Hi All,
Sorry I’ve been negligent in keeping up with the Around the Lake Ward wrap-ups. School has started which means I started back to work and life got rather crazy, starting the last 2 weeks of August. I've worked MANY 10-12 hour days, and Saturdays. I finally feel that I’m above water again, so I’m going to try to go back and do the wrap-ups that I missed. I will send out the weeks that I've missed over the course of this week. Our meetings are just too good to miss!!!
August 29, 2010
The only ward business was that Sung K was called to the FHE committee.
Erin C was the first speaker and she started off by telling us about a survey of American’s knowledge about Mormons. They had quite a few misconceptions. As the public affairs person for our ward, she posed the question, “What can we do to improve our image?” A couple that she mentioned: develop relationships with others in our area and become involved with events in the community. We can change people’s perception one program, one event and one contact at a time.
55% of Americans responded to the survey saying that they had never met a Mormon. People have a fear of change, of things new & different. WE need to build a better image of the church by letting others know we are LDS. Erin gave us some talking points from Elder Ballard: facts, faith, family, fruits of our labor. When talking with co-workers about weekend activities, don't exclude Sunday events. Stop feeling guilty – live the gospel and let others know that you are Mormon.
We also need to change our “Mormon Speak.” We aren’t understood by others. Erin gave a great example of when she was working in another country and had a Chinese interpreter helping with ‘theater speak.’ The Chinese person didn’t know ‘theater speak’ and so he wasn’t much help as an interpreter. Erin used a lot of gestures to communicate . Erin ended by inviting us to be involved in good causes outside the church to help improve our image.
Sung K talked to us about prayer and fasting. He said that he must need to learn about that topic, because the last 2 talks he has given in church have been on the same topic. Sung said that fasting and prayer is the most important thing that can happen for personal change. He said that for a long time he went through the motions and didn’t eat, but didn’t have the spirit of fasting. At one point he had to choose between fasting or engaging in another activity. He realized that he needed to put certain things first. Sung reminded us to pay fast offerings and to pray with a purpose. We will then feel the love of God and put His things first.
Sung said that for years he was in a static state of fasting. But when he started really fasting, he began to change. He now has a testimony of the power of fasting with real intent. It builds faith. We need to set ourselves in order and then start really fasting. If we do that, we will naturally start reaching out to others in thought and fasting.
With much love,
Debbie
