Finding a time and place for the Pioneer (Spanish) Branch to meet

Presidente Ibarra,

As we discussed earlier, will you please counsel with your branch leadership as to your preferred future meeting times and places for 2019 and possibly 2020?

The options are:

1. CONTINUE AS IS FOR ONE MORE YEAR: Remain with the Damascus Ward and meet again for one more year at 9:00 am with the branch meeting in the Relief Society room, as you’re currently doing (asking the Walters Hill Ward to move to the 11:00 am time slot rather than the 9:00 am time, as they’re expecting to do in January).

2. MEET WITH WALTERS HILL: Continue the meeting rotation as scheduled and have the Pioneer Branch overlap with the Walters Hill Ward; continuing to hold sacrament meeting in the Relief Society room at 9:00 am.

3. MOVE TO ESTACADA: Move to the Estacada building and overlap with the Estacada Ward’s 2nd and 3rd hours and then hold the Pioneer Branch sacrament meeting in the chapel at 1:00 pm. (The Estacada Ward currently begins at 10:00 am each Sunday. One variation is to have the Estacada Ward meet at 9:00 am so your sacrament meeting would begin at 12:00 noon, if preferred.)

One additional option is to have the Pioneer Branch move with the Damascus Ward with the block meetings beginning at 11:00 am but it would require finding another room in the stake center for either the branch to hold sacrament meeting or for the WH Relief Society to hold their 3rd hour meeting—either would create a major challenge.

We look forward to hearing back soon as to your branch leaders’ feelings on the above…or with any additional recommendations.

Gratefully,

The Stake Presidency

Email to Richard Pedersen about on our stake's plan to encourage all adults to participate in the Self-Reliance Personal Finances course

Hello, my friend…

First, let me say your presentation was TERRIFIC! It was a great idea to bring in your missionary “reinforcements.” All of you did an outstanding job!

As to your question, I felt you explained very well as to how the Self-Reliance Initiative can work into our ministering efforts. The ongoing survey results are also extremely compelling.

One of the draw backs you’re facing is that everyone is trying to tie their program or initiative into ministering right now. For instance, at the request of the mission president, we conducted a special meeting inJune with all Ward Council members, full-time missionaries and the mission president in trying to emphasize the importance of engaging the full-time missionaries in our ministering (you’d think it would be a natural thing to use these “set apart ministers,” but they’re often overlooked). Furthermore, we tried to encourage EQ and RS presidents to assume more leadership for the ward missionary work in conjunction with the Ward Mission Leader.

The feedback from the meeting was, in short, it’s too much! "We’re still trying to get our arms around this and you’re already placing more layers onto the ministering program.”

So you’re definitely on the right track, but candidly you’re competing with a lot of other similar voices.

I wasn’t going to say anything to you until we’ve tried it, but we’re still VERY committed to Self-Reliance in our stake, even though our numbers after the first round have not been impressive. We’re rolling out a variation of the Self-Reliance Initiative next month with an emphasis to ask every adult in our stake to take the Personal Finances course.

The two documents attached will give you an overview of what we hope to do. We, of course, don’t know if it’ll work (hence I didn’t want to tell you about it until we’ve tried), but our hope is that more members in our stake will participate and catch the vision of how Self-Reliance can make a difference. 

The statistics you’ve shared with us are so compelling, like you said in our meeting, there’s absolutely nothing we’re doing in the Church right now that has generated this kind of change in the lives of people. So we’re "going for broke" to see if we can change the attitude about Self-Reliance in our stake. We hope it’s not wrong to vary the program a little (i.e. replace the devotional with a 3rd hour meeting for all adults in every ward).

We’ve already announced to bishops and ward leaders that we plan to take their 3rd hour on Sept. 16 in a special combined meeting for all adults and to please plan accordingly.

We’d appreciate you not sharing this with others until we’ve tested it.

We appreciate so much your ongoing support. We’ll keep you posted on how it plays out. And, of course, we welcome your counsel if you have any concerns.

Gratefully,

Crismon

Clarifying the summer camp funding policy with our Stake Finance Clerkr

Brother (Name),

Thank you for how well you watch over the Lord’s funds coming and going in our stake. You’re amazing in how you carefully watch every dime, for which we are most grateful.

Pr Christiansen and I had a little visit today about the matter you raised with me: do we or don’t we charge full price to YW from other stakes who want to attend our Stake YW Camp?

As I pondered this after our visit, there are two factors that I feel are very important to me:

1) I truly don’t believe we’ll have a flood of girls wanting to attend our camp. While, to us, the subsidized $50 fee is a bargain, to families and even the YW it’s really not a bargain (probably why I’ve never had any parent in our stake express to me their thanks for our summer camp subsidies over the years). I believe it’s because other stakes hold fundraisers so in the end their YW Camp doesn’t cost families anything. So our $50 fee really won’t be very attractive. In the case of the Carpenter girls I believe they simply wanted to be with their close friends in the WH Ward.

2) These are the Lord’s funds and we want to bless as many of His covenant children (members) wherever we can as long as we have sufficient funds. The Lord has blessed us with a miracle of ongoing surpluses in the stake and wards, I believe because of our policy to eliminate fundraising as taught by the Brethren. 

So I’d like us to subsidize ALL YW who attend the Stake YW Camp—members, past stake members and even non-members, as our policy currently stands. 

We’ll look to you to alert us if our funds become dangerously low and we need to alter the policy. But for now, would you please “charge” the wards $50 per girl regardless.

Thanks again for all you do to watch over these sacred funds with such care.

Crismon

No stake subsidies for summer camps in 2019 beyond the stake Trek

Bishops and Branch Presidents,

As we announced earlier, the Trek next summer (July 23-27, 2019) will be the only summer camp experience the stake will subsidize in 2019. There will not be a Stake YW Camp. In 2019. 

Our hope is that there will be no cost to families for the 2019 Stake Trek.

However, it doesn’t mean wards or branches can’t hold your own youth summer camps or attend a BSA camp, if you choose to do so.

As you can see below, the Cascade Council is providing a number of Scout Camp opportunities designed specifically for LDS troops (boys only). They’re even offering a financial incentive for us to sign up before Sept. 1 of this year.

As soon as we finalize the budgeting for the 2019 Stake Trek (hopefully by September), we will notify you of the extra funding you should receive in 2019. Hopefully it means your quarterly budget allocation in 2019 will be closer to a 65-35% or even 70-30% ward-stake split because of the stake summer camp subsidy savings to be realized in 2019.

If you choose to provide additional summer camp experiences in 2019—i.e. BSA camp, high adventure, maybe even an abbreviated YW Camp-type experience in addition to the stake trek—we strongly encourage you to use some or all of the additional funding you receive in 2019 to subsidize the cost families pay. You decide how much the subsidy will be. 

We remind you that our stake policy does not allow for any fundraising led by stake or ward leaders. It is the responsibility of parents to teach their children how to earn or raise money.

Feel no obligation to provide any additional summer camp opportunities for your youth in 2019. We feel the trek experience will be adequate for all youth 12-18 years of age. We are also mindful of the time and resources the trek will place on youth leaders.

If you have any questions, feel free to respond privately to this email.

Gratefully,

The Stake Presidency

P.S. As a recap, we remind you that there will be NO stake subsidies for summer camps in 2019 as those funds will be needed to (1) cover the cost of the stake Trek and (2) share with wards to provide a subsidy for additional ward youth summer activities, if you choose. If you choose not to hold an additional ward summer camp experience, then you the extra funds will roll into your ward budget.

LETTER FROM THE BSA CASCADE COUNCIL:

All,

The council is making a full-court press to get all local Troops to attend one of our council camps this next summer.  Since we anticipate the camps filling up, Matt Devore asked that I please get word to all of the LDS units to give them an opportunity to sign up for their choice of summer camp before the reservations fill up.

Couple Considerations:

1.  2018 Rates.  All reservations made before the 1st of September will be at 2018 rates.

2.  LDS Camp/Youth Conference.  We have one LDS stake that is considering taking over one of our camps the week of June 24 - 29 for a combination Scout Camp with Young Women, Youth Conference activities and a dance on the following weekend.  If any of you are interested in participating in this Scout Camp/Youth Conference opportunity, please let me know right away.

Summer 2019 Camp Availability Schedule:

Boy only and LDS Weeks:

- June 30-July 6, Camp Pioneer

- July 7-13, Camp Meriwether

- July 15-20, Camp Pioneer (Monday Start)

- July 21-27, Camp Meriwether (Monday Start)

- July 28-Aug 3, Camp Baldwin

- Aug 5-10, Camp Baldwin (Monday Start)

- Aug 11-17, Camp Pioneer

LDS units are always welcome to come up to camp on Monday and there are additional weeks in the schedule that have plenty of room at this point for an entire stake reservation.  We have several stakes that are camping as a group in 2019 to take advantage of leadership depth and to run stake activities and AP firesides, etc.  Please contact Todd McDonald at the Scout Office directly if you would like to put together a special stake program during one of the 2019 camp weeks.

Please let me know if you have any specific questions I can get answers for.

Thank you!

Spencer B. Young

503-964-4085

Update on ward-branch financing in 2018-19

Dear Bishops and Branch Presidents,

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we have transitioned this year to a new approach to finances.

For years wards and branches in our stake have received a set amount of money decided by the stake president; usually based on the ward’s size in relation to other units in the stake.

Leaders liked it because you could count on, even budget, a set income each quarter. The downside was that over time the amount a unit received often failed to reflect changes in size and sacrament meeting attendance.

As you know, the Church allocates a generous budget allowance to each stake based on sacrament meeting attendance. The stake then allocates the funds to cover the stake and ward budgets.

This year we are transitioning quarterly allocations from an arbitrary amount, set by the stake president, to an allocation ratio that more closely reflects the dynamics of sacrament meeting attendance in each ward.

Currently 60% of the funds we receive are distributed among the wards and branches, and 40% is retained by the stake That 40% includes the $15-$19K that is earmarked to subsidize summer camp fees to accomplish two major objectives: 

(1) reduce the financial burden on families in hopes they’ll encourage their children to take advantage of these wonderful, testimony-strengthening summer camp experiences; and... 

(2) avoid fundraising as encouraged in the Handbook (why? the purpose of the Church and leaders is to teach the gospel, not teach youth how to raise money—a responsibility that rests with parents).

By following that direction, we have seen a miracle in our stake. We have been able to reduce the cost of summer camps to $50 per youth ($100 for the expensive Boy Scout camps) to all families in our stake. And we’ve even been able to extend that same benefit to non-members. At the same time, every ward and branch continues to have a surplus at the end of the year. It’s a miracle not unlike the widow of Zarephath!

The transition this year from an arbitrary budget amount to an allocation that reflects sacrament meeting attendance in your ward or branch is the next step in aligning our finances with the Brethren’s guidance. However, it affects your ability to budget far in advance.

We will send you in a subsequent, personal email a spreadsheet created by Stake Clerk Bud Koch in conjunction with Stake Finance Clerk Steve Lowder for your ward or branch showing you what your “final” budget allocation looks like for 2018 as compared to the funds you received in 2017. We are able to give you final totals for 2018 because the allocation is based on sacrament meeting attendance in your ward or branch of the previous two quarters.

In other words, your 3Q budget allocation (i.e. income) is based on attendance that you reported on your Quarterly Report for 1Q. and Your 4Q budget allocation is based on your 2Q average attendance.

We favor this form of allocating budget funds for several reasons: 

(1) it allows you to control your own “financial destiny” so to speak rather than be at the discretion of the stake president; 

(2) it provides more transparency in how funds are allocated (“we’re all in this together”); and, most importantly...

(3) it constantly reminds all of us of the importance of preparing spiritually uplifting sacrament meeting programs and adds another layer of focus in our ministering efforts to fellowship new investigators, retain new converts and reach out to less-actives.

From the stake perspective, it allows us to set goals on how to more effectively utilize these sacred funds to bless members and move forward the Work of Salvation. We believe funds are best spent at the ward/branch level, not at the stake level. So it gives us an incentive to find ways to move more funds to you.

For instance, our first goal is to review the stake budget and, if possible, move the allocation from a 60% (ward) to 40% (stake) ratio to a 65% (ward) - 35% (stake) ratio in 2019. Our long-term goal is to ultimately reach a 70% (ward) - 30% (stake) ratio and still provide summer camp subsidies.

A couple of factors may help this happen: 

(1) the stake trek will replace most, if not all, summer camp subsidies next year (though we still must save about $10K in 2018 to fully fund the trek); 

(2) the elimination of the expensive Boy Scout camps in 2020 will reduce the amount of total stake subsidy for summer camps.

We will also “sharpen our pencil” on the number and cost of stake activities and programs in hopes we can free up more funds for the wards and branches,

Above all, we want you to know how grateful we are for your willingness to adapt through the years to the financing policies. Your faithfulness and careful use of Church funds has literally worked a miracle in our stake.

With deep admiration and appreciation,

The Stake Presidency

P.S. We will send you two subsequent emails—one with the spreadsheet showing your total allocation for 2018 and how it compares to last year; the second will contain an explanation on how your ward or branch leaders can subsidize some summer camps in 2019, if you choose, since the stake will not be subsidizing any summer camps next summer because most funds will be used in support of the Stake YMYW Trek in 2019.

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