Hello wonderful ward members & friends,
Debbie is in Utah this weekend attending the birth of our 8th grandchild (a beautiful baby girl, born Thursday evening, Suzanne Elizabeth Schofield), so I have to do the update. It's a bit self-serving since I spoke...
It was ward conference today. I truly appreciate everyone who made a special effort to be there. It was delightful to see you all. I also decided that, despite how much Beth likes those seats "under the clock," it felt more cozy and like a family having most of you sitting in the center section. Thank you!
I spoke first. I chose the topic of Joy because I have been feeling that if there is one thing I wish for every member, friend, and visitor to the ward, it is to find everlasting and eternal joy. This doesn't mean being "happy" since sometimes the things we have to do to achieve lasting joy are not happy things! They may take hard work and sacrifice. Joy comes through (among others) two primary activities: service and covenants (or keeping the commandments). I urge each of you to lose yourself in service and strive to keep the commandments, so that you may find joy, the joy that comes from the love of the Lord and the hope of one day dwelling in the presence of the Lord in a "state of happiness which hath no end." The full text of my talk can be found at: http://goo.gl/TLLWM
For our interlude music we were treated to a most delightful vocal solo by Mariann C, accompanied by Marcia C on her Irish harp, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing. I was moved to tears by its beauty and couldn't decide if I'd rather watch Mariann sing or Marcia play!
To close the meeting, President Rasmussen spoke about the importance of bearing our testimonies, walking us through the scriptural foundations for this practice. President Rasmussen warned us that the Lord expects us to bear our testimony and open our mouths to warn our neighbors. He quoted from Elder Oaks in a 1990 talk that as faith in our society diminishes, it becomes ever more important for us to be increasingly valiant in our testimonies, both in having them and in sharing them. Finally, President Rasmussen noted that the best way for us, today, to share our testimonies is by creating a profile on mormon.org and submitting our testimony. He thanked those who have done this and encouraged them to update it. He then issued a calling to those who have not done yet submitted a testimony to do so. President Rasmussen earlier shared with me the experience he had creating his own profile on mormon.org and indicated that he feels strong urging from the spirit to have every member of the stake do the same.
Some important announcements:
We will be holding a Temple Preparation class during Sunday School, taught by Br. Eaton, starting on July 10. If you are interested in attending this class, please contact a member of the bishopric.
Home Evening is at the Eatons tomorrow and the Gardners the following Monday. Learn about the steel guitar at the Eatons, and The Five Love Languages at the Gardners.
Next Saturday, June 18, is a Temple Grounds Tour at 2pm. Invite your friends. And a ward BBQ at the Eatons' at 6pm.
With much love,
Bishop Gardner
Bishop Gardner
