March 13, 2020

Elders,

This has certainly been a week of changes and upheavals. The Corona virus is the talk on everyone’s lips from our Nation’s President, to every news outlet to our own Prophet. Our Stake President sent an email out to all of the members of the stake. On the off chance that you did not get the email I’m quoting it below:

Dear Members of the Westland Stake,

Under the direction of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, beginning immediately, all public gatherings of Church members are being suspended worldwide until further notice.  This includes:
* Stake conferences, leadership conferences, and other large gatherings
* All public worship services, including sacrament meetings
* All ward and stake activities

I will be counseling with your bishop to determine how to make the sacrament available to members at least once a month.  More to come on that.

It will be critical that each of us reflect on our ministering efforts to care for one another. We should follow the Savior’s example to bless and lift others.  Please consider extra efforts you can make around your ministering assignments during this time.

We love you and the Lord loves you, and testify that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the best source of joy and peace in every circumstance.

Sincerely,
The Stake Presidency

It is quite a significant event to have all of our church meetings cancelled. It seems more than a coincidence that we have been studying the Come Follow Me manual for the past year. We are better prepared for this event than we would have been a year ago. It is easy to see the hand of the Lord in the preparations.

Please consider President Barlow’s plea to step up our ministering efforts – formal and informal. Our Father in Heaven loves each one of us and has prepared several ways to help care for his little flock and the grand plan of ministering is one such vehicle. Certainly the pandemic is not to be taken lightly, but at the same time we should not panic and work ourselves up into a frenzy. A cool head and common sense will serve us all well. Watch for signs of anxiety and/or depression in our friends and family. Be attentive and help things go well. If you recognize the symptoms in yourself, please reach out.

*CANCELLED*
We planned to hear from Kurt VonElm on the 19th (7pm – Clubhouse). According to the direction from our leaders, we will be postponing this to a date TBD. Can’t wait to hear Kurt’s stories but we need to proceed with caution.
*CANCELLED*

I guess you all are stuck with me for another week or so until a new Elder’s Quorum president can be called and sustained. It has been a great pleasure and joy getting to work alongside each of you. It has been a tremendous experience for me and I will miss the frequent interaction with all of you.

This week in Come Follow Me we are studying Jacob 1-4. We get to hear from a new religious leader of the Nephites. We get a great look at his personality. He is someone I can relate to. There is something about his reluctance to call the Nephites to repentance. He loves his people and knows that he needs to talk about some difficult subjects with them. You can feel the reluctance in his words. I am not a prophet but I have had some thoughts banging around in my head for a few weeks that I want to share.

We haven’t talked a ton about pornography in our quorum meetings, but it is something that I feel we need to address. In our quorum I am sure that there are several of us that have been caught into this addiction. It is so easy to get into and get trapped. Once it starts, the guilt, the shame, and the addiction kicks in to put you into a cycle that pulls you away from the peace and light and joy of this life. It convinces us that we don’t have a problem, we can always stop, and that it isn’t a big deal. Step by step satan convinces us to keep our addiction in the dark and away from everything and everyone we love. We become convinced that if we talk to the Bishop and try to clean it up that we’ll be embarrassed, punished, and that our life will be ruined.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Our Bishop is there to help – not to criticize, belittle, or embarrass. He is there to point us to the Savior who can heal us. The atonement is there for you, me, and everyone. No matter what we have done, we are not “too far gone” for the atonement to reach us. He is there. He lives. He helps. He heals. He saves. Elders, if this is something that you are caught up in, please get help. Talk to a trusted friend or confidant. Ultimately talk to the Bishop. He has keys to help you return from the darkness. He is a fantastic man that is kind, loving, and desperately wants to help get build a healing relationship with the Savior.

Even with all of this trouble and commotion surrounding us, life is good. You are great men doing great things for your family, friends, and neighbors. Thank you for letting me tag along with you. Reach out and minister to those around you and if there is something I can do to help, please let me know.

Stay safe,

President Oldroyd
801-573-6828