Bishopric Message July 2009

“GET CONNECTED!”

Brothers and Sisters,
You may have noticed our Primary children excitedly wearing ‘Future Missionary’ badges over the last couple of weeks. Our Primary Presidency have given each Primary class a ‘Get Connected’ pack with suggestions and items to help class members reach out and rescue those who have not been attending regularly.

When we heard about this and saw the reactions of our Primary children, we felt to invite each of us to connect with one another – no matter our age, activity levels or life experience.

One brother, who struggled with church activity made this observation:

“The gospel has never left my heart, even though it has left my life. I ask for your prayers. Please don’t forget those of us who are out here—the lost Latter-day Saints. I know where the Church is, but sometimes I think I need someone else to show me the way, encourage me, take away my fear, and bear testimony to me” (Ensign, Nov 2001).

This will require us to “focus outwardly,” as Elder D. Todd Christofferson recently counselled (Ensign, May 2008) – to look beyond our own challenges and to lift and bless others.

President Thomas S. Monson has taught:

“The world is in need of your help. There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save. The blessings of eternity await you. Yours is the privilege to be not spectators but participants on the stage of… service.” (Ensign, Nov 2001).

Brothers and Sisters, while the world desperately needs our help, our ward also needs our help. While we may not be able to provide immediate solutions to these problems, we can reach out in sincere concern; we can listen with love; and we can patiently encourage. As we prepare for Ward Conference weekend (Sat 25 & Sun 26 July), we invite members to:

1. Contact and connect with each individual / family we home and visit teach during the month of July; and
   
2. Invite them to participate in our ward conference activity and Sunday meetings.
   

We testify that as we faithfully connect with each person, great blessings will follow – for us and for those we invite. President Monson has taught:

“Our task is not insurmountable. We are on the Lord’s errand, and therefore we are entitled to the Lord’s help. But we must try.” (Ensign, Nov 2001).

We testify that as we exert effort, we will be blessed to be “instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work” (Alma 26:3). Thank you for all you do!

Love and best wishes,
Daniel Shine - Bishop
Bob Howden - 1st Counsellor
Rei Singsam - 2nd Counsellor

Bishop’s Youth Discussion – June 2009

In our first Bishop’s Youth Discussion (in January this year), we each filled out a ‘Commitment Card’ with goals we hoped to achieve this year. Now that we are half way through the year, we reviewed a talk from President Thomas S. Monson titled “Finishers Wanted.”

We hoped that this would give us the motivation to “finish our course” (2 Tim 4:7)!

We were invited to follow President Monson’s 6 ‘marks’ to achieve our goals and become FINISHERS:

1. The Mark of Vision.

2. The Mark of Effort.

3. The Mark of Faith.

4. The Mark of Virtue.

5. The Mark of Courage.

6. The Mark of Prayer.

A copy of President Monson’s talk can be found at: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=543227cd3f37b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD