Message to the Mount Hood Stake Members following the announcement that all Church meetings and activities were suspended

COVER EMAIL:

Dear Mount Hood Stake Members,

As we enter this new temporary period of no Church gatherings (meetings and activities), please read the attached letter with our encouragement on how this can become a blessing and opportunity.

Also, don't miss this inspiring video the Church produced in 2016 on how the Saints in Ghana lived the gospel at home when their meetings were banned by the government for 18 months.

We love you and look forward to hearing how "home centered, church supported" takes on new meaning for you in your household.

Stake Presidency

13 March 2020

TO: All Members of the Mount Hood Stake

Adjusting to the Suspension of Church Gatherings

Dears Brothers and Sisters,

This will be a time never to be forgotten! As we contemplate the coming weeks, and maybe months, of having all Church meetings and activities temporarily suspended, we now have the opportunity to apply, as never imagined, the principles of being “home centered and church supported.” 

Gratefully, the Lord, through his prophets, has put into place everything we need for the work to move forward: Come, Follow Me home study, ministering assignments, priesthood organization, home-centered youth initiative, etc. along with the technology that allows us to receive real-time guidance from our leaders and stay connected as caring, covenant friends.

Your bishop or branch president will share with you details and ideas on how the Church and living the gospel in the home will continue to be an important part of our lives going forward.

Additionally, please consider the following:

• Contact those to whom you’ve been assigned to minister and make sure they’re aware of the suspension of meetings and have received a copy of this letter;
• Ponder and discuss what more you can do to make the Sabbath a “delight” in your home;
• Visit often the Church website churchofjesuschrist.org with its many resources to bless our lives;
• View the inspiring videos on the Church website about “How Saints Have Navigated Suspended Sacrament Meetings Before.”

Finally, we have been authorized to administer the sacrament in our homes on Sunday, March 2. Your bishop or branch president will give you more details. That date is also our Fast Sunday for April. We invite you to fast that day for a minimizing of the coronavirus pandemic so we can meet again soon. You may also want to have your own family testimony meeting that day.

Thank you for your good lives and for embracing these adjustments with faith that the Lord is aware of us and will sustain each one of us as we remain on the Covenant Path and keep His commandments.

Faithfully yours,

Stake Presidency