It is such a wonderful Spring day today as we head into Memorial Day, I am so grateful for the tremendous blessing we share of living in this blessed country and land. I am also grateful for the opportunity this holiday gives us to reflect upon and remember those who have had an impact on our lives, and who are no longer with us. May we all take a moment to give thanks to our Heavenly Father for His wonderful plan of redemption and happiness that gives us the knowledge of life after death and the hope of joy with loved ones in the eternities.
Today the Bishops of the Westland Stake met with our wonderful Stake Presidency to discuss the new guidelines released by the First Presidency this past week concerning a return to Sacrament and other meetings. That announcement can be found here: I wanted to share with you some of the things we discussed and what you can look forward to in the near future.
First the guidelines released are very general, the First Presidency and the Area Presidencies are entrusting local leaders under their Stake Presidents to formulate plans specific for each Stake and Ward, you may hear of other Stakes that have or will start before the Westland Stake, please know that all our decisions have been and will be with the safety of all Members first and foremost. We desire greatly to return to a sense of normalcy, but nothing about the current situation is normal, so we must prepare for the challenges and be ready to adjust accordingly and remain flexible for more changes as needed. Under current guidelines and with current cleaning supplies the Westland Stake is not yet ready for a safe return to meetings just yet, you are authorized to continue with Sacrament in your homes for the next two weeks at least, (so through June 7th) we have formed several committees with Bishops from every Ward that will focus on certain aspects of a safe return, I am on the Cleaning and Sanitation committee and welcome any input for thoughts and ideas and concerns you may have. I wish to emphasize that even with a return to meetings in whatever shape and form they might take that you realize and understand that you are NOT required to attend if you feel uncomfortable or unsafe in any way! There will be guidelines and conditions to be able to attend and some strong encouragements as well, but your "standing or activity" in the church will not be based on your attendance and I will authorize all who wish to remain at home the ability to receive the Sacrament there. Please be patient with us and each other as we work out the details necessary to do all of this safely.
Please take this time to increase your Ministering efforts and contacts with your assigned Families and Friends and your next door neighbors. Bro. Johnson share a wonderful scripture and thought today in our Bishopric meeting and I think we could all benefit from it's advice
D&C 88:123-126
123 See that ye alove one another; cease to be bcovetous; learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires.
124 Cease to be aidle; cease to be bunclean; cease to cfind fault one with another; cease to dsleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be einvigorated.
125 And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of acharity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and bpeace.
126 aPray always, that ye may not faint, until I bcome. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen.
I love how it starts with "See that ye love one another"! and then the Lord calls us to action, we have been given a gift of the one thing we always seem to need - Time, or at least in the sense that we have had to change our regular schedules and plans and maybe even traditions to fit within the new way of things. Are we using that time wisely? Bro. Johnson posed this thought to ponder - "We have lost the ability to do some things, but there are still so many things that we can do" Are we using this time to improve ourselves? our relationships? our Homes or yards? our Physical well being? Our mental well being? our Testimony and knowledge of the Gospel? Are we doing Temple and Family History work? Our Prophet and Stake President have asked each of us to find and prepare 1 family name for when we are able to return to the Temple, to index 1 batch! And to add 1 memory to your Family tree on Family Search. If you're reading this email on a phone chances are you have a fun photo of an adventure or experience recently...Open Family Search and add that one photo with a brief or long description to your tree. Congrats! you just finished one thing that will bring promised blessings to you and your family, want to know what those are? watch/read Pres. Nelsons talk from April's amazing Conference here's a sneak peak - "What will happen as you more intentionally hear, hearken, and heed what the Savior has said and what He is saying now through His prophets? I promise that you will be blessed with additional power to deal with temptation, struggles, and weakness. I promise miracles in your marriage, family relationships, and daily work. And I promise that your capacity to feel joy will increase even if turbulence increases in your life."
Sisters and Brothers, I love you! I miss you and I know we all miss each other, please be patient awhile longer as we work out how to return safely to being together again. May our dear Heavenly Father bless and protect you and your loved ones, is my continual prayer. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Sincerely,
Bishop Howard Jackman
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