Bishopric Message May 2010

Reverence and Respect: A Call to Action!

Recently, I spoke of how we are living in the perilous times prophesied by the Apostle Paul (see 2 Tim 3:1). As we each face difficulties, we need help from Heaven – and help is available through personal revelation. Sister Julie B. Beck recently taught: “The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life” (Ensign, May 2010). A key to help us qualify for, receive and act on personal revelation is to understand and live the doctrine of reverence.

Understanding the Doctrine of Reverence
We often equate reverence with being quiet – this is certainly part of it. But as the Primary song teaches, “Rev’rence is more than just quietly sitting: It’s thinking of Father above” (Children’s Songbook, 31). Reverence is more about what’s happening inside of us than what’s happening outside of us. As members of a ward family, we have a responsibility to contribute to an environment where others can get solutions to their problems.

Living the Doctrine of Reverence
During the talk, 5 suggestions were presented that will help us live the doctrine of reverence:

1. LEAD BY EXAMPLE: If we are to have success, leaders and adults must lead out in being reverent.

2. ARRIVE EARLYFOR MEETINGS: The Brethren continually teach the blessings of being early to meetings. Elder Dallin H. Oaks has taught: “We are seated well before the meeting begins. During that quiet interval, prelude music is subdued. This is not a time for conversation or transmission of messages but a period of prayerful meditation as leaders and members prepare spiritually for the sacrament” (Ensign, Nov 2008). We encourage all members to be reverently seated 5 minutes before meetings begin.

3. LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND: Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: “Sacrament meeting is not a time for reading books or magazines... It is not a time for whispered conversations on cell phones or for texting persons at other locations” (Ensign, Nov 2008). We invite all to switch off mobile phones and ‘switch on’ to the things of the Lord.

4. HAVE RESPECT FOR THE CHAPEL PROPER: President Boyd K. Packer has taught: “Foyers are built into our chapels to allow for the greeting and chatter that are typical of people who love one another. However, when we step into the chapel, we must!—each of us must—watch ourselves lest we be guilty of intruding when someone is struggling to feel delicate spiritual communications” (Ensign, Nov 1991). We encourage members to speak quietly in the chapel. We also invite members to not eat whilst in the chapel.

5. PERSIST WITH OUR CHILDREN: Sacrament meeting is the only Sunday meeting we can attend together as a family. We encourage families to sit together and parents to be mindful of where their children are at all times.

In issuing a CALL TO ACTION, we invite each individual and family to ponder the question, “What can I do to be more reverent?” This could be discussed in a Family Home Evening. We testify, as has President Packer: “While we may not see an immediate, miraculous transformation, as surely as the Lord lives, a quiet one will take place. The spiritual power in the lives of each member and in the Church will increase. The Lord will pour out his Spirit upon us more abundantly. We will be less troubled, less confused” (Ensign, Nov 1991). Thanks for all you do Brothers and Sisters!

Love and best wishes,

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

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Bishop’s Youth Discussion - April 2010

The Sanctity of the Body

In our BYD this month, we talked about the blessings that come from having a physical body. We each committed to do the following, as taught by President Boyd K. Packer in his Priesthood Session address in October 1976:
1. “If [we] are struggling… the Lord still loves [us].”
2. Keep our minds focussed on worthy thoughts by choosing and memorising a favourite hymn, “one with words that are uplifting and music that is reverent.” We committed to use this hymn as a place for our thoughts to go when temptations arise.
3. “At times of special temptation skip a meal or two” – or in other words, fast for special help.

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April 2010 Newsletters

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• 25th April 2010 - click on image to view

• .18th April 2010 - click on image to view

• .4th April 2010 - click on image to view
  

Bishopric Message April 2010

Easter – A Time of Renewal, Remembrance and Recommitment

Brothers and Sisters,

Happy Easter! As we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we recognize that many face challenges, disappointments and difficulties. To all, we hope this Easter season becomes a period of renewal, remembrance and recommitment.

On February 9 2007, Bishop Christopher Williams’ life changed forever. That day, he was involved in a car accident where his pregnant wife and two of his four children were killed. Shortly thereafter, he addressed the members of his ward. He acknowledged that he and his family had been "handed a bitter cup." However, he said, a counselor in his stake presidency had explained that not even the Savior, when he was enduring the agony of Gethsemane, drank all of His bitter cup at once:

"In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Savior drank of [the bitter cup] a little, and then He went back to His disciples, to His friends, for a little bit of support, and then He went in and drank some more. He had an angel come and strengthen Him and support Him, and He drank a little more. He went back to His disciples, and was able to have a little bit of a respite. Then He started to drink the remainder on the cross, until it was all gone, until it was finished. I think it's like our lives; we're not asked to drink more than we're able to all at once… The gospel gives us such strength to draw on the Lord and to allow Him to put His arm around us and help us to drink” (LDS Church News, 17 Feb 2007).

As we face our versions of Gethsemane, we pray that we will remember the Savior – His life, His love and His willingness to help us – each step of the way. As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught:

“One of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel… May we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear” (Ensign, May 2009).

We pray that this Easter week and always, we will stand by Jesus Christ “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in.” (Mosiah 18:9). We testify that Jesus Christ lived for us and died for us, because He loves us. Hang in there Brothers and Sisters!

Love and Best Wishes,

Daniel Shine......Bob Howden.............Rei Singsam
Bishop...............1st Counsellor...........2nd Counsellor
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March 2010 Newsletters

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• .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
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