and those who pray to attend in person. If they're willing, we encourage in-person attendance as it is very difficult for those in the chapel to follow the message of speakers they cannot see, only hear.
  
  
• Music to be conducted in the chapel to lead the congregational singing, which is preferred for encouraging singing in the home.

We appreciate so much your many efforts to provide both virtual and in-person sacrament meetings...so they're inspiring and safe.

Gratefully,

Stake Presidency

Introductory statement to in-person sacrament meetings

30 November 2020

STATEMENT TO BE RAED AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SACRAMENT MEETING

Brothers and Sisters, we welcome you to the (Ward / Branch)  sacrament meeting. We extend a special welcome to those viewing these proceedings at home through webcast.

Bishop (President) (name) presides at this meeting. He has asked that I, (name), (title), conduct.

Before we begin, please know that your safety is our first priority. For those attending in person, thank you for following a few safety precautions:

• Always wear a face covering while indoors.

• Refrain from shaking hands or hugging.

• Use only the restrooms located at (location of restrooms)

• We encourage those at home to join us for all congregational singing. Those of us in the chapel are asked to sing quietly with our mask on. Or, for those who prefer, simply read the lyrics while the hymn is played. The music conductor will be allowed to remove (her/his) mask to lead the singing, especially for those watching online.

• The sacrament will be administered to those in attendance immediately after the benediction. The sacrament is also authorized to be administered in homes.

• Once the meeting ends, please exit the building promptly and socialize safely outside.

TESTIMONY MEETING INSTRUCTIONS:

Today is Fast Sunday. We will invite you to share your testimonies, both in-person and virtually. It is no longer necessary to wipe down the pulpit and microphone after each use, but we do ask that you remove your face covering before coming to the pulpit and that you not set your mask on the pulpit. Also, please apply hand sanitizer, available on each side of the pulpit, immediately before and after speaking at the pulpit.

Thank you so much for helping all of us to be safe. We will begin this meeting by singing hymn (number), (hymn name), with (conductor’s name) conducting and (organist’s name) on the organ (piano).

After which (name) will give the invocation.

Announcement about increase of sacrament meeting attendance of up to 100

30 November 2020

TO: Bishoprics and Branch Presidencies

Dear Brethren,

You may have noticed that Oregon's governor announced this week new guidelines that give us much more flexibility on the number who can attend in person religious services and gatherings.

As reported: "Faith institutions, funeral homes, mortuaries, and cemeteries will be limited to a maximum of 25% of capacity or 100 people indoors (whichever is smaller), or 150 people outdoors."

While we are still seeking the seating capacities of the chapels, overflows and cultural halls for all three buildings, as established by the fire department, we are confident the seating capacities of those three rooms combined in each building will easily allow more than 100 people to be socially distanced.

So the new attendance allowance for sacrament meetings in our stake, beginning Sunday, Dec. 6, will be up to 100 people—as long as everyone is properly distanced, wearing masks, etc.

A few notes:

• Beginning Dec. 6, you may no longer have to restrict who attends, assuming you have fewer than 100 members who want to attend services in person.
  
  
• You may want to ask members to notify you in advance, if they plan to attend, so you can adequately prepare for seating into the overflow and cultural hall, if needed, and plan for the increase in administering the sacrament.
  
  
• Continue to conduct Sunday services virtually as there will be many who will not want to attend in-person due to the most recent surge in Covid cases.
  
  
• Continue to administer the sacrament following sacrament meeting (not to be webcast) and authorize administration of the sacrament in homes.
  
  
• For youth second-hour classes and activity nights, you'll want to know the seating capacity of the rooms you plan to use to make sure the 25% allowance in each room can accommodate the number attending.

If you don't already know the seating capacity of a room (sometimes there is a fire department document or plaque on the wall that gives the number), Brother Eldredge, of the High Council, has been tasked with obtaining those numbers for each building and we'll get them to you as quickly as possible.

Coincidentally this week, you may have seen that the Supreme Court ruled against a state government applying Covid-19 restrictions on church attendance. While this is good news for churches and for freedom of religion, we still want to show "an abundance of caution," as the First Presidency has repeatedly stated, to make sure we do everything we can to keep our church meetings as safe as possible.

Thank you for continuing to read the attached statement reminding those attending sacrament meeting in person of the safety guidelines. Please draft and read a similar statement for all other in-person church meetings.

Gratefully,

Stake Presidency

Message to the children when sending them our wills

20 November 2020

Dear children,

This has nothing to do with the brush I’m having with Covid right now (still no word yet from Brother Jones, though he feels the longer it takes to get test results the better the indication that he’s negative because testing labs notify the positives first so they can immediately initiate contract tracing efforts).

But a couple of months ago Mother and I signed up with an MLM called Legal Shield to get access to an attorney to draft our wills. Those wills are now complete and attached. (We’ve cancelled our Legal Shield membership.)

We just wanted you to have a copy of them for safekeeping, but we have the originals as does the attorney, Kivel and Howard LLP in downtown Portland.

The attorneys simply use a template and fill in our names and your names. There’s not much to the wills, but hopefully it will expedite the processing of assets (home, cars, furniture that no one will want, etc.) if something should happen to the two of us together.

Earlier we drafted wills back in the early 1990s when all of you were still at home. So these wills should replace those wills when now, instead of amazing children, our most prized possession is a can of Reliv in the cupboard or our 2008 Honda with 200K miles in the garage :)

We hope these wills give you some comfort or assurance that our post-death desires are now formalized. BTW…Apparently there is no formal or court-recognized document for us to establish a living will, i.e. if you’re having to make a life-and-death decision for both of us. But please know that neither Mother or I want our lives to be prolonged if we are on some type of life-sustaining device in the hospital. We are completing a form and will keep that on file.

I can’t believe we’re old enough to be talking about this, but such is life or mortality, right? Thankfully, the Lord wants us to come home—His home.

We love you and cherish each of you…you make us very happy and thankful for Thanksgiving that you and your wonderful families will always be around OUR table. 

Dad & Mom

Guidance on weeknight use of the stake center

16 November 2020

Stake Leaders and Bishoprics / Branch Presidencies...

Just as we are restricted to in-person attendance of 25 for Sunday services, we must also abide by that limit for youth night activities and other weeknight gatherings...always with masks and social distancing.

Will you please note that the following times are scheduled exclusively for those units assigned to the stake center. It is most important that no other groups or even missionaries use the stake center during these times on the designated weeknights so we don't exceed the 25-person gathering limit:

• Tuesdays, 7:00 - 8:45 pm - Walters Hill Ward
  
  
• Wednesdays, 7:00 - 8:45 pm - Powell Valley Ward
  
  
• Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:45 pm - Damascus Ward and Pioneer Branch

Thank you for respecting this schedule and helping us abide by the new state guidelines that go into effect this Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Gratefully,

Stake Presidency

P.S. Also, we remind you of the following guidelines sent to you on Nov. 9 that apply to all meetinghouses in our stake:

• Where possible, please defer to virtual rather than in-person for (1) presidency and other leadership meetings; (2) interviews; and (3) adult classes, including Relief Society, Elders Quorum and Self-Reliance classes.
  
  
• Use meetinghouses only for Church gatherings where adult leaders are present and are willing to assume responsibility for the safety of the group, including maintaining a list of attendees for contact tracing purposes.
  
  
• Do not use cultural halls for contact sports and other activities where participants are unable to practice social distancing and wear face coverings.

New guidelines after the governor's announcement today

13 November 2020

Bishoprics and Branch Presidencies...

As you're aware, the governor announced today new guidelines and restrictions, including a reduction in gathering limits for churches to 25 indoors and 50 outdoors.

We are grateful the governor acknowledged, for the first time, the importance of faith gatherings and didn't lump us in with social gatherings, which came under even more severe restrictions.

President Lewis spoke personally with Maria Waters, the Faith Liaison in the governor's office, and she said it is a favorable indication that the Gov. Brown recognizes that faith groups are being extra vigilant—thankfully very few, if any, outbreaks from religious services. However, she stressed that the demand on hospitals is now critical and everyone is being asked to do something to bring the latest Covid surge under control.

By the way, Maria said she was hopeful that this temporary "freeze" through Wednesday, Dec. 2, will make a difference and that faith groups would be among the first to see an easing of restrictions.

We, of course, want to be good citizens and comply with government guidance and continue to show an abundance of caution in our in-person gatherings. We may yet receive specific direction from our Area Presidency inasmuch as the three West Coast states are working together in addressing the latest surge in Covid cases.

In the meantime, we share the following guidance for our stake:

• The new state guidelines go into effect next Wednesday, Nov. 18, so there is no need to make any changes this Sunday, Nov. 15, unless you feel to do so;
  
  
• Starting Sunday, Nov. 22, we encourage you to continue to hold in-person sacrament meetings with 25 in attendance;
  
  
• You may want to survey your ward again next week to determine how many want to attend in-person and assign them accordingly so all have a chance to attend an in-person sacrament meeting at least once per month;
  
  
• We encourage you to continue to administer the sacrament following your sacrament services, but consider having only one priesthood holder bless and one pass;
  
  
• Here's one idea to maximize the number in the congregation—2 bishopric members, one to conduct, one for technology; 2 for music; 2 speakers; 2 to administer the sacrament; 0 prayers, invite prayers to be given over Zoom from home; leaving room for 17 in the congregation; as you've noticed, it's very difficult to speak over the pulpit when no one is in the audience (17 is better than no one);
  
  
• If you feel deeply that there is an increased risk to members' safety, you may choose to continue to webcast your sacrament service and not invite members to attend in-person nor administer the sacrament in the chapel;
  
  
• Continue to hold second-hour classes and meetings for youth and YSA, but we strongly recommend they be virtual-only until restrictions ease up.

Thank you for how well all of you have adjusted to these fluctuating guidelines and continue to provide inspiring sacrament services both in-person and virtually.

Gratefully,

Mount Hood Stake Presidency

New Guidelines following Governor Brown's announcement of a 'pause' with stricter guidelines

9 November 2020

TO: All stake and wards leaders in the Mount Hood Stake

Dear Leaders,

As you know Governor Brown recently announced a two-week "pause" by listing additional safety precautions for five counties beginning this Wednesday, Nov. 11. The new guidelines were issued for some businesses and "informal social gatherings" (usually in homes) where precautions are easily ignored. Her action was in response to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in Oregon.

Gratefully, the new restrictions did not include religious groups or faith-based meetings. We believe that is because officials acknowledge that churches, like ours, are making every effort to follow safety guidelines.

Additionally, Clackamas County (where all of our meetinghouses are located) was not included in the governor's directive. However, Clackamas County is experiencing a surge in Covid cases, too, and may soon come under the same restrictions. Regardless, we want to be good citizens and comply with all official guidelines as best as possible.

Therefore we ask you to please follow these (hopefully temporary) guidelines for our stake:

'OFFICIAL' GATHERINGS

• Continue to hold Church in-person services and classes, specifically: (1) sacrament meetings; (2) second-hour classes for youth and YSA; and (3) weekday youth activities.
  
  
• Continue to follow safety precautions during in-person gatherings, such as wearing face coverings indoors and even outdoors, if unable to social distance.
  
  
• Stress with parents the expectation that youth comply with safety precautions, including wearing of a mask indoors.

OTHER GATHERINGS

• Where possible, please defer to virtual rather than in-person for (1) presidency meetings; (2) interviews; and (3) adult classes, including Relief Society, Elders Quorum and Self-Reliance classes.
  
  
• Use meetinghouses only for Church gatherings where adult leaders are present and are willing to assume responsibility for the safety of the group, including maintaining a list of all attendees for contact-tracing purposes.
  
  
• Do not use cultural halls for contact sports and other activities where participants are unable to practice social distancing and wear face coverings.

We hope these new guidelines will not be permanent. In the meantime, we appreciate your willingness to help protect our stake members and communities.

Gratefully,

Mount Hood Oregon Stake Presidency

Guidance to bishoprics after the Governor calls for a "pause" in social gatherings

7 November 2020

TO: Bishoprics and Branch Presidencies in the Mount Hood Stake

Brethren,

We recognize there may be concerns about continuing with in-person sacrament services following the governor's announcement yesterday.

Unless we are directed otherwise by our Area Seventy and/or the Area Presidency, the stake presidency has counseled together and feel to continue meeting as we are for several reasons:

1. The governor did not include religious services as part of the two-week "pause" presumably because the latest Covid outbreaks have not come from churches where safety is a priority;
   
   
2. The greatest concern is with "informal social gatherings" in homes where safety precautions are seldom taken and with many businesses where contact tracing is all but impossible;
   
   
3. We continue to conduct hybrid services so members can choose whether to attend in person or virtually.

We appreciate you continuing to take every safety precaution in conducting sacrament meetings and administering the sacrament afterwards. Please make sure your clerk or Covid-19 Supervisor continues to keep a list of all who attend in person each Sunday for the purpose of contact tracing.

Feel free to draw from this email or forward it in your communications to your leaders or members. 

Gratefully,

President Lewis and the Stake Presidency

Message to Members on 29 Oct 2020

2 November 2020

Dear Mount Hood Stake Friends...

As you know we live in a wicked world with wars, atrocities and even genocide not unlike those we are reading about in our Come, Follow Me study this week of Mormon 1-6.

We are amazed by the prophet-general Mormon, a mighty man of righteousness living at a time when the "day of grace was passed." (Mormon 2:15) Somehow he retained in his heart "the goodness of Jesus." (1:15)

My heart resonated with a thought shared in a popular podcast about Mormon. 

First, let me say that I welcome and completely embrace President Nelson's plea that we not use nicknames for the Church or for ourselves.

But this week's reading has given me a new appreciation and gratitude for Mormon's righteous life while surrounded by evil.

So if you slip and say to someone, "Yes, I am a Mormon," please don't feel guilty. It can mean you are trying to be like Mormon and live righteously in a wicked world.

May we all be "Mormons!"

With love and gratitude for your faithfulness,

President Lewis

Preparing for members who may be facing a financial cliff when government assistance ends

22 October 2020

TO: High Councilors, Elders Quorum Presidencies and Bishoprics

Brethren,

As you've heard by now from your assigned high councilor, Church leaders are very concerned that there may be many members who may soon face a financial crisis when unemployment benefits or moratoriums on mortgage, rent or health insurance end.

We appreciate elders quorum presidencies—and Relief Society presidencies, if you choose to invite them to assist—to begin discreetly surveying those in your ward or branch and identify any who may soon face a financial cliff when government assistance stops. 

Furthermore, we encourage you to counsel together on ideas to help those facing a crisis to draft a proactive plan of action.

This article may be helpful in identifying options, along with family resources and Church assistance.

We hope this is helpful,

President Lewis and the Stake Presidency

Guidelines for priesthood leaders preparing to begin administering the sacrament after in-person sacrament meetings

22 October 2020

Bishoprics and Branch Presidencies...

As we approach administering the sacrament immediately following your in-person, hybrid sacrament service beginning on Sunday, Nov. 1, please remember these important safety guidelines:

• Priesthood holders who do not feel well are not to participate;
  
  
• Priesthood holders are to wear masks while preparing, blessing and passing the sacrament;
  
  
• Priesthood holders are to avoid shaking hands, touching their eyes, nose or mouth while participating in any part of the administration of the sacrament;
  
  
• Hand sanitizer should be placed under or near the sacrament table and should be used by those blessing the sacrament before and between the blessings on the bread and water;
  
  
• Those who bless the bread and water should wear a face covering during the prayer or use a hand-held microphone and turn away from the table;
  
  
• The bread should be broken and placed inside individual sacrament water cups to avoid cross-touching by members;
  
  
• Those passing the sacrament should carry a second tray or small basket for members to dispose of the cups both for the bread and the water;
  
  
• Surfaces of sacrament trays are to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each use;
  
  
• Attendees are to sit on every other row in the chapel so priesthood holders can pass to each person individually and avoid members touching or passing the trays.

Please forward these instructions to your Covid-19 Supervisor.

Typically the administration of the sacrament immediately follows the virtual sacrament service once the webcam has been turned off. It goes as follows:

• No opening prayer
  
  
• Congregation sings a sacrament hymn while bread is broken
  
  
• Sacrament administered as per guidelines above
  
  
• Closing prayer

We appreciate you training priesthood holders on how to take every safety precaution in administering the sacrament in the chapel.

Gratefully,

Stake Presidency 

Response to sister-in-law Lynette Andersen Lewis after she sent a video suggesting Donald Trump was the perfect US President for our time

21 October 2020

Dear Lynette,

Do you remember in the early 1970s, when we were all in college, that the prevailing conspiracy theory was that Martin Luther King Jr. was a front man for the Russians and that the Civil Rights movement was a plot to turn America communist?

Well, as we look back over the past 50 years, none of that came true. It was nothing more than a ploy by well-meaning conservatives to strike fear in our hearts. Spreading conspiracies continues to be the political pastime by every persuasion.

I’m weary of the fear generated by conspiracy theories, like those described freely and convincingly in the video you shared. So I will not share it, as you’ve requested.

That is one of the major reasons so many in our family will not vote for Trump. We’ve never had a president like him who sows fear and division through conspiracy theories.

We are not going to heal or save America through fear...or through thinking that God would ever work through an adulterous, self-centered, profane, unethical, dishonest bully to rescue this nation. The divinely inspired Constitution will only survive if enough citizens are moral. 

And I personally believe President Trump has caused more damage to our Constitutional government than any one man in modern history because he has irrevocably yanked down the already declining morality of America.

Lynette, let me share one more thing with you…

When Vivienne sent her letter to the family expressing dismay over the attacks she received from family members, I was stunned that she received very few responses from my siblings. I know they don’t agree with her political feelings, but I thought at the least some of them would write, “I’m sorry you’ve been hurt. I may not agree with you, but there is no justification for family to attack each other over politics”...or something like that.

Silence from those we love was as painful as the attacks. Your letter was very gracious and she  appreciated it very much.

But you’ll find interesting that responses poured in from the next generation. Cousins from every Lewis family (except Duraye’s and Wick’s) wrote in response—sympathizing and expressing their deep disgust with Trump and his fear mongering.

Vivienne and I came away with a new appreciation for this next generation. They see how politicians use fear tactics to divide our country and they don’t want any part of it.

Lynette, in my opinion, it’s time for us to set aside our preaching and posturing. It’s time to listen to our children and not insist they listen to us. It’s their turn. It's their America and their future now.

I hope this doesn’t offend. Our family loves you and we will always love you. I’m sure you, too, will be glad when this election is over.

Crismon

Helping ward and branch council members understand why Emotional Resilience Self-Reliance Classes are so needed today

7 October 2020

TO: All Ward and Branch Council Members

Dear Ward and Branch Leaders,

At a recent Portland-wide leadership training, Richard Pedersen, local manager of welfare and self-reliance services, presented the results of a survey taken among a group of Church members. The results were stunning, though not totally unexpected in the midst of a pandemic.

Members were asked: What is your greatest personal and/or family need?

1. Emotional and Social Health (anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, marital difficulties, parenting, etc.) - 27%

2. Basic Needs (food, clothing, housing, transportation, healthcare) - 13%

3. Employment (unemployment, underemployment, inadequate income, unable to get a job) - 13%

4. Financial (immediate unemployment, sudden or overwhelming debt, catastrophic life event) - 12%

5. Addiction (pornography, substance abuse, family member support) - 11%

Other categories with smaller percentages were physical health, emergency response, education and language challenges.

Now we know why the Church rushed out the Emotional Resilience Self-Reliance Course that was introduced at stake conference last weekend.

Will you please counsel together on how to launch this course in your ward or branch?

As you heard in conference, it follows the same format as other Self-Reliance courses, including Personal Finances. These 12-week courses are professionally produced and well worth the time of every member.

Please help make it happen in your ward or branch. We are ready to help you. Contact Scott Howes, of the High Council, at 503-710-4834 for manuals and additional guidance, if needed.

Gratefully,

Stake Presidency

P.S. Attached is a copy of the course workbook or manual in pdf format. Also, below is a suggested email the bishopric or branch presidency can draw from to introduce the course to all members.

SUGGESTED EMAIL TO SEND TO MEMBERS:

Hello Ward (Branch) Members,

A great challenge facing many members today is not unemployment or finances, as you might expect, but emotional resilience.

The Ward (Branch) Council now invites all members of our ward (branch) to participate in the Church's new Emotional Resilience Self-Reliance Course.

This 12-week course is professionally produced and self-facilitated, the same as with other Self-Reliance classes, such as the popular Personal Finances course.

The class will be held in our ward (branch) on (day/date) at (time).

Please enroll by contacting (name/contact info) as soon as possible. If you want to participate at another date and time, please tell us so we can arrange other classes.

We promise this will be a true blessing to everyone who accepts this invitation.

— Ward Bishopric (Branch Presidency)

Sacrament Meeting Introductory Announcement for In-Person Meetings

6 October 2020

TO BE CUSTOMIZED FOR EACH UNIT AND READ AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SACRAMENT MEETING:

Brothers and Sisters, we welcome you to the (Ward / Branch)  sacrament meeting. We extend a special welcome to those viewing these proceedings at home through webcast.

Bishop (President) (name) presides at this meeting. He has asked that I, (name), (title), conduct.

Before we begin, please know that your safety is our first priority. For those attending in person, thank you for following a few safety precautions:

• Always wear a face covering while indoors.

• Refrain from shaking hands or hugging.

• Use only the restrooms located at (location of restrooms)

• We encourage those at home to join us for all congregational singing. Those of us here in the chapel are asked to sing quietly with our mask on. Or, for those who prefer, simply read the lyrics while the hymn is played. The music conductor will be allowed to remove (her/his) mask to lead the singing, especially for those watching online.

• Once the meeting ends, please exit the building promptly and socialize safely outside.

TESTIMONY MEETING INSTRUCTIONS:

Today is Fast Sunday. We will invite you to share your testimonies, both in-person and virtually. It is no longer necessary to wipe down the pulpit and microphone after each use, but we do ask that you remove your face covering before coming to the pulpit and that you not set your mask on the pulpit. Also, please apply hand sanitizer, available here on the pulpit, immediately before and after speaking at the pulpit.

Thank you so much for helping all of us to be safe. We will begin this meeting by singing hymn (number), (hymn name), with (conductor’s name) conducting and (organist’s name) on the organ (piano).

After which (name) will give the invocation.