Thoughts shared with the High Council on no quick-fixes in the repentance process as a result of the unusual focus in baptismal services of sins being "washed away"

19 February 2017

Dear Brethren of the High Council,

As you know, we had a lively discussion yesterday regarding baptismal services.

I need to apologize for suggesting, in response to a comment by Don Hokanson, that the Handbook lists other topics besides baptism and Holy Ghost for talks at a baptismal service. As best as I can tell, he was right and I was wrong. The Handbook and Preach My Gospel read as follows in the outline of the elements of a baptismal service (Handbook 2, 20.3.4):

“One or two short talks on gospel subjects, such as baptism and the Holy Ghost.”

As a stake presidency, in hopes of helping to change the tone of baptismal services in our stake, we have amplified the list of recommended "gospel topics" to include: “Restoration, the Godhead, the Atonement, principles and ordinances of the gospel, priesthood authority.” I’ll add another one: “The purpose and blessing of making covenants through ordinances.”

Some of you may be asking, why is the stake president so worked up over this?

My concern has grown over the years after attending MANY baptismal services in our stake and elsewhere…and so you’re getting the “eruption.” :) So please forgive me if I have been too adamant or been insistent that my view is “the one and only true view.”

My concerns arise from the fact that whenever “baptism” is the assigned topic at a baptismal service, members almost invariably focus on the “cleansing” aspect of baptism so that it’s taken out of proportion to the purposes and blessings of this sacred ordinance, as spelled out in the Bible Dictionary and as referenced by Brother Hokanson in our meeting yesterday.

While baptism is “for the remission of sins” and truly past sins are now and forever in the past, speakers on the topic often use that to infer falsely that baptism makes us “perfect” and that there’s a “quick fix” to repentance—to repent all we have to do is to take the sacrament and we’re instantly made "as clean as the day we were baptized," or confess to the bishop and God has forgiven us, or stop doing that which is evil (forsake sins) and we’ve repented.

This “quick fix” teaching would suggest that the best thing that can happen to the baptismal candidate is for them to die right now because they’re now “perfect.” Or how sad it will be when you start making mistakes by clouding your one-and-only moment of purity. Or that you can get a quick fix in the future by renewing your baptismal covenant at the sacrament table, as if the sacrament was a “magic pill that absolves sin.” Or, because of your “perfect state," it’s only downhill from here.

Moroni warned us that “quick fix” traditions would arise when he prophesied in Mormon 8:32 that the Book of Mormon would come forth “…in a day when there shall be churches built up that shall say: Come unto me, and for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins.” It’s called “indulgences” in the churches which fulfill Moroni’s prophecy and practice it today.

Please know that I don’t think our stake is on the road to apostasy…certainly not anything akin to the apostasy described by Moroni, but I am concerned that we are teaching an inappropriate view of repentance at baptismal services to children, converts, members and non-member friends alike.

There are no “quick fixes” to repentance. 

There is a reason the Handbook states that severe disciplinary action, such as disfellowshipment “usually lasts at least one year” and excommunication “almost always lasts at least one year.” (Handbook 1, 6.9.2 and 6.9.3) 

That’s because repentance is not accomplished by us completing a checklist of things we must do (taking the sacrament, confessing, forsaking) but…

…by us becoming “born again; yea, born of God…become new creatures…” (Mosiah 27:25-26); 

…by making and keeping covenants (Mosiah 5:7); 

…by our hearts changing so much that we abhor the very sins we once embraced (Alma 13:12);

…by witnessing our sorrow and regret being replaced by joy (Alma 36:19-20);

…in short, by the Lord giving us a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26)!

All of this takes time through Godly sorrow, dedicated personal devotion (including fasting, prayer, study, pondering), faithful observance of the commandments, regular renewal of covenants, consistently turning our heart to the Lord and seeking only His will in our lives. The Lord then turns us into “new creatures” (Mosiah 27:26) as we commit to a “godly walk” (D&C 20:69).

This is what is not being taught and it weighs on my heart as your stake president. 

Again, if I have offended and overreacted, please forgive me. I invite you, even ask you, to please help us teach correct doctrine in all of our meetings and worship in this stake and avoid teachings that would undermine the many truths we are so blessed to have in the fullness of times.

It is an honor to serve and associate with you. 

Crismon

Final Draft on suggestions to Ward/Branch Priesthood Executive Committees on how they may want to consider modifying home teaching

18 April 2017

                                   

TO: Bishoprics and all other members of Ward Priesthood Executive Committees (PEC)

RE: Home Teaching – A Better Way?

Dear Brethren,

In October 2016, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland made an impassioned plea to holders of the priesthood “to lift your vision of home teaching. Please, in newer, better ways see yourselves as emissaries of the Lord to His children. That means leaving behind the tradition of a frantic, law of Moses-like, end-of-the-month (visit)”…and eliminate the countless “guilt trips this subject has provided.” Rather, “establish an era of genuine, gospel-oriented concern for the members.”

Drawing from Elder Holland’s message and Handbook 2, 7.4 – 7.4.4, we invite priesthood leaders to consider modifying the traditional approach to home teaching with the following two objectives in mind:

·   Change the emphasis of home teaching from a monthly visit to providing priesthood watch-care over assigned individuals and families—in short, to become care-centered instead of calendar-driven;

·   Utilize the priesthood “manpower” in each ward or branch to focus on individuals and families with the greatest needs.

On the next page are suggestions the ward or branch priesthood executive committee, under the direction of the key-holder bishop or branch president, may want to consider in changing your approach to home teaching. Please note that all changes are considered “temporary” (see Handbook 2; 7.4.3), as we continue to explore and test “better ways” to enhance home teaching effectiveness in our stake.

We hope these suggestions are helpful in formulating your own approach.

Home Teaching – A Better Way?

Mount Hood Stake • April 2017

Objectives:

• Place the emphasis of home teaching on priesthood watch-care, not a monthly visit.

• Organize home teaching around individuals and families with the greatest needs.

Frequency of Visits

• Consider assigning home teaching companionships to no more than 3-4 families to visit
   monthly with a gospel message. Those needing monthly visits may include:

                  • New members                                                            • Those who are lonely or ill

                  • Progressing investigators                                           • Single-parent families

                  • Less-active members                                                 • Part-member families

                  • Families with children in the home                           • Elderly

• Active families, especially those with no children at home, may receive less-frequent visits.

Expectations

·   Rather than an emphasis on teaching in the home, home teachers may be asked to account for their frequency and consistency of making regular contacts (including phone calls, text messages, emails, etc.) with those they are assigned.

·   Home teachers can be expected to observe if their assigned individuals or families attend church services each Sunday—if so, did they greet and check on them at church? if not, did they follow up with a phone call to say “we missed you” and to ask if there are needs or concerns in the home?

Accountability

·   Quorum leaders continue to seek a monthly accounting of home teaching (7.4.4), remembering Elder Holland’s declaration as to what should count — “…every good thing you do ‘counts’ so report it all!”

·   Home teachers are still expected to visit homes with a gospel message (7.4.1). Other types of contacts, including phone calls, text messages, emails, etc., could be considered valid ways to “watch over…and be with and strengthen them.” (D&C 20:53)

·   When asking for a report, instead of a quorum leader asking, “Did you do your home teaching this month?” he may more appropriately ask…
…“Do you feel you provided adequate watch-care for those you’re assigned?”
…“How did you provide watch-care of your assigned families and how did they respond?”
…“What are the temporal and spiritual needs in the home?”
                         

Recording

·   While quorum leaders still conduct monthly accounting of home teaching, the actual recording of home teaching is quarterly— emphasizing the overall watch-care approach to home teaching and not whether a visit was made each month.

·   As per the frequency of the ward or branch Quarterly Report, recording months are March, June, September and December.

- 2 -

Q&A: Home Teaching - A Better Way?

Is the stake presidency insisting that wards change their home teaching?

No. We simply want it known that we support all efforts by ward or branch Priesthood Executive Committees to respond to Elder Holland’s call to change the emphasis of home teaching. We feel his message was a call to action, not just a message of encouragement.

Why is the stake presidency addressing this now?

We have pondered for some time Elder Holland’s address. We believe he was trying to move us away from the pharisaical or strict-observance traditions of home teaching that have evolved over generations. Instead, he asks us to focus on priesthood service that is centered on watch-care activities not on trying to meet a once-a-month performance standard.

What does watch-care mean?

It is a hybrid term drawn from two key priesthood duties, repeated multiple times in the scriptures, to “watch over the church” (Alma 6:1-2, D&C 20:42; 46:27; 84:111) and to care for the needy (D&C 38:35; 44:6; 81:5).

What is the doctrinal foundation of home teaching? Does this create a conflict?

The doctrine of home teaching is rooted in the scriptural truths that God loves His children and therefore we are compelled by His love, even commanded, to love one another (John 13:15, 34-35). Moreover, when we serve our fellow man we serve God (Matthew 25:40; Mosiah 2:17, D&C 42:31). Furthermore in D&C 20:47-53, the Lord charges those who hold the priesthood, “to visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties…(and) to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them.” Elder Holland, in his address, challenged us to change the emphasis of home teaching to reflect the scriptural mandate to “watch over and strengthen,” and to move away from a calendar-driven program that can cause discouragement and guilt feelings among priesthood holders.

Will this lower the standard for home teaching?

We feel Elder Holland was suggesting that tradition has become the standard. Another example: Why did the Brethren raise the bar (or standard) for missionary worthiness, but seemingly lower the standard by replacing “scripture mastery” with “doctrinal mastery” for those future missionaries in Seminary? It’s fair to assume the Brethren concluded that personal worthiness was essential to missionary success, but scripture memorization, which can cause discouragement—even guilt—among students, is not as crucial to a missionary’s success. In other words, learning and applying doctrinal truths is more imperative than memorization. So, instead of focusing on whether or not a visit is made each month (the traditional standard that can lead to discouragement and guilt), we believe Elder Holland is asking priesthood leaders to appreciate—even celebrate—every effort by a priesthood holder to “watch over…and strengthen” those he is assigned.

- 3 -

Is accountability and reporting still needed?

Yes, but not as a tool to discourage those who fail to get into every home each month. The Quarterly Report monitors the home teaching percentage (our stake usually achieves 40% - 60% each month), but it fails to identify the needs of individuals and families. Furthermore, the home teaching percentage is not listed on the Quarterly Report as one of the nine key “Indicators of Conversion and Church Growth.” In other words, the number is helpful in monitoring performance of a priesthood duty, but it really does not tell us if we are meeting the needs of those we are assigned to serve—a much more important factor of our service.

Why do you propose less-frequent visits to those who are active in the church?

Active members live very busy lives, especially in meeting children’s schedules. We suggest the ward or branch Priesthood Executive Committee consults with active members (especially parents) as to how often they want home teachers to visit them. And then make home teaching assignments accordingly with the objective of assigning more regular visits to homes with the greatest needs, such as to those who are: new converts; new in the ward or branch; less-active; lonely or ill; or struggling with temporal or spiritual needs. It doesn’t mean that active members should not be visited, but maybe with less-frequent visits or via other means of contact.

Recognizing that active families are more inclined to allow home teachers to visit, will monthly home teaching percentages begin to drop?

Possibly. We believe, in time, they will rise, even though this is not the underlying purpose of the recommendation. Remember, every watch-care activity or effort will be counted, not just personal visits. As Elder Holland declared, “…every good thing you do ‘counts’ so report it all!” History of visiting teaching may be a valid indicator as to what to expect. Years ago the Relief Society changed what “counted” from personal visits to a variety of ways of making watch-care contacts, similar to what Elder Holland suggests. Today home teaching in our stake usually ranges from 40% to 60%. Visiting teaching consistently ranges from 60% to 75%. Ultimately, we hope an emphasis on numbers will diminish while an emphasis on true gospel ministering will gain the greatest attention.

Will some families, such as those who are active, get overlooked?

We certainly hope not. The intent of this document is to encourage ward or branch  priesthood leaders to shift the focus on who gets special attention—such as personal visits—from active to less-active members. Home teachers should still be assigned active members to whom they will be expected to minister via other watch-care efforts as time and schedules allow. In short, we hope the greatest effort and time will be expended on those with the greatest needs.

- 4 -

First Draft on ideas for changing our approach to Home Teaching

21 March 2017

Priesthood Watchcare

Mount Hood Oregon Stake • April 2017

In October 2016, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland made an impassioned plea to holders of the priesthood “to lift your vision of home teaching. Please, in newer, better ways see yourselves as emissaries of the Lord to His children. That means leaving behind the tradition of a frantic, law of Moses-like, end-of-the-month (visit)…rather… establish an era of genuine, gospel-oriented concern for the members.”

Later he said, “…call it what you will…we are asking you…to be God’s emissaries to His children in ways consistent with your circumstances.”

Drawing from the First Presidency letter of December 10, 2001 and Elder Holland’s talk, along with Handbook 2, pp. 40-42, the Mount Hood Stake Presidency issues the following guidelines for changes to our stake’s Home Teaching efforts:

Change in Name: Home Teaching to be referred to as “Priesthood Watchcare.”

Change in Objective: We will no longer put an emphasis on monthly visits with a gospel message, but on priesthood holders providing “genuine, gospel-oriented concern,” both temporal and spiritual, for all members (and progressing investigators) as we are commanded in D&C 20:53.

Change in Home Teaching Responsibility:

·   Under the Bishop’s keys and direction, the ward Priesthood Executive Committee provides oversight of Priesthood Watchcare, such as determining which homes are to be visited monthly, quarterly or not at all.

·   All teachers and priests in the Aaronic Priesthood are to be assigned to a Watchcare companionship with a Melchizedek Priesthood holder
(D&C 84:106).

·   Priesthood Watchcare companionships are to be assigned no more than three families needing monthly home visits, but may be assigned others needing less-frequent visits (see below for Change in Frequency of Home Visits).

Change in Reporting: Reporting of a ward’s Priesthood Watchcare performance will be made once a quarter. Report months will be March, June, September, and December. All Watchcare activities during the quarter will be counted as a “visit.” The Watchcare companions and priesthood leaders determine what “counts” as a visit remembering Elder Holland’s injunction: “…every good thing you do ‘counts,’ so report it all!”

Types of regular, ongoing contact that could count as a “visit”:

·   personal home visits with a message

·   gospel-oriented activities outside the home with the persons or family

·   phone calls, text messages, emails, etc. showing care and seeking to know needs and concerns

A Watchcare gospel message during a contact might include:

·   First Presidency message from an Ensign

·   A link to an article from a Church magazine

·   A link to a social media message from a General Authority

·   A Mormon Message video and other material found on www.lds.org

Change in Frequency of Home Visits: Frequency of home visits and the topics of gospel messages are prayerfully determined by the needs of the persons or families. The ward Priesthood Executive Committee determines which persons or families fall into the following categories. The PEC may modify these categories and the assignments as needed.

MONTHLY home visits are made to:

·   Investigators being taught by the missionaries

·   New converts

·   Those who are ill or lonely (widows, singles, etc)

·   Less-active members, who allow visits

·   Single parent families with children at home

QUARTERLY home visits are made to:

·   Consistently active families, especially those with children at home

NO home visits are expected for:

·   Stake and Ward Priesthood Executive Committee members (and Area Seventy) who do not have children at home. Each of these leaders is to be counted as “visited” and assigned a contact in their respective High Priest or Elders quorum leadership to whom they can request specific help, such as assistance in administering to the sick in his family or addressing a temporal need.

·   Less-active members, who do not want a home visit, but allow contact in other ways, such as those listed above; and for whom, at the minimum, the Priesthood Watchcare companions can pray for on a regular basis.

Key Expectations of Every Whatchcare Companionship:

·   Did we look to see if our assigned persons or families attended Church services each Sunday and, if so, did we greet them?

·   If they did not attend Church, did we follow up with a phone call to see if there is a need? Did we provide gospel teaching and encouragement?

·   Did we show regular, genuine, gospel concern for our assigned persons or families by regularly praying for them and making contact in one or more of the ways listed above during the quarter?

Change in Accountability: Instead of a quorum leader asking a Watchcare companionship, “Did you do your home teaching this month?” he might more appropriately ask, “Do you feel you provided adequate watch care over your assigned persons or families this quarter?”

Addressing time lapse for a priesthood leader who had gone 25 years without confessing

28 March 2017

Chuck,

Thank you for these references. I really stewed over this because I, too, didn’t want to put (name) through unnecessary pain due to the time lapse.

There were two factors that affected my decision most:

• These were not short-term, one-night stands. Both affairs went on for a year or more—one 15 years after the other, which compounds the severity of the first one, I believe. (6.10.6, also D&C 82:7)

• His reason for not confessing or addressing all of these years was that he didn’t want to hurt (deceased wife), whose first husband had deeply broken her heart by being unfaithful. Though not doctrine, (name) now believes (wife) in the Spirit World is aware of his actions and he knows he must address this to be with her into the eternities. While his reason was not to hurt (wife), but in both instances, he said he fell into Satan’s trap (infidelity) because he and (wife) were going through a “rough patch.” So I personally don’t believe loyalty to her was really not the true reason he opted not to confess, but only the rationalization he used. I feel there are some deep issues of repentance (and his relationship with the Lord) that have not been addressed and I’m hopeful the DC (disciplinary council) will help him eventually (though may not be discovered by him immediately in the council) address them. In other words, he’s finally coming to terms with the matter, in my opinion, for two reasons: (1) he is sorrowing over the death of his wife and his heart has been softened by that and by his own fear and shame that she now knows, not necessarily by the spirit of repentance, though Elder Callister’s book helped; and (2) a righteous, but selfish, desire to be with (wife) in the eternities, not because he offended God all of these years.

Hence I feel the need for a more severe approach to addressing this, i.e. a Disciplinary Council.

I’m taking the liberty of copying this to Paul and Steven (my counselors) so they, too, will take into consideration the Handbook references you have properly given here and I pray the Lord will provide a way through this disciplinary matter to help us in helping (name) come to understand the deep offense this has been to God when the Lord had put him in so many positions of trust.

There’s one other matter that I hope can be addressed; a matter that I worry about when I’m not in tune and facilitate the calling of those who are truly not worthy but they just haven’t been forthcoming yet. As (name) continued to receive many priesthood leadership callings (bishopric, HC, etc.) he rationalized it as validation that the Lord had forgiven him even though he knew that confession to a priesthood leader was essential. 

Hopefully this will be an important lesson to all of us, as priesthood leaders in the stake, of the importance of approaching and extending these sacred callings as worthily and in tune as much as possible…I being the worst example, I’m sure, for sometimes being in a hurry and not giving callings due consideration.

Thanks again for bringing this to my attention,

Crismon

FROM CHUCK ALLEN, FORMER COUNSELOR AND NOW STAKE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY:

President.....related to the upcoming disciplinary council, no response needed but wanted to make sure you were aware of the handbook references related to time.  You had said (name) sins were many years ago and I remembered these references that are in Handbook 1.

6.7.1

Passage of Time

If a member voluntarily confesses a serious transgression that was committed long ago and his faithfulness and service in the intervening years have demonstrated full reformation and repentance, a disciplinary council often is unnecessary (see “Time between Transgression and Confession” in 6.10.6).

and 6.10.6

Time between Transgression and Confession

If a transgression occurred many years before it was confessed, the presiding officer carefully considers the intervening circumstances. If the sin was not repeated and the member has lived righteously in the interim, his conduct during the intervening time can show that he has forsaken the sin. In this instance, confession may complete rather than start the process of repentance.

thanks.....Brother Allen

Responses to Stake Planning Guide in preparation for Elder Costa's visit to our stake conference in February 2017

How does your leadership help members of the stake increase their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?

·   Temple service (many serving as temple ordinance workers or volunteers)

·   Emphasis on “Teaching in the Savior’s Way”

·   Conducting the Self-Reliance Initiative – we are a “pilot” stake in the area

·   Bringing the gospel closer to families to meet their needs — two new units added in 2016-17, a YSA branch and a Spanish branch

How does your leadership help strengthen parents and their families?

·   Blessings of temple flow into homes with so many temple ordinance workers

·   Reduced financial burden on families with Summer Camp Funding plan (no fundraising)

·   Emphasis on Covenant Path to help ward councils take ownership of the missionary effort and thus increase visits to families by ward leaders

·   Emphasis in ward conferences on 2017 Area Plan showing families how to conduct family councils to implement the plan in their homes

What are the most significant spiritual and temporal challenges facing the various members of your stake?

·   Family devotion, especially family prayer and scripture study

·   Putting the world or temporal choices over gospel-living and spiritual choices

·   Lack of full-time missionaries, under 20% of our YM leave for full-time missionary service and only 3 senior missionaries

·   Mental health (depression, ADHD, etc.) concerns among parents and children

How are you addressing these challenges and how do you know if you are succeeding?

·   Emphasis in ward conferences, involving families and asking them to share

·   Self-Reliance Initiative helps families focus on understanding that the solution to temporal matters is attention to spiritual matters

·   Emphasis on helping families and ward/branch organizations to participate in regular community service (JustServe)

·   A focus on teaching doctrines of the gospel, recognizing that the doctrines of the gospel will have a greater influence on affecting behavior than anything else

How can this conference help increase the faith and devotion of the Saints in your stake?

·   Ministering visits will bless those we visit with a renewed love for the Lord and desire to live the gospel

·   Help the members of the stake understand and focus on what is of greatest importance to Prophets today

Addressing the issue of wards under-spending their budget allocations

15 March 2017

Using the Lord’s funds wisely

Dear Bishop….

Thank you for giving careful attention to the Lord’s funds, in particular the budget allocation that we receive from Church headquarters.

·   Our records show that you will receive an estimated $3,800 in budget allocation for 2017.

·   Your ward ended 2016 with a surplus of $5,715—a 150% carry over.

You may not be aware that we set a stake policy in 2014 that a ward would not be allowed to carry over more than 50% of their expected annual allocation for the next year.

However, we have decided not to enforce that policy this year. But we plan to do so next year.

A sizable carry over of surplus funds beyond 50% suggests you may not be exploring the many ways these funds can be spent, such as the reimbursement of expenses incurred by leaders and members personally.  Will you please visit with your ward leadership and consider ways to use your ward funds this year?

Here are a few suggestions on how to use your surplus funds:

·   Hold more ward activities. We recommend at least one ward activity per quarter and that every organization holds at least one activity for their members per quarter. Activities provide opportunities for members to invite friends and less-actives. To this end, consider allocating more funds to each organization to host more activities.

·   Help lighten the financial burden on families by further subsidizing summer camps for the youth in your ward—beyond the $150 for Scout camp and $75 for all other camps.

·   Purchase outdoor and camping equipment for your Young Women and Scouts.

·   Teach and encourage leaders to submit receipts for travel costs and other expenses incurred for church activities that often do not get reimbursed.

·   Purchase technology equipment that will help ward leaders to operate more effectively or to enhance the effectiveness of classroom instruction.

Please know how much we appreciate your service and your oversight of these sacred funds. We are concerned when ward leaders over-spend and we are also concerned when ward leaders significantly under-spend the funds allocated by the Church to bless the membership.

Gratefully,

The Stake Presidency

In answer to a stake auxiliary president who was taking months to recommend a secretary

15 March 2017

Please help (Stake YW president) understand that it is our responsibility as a stake presidency to help the stake organization (and ward organizations, to a great extent) to be as effective and efficient as possible in moving forward the Lord’s work in this part of His vineyard. 

You may remember my comment about (stake clerk's name). He’s a remarkably experienced clerk, but the “ideal” stake clerk is someone who (a) sees problems and offers solutions and (b) anticipates the needs of the presidency and proactively generates data that will help us be more effective, not just give us the data we ask for. 

This applies to all secretaries in presidencies. I recognize those type of people are rare, so we have to call even the inexperienced and help teach them. As long as (Stake YW president) is doing the secretary's “job”, along with her own, she’s not being as an effective president as she should be. She may think she’s effective and efficient, but the Lord doesn’t think so or the Handbook would make the secretary calling “optional" for all presidencies.

Whether she thinks she needs a secretary or not is irrelevant. All presidencies need a secretary to receive the blessings and guidance of Heaven to fulfill the full measure of her presidency and of her own calling. 

It is especially important because of the multi-ward scope of a stake calling, which is balanced by the fact that we have the entire stake to choose from…so there is no excuse for us not to fulfill stake callings in a timely manner.

Please help her and Sis Thomas understand why this is so important to us.

Plea to bishops to attend Stake Missionary Training meeting on March 11, 2017

8 March 2017

Bishops and Branch Presidents,

Please accept my apology for the late request (see below) for you to attend our monthly Stake MissionaryTraining meeting this Saturday. It was an oversight on my part to delay this request.

I realize early Saturday morning is not ideal. I just don't know where else to put the meeting. All of our schedules are so maxed that it seemed to be the one day and time of the week with the least competition, hoping that most families’ Saturdays don't “begin” until some time after 8 am.

I am asking Brother Allen to move our “monthly” Stewardship Interviews to once every two months in order to free you up a little more and in hopes you’ll consider giving me one hour every quarter where all of us, as holders of the missionary keys in our respective units, can focus on how to move the missionary work forward in this part of the Lord’s vineyard.

So you’ll know why I even ask you to attend at all, here’s some additional background as to why I feel an urgency (not panic)…

• Three of our eight bishops and branch presidents were absent for the training at stake conference hence the feeling we need to focus again as key holders on what makes a difference in Member Missionary Work (the first element of the Work of Salvation - Handbook 2, chapter 5);

• Our stake had the fewest baptisms in 2016 of the 9 stakes in the Oregon Portland Mission. I’d like to dismiss it as, “well, we’re just on the wrong side of town,” but the highest baptizing stake with nearly 3X the number of baptisms was next door—the Milwaukie Stake. 

• Elder Costa’s training helped focus me and I’d like to pass along that focus while it’s “fresh”—hence the desire to have you attend our monthly missionary training meeting in March.

So if this is undue pressure on any of you, please forgive me. But I really feel a need to continue to bring together the full-time missionaries and the missionary key holders (you and me) in our stake to see if we can move the work forward with more effectiveness while we have a little “momentum” going into 2017.

Please make every effort to attend. If my invitation is simply too late and your Saturday morning was already planned, will you please ask one of your counselors to attend and let me know who we should expect?

Thank you,

President Lewis

Bishops and Branch Presidents,

Will you and your Ward Mission Leader please plan to attend our monthly Stake Missionary Training this Saturday morning, March 11, at 7:00 am (light breakfast). The meeting will begin promptly at 7:15 am and end at 8:15 am.

We don’t ask you to attend every month. This is one of those times we need you there.

If you are unable to attend, will you please notify me with an explanation and plan to send your 1st Counselor? 

Please extend a personal invitation/assignment to your Ward Mission Leader to attend.

Look forward to seeing your there,

President Lewis

Attendees:

Stake Presidency

Bishops / Branch Presidents

Ward Mission Leaders