Instruction to members on how new Apostles are called in the Church today

The following was sent to bishops on August 4, 2015, after a gospel doctrine class wrongly concluded that members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles choose new Apostles, following the recent death of President Boyd K. Packer and Elder L. Tom Perry.

Bishops,

Your gospel doctrine class has or will soon teach Lesson 28: “We Are Witnesses.” There is a passing reference in that lesson to the selection of a new apostle (see Acts 1:21-26). 

In light of the fact that there are two vacancies in the current Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, this may (and probably should) get more than a passing reference.

We know of at least one ward where this came up in the gospel doctrine class and was discussed at length. The teacher and class arrived at the conclusion that new Apostles are chosen by the Twelve meeting together and casting “forth their lots” or, in other words, voting until they reached a unanimous selection (see Acts 1:26).

Because of the current vacancies, will you please teach in your ward the procedure for calling an Apostle in the Church today? We recommend you or your counselor give a brief explanation at the beginning of the gospel doctrine class or, if you feel appropriate, even teach briefly in sacrament meeting.

Here is the official procedure:

All members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are called by the First Presidency under the direction of the President of the Church. The current members of the Twelve are then asked to sustain--but they do not vote on or elect--those chosen. 

There are several resources that may help support this instruction:

1. D&C 107:22 reminds us that one of the distinctions of the modern Church of Jesus Christ is that we have a First Presidency that is a quorum in itself. While Peter, James and John appear prominently together in the New Testament, there is no indication they were a quorum separate from the Twelve.

2. D&C 107:33 explains that the Twelve officiate under the direction of the Quorum of the First Presidency; therefore the keys for calling and ordaining new Apostles rests solely with the First Presidency under the direction of the President of the Church.

3. This brief video clip of President Hinckley, in an April 1994 general conference address, explains that the Twelve are invited to recommend candidates for the Twelve, but the responsibility rests solely with the First Presidency to receive the revelation as to who should be called. https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-10-1700-how-apostles-are-called?lang=eng

4. The following two links have lots of support information about the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, including how members are chosen: https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/calling-an-apostle-of-god?lang=eng and http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/topic/quorum-of-the-twelve-apostles.

5. Last month (July) the stake presidents in the Oregon Portland Mission were invited to a dinner with Elder M. Russell Ballard, of the Twelve, who was visiting his son and family. Elder Ballard conducted a brief Q&A session with us. At one point he asked and answered one question on his own: “Question: When will the new Apostles be called?”   “Answer: When President Monson decides they should be called.”

We hope this is helpful. Normally this would not be a matter that needs to be addressed. But where there is such interest in the subject, with two vacancies in the Twelve, will you please make sure your ward members understand the procedure for calling new Apostles and that they don’t assume there is an “election” or voting by the members of the Twelve, as was the case in ancient times (Acts 1:26)?

Gratefully,

The Stake Presidency

The importance of teaching service in our stake through assignments

The following was in response to member of the JustServe committee asking why we were making assignments for volunteer opportunities when the JustServe handbook says we're not to be making assignments.

It’s natural, because there is a program and a committee in place, for us to assume every service project is a JustServe project. But that is not always the case. Our JS efforts are starting to bring to us opportunities for our members to serve in the community. The JS projects that the handbook references are those that get posted and we hope members and others will seek out and volunteer for.

However, there are community projects that are coming to us from outside organizations. We want to support these projects because of the relationships it will build between the Church and the community. These are “Community Service Projects,” in my mind, not JS (I realize there’s a lot of overlap here so it can be confusing.) It’s like a non-member friend in the TC Ward, some time ago, desperately needed a new roof. The bishop got word of the need and turned to the priesthood leaders, who reached out personally to their quorum members and asked them to help out. It was a huge success.

Sometimes we confuse “assignments” with “callings.” An assignment for a service opportunity is simply a way of communicating more effectively with quorum (or organization) members. The leader calls the member and says, “The Sandy Mountain Festival is in need of volunteers to help set up booths. Our stake has chosen to support this service opportunity. Are you available to help out either Thursday morning or afternoon? If so, would you be willing to take a 2-hour shift at 1 or 3 pm or is there a better time for you?”

Something like that.

It’s not meant to be an obligatory assignment, but simply communicating with members one-on-one of a service opportunity that we have chosen to support and inviting them to participate. We ask priesthood and RS leaders to find volunteers using one-on-one contacts, instead of passing lists, because: (1) it helps them reach out beyond the circle of the same-members who do everything (hopefully reaching less-actives) and (2) it’s more efficient and more effective for a presidency of 3 organizations to find 3 people each than it is for a JS rep to find 9 people.

I hope this helps. Feel free to forward this to reps so they’ll understand their additional role and why the stake is occasionally making assignments to find volunteers in each ward.

Let me add, we do not want members to feel obligated…as they do with a church calling. We are simply using the JS committee as a vehicle, in addition to their regular duties of finding and posting service projects, to help expand our reach in finding volunteers for what might be better described as “Public Affairs Service Projects”—service that will begin to endear the community to the Church and strengthen our reputation as a Church that cares for everyone, not just its own. Hopefully, it will also begin to expand our members’ acquaintances to circles beyond their ward family.

Objectives for a scaled-down Emergency Preparedness Expo in our stake in the spring of 2016

Email sent to Trent and Cheryl Westover, who will head up our stake's Emergency Preparedness Expo in 2016:

Thanks so much for this email. I agree, the buzz won’t last into next year unless there is some shaking. 

A few days after our meeting, I asked Pres Hansen to get with you and Bro Yates to draft a one-page overview or plan for a one-day, scaled down Expo next spring. I’m sure they were planning to meet with you soon.

I think I expressed to everyone the night we met that there’s no purpose in an expo unless our objective is to draw the community to us. An expo, in my opinion, is not the best way to prepare the members. Working through priesthood channels is the most effective and efficient way to prepare members. This is something we should discuss another day, but it’s important.

In the meantime, I would like to ask us to move forward with a one-day event next spring, scaled down but still sizable enough to draw the community to our stake center…providing an event for members to invite their neighbors and friends.

Objectives

Thanks so much for your willingness to head this up and provide an opportunity for us to: (1) sustain our “reputation” in the community as a church that serves as a resource for the community on emergency preparedness; (2) create an image that we care deeply about our neighbors and friends, not just “our own”; and (3) provide members a non-religious event in our stake center to which they can invite their neighbors and friends.

I would appreciate you focusing around the above 3 objectives as you prepare this one-page overview or plan (I’m open to others, if anyone has any ideas). Please be careful that we not burden wards. True, we will use members from all wards, but we want to be careful that we don’t just dump a part of the expo on the ward leadership. Rather please consider creating an ad hoc committee made up of members from throughout the stake and ultimately tasking them with drawing others from throughout the stake onto their respective committees.

So that’s what we’re looking for in a one-page overview or plan: (1) objectives, (2) organization ad leadership, (3) overview of what will happen on that day and (4) how to draw the community to this event. Feel free to modify your plan in any direction you want, but those 4 elements seem, to me, the most obvious key elements of a plan for this type of event.

Is there a chance we can have a one-page plan in place by early or mid August?

In response to concerns expressed by a stake member about the role of women in the Church

The following is an email response dated June 27, 2015 to Jennifer Miller, a member of our stake, who shared concerns about women in the Church that she felt were serious enough to become totally inactive.

Hello, Jennifer…

Thank you for your email and for your sincere quest to get answers. We would be happy to meet with you, if you choose. Your questions are never onerous or inappropriate. We love you, your family and want to be as forthcoming and helpful as possible (with what we know). Please know of our own personal disappointment that we have not been able to answer your questions to your satisfaction. 

I appreciated very much President Christiansen’s email and his attempt to get answers to your questions from Elder Holland (you would have been proud of him!). I don’t know that I can add much to what he has shared. It was very gratifying to hear Elder Holland, in the meeting referenced, be so candid and acknowledging that we don’t have all the answers. I got the sense the Brethren are very concerned about the questions you raise and are doing their very best to address them…to sort out the doctrine from the tradition. Because some of these policies (or “just the way we do things”) have been in place for so long, this will obviously take time.

After the meeting with Elder Holland, Vivienne and I had the unexpected privilege of sitting next to Elder Holland during dinner. He shared with me that the Church has created a new committee, called the Member Concerns Committee. I think he said he chairs that committee. I remember him saying this committee is mostly addressing some of the questions you raise…the women’s role in the Church, specifically leadership roles. He confirmed that it was this new committee that recommended the noticeable changes made recently: women offering prayers in General Conference; women auxiliary leaders sitting among the Brethren during conference and not with the wives off to the side; the Women’s Session becoming the official "first session" of General Conference (note it’s now the first talks published in the May/Nov Ensign). He said these changes were a kind of a “why didn’t we think of them before?” They were just oversights, so the speaking up by concerned women, like you, have not gone unrecognized or unappreciated.

I think your questions about auditors and Sunday School presidencies are valid. It was nice to hear Elder Holland suggest they’re still working on those issues. I’m sure they’re a bit more complicated simply because placing women in those positions, while not doctrinally prohibited, could create situations of a man and a woman working so closely side-by-side to lead to inappropriate relations. I think that’s why I suspect  you’ll never see a man called as a counselor in a Primary presidency. I suppose, for some, this is a stupid reason to keep women from serving as auditors or in a SS presidency. “Are we so hormone-driven that we can’t keep our thoughts and hands to ourselves when in a meeting between a man and a woman?” But from the Brethren’s point of view, I could see why they would go to great lengths to avoid being the cause of such a problem. “We have enough break-up of families without us helping to create them.”

As you know, this “problem” arises when a bishop, or other priesthood leader, conducts an interview alone with a woman. As indication of how concerned the Brethren are about this potential situation, bishops are cautioned regularly to make sure some one else is in the building during such an interview; have a table or desk between the two of you; do not ask questions about intimacy or intimate practices, etc.

I share this so you’ll know that I feel the Brethren really are trying to address these issues. Again, some of these matters have been tradition for so long that it takes time to unravel the traditions and make sure they don’t contradict doctrine or prophetic “policies” established years before. From our stand point, these matters may appear like no-brainers, but when making decisions at the general church level, you can imagine the number who have to sign off on such policy changes. In fact, no policies are changed until there is total unanimity among the First Presidency and the Twelve. If there is discord among them, they wait for the Spirit to soften hearts and everyone becomes “settled” before moving forward.

As for your question about the priesthood, I personally don’t feel it makes a man more inclined to receiving revelation than women. A priesthood holder is supposed to seek revelation for his circle or level of stewardship, but so is a woman. I believe it’s mostly to bring order into His church, to some extent what Herb suggested. I’m confident there is more to the “why” it rests solely with males that we will learn some day and I’m confident it will make sense when we do find out. (No, I don’t know when that will be, but maybe it’s a trial of our faith that will be addressed at the Judgment; probably at the same time we learn the real “why” behind plural marriage and other doctrines and practices that have proven to be troubling or even divisive.)

Jennifer, you know how much we love you and your family and it would break our hearts if you chose to go completely inactive. We plead with you to be patient. Maybe you feel your patience has been exhausted. But I see these recent “signs” as solid indicators that the Brethren are listening and trying to address them as best and as quickly as possible. 

Please consider reviewing again Elder Holland’s talk in the April 2013 Conference where he conceded there are things we don’t have answers for. But he gave this wonderful, relevant counsel: “…when those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes…Sometimes we act as if an honest declaration of doubt is a higher manifestation of moral courage than is an honest declaration of faith. It is not!…Be as candid about your questions as you need to be; life is full of them on one subject or another. But if you and your family want to be healed, don’t let those questions stand in the way of faith working its miracle.”

I hope this is helpful. If you still want to meet, please let us know and we’ll be happy to schedule a time.

President Lewis

My personal missionary example

At the most recent Coordinating Council Meeting, our Area Seventy, Elder Stapleton, asked all stake presidents to send him an email about our personal missionary examples. Here is what I sent him on June 21, 2015:

Elder Stapleton,

First, a happy Father’s Day to you. Please know we love and sustain you in your calling and, though we are still getting acquainted, recognize you are a choice and chosen leader called of the Lord. We look forward to the blessing of having you visit our stake some day soon, we hope, and to be taught by you. 

My apologies for the delay in sending you this email, as requested, about my personal missionary example.

My wife Vivienne and I have been persistent in our prayers, setting dates to have someone taught in our home. We have gone through November 23, 2014, February 1, 2015, April 15, 2015, and June 1, 2015 without success; or at least having someone taught in our home.

The success, of course, has been the constancy in our prayers and keeping the joy of sharing the gospel in the forefront of our minds and hearts. We have had many wonderful experiences inviting friends, but so far no one has accepted our invitation. We have had friends, including pastors of other churches, in our home for dinner; on occasion with the missionaries present, but still no one taught in our home.

However, we are beginning to see a very encouraging sign that the Lord is working with a neighbor. 

At the end of our block lives a man and a woman, whom we’ve known for some time. Actually, we knew the man soon after moving to Oregon from Arizona in 1989. He was a member of the adjacent ward bishopric and some of his children were quite close friends with our children in school. Sadly, he and his wife got a divorce and he went inactive, eventually requesting his name be removed. We lost contact until about 10 years ago when he and his new wife, Lori, moved into our neighborhood.

Over the past 10 years we have tried to befriend them, even taking them to an Ensign Choir concert, but with little success in creating a deepening relationship. A turning point happened about six years ago when one of our sons, while in high school, one day saw Lori shoveling bark dust. On his own he went to help her. Needless to say, she was “won over” by the goodness of a teenager, who spontaneously jumped in to help.

Even with that, there was no significant progress until recently. A few months ago, my wife Vivienne invited Lori to attend her monthly book club meeting made up mostly of LDS women. That constant contact has deepened their friendship. Then the sister missionaries began to visit Lori (her husband Mike still keeps his distance). Just this past week, Lori happily responded to Vivienne’s invitation to attend Church (which she plans to do with us today) and suggested she would like to receive a Book of Mormon. A bit chagrined we hadn’t already given her one, we gladly presented her with her own copy two days ago.

It’s no coincidence, I’m sure, that our once-teenage son, who helped Lori years ago, is visiting us this week after he and his wife spent a year in Taiwan where he attended a language school before going on to his post-graduate studies. (He served a mission to Australia and came home speaking Mandarin, thanks to his many Chinese companions. He fell in love with the language and wants to teach Chinese at the college level.) 

We are very encouraged that Lori will accept our invitation soon to be taught the gospel in our home in answer to our prayers for just such a miracle.

We welcome your prayers that all of this will move forward favorably and the gift of the gospel will be introduced again to this wonderful couple.

Warmly,

Crismon Lewis

President, Mount Hood Stake

Follow-up to training on Sabbath Observance in the Church

The following two emails were sent to bishops several days after conducting a mandatory Bishopric Training on June 16, 2015 on Sabbath Observance in the Church:

Bishops,

As you’ll remember, we discussed at length how to enhance the sacrament experience for members. We would like to expound on this more.

We feel there was a greater desire that came out of our last meeting to give even more emphasis to treating the sacrament as the sacred ordinance that it is. 

Thank you for wanting to…

1. Give emphasis to training Aaronic Priesthood leaders so the sacrament is prepared in a more timely fashion;

2. Have deacons (and other holders of the AP) assigned in advance to pass the sacrament so it’s a “serious duty" and not just for "whoever shows up on time”;

3. Use more adult Aaronic Priesthood holders.

As to this last item, please consider these recommendations:

1. Do not use full-time missionaries. It’s easy to call on them, but they get ample opportunity in their day-to-day service to use their priesthood. Please give this opportunity to adult AP holders (especially prospective elders), who may not get the opportunity to use their priesthood often.

2. You may want to consider delegating to the EQ president or HP group leader the authority to assign one prospective elder maybe one Sunday per month, or more often, to participate in the administration of the sacrament. Candidates should be cleared by the bishop in advance.

While we feel strongly the above could be a wonderful blessing for prospective elders, this should be tempered by what the Handbook says on page 173 of book 2 (20.4.1):

“Generally, teachers and priests in the Aaronic Priesthood should be invited to pass the sacrament before Melchizedek Priesthood holders are invited to do so. Where there are enough Aaronic Priesthood holders, Melchizedek Priesthood holders should not be invited to bless and pass the sacrament on a regular schedule.”

So, bishops, use your discretion in how to use the sacrament administration to bless prospective elders, especially if you have a limited number of AP holders.

Thank you for giving this your consideration,

The Stake Presidency

Brethren,

The training you received last Tuesday, was the same training we received as stake presidents in our CCM (Coordinating Council Meeting) conducted by Elder Stapleton, our Area Seventy.

We thought you might like to see some of the ideas that came from other stakes for enhancing both sacrament meeting and the sacrament ordinance itself.

We hope this is helpful.

1. Plan the sacrament meeting speaker topics a full year in advance. One ward planned the entire year of talks around the Atonement, selecting the many dimensions to the Atonement as a theme for each meeting.

2. Another ward also assigned talks six months in advance, and brought the assigned speakers together on a regular basis and taught them the expectations for sacrament meeting talks with intent of helping members consistently have a spiritual experience. Giving members more time to prepare helps them receive inspiration far in advance as they ponder and mentally prepare.

3. Some wards do not try to give every member an opportunity to speak, but assign those who are more adept at teaching. (I don’t personally subscribe to this, but found it interesting. That’s why there are pastors in other churches…they’re professionals.)

4. Bishoprics were trained on proper testimony bearing, especially at the beginning of the monthly Testimony Meeting. Focus: brief, concise, pure testimony of the Savior.

5. Make sure those disabled AP holders have an opportunity to participate in the administration of the sacrament (it’s appropriate to have another quorum members “shadow” them as they go about their assigned part).

6. Bishopric members regularly teach the ward about the sacrament, how to prepare before coming to meeting, and why this ordinance is so important. This is an excellent time to teach “sacrament etiquette” i.e. teach children to be reverent at home, no technology, how to experience the sacrament as a partaker, etc.

7. Bishopric members teach ward members the appropriate way to bear testimony.

8. The Bishop teaches what it means to partake worthily and what to do when feeling unworthy.

9. Be careful not to over program sacrament meeting so that it runs over time. Keep the emphasis on the ordinance.

10. Find a way to teach parents on how to counsel together and teach their children about the sacrament and sacrament meeting.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Senior Missionary Service

Can we choose where we want to serve?

You are encouraged to indicate the types of assignments, and even locations, you prefer. For instance, it’s appropriate to indicate whether you would prefer to serve a domestic mission instead of foreign and explain why. While preferences are carefully considered, members should be willing to serve wherever they are called.

What factors influence our mission location?

There are many factors, including how long you plan to serve, date of availability, personal health, financial support, background in the Church, talents, and language or technology skills, such as computer or office experience.

Can we choose how long we serve?

Yes, you decide if you want to serve 6, 12, 18 or 23 months. You must be willing to serve for 12 months or more to serve a foreign mission. Senior sister missionaries (age 40+) can serve for 12, 18 or 23 months.

Must we be retired?

No. But you must be free of family and employment obligations during your time of service.

Is there an age limit for senior missionaries?

While senior sister missionaries must be at least 40 years of age, there is no minimum or maximum age limit for couples, though both should be in relatively good physical, mental and emotional health.

How much will a mission cost?

Couples are responsible for their own living expenses. Most spend $1,350 to $3,550 per month, depending on the location and type of assignment. You can view the estimated monthly cost for each mission on pages 17-18 of the Senior Missionary Opportunities Bulletin online at www.lds.org/senioropportunities.

What is the cost for senior sisters?

The cost for senior sisters is roughly 65% of the costs listed for couples (see previous question).

What types of opportunities are there for seniors?

There is a great need for senior couples and senior sisters, 40+ years of age. You can view the many missionary opportunities in the Senior Missionaries Opportunities Bulletin updated weekly at www.lds.org/senioropportunities

Are senior missionaries required to follow a schedule like the young missionaries?

No. While your assignment will be full-time, you will have much more flexibility in schedules and goals. Some assignments, such as those in visitor centers or mission offices, may require a daily “shift.” However, most senior couples are allowed to vary their schedule day to day. Senior missionaries are encouraged to make time each day for exercise and personal gospel study.

What skills do we need?

Your life experiences, such as raising a family and serving in the Church, have provided you all the skills you need to serve a mission. The Missionary Training Center (MTC) and in-field experiences will provide additional helpful skills and training.

Will we be required to learn a foreign language?

Not unless you want to. For those who choose to, they will receive one-on-one language tutoring from the MTC via Skype or phone prior to departure and additional tutoring of up to six months while in the field.

Will we be expected to proselyte, such as knocking doors?

No. Senior missionaries are not given proselytizing assignments. However, if you desire, you will work along side the young missionaries helping to teach the gospel, reach out to less-actives, fellowship new converts, strengthen young single adults, train local church leaders, etc. Senior couples will have ample opportunities, just going about their daily lives, to share and testify about the Restored Gospel.

Are couples expected to be together as companions like the young missionaries?

Generally, yes, though it’s possible that some mission assignments may separate you for brief periods of time. You should never be separated at night.

How often will we be able to communicate with our family back home?

Senior missionaries are not under the same restrictions as the young missionaries. They may communicate with family back home more often than weekly. In fact, not only may senior missionaries communicate more often, if needed, but do so regularly via email, phone or even Skype.

Does this apply to missionaries serving abroad?

Yes. And, thanks to technology such as Skype, texting and VOIP (Voice Over Internet Phone), senior couples in foreign lands find they are able to stay in close touch with families back home, as needed. The Senior Missionary Services office can help foreign-bound senior couples with a variety of low-cost phone options.

Are family members permitted to visit senior missionaries?

Yes, immediate family members can visit with permission from the mission president.

Can senior couples take a leave of absence to attend important events or emergencies?

Yes, when authorized by the mission president. Normally these brief absences are for no longer than 10 days and are at your own expense. Both spouses must travel home together.

Are senior missionaries required to have health insurance?

Yes. If they do not already have coverage, the Church makes available a policy, called Senior Service Medical Plan, for $183 per person per month. There are no restrictions based on health history or pre-existing conditions. Medicare coverage in the USA is acceptable.

Can we serve if we have physical, mental or emotional challenges?

Often there are opportunities for you. Call the Senior Missionary Medical Coordinator at 801-240-0322 and someone will help evaluate your condition and any restrictions to full-time missionary service.

What if we can’t afford a mission?

Couples are encouraged to visit with their children, grandchildren and even extended family members, offering them the opportunity to reap the blessings that come from providing missionary support. If funds still fall short, you are urged to visit with your bishop. Often there are ward members, who would gladly contribute extra to the ward missionary fund to assist senior couples. Go to www.dmba.com/ssmp for additional information.

How do we begin our missionary application?

Visit with your bishop, who will open an online application for you to complete on your own. That will be followed by interviews with your bishop and stake president. Once a recommendation is submitted to Church headquarters, the call is usually received within five to six weeks.

How far in advance should we begin our application?

Plan to complete your application at least four months before your availability date, but you can submit your application many months before if you have a solid, projected availability date.

What if we want to serve, but just can’t leave home at this time?

For those not able to leave home, there are two options: (1) serve as a full-time Member-Leader Support (MLS) missionary, or (2) serve as a Church Service missionary (CSM). In both cases, there are no extra living expenses (because you live at home) and no requirement for medical and dental examinations. This allows you to continue meeting with your own health professionals and even participate in family gatherings.

What do Member-Leader Support (MLS) missionaries do?

They serve under the direction of the mission president in coordination with local priesthood leaders, usually fellowshipping new converts and strengthening less-actives. For those who live at home and serve in their own stake, they must be temple worthy, no minor children living at home, and cannot be employed with either a full- or part-time job. They commit to serve a minimum of 32 hours per week.

What do Church Service missionaries do?

Couples or singles, including males (regardless of age), serve for 6-24 months at a local service location. Most live at home and serve at least 8 hours per week. Their assignment may include serving as Bishop’s Storehouse workers, Seminary-Institute recruiters, Media specialists, Family History researchers, etc.

What are the qualifications for Church Service missionaries (CSM)?

They must be worthy to hold a temple recommend and should have no minor children living at home. They must be physically, mentally, and emotionally able to fulfill the related duties of service. They provide their own financial support, including health-related expenses. For a list of CSM opportunities, go to www.lds.org/csm

A call to senior members of our stake to set a date when they hope to serve a mission

17 May 2015                                               

TO: Senior members (ages 50+) of the Mount Hood Oregon Stake

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

You have heard much about the day in which live—a day of hastening—in which the Work of Salvation is moving forward with an intensity like never before in the world’s history.

We are privileged to personally witness and participate in the marvelous events that are leading up to the Savior’s Second Coming. In the 5^th chapter of Jacob, we read how the Lord’s servants are called (v. 61) by the prophet (v. 70) for the last time (v. 71) to labor with the Lord Himself (v. 72)
in reaping a harvest of joy (v. 75).

There are many other examples in which ancient prophets saw our day and rejoiced in how we, the “saints of the church of the Lamb” in the latter days, will usher in the Second Coming with “righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.” (1 Nephi 14:14) This is our mission!

It is with this backdrop and understanding that we call on all senior members of our stake—couples and singles—to set a date when
they hope to serve a mission; a full- or part-time mission.

A mission may include serving for 6 to 23 months in other parts of the world or even from home. The enclosed document “Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Senior Missionary Service” explains how there are many senior missionary service opportunities, including full- or part-time missions that can be served while living at home.

By prayerfully setting a date we are putting our faith in the Lord to provide a way for us to have the health, independence and even financial means, if needed, to serve. The scriptures are replete with examples of the miracles that come to those who put their trust in God. “Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power…?” (Mormon 5:23)

We express to you our deep love and appreciation for your willingness to accept this challenge
to prepare now to serve the Lord by 1) identifying the type of mission(s) you would consider and 2) setting a date when you would like to serve.

A personal memory of my connection to a slice of American history 45 years ago

Dear children,

45 years ago today I was closing in on the last weeks of my mission (I came home at the end of May, 1970) to Peru-Ecuador. Just a few days after I returned, there was a massive earthquake in Peru and a huge landslide high in the Andes mountains completely buried an entire town on a calm Sunday morning. (A side note, Gary Johns’ father (Paul Johns), who was in the same mission at the same time, was actually serving near the town that was buried, that I recall and he helped with the rescue and clean up along with many other missionaries.) It so happened that hundreds of children from that town were in a neighboring village attending a carnival. They were all left orphans by the tragic landslide. A month later, returning to BYU for the summer term, I helped organize a campaign to try and bring the orphans to America to be adopted by Utah families. I don’t remember how it turned out but we had great hopes of rescuing the orphaned children.

However, at that time there was another issue that was far greater on the American conscience: the Vietnam War. Riots were starting to break out on campuses across the country and lots of young men were fleeing the country to avoid the much-dreaded draft into what looked like an endless war with no justifiable purpose. Your dad/grandpa had just participated in the first draft lottery (while on my mission) of the Vietnam era and, because my birthday was Dec 30, I was selected #3. They were drafting everyone from 1 to 200 so there was no “wiggle room” for me :)

I was abe to stay out of the draft by attending college. Graduation was still a couple of years out so my concern about going into the military was not overly worrisome until my senior year.

By the next summer, I had secured what was then one of the most plum summer internships any BYU journalist had ever landed: photo editor for the Associated Press in Chicago. Today, that would be a “crumb” compared to the internships current BYU students land. But then it was a big deal.  The dean of the Fine Arts College at the time even told me I had just become the “Babe Ruth” of journalism at BYU (what a joke today). I tried not to let it go to be head as I realized my selection was more due to the friendship of my department chair (former US News and World Report bureau chief in Chicago) with the AP chief than my dazzling journalistic skills :)

So in May 1971 I trooped off to Chicago. It was a fascinating summer in the “big city” for an Ajo kid. There were 2 or 3 other interns in our office in downtown Chicago. One of them was a young photographer by the name of John Filo, from Kent State University. Everyone already knew about the photo he had captured the year before. I don’t remember working very closely with him, even though I was a photo editor, but I remember thinking how amazing it was that John had been in the right place at the right time to capture a photo that eventually won a Pulitzer Prize and was credited as one of the singular elements that turned America against the Vietnam War…that later blessed me personally because just 18 months later I would be in boot camp being prepared to go to Vietnam. But fortunately by then the “revolt” in America was so great that the US was pulling out of Southeast Asia and the troops were coming home. I was able to avoid combat thanks to John and many others.

Anyway, thought you might enjoy this thread of our family’s connection to American history. It all came back when I saw this news clip http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/kent-state-the-photo-that-changed-america/ on CBS TV.

I’m glad to be alive and equally grateful and honored to be your dad/grandpa.

Love,

Dad

Comments on Elder Holland's Apostolic Blessing Given at a Leadership Meeting in Lake Oswego

Email sent April 30, 2015 to two families, who inquired about the Apostolic Blessing that was given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland to members of each of the nine stakes via their stake president in attendance at the Special Priesthood Leadership Training conducted on April 25 in Lakes Oswego.

Unfortunately, I don’t know much about Apostolic blessings except they are simply a blessing given by a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Fortunately, these brethren often bless audiences wherever they go so it’s not rare, but WONDERFUL to receive when personally in an audience. Someone later asked Elder Holland if he gives Apostolic Blessings. He responded in effect: Yes, as often as appropriate. I don’t know whether the other Brethren do or not, but I do often.

(Ironically, an Apostolic Blessing is also the term given for when the Pope gives a blessing on a group of people. I believe he gives such a blessing from the balcony every week in St Peters Square in the Vatican.)

Elder Holland’s Apostolic Blessing was given at the end of the training that was given by him and two other General Authorities with stake presidencies, bishops, ward mission leaders and elders quorum presidents last Saturday in Lake Oswego.

He blessed us (as leaders) and extended the blessing to the members of each of our stakes (there were 9 stakes represented). That’s why I mentioned it in stake conference because I wanted our members to know they had received a blessing via the priesthood leaders in the meeting. 

As you may have heard him say, Elder Holland repeated in his training that we are members of the "Church of Happy Endings," a nice way to remind everyone that Satan will not win, our victory is assured, so we need to hang in there. 

This wonderful spirit of optimism is further bolstered by the spirit of his blessing in which he blessed us with healing of relationships and a spiritual healing of our posterity to the tenth generation. He blessed us that the gospel will go deep into our hearts and through our covenants we will see the Lord’s hand in our lives to sustain us through these difficult times.

As for the spiritual healing of our posterity, he clarified, “They will have to repent like everyone else,” (suggesting this blessing cannot override agency),  but the power of our making and keeping covenants will reach out to our posterity down to the 10th generation and bring them back.

In response to the opposition registered during the sustainings at the April 2015 General Conference

Stake leaders and bishops…

While Vivienne and I were personally in the session last Saturday in General Conference when opposition was registered during the sustaining of the First Presidency, I assume all of you were witnesses of it, too, via TV.

As you know, this is very rare, but certainly not without precedent (see http://ldsliving.com/story/78523-dissenting-votes-at-conference-everything-you-need-to-know).

If members of our stake ask you about the incident, I encourage you to share with them the very timely talk given by Elder Russell M. Nelson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, just six months ago in the October 2014 General Conference: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/sustaining-the-prophets?lang=eng

In his message he states:

"When we sustain prophets and other leaders, we invoke the law of common consent, for the Lord said, 'it shall not be given to any one to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church, except he be ordained by some one who has authority, and it is known to the church that he has authority and has been regularly ordained by the heads of the church.' (D&C 42:11)

"This gives us, as members of the Lord's Church, confidence and faith as we strive to keep the scriptural injunction to heed the Lord's voice as it comes through the voice of His servants the prophets. All leaders in the Lord's Church are called by proper authority. No prophet or any other leader in this Church, for that matter, has ever called himself or herself.

"No prophet has ever been elected. The Lord made that clear when He said, 'Ye have chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you.' You and I do not 'vote' on Church leaders at any level. We do, though, have the privilege of sustaining them."

May we appreciate the blessing of living in a day of Prophets on the earth and the privilege it is to sustain them in the same way we make covenants.

President Lewis

Elements of a Full-Time Missionary Release Interview

Guidelines shared with my counselors when assigned to release a full-time missionary:

• Open with a kneeling prayer (usually ask them to pray…in whatever language they’re most familiar)
• What area did your mission cover?
• Where did you serve? (how many wards/branches)
• What was the Church (members) like where you served?
• Did you get along with your companions? What did you learn from them?
• What kind of relationship did you have with your mission president?
• How did your mission influence your family back home?
• What was a high point of your mission?
• How did your mission affect your testimony?
• How are you different personally because of your mission?
• What are some things you plan to do on a daily or weekly basis for the rest of your life because of what you learned on your mission?
• Make sure they came home with a temple recommend that should expire in 3 months
• Conduct a worthiness interview, especially pornography and/or inappropriate fraternizing with other missionaries
• Visit about future plans (did he/she write anyone on a mission? school plans? if staying home, plan to attend YSA or family ward?)
• Offer counsel, if inclined
• Schedule to report in the next PEC, if available

After all the questions…

• Please bear your testimony one more time as a full-time missionary
• I then respond by bearing my testimony
• Then I ask him/her to remove their missionary name tag and thank them profusely for their service
• Close with a kneeling prayer (an opportunity to seek the Lord’s blessing on the missionary for the rest of his/her life)

Missionary Setting Apart February 2015

Scott & Cathy Hansen were called to serve in the Philippines Tacloban Mission, entering the Provo MTC on February 2, for 18 months.

Implementing 'another way' to increase missionary success in our stake

                                                                               15 January 2015                                               

Dear Bishops,

Thank you for attending Elder Ballard’s training last weekend and our special meeting on January 8 when we discussed how to turn the keys to move forward the Lord’s work in our stake.

You are all mighty men, called of God specifically in this day and time, to unlock the door of revelation and powers of Heaven on behalf of the members of your ward.

As a stake presidency, we feel that the Lord has planted in our hearts the vision to add two new units (wards or branches) in our stake before the end of 2016. We believe strongly He will bring it about, if we will do our part through (1) convert baptisms, (2) reactivation of less-actives, and
(3) retention of current members by strengthening testimonies.

We also feel strongly to encourage you to consider the following two matters:

WARD MISSIONARIES: As we review the monthly mission report (prepared by the ZLs), we continue to have deep concerns about the commitment level of the ward missionaries. Few are attending weekly coordination meetings and even fewer, it seems, are making themselves available in the evenings to work side-by-side with the full-time missionaries.

Will you please identify and address the commitment level of your ward missionaries by helping them to re-commit to their calling…or, if necessary, consider calling new ward missionaries?

WARD MISSIONARY FAMILIES: You may remember that Elder Risenmay, our Area Seventy, taught us that if we are not having success we should not become discouraged, but learn from the prophet Alma and consider approaching the work “by another way” (Alma 8:18).

You will recall we were taught “another way” in a presentation by Elder Daniel Johnson, of the First Quorum of Seventy, last November. We were introduced to the concept of calling Ward Missionary Families.

Here’s how it can happen:

·   The bishopric prayerfully considers 5 to 10…or more…families in the ward (including the families of the stake leaders, bishopric and ward council members, even empty-nest couples and singles) to be called as Ward Missionary Families.

·   The bishopric personally visits each home, briefly teaches the doctrine of the Work of Salvation, and then calls the family or individual to serve as a Ward Missionary Family. You may want to make it for a specified time, such as six months or a year. This does not replace their current stake or ward callings.

·   If the family accepts, the bishopric explains the expectation: to schedule a time in which the full-time missionaries will meet with them for 10-15 minutes at the same time each week and to allow the missionaries to pray with them and help them with their commitment to share the gospel — as Elder Ballard taught us — by regularly taking three actions: 1) set a goal or date, 2) pray daily to know who to approach, and 3) regularly invite others to learn more. 

·   Hold the Ward Mission Leader or his assistant accountable to receive a report from the full-time missionaries each week on the progress of each family. A report is then made weekly to the bishopric.

As these families respond to the commitment to 1) set a date, 2) pray, and 3) invite, miracles will begin to happen in their lives and in their home. Eventually the excitement for the work will spread like a brush fire throughout the ward as other members observe the excitement and love these Ward Missionary Families are experiencing.

Will you please give serious consideration to implementing
this “other way” in your ward?

The key to this approach will be in the commitment level of the leaders and the expectation of accountability. Specifically:

·   The full-time missionaries must be committed and organized so they never fail to keep the established follow-up appointment each week.

·   The Ward Mission Leader (or his assistant) must be committed to hold the full-time missionaries accountable on the progress of each weekly follow-up appointment and be ready to send ward missionaries to fill in, should the full-time missionaries have a conflict.

·   The bishopric must be committed to expect and, if necessary, request a weekly report from the WML on each Ward Missionary Family’s progress.

Brethren, as we take bold and ambitious steps to move the work forward, let us also follow the patterns of success that are being taught to us by our leaders. There are few things we can do that will have more impact in our stake than having 30 to 60 committed families regularly 1) setting a date, 2) kneeling in prayer, pleading for the Lord’s assistance in meeting their goals, and 3) then exercising faith by inviting others to “come and see” the majesty of the Lord’s Plan of Happiness.

We love you and thank you for your faithfulness. We are especially grateful that each of you has a deep desire to turn the keys of missionary work in your ward to bring forth the blessings and miracles of Heaven in this part of His vineyard.

Turning the keys to missionary work in our stake

The following is the outline for a training presentation to bishops on January 8, 2015:

Need for hastening in our stake – half as many baptisms, twice as many missionaries

                  - Other indicators: less actives, sacrament meeting attendance

D&C 100 – Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in Perry, NY, concerned about families

                                     3 – Effectual (or efficacious) door promised

                                    5 – 8 – Promise of thoughts, words, Spirit to testify

How do we open an “effectual door”? How open locked door? (turn keys)

How do we turn priesthood keys?

                  - D&C 121:36 – why are “rights of the priesthood inseparably connected
                                    with the powers of heaven”? (same as power in priesthood)

                  - D&C 97:8-9 – keep covenants, sacrifice

                  - How do we sacrifice? (move out of comfort zone) – get ward council to act

                  - Turning keys is more than having faith, but exercising faith

                 

Elder Ballard:

                  - “Conversion is in response to an action taken.”

                  - “Ward Council is a wholistic approach, everyone is involved; help ward

                       council members to understand they are loyal to the council first and

                       represent their organization second.”

Video: What elements do we see?

                   - How do we arrive at bold and ambitious goals? (ward council)

                   - Council members lead out; be the focus families - ACT

                   - Use Ward Mission Process taught by Elder Perry

Video: What order do the elements happen?

                   - What are characteristics of dynamic WML? Ward missionaries?

                   - How do we paint a vision for the members? HOW ASK THEM TO ACT?

Apostolic Promise: “Exercise faith, obligate the Lord to work for you (let him worry – Elder Richards), set a date to have someone to teach in 60 days or so and miracles will happen.”

------------------------------------

OUR BOLD AND AMBITIOUS GOAL: 
2 New Units before end of 2016

Ephesians 1:10 – Come into one (both sides of the veil)

                  D&C 128:15 – Both living and the dead, all coming together

D&C 105 Zion’s Camp (200 men walked 1,000+ miles to Missouri, “failed” because)

                  4 – Not united and had failed to remember the poor

                  12 – Lord prepared a way for t hem

                  14 – Lord fights our battles

                  31 – Must become sanctified

D&C 39:20-21 – Why want converts? (so they can look and know Him)

D&C 58:9-11 – Don’t get discouraged, this is the day when the lame will come in