We want our wards and stakes to feel like family, right? We want everyone to
truly feel welcome not only in our meetings, but in our ward family, right? We
want to establish a place where all will be "[kept] safe on Zion's hill" (Hymn #83)--
-a refuge and a defense (See D&C 115:6).
truly feel welcome not only in our meetings, but in our ward family, right? We
want to establish a place where all will be "[kept] safe on Zion's hill" (Hymn #83)--
-a refuge and a defense (See D&C 115:6).
Although there are several functions to stakes and wards, it is my intent to focus
specifically on how we can reach, love, and invite in ways that point each other to
Christ through covenants and ordinances. These ways can give us a deeper
connection to feel more like family and also establish a safe-haven of Zion because
our goal is to point others to Christ and help them along their own journey in
discovering Him for themselves.
specifically on how we can reach, love, and invite in ways that point each other to
Christ through covenants and ordinances. These ways can give us a deeper
connection to feel more like family and also establish a safe-haven of Zion because
our goal is to point others to Christ and help them along their own journey in
discovering Him for themselves.
Several years ago I took my kids to the park. At first we were the only ones there,
but after a while a member of my Stake Presidency showed up with his grandkids.
We knew who each other was generally, but hadn’t talked before more than a
handshake and a hello. I had never interacted with a member of my Stake Presidency
in an informal setting before and I really enjoyed our visit together.
but after a while a member of my Stake Presidency showed up with his grandkids.
We knew who each other was generally, but hadn’t talked before more than a
handshake and a hello. I had never interacted with a member of my Stake Presidency
in an informal setting before and I really enjoyed our visit together.
We began to ask each other the getting-to-know-you type questions. Since we were
pretty new to the stake, he asked me where we are from. Sometimes it is really
disappointing to tell people we moved from Rexburg, Idaho and have them react
like I just said "any old place." To us, Rexburg is an incredible place in and of
itself, but it is also where we grew our deeply rooted conversion (see Mosiah 18:30).
I wish they could be as excited about it as we are, but most people usually aren't.
When that question came up, I couldn't help but add, "That ward and stake we
were in were the closest to Zion we have ever experienced!!!"
pretty new to the stake, he asked me where we are from. Sometimes it is really
disappointing to tell people we moved from Rexburg, Idaho and have them react
like I just said "any old place." To us, Rexburg is an incredible place in and of
itself, but it is also where we grew our deeply rooted conversion (see Mosiah 18:30).
I wish they could be as excited about it as we are, but most people usually aren't.
When that question came up, I couldn't help but add, "That ward and stake we
were in were the closest to Zion we have ever experienced!!!"
We truly lived in a ward and stake during such a unique window of time! There was
a heart's core that was eager to learn and teach pure truth, serve in meaningful ways,
and desired for things of The Spirit like I have never seen in any other ward (collectively
speaking).
Jesus Christ was the focus of everything they did. In this unique window, we were
able to dig deep in our discussions during the church block because teachers
and class members came prepared. Our Stake Conferences were of the same
caliber. We were able to be taught "hard things to hear" because of seeking
to be changed.
It was just such an amazing, amazing time and place to be that has shaped and
influenced me as well as many others. I was shaped deeply in a matter of
years because of how pinpointed these efforts were. Now that I have more
life experience and with our new Church-wide vocabulary, I know that what
they were doing was a form of ministering.
a heart's core that was eager to learn and teach pure truth, serve in meaningful ways,
and desired for things of The Spirit like I have never seen in any other ward (collectively
speaking).
Jesus Christ was the focus of everything they did. In this unique window, we were
able to dig deep in our discussions during the church block because teachers
and class members came prepared. Our Stake Conferences were of the same
caliber. We were able to be taught "hard things to hear" because of seeking
to be changed.
It was just such an amazing, amazing time and place to be that has shaped and
influenced me as well as many others. I was shaped deeply in a matter of
years because of how pinpointed these efforts were. Now that I have more
life experience and with our new Church-wide vocabulary, I know that what
they were doing was a form of ministering.
I will never forget the first day in that ward. Mark and I came up after sacrament meeting
to introduce ourselves to the bishop. He looked straight into my eyes with such piercing
intensity and said simply, “We prayed you here,” as he shook my hand. That moment was
electrifying. Later I shared it with Mark and we patted ourselves on our backs thinking,
“They prayed us here because we are going to fill up some hole in the ward. We are that
awesome.”
to introduce ourselves to the bishop. He looked straight into my eyes with such piercing
intensity and said simply, “We prayed you here,” as he shook my hand. That moment was
electrifying. Later I shared it with Mark and we patted ourselves on our backs thinking,
“They prayed us here because we are going to fill up some hole in the ward. We are that
awesome.”
A few years later when our life really began to unravel, the bishop referenced that
moment during an interview with Mark. He explained to Mark that what he was expressing
in that moment is that we weren’t prayed into that ward in the warm fuzzy, good way we
had originally thought.
The ward council had been praying for members to move into the
ward boundaries who they could help. They were praying for those who would be receptive
to being taught the error of their ways. We were literally prayed to the people who could
point us to Christ. They were praying for opportunities to minister to me and my family and
others who desperately needed to find Christ!
Why can't we do that, too? I not only mean
literally as ward and stake councils or leaders, but also we can pray every day for our
paths to cross with those individuals who need to be ministered to today.
moment during an interview with Mark. He explained to Mark that what he was expressing
in that moment is that we weren’t prayed into that ward in the warm fuzzy, good way we
had originally thought.
The ward council had been praying for members to move into the
ward boundaries who they could help. They were praying for those who would be receptive
to being taught the error of their ways. We were literally prayed to the people who could
point us to Christ. They were praying for opportunities to minister to me and my family and
others who desperately needed to find Christ!
Why can't we do that, too? I not only mean
literally as ward and stake councils or leaders, but also we can pray every day for our
paths to cross with those individuals who need to be ministered to today.
I didn't tell my Stake Presidency member any of that, but that is where my mind quickly went in
speaking of our beloved ward and stake. With tagging that on about it being Zion, I am not
sure why I was just expecting the conversation to move on to the next topic. He thought
for a moment, then with great intrigue he asked, "What did they do to make it like that?
Name three things."
speaking of our beloved ward and stake. With tagging that on about it being Zion, I am not
sure why I was just expecting the conversation to move on to the next topic. He thought
for a moment, then with great intrigue he asked, "What did they do to make it like that?
Name three things."
We only got part-way through a discussion of my number one before all three of my boys
were soaked in muddy water from a broken sprinkler and ready for warm, dry clothes.
We didn’t get to finish the conversation with each other, but it was one I brought home and
finished later with Mark. What would my top 3 have been?
were soaked in muddy water from a broken sprinkler and ready for warm, dry clothes.
We didn’t get to finish the conversation with each other, but it was one I brought home and
finished later with Mark. What would my top 3 have been?
In our 7 years in that special, special ward we lost 6 babies to miscarriage, we experienced
2 pregnancies where I was on bed rest for months at a time with toddlers and preschoolers
home all day with me, Mark went through 2 rounds of unemployment, and our lives were
shattered by the addiction relapse and betrayal trauma, not mention the day-to-day challenges
of raising a young family. We had many heavy burdens during this window of time and felt
stretched beyond our capacity to bear each one by itself, let alone fiery trial after fiery trial
or sometimes stacked on top of each other. After what we went through, I honestly don't
know how people make it without a good ward family! (Be that the ward not functioning
well collectively or the individual who is struggling pulling back by self-isolating.)
2 pregnancies where I was on bed rest for months at a time with toddlers and preschoolers
home all day with me, Mark went through 2 rounds of unemployment, and our lives were
shattered by the addiction relapse and betrayal trauma, not mention the day-to-day challenges
of raising a young family. We had many heavy burdens during this window of time and felt
stretched beyond our capacity to bear each one by itself, let alone fiery trial after fiery trial
or sometimes stacked on top of each other. After what we went through, I honestly don't
know how people make it without a good ward family! (Be that the ward not functioning
well collectively or the individual who is struggling pulling back by self-isolating.)
Looking back with hindsight, it is miraculous that we not only had the support we needed
to bear these burdens, but that these burdens were able to be for our good and to encourage
the now deep roots of conversion. I believe our efforts to minister to one another can help
turn bitter or painful life experiences into the very moments that "give [us the]
experiences" (D&C 122:7) we need towards becoming like God.
I had a counselor who said something like this, "If
someone looks like they are doing well, maybe it's a good year." Meaning: we all struggle.
We all have challenges that come in different forms.
to bear these burdens, but that these burdens were able to be for our good and to encourage
the now deep roots of conversion. I believe our efforts to minister to one another can help
turn bitter or painful life experiences into the very moments that "give [us the]
experiences" (D&C 122:7) we need towards becoming like God.
I had a counselor who said something like this, "If
someone looks like they are doing well, maybe it's a good year." Meaning: we all struggle.
We all have challenges that come in different forms.
Each one of us is in need of a ward family that is made up of individuals who know how
to help those around them to not only bear up their burdens, but to do it in a way that
points them to Christ personally.
As I recently met with a ward Relief Society President,
she said something that gave me chills. She said, "I wonder if in five years we will even
need to have ministering assignments at all." What would it be like if we truly watched
over one another like that? What if we knew each other well enough and lived close
enough to the Spirit that we knew what needed to be done? After living in that wonderful
ward during this critical time in my life, I absolutely know that it is possible! I wouldn't
at all be surprised if that is what we are being grown towards and being prepared for.
to help those around them to not only bear up their burdens, but to do it in a way that
points them to Christ personally.
As I recently met with a ward Relief Society President,
she said something that gave me chills. She said, "I wonder if in five years we will even
need to have ministering assignments at all." What would it be like if we truly watched
over one another like that? What if we knew each other well enough and lived close
enough to the Spirit that we knew what needed to be done? After living in that wonderful
ward during this critical time in my life, I absolutely know that it is possible! I wouldn't
at all be surprised if that is what we are being grown towards and being prepared for.
I am writing this from the perspective of someone who, although I never missed a
week of church, at times was still drowning. My family was in great need of mighty
rescuing efforts---some situations more so than others. I write this from the receiving end
of a ward and stake that were functioning well to reach and rally around those who were
struggling. Mark and I know that ward members can make an eternal impact. We are
living proof of that!
week of church, at times was still drowning. My family was in great need of mighty
rescuing efforts---some situations more so than others. I write this from the receiving end
of a ward and stake that were functioning well to reach and rally around those who were
struggling. Mark and I know that ward members can make an eternal impact. We are
living proof of that!
Sharing the conversation I had in the park with Mark that night generated some great
discussions between us. We would guess that there were individuals who were in our
Rexburg ward during that amazing window of time who didn't feel the same way we do,
but as we have kept in contact with other members of that ward, there are many others
who felt like they were part of Zion, too.
discussions between us. We would guess that there were individuals who were in our
Rexburg ward during that amazing window of time who didn't feel the same way we do,
but as we have kept in contact with other members of that ward, there are many others
who felt like they were part of Zion, too.
I don't think there is a "right" top 3. Even my top 3 was different from Mark's top 3. I can
only speak from my own experiences. In sharing what I would list as my top 3, I want to
make it clear that it isn't intended to be an all inclusive list. I don't by any means claim to
have all the answers. I am just sharing from our experiences of being on the receiving
end of a ward and stake that worked well in this regard and the things I have been learning
in recent years on the giving end.
I would invite you to take some time if you haven't before
and jot down your own thoughts. Maybe you have been blessed to be in such a ward as I
will describe. Maybe you have had the unfortunate opposite experience and can draw more
from what hasn't worked. In that case I would invite you to consider changing negatives to
positive for example "not being judgmental" to "accepting." Take some time to really ponder
and generate what would Zion look like.
only speak from my own experiences. In sharing what I would list as my top 3, I want to
make it clear that it isn't intended to be an all inclusive list. I don't by any means claim to
have all the answers. I am just sharing from our experiences of being on the receiving
end of a ward and stake that worked well in this regard and the things I have been learning
in recent years on the giving end.
I would invite you to take some time if you haven't before
and jot down your own thoughts. Maybe you have been blessed to be in such a ward as I
will describe. Maybe you have had the unfortunate opposite experience and can draw more
from what hasn't worked. In that case I would invite you to consider changing negatives to
positive for example "not being judgmental" to "accepting." Take some time to really ponder
and generate what would Zion look like.
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