Month: July 2019

Elders,

Good Morning! Last week was such a blur for me. Before I knew it, it was Saturday evening and I hadn’t even done half of the things on my plate. I’m sure that all of you have days, weeks, months like that as well. That is part of the beauty of life, that we all ebb and flow at different times. Sometimes we are the ones that are the helpers and other times we are the ones that are the recipients of service from others. 

I am really enjoying the Come Follow Me curriculum. Following the life of the Savior week over week was a sweet experience in learning to know him. Now as we move on to the early apostles my heart is touched to see how they try to build the kingdom and spread the gospel. They had to be bold, had to trust what they felt, and trust in the power of the spirit to get them through. They were bold and undaunted by the task laid before them. I have much to learn from the example of these early saints.

We have a great service opportunity that starts this Monday. Each night next week (Monday – Saturday) we have the opportunity to clean the Jordan River Temple. Now, cleaning isn’t necessarily something I normally look forward to, but cleaning the temple is a great experience. Every night next week we meet in the baptistry at 10:00pm. You will need your temple recommend to enter. We arrive in our Sunday clothes. We get to don a classy white jump suit and after bit of instruction we are sent off to clean. They ask us to bring or wear white socks and shoes if possible – otherwise you’ll be cleaning in stocking feet. Your cleaning assignment will take you until a little after midnight and then you head home with all sorts of good feelings. The temple is asking for 4 people to help clean each night. We will pass around a signup sheet on Sunday. If you want to beat the rush and sign up for an evening in advance, please shoot me a text and I’ll put you on the list in advance.

Additionally, I wanted to thank the Moores for hosting an evening with Art Arslanian in their backyard last week. I was unable to attend, but I heard that it was a wonderful time with great food, company, and stories. We have fantastic people around us with so much to share. I am sorry that I wasn’t able to participate.

We have a ward campout planned for 8/16-8/17 up near East Canyon resort. We used the same space last year. It is a nice campground with a nice pavilion, electricity, and flushing toilets. It isn’t a total wilderness survival kind of camp. It is a great place for kids to be kids and for adults to talk and laugh and have a good time. Come up for the evening, or stay the night. It will be a fun experience. We will get maps and details out in the coming weeks.

This Sunday Ken will lead our lesson. The talk that we’ll be discussing is from Elder Uchdorf titled “Missionary Work: Sharing what is in your heart” ( https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/general-conference/2019/04/14uchtdorf?lang=eng  ). Come and discuss the points of this talk with us. 

Thank you for being such great men. It is an honor to know you and get to work with you. We have a great quorum. Please reach out if there is anything I can help you with. Everyone has a season of need. Let us help where we can. 

Thanks,

President Oldroyd
801-573-6828

Elders,

Good morning! I hope that you and your family enjoyed a fun and safe 4th of July weekend. We hit our main traditions – the Murray parade and fun days and the Bee’s game in the evening. We had a wonderful time, even if Cassidy and I broke our 3-year running streak of winning the water balloon toss. Maybe it was the fatigue from walking / dancing in the parade…

This last Sunday we met in Sunday School and we talked about the early days of the apostles and the church after Jesus was crucified. We talked about how difficult it was for the new apostles to lead the church forward. They were not scholars nor priests. They were just simple fishermen, but embodied and emboldened by the Holy Ghost they were able to become mighty men of God. Nick shared a clip from Elder Holland’s talk “The First Great Commandment” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2012/10/the-first-great-commandment?lang=eng that details Peter and the other apostles in the early days of the church.

This Sunday David will teach us about Sister Eubank’s talk: “Christ: The Light That Shines in Darkness” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/04/42eubank?lang=eng I encourage you to read or re-read her talk.

We have a couple of things coming up:

• 7/18 7:00pm – Elders and Relief Society BBQ and social in the Moore’s backyard. We’ll have one of our ward members share a bit about their life and enjoy some good food and company.
• 7/29 – 8/2 We have the opportunity to help clean the Jordan River Temple. I always look forward to doing this. It is a great way to physically serve in the temple. It makes me happy. More information to come
• 8/11 10:00am – Special Stake Conference with an Apostle. (note there won’t be a Saturday session)
• 8/16 – 8/17 – Ward camp near East Canyon – the same place as last year. A quick drive away and a fun place to gather around the campfire and learn more about each other.

Elders, thank you. Thank you for being good men. Thank you for your love, prayers, and support for all of our quorum members. Keep pushing forward and enjoy the journey. Let me know if there is anything I can help you with.

Thanks,
President Oldroyd
801-573-6828

Elders,

Happy Birthday America! This is such a great time of the year. The weather, food, fun, festivities – one big celebration of our heritages, our freedoms, and our country. I’m proud to be a citizen and call this my home. Our country has a tumultuous history but has always been set aside as a place for freedom. I think of Captain Moroni and his title of liberty that inspired so many. I think of our founding fathers who risked everything to declare our freedom from oppression and allow life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Our country was build upon the backs of amazing women and men committed to an ideal and something bigger than themselves. Many sacrificed much and many sacrificed their all in helping to ensure we enjoy the freedoms we do today. To all those before, thank you, and may God Bless America.

Speaking of the pursuit of happiness, Kevin Bone (with the help of many others) presented our lesson last Sunday on a speech that President Nelson delivered in Florida. These truths have the power to change lives and bring happiness. The truths are:

1. God is our Father
2. Jesus Christ is our Savior
3. We are children of God
4. The Book of Mormon is the word of God
5. The priesthood is restored
6. The gathering of Israel
7. Joy comes from keeping the commandments

I encourage you to take a few minutes and reflect on these truths and what knowing them and believing them has done and can do for your life. If you feel inspired to dig and drink deeply from one or more of these truths then I encourage you to do so – and would love to hear your thoughts. I get this open forum to share my thoughts and I always love hearing what you have to say as well.

We have a couple of things coming up:

• 7/18 7:00pm – Elders and Relief Society BBQ and social in the Moore’s backyard. We’ll have one of our ward members share a bit about their life and enjoy some good food and company.
• 7/29 – 8/2 We have the opportunity to help clean the Jordan River Temple. I always look forward to doing this. It is a great way to physically serve in the temple. It makes me happy. More information to come
• 8/16 – 8/17 – Ward camp near East Canyon – the same place as last year. A quick drive away and a fun place to gather around the campfire and learn more about each other.

One more shameless plug… Four of our ward members are participating in Taylorsville Arts Council production of Mamma Mia! Beau Sheffield, David Swenson, Cassidy Swenson, and myself will all don disco gear and sing and dance to the hits of ABBA. The show runs 7/15-7//20 and begins at 8:00pm at the SLCC Redwood campus’ Alder outdoor amphitheater. Bring your dinner or some snacks and come see us perform. Tickets are available at the door.

Elders, enjoy the holiday. Be safe. Build traditions.

Respectfully, 

President Oldroyd
801-573-6828