Month: November 2019

Elders,

Happy Thanksgiving! It seems like the weather decided to suddenly shift gears and make a statement. We can always use the water, but it does make it challenging to get around this holiday weekend. Please be safe as you travel to visit family and friends.

I just want to say thank you to each of you. I love having this opportunity to serve alongside each of you. I appreciate and love seeing the good things that go on in our ward community. We have had our share of ups and downs and you have all responded so positively and with great love and generosity. We have a wonderful and caring neighborhood and community. 

Thanksgiving is a great holiday. It encourages us to turn our focus and give thanks for all the blessings that we have received. It isn’t that we turn a naked eye towards our challenges and difficulties. They are real. They are hard. They are painful. We all have them. We aren’t pretending that they no longer exist or that they will go away in an instant. Rather, it prompts us to lift our heads up, look around and take in a bigger picture and view. Even in our difficult circumstances there is good to be found and things to be thankful for.

You may be facing real giants. They are out there. I am sorry. We have many quorum members that are. Some of these giants are open and obvious, others are every bit as big, but aren’t visible externally. We are all in this together. If you are in need, reach out. If you see others in need, extend a hand, hug, and help where possible. 

I love the story of the Jaredites traveling to the promised land. The story is short and contains many lessons for our lives (See Ether 6:1-13). They built boats and set off. They didn’t know how long the journey was going to take – a few days, a few weeks, years? They faced may troubles and hardships throughout and I am sure that it was more than a little daunting and scary. Once they arrived they gave thanks and praises to God, but I find verse 9 strategically placed between two verses of them being “driven forth”. It is simple and beautiful and shows their attitude as they were going through this challenge:

“And they did sing praises unto the Lord; yeah, the brother of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did thank and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord.” – Ether 6:9

I hope and pray that we can do the same.

I am grateful to my God for his plan of happiness and that Jesus Christ marked the path and led the way that we can all succeed in this game of life and return to our Heavenly home. 

Here are the announcements (thanks to Kristine Pitts):

Home Study this week:
Nov 25 – Dec 1:  1 and 2 Peter “Rejoice with Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory”
Next week’s Sunday lesson:
Sunday School: James, 1 and 2 Peter

Announcements:

• Tithing Settlement is in progress.  Schedule is posted on the ward clerk’s door.
• LightTheWorld.org website available, including the downloadable calendar and other inspirational videos.  
• Dec 1 – Bishopric will be teaching the YM/YW during Sunday School. Youth Sunday School teachers will not need to prepare a lesson that day.
• Dec 4 (Wednesday) Young  Women and Young Men combined. Meet at the clubhouse at 6:30 to go to Temple Square to see the lights.
• Dec 5 – Relief Society Christmas Dinner
• Dec 21 – Ward Christmas Breakfast

The Christmas season is officially kicked off with a big dose of Thanksgiving. It is a great way to start.

Love,

President Oldroyd
801-573-6828

Elders,

It has been a little while since I last wrote to you. I always have great intentions but then life happens. I hope that I’m not the only one in that boat. I always worry about being caught up in the “thick of thin things”. Am I spending my time and energy in the most effective manner? Some days I’m not quite sure.

I think that we all fall into the trap of perfectionism at one time or another. We try and try to do everything and be everything to everybody. We even accomplish many good things. However it always comes with an asterisk because we didn’t get it all done. Sometimes we are able to look at our situation rationally and realize our accomplishments, other times we listen to the natural man within us and start to punish ourselves for our imperfections – this leads to a spiral of discontentment and discouragement.

What do you do in this kind of situation? How hard is it to pull ourselves out of our self-defeating thoughts and actions? Where do you turn and how do you get out? Are you able to confide in a spouse, friend, co-worker, or ministering brother? Does prayer help? A trip to the temple? A hike in the mountains? 

The adversary tries to get at us in so many ways. As we realize the subtleties of the attacks and see them for what they are, we can get the better of them. God knows that we can’t be perfect here in this lifetime. He wants us to grow and change a little each day, take care of any backsliding, and move forward. President Nelson has encouraged us to repent daily and move forward. We shouldn’t fault ourselves for failing to run faster than we can. 

Elders, we are all in this together. Thank you for all that you do, for lifting other’s burdens, and being great examples of good.

This Sunday Eric Oliver will lead our discussion on Elder Christofferson’s conference talk last April titled “Preparing for the Lord’s Return” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/04/44christofferson?lang=eng. I’m looking forward to discussing it with all of you.

Our stake presidency reminded us of the Light the World One by One campaign https://youtu.be/WlGiX33ZK84 – The Light the World programs have been an integral part of the Christmas season for me and I encourage you to visit the website https://www.comeuntochrist.org/light-the-world and sign up for daily reminders to help you find ways to serve other “ones” during the fast-approaching Christmas season.

Check your email (from Christine Pitts) or Facebook for other general announcements. 

Elders – I love being part of your quorum and I appreciate the support and strength you provide, even if you don’t realize it. 

Thanks again,

President Oldroyd
801-573-6828

Elders,

Happy Wednesday! I’m winging my way back from another Louisiana trip and figured that I ought to write to all of you before I get back home and am embroiled in all the things that come with being gone for a few days.

If you haven’t heard, Brad Woolley has a new heart. It has taken some time for it to start behaving well, but he is making great progress. They took a fair amount of time to bring him out of sedation, but as of Wednesday night he is awake and talking! He isn’t out of the woods by any means, but he is steadily improving. We are all so excited for him and their family. Your continued thoughts and prayers – cards and emails are loved and appreciated. Soon, he’ll be able to receive visitors. Check in with Marlene about when you can go see him.

We have several things coming up in the next couple of days.
Friday –

• Day at the temple. We are encouraging you to spend as much time at the temple as possible on that day. Hopefully you have already asked for the time off and can come and participate throughout the day. We’ll meet to have lunch at noon and dinner at 6:00 in the cafeteria

Saturday –

• Hispanic festival at the stake center from 6-9pm. The 5th ward is hosting the event and there will be plenty of food, costumes, and cultural experiences from several Latin American countries. 

Sunday – 

• Eric Oliver will be leading our lessons in quorum. He will be using the talk from Elder Christofferson in April 2019’s conference “Preparing for the Lord’s Return”. We encourage you to read it in advance and come with your thoughts and ideas. We love getting to discuss topics together and learn from each of you.
• Teacher Council training in the Relief Society room at 2:30 for all organization leaders and instructors.

Elders, miracles happen. Brad’s heart and everything surrounding it has been nothing short of a miracle. We are so blessed that there are heavenly parents watching out for us and providing miracles – even when the miracle we receive is only seen as a miracle in hindsight. Most miracles go nearly unnoticed by most and I believe that if we really knew the extent of the heavenly help in our lives that we would be amazed. Many of the miracles happen because you feel a prompting to do something for someone else. It doesn’t need to be pronounced, but the subtle thoughts, intuitions, and promptings we receive can make a huge difference in other’s lives. Don’t miss out on a chance to be a miracle in someone else’s life.

Thanks for being the men you are and helping me become better. I appreciate the support that you give to me and to the quorum. You are all exceptional men. Please do let me know how I can help you.

God be with you,

President Oldroyd
801-573-6828