Encouragement to Ward and Branch Councils to make sacrament meetings more Christ-focused in 2019

                                           

12 December 2018

TO: Ward and Branch Councils

FROM: The Mount Hood Stake Presidency

Christ-Centered Sacrament Meetings in 2019

Dear Ward and Branch Leaders,

The new year—especially this upcoming new year—is an excellent time to make changes.
We have already recommended that you make sure you have teachers in place willing to embrace the “Come, Follow Me” approach in the classroom. (Please encourage teachers to review resources on www.lds.org such as a search of: “Videos for Leaders” and “Come Follow Me: New Testament.”)

You’ll also remember that in Elder Quinton L. Cook’s introduction in General Conference to the new 2-Hour Meeting Schedule he announced that Sunday meetings in 2019 “will consist of a 60-minute sacrament meeting each Sunday, focused on the Savior, the ordinance of the sacrament, and spiritual messages.”

We feel to emphasize in our stake a focus on the Savior in all sacrament meetings in 2019.

We urge you to assign a talk or talks with a topic focused on the Savior each Sunday in 2019 (not Fast Sunday, of course). We’ve also asked the High Councilors, when assigned to speak in your ward or branch, to follow this counsel.

Furthermore, we ask that this be a frequent topic in Ward Council meetings that you counsel together often on how to place emphasis on the Savior in each sacrament meeting.

The following resources will help you generate talk topics on the Savior:

·      Sunday School Manual: The New Testament lessons found in the 2019 edition of “Come, Follow Me — For Individuals and Families”;

·      Scripture Helps: The scripture Study Helps found online, including the Topical Guide (57 topics referencing Jesus Christ), Index to the Triple Combination, Guide to the Scriptures, Gospel Topics, and the Bible Dictionary;

·      General Conference: Messages from the Brethren are replete with talk topics on the Savior; search for “Jesus Christ” on www.lds.org and click on “General Conference” in the left margin (please do not assign a single talk to a speaker).

On page 2 (or backside) you can see examples of how to use these resources to assist in generating a wide variety of topics on the Savior.

Thank you for accepting this counsel. We feel strongly it will set the tone for a more spiritual sacrament meeting and for our gospel study of the New Testament at home.

Examples of Sacrament Meeting Talk

Topics that Focus on the Savior

Mount Hood Stake • 2019

2019 ‘Come, Follow Me — For Individuals and Families’

January 7-13: Matthew 1, Luke 1

·   How Jesus’ unique heritage (mortal mother, immortal father) was essential to fulfill God’s Plan for His children.

·   What we learn from the annunciation of Jesus’ birth about God’s timing in our lives and why it’s so important to seek and submit to His will.

January 21-27: John 1

·   Just as the disciples bore witness of Jesus Christ, we can stand as witnesses of Jesus Christ “at all times and in all things, and in all places,” (Mosiah 18:9)

October 14-20: Philippians and Colossians

•  How do we find joy in Christ, regardless of our personal circumstances?

Topical Guide

Jesus Christ, Atonement through

·   Why Jesus Christ’s Atonement is so important to all mankind and to me personally.

Jesus Christ, Condescension of

·   How our appreciation of the Savior’s willingness to become like man so man can become like God can influence the way we live the gospel each day.

Guide to the Scriptures

Redeemer

·   What it means to be redeemed and why we are grateful for our Savior’s selfless act.

Bible Dictionary

Lord of Hosts (see Sabbath)

·   Why the Lord has given us a Sabbath Day and the many ways it can bless us.

General Conference Messages (please do not assign a single talk to a speaker)

‘Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ’ – Elder Oaks, October 2015

·   How the Savior is able to help us in our day-to-day lives.

‘Jesus Christ, the Master Healer’ – Elder Nelson, October 2005

·   What it means to receive the healing power of Jesus Christ in our lives.’

4 Essential Missionary Activities and Expectations of Ward Mission Leaders

4 Essential Missionary Activities

in the Mount Hood Stake

December 2018

The four essential missionary activities in our stake are:

1.   Weekly Missionary Coordination meetings, under the direction of the Bishop, a member of the Elders Quorum presidency (assisted by a member of the Relief Society presidency) presides and the Ward or Branch Mission Leader conducts the meeting. Those to attend include the ward or branch missionaries and full-time missionaries. This meeting can be held in person or via electronic media. Objective: see agenda items in Handbook 2: 5.1.5.

2.   Daily or every-other-day contact between the Ward or Branch Mission Leader and the full-time missionaries assigned to his ward or branch. This can be done via phone, text or messaging. Objective: the Mission Leader should give direction to the full-time missionaries as to the next steps they should take in their missionary efforts and also ensure they meet the goal of teaching the gospel at least once a day—to investigators, new converts or long-time members.

3.   Regularly schedule full-time missionaries for evening, non-dinner appointments to visit member homes. This is to be done by the Mission Leader or ward/branch missionary he assigns. Objective: so members and missionaries can get acquainted, build a relationship of trust, and ultimately work arm-in-arm in growing the ward or branch and ministering to others.

4.   Twice-weekly report by the full-time missionaries sent via email or text to all who attend the Missionary Coordination meeting. Objective: keep everyone apprised of new developments and needs of the full-time missionaries as well as report on needs of families they visit.

 Full-Time Missionary Report

In fulfillment of the fourth guideline above, full-time missionaries are to make their twice-weekly email or text report very simple and succinct. For example:

·      List the names of only two or three families you visited since the last report;

·      Make suggestions as to the needs or concerns, if any, of those you visited;

·      Ask the ward leaders what they would like you to do to further help their missionary and ministering efforts.

Expectations of Ward and

Branch Mission Leaders

Mount Hood Stake • December 2018

The Stake Presidency asks Ward and Branch Mission Leaders to (1) ensure the Four Essential Missionary Activities are fulfilled consistently, (2) that the guidelines for baptismal services are followed, and (3) that they take responsibility for the following under the direction of the Elders and Relief Society presidencies:

Missionary-Ministering Coordination:  The mission leader is responsible for coordinating the missionary work in the ward or branch, including: (1) conduct the weekly coordination meeting, and (2) coordinate with the EQ and RS presidencies on how the full-time missionaries can assist and participate in home visits with ministering companionships.

Give Direction to the Full-Time Missionaries: The mission leader is to visit each day or every-other-day—preferably on the phone—with the full-time missionaries and assign them to the homes where you want them to visit and teach.

Ensure Missionaries Teach Every Day: The mission leader is responsible to arrange for the missionaries to teach at least one lesson per day. That can be to an investigator or to a member family. The mission leader or a ward/branch missionary is to make the member appointments for the missionaries.

Encourage Finding by Members: The mission leader works with the ward council, via the EQ and RS presidencies, to encourage and train members on how to fellowship and invite their friends to be taught by the missionaries.

Connect the Missionaries and Members: Recent changes to missionary policies and guidelines can create a distancing between the full-time missionaries and the members. The mission leader is to oversee and implement activities that will help members and missionaries work together, including (1) train the full-time missionaries on making their twice-weekly reports to ward leaders more effective and (2) prepare ward leaders to receive and act on these reports.

Arrange Leader Visits: The mission leader is to help arrange a visit by a ward or branch leader, preferably a member of the bishopric, branch presidency or elders quorum presidency, in the home of all sincere investigators prior to baptism.

Guidelines for Missionary Work in our stake

12 December 2018 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

Thank you very much for adjusting to the policy changes we've received lately regarding Missionary Work.

While we are very supportive of the new direction, we are concerned that 

• the no-dinner policy is distancing full-time missionaries from the members; 

• the removal of Ward and Branch Mission Leaders from the Ward and Branch Council is causing them to wonder about their role and usefulness. 

Furthermore, we have a growing concern that we sometimes begin to think that we're supposed to help the missionaries, when it's the other way around—they're here to help us with our missionary efforts. 

In order to address these concerns, we have drafted the attached 2-page document identifying the "Four Essential Missionary Activities" in every ward and branch and the "Expectations of Ward and Branch Mission Leaders." 

Will you please review these together and use them as guidelines for moving forward the Work of Salvation in your ward or branch? 

Gratefully,

The Stake Presidency 

P.S. We receive a report every week on which units are conducting a weekly Missionary Coordination meeting, now presided over by members of the EQ and RS presidencies. We are pleased to report that ALL wards and branches held such a meeting this past week. THANK YOU!

In response to a Ward Mission Leader concerned about the burden of making dinner appointments for the missionaries

Hello, Brian…

Thank you so much for reaching out. And, yes, it’s always appropriate to contact me directly. Vivienne and I feel a kinship to both you and Alisha, thanks to our Self-Reliance class. We are so grateful you are part of our stake and are equally as excited for you to welcome in a baby into the world soon. Congratulations!

As for your question, no, there is no policy, either from the stake or mission, that you cannot use a calendar for scheduling weekend meals. It’s your call or the decision of your ward leaders.

However, we have tried to teach a higher principle by encouraging ward and branch leaders to avoid passing sign-up sheets during meetings. The attached document hopefully will explain why. 

Knowing how sensitive you are to the needs of others and observing your dedication to your calling (you are doing a great job as Ward Mission Leader!), you’ll appreciate the importance of using these wonderful full-time missionaries in our ministering and teaching efforts. Having them in less-active members’ homes could be very powerful and a true blessing in the lives of these special members who need our extra attention. In other words, in my opinion it's worth every effort to get these missionaries, who have been set apart and given a very special mantle to take the Spirit of the Lord wherever they go, into as many members’ homes as possible.

Now that the Ward Mission Leader has a closer tie to the EQ and RS presidencies, I recommend you turn to both presidencies and ask them to use ministering companionships to arrange for missionary lunch and dinner appointments in members’ homes, especially those less-active who are blessed by as much contact from fellow members as they will allow. Let the ministering companionships take turns in fulfilling this assignment, that can feel burdensome to just one person.

I hope this is helpful. Will you forgive me if I take the liberty of copying this to your bishop and EQ and RS presidents so they’ll know you have my support, if you choose to recommend this?

I hope this is helpful. We send our love and best to you both for a very Merry Christmas!

Crismon

Report on a miracle of a missionary who died in his first week in the field

For those who joined in fasting for this tender cause, you might like to know that the body was returned home from South Africa in less than two weeks, much less than the 3-4 weeks that it usually takes. Elder Lamping’s funeral is this Friday. 

Thank you again for remembering this family in your fasting and prayers.

Pres Lewis

Dear fellow stake leaders…

Our stake was recently touched by a very sad incident, and yet witnessed a remarkable tender mercy, too. I thought you’d enjoy hearing about it.

All of you know Sister Beth Newell, our former Stake Relief Society president. She and her husband Matt’s oldest son, Carter, was set apart just last week (the Monday before Thanksgiving) to serve in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission.

Tragically, with less than a week in the Missionary Training Center in South Africa, Elder Newell’s companion, Elder Zane Lamping, suddenly and inexplicably died. https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2018-11-27/young-missionary-dies-after-collapsing-at-the-south-africa-missionary-training-center-48511

Because both elders had been in the MTC such a short time, the Lamping family had not even received an email from their son before he passed away. Needless to say, it left his grief-stricken mother grasping for any information about Elder Lamping’s experience in the MTC. 

With a heavy heart, Beth reached out to the Lamping family in southern Nevada and, in the phone conversation, recognized this grieving mother’s yearning for more information about her son’s week in the MTC. 

The tender mercy...

The Newell’s son Carter seldom took photos even when he had a camera on his phone at home. In hopes he would take at least a few photos on his mission, Matt and Beth sent Carter off with a small, inexpensive digital camera—with no expectation of receiving many photos from their son.

Surprisingly, Carter got the "photo bug” immediately upon his departure and during his trip to South Africa (he met up in the Atlanta airport with Elder Lamping and the 18 missionaries all going to South Africa) and during those first days at the MTC he took LOTS of photos showing he and his companion—where they ate, slept, studied and exercised. 

So when Beth discovered a grieving Sister Lamping desperate for any information about her son’s brief MTC experience, Carter’s many photos, which he had already sent home, provided the healing balm for the Lamping family…precisely at the right time!

The next miracle the Lampings need now is to have their son’s body returned quicker than usual. 

Normally, it takes 20-25 days to process such a shipment from overseas. The Newell family has invited all of us to fast this Sunday with them asking the Lord, if it’s His will, to expedite the process and bring closure and healing sooner to the Lamping family.

Thank you for remembering the Lamping and the Newell families in our prayers and fasting this Sunday.

President Lewis

Announcing Budget Projections that now reflect sacrament meeting attendance

11 December 2018

Dear Bishoprics and Branch Presidencies,

The numbers you’ve been waiting for to make 2019 budget projections will be sent to you shortly. 

As you know, ward/branch (and stake) budget allocations from SLC are based on sacrament meeting attendance.

We are now able to establish budgets for you that will reflect the variations in sacrament meeting attendance. We are doing that for several reasons. Hopefully it will...

1) help remind all of us of the importance of inviting others (members and neighbors) to come and worship with us;

2) give added attention to involving the ward council in planning spirit-filled sacrament meetings so more will be drawn to attend;

3) involve more ward leaders, specifically the ward or branch council, in monitoring attendance and generating ideas to improve sacrament meetings;

4) encourage clerks to ensure sacrament meeting attendance numbers are accurately and timely recorded and reported.

While it means your ward or branch budget allocation will fluctuate each quarter, we have calculated a recommended annual allocation you can safely budget against so you can assign annual budgets to your ward organizations.

In a subsequent email you will receive two documents with 2019 projections that should help you:

1) An overview of (a) your budget status for 2018 and (b) budget allocations, including a recommended amount to budget against in 2019, based on sacrament meeting attendance for the last 4 quarters; this document also shows you how your ward is trending in sacrament meeting attendance so you can anticipate an increase or reduction in allocation over the coming months if the trend continues;

2) Budget projection details that you can reference, if you want to see how we arrived at the numbers on the Budget Overview page.

Thank you for working with us in helping this budget process succeed so you can benefit from your efforts to improve sacrament meeting attendance. It also allows you to set up a ward or branch budget that won't fluctuate quarterly.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our stake clerk Bud Koch, President Christiansen or President Lewis.

Gratefully,

The Stake Presidency

Counsel to a bishop with a member insisting he can serve the Lord in his own way

11 December 2018

Bishop (Name),

Thank you for meeting with me last week. I enjoyed visiting with you and reviewing the wonderful things happening in your ward.

I was especially glad to hear you have a deep friendship and appreciation for Brother (Name), a good brother who has a great heart and apparently gives generously in so many ways outside of Church service.

I couldn’t help but think of him, though, as I read a paragraph from Elder Paul B. Pieper’s talk in October General Conference:

"In the process of taking the Savior’s name upon us, we must understand that the cause of Christ and of His Church are one and the same. They cannot be separated. Similarly, our personal discipleship to the Savior and active membership in His Church are also inseparable. If we falter in our commitment to one, our commitment to the other will be diminished, as surely as night follows day.”

There are so many who want to do it “my way.” They want to do good, but only if they can do it “their way.” 

That was at the heart of the tragic Cain-Abel incident. They both made offerings from the heart—Abel by the Lord’s way, Cain by his way. Except for the fact that Cain listened to Satan and murdered his brother, which undeniably are HUGE sins, you can’t help but wonder why the Lord was so intolerant, so unforgiving, so harsh on Cain…it started out as a free-will offering, something good. Some might say, “Cut him some slack, Cain was just trying to do right!" Modern revelation gives us the important insight that while on the outside Cain's offering appeared to be righteous—maybe even heart-felt—on the inside there was a heart of greed (Moses 5:33).

Whenever we insist on serving “my way,” it’s an indication that there is something deeper in our heart that needs addressing.

I recognize this is likely not the time to address this with (Name), but where you have such a good relationship with him, my hope is that some day you’ll be able to have a heart-to-heart with him and help him recognize “his way” to being a follower of the Savior will not only fall short but undermine his character and lead to him losing his family, “as surely as night follows day.”

I hope this helps in some way. Thank you for being close to (Name) when he doesn’t have time to allow very many others to be close to him.

President Lewis

Advising Bishop Miller, of the Damascus Ward, that a missionary from his ward was companion to a missionary who died in the South Africa MTC

27 November 2018

Bishop Miller,

I don’t know if you heard, but a young missionary from Nevada in the South Africa Missionary Training Center collapsed yesterday while he and five other missionaries were jogging. https://universe.byu.edu/2018/11/27/nevada-missionary-dies-after-collapsing-at-johannesburg-mtc/

As it turns out, his companion was Elder Carter Newell from our stake. In fact, Carter cradled his companion, Elder Lamping, in his lap when he passed away.

Understandably the Newells, especially Beth, are quite shaken. They’re heartbroken for the Lamping family and at the same time concerned for the emotional state of their own son, Carter, who apparently has never experienced death close up like this. 

It’s in the middle of the night right now in South Africa so I sent an email to the MTC president there asking him to consider having Elder Newell call home to give his parents an assurance of his emotional state.

In the meantime, I’ve connected with the Lampings' stake president in Nevada and we’ve shared contact information of both the Lampings and Newells so they can connect. Elder Lamping hadn’t even had time to write home so his parents had no idea as to what kind of experience their son  was having in the MTC. So the Newells will be able to share Carter’s first letter and photos showing Elder Lamping with the Lamping family. It will be great blessing to them!

In the meantime, you may want to call on the Newells this evening. Please advise if there is anything we can do. If you’re not in town or unavailable  so I can follow up.

Thanks to all receiving this email for remembering the Newells in our prayers.

President Lewis

Request to bishops and branch presidents to ensure a Missionary Coordination Meeting is held without fail each week

21 November 2018

TO: Bishops and Branch Presidents

Dear Brethren,

Attached is the monthly report from our Zone Leaders on how each ward and branch is doing in moving forward missionary work. Thank you for all that you do!

I’m also happy to report that Missionary Coordination Meetings were conducted last Sunday in the following units:

Damascus Ward

Mt Hood YSA Branch

Powell Valley Ward

Pioneer Spanish Branch

Thank you for those who are conducting these coordination meetings so faithfully, even in the midst of all the transitions happening right now.

I bring this to your attention because of a major concern I have. 

There are two dynamics impacting the member-missionary work and relationship in our stake:

1. The Ward Mission Leader no longer is a standing member of the Ward Council (a directive from the First Presidency).

2. Missionaries seldom get into members’ homes with the new no-dinner-with-members policy (a directive from the Area Presidency).

THE PROBLEM: Full-time missionaries are feeling more distant from the members than ever!

It would be easy to say, “Well, just change the no-dinner policy.” But the missionaries report that their productivity in finding new people and their ability to connect with investigators during the 5-7 pm time slot has increased measurably since the no-dinner policy was instituted.

So changing the no-dinner policy is not the solution.

The answer is in the Missionary Coordination Meeting. This weekly meeting now becomes absolutely essential and the key to missionaries and members working together to move forward this part of the Work of Salvation.

With the increased involvement and oversight by the Elders Quorum and Relief Society presidencies...and with them being the key link for missionary work to the Ward/Branch Council...the Missionary Coordination Meeting becomes even more important. 

As we also transition to the new Two-Hour Meeting Schedule, where leaders and members will be encouraged to be in the home as much as possible, holding a weekly coordination meeting may become even more difficult. 

As the one who still holds the keys for missionary work in your ward or branch, will you please counsel with your ward leadership on how to ensure the Missionary Coordination Meeting is held weekly without fail? 

Please remind leaders that this meeting, when needed, can be conducted over telephone or video conferencing. 

But it is absolutely essential that members (ward leaders, ward missionaries) and the full-time missionaries coordinate frequently (at least weekly)…PLUS the Ward/Branch Mission Leader and the full-time missionaries coordinate (via phone, text, email, etc.) at least every other day or daily, if possible...for the missionary effort in the ward or branch to become truly effective.

One other expectation…

I ask that the Ward/Branch Mission Leader assigns a ward missionary to set appointments for the full-time missionaries to visit member homes each evening the missionaries are available. If they don’t have teaching appointments, helping the full-time missionaries so they can give a brief gospel-related message in member homes between 7:00 and 8:30 pm would help significantly to re-establish a relationship between members and missionaries.

I appreciate you giving this your immediate attention. I welcome any feedback, counsel or concerns on this matter.

Gratefully,

President Lewis

P.S. Feel free to share this email with appropriate ward or branch leaders.

Request to Facilities Management Supervisor Dana Peterson for a panic bar on the door from the chapel into the stake offices

21 November 2018

Dana,

Thank you again for allowing us to even entertain the suggestion of putting a push bar or panic bar on the door from the chapel to the stake offices in our stake center.

Because we get visiting authorities so rarely (once a year now) and our need for absolute privacy (disciplinary councils) is equally as rare, I feel the safety of the members, with the environment we now live in, outweighs the occasional need for privacy and ask that you install a panic bar on that door. 

We live in a different world, much different than when our stake center was designed and built just a decade ago. I feel strongly we need to adapt.

Is this email adequate to make that request or should we complete an online request?

Thank you again for allowing us to address this concern.

Gratefully,

Crismon Lewis
President, Mount Hood Stake

Request to bishops to give priority to distributing letter to parents

19 November 2018

Bishops and Branch Presidents,

In Stake Council meeting yesterday I asked all in the meeting to raise their hand if they had children in the home. 10 to 12 leaders raised their hand. I then asked, how many had received the attached Letter to Parents. Only one kept his hand up.

This does not mean it’s not happening, but it’s not happening as quickly as I feel that is needed. 

I know you have a lot on your plate, with tithing settlement and adjusting to the many changes from the Brethren, but this should not be complicated nor, I hope, burdensome. Feel free to use your counselors to personally introduce this letter as quickly as possible to parents with children of 7, 11, 13, 15 and 17 years of age.

Please…

1. If you haven’t already, assign a clerk or secretary to identify all youth in your ward or branch who are 7, 11, 13, 15 and 17 years of age.

2. Ensure you or one of your counselors presents a printed copy of the attached 4-page letter (you've received 20 printed copies from the stake presidency first in mid-October and later at Bishopric Training last week) to the parents of those children or youth of the above ages FIRST.

We commend those who are distributing the letter during tithing settlement.

Remember, this will only work if you and your counselors hold out an expectation to parents to prepare their children for the ordinances. Parents need to know of the expectation and they need time to incorporate this into their teaching in the home before their children turn of age. 

I appreciate you giving this a level of priority.

Gratefully,

President Lewis

Direction to bishops to conduct 3rd Hour meetings before the end of 2018

9 November 2018

Brethren,

As we draw close to the 3rd hour class time being eliminated from our meetings, it’s important that you take the opportunity to use the 3rd hour for the following three presentations before the end of the year:

1. Ward "Come, Follow Me” Implementation

All units are to conduct an introduction of “Come, Follow Me” during a 3rd hour presentation prior to the end of 2018.

As we’ve instructed before, the implementation program is outlined at this website https://www.lds.org/languages/eng/content/manual/come-follow-me-implementation-guid As you can see, ii includes a (1) video in support of each manual, followed by (2) discussion questions for each manual and (3) distribution of the appropriate manuals to families and/or teachers, which you should have already received.

You should have also received from Church headquarters a handout to distribute in your presentation giving an overview of each manual.

If this has not already happened, please select a Sunday soon that will work best for your ward or branch.

2. Introduction of 2019 Area Plan on December 30

As you may be aware, we now have an Area Presidency for the Northwest and West Area. There are four members in the presidency, all General Authorities residing in Salt Lake City.

They have directed that all wards and branches in the Area conduct a presentation to the ward or branch membership (at least the adults) during the 3rd hour of the 5th Sunday of December, Sunday, December 30.

Attached is a copy of the Area Plan. We will share copies with you and discuss in more detail during Bishopric Training on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

The Area Presidency also has recorded for viewing online a one-hour training meeting about the Area Plan. 

3. Discussion on Suicide Prevention

Brethren, last Sunday I visited the Damascus Ward Relief Society meeting and was captivated by the discussion their ward RS presidency was conducting on the topic of Suicide Prevention. It was their monthly First Sunday Council meeting.

As you know, this is a very important and timely topic and, if you have not already had a discussion in your ward on suicide prevention, will you please encourage your EQ and RS presidencies to consider this topic in their next 1st Sunday council meeting on December 2?

I was amazed how many in the room seemed to be touched personally in some way by suicide. I also appreciated how they arrived at two significant conclusions: (1) we are not to judge families affected by suicide; and (2) we should not shy away from asking someone if they are thinking about suicide or even have a plan.

There are lots of resources on this subject to draw from, including:

1. This document prepared by the Powell Valley Ward Council;

2. This official document from the Church on the topic;

3. This Church website featuring outstanding resources, including some excellent videos by an Apostle;

4. The training conference call conducted in our stake in late September with Matthew Scott, of LDS Family Services.

Thank you for giving this your immediate attention and for planning these on your ward calendar while we still have 3rd Hour meeting times available for these types of presentations.

Gratefully,

President Lewis

In response to the Area 70 asking for a recommendation for Multi-Stake Self-Reliance Missionaries

8 November 2018

Elder Blunck,

Ironically, while we have given great emphasis to the Self-Reliance Initiative in our stake (see attached letter), our support team has been relatively weak for such an emphasis. In fact, we are in the midst of calling a new Stake SRS Specialist because our current specialist is working two jobs to support his family (which we applaud), but he’s simply not available to provide the support we need to keep our momentum going into 2019.

The person we’re about to call is Larry Nicholson, of the Tickle Creek Ward. 

Brother Nicholson, age 60, is a former bishop, high councilor and Stake YM president. He is in the latter stages of his career as an engineer with Boeing, and he and his wife are empty-nesters. They both have current temple recommends.

I will confess I’m a little concerned that he will not step up for what we need, too, because he has such a laid-back personality and has not had any experience with our Self-Reliance efforts. But Larry has an excellent background in Church service and is very capable. His wife is equally capable (she currently serves as ward YW secretary; he’s a youth SS teacher).

We are happy to offer them to you as candidates to consider for the multi-stake assignment.

Also, I remind you that we’ve tried to be extra-supportive of multi-stake needs, including:

• Temple Presidency (Watts)

• Temple Visitors Center Directors (Allens)

• Area Auditor (Gingell)

• Bishops Storehouse Managers (Bairds)

• Bishops Storehouse Assistant Managers (Pierces, just called)

• Pathway Missionaries (Ipsons)

• About 5 couples serving as Church Service Missionaries in Family History

I’m not complaining and I very much want to give the members in our stake opportunities for serve at the multi-stake level (hence so many in positions right now), but frankly we’re running a little thin.

We are happy to support you in whatever you’d like us to do.

Crismon

Letter to Stake and Ward Leaders asking them to help embrace the Prophet's direction of a Home-Based Church

6 November 2018

TO: All Stake and Ward Leaders

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This is a marvelous time to serve in the Lord’s “only true and living church.” (D&C 1:30) We have witnessed dramatic announcements over the past few months that will influence every home for years to come.

As we learned in General Conference, we are in the midst of a hastening toward the Lord’s Second Coming. We are asked to increase our faith and deepen our conversion.

We rejoice in the new emphasis to become a Home-Centered Church as President Nelson challenged all of us to “conscientiously and carefully…transform [your] home into a sanctuary of faith” and to “remodel your home into a center of gospel learning.”

So that we don’t become overwhelmed by the many changes recently announced, we invite you to review this document for:

·      POLICY CHANGES: pages 2 and 3 recaps the changes with training helps on how to embrace and implement them;

·      STUDY HELPS: page 4 offers reminders of how individuals and families can improve personal and family scripture study.

Finally, we invite all stake and ward leaders to seek the Lord’s guidance on how to more effectively integrate gospel learning between the church and the home.

We love you and thank you for your service as a leader in the Mount Hood Stake. We testify that our efforts do not go unnoticed by Heaven. May the Lord pour out His choicest blessings upon you, your families and all within your stewardship.

Faithfully yours,

      Stake Presidency