July 2010 Newsletter

Presidency Message:

Dear Brethren,
Recently I was listening to a returned missionary share an experience from his mission. While tracting he and his companion met a woman who was clearly distraught and told the elders she didn’t have time to talk religion. She was holding a crying baby and things in general seemed to be chaotic. One elder started to excuse themselves recognizing this wasn’t good timing for trying to teach a discussion. The other elder said, “let us help you out.” The woman was reluctant but the elder insisted, stating, “We are servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is clear that he has sent us to you to help you. Let us help you with your children or wash some dishes.” She finally gave in. The elders helped to calm the baby, do a few other chores and listen to her problems. The woman was very touched by their sincere desire to help her. She commented that it had been a very long time since someone had come to her door asking how they could help rather than wanting something from her. She became convinced that these young men really had been sent to her. She later invited them to come teach her and she was baptized. These elders learned important lessons about meaningful service and how the Lord truly will lead us to those in need.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our young men could have truly meaningful service opportunities prior to their missions? This would include experiences where individually the young men would come away feeling that they really had given of themselves. Remember that your calling is all about teaching and training young men to be honorable priesthood bearers. Use your service activities to teach. Here are a few points to consider:
1. Help quorum leaders carefully select appropriate and meaningful service activities.
2. Teach why we serve (e.g. Mosiah 2:17)
3. Train them to develop instinctive service-mindedness – not waiting to be assigned or told to serve, but to see a need and ACT
4. Take time following service activities to discuss the experience – how did they feel, what did they learn, etc.
5. Often serving in smaller groups is more effective and impactful (e.g. three young men visiting with an elderly person at a rest home as opposed to twenty youth singing to a group at a rest home.)

This is by no means a complete list. Please prayerfully consider the quality of service experiences your young men are having. Thank you for your service to the young men. Thank you for your efforts to be effective mentors.
Matthew Clarke

Question: Should a member of the Bishopric obtain parental permission before sustaining a Deacon’s or Teacher’s quorum president in sacrament meeting?

Congratulations to:

Chad Nilsson, Parkview, received his mission call to Romania.
Josh Haertel, Karalee, earned his teacher’s duty to God award and placed 4th in the U.S. Jr. National race-walk competition qualifying him to compete for the USA team (ages 16-20) in Toronto, Canada.

Please send us info on your young men (and leaders) so that we can congratulate them. Also, notify us of Duty to God awards for Deacon, Teacher, Priest and final. We have something to give them from the stake.

Upcoming Calendar:
7/27/10 Tues. Youth Temple Baptisms for KL, AH, PV, and ED
9/17-18/10 Fri.-Sat. Jamborall for all scouts, varsity and venture groups.
9/26/10 Sun. Stake YM Duty to God fireside

Congratulations to Falcon Hills for having the highest percentage of trained leaders.

Scout Training status (% complete):
Ward Fast Start This is Scout Youth Prot. Basic Outdoor Skills
Ashley Park 31% 31% 23% 31%
Aspen Hills 100% 100% 100% 25%
Eastdell 60% 60% 20% 50%
Falcon Hills 100% 100% 100% 90% 100%
Highland 60% 60% 60% 13%
Karalee 36% 45% 36% 45%
Parkview 100% 100% 100% 82% 82%
Sego Lily 78% 89% 44% 89%
Stake 100% 100% 75% 100% 25%
This report should include: Bishops, their two counselors, all young men advisors/leaders, and assistants. We are not including scout committee members or 11 year old scout leaders. The Stake YM will provide a barbecue dinner at Ken Gunderson’s home for the ward or wards which have the highest overall percentage by 7/1/10. All the ward YM leaders, Bishoprics, and their spouses, will be invited to the barbecue. Our goal is 100%. Ward YM secretaries should gather the completion information and email it to robhaertel@gmail.com on the 4th Sunday of each month. Please include all young men advisors and Bishoprics.

ANSWER: (page 182 Church Handbook of Instructions)
Trick question. Yes, a member of the bishopric should seek permission from a young man’s parents before extending a calling. However, a member of the bishopric usually announces changes in quorum leadership in sacrament meeting. He does not ask for a sustaining vote.

Supplements to Aaronic Priesthood Manual 2:
Looking for recent talks by General Authorities and other material that correlates with your priesthood manual lessons? This Resource manual is a great help. Go to: http://www.lds.org/languages/youthmaterials/pdf/AP_2010_ResourceGuide_08302_000.pdf
The Stake has extra copies of the DVD of the Temple Celebration. If you or anyone else in your ward would like one please contact Rob Haertel at 801-944-9275 or robhaertel@gmail.com.

Important websites:
Duty to God resources: http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,4688-1,00.html
Church Aaronic Priesthood:http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,4645-1,00.html
AP Instructional Resources: http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,7588-1,00.html
Quorum Presidency training: http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,7966-1,00.html
BSA Training: www.myscouting.com and http://www.ldsbsa.org/resources.html
Stake YM information: http://GraniteSouthStakeYoungMen.blogspot.com/
Teaching Manual Resource: http://www.lds.org/languages/youthmaterials/pdf/AP_2010_ResourceGuide_08302_000.pdf

THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU ARE DOING!!!!!