An appeal to expose members to the new Church history being offered online and in the Ensign

Bishops and Branch Presidents (especially President Westover),

Recently I visited with a member of the YSA branch who is trying to decide if he should serve a mission—something he’s wanted to do since Primary. I asked him what has caused him to wonder. He mentioned that only recently he learned that Joseph Smith used a seer stone in a hat while translating some of the Book of Mormon. His concern seemed not so much about the oddity of that method, but he asked with a challenging voice, “Why didn’t someone tell me about this before?!"

I tried to answer the best I could, but it reminded me of how important it is that we are as forthcoming as we can about all that is known (not speculated on or misrepresented) about early Church history.

The Church has been especially forthcoming, as of late, to be very transparent with everything it has in historical documents and scholarly research about Church history through the Gospel Topics Essays and the new 4-volume Church history titled “Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days.”

An excellent video overview of this new book can be found in the LDS Media Library: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2017-11-0100-a-new-history-for-the-church?lang=eng

You may have noticed that the Church has been publishing in the Ensign magazine the chapters of this book as they are completed. Written in a narrative (or storybook) style, they are easy to read and are brimming with fascinating details that will be new to most members. Chapter 5 of Volume 1 is published in the July edition.

I encourage you to find a way to share this information with members of your ward or branch so they’ll take the time to read these extremely interesting accounts of  early Church history either in the printed magazines or online. Previous editions of the Ensign contain chapters 1-4. Or you can read the entire first five chapters on the Church website.

Let’s help the members of our stake become familiar with the historically sound and approved version of Church history so they’re not surprised or swayed by those who would use spurious accounts and details to weaken testimony.

Gratefully,

President Lewis

Appeal to the First Presidency for a boundary exception

TO: First Presidency

Dear Brethren,

Please find attached a boundary exception request from (Name), 64-year-old widow in the Damascus Ward and a lifelong member of the Church.

Her husband passed away last summer. Soon thereafter she moved to another home to distance herself from the memories. As you can see, she did so with the full intent and assumption she would remain in the Damascus Ward. She claims she was surprised to discover she was in the neighboring Walters Hill Ward, also in our stake. 

I personally don’t believe this was truly an innocent mistake (she could have easily checked with her bishop or looked online to determine the ward before making an offer). Still, we felt deep sympathy for her and allowed her to remain in the Damascus Ward for an additional 10 months, rather than the usual 3 months. We even explored justification to request a boundary change to accommodate her. 

Finally, last week, I felt it was needed and appropriate to approach her about attending the ward where she now resides. We tried to teach her about the blessings that come from obedience and encouraged the new ward leaders to reach out to her.

Still, she insisted on appealing to the First Presidency (letter attached).

While I feel badly it has come to this, I know there is a special place in the Lord’s heart for widows. And if, after being encouraged by her priesthood leaders to receive the blessings of obedience, she still insists on making an appeal to the First Presidency then I don’t feel we should “force” the issue. Therefore I support a boundary exception for her.

We will accept your decision gladly. Thank you for giving this your consideration.

Crismon Lewis
President, Mount Hood Oregon Stake
503-667-5843 h
503-914-8689 m

Request for notification of suicide attempts in our stake

7 June 2018

Bishops and Branch Presidents…

During our break-out session on Tuesday evening I expressed my deep concern about two recent suicide attempts by YW (both very young, ages 12-14) in our stake.

Later Bishop Hulet suggested there may have been other such attempts in the past in our stake.

Brethren, will you please share with me information on all other attempts that you’re aware of and in the future? You don’t have to give me names, but would you please tell me (1) when they occurred, (2) the age of the person, (3) what was the outcome, and (4) how is it being addressed?

I ask you to please notify me whenever you’re aware of a suicide attempt in your congregation. For three reasons:

1. To determine if we have a trend or, if by chance, they are related;

2. To consider additional training or resources that we can share with you and parents, if needed;

3. To consider involving President Christiansen. As you know, he is a school counselor and is trained in these types of incidents. Let’s take advantage of his professional training and do all that we can to prevent and/or address suicide especially among our youth.

I look forward to hearing from you immediately if you’re aware of any suicide attempts in the past or current concerns.

Thank you,

President Lewis

In response when a ward Relief Society president requested a Seminary teacher to be called as her counselor

Bishop (Name),

We apologize for the delay in getting back to you regarding Sister (Name) request for (Name) to serve as a counselor in the Relief Society. We know the delay causes a continuing delay for your wife to be released. You have been very kind to suggest that (name) is wiling, even happy, to keep serving until a new counselor is called.

We have wrestled mightily with this request. We VERY much want to support an auxiliary president who feels so strongly she has received revelation with regard to who should be her counselor.

On the other hand, as  you well know, Seminary teacher is one of those “special” callings that (1) few can do well; and (2) few want to continue to do after devoting hours each day to prepare daily lessons. It’s similar to finding an organist—skill level and dependability must be taken into consideration.

Fortunately, (name) has done an excellent job and she apparently gets high marks from her students. And, best of all, she very much desires to continue teaching Seminary. Our hope is that all Seminary teachers will have the opportunity to go through the four books of scripture that are taught in Seminary.

In short, there are fewer obstacles in finding and calling a Relief Society counselor than finding an effective Seminary teacher.

Will you please help Sister Hall understand how important the stake presidency feels right now that (name) continues to teach Seminary? (Name) would do very well as a counselor in the RS, but this just isn't the right time.

Attached is a document we used in training before on how we can sometimes have “competing revelation” in the church and ways we try to avoid that happening. You may want to share it with Sister (name), if you think it will help.

Thank you very much for your understanding,

President Lewis

Summer camp funding in 2019, the year of our stake trek

Bishops and Branch Presidents…

Because all of us receiving this email have a sacred responsibility to ensure that Church funds are used prudently and are protected from misuse, I felt you might appreciate reading this article and Q&A in the Church’s online newsroom regarding Church finances.

https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-finances-and-a-growing-global-church#question1

Thank you for being vigilant in this singular responsibility to protect the Lord’s funds.

Next week at Stake Priesthood Leadership we will have a Bishops’ Break-Out session in the High Council room. It will replace our quarterly Bishopric Training meeting so we ask that you come prepared to take notes and train your counselors accordingly in an upcoming Bishopric or Branch Presidency meeting.

If you are unable to attend this leadership meeting, please assign a counselor to attend in your place. I would appreciate knowing in advance, too.

One of the topics will be financing summer camps in 2019.

As you know, we have been holding a pioneer trek for all youth, 12-18 years of age, every six years so all youth get a chance to participate in a trek at least once. 

As a consequence, there will be no Stake YW Camp or, we assume, stake or ward high adventures that summer. So the stake will not be subsidizing any summer camps inasmuch as funds will be used to support the Stake Trek. (It is yet to be determined if we will ask each youth to pay the usual summer camp fee of $50 for trek or whether we can do so without any charge; we hope the latter.)

For the past five years, we have been saving funds to finance the trek. So our plan is to share with you at least half, it not more, of the $19,000 we spend each year for summer camp subsidies. Consequently, if your Scout leaders (or other youth leaders) want to attend a BSA camp in the summer of 2019, we ask that you use these extra funds and ward funds, if you choose, to subsidize them.

For any summer camps you choose to support in 2019, funds should be raised by the youth, under the guidance of their parents, with a subsidy from the ward. You will determine the amount of subsidy to come from ward funds and the families should be responsible for the rest. Please do NOT fundraise as per the explanation  established and guidelines issued in 2012.

Again, we hope that the trek in 2019 will be an adequate summer camp experience for all youth in our stake, but you can choose to hold or attend other summer camp activities, but they are to be financially supported solely by families and the ward.

We can discuss this further in our break-out session next Tuesday.

Thank you again for your careful oversight of these sacred funds,

President Lewis

Accommodating the Face-to-Face broadcast with the Nelsons and Stake Seminary Recognition

16 May 2018

Bishops and Branch Presidents…

We suppose you have already received the attached letter from the Church explaining you’ll be receiving extra copies of the “For the Strength of Youth” booklet to distribute to all youth following the Face-to-Face broadcast with President and Sister Nelson at 5p PT on Sunday, June 3.

As you know, this lands on the same evening as the Stake Seminary Recognition. We have struggled a bit with this as we want to accommodate as many as possible to watch the broadcast and also not create a major disruption of the already-calendared Seminary program at 7:00 pm that same evening.

While we will have the Face-to-Face broadcast available for viewing in the Relief Society room at the stake center beginning at 5:00 pm, unless you feel strongly otherwise, we don’t necessarily recommend you try to bring together the youth in your ward to view this broadcast.

Instead, we recommend you consider having a member of the bishopric personally deliver the “For the Strength of Youth” to the parent(s) of each youth in your ward and encourage them to watch the Face-to-Face broadcast with their youth and then, as instructed, present the booklet to them immediately following the broadcast or when designated by President Nelson during the broadcast.

We remind you that, as with previous Face-to-Face events, a recording will be available online. So if it goes two hours or longer, please join us and encourage others to join us for the Stake Seminary Recognition at 7:00 pm that evening, June 3, at the stake center.

We hope this is helpful. We welcome hearing of your plans, if you will. Let us know how we can help or accommodate your ward/branch.

Gratefully,
The Stake Presidency

Announcing some high priests not to be assigned as ministering brothers

16 May 2018

Dear Brethren,

After further study of the attached Ministering FAQ, received earlier this week from the Brethren, we feel to make a correction to what we communicated to you earlier.

For question #8 on how does “ministering apply to members of the high priest quorum,” we feel the Brethren are more insistent, than we first thought, that members of the bishopric and the stake presidency are NOT to receive ministering assignments. While this is not our preference, we can see the wisdom in it, especially for bishops and their counselors who have the specific responsibility “to care for the youth” in addition to their many other assignments.

We also feel the Brethren are trying to be sensitive to the time some leaders—especially bishops—spend in their callings with so many meetings and interviews expected of them. 

We recognize this removes 21 men from the ranks of ministering companions across the stake (6 bishoprics x 3 + 3 in stake presidency; branch presidencies are not members of the high priest quorum). So we are hopeful this can be addressed without burdening other ministering companionships. It may mean designating even more active individuals and families, than originally anticipated, to receive occasional or casual contact.

In the meantime, high councilors and the patriarch may be assigned “based on local circumstances.” In other words, we ask that you: (1) determine for sure that their service is needed before assigning them; (2) visit with them personally to review their current responsibilities and time demands; (3) consider assigning them to serve with their wife as a ministering couple; and (4) consider limiting the number of individuals and families assigned to them.

Thank you for your understanding and for giving this your immediate attention as we know you are in the midst of making ministering assignments. 

Gratefully,

The Stake Presidency

Guidelines for music in stake meetings shared with Kevin Jones, Stake Music Chairman

13 May 2018

(Name Stake Music Director),

Thank you for being so patient with me. You were patient with me when we served together in the bishopric and again now you must put up with me wondering if I’m going to second guess your selection of music for every stake meeting.

I’d like to change—repent, if you will.

Let me offer these guidelines and then you choose and I’ll support without question. Is that OK?

Guidelines for music in all stake meetings:

1. Always hymns or Primary songs.

We want to follow the example of General Conference and have all congregational numbers come from the hymns found in our hymnals. Arrangements of hymns and, on occasion other music like Primary songs, are very appropriate for special numbers by choirs or groups.

2. Familiar hymns.

Stake meetings are not the time to introduce, i.e. practice, not-so-familiar hymns even though it’s tempting to want to teach and expand the repertoire of members' familiarity. We want everyone to be able to to participate in every meeting, if they choose to, and congregational singing is where that will happen. It’s important they are familiar with the music we all sing.

3. Match the theme, if possible. 

We will try to share with you as early as possible the theme or objective(s) of all stake meetings then we would appreciate you prayerfully considering the lyrics of hymns in support of the theme.

4. Concise hymns.

As you know, a number of hymns, even some familiar ones, have many verses or a repetitive chorus take a long time. While we value greatly the contribution music makes to a meeting, we would appreciate it if it is supportive, not dominant or too long. We are always concerned that stake meetings go too long and we want to do better in respecting the members’ time and willingness to attend “another non-essential meeting."

5. Bring energy to the meeting.

One way to keep the music concise is to choose hymns that move quickly and bring a spirit of enthusiasm and energy into the meeting so hearts are uplifted and eager to receive the messages from those assigned to teach and testify. 

6. Be considerate of those presenting the music.

We want to be sensitive to the fact that there are a limited number of members who can play and conduct music in meetings. So you may need to give consideration to hymns they are familiar with and we’re OK with that. 

Thank you for giving the above your consideration for our Stake Priesthood Meeting this Tuesday and all future stake meetings. With that, I will accept your selection without challenge or reservation.

Will you please go ahead and choose the two hymns for this Tuesday’s meeting? If you choose to stay with the two numbers you selected originally, I will not ask you to change them.

Thanks again for being so patient with me over the years. I hope the above is helpful and you will know how much we love you and are so grateful for your magnificent talent that you have so generously shared with all of us. We are truly blessed to have you in our stake and now overseeing the music in our stake.

Gratefully,

Crismon

A Vision of Ministering: Creating a Culture of Ministering in Our Stake

2 May 2018

A Vision of Ministering

For the Mount Hood Oregon Stake

The Stake Presidency and Stake High Council • 2018

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ were prepared in the pre-mortal realm “to
labor in [in the Lord’s] vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.”¹ It is accom-plished through the five elements of the Work of Salvation: (1) member missionary work,
(2) convert retention, (3) activation of less-active members, (4) temple and family history work, and (5) teaching the gospel. ²

A Culture of Ministering

Ministering is the common thread that weaves through every element of the Work of Salvation. It was the hallmark of the Savior’s exemplary journey on earth. It can be at
the heart of our daily walk as well. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to create a culture of ministering within ourselves and hopefully within our stake.

Prophets have taught³ that ministering includes: serving others,⁴ loving without judging,⁵ watching over,⁶  being with them,⁷ strengthening them,⁸ ministering one-by-one,⁹  and nourishing “with things pertaining to righteousness.”¹⁰ Ministering is never routine, often unscheduled, and usually inconvenient (see Mark 5:22-43).

A Newer, Holier Approach

Jesus’ critics once questioned with contempt why He would “eat and drink with publicans and sinners?” Jesus responded: “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” ¹¹ Though we all are sinners,¹² the salient message is that He ministered to those with the greatest needs.

True ministering is need-based. As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught, we are to shift our focus from those with the fewest needs to “those who need us most—investigators, newly baptized converts, those who are ill, the lonely, the less active, single-parent families with children still at home, and so forth.” ¹³ Above all, we are to be one with the Lord in our efforts, constantly seeking His guidance and patiently awaiting His healing power. ¹⁴

President Russell M. Nelson described it as a “newer, holier approach to caring for and ministering to others.” ¹⁵

As we come together to make this change in our approach to ministering, we will see as God sees and value as God values the “worth of souls” ¹⁶ and appreciate anew that our Savior “suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.” ¹⁷

_____________________

¹ D&C 138:56

² Handbook 2, Chapter 5

³ Handbook 2, 3.2.3

⁴ Mosiah 2:17

⁵ John 13:34-35

^6-7 D&C 20:53

⁸ Luke 22:32

⁹ 3 Nephi 11:15, 17:21

¹⁰ Mosiah 23:18

¹¹ Luke 5:31-32

¹² Romans 3:9

¹³ “Emissaries to the Church,”
    Elder Holland, October 2016

¹⁴ 3 Nephi 18:32

¹⁵ “Ministering,” President
    Nelson, April 2018

¹⁶ D&C 18:10

¹⁷ D&C 18:11

Principles of Making Ministering Assignments

2 May 2018

As ward/branch Relief Society and elders quorum presidencies meet together to discuss ministering assignments, we encourage you to consider the following principles to ensure our ministering efforts become so much more than the old home and visiting teaching with a different name.

1. PREPARE TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT: Consider reviewing examples in the scriptures of Jesus ministering. Because you have been directed by a Prophet to counsel together on making ministering assignments, have confidence the Lord will  inspire you. Watch for that settled feeling that rests upon you as decisions are made.

2. Reduce and Simplify: Avoid burdening your assigned ministering companions by assigning only 4-5 households to each companionship, including no more than three that need focused attention. There may be occasions where households of active couples, especially those with no children at home, may not need double coverage. An example would be to assign only ministering brothers, but not sisters, to those homes.

3. INVOLVE EVERYONE: All members ages 14 and up should be assigned to participate in the ministering effort. Hopefully the added numbers will lighten the load on those companionships already burdened. Remember, some older adults, who are confined by age or disability, may only be able to make contact by telephone, email or social media. They can do that much and it is acceptable, assuming the needs are not great.

4. IDENTIFY NEEDS: Using information from the ward council and from former home and visiting teachers, identify the needs of every household—individual or family. Prayerfully ponder how and who would be best suited to help address those needs. You might ask: Is the priesthood in the home? Do they have temporal or health needs? Are they active? Are they in need often? Do they need frequent personal visits?

5. EVALUATE COMPANIONS: In some ways we should evaluate companionships just as we consider the needs of those to be ministered. Consider all the brothers and sisters in your ward or branch, including those less-active, and ponder on their personalities, their depth of devotion and what type of companionship would fit their personal time and talents. Then ask would they be most effective as a married couple, or as a mentor, or as one to be mentored?

6. MENTOR YOUTH: Work closely with the ward Young Women’s and Young Men’s presidencies to identify all the Mia Maids, Laurels, Teachers and Priests and ensure all are given an opportunity to serve and be mentored in this ministering effort.

7. CONSIDER RELATIONSHIPS: When considering companions and their assignments, remember that some have developed deep relationships after years of  home or visiting teaching. It doesn’t mean a change should not happen, but in some cases those relationships may serve as a foundation of friendship that can lead to more effective ministering.

8. GIVE PRIORITY TO NEEDS: Assign ministering brothers and sisters to no more than two or three households where focused attention is needed. Active members should be assigned, but usually receive much less attention, such as an occasional visit at church or a quarterly visit to the home. In short, identify the needs of the members, whether active or less-active, and assign accordingly sharing your expectations with the companionships.

9. TEACH ACCOUNTABILITY: When making assignments, teach the companionships that they will be held accountable for those assigned to them. Instruct them that both companions (or at least one) will be expected to report once a quarter on the temporal and spiritual condition of the individuals or families assigned to them. Teach them they will be asked questions such as “How is the individual or family doing?”—not “Did you visit them?” Establish a set day, time and place for their quarterly ministering report and provide them with the name and phone number they are to call when a more urgent need arises.

10. SEEK MEMBERS’ DIRECTION: It is appropriate for ministering companionships to ask those they visit for guidance on how they want to be ministered to. Ministering is not to be an annoyance, but customized to the needs and desires of those we minister to. We are to be respectful of their time, interest and acceptance of contact.

11. BE PROMPT: Do not delay. As instructed by Church leaders, take action as quickly as possible to put our ministering efforts into practice. Begin conducting ministering interviews soon and spread them over the three months of the quarter.

Comforting a leader who must feel he's been overlooked

1 May 2018

Email to a few leaders:

Brethren,

My heart aches for (Name). 

In the Church it is not uncommon for dedicated leaders to feel, at times, that they’ve been overlooked by the Lord when changes happen.

(Name), who did many outstanding things while HP Group Leader in his personal ministering and leading an exemplary Temple and FH effort in the TC Ward, has in the past two weeks seen his assistant called into the bishopric and his quorum counterpart (EQ president) called to the High Council.

And (Name) was simply released. I’m confident he is hurting, feeling left out and overlooked after giving his heart and soul to his calling.

For most brethren, it would not matter. Some would even celebrate. :) But not (name). We’ve all “survived” those times of feeling overlooked, but it’s still not without pain—feeling you’re not needed or wanted any more by your associates or the Lord.

I realize President (Name) hopes to use (name) as Temple and FH Committee chair. Brother (Name HC), will you please encourage President (name) to make that assignment as quickly as possible to help (name) know that he’s the top priority of the new EQ presidency in their committee considerations?

If there’s something more we can do to bring comfort, I’d welcome your suggestions. At the least, all of us can take the opportunity to express to him what an outstanding HP Group Leader he was when you see (name). 

I had hoped to invite him into the circle to set apart President (name) but when he requested so many of his family to participate, I didn’t feel appropriate to add to the circle. So I dropped the ball, too. 

Any way, I’d welcome all of us being aware of my concern and try to help address it, if we can.

Thanks,

PrL

Expectations of Candidates Preparing to Serve Full-Time Missions • Updated in 2018

24 April 2018

Candidate’s Standards of Worthiness and Goals

·   Be worthy and prepared to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood

·   Be worthy and prepared to make covenants in the temple

·   Worthily hold a limited-use temple recommend and use it

·   Graduate from Seminary or receive a Certificate of Completion

·   Receive a patriarchal blessing

·   Be active in the Young Men and Young Women programs; achieving the Duty to God award and Young Women Recognition are especially worthy goals

Candidate’s Spiritual Preparation

·   Personally read the Book of Mormon cover to cover

·   Use Preach My Gospel in your personal study

·   Have personal prayer night and morning

·   Personally study the scriptures daily

·   Learn to fast with a purpose

·   Attempt to make regular entries in a personal journal

·   Regularly bear your testimony in a testimony meeting or class

Candidate’s Preparation Activities

·   Once ordained, consecrate oil and administer to the sick

·   Serve as a faithful ministering brother or sister

·   Go on exchanges with the full-time missionaries in your ward

·   Regularly attend a Missionary Preparation class

·   Discover Family History and prepare at least one name for temple ordinances 

·   Invite a friend or acquaintance to come to church or learn more about your faith

·   Learn to conduct music enough to lead a hymn in a meeting

Expectations of Parents of the Candidate

·   Help your son or daughter to prepare spiritually through regular family prayer, family scripture study and Family Home Evening

·   Help them to prepare financially ($400 per month x 18 or 24 months)

·   Assist them in completing the online Missionary Recommendation application

·   Teach them the Temple Preparation course

·   Use Preach My Gospel as the curriculum for regular Family Home Evenings

Expectations of Ward Leaders of Youth

·   Instruct youth, parents, youth leaders and teachers about these expectations

·   Prepare classes and activities with these expectations in mind

·   Meet regularly with candidates and their parents to monitor progress

All candidates should become familiar with two websites on lds.org:

·   https://www.lds.org/callings/missionary?lang=eng

·   https://www.lds.org/topics/missionary-preparation?lang=eng

A plea to help parents prepare more diligently their young men to serve missions

25 April 2018

Bishops, Branch Presidents and Stake Leaders,

I must confess I’ve become a bit disheartened lately as I’ve begun to visit individually with all high school seniors in our stake (or as many as will accept an invitation to visit with me). So far I’ve met with four young men from the Damascus, Estacada, Sandy River and Walters Hill wards.

First let me say, these are still boys. They’re teenagers! So I need to remember they're still young and consequently cut them some slack. Also, I recognize that meeting with four doesn’t mean this is a valid reflection of all 20 of our high school seniors (9 YM, 11 YW). But all are 18 years of age and on the brink of graduating from high school thus being eligible to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, make covenants in the temple and serve a full-time mission. 

All four YM come from active homes where the father holds the Melchizedek Priesthood. So, frankly, I expected a bit more.

So far, I have found that…

…none are reading scriptures daily;

…none are praying daily (usually 2-3 times per week);

…none are even attempting to say morning personal prayers in addition to their occasional evening prayers;

…none have personally read the Book of Mormon cover to cover;

…none have been taught by their father about the Melchizedek Priesthood;

…only one fasts regularly;

…only one attends the missionary prep class at the Institute;

…only two pay tithing consistently;

…only two received their patriarchal blessing;

…only two are on track to serve a full-time mission.

I forgot to ask about a current, limited-use temple recommend. My guess is that there would be two.

You can see why this has been a disheartening experience. 

This is NOT an indictment of the youth in our stake. But it may be an indication that parents are not stepping up to prepare their sons to (1) receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, (2) make covenants in the temple and (3) serve a full-time mission.

I am attaching an updated version of the Expectations of Full-Time Missionary Candidates that the stake presidency first issued four years ago. Please consider using this document to teach parents about their sacred role in preparing their children at an early age—as early as eight years of age, if not earlier—to understand the expectations and importance of their sons (and daughters) being prepared to (1) receive the Melchizedek Priesthood (for YM), (2) make covenants in the temple and (3) serve a full-time mission (optional for YW).

Regular family prayers, family scripture study, Family Home Evening, and personally ministering to each of their children have never been more important in the lives of our youth. We need parents who are engaged in their children’s personal devotions—helping them become converted so they are prepared for a life of enjoying the blessings of the gospel.

Please make this a topic of discussion in stake, ward, quorum (RS class) and family councils. 

As stake and ward leaders, our role is to minister to parents and do all that we can to assist them in preparing their families—their posterity—for the Second Coming. Hopefully the Brethren’s emphasis on ministering will give us an even more effective vehicle for reaching and aiding parents.

Gratefully,

President Lewis

P.S. Feel free to forward this email, if you choose.

Resources, including mini-lessons, for training on Effective Ministering in our stake

18 April 2018

To help create a culture of ministering in the Mount Hood Stake, the following are outlines of mini-lessons to be used in classes, councils and presidency meetings. The videos can be downloaded off of the ministering.lds.org website.

Doctrine of Ministering

Why Do We Minister?

·   Luke 22:32, John 21:15-16, Handbook 2: 3.2.3

·   Video: “Why We Minister” (2:44), “A Vision of Ministering” (1:19)

·   Discuss: Why is it so important to the Lord that we become effective ministers?

Principles of Ministering

1. With Love

·   Matthew 22:37-39, John 10:11

·   Video: “A Vision of Ministering” (1:19)

·   Discuss: What does it mean to minister in a “bold, new, holier way” (see Elder Holland’s charge in the video) and how can we implement it in our ward or branch?

2. Simple and Individualized

·   Matthew 10:39, 3 Nephi 11:15, 17:21

·   Video: “Simple, Individualized and Led by the Spirit” (2:20)

·   Discuss: How can we make our ministering more simple and individualized?

3. Led by the Spirit

·   D&C 43:15-16, 49:27, 64:29

·   Video: “Effective Ministering” (start at 2:50)

·   Discuss: What can we do to be led by the Spirit in our ministering?

4. Invitation to Act

·   Alma 5:62, D&C 20:53 (“strengthen”)

·   Video: “Invitation to Act” (3:24)

·   Discuss: Just as Church leaders have given us an invitation to act, what kinds of invitations to act should we make to those we minister to?

OTHER ELEMENTS OF MINISTERING

1. Accountability

·   John 17:18, D&C 20:51

·   Videos: “Overview of Ministering Interviews” (3:53), “Ministering Interviews” (19:17)

·   Discuss: Why are we to obtain an “account” and not a “count” in ministering interviews? How will ministering interviews bless those we minister to?

2. Unity

·   John 13:34-35, Mosiah 23:18

·   Video: “One Coordinated Effort” (2:49)

·   Discuss: How does “one coordinated effort” help the bishop in his responsibilities and bless all the members of the ward or branch?

3. Involve Youth in Ministering

·   Mormon 1:15, D&C 84:106

·   Videos: “Ministering Interviews” (start at 1:50, and at 11:07); “The Faith of Youth: The Ennis Family” (3:34) see “Hastening the Work of Salvation” website on lds.org

·   Discuss: What is the purpose of youth companions in ministering and how can we help them catch the vision of their role?

4. Use Technology

·   D&C 20:53, 104:15

·   Video: “Ministering Interviews” (start at 9:03)

·   Discuss: How can we effectively use—and not ‘mis-use’--technology in our ministering?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

·   Videos: “Ministering” (7:07), search for title on YouTube Mormon Channel; “Ministering The Lord’s Hands” (2:40), Mormon Channel; “Peter and John Heal a Man Crippled Since Birth” (3:22), Bible videos; “Ministering: Know and Love Those You Serve” (1:50), Mormon Channel; “The Savior Understands Me” (3:37), Mormon Channel.

·   Additional Scriptures: Exodus 18:20, Matthew 9:10-13, Mark 2:15-17, Luke 5:27-32, John 15:8-9-10, Galatians 5:13, Mosiah 2:17, 18:8-9, Alma 17:1-3,
3 Nephi 13:25, Moroni 6:4, D&C 18:10-16, 20:47 and 51, 42:29, 108:7

·   Publications: Handbook 2: 3.2.3; Preach My Gospel, Chapter 11: “How Do I Help People Make and Keep Commitments?”

·   Websites: comefollowme.lds.org, click on Relief Society or Elders Quorum, then click on “April 2018: Come Follow Me” and finally select Fourth-Sunday Meetings for support material to be used in 4^th Sunday class discussions on the topic for the next six months of “Ministering to Others.”