Bishopric Message – August 2021

Dear friends and members:

Only a few more weeks of this early schedule.  September 5th, our ward will be moving to the middle schedule which will start either at 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, or 11:30.  I know the suspense is driving you mad, but we will need to wait and see, a test of our patience.

Fall is just around the corner.  School is going to start soon.  For some, this is stressful.  For others, it is the routine that they look forward to.  For the world in general, there are so many unknowns. 

I look forward to the future with whatever challenges present.  It is not the challenge that defines me or presents my worth.  I am a child of God, created spiritually by a loving Father in Heaven who provided me with blessings and talents.  He has given me a family that accepts me with my shortcomings, come what may.

I’m so grateful for our Prophet and for the guidance he gives.  Here are a few quotes from this last General Conference.  His words inspire me and give me hope.  Please continue to feast upon his words:

…choose to believe in Jesus Christ. … Take your questions to the Lord and to other faithful sources. Study with the desire to believe rather than with the hope that you can find a flaw in the fabric of a prophet’s life or a discrepancy in the scriptures. Stop increasing your doubts by rehearsing them with other doubters. Allow the Lord to lead you on your journey of spiritual discovery. …

Do not minimize the faith you already have. It takes faith to join the Church and remain faithful. It takes faith to follow prophets rather than pundits and popular opinion. It takes faith to serve a mission during a pandemic. It takes faith to live a chaste life when the world shouts that God’s law of chastity is now outmoded. It takes faith to teach the gospel to children in a secular world. It takes faith to plead for the life of a loved one and even more faith to accept a disappointing answer

Faith takes work. Receiving revelation takes work. But “every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”13 God knows what will help your faith grow. Ask, and then ask again.

Your growing faith in Him will move mountains—not the mountains of rock that beautify the earth but the mountains of misery in your lives. Your flourishing faith will help you turn challenges into unparalleled growth and opportunity.

“Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains”
By President Russell M. Nelson
President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
From <https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/04/49nelson?lang=eng>

The Lord knows of your fears.  Lean on him and he will direct your path.  Look forward with an optimistic view and know that the Lord is standing by your side.  Live a life of faith, stay on the covenant path regardless of the outcome, “come what may.”

Love,

“Stay Humble, Work Hard, & Be Kind”