In response to Paul Hansen giving up his time in an elders quorum during ward conference

20 March 2018

Paul,

I appreciate your kindness to Pres. Leavenworth last Sunday that you didn’t want him to feel badly that he misread our ward conference instructions. it was very nice of you to give your time to their assigned instructor and ask him to facilitate the topic on Personal Sanctification.

I don’t expect that situation to arise again, but just so you’re aware, if it should, that my preference is that you invite the instructor (and the quorum leadership) to teach their prepared lesson the following Sunday.

It’s important to me for two reasons:

1) I feel strongly the elders need to hear from you and come to feel how strongly the stake presidency feels about the subject;

2) We need everyone, especially in Estacada, to see how to facilitate such a discussion, especially with pair shares and small group discussions—something apparently they’ve never been taught or seen in action in the Estacada TCM.

A prime example was the Estacada TCM in the ward last Sunday. We had a wonderful discussion, but there was no modeling of how to engage EVERYONE in the discussion. I feel badly the Stake SS presidency apparently has not responded to my request that we teach and train their ward SS how to conduct the TCM and model the “Teaching in the Savior’s Way” with the leaders and teachers.

Anyway, please know I’m not upset or disappointed in you…but should the occasion arise again, my preference is that you facilitate the discussion and model how such a discussion should be conducted to result in a change in the lives of those in attendance. I confess, while I tried to model in the HP group, I failed in some ways to get the message into the hearts of the brethren. 

Hopefully our “practicing” in ward conferences will help us become more effective in training the wards and branches down the road.

Thanks for your wonderful leadership…and unselfishness, which you demonstrated in the EQ last Sunday.

Crismon

Expectations of all High Councilors in the Mount Hood Stake

19 March 2018

The Lord and the Stake Presidency value greatly your service on the Stake High Council. As stated in Handbook 2, 15.3, you serve as an extension of the presidency empowered to “help oversee the work of the Church in the stake.” Because you are called by the Lord with a scriptural mandate (D&C 102:1), we honor you and trust you will succeed in your service.

This document was prepared to help you become the most effective High Councilor possible, empowered to move forward the Work of Salvation in our stake.

As a member of the Stake Priesthood Executive Committee:

• Live the gospel so you can receive revelation and be an example to others
• Bear fervent testimony of the gospel and of the Lord’s hand in stake matters
• Be a faithful home teacher
• Attend the temple regularly, including service in the temple when circumstances allow
• Complete assignments as outlined by the Stake Presidency and Handbook 2, 15.3.

To assist in being an effective High Councilor:

• Notify a presidency member in advance when you are unable to attend a PEC meeting
• Monitor and report on your assignments listed on the online High Councilor Tasks tracking sheet at least weekly
• Regularly check your box in the stake clerk’s office
• Check and reply to emails, phone messages and text messages at least once every 24 hours and notify a member of the stake presidency when you are unable to check that often
• Make yourself available at least once each month to meet personally in a stewardship interview with your assigned member of the stake presidency
• Prior to each Stake PEC meeting review the online agenda and update any stake business or agenda items that pertain to you to help expedite stake business discussions

Empowering High Councilors and Making Our Stake PEC Meetings More Effective

19 March 2018

After 1) reviewing the Brethren’s admonition to “reduce and simplify” and 2) referencing Handbook 2, 15.3 and 18.3.6, the Stake Presidency has made the following changes effective March 15, 2018 to the Stake Priesthood Executive Committee (PEC) with the desire to help all of us become more effective in our priesthood leadership responsibilities.

Objectives for regular Stake PEC meetings (in order of priority):

1. Reduce and simplify, as we have been trained by the Brethren (new 1 hour meeting)
2. Train High Councilors (HC) to take initiative in their assignments and how to become more effective and accountable (new monthly stewardship interviews)
3. Seek PEC counsel on stake direction and business (15-30 min for stake business)
4. Fulfill responsibility of Stake Disciplinary Councils (scheduled for 9:00 am PEC Sundays)
5. Guide and prepare HC to speak to the congregations in our stake (gospel discussion)
6. Educate on direction from Brethren and seek counsel on how to implement in our stake (training in Stake Council following quarterly Coordinating Council Meetings)

Plans to achieve these objectives:

• Continue to hold PEC meetings on the 1st and 3rd Sundays
• Eliminate MP and AP committees
• Rearrange assignments so High Councilors may have both Melchizedek priesthood quorum and stake auxiliary advisory responsibilities (see attached chart)
• Align stewardship reporting as follows:
• 1 HC assigned to President Lewis
• 6 HC assigned to President Hansen
• 5 HC assigned to President Christiansen
• In place of committee meetings after each PEC meeting, members of the Stake Presidency will conduct brief stewardship interviews (SI) with two to three High Councilors from 8:00 to 8:45 am
• Limit PEC meetings to one hour beginning at 6:55 am and using the following format:

6:55 - 7:15 AM - Opening devotional, including hymn, prayer and 15-minute training by
   Stake Presidency on “Teaching in the Savior’s Way”

7:15 - 7:45 AM - Discuss and sustain leader recommendations, including assignments
   to extend calls, sustain and set apart those approved

7:45 - 8:00 AM - Review stake calendar, business and/or missionary report(s)

8:00 - 8:45 AM - Stewardship interviews

Introducing a way to empower High Councilors as well as reduce and simplify

19 March 2018

Brothers J. Anderson, Budge, Brandt, Dobson and D. Brown… 

(with a copy to members of the Stake Council plus the bishops and branch presidents in our stake)

We missed you in Stake PEC meeting yesterday. We hope you are feeling better and/or home safe from your travels.

During our meeting yesterday we introduced a plan to empower High Councilors and hopefully make our Stake PEC meetings more effective.

Following are some of the changes that were announced (as you can also see in the attached “Empowering HC Overview” document):

1. Our meetings have been moved to 6:55 am on the 1st and 3rd Sundays; 

2. Quarterly Stake Council meetings will begin at 7:30 am;

3. Both the PEC and Stake Council meetings are to last only an hour, if possible;

4. The PEC meetings will be followed by monthly stewardship interviews with your assigned member of the stake presidency;

5. Melchizedek and Aaronic Priesthood committees have been eliminated and your assignments may include both Melchizedek Priesthood and stake auxiliary responsibilities.

The attached documents hopefully will help explain the changes announced yesterday. We hope you will find the Description of Assignments especially helpful. You will receive an invitation soon to access the Google Docs with detailed descriptions of your assignments. We hope all High Councilors will help us keep these documents updated and complete to serve as a resource in your monthly stewardship interviews and a blessing to those who will some day succeed us in the Stake PEC.

It is an honor to serve with you in this wonderful work of the Lord. We appreciate very much you studying the attached documents as we seek to raise the stature of High Councilor in our stake and follow the Brethren’s counsel to reduce and simplify.

Gratefully,

The Stake Presidency

An idea for the YSA branch and how to raise the stature of Sunday School

17 March 2018

President Westover,

I was thinking about your branch the other day and this thought came to me.

My observation over the years is that many, if not most, YSA units gave announcements AFTER sacrament meeting (like you do) because so many YSA arrive late and we understandably want as many as possible to hear the announcements about the branch activities that week.

I wondered: what if you turned that time into an abbreviated Sunday School opening exercise? In other words, instead of the branch presidency member getting up and making the announcements, have a member of the SS presidency go to the stand during the closing hymn and and after the prayer have him stand at the pulpit and do the following:

1. Welcome everyone to Sunday School;

2. Make the announcements of what’s coming up in the branch that week (as the branch presidency would have done);

3. Explain which classes will be taught that day in SS and where the classrooms are located for each;

4. Excuse everyone to go to their classes.

The benefits:

1. It gives stature to your SS presidency and that YSA provide key leadership in the branch;

2. It gives the congregation an expectation that everyone is expected to attend a SS class (and not leave);

3. It can encourage members to please go to class, don’t loiter too long in the chapel;

4. It adds importance to Sunday School classes so hopefully teachers will recognize the importance of their class and invest time in preparation.

Just a thought. Hope it helps,

PrL

An appeal for financial support of the Hawkins family with four missionary sons

16 March 2018

Bishops and Branch Presidents...

In all my years in the Church (all my life…and this is my big 7-0 year—a lot of years) I don’t think I’ve personally known a family with 4 children on a mission at the same time. I’ve not seen anything like it since the four sons of Mosiah! :)

We have that amazing “feat” in our stake right now. I had the privilege of setting apart Dustin and Austin Hawkins this week and Bishop and Sister Hawkins, of the Estacada Ward, now have both sets of their twin sons serving in the field—and will have for the next 16 months.

Preston is in Colorado, Dustin is in the Dominican Republic (the older twins), with the younger twins, Trenton in Argentina and Austin in the MTC in Provo headed soon to Minnesota.

We salute the Hawkins family and are grateful for their family’s sacrifice, example and service.

Speaking of sacrifice…the Hawkins are not asking for financial help, but needless to say supporting four missionaries is going to be strain, as it would be on any family. While they are blessed with extended family, many who will be helping, it’s still going to be a financial stretch to support all four boys, who fortunately raised enough to get themselves into the field and some through their first months.

Many of you, if not all, have built up a surplus of funds in your ward or branch General Missionary account where members have donated over the years for missionaries in your ward and you just haven’t needed all of the funds to support those missionaries. Please review your account and if you feel there are extra funds you can spare, this would be a great time to send a check from your ward or branch to the Estacada Ward to deposit in their General Missionary account. Feel no obligation, but we want you to be aware. 

This is also a good time to approach those families in your ward who have come to you privately to say, “If there’s ever a need to support a missionary, please let me know.” Feel free to forward this email to those wonderful, generous members so they’ll now know there is an opportunity to bless a missionary family. They can donate to your ward/branch Missionary Fund and you can then transfer money to the Estacada Ward.

Thank you for giving this your consideration as we all rally around this family with four mighty missionary sons.

Gratefully,

President Lewis

Photo: Preston (Colorado), Trenton (Argentina), Austin (Minnesota) and Dustin (Dominican Republic)

In response to Leslie Hatton, who was released as a temple worker because of refusing to change her hair style

1 March 2018

Dear (name),

Thank you so much for taking the time to write and to share your feelings so forthrightly. 

Please know you are wonderful and the Lord loves you very much. I’m confident He’s not upset at you and He finds you worthy of every blessing He has to offer. Thank you for living worthy of a temple recommend and for using it as much as you do. By the fact that you can enter the temple without limitation says you are “acceptable” to God. I’m so sorry there have been times when you didn’t feel you were acceptable to Him or to others.

I would caution you not to confuse standards with sin. 

As you know, sin is making unwise choices, due to our weaknesses or natural tendencies, and, even more seriously, an out-and-out rebellion by rejecting God’s laws. On the other hand, standards are established by those called of God to set man-made guidelines…sometimes rules...to help us follow the admonition of the Paul who declared: “Wherefore come out from among them (the world), and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing…” (2 Corinthians 6:17)

So standards are simply a way to separate ourselves from the world. (Aren’t we glad the Lord--not the world--runs the temple? If a business were to run the temple, there would be an admission fee at the door and a huge neon sign on I-5 with the message: “Mormon Temple. Get salvation here.” :)

Fortunately, it is the House of the Lord and so those called to preside over this sacred edifice are doing everything they can to make it a place of the most sacred worship, prayer and contemplation possible—a place  separate from the world. In the end, it is the leaders’ decision what standards are needed to make it such a place. God doesn’t call perfect leaders. So leaders make mistakes, sometimes decisions that hurt feelings, as has happened for you—for which we deeply regret.

Sometimes, offense can be taken when, as you’ve noticed, standards vary. For instance, you can enter the temple with a beard but you can’t enroll at BYU. So it can appear to be hypocritical. But it’s really an opportunity for us to demonstrate faith in the Lord by trusting and supporting the decisions of those the Lord has called. If a leader makes a mistake, then in time the Lord will correct or rectify that mistake. Even though it may be the wrong decision by the leader, the Lord will still deliver the  promised blessings when we choose to support and sustain the leaders He had called. That's why we sustain leaders so freely in our meetings, no matter their performance, we will still trust God that He deliver the promised blessings despite the leader's capacity, judgement or opinions.

One other thing…you have mentioned multiple times that the sparkle and color in your hair is you; it’s who you are.

I don’t agree. If it were you—your identify--you would have been putting sparkle and color in your hair since you were a little girl. The only reason you do it now is because it is now a popular style and, when you tried it, your family really liked it so naturally you want to continue with it. But wouldn’t you want your children and grandchildren to be more proud of you for following your leaders, even when you don’t agree with them, than the compliments and strokes you get by insisting on keeping that look? Wearing stylish hair does NOT say you are evil or rebellious. But because it’s a style, made popular in the world, the temple president has chosen to require workers not to adopt the look of the world. It’s simply a standard (a man-made rule) to help us live Paul’s admonition to “be ye separate.”

I hope this helps. I apologize if I have rambled. Please know you are loved by the Lord, by me and by everyone else who knows you. You are acceptable to God in every way. You have not sinned by choosing a hair style over a standard. But, as with all standards (whether at a job or in church), failure to abide by the standards can result in consequences—even restrictions in how we work or serve. 

I hope in time, as this hair style fades in popularity, you will let us know when you are ready to change it back so we can re-submit a recommendation for you to serve in the temple. You were a wonderful ordinance worker and I know the temple presidency would love to have you back when you’re ready.

Gratefully,

Crismon Lewis

President, Mount Hood Stake

The temple is not a conduit into the Spirit World for mortals

27 February 2018

Comment sent to a 79-year-old brother in the Church, who pines out of loneliness after his wife passed away 13 months ago. I had asked him if he had felt close to his wife while in the temple.

He responded that he had not, even though he had attended weekly and spent a lot of time in the celestial room.

I responded: Thanks for sharing. I wouldn’t be too concerned about not feeling close to her. I suspect it’s not necessarily common to feel the closeness of a deceased spouse in the temple. That is not the purpose of the temple. It’s simply that something happens occasionally for some people (but not very many, from my observations). I suspect the Lord doesn’t make that one of the main purposes of the temple (to be a conduit into the spirit world) because we would linger and not move on with our lives--something He wants us to do so He can continue to use us as an instrument in His hands to move forward in good works (church and community service, helping our families, home teaching, encouraging and lifting others, sharing the gospel, seeking out temple names, etc.—all the good things you’re doing) to bless His children while we’re still in mortality.

Concerns about a member on parole or probation

14 February 2018

Presidents Hansen and Christiansen,

In meeting with President Westover last night, he raised the question of (name).

As you know, (name) was arrested, jailed and later pled guilty to a felony in a plea bargain for a crime involving a minor (sexting). Unfortunately, it’s a felony and now Justin is on 5 years of parole or probation, we’re not sure which (Justin says parole).

President Westover reports (name) has made some signifiant changes in his attitude and life and feels he is worthy to begin using his priesthood again. In fact, he has begun to administer the sacrament and accept a calling as teacher of the Gospel Principles class. He appears to be living an exemplary life and is already quite popular in the branch (i.e. others follow his lead).

It’s only natural that (name) is now asking if he can get a limited-use temple recommend.

I could only find the reference in Handbook 1, 10.3.14 that prohibits someone on parole or probation from being baptized until they have resolved all criminal action with authorities.

While the Handbook doesn’t appear to address worthiness restrictions on those who already are members of the Church, I would think that we should be very careful in what we allow Justin to do until his criminal obligation has been fulfilled. And yet we want him to have as many opportunities as possible to build on the changes he’s made subsequent to his court action. He knows he should not expect to be able to serve a mission. But should he be allowed to go to the temple with a limited-use recommend?

I would welcome your insights, experience or counsel on the matter.

You may remember that (name) of the (ward) was jailed for several years and when he returned home he was still under parole or probation restrictions (and is today), including checking in with a parole/probation officer, no driving, no drinking, etc. I don’t remember how long it was (at least 6 months, I believe), but as he worked closely with Bishop (name) he eventually was allowed to use his priesthood. His membership record shows he had a temple recommend issued in 2014 so that would have been AFTER his prison time. So we have somewhat of a precedent here, though I am beginning to wonder whether that allowance by us was appropriate or not. His recommend has since expired and, frankly, I don’t think he ever used his recommend, even when his son (name) was endowed.

I’m copying this to President Westover for any additional information he wants to contribute to the discussion.

I appreciate your counsel.

Thanks,

Crismon

A plea to protect accordion curtains in stake center

12 February 2018

Stake and Ward Leaders…

Over the past few months, the Church has had to repair the accordion curtains in the stake center that separate the cultural hall and the chapel overflow area. It can cost up to a thousand dollars or more each time.

We have been asked by Church Facilities Management (FM) to help protect the curtains when basketball and other games are being played where players have a tendency to run into the curtains. 

The best protection we can think of is to ask that before playing games—like basketball, soccer, dodge ball and other indoor sports—that the curtains be opened so their exposure is limited.

It’s also been suggested that we invite spectators to sit in the chapel overflow area so players won’t have a tendency to run into the next set of curtains that lead into the chapel.

Please help us address this concern immediately.

Gratefully,

The Stake Presidency

Bishops Hulet, May and Miller and President Ibarra…Please forward this email to all members of your ward or branch council and encourage them to forward to leaders within their organizations.

How do we reconcile the fact that we can feel guilty and yet have a divine nature within us

19 January 2018

In response to my friend and former stake member Diana (Ross) Ikoa's question to me how does religion reconcile the fact that religious people can feel guilty (or that they're evil) and at the same time believe they have a divine nature.

Diana,

Nice to see you this morning. Thank you again for trying to help and guide the (name). I hope someday they’ll yet visit with you again.

You asked a deep question this morning that obviously has weighed on you for a long time.

I don’t know that I have an answer that will satisfy you, but believe it or not, religion has an answer…at least the Mormon faith does. I don’t expect you to buy it, but if you want to know how Mormons reconcile the underlying feeling that as humans we’re flawed and yet still divine, here’s how Mormons answer that question. I don’t know how other Christians address it, but Mormons address the conflict from the following perspective.

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS

To understand the conflict between our dual natures we must understand some foundational truths as per Mormon doctrines. They are:

• God lives and He is our literal parent, the Father of our spirits. So naturally He loves us, just as we love our own children and grandchildren.

• God is a dual being consisting of a tangible body that houses a spirit. We, too, are so made up with a tangible body and a spirt. The biggest differences are two-fold: (1) He is immortal, we are mortal (vulnerable to disease, pain and ultimately destined to die); (2) He uses his agency to consistently make right choices every time; we are not so wise and quick to obey, we make mistakes (unwise choices).

• We lived with God before coming to this earth. We are the literal spirit offspring of Heavenly parents—Heavenly Father and we suppose a Heavenly Mother, though we know little or nothing about Her. Our Heavenly Father (God) was and is a glorified personage of body and spirit. We were spirits only.

• God loves His children so much He wants us to become like Him, to enjoy an existence with complete joy, happiness, contentment, integrity, wisdom, etc. He wants us to know the joy of being a family inasmuch as we are part of His family.

• For us to become like Him, we must have agency (freedom of choice to learn how to concisely make right choices). We must learn to choose God and His ways over the enticements and temptations of other paths. To learn to do that, we must experience evil, consequences of mistakes, emotional challenges, sometimes illness, and, through our experiences, learn (with His help) to sort through the evil in the world, the challenges of mortality and even natural tendencies to rebel, detest, or even hate and eventually to love completely as He loves and make right choices consistently as He does.

GOD’S PLAN FOR HIS CHILDREN

So how did God put us into that type of “laboratory” experience?

He came up with a Plan, a Plan He introduced to us in the pre-mortal life. As His children, we accepted His plan. We did more than accept His plan, we rejoiced that God had provided a plan for us not only to return to His presence but to ultimately become like Him.

The Plan would only work if there was a Savior. Jesus Christ, the first-born of God’s spirits, stepped forward and accepted that role to become the Christ, to rescue all of God’s children who will accept Him and follow Him. By the way, Satan brought forward another plan—a counterfeit plan--and when we and God rejected that plan, Satan rebelled and has been determined ever since to disrupt and destroy God’s plan.

WHY THERE NEEDED TO BE A FALL

The next step in God's plan for us was for there to be a Fall.

Adam and Eve, the first humans on the Earth, fulfilled that role. They were completely innocent. Like all of us, a veil of forgetfulness was drawn over their minds upon being placed on earth so they, too, must use their agency to choose God and follow Him without seeing Him. That, of course, is the essence of faith.

Adam and Eve were commanded to multiply and replenish the Earth and, among other things, not to partake of the fruit of the Tree of Good and Evil. Satan, always in rebellion and using half-truths, convinced Eve (and she convinced Adam) to partake of the fruit. Fortunately, Adam and Eve, despite the fact that it was a form of rebellion or disobedience, discovered on their own that is precisely what God needed them to do—to partake of the fruit. 

You see, we believe that God, in His perfect and pure state, could not introduce sin and death into the world and still remain as God. The Fall of Adam and Eve accomplished that for Him. 

There were two significant consequences of the Fall:

• They could now have children. Even though God had commanded them to multiply and replenish, for whatever reason they were not capable of having children (possibly because they were as innocent as little children and did not know how to accomplish that until the Fall, which possibly introduced hormones into their bodies; we don’t know for sure). Thankfully, there was a Fall so all of us could come to Earth and receive a physical, tangible body—like God.

• We could now die. We became mortal. Coming into mortality Adam and Eve were no longer under the close influence of an immortal and glorified God so now Adam and Eve (and all of us) were and are exposed to the temptations, rebellions and evil of Satan’s ways. In a real way, our natures became different—the scriptures describe it that we are naturally inclined to be an “enemy” to God. It doesn’t mean we hate Him, we are naturally inclined to ease, pleasure, sensory excitement, even, at times, sin.

HOW DO WE CHANGE?

This is where the Savior comes in. Through the life and example of Jesus Christ and then His suffering and death and eventually His resurrection, He has shown us the way out of our dilemma—the “trap” we’d be in if there was no Savior.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ provides a way to reverse the effects of the Fall of Adam and Eve in two ways:

1. Because of the Savior’s resurrection, all mankind will be resurrected. So we will all ultimately become like God with an immortal body that houses our spirit—just like God. But we need more than just a body to become like God. We must have a nature like His.

2. Christ, through His own mortal journey—including his intense suffering, paid the price of our sins and mistakes. And, just as important, He felt every pain, every type of suffering of body or spirit that we can ever experience in this life so He knows how to help and heal us through this mortal, painful journey. But we must be willing to listen and accept His help and His rescue.

OUR DUAL NATURES

So that is why Mormons believe we have dual, even conflicting, natures. 

Our mortality has brought us into a fallen world where we are inclined to making mistakes which result in feelings of guilt. As we come to understand and accept the role of Jesus Christ in God’s Plan to rescue us, we discover that truly inside of us is a divine nature—we are the literal offspring of God and our natures begin to change so ultimately we will like what He likes, love like He loves, enjoy what He enjoys and eons down the road actually become like Him.

It is God's plan for his children. As parents and grandparents we can relate to how He feels. We, too, yearn for our own children to experience full and constant joy and happiness.

Again, I don’t expect you to buy this (even though you were once LDS), but I at least wanted you to know that the Mormon faith can reconcile why we all, at some point, wrestle with our dual natures. 

I hope this is helpful. 

Always a pleasure to see you at chamber,

Crismon

Helping a newly called EQ President understand the importance of tithing

13 January 2018

Bishop,

Following up to our visit on the phone this evening…

So you’re aware, had I known what I know now about President (name)'s tithing status, we would have delayed the call or gone in another direction. You don’t need to share that with (name) when you meet with him, but I want you to know that It’s that important that an EQ president be temple worthy so he he speaks with moral authority when he counsels his quorum members.

What concerns me most is that there appears to be an attitude in the (family) that a "delayed confession” is acceptable. They knew all along that they weren’t full tithe payers and likely knew they wouldn’t be by the end of the year. I saw Jay in the temple just last month so he was using his recommend even though he knew he was not worthy.

For them to keep that from you suggests that they had convinced themselves they’d write off the year, make a token effort at the end of the year, confess their failure in tithing settlement and promise to be full tithe payers going forward…and promptly get their temple recommend renewed.

That’s akin to breaking the Word of Wisdom all year long, confess at the end of the year and promise never to break the commandment again and expect to considered worthy for a temple recommend. I don’t think either you or I would accept that. I believe you and I would issue some level of informal probation (restriction on membership privileges) until he proved that he could keep the Word of Wisdom over a period of several months. 

That’s why, in your meeting with (name) and possibly (wife), you determine their level of understanding of repentance…and their intentions all along. Besides helping them understand (1) how important it is, when we can’t pay tithing, to notify the bishop and seek financial help, if needed, so they can pay tithing, but (2) for him/them to also understand that in lieu of a restriction on their membership privileges, there is an expectation that they work closely with you (even to be humble enough to receive assistance, if necessary) for them to get right with the Lord, i.e. find a way to catch up on all or most of their tithing for 2017.

In his priesthood leadership position, it’s important for him to not only understand what the Lord expects us to do when we feel we can’t pay tithing (acknowledge immediately and work with our bishop), but that repentance in this case should include more than just a delayed confession of “I’m sorry.”

Because of his calling and his having received a temple recommend, we now have the expectation that he will make a good-faith effort to get right with the Lord for 2017. Surrendering his temple recommend and resigning his calling for a period is not an option. He has been called and received priesthood keys. We need him now to step up and earn the moral authority he needs in the calling by working with you to establish a plan to get right with the Lord for 2017.

I look forward to your report back.

Thanks,

PrL

Reduction in summer camp fees for families in 2018

11 January 2018

Bishops and Branch Presidents…

Attached is a letter to all parents of youth and children in our stake. 

Will you please email this letter to those in your ward / branch? Or print and hand deliver via your ward/branch leadership?

We realize we are entering “new territory” with this announcement. We’ve never lowered the summer camp fees to this level. What a blessing it will be to families! We feel strongly the Lord will continue to bless us with His generous hand as we seek ways, like this, to follow the Brethren's counsel to “reduce and simplify."

We can only eliminate fundraising and still lower summer camp fees to families by reducing the allocations to our stake and ward/branch budgets. As we have done so over the past five years, somehow the Lord continues to bless us with the miracle of year-end surpluses. It’s as miraculous as the widow of Zarephath’s cruse of oil! (see 1 Kings 17)

Our stake surplus is such that we are prepared to supplement, if needed, your ward budgets for YM, YW and Primary. Please keep us apprised of your efforts to “reduce and simplify” and still meet the needs of the youth and children in your ward or branch. If you are feeling constrained by reductions in allocations, even after your own 2017 surpluses, please let us know. We are happy to work with you in making sure you have adequate funds for all you desire to do in Scouting, YM, YW and Primary. And still meet your overall ward/branch needs.

We’re in this together and we don’t want anyone to feel they can’t function because of budget constraints, but to enjoy the blessing of the miracle we’re watching unfold in our stake year after year. Thank you for your faith and faithfulness that is bringing this about.

Will you please let us know when the attached letter has been distributed to all parents of youth and children in your ward/branch?

Thank you,

The Stake Presidency

2018 Summer Camp Funding Policy

TO: All Parents of Youth and Children in the Mount Hood Stake

FROM: The Stake Presidency

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We value greatly the summer camp experiences the youth of our stake enjoy each year, especially when the gospel is taught and testimonies are strengthened around a campfire with other youth who share their beliefs and standards.

Therefore, we have tried to make these camps as accessible and affordable as possible.

The Church discourages fundraising (see Handbook 2, 13.6.8) and suggests ALL youth activities, including summer camps where possible, should be covered by ward budget funds. In 2012 we suspended all fundraising and began applying budget funds to cover summer camp fees.

While we have not been able to cover all the camp fees with budget funds, we continue to use these funds to minimize the financial burden on families. For several years we have been able to reduce the family’s cost for summer camps to $100 or less per child or youth.

The Lord continues to work a miracle in our stake so we are now able to announce yet another reduction in the summer camp fee schedule for families, effective 2018:

                  • $100 per boy for Boy Scout Camp (regularly $305 to $320 per boy)

                  • $50 per child or youth for other camps, including:  Young Women Camp
                                    (reg. $125), High Adventure (reg. $150), Camp Helaman for Priests-age
                                    young men (reg. $170), and Cub Scout Day Camp (reg. $125)

                  • NO FEE for Church-operated summer camps for Primary-age children, including:

                                    Primary Activity Days (girls ages 8-11) and 11-Year-Old Scout Day Camp

The above fee schedule applies to only one summer camp per youth—except young men, ages 16-18, may also attend Camp Helaman at the reduced $50 fee because of the value we believe this multi-stake camp provides in preparing young men to serve full-time missions.

Furthermore, the above fee schedule also applies to non-members, preferably those who are registered in the troop or have already been actively involved in ward youth programs.

We appreciate your support of this policy and urge parents to teach their children the importance of earning their reduced summer camp fee ($50 or $100) on their own.

The miracle return to activity of the wonderful Sims family

10 January 2018

In response to a request for examples of less-active Melchizedek Priesthood holders being rescued.

We were trained in late October 2017 by Elder Blunck on rescuing less-active Melchizedek Priesthood holders. Sadly, it’s been slow getting off the ground, though all the wards and branches are giving it attention and are moving forward.

We are now going into ward conferences and we’ve specifically requested that our home ministering visits (stake presidency matches up with our counterparts in each bishopric) are scheduled with less-active MP holders.

My wife, Vivienne, and I hold our FHE on Sunday evening together (we’re empty nesters). Then, when possible, we go on visits each Monday night to homes where we know there probably won’t be a FHE—homes of less-actives, elderly living alone or those who may be seriously ill. We’ve had many wonderful experiences.

In one of our November visits, we went to the home of Matt and Brandie Sims. They were in our ward when they joined the Church in 2002. They were a wonderful young family of 3 children, full of energy and love for the gospel. Within a year of their baptism, they were sealed in the temple and seemed to be on their way to a wonderful life of faithfulness in the Church. But soon the world crept in, sports started taking a bigger role in their lives, they got offended by a church leader, they moved to another city for a short time, and when they moved back there had been a boundary change and now they were “lost” in their new ward. 

Despite “routine” efforts to reach out to them by those in their new ward, including VT and HT, their lives had become too busy outside the Church. They had lost interest in becoming involved and they had convinced themselves they didn’t need the Church and gospel to be happy. In 2015, Brandie had come in to ask for help with her marriage. Despite our efforts to help, she wasn’t sufficiently humble enough to accept counsel; to draw close to the Lord through Church activity and gospel living.

I’m ashamed it took so long to make an appointment for Vivienne and I to visit the Sims, but they started coming to my mind. I knew I needed to act. It was a wonderful visit allowing them to share some of their heartaches and even an acknowledgement that they still knew the Church was true. While I did most of the asking of questions, Vivienne slowly turned her attention to their 8-year-old daughter, seated near her mother and quite bored with the conversation. As our discussion went into an hour or more (finishing with: “We love you and need you.”), little Zoie slid a little closer to Vivienne inch-by-inch until by the end of the evening she was snuggled up against her and they were looking at a family picture album together. Zoie was feeling the Spirit, thanks to Vivienne’s tenderness and goodness, and was being drawn to Vivienne because of it.

Just last week (Jan 7) I “happened" to attend Fast and Testimony meeting in the Sims’ ward. I was stunned and thrilled to see the Sims family sitting near the back of the chapel, I noticed they were among the first to arrive. The bishop explained that they had been coming regularly now for the past several weeks unbeknownst to me. 

But it got better.

Near the end of the testimonies, Matt came to the pulpit and bore his testimony that despite their inactivity for the past 8 years, the Lord has been tugging at his heart; that the past week was a "roller-coaster of emotions” that resulted in him being prompted to take his wife to the temple. They walked the gardens together one evening. Then Matt, still at the pulpit, looked at his wife in the audience and announced: “I want my wife to know I love her and I want us to go again this time inside the temple together.” 

Needless to say the joy I felt was incomparable and couldn’t wait to tell Vivienne, in our monthly family testimony meeting, of the miracle i had witnessed that very day; a miracle she had been a part of. We never know with whom the Lord is working and how a brief, unpretentious visit can suddenly pull the curtain on the Lord’s miraculous doings.

I hope this is helpful.

Crismon Lewis

President, Mount Hood Oregon Stake

503-667-5843

P.S. Maybe this also helps demonstrate how a sister can make such a difference in these ministering visits.