In response to my counselors' concerns of inviting ward auxiliary leaders to an upcoming Stake Missionary Training meetings

Steven,

I'm sorry this continues to be painful for you.

I'll try to answer your questions. But it begs another question: Why do we have this wonderful Priests-Laurels High Adventure? It's not in the Handbook. It's because you have felt impressed there's a need to bless and bond these older youth so they'll "hang together" in their commitment to live the gospel going forward and become the examples for the upcoming youth. 

Not everything is going to be "by the book." In fact, none of the announcements in April Conference were "by the book." 

I hope we don't get ahead of the Brethren or "take unto ourselves" how to implement the vision the Brethren are giving us. But I also don't think they expect us to wait for them to dictate and direct precisely how to implement their ministering and missionary vision. They give us as a stake presidency a lot of latitude, in my opinion, and expect us to seek revelation and guidance on how to implement their vision in our stake.

What this is about is how do we lighten the load on bishops, as encouraged by Elder Holland (and apparently the Brethren because I don't think they would have posted that video on the ministering website without a consensus)? 

Can we do something now or do we wait until the new Handbook comes out? I feel they've given us enough direction to move forward. But only if we're unified. And obviously I have failed in developing a consensus in our presidency.

So let's keep discussing. I have not invited any of the auxiliary leaders to the trainings in August and September. So we have some time.

1) You're right, as far as I know there's no SPC (Stake President's Coordinating) meeting in the Handbook. Frankly, I "inherited" it from the previous stake presidency. I believe all stakes have this meeting. I'm confident it's an extension of Handbook 2: 5.1.9 directing stake presidents to meet and coordinate regularly with the mission president. Where a stake is also a zone (as we are), it was a natural outgrowth that the stake president would meet monthly (they generate a monthly report) with the zone leaders (an extension of the MP) and district leaders. 

The monthly Stake Missionary Training is the monthly training of WML, which also is NOT in the Handbook, but welcomed by the bishops (as long as they don't have to attend :) as it continues to give ongoing training to their WML (a role of the stake to inspire and train, not dictate on how it's to be done). So, as you suggested, we blended the two meetings and tried to give it higher priority (because of our dismal missionary performance) by having the stake presidency direct the training along with the assigned HC--maybe not unlike your P-L High Adventure; a way to give added focus to an area of need.

The SPC that used to be part of the presidency meeting still happens. James and I meet immediately following the Missionary Training meeting with the ZL's and DL's to review the Zone Leader's monthly report, which I send to bishops with comments trying to find those positives to congratulate and thank the bishops.

Because you have expressed a distaste for the Saturday morning meetings, I have not invited you two to attend that 45-min SPC meeting so as not to rub salt into the wound. You are certainly welcome to attend anytime.

2) There are occasions, as you know, where we train the stake auxiliaries. As you pointed out, our annual Stake Auxiliary Training meeting. Also in 5.1.9 (Handbook 2) it says "With the stake president's approval, he (the assigned HC) may train ward leaders and ward missionaries." 

Where we are dealing with a paradigm shift of this magnitude--of reducing the age-old burden on bishops--I felt strongly that the stake presidency needs to give focused attention to this. We can train bishops, but some will be reluctant to hand over those "burdens" they've come to love and "own" (making them feel indispensible; a feeling we all enjoy). I have felt we need to give some initial direction to this so (1) we're all on the same page, (2) so everyone (including any reluctant bishops) understand what is expected, and (3) to help ward councils understand their role in making this happen.

As we ask ward councils to take on more of the "Melchizedek Priesthood" responsibilities (as Elder Holland described it), then the presidency of the MP (us) should give the direction, in my opinion, as to the expectations of those ward councils. That is why I'm recommending we use the Stake Missionary Training as one more forum to help ward council members understand their heightened role and our expectations.

3) The intent is not to have any of the auxiliaries be invited to this meeting again...UNLESS, as we get down the road, we observe  that a ward council is not engaged in assuming oversight to missionary work in the ward (removing that from the bishop's shoulders). Then we'll need to decide if we give individual training to that ward or bring them all back again. 

But for now it's a one-time thing as a follow-up to our June 14 training with ward councils.

4) Of course, leaders' attitude and morale is huge. I assume there was some pushback from EQ and RS presidents when they were initially invited to our meeting. Did you get that same pushback after the meeting? If not, then I trust they felt it was worth their time. If you did, please share it with me as that should be considered a factor in inviting auxiliaries to the Aug 11 and Sept 8 training meetings.

5) For sure we can use those meetings held in the fall for this...and will. As you've shared, the stake role is to train. And as you know better than all of us, with your educational background, training is ongoing and must be continued and repeated often. We will use those meetings to review again...and again...how the ward council can lift the load from the bishops so he and his counselors can (and will) focus on the weighty matter of families and youth.

6) I don't know if we've given them enough time to make the changes. I doubt it. But this is an evolution. It may take years to see the changes to fully happen. It's up to us if it's going to take months, years or decades in our stake. Let's not wait for it to happen "organically" when we're directed by a new handbook. 

I feel our role as a stake presidency is to give leadership as to how these changes will be made and how quickly.

If I'm moving too fast and too dictatorial, then I apologize. I really do want you both on board with what I feel we are to do. Being unified is paramount and I'll back down if you and Paul feel strongly that I'm taking our stake in the wrong direction.

Crismon

In response to concerns about my inviting ward council members to attend the monthly Stake Missionary Training meeting

Paul and Steven,

Thank you for expressing your feelings and offering your counsel. I want you to know I've listened and have given it serious consideration (conducted a debate in my own mind).

Steven, I realize the Saturday meeting is a sticking point for you. And I'm sorry. I wish there was a better alternative. I remind us that this meeting is replacing a meeting that took an hour out of presidency meetings once a month and, in my opinion, wasn't very productive. It was an OK reporting meeting, but nothing we said or directed went anywhere.

I realize there's a possibility that maybe the training we're giving now isn't going anywhere either, but at least more people involved in missionary work are hearing us and maybe causing them to consider a better way. Hopefully something is sticking, though the attached document shows, as a stake, we are really faltering again (along with 2016) in the number of baptisms (we're headed for another under-20 performance for the year). I fully understand that the number of baptisms is not an indication as to whether we are or are not a good stake, but we at least need to try and keep a focus on missionary work in some way if we want things to change.

As for the Saturday meeting, I'm not sure what else to do. We've learned in the past that WML just won't come on a Sunday morning and we constantly run the risk of competing with an early ward council meeting. I believe one of the great values of this one-hour-a-month meeting is it puts WML and full-time missionaries in the same room where they are directed by the stake presidency. Hopefully everyone comes out of the room inspired to be a little more diligent in their calling just because they see the stake presidency concerned enough to meet with them and train them every month.

Steven, if you feel there's a better alternative to the when and where of this meeting, I welcome your suggestions.

As for the question of whether or not to invite ward leaders to this meeting...

I feel so strongly about it mostly because I feel the Lord blessed us with a productive meeting on June 14. Ward leaders in great numbers heard the message that, as part of the new ministering initiative, the ward council is to reduce the load of the bishop by taking on more responsibility. Knowing that (1) missionary work, (2) temple and FH and (3) teaching the gospel are three of the five elements of the Work of Salvation, they're not just going to go away. In short, someone has to increase their load in order to reduce the load on bishops.

In other words, we need ward councils to know that the reduce and simplify right now applies to helping bishops reduce and simplify so they can focus on the very matter that must weigh on prophets tremendously today--families and youth. The rest of us may not get the same "luxury" right now. It may mean more discussions outside of meetings, more training and, at times, more meetings for the ward council to learn their new duties. As ward councils begin to feel and respond to the increase in responsibility, hopefully they, too, will find ways to reduce and simplify their load. I believe most wards have already reduced their frequency of ward council meetings from three or four a month to two.

It breaks my heart to hear an EQ president is "buried" on a Saturday with so many demands from his calling. It should raise a flag to us, as the stake presidency, that we need to improve our training on delegation.

In the meantime, as you can see, despite your wonderful and appreciated counsel, I feel we need to bring all ward council members into our Stake Missionary Training meeting at least once to help them better understand how they—arm-in-arm with these outstanding FT missionaries, WML and ward missionaries—can move forward this vital aspect of the Work of Salvation in their callings and organizations.

I wish we could feel confident the High Councilors will train and teach this adequately. But where we consistently have a 2-5 HC missing in every meeting, the water just doesn't get to the end of the row. I feel the Brethren have given us a sense of urgency in changing the multi-generational traditions of home teaching, the role of ward councils, the bishop-directs-all, etc. That's why I am asking that we temporarily expand the missionary training.

Paul, I felt your concern about the ward YMYW leaders coming out of (or maybe still into) youth activities that makes an August training not the best timing. As a consequence, I plan to invite the ward SS and Primary presidents (or a counselor) to attend the Aug. 11 training. We will invite the ward YMYW presidents (or a counselor) to attend the Sept. 8 training.

Paul, will you please plan to set the tone for the training with a message at the beginning of the meeting on Aug 11 on the why and how SS and Primary presidencies can utilize the ward missionary force, including FT missionaries, to further the Work of Salvation in their callings and organizations.

Steven, will you please plan to do the same for the training on Sept 8 with the ward YMYW leaders.

My apologies for unloading so much. Hopefully it's an indication that I took your counsel seriously and weighed it heavily to make sure that I wasn't just doing "my thing" and that I felt a true confidence the Lord is behind our efforts.

Thanks for your patience and your support,

Crismon

Parents to prepare children for the temple

Bishops and Branch Presidents,

This is the "season" when we typically have a few more young people submitting recommendations to serve missions.

Once they receive a mission call, as you know, they are eligible--even encouraged--to go to the temple and receive their endowments...and, if there's time before reporting, to serve in the temple.

Will you please remember the message taught at our last Stake Priesthood meeting: we look to the parents to bring their children to the door of the bishop and to declare their son or daughter is prepared to make sacred covenants in the temple (in the spirit of Exodus 40:12).

In short, it's the parents' responsibility to prepare their "new adult" children to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood (sons), be endowed in the temple and serve a full-time mission--not the ward or branch responsibility. Of course, for new adult members of the church (or youth without gospel support from parents), ward leaders are to step in and prepare them for the temple. 

But where parents are endowed and hold a current temple, please hold them responsible for conducting the Temple Preparation course with their son or daughter. This is simply one more way to help parents appreciate anew their responsibility in teaching their children (from their earliest years) the gospel and preparing each to make and keep sacred covenants with God.

Thank you,

President Lewis

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