13-FEB-2019

Elders,

Here is your last minute reminder that tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. If you haven’t planned something nice or thoughtful for your Valentine, stop reading this now and get it taken care of. For some, messing this holiday up is akin to starting WWIII. Kris and I have been pretty low-key around Valentine’s day, but I’d be crazy to not at least acknowledge the holiday and her in some way. She is an amazing woman and I feel blessed that she allows me to hang around with her.

This past Sunday, David Oka and his experts talked about temple work, family history, indexing, the importance of record keeping, and the progression of the ordinances of the temple. We were encouraged to come and experience the temple. Listen to the words, promises, and blessings and deepen our conversion.

We have an opportunity to go together as a ward on Friday March 22 at 6:30pm to do proxy sealings. We’ll have more information as the date gets closer and hopefully we will have lots of family names to seal and that Michael Waddoups will be able to perform the sealings for us.

As I was reading in Mark 1 a couple of weeks ago, I was touched by one of the Savior’s early miracles (Mark 1:40-42). It involved Leprosy. Leprosy is still a scary diagnosis now, but back then it was a sure fire ticket to be banished from society, and a slow painful, lonely death – the epitome of outcasts. People would run away screaming “Unclean! Unclean!” At the very sight of a leper. 

Though Jesus’ ministry was still in the early stages, his reputation for being a miracle-worker preceded him. His fame even reached this poor leper. As Jesus was crossing between Galilean towns the beggar saw Jesus coming and approached him. I’m certain that the crowds immediately scattered, but this leper had great faith. He didn’t just ask Jesus if he could be healed. He asked in an almost apologetic way that if the Savior wanted to he knew that Jesus could heal him. Instead of backing away from the leper, Jesus drew closer and even physically reached out to provide a comforting touch (something that likely hadn’t happened for years) and through the priesthood, healed the leper.

There’s an old AT&T jingle “Reach out, reach out and touch someone”. This is one of the keys to being a minister like the Savior. Maybe we aren’t afraid of reaching out because of Leprosy but for me, I’m often afraid of saying or doing something wrong. I’m afraid that I won’t know what to do or be rejected. When I reach down within myself and get the courage to reach out, most every time the experience is great and I am uplifted up by the experience. 

There are a lot of “spiritual lepers” in the world and in our ward. There are people that just want us to reach out and touch or acknowledge them. They aren’t picky, they are just yearning for someone – for you – to reach out and touch them as the Savior would. Are you up to the challenge?

As I mentioned on Sunday, we have updated our ministering assignments. Please take a look inside of LDS Tools, do a “sync”, and look under your name for any changes. It will show who you are assigned to and who is assigned to you. Reach out in both directions as well as to your companion and help us all come together. You can be a miracle in someone else’s life.
Thank you for your friendship and brotherhood. You are great men.

President Oldroyd
801-573-6828