Teaching the Principle of Assignment as the Lord's Way to Govern His Church

                                                                                              

30 March 2014

TO: All Stake and Ward Leaders

FROM: Mount Hood Oregon Stake Presidency

RE: Teaching the principle of governing the Church through assignments

Dear Stake and Ward Leaders,

Soon after God gave man his agency in the Garden of Eden (Moses 7:32), He introduced ordinances, covenants and commandments to bless us (D&C 58:2), to cleanse us (D&C 76:51-52), to help us know Him (1 John 2:3), to guide us (Proverbs 6:23), to prosper us (Jarom 1:9), and ultimately to bring us back into His presence (D&C 25:15).

This pattern continues today where we as leaders are to administer the affairs of the Lord’s Church by commandment or assignment. That distinction is clearly identified in Alma 5:62. As a covenant people, we serve by accepting assignments or callings, seldom by volunteering.

We draw your attention to two common practices in the Church that run counter to this principle: (1) passing sign-up sheets in classes or meetings and (2) volunteer prayers.

Passing Sign-Up Sheets

The passing of sign-up sheets not only causes a distraction during the class instruction, but it circumvents the use of inspiration and creates peer pressure on members to volunteer for an assignment. It also means many, who could be blessed by the service opportunity, are missed because they’re not in attendance.

The appropriate way is for inspired leaders to make assignments in private so members can exercise their agency by accepting the assignment and receive the blessing or decline without experiencing the undue pressure of embarrassment or guilt; often they have acceptable reasons.

Volunteer Prayers

When leaders or teachers call on others to offer an opening or closing prayer in a class or other public setting, we often do it in one of two ways:

·   We ask, “Does anyone want to offer the prayer?” or

·   We call on someone by name and ask him or her, without notice, to give the prayer.

In the first example, we have all experienced the painful silence when no one volunteers, making everyone feel ashamed for failing to step forward and do something so meaningful.

In the second example, we run the risk of embarrassing someone by putting them on the spot, when it may be painfully difficult for them to pray in public, or where they may not be allowed to offer prayers in public as a condition of Church discipline.

The appropriate way for leaders to obtain opening and closing prayers is through assignment—made privately before the class or meeting—so the member has an opportunity to accept or decline without embarrassment. Having a class president in each Sunday School class, who makes assignments, will help avoid putting teachers in a position of calling on students to offer impromptu prayers.

Please know that this principle is not meant to be a “rule” in our stake. We simply ask stake and ward leaders to teach this principle to those in their respective organizations so that, in time, we can minimize, or even eliminate, these practices that can be embarrassing and hurtful to members.

Objectives of Sunday School presidencies in our stake

Notes from meeting with Stake Sunday School President Michael Miller on November 11, 2014, about the role of the Sunday School presidency in each ward:

First and foremost, the Stake Sunday School presidency is tasked with addressing the substitute teacher problem in the stake. Until that part of the “infrastructure” gets addressed, ward Sunday School presidencies will forever feel overwhelmed and will never get around to doing the following:

1. TEACH YOUTH TO TEACH: Ward SS presidencies are to help teachers of youth understand one of their prime responsibilities is to teach youth how to teach and testify, recognizing that many of them will be in the mission field within a very short time of their graduation from high school. This does not mean teachers simply give a student the manual and have them teach a lesson. Teachers of youth need to be instructed how to teach the students to teach and testify without turning over the class to them.

2. CONSISTENT OBSERVATION: A system needs to be put into place where there is consistent monitoring of youth class instruction so there is accountability and determination of training needs so the once-a-month training of youth is effective and will result in changes in the classroom.

3. EFFECTIVE COORDINATION OF TRAINING: Each ward must become more effective in the training of youth teachers. That will require a more effective coordination that happens between the (1) Implementation of tools in the classroom, (2) effective monthly trainings that result in implementation in the classroom and (3) consistent observation and mentoring to insure the right training is being provided on a monthly basis and that teachers are making the changes, as needed.

4. CALLING OF INSTRUCTORS: The ward Sunday School presidency provides counsel and feedback to the bishopric on how teachers, especially teachers of youth, are called and introduced to their assignment. The Stake Sunday School presidency provides the same counsel and feedback to the stake presidency so they can train bishoprics. It is important that all instructors come to understand what an important role they play in the hastening of the Lord’s work and that any attitude of resistance toward the teacher training they receive and/or one-on-one mentoring by their file leaders, including the ward Sunday School presidency, will not be tolerated for any length of time. It is important for bishoprics to address this at the time of the calling.

High Council training for sacrament meeting talks

High Councilors…

Thank you for your many efforts to bless the members of our stake through your teachings over the pulpit each month.

As you will learn at Stake PEC tomorrow, we have notified the bishops that we are giving high councilors more latitude in choosing their topics for speaking in the wards this year beginning this month. It does not mean you cannot seek guidance from the bishopric, but you have the option to choose your own topic. We want you to have the flexibility to follow the Spirit in determining which message is needed most by your assigned ward.

Having said that, we ask that this new direction does not lead to pulling talks out of a file drawer and using them again. We strongly urge you to make each talk unique, a result of serious preparation, which may include prayer, study, temple worship, fasting, etc.

As you know, we are focusing in ward conferences on the blessing and importance of having a testimony of the Restored Gospel in these the latter days. We ask that you give consideration to this topic for some of your messages this year. 

One source you may want to consider is this outstanding message by Elder Todd R Callister, of the presidency of the Seventy, at the recent CES fireside: 

https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/ces-devotionals/2014/01?lang=eng

However, the most important guidance is to seek the Lord’s Spirit in choosing and developing the topic that will bless your assigned ward.

It is interesting the Church website now has a number of links designed to help members improve their sacrament meeting messages. Here is one that may be especially helpful:

https://www.lds.org/church/news/professor-teaches-steps-for-giving-better-sacrament-meeting-talks?lang=eng

As a way of helping you with this somewhat new responsibility, President Christiansen will conduct training in our meeting tomorrow on this subject. We ask that you come prepared with your thoughts on what you feel are the most effective ways to prepare and present messages in sacrament meeting.

Here are a few guidelines that are meaningful to me personally:

1. Confine your sources to personal experiences and the scriptures, approved curriculum and the words of modern-day prophets.

2. Do not read your talk, even if you have written it out verbatim in advance.

3. Bear your testimony at the conclusion, if not multiple times throughout your talk.

4. If a member of the stake presidency is presiding and you have been given adequate time to give your message, consider allowing 5 minutes before the conclusion of the meeting for him to offer a concluding testimony.

Thank you for giving this your consideration. We look forward to discussing this topic with you tomorrow.

President Lewis

Policy for collection boxes in the foyer

Bishops,

On occasion we will have youth, either Young Men or Young Women, ask if they can put a collection box in the foyer of our meetinghouses as part of an Eagle or service project.

Will you please teach families and especially youth leaders that this is not approved or appropriate for two reasons:

1. It creates a messy look in our foyers where we're trying to make our meetinghouses warm and inviting as a place for worship for members and visitors;

2. It undermines the leadership purpose of the Eagle or service project. For instance, Eagle candidates will learn leadership skills more effectively by organizing and following through with fellow troop members in a community or ward outreach effort, instead of setting out a collection box and waiting for members to donate.

Will you please help teach this to families so we don't offend youth or their parents when we ask them to remove their collection box from the foyer?

Thanks,

Stake Presidency

Change in Stake Presidency Counselors

 In early October 2013, Crismon changed both of his counselors. Presidents Dennis Baird and Charles Allen had served for four years in the previous stake presidency under President Richard Hansen.

Crismon received authorization from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to call Presidents Paul Hansen, first counselor, and Steven Christiansen, second counselor. They were sustained in our stake's fall stake conference.

President Hansen, a former bishop of the Sandy River Ward and younger brother to the previous stake president, was serving as High Priest Group Leader in the Sandy River Ward at the time of the change.

President Christiansen was serving as bishop of the Powell Valley Ward. He was replaced by Michael Hulet, who was his first counselor.

The change in counselors was precipitated mostly by President and Sister Martha Allen submitting their papers for a mission call. They served for 18 months in Norway, where Martha had served in her youth.

How to know when a young person is ready for the temple

The following is an excerpt of an email sent to the bishop the Young Single Adult ward in our stake explaining why a temple candidate he sent to me was delayed. I wanted to save this in case it might form the foundation for a future email:

Here are some key points to consider in preparing and recommending young people to receive their own endowments:

1. Age - the handbook specifically says young people in their early 20's should not receive their own endowments unless they are leaving on a mission or engaged to be sealed in the temple.

2. Motivation - does their interest in going to the temple come from others or from within?

3. Time in activity - a new convert can't receive her/his endowments until a year after baptism; that's a good rule of thumb for those returning to activity; before going to the temple for their endowment, everyone needs time to demonstrate a "Godly walk," as the scriptures describe.

4. Understanding of the gospel - new converts and newly returning members need time to "catch up" on the gospel understanding they've missed out on growing up in the church; spiritual maturity is very important.

5. Love for the temple - the limited use recommends, now available for individuals and not just groups, give young people a chance to demonstrate how much they love the temple; if they don't use their recommend to perform proxy baptisms a number of times on their own, then we shouldn't be surprised if they don't go back on their own after being endowed.

6. Tithing faithfulness - make sure the person has had adequate time to demonstrate tithing faithfulness, one of the true tests of a person's desire to sacrifice and consecrate.

7. Personal devotion - a person's devotion to regular, even daily, scripture study and personal prayers is an excellent indicator of their ability to place the Lord first in their life; without that level of devotion, a covenant to live the law of sacrifice may be pretty meaningless.

Helping Our Stake Use Social Media Wisely

Why social media

We do not pretend that social media is the best way to communicate within our stake. It is simply one more tool that, when used properly, can help us communicate more effectively with our members and even neighbors. If the Brethren have asked full-time missionaries to replace knocking on doors with daily use of social media…and if members of the First Presidency are now on Facebook…then it is time all of us become more familiar with it, too.

How social media may benefit our stake

·   Enhances our ability to publicize events

·   Encourages stake members to use social media in sharing the gospel

·   Offers a repository for links to other stake Facebook pages, such as the Stake Trek

·   Provides a way for our non-LDS neighbors to learn what is happening in our Church,
including ministers and pastors with whom we’re trying to build a relationship

Steps to implementing a stake presence in social media

·   Launch a Facebook page (completed this week)

·   Encourage stake members to “Like” the stake page, accomplishing two things:
1) Members will see posts about stake activities and events
   2) Members’ friends will begin to see posts about these stake events

·   Begin producing content for the stake Facebook page on a weekly basis, including:
   1) Publicity of stake activities
   2) Follow-up reports with photos of major events, such as the trek
3) Inspirational messages from stake leaders

How do we avoid inappropriate content

The stake Facebook page is currently set up so that anybody can comment or post. We now have three page administrators with the potential for more. These administrators will be tasked to monitor content and remove anything found to be inappropriate or not in line with the stake’s goals. If there are any questionable posts by readers, we can restrict posts to administrators only at any time.

Are we an official Church site?

No, because we have a disclaimer stating we are not an official site for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as directed in Handbook 2 - 21.1.22. Many stakes are now setting up pages for publicity purposes. Our Facebook page will be administered by the Stake Public Affairs Council.

Home Teachers assignment for Stake Food Drive in September 2013

Dear Brethren,

In this day of hastening, where we as members are being asked to step up our efforts to reach out and bless those around us, you have a special opportunity to help your assigned families to participate in a very unique, out-reach service project.

Will you please accept the assignment to invite your families to participate in our neighbor-to-neighbor, community food drive as part of our Stake Day of Service on September 14?

This is a very exciting project for two reasons: (1) churches of other faiths are joining with us in this food drive; and (2) the neighbor-to-neighbor element of this food drive gives all of us an easy, non-intimidating way to meet and invite five or more of our neighbors (or friends) to join in this worthy cause to help those in need. Many neighbors or friends do not attend a church and seldom have an opportunity to give or serve. They will give generously!

To help your families, we ask that you do the following:

·   During the first two weeks of August contact your assigned families, teach them about the food drive and invite them to participate, asking them for a count on how many grocery sacks they want for their neighbors and their own personal use. Report your count to a member of your quorum presidency or group leadership by August 18.

·   Around August 25 you will receive from your quorum/group leaders the grocery sacks you requested for your families. Please distribute them to your families no later than Sunday, September 1. Instructions as to what members are to do with the grocery sacks will be included with each sack.

Thank you for accepting this assignment. It’s more important than ever that we become involved in our communities “to be the light of this people.” (3 Nephi 12:14)

Gratefully,
Stake Presidency

Melchizedek Priesthood leaders responsibility in our Stake Food Drive in September 2013

Dear Brethren,

There are two reasons we are very excited about the upcoming Stake Food Drive to be conducted as part of our Stake Day of Service on September 14.

First, other churches, not of our faith, are joining with us to participate in this faith-based, community food drive. The potential for a “fishes-and-loaves miracle” is very real. (See the letter to pastors that is being emailed to you for additional details.)

Second, the neighbor-to-neighbor element of this food drive provides all participants, especially our members, an easy, non-intimidating way to meet and invite their neighbors to join in this worthy cause. Many of our neighbors do not attend a church and seldom have the opportunity to give or serve. They will appreciate this opportunity and give generously.

Last year less than a third of our members participated in this food drive. We desire that many more enjoy this unique, out-reach opportunity of meeting and extending an invitation to their neighbors.

Will you please accept the assignment to insure all families assigned to your quorum or group are invited by their home teachers to participate in this food drive?

Hopefully the attached letter, addressed to home teachers, will be helpful in explaining their assignment. We ask you to distribute copies of that letter to your assigned home teaching companionships. Note this is an excellent opportunity for home teachers to invite less-active families to participate. Please don’t miss this opportunity!

Please take these steps in completing this assignment:

·   During the first two weeks of August, distribute the attached single-sheet letter to all home teachers asking them to contact their assigned families and get a count on how many grocery sacks they want for their neighbors and for their own personal use. We encourage all families to reach out to at least five or more neighbors.

·   By August 18, have the home teachers report to your presidency or group leadership the count of how many sacks each family is requesting. Report these counts to your assigned high councilor, who will give the counts to Ryan Pond, of the High Council.

·   On August 25, when the paper grocery sacks are delivered to you, begin distributing the sacks to the home teachers, based on their requested counts, and ask them to deliver the sacks to their families no later than Sunday, September 1. Instructions as to what members are to do with the grocery sacks will be included with each sack.

For your information, the filled grocery sacks are to be delivered between 8:00 and
9:00 am on Saturday, September 14, to any of the participating churches on the list. Then members are to go to the site of their ward’s service project(s) to continue our Day of Service activities.

In a show of neighborliness, we hope many of our members will deliver their filled grocery sacks to their nearest participating non-LDS church. A list of participating churches, with addresses, will be included in the instructions.

Brethren, please know that this is not just a food drive or service project.

This is an organized effort to provide our members an opportunity to meet and engage their neighbors. We hope lasting friendships will develop from this out-reach that will lead to improved relations with those of all faiths in our communities.

In this day of hastening, it’s more important than ever that we become involved in our communities “to be the light of this people.” (3 Nephi 12:14)

Suggestions for Ward Councils on how to be more effective from observations made by the stake presidency after visits in June 2013

Core Principles: A ward council is most effective when...
(1) agendas are followed to give structure and focus so you don’t try to cover too much in your meeting and yet enough for action to be taken;
(2) every discussion ends with one or more assignments being made;
(3) assignments are tracked by the ward clerk and follow up reports are given before the next meeting; and
(4) the needs of individuals or families are identified through inspiration prior to the meeting so the ward council can focus on seeking prayerful solutions.

Areas of Emphasis: Agendas should include discussions on several, if not all, of the elements of the “Work of Salvation” listed in Chapter 5 of Handbook 2, including (1) Missionary Work,
(2) Convert Retention, (3) Reactivation, (4) Temple and Family History Work, and
(5) Teaching the Gospel.

Use Reports: There is never enough time to discuss everyone. The bishop, or others to whom he delegates, will want to identify, by inspiration, a select number of individuals on each of the three key reports: (1) Investigator Progress Report listing all investigators (WML responsible), (2) Focus Reports listing less-actives (aka Focus Five; RS, HP, EQ responsible); both reports feed into the (3) New and Returning Member Report identifying those who are new members or new into activity (Bishop responsible).

Create a Ward Mission Plan: Every successful ward missionary program begins with a Ward Mission Plan created by the ward council. See guidelines in Handbook 2 - 5.1.8.

Devotionals: We recommend the devotional consist of a brief discussion, led by a member of the ward council, from the following sources: (1) scriptures listed in the 4-page stake document on conversion, (2) Preach My Gospel, or (3) other references from the Standard Works, as directed by the Bishopric.

Training: We recommend you draw from (1) Handbook 2, especially chapters 1-6, with emphasis on chapter 4 about ward councils, or (2) the principles taught in the Youth Curriculum.

Council Environment: Create an environment of discussion and equality of voice by arranging the chairs in a circle, semi-circle or around a table.

Function as a Council: Do not go around the room asking for organizations to report, but require members to contribute to the agenda beforehand and ensure all topics of discussion become the business of everyone.

A letter to stake members urging all to seek a hastening of the Lord's work in our stake, too

The following is a letter from the stake presidency to all members of our stake issued on July 5, 2013.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Two weeks ago the entire Church was invited to participate in the broadcast of a mission president’s seminar. It was a marvelous meeting filled with vision and inspiration.

We all came away with a renewed desire to participate in this remarkable day of hastening by becoming more effective member missionaries. In short, our Church leaders have called on us to gain “A New Vision for the Work of Salvation.”

To that end, we urge all members of our stake to do the following:

• Review the new Church website about “Hastening the Work of Salvation” located
   at http://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/a-new-vision?lang=eng

• Make our personal missionary efforts a focus of our fast this Sunday, July 7.

• Begin praying daily for the Lord’s guidance as to what each of us and our families
   are to do to hasten the work of salvation in our stake.

We live in extraordinary times in which the rising generation has responded to a prophet’s call in numbers never seen before in history. Each ward in our stake now has its own set of missionaries and possibly more to come.

All of us are witnesses of prophecy being fulfilled. “And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten…and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth…” (Moses 7:62)

The Lord truly is hastening His work on the earth (D&C 88:73). Will you join with us in asking the Lord to hasten His work in our stake, too?

In response to a family wanting to pull away from the Church

The following was an email sent on June 18, 2013 to a couple in our stake. It followed a lengthy visit in their home the evening before in which I tried to encourage them not to leave the Church. The father, in particular, had become disgruntled with the Church after studying anti-Mormon literature and the wife had found fault with Church doctrines and practices that she feels disparage women.

Thank you for your kindness in allowing me into your beautiful, and most comfortable, home. It was a treat to be with you both. And, Jennifer, thanks for the balloon on the mailbox. I'm embarrassed to say I missed it when I arrived, but saw it on your mailbox as I was leaving. That was so thoughtful of you! (as It turns out the "rustic barn" was the key landmark that got me to your home just fine…and what a barn! thanks for the tour :)

As I mentioned last night, we will miss you both and your children so much. Please know that you are wanted, welcomed and needed whenever you feel drawn to attend or be with us. We are a better church with you among us, but I respect your feelings and decisions. The saddest part of all of this is that the insensitivity of members (including, or especially, your stake president) contributed to your choices. Please forgive me and all of us!

As I shared with you last night, one of the issues here is that of passing judgment or judging others and things.

You have chosen to judge the church, modern-day prophets, other church members and church history. If we based the propriety of judging strictly on the Bible, you'd be on pretty thin ice for judging at all (Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that ye be not judged.")

It gets even stickier with verse 2, "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." In other words, it appears to me, that if you're going to require modern-day prophets in your judgment to be infallible, then you should expect to be judged to the same standard. Verses 3-5 are also very telling.

Fortunately, the Joseph Smith Translation comes to the rescue clarifying that we ARE to judge, "but judge righteous judgment." (JST Matt 7:1-2)

So it's OK... in fact, it's expected… that we make judgments. But our judging must be in righteousness. So how do we do that?

Below are some scriptures, if you care to review them, that I find helpful in knowing how to judge righteously. I'm not suggesting I always judge righteously (you know that I don't), but thankfully the Lord is patient and He has given us scripture guidelines on how to judge righteously. As we continue to study and apply the scriptures,  hopefully over time our judgments will improve so that ultimately we will judge others and things in the same way He will judge us—in righteousness.

James 2:13

3 Nephi 11:29

Moroni 7:15-17

D&C 52:14-19

Thank you for still wanting to be friends; even more than friends in so many ways. May your choices and desires bring you happiness in your home.

Reaching Out to Other Churches to Join with Us in a Faith-Based, Community Food Drive in September 2013

The following is a letter mailed to more than 60 pastors in the Gresham area inviting them to join with us in a neighbor-to-neighbor, faith-based food drive on the weekend of September 14, 2013. We were gratified to have six pastors agree to join with us and the Gresham Stake as charter participants in this first-ever food drive of this type.

28 June 2013

Dear Pastor,

SnowCap and other food pantries in our area continue to have a growing need for commodities to help the needy. That has prompted a group of east-county churches to organize a Faith-Based Community Food Drive this fall.

It’s a food drive with a twist!

All of us have neighbors who would like to serve the community but are not active in a church or affiliated with a faith.  Working together as churches can you imagine…

…How much good could we do in our community if we asked our congregants not only to give, but to reach out to their neighbors
and offer an easy, non-intimidating way for them to give, too?

Here’s how easy it can be:

·   In early September, all participating churches distribute pre-printed grocery sacks with instructions to their parishioners or congregants.

·   Congregants personally take a grocery sack to 4 or 5 (or more, if they choose) of their neighbors inviting them to join in our Neighbor-to-Neighbor, Faith-Based Community Food Drive for the needy.

·   A few days later congregants pick up the grocery sacks with the food donations from their neighbors and, with their own food donation, deliver them to the nearest participating church or community center.

It’s really that simple. And our potential influence for good in the community will have been multiplied many times over.

It can be our own “fishes and loaves” experience.

Besides the potential for collecting literally tons of food for the nearly 20 food pantries in our area, this will provide believers an opportunity to set an example of discipleship and fellowship through being good neighbors. Daily news reports suggest there’s never been a greater need than now for neighbors to get acquainted with neighbors.

We have chosen to conduct this food drive the weekend of September 14 to coordinate with the other two major, local food drives during the year: the US Postal Service food drive in the spring and a food drive by local businesses, led by Gresham Ford and Riverview Bank, during the Christmas holidays.

Food pantries are often depleted of supplies in the summer months and eagerly welcome this food collection initiative in early fall.

Your church is invited to participate—at no cost to you. All supplies are being donated. You simply encourage your congregants to participate; then coordinate the collection of the donated food.

If you’re interested in participating, please complete the enclosed form and return it by email, fax or mail no later than July 10.

We look forward to joining with you in this worthy cause to bless and nurture the needy in our community.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian Allen, DDS

Chairman, 2013 Faith-Based Community Food Drive Committee

Charter Participants of the Faith-Based Community Food Drive:

Pastor Keith Evans                                                   Pastor Larry Jorgenson                       

Greater Gresham Baptist Church                                                          Trinity Lutheran Church                      

Father Charles Zach                                                Pastor Steven Hardy

St Henry’s Catholic Church                                                      Damascus Community Church

Dr. Richard Craft, President                                    Pastor Dennis Alger

Gresham Stake, LDS Church                                                      Zion United Church of Christ

Pastor James Erb                                                 President Crismon Lewis

Hollyview Church                                                                        Mount Hood Stake, LDS Church

Preparing Our Stake for Special Missionary Training Broadcast

June 2, 2013

TO: All Stake and Ward Leaders and Interested Members

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We are pleased to announce that the First Presidency has authorized all stake and ward leaders and interested members to view a special live broadcast titled “The Work of Salvation," as part of a seminar for new mission presidents to be aired via satellite and over the internet from 3:00 to 4:30 pm Pacific time on Sunday, June 23. 

This will be a most unusual opportunity for the entire Church to witness members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles addressing new mission presidents. Because of the unique nature of this broadcast and the timeliness of the topic, we desire every member of our stake to participate in what will certainly be an historic event.

Therefore, please be advised of the following changes to the block meeting times in our stake on June 23 so families can view the broadcast live at home or at the stake center:

·   All wards (except Mt Hood YSA and Powell Valley) will hold sacrament meeting and Sunday School at their regular time, but dispense with their third-hour meetings;

·   The Mt Hood YSA and Powell Valley Wards will hold their sacrament meeting at
1:00 pm that day and dispense with all other meetings;

·   The Estacada Ward Conference, set for that day, has been rescheduled for Sept. 15.

We encourage all members of our stake to take advantage of this rare opportunity to view a new mission president’s seminar and hear Church leaders specifically address the impact and implications of the dramatic increase in full-time missionaries this year.

Stake Presidency

Leading our stake to the temple with an increase in temple workers called

18 May 2013

Dear Bishops,

Some of you are old enough to remember the days when members in the Northwest had to travel to Oakland, Idaho Falls or even Salt Lake City to attend the temple. It was a commitment of several days.

Later the Seattle Temple was built and members gladly devoted nearly a full day each month to attend the temple.

It was upon the foundation of this level of temple commitment and sacrifice that the Church in this area has grown from one to 20+ stakes in just a few decades.

We are now blessed to have a temple less than an hour away, but our sacrifice, at times, is minimal.

Bishops, will you please help our members discover again the joy of sacrificing to enjoy the blessings of the temple?

This is why I am asking you to recommend many more in your ward to serve in the temple. I have known many members, who responded reluctantly to a telephone call asking them to meet with a member of the temple presidency. I confess I was one of them four years ago. But in all my years in the Church I have yet to hear any, who accepted a call to be a temple worker, ever exclaim, “I can’t wait to be released from my temple assignment!”

Temple service changes perspective and hearts. It changed mine.

As the one who holds the keys to temple work in this stake, I ask you again to recommend more members for temple service.

And I urge you to change your thinking as to appropriate candidates.

First, begin with those in leadership positions who can serve, specifically those who have responsibility for temple work in our stake (high councilors and those in the high priest group leadership). Having priesthood leaders serve in the temple will do more to lead our members to the temple than all the chapel meetings combined.

Second, consider others whose families would be blessed to have their husband and father serve at least monthly in the temple. Because both sacrifice and temple service will bring the Lord’s Spirit into a home in a very effective way, please do not view temple service as a time burden, but a viable tool to “rescue” endowed, temple- recommend holders…

…Who may have challenges in their marriage or with children;

…Who may lack commitment in their home teaching and other priesthood duties;

…Who may be struggling with putting the gospel first in their life.

Yes, some may decline the opportunity to serve in the temple, but at least let’s give them the opportunity to exercise their agency and no longer live beneath their privileges.

Third, age or occupation should not be obstacles for anyone to serve recognizing there are ways to serve weekly (ordinance worker), monthly (veil worker) or even as available (volunteer).  Please refer to the earlier letter addressed to the High Council and High Priest Group Leadership for details.

Finally, here are some of the key points for your consideration as outlined in Handbook 1, p. 24 about those eligible to serve:

• Males 30 years or older must be married;

• Men with children at home are eligible to serve;

• Mothers with children at home are not eligible, but when the children are gone these wonderful, giving mothers find great fulfillment in temple service;

• Review the Handbook if the person has ever undergone formal discipline;

• Candidates need to be in good health, emotionally stable and dependable;

• Members of stake presidency and bishoprics are not eligible to serve, but hopefully all of us are anticipating that opportunity when we are released.

NOTE: It is very important that you do NOT tell a candidate he or she is being considered or ask them if they want to serve in the temple. We need to afford members the privilege of meeting personally with a member of the temple presidency there to exercise their agency in deciding if or how they will serve.

Please note when submitting a recommendation for a male member, you can check both the “ordinance worker” and “veil worker” boxes so the candidate has the option of choosing, in consultation with a member of the temple presidency, which level of service will best fit their personal and family schedule.

As you can tell, this is important to me. You and I have been charged by a Prophet of God to lead our members to the temple. I have felt strongly that having more members serve in the temple will bring the blessings of the temple and family history into our stake in a much more powerful and complete way than any other approach.

Thank you for giving this your serious and immediate attention.

Leading Our Stake to the Temple through the Sacrifice of Temple Service

Below is a letter addressed to all High Councilors and members of High Priest Group Leaderships on March 31, 2013


Dear Brethren,

 
As the priesthood leaders in our stake, we are charged with the duty to help members make and keep sacred covenants through the saving ordinances of the temple (Handbook 2, 2.1.3). The Handbook also reminds us that, “leaders can best teach others how to be ‘true followers’ by their personal example” (3.1).
Because each of us has the specific responsibility to encourage and coordinate temple and family history work in the stake and ward, we encourage you to attend the temple as often as possible.

 
Furthermore, if you are ever invited to meet with a member of the temple presidency, we encourage you to accept that invitation and give serious consideration to whatever temple service opportunity, if any, may be proposed.

 
There are multiple ways to serve in the temple, including ordinance worker, veil worker and volunteer. The first two come with an obligation to serve a regular six-hour shift. Ordinance workers serve weekly, veil workers serve at least once per month, and volunteers and called-patrons serve regularly depending on the person’s availability.

 
For those of you who are currently serving in the temple as ordinance workers, veil workers or volunteers, we thank you for your continued service.

 
Brethren, we promise you that as we sacrifice to give faithful and consistent service in the temple, the “promises of the fathers” (D&C 2:2) will come into our heart in such a meaningful way that the members of our stake will follow us to the temple to claim the blessings of Heaven awaiting each of us.