Proposing a new approach to preparing a training document

26 May 2020

Pres Christiansen and Sister Richards,

Thank you for accepting the assignment to draft a training document around the three areas of emphasis for the training to be given by the HC assigned to the EQ presidencies and by the Stake RS presidency to the ward RS presidencies.

Later last Sunday, I was visiting with Matt Newell and we got talking about the challenge of the Stake YM presidency going into bishopric meetings and feeling that they will be welcomed with much credibility where none have been bishops before.

As we visited, I remembered Elder Ringwood telling us that we were to train leaders on how to ask “inspired questions.” It occurred to me that inspired questions may be the key to  training—asking inspired questions. Instead of trying to teach them how to ask inspired questions, but use inspired questions as the method of our training.

In other words, rather than trying to give them an “information dump” from the handbook on their duties, what we want to do is to teach the principle of the area of focus and then ask questions that cause the ward leaders to ponder their own efforts and hopefully receive inspiration on what more they need to do in that area.

After my visit with Matt, I drafted the beginning of a training document that the Stake APYW might find helpful, if they choose to take this approach.

I share the attached simply as a thought of an approach you want to take in your drafting of a document to be shared with HC and the Stake RS presidency for training ward EQ and RS presidencies. Can we train effectively simply by: (1) teaching one leadership principle in the designated area of emphasis, and (2) simply ask questions for that area of emphasis…followed by asking them to report back what actions or plans they felt inspired to take?

I hope it’s helpful. Feel no obligation to follow this. I share simply as a different approach that you may want to consider. (BTW…you’ll notice there are more questions than stake leaders will ever use in such training; but that’s where the inspiration comes in—choosing which 2-5 questions from the list (or not on the list) to ask the ward leaders that will prompt them to ponder and then take action on the inspiration they receive.)

One more thing…

Would you not mind involving Dave Hawkins in your collaboration? I should have mentioned him as another excellent resource as you counsel together in how to prepare training for each of the areas of focus. Hopefully this will not complicate your collaboration. It would be good for him to have some input on this training.

Thank you so much,

Crismon

Message to bishops and branch presidents as they consider delivering a message to their ward members

21 May 2020

Bishops and Branch Presidents…

I have been pleased to find in my visits that nearly all of you, if not all of you, are planning to create a video message to deliver to your ward or branch members in the next week or two.

In my opinion, a 5th Sunday message would be an excellent time. But it’s your call. If we can be of help on how to create and post a video, let us know.

What to speak about?

You may have noticed at the bottom of the May 13 Notes from the Area 70 Conference Call there was a reference to something Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said right at the end of the latest Area Training meeting attended by Elder Blunck, our Area 70.

Elder Cook apparently said to the Area 70s and mission presidents, “Brethren focus on two messages: the Restoration Proclamation and Hear Him!”

You may want to consider that counsel.

If you do, here are a couple of thoughts that came to me as I contemplated those topics. Feel no obligation to use them, they’re simply thoughts that may be of help.

RESTORATION PROCLAMATION

As you know, we just reviewed in our Come, Follow Me study Mosiah 18:9 where we are reminded that our baptismal covenant includes a promise by us to “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places.”

In a recent podcast, I was intrigued by this insight:

When we talk about “witnesses” it’s usually in a court setting. A court setting means someone is being accused. 

So who is being accused? God is being accused.

We’ve all heard people say things like...

“If there was a God, He would not allow people to suffer like we see in the world.” 

“If God were real, there would be no wars.” 

“If God truly loved us, innocent children would not die.” etc.

So…are we ready to stand as witnesses on behalf of God? The Restoration Proclamation is indeed an example where modern-day prophets are standing as witnesses that Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ live and love us. There is a Plan. “God is making known His will for His beloved sons and daughters.”

HEAR HIM!

President Nelson delivered a stirring address on Sunday morning in the last general conference where he declared, “It has never been more imperative to know how the Spirit speaks to you than right now."

In that message, President Nelson pointed out that the words “Hear Him” were uttered by God on three occasions when those present were in serious distress—with Peter, James and John on the Mount of Transfiguration, with Nephites at the temple after major destruction and darkness, and with Joseph Smith pleading for his life in the grove.

“Our Father knows that when we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear, what will help us the very most is to hear His Son,” President Nelson reminded.

Elder Bednar also presented some wonderful thoughts in a video on how he hears the Lord.

I hope the above is helpful. Again, feel no obligation to use these thoughts, I share them only with a desire to give you something to contemplate while seeking the Lord’s direction.

Thank you for presenting a gospel message to your ward members through video or email message. You were all called of God and I know He will sustain you in His own special way.

President Lewis

Addressing the boundary transition for a new convert family

20 May 2020

Bishops May and Conklin and President Lindhorst...

We were blessed to have the family of Craig and Wendy Vermeulen baptized in April. They were introduced to the gospel and subsequently fellowshipped so well by the Sam and Claire Lider family in the Walters Hill Ward. Because of that connection they were taught by the WH missionaries.

The Vermeulens are close to the Liders through their involvement in US World Class Tae Kwon Do, a business owned by the Liders.

Craig, Wendy and their two children, Kennedy (18) and Grant (14), live in the Tickle Week Ward (18240 Deloris Ave, Sandy, OR 97055). But currently are members of the WH Ward due to the teaching and fellowshipping in the WH Ward before and during the Covid shutdown.

In time, we need to help them transition into the Tickle Creek Ward and hopefully Kennedy into the YSA Branch.

A tender mercy is that Michael and Melissa Taylor of the TC Ward, who also have son(s) in US World Class TDO, know the Vermeulen family so there’s already a contact in the TC Ward, which will help with a transition. Plus…both Melissa and Wendy are RN’s. 

And 18-year-old daughter Kennedy attended the virtual Institute class last night, a first step to involving her with other YSA in the area.

Bishop May plans to visit with the Vermeulen family soon about receiving temple recommends so they can perform temple work for their family (Wendy has already become engaged in FH work). Bishop May plans to visit with them at that time about the Church’s boundary policies.

In the meantime, I recommend that Bishop Conklin and TC Ward leaders (and the Taylors) begin to reach out to the Vermeulens. Since the Vermeulens apparently have not been officially introduced to the Church’s boundary policy, a blessing so that we can more easily watch over and minister to each other, Bishop Conklin, will you please teach your leaders to reach out to the Vermeulens, but not “force” the boundary issue. (Not say things like: “Technically you’re in our ward.”)

Hopefully Bishop May will explain before the end of this month about the boundary policy and help avoid awkward conversations for TC Ward leaders. Boundaries, of course, are not a major issue while we’re not meeting in person. So the move doesn’t have to be immediate. But transition efforts should begin right away so when we do begin to meet again in person the Vermeulens will have so many friends in the Tickle Creek Ward they will naturally want to attend that ward’s meetings.

Bishops May and Conklin, please work together in coordinating the transition of the membership records at the appropriate time.

The Liders, of course, will continue to be marvelous fellowshipping friends for a lifetime. The Vermeulens, for instance, go to the Liders home each Sunday for worship and the sacrament.

Thank you, all, for helping this to be a smooth transition—to be in place before we start meeting in-person again—so this wonderful family can enjoy the blessing of complete obedience.

Gratefully,

President Lewis

Caution given to the Stake Primary president after a suggestion she made in Stake Council meeting

18 May 2020

Paul,

Yesterday in our meeting Kelly Perry suggested that her presidency is considering taking their unused Primary budget funds to create candy or treat gifts for all the children in the stake.

Will you please address that with her to help her understand that we do NOT recommend such an action because:

1. We don’t want children to get the idea that the Church is where you get candy (schools and parents do plenty of that; we can’t compete);

2. There is a Handbook caution that we should never give food to children without checking first with parents to make sure we don’t cause dietary problems.

We hope the Stake Primary will consider an all-stake activity on a Saturday in the fall, when we can meet again, or teaching ward presidencies how to have an activity event that accomplishes the objective(s) of the Stake Primary Activity each summer.

If they insist on using their funds for giving a gift to children, please encourage them to consider giving each child a picture of the temple or of the Savior for putting up in their bedroom or on a mirror.

Thanks,

Crismon

Counsel to bishops following a video conference training meeting

15 May 2020

Bishops and Branch Presidents,

Thank you for joining with us in our video conference last night. We appreciate all the time and inspiration you put into your sacred callings. There’s a lot of talk about those “on the front lines” in the news. For the true Church of Jesus Christ, that’s YOU! And we can’t express enough how grateful we are for your tireless and faithful service.

I had several thoughts come to me this morning in my personal devotions:

1. TRAINING VIDEO: Please consider sharing the member and leader video with your ward or branch council members and ask them to come to your next council meeting with an answer to these two questions:

a. What is one idea or thought that stood out to you in the training for your responsibility?

b. How do you and your counselors (where applicable) plan to apply that idea in your service during these challenging times?

2. IN PLACE OF SINGING: As you’ll remember, we shared the guidance from the Interfaith conference call that we not sing when gathering in small groups, including when we take the sacrament into another’s home. (So that there’s no misunderstanding, a family singing in the home is not only appropriate, but strongly encouraged.)

This morning when I read again the account of Alma and his people in Mosiah 23...where they were commanded not to pray vocally or they would be killed…so they turned to praying in their hearts.

The thought came to me what a wonderful blessing the sacrament hymns are in helping us prepare for that sacred ordinance. Please consider encouraging the priesthood holders, who go into homes, to have those in the home quietly read the lyrics of a selected sacrament hymn while preparing to partake of the sacrament. They could also play a recording of the hymn being played or sung from the Gospel Library.

Speaking of the sacrament in homes... I was also reminded this morning of what a brother-in-law, who serves as a bishop in another state, shared with me: how in their family they noticed the sacrament ends too quickly when there are only a few in the home. So they pause for a full minute or two and sit in silence between the administration of the bread and water; a time to reflect as we do when we meet at church.

Thank you again for your service and for giving the above your consideration.

President Lewis

Announcement that sacrament can be taken into homes

14 May 2020

Bishops and Branch Presidents,

We are very pleased to announce that we have received permission for volunteer priesthood holders to take the sacrament into the homes of those who desire it beginning this Sunday, May 17. There is no restriction on how many Sundays per month this may happen, as long as there is no change to government restrictions.

It is important that we follow these guidelines:

• The same priesthood holder(s) must always be the one(s) who take the sacrament to the same household each time;

• Recognizing there is still a risk involved, priesthood holders are not to be assigned, but must volunteer to take the sacrament into a home;

• It is recommended, where possible, that volunteer priesthood holders be under the age of 60;

• Safety is of highest concern: priesthood holders should wear gloves and use masks and always maintain 6 ft social distance (see authorized procedure below);

• It is permissible for a household to invite other members into their home, using the same safety precautions described above, to participate in the sacrament, but please no more than one or two visitors per home; visitors should go to the same home each time;

The following procedure is to be followed when administering the sacrament in a home other than your own:

• Members receiving the sacrament are to provide a piece of unbroken bread on a plate and water in cups on a plate;

• A cloth covering is nice, but not required;

• The priesthood holder(s) will enter the home, break and bless the bread and then step back; the person(s) receiving will step forward one by one and partake of the bread and then step back; then the brother(s) will step forward and repeat this procedure for the water always maintaining social distance;

• You may have a prayer before or after the sacrament, but singing is not recommended when trying to maintain social distance, because of the potential of projecting from the mouth.

Due to the shortness of time before this Sunday, we encourage you to coordinate immediately with your elders quorum president to identify all worthy priesthood holders (preferably under 60 years of age) willing to take the sacrament into homes. Please explain to them that this is not an assignment, there is a risk, and that it entails a commitment to be the same priesthood holder who will always administer the sacrament in that home. It is not expected that members receive the sacrament every Sunday, but hopefully at least once a month.

You may also want to communicate this immediately to your ward / branch members either with a broadcast email, phone tree or individually to those who have shown the greatest desire. We expect that many members will not want others, including priesthood holders, to come into the home yet.

We will still meet this evening (Thursday) for our Bishops Video Conference at 8:30 pm where we can discuss this further, if needed. But we wanted you to be aware as soon as possible so you and your elders quorum have as much time as possible to organize this in your ward or branch.

Thank you for moving on this quickly.

Gratefully,

The Stake Presidency

In response to my First Counselor about asking wards to replace summer camps with an activity that focuses on strengthening testimonies

12 May 2020

Paul,

Thank you for your most thoughtful response. I know you feel you don’t express yourself well in writing, but you did a masterful job in sharing your feelings. You are very convincing. I made many of the changes to the document you recommended.

I believe we’re on the same page. We definitely want the same thing: the youth to pick up the baton and move forward the work especially with a focus on growing faith. 

I think maybe our only disagreement is the level of responsibility we place on the youth presidencies.

I, too, want to see it rest fully upon the youth, but feel we should allow bishoprics and YW presidencies to decide how and when it happens. Hopefully our stake training will be convincing enough for the adult leaders to ultimately "let them lead.” But I don’t feel we should mandate from the stake that the youth have full responsibility and final say.

It’s very important to me personally that we teach that the objective of summer camps is to strengthen testimonies and we ask that they make it the objective of the special youth summer activity in each ward and branch. And, if it becomes difficult for the youth to figure out what to do after praying about it, that they not think they have the option of doing nothing. Adult leaders are there to help them with ideas, encouragement and coaching.

With all respect to Sister Cordon, I would rather risk the youth planning something good for a lesser reason (to please us), than risk the youth feeling that it’s…

…OK to do nothing because it was too hard; or

…OK to say “no" to priesthood leaders who feel inspired that every class/quorum presidency should plan a summer activity to strengthen testimonies; or

…OK to think that because they didn’t get an answer to their prayers that it must mean the Lord doesn’t want them to do anything.

It’s not OK.

I hope we can help youth presidencies understand their calling includes shouldering some responsibility for the spiritual welfare of their class or quorum members…and that we expect them to do something beyond the weekly activity nights this summer to reach and bless those for whom they have stewardship…even if it’s something as simple as having a class or quorum fast and then concluding their fast together on Zoom with a prayer.

I’m so very grateful for your leadership in overseeing our unified efforts to bless and strengthen the youth of our stake.

Crismon

Expectations of counselors in responding to emails

7 May 2020

Paul and Steven,

I’m OK with meeting to discuss expectations. You’re both feeling pressure from me, for which I apologize. I’m trying not to make this difficult or burdensome on either of you. Obviously I’m failing.

If you want to meet, I suggest we meet sooner than our presidency meeting on May 9 so we address it while it’s fresh; and that we not constrain ourselves to a time right before presidency meeting. I know you’re both much busier than I am so why don’t you two talk and pick a couple of days and times that work for you both? Chances are I can meet one or both of them.

Obviously, your desire for expectations means you want to know what I expect of you in regard to emails.

Let me see if I can describe my feelings on the subject so we can discuss in our meeting:

• I want you to know that I’m trying to accommodate your schedules recognizing that you both may not be able to review my many emails until late each night. My expectation is that you review emails throughout the day glancing at the subject lines and that you respond to all emails, that need a reply, at least once within that same day the email was sent to you (presumably late that night). 

• At times I feel an urgency and ask that you (1) respond sooner or (2) at a minimum let me know you saw the urgent email and (3) when I can expect to receive your reply. I will do my best to put “Urgent" in the subject line for those special times.

• Please note, as happened this week, when we “wrestle” over an email and you make suggestions then I rewrite it and send again. When I send the next draft it would help me if you could review those emails sooner than later that night so it doesn’t take 24-48 hours for an email to be approved. I try to mark those as “Final Draft” in the subject line.

Is this a fair request?

You can respond when we meet, but please respond before the meeting if you have any questions about the expectations described above.

I appreciate deeply your willingness to review emails I send and, when you can, respond to them. Your counsel, suggestions and even corrections are invaluable to me. I hope we can continue to handle the fast-paced issues of Church administration in this unique time without being too disruptive to your personal lives and without causing you anxiety.

You are both wonderful counselors and I am very much indebted to you for your loyalty, wisdom and inspired counsel.

Crismon

An appeal to our Area 70 for allowing wards to be provide gospel instruction

2 May 2020

Elder Blunck,

I’m not sure all that we’re discussing in our CCM tomorrow, but I hope we can give the following consideration.

I received a message from our son who is attending Columbia University in Manhattan. He shared with us the attached ward bulletin received today announcing a series of Sunday online gospel discussions to be presented by members of the ward council.

I was impressed by the bishop’s reminder that this does not replace regular Sunday worship, now conducted in the home, but is a supplement, as was recommended in the First Presidency’s “Administrative Principles in Challenging Times” that states: “Bishops and ward leaders may use technology for messages to supplement a member’s home centered worship.” 

I also like the idea of sharing the responsibility with ward council members so there’s no confusion that this is NOT a sacrament meeting or even an official Relief Society, Sunday school or Elders Quorum meeting. 

While we’re now encouraging bishoprics to conduct a weekly Virtual Youth Activity (see attached document), they are finding it quite challenging to connect with the youth in this way. I really like their idea of holding a youth discussion each Sunday, too, to give the bishopric an opportunity to engage the youth in a regular gospel discussion.

My personal opinion is that we’ve now focused on encouraging families to make teaching the gospel a home-centered priority. I hope we can now bring the “Church-supported” element back into the equation with more gospel instruction from ward leaders.

I hope this is helpful.

Crismon Lewis

Update announcement about stake youth summer camps in 2020

1 May 2020

Dear Bishops and Branch Presidents,

As you know, the Church has announced that all camps, youth conferences and overnight outings or events are now canceled for the summer.

We had hoped that government officials would allow by summer gatherings in sufficient numbers for wards and branches to hold their own youth summer camps and outings with the help and guidance of the Stake YMYW presidencies. That option is no longer available regardless of what civil authorities decide.

So you can end immediately any planning for youth gatherings or outings you were hoping to have this summer.

Fortunately, we are able to still provide “technology-based experiences” for the youth of our stake, according to the announcement from the Church.

Therefore we ask that we now take the following direction:

• HELP YOUTH HEAR HIM: We ask the Stake APYW Committee (Stake YMYW presidencies) to prayerfully counsel together with your ward and branch youth leaders immediately and draft a recommendation for the stake presidency, bishoprics and branch presidencies on how to help the youth of our stake this summer learn to “Hear Him";

• CREATE A NEW APPROACH: Stake and ward leaders should not try to create a virtual duplication of a Stake YW or AP Camp thus placing a burden on adult leaders, but to “think outside the box” to come up with a fun, unifying, testimony-strengthening experience for all youth in our stake this summer;

• NO TIME CONSTRAINT: This summer activity does not have to span a certain amount of time or be confined to a certain week, but may include virtual activities with different groups at different times throughout the summer;

• ALL LEVELS INVOLVED: The plan does not have to be conducted by stake leaders or be for all the youth together at one time, but may include a series of virtual activities planned and organized by ward, quorum or class youth leaders, with ideas, guidance and suggestions from the Stake APYW Committee;

• RESOURCES: In their planning, leaders are asked to draw from the April 2020 General Conference talks and the May 2020 edition of the New Era magazine.

Bishops, please join with us in praying for the wonderful youth leaders in our stake that they will be inspired in their deliberations. Our hope is that they will be able to craft a recommendation no later than the middle of May (to be presented to the stake presidency on May 9 or at the latest May 16).

We appreciate your flexibility and patience as we strive to strive to “strengthen the rising generation” during these trying times.

Gratefully,

The Stake Presidency