March 2010 Newsletters

...

• .28th March 2010 - click on image to view

• .21st March 2010 - click on image to view

• .14th March 2010 - click on image to view

• .7th March 2010 - click on image to view

Bishop’s Youth Discussion - February 2010

Love the Lord First!

In our BYD this month, we talked about the recent Winter Olympics and the success of Torah Bright, who won gold in her half pipe event. We discussed how Olympic athletes receive lots of training to help them focus and block out any distractions during their Olympic event. We highlighted how this is similar for us – as we face the events of life. We too must learn to “be in the world and not of the world” – to blow out those things that will keep us from doing the things “of most worth” (D&C 15:6). During the month of March, we committed to assess where we are at – to ask ourselves what we need to do differently to “Love the Lord… First” (Matt 22:37-39). We then committed to “do them!” (Mosiah 4:10).

Bishopric Message March 2010

“LAY HOLD ON THE WORD OF GOD”
Helaman 3:29

Brothers and Sisters,

The Stake Presidency have recently extended a challenge to each of us. In a letter dated 3 February 2010, they say:

“We challenge every man, woman, youth and child, every family, to read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover before the end of 2010. Read it together, discuss its words, messages and testimony of Jesus Christ and we encourage you to mark or underline each and every reference to the Saviour as you read. Study the promises and consider the concerns and experiences of the saints of the time. Ponder on how you would feel and what you would do, put yourselves in that time and in that place as you liken the scriptures unto yourself.”
(GCAS Stake Presidency)

This letter will be distributed to each family this month via home teachers. We invite all home teachers to approach Quorum Presidencies for copies of this letter before visits are made. For members of our High Priests Group, please see Brother Hank Kruizinga, Brother David Noda or Brother Peter Elliott. For members of our Elders Quorum, feel free to approach President Wilson Strother, Brother Bill Nathan or Brother Jabin Skipps.

Many of us will remember the challenge extended by President Hinckley in August of 2005 to read the Book of Mormon by the end of that year. At that time, he promised us:

“Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.”
(Ensign, August 2005).

What a promise! We hope that each of us will follow the direction of our Stake Presidency and purchase copies of scriptures, if needed, and better still, daily read and ponder their teachings. As we embark on this challenge, we’d invite everyone to start early. After completing President Hinckley’s challenge to read the Book of Mormon in 2005, President Henry B. Eyring testified:

“If we delay the start of our obedience to [this] inspired invitation, the number of pages we [have] to read each day [grows] larger. If we then miss reading for even a few days, the chance of failure [grows]. That’s why I chose to read ahead of my daily plan to be sure I will qualify for the promised blessings of the spirit of resolution and testimony of Jesus Christ. When December ends, I will have learned about starting at the moment a command from God comes and being steady in obedience.”
(Ensign, November 2005).

We testify that as we individually and collectively “lay hold on the word of God,” (Hel 3:29), we will be blessed with a Spirit of peace and happiness, stemming from our steady obedience to those the Lord has called to lead us. Brothers and Sisters, we are grateful for all you do and are thankful for this opportunity to serve alongside you.

Love and Best Wishes,

Daniel Shine............. Bob Howden............... Rei Singsam
Bishop..................... 1st Counsellor............ 2nd Counsellor
.......