We Follow Christ

Planting Seeds
Sharing the gospel is a fundamental part of our beliefs. As members of the church, we lovingly seek to plant seeds of faith in the hearts of our friends and family, and hope those seeds might grow into a living and vibrant testimony of our Savior. As you have considered how and with whom to share the gospel, you may have wondered if your friend has ever heard of the church. If so, what have they heard? What perceptions do they have, both of the church as an institution and of the individual members? This is where a sometimes little-known organization in the church comes into the picture: Public Affairs.

The church has a large and busy Public Affairs department that makes sure we have resources such as Mormon Messages, mormonnewsroom.org, and mormon.org to help the world know about the worldwide church. Our stake has a Public Affairs committee dedicated to helping everyone in our area to know about the church in our part of Maryland. Right now our committee is Cari Larkins (CL), Teresa Cochran (C1), Kellie Nuss (YSA), Patti Gardner (EC), Jeff Link (EL) and President Steve Peterson (EC). We are glad for this chance to introduce the work of Public Affairs in this stake and how it relates to you.

Preparing the Soil
In the context of a gardening metaphor, if missionary work or sharing the gospel is indeed planting seeds, then the work of Public Affairs is preparing the soil. We seek to remove rocks and weeds, and nourish the soil so that it is ready to receive those seeds. In other words, we want to influence your friend’s perception of the church so that when you are ready to talk about your faith, they might be more prepared. We sum up our efforts as follows:

The MESSAGE of Public Affairs is:  We follow Christ

The EVIDENCE of that message to those not of our faith is:
• We love our neighbors so we participate in interfaith and community activities.
• We care for the poor and needy so we serve in our community and encourage self- reliance.
• We believe that families last forever so we enable the work for the dead in our temples.

The TASK of Public Affairs is to get that core declaration of our discipleship out to the wider community in a context they can understand.

The EVIDENCE teaches the MESSAGE. If that message is spread in clear and undeniable ways through evidence, then the soil is better prepared for the work of salvation in this area.

•We can only spread that message through contact and interaction.

•Contact and interaction take place in three primary ways—community service, social media, and church leaders meeting and developing relationships with other leaders in the community.

What can you do?
As members of the church, you make a difference as you serve in your community and let people know you are a member of the church. This simple connection does amazing things for the perception of the church in this area. Don’t underestimate your influence. As you serve in the church, you can help organizations pivot their efforts and be more outward facing. Plan the same activities you are already planning, but prayerfully seek to involve the community in some way. We are here to offer you ideas, contacts and resources for pivoting activities, plus the spirit will teach you as you seek guidance.

In 2013, Elder Bednar counseled us that “a technology known as social media is evolving in our day and playing an increasingly important role in hastening the work of salvation.” You can be involved in our social media efforts as follows:
• Like our Facebook page @ColumbiaMarylandMormons and our Instagram feed @columbiamdmormons
• Share your personal involvement in church activities on social media, such as the fun you had at an activity, or your trips to visit temples while the DC Temple is closed.
• Hashtag these posts with #columbiamarylandmormons and tag our pages, and others will know that the church exists in our area.
• Let us know if an activity would be good to share with the larger community and send us some photos, or invite us to attend and report on the activity.

Many of these efforts are subtle, take place over a long period of time, and may not seem like they have any immediate result. Elder Bednar asked us to use social media to “sweep the earth as with a flood” with news of the gospel,  but he reassured us that this only needs to happen drop by drop. As more and more of us share just a few things, our influence will grow.

Preparation for the rededication of the Washington D.C. Temple
We would like every person living within the boundaries of our stake to receive a personal invitation to the Washington DC Temple open house that will happen in 2020. Part of preparing to invite is letting people know we are here. Believe it or not, there are many who are not aware that LDS congregations are functioning right here in their neighborhood.

As you seek to learn more about Public Affairs and participate in sharing the evidence that we follow Christ, you will be blessed to know what to do and say, and you will have influence. Your light matters, so share it, as Sharon Eubank counsels: “Each of us needs to be better at articulating the reasons for our faith. . . . Use your voice and your power to articulate what you know and feel—on social media, in quiet conversations with your friends, when you’re chatting with your grandchildren. Tell them why you believe, what it feels like, if you ever doubted, how you got through it, and what Jesus Christ means to you. As the Apostle Peter said, “Be not afraid … ; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.”

-Kellie Nuss
Stake Public Affairs Committee

Willing to Try and Willing to Listen

Recently I had conversations with each of my daughters about Ministering.  (And before you say "oh no not Ministering again!", I would ask, just read on maybe something I share will be said in a way that you or someone you know can relate to.)  So yes... Ministering...

The first conversation I had was with my older daughter who is married with young children and serving in her Relief Society presidency.  As she spoke I heard concern, frustration and anxiety.  Concern for her stewardship as a counselor in that presidency and how would she manage all the interviews.  Frustration because she has already taught three training lessons and sisters still don't seem to understand what is expected and what this change in focus means - they still want to know 'what counts'.  Anxiety over how she can help smooth out this transition.  She commented that with each fourth Sunday lesson focusing on Ministering that they are just repeating things over and over, but still not going anywhere.

Because I'm practicing being a sounding board for my children instead of a problem solver (not an easy transition for me), I tried to listen to her and mirror back what she was expressing.  She needed to know that she was heard.  I tried to minister to her.  Isn't that what most of us really need when we talk with others?  We need to know that we've been heard.  We don't need others to solve our problems, but we surely can use the knowledge that we are supported as we work through our problems and find solutions.  I reminded her that we each learn differently.  We can each hear the exact same words, but our individual experiences and point of reference mean that what we really hear - the message that really sinks in could be entirely different than the person sitting right next to us.  To truly change something that has become ingrained as a habit - a tradition - will require time, patience and consistency.  We as a group of Saints will need to repeatedly hear Ministering from all angles in order to move the entire group forward.  Teaching is not ever a once and done task.  We are always learning and our understanding changes as our experiences shift.  For myself I am trying to be humble and each time I hear a topic (like Ministering) taught again and again, I'm trying to hear what the Lord would have me learn this time.

The second conversation was with my youngest daughter, a returned missionary now at school in a young single adult ward.  It began with "I'm not a good ministering sister" and her expressing that this new way is more complicated.  Apparently the girls in her ward thought that if they told the sisters they were assigned to that they were their Ministering Sisters it would make it feel like an assignment, so they were trying to just become friends with them instead.  My response..."umm well it is an assignment."  Bottom line was that she had tried to meet the girls she was assigned to and wasn't having much success.  But then she told me about a couple new girls in her ward and what she had done to help them feel welcome.  My response..."And what do you call that...Ministering!"  I reminded her that trying counts and encouraged her to start by praying for the sisters she is assigned.  But I also encouraged her to keep looking for those all around her that need a friend.  That's what is really at the core of this shift to Ministering.  It's about allowing ourselves to truly follow the Savior in how we watch over, care for, lift up all those within our sphere of influence...not just those who we are assigned.  We do have a stewardship for those we are assigned, but the shift from the letter of the law - the monthly reporting our visits - is a shift that turns us to the Lord for direction on how to minister to them as individuals in an ongoing way that builds relationships of trust and sisterhood.  It doesn't need to be complicated and it doesn't need us to beat ourselves up for what we perceive as failures.  It needs us being willing to try and willing to listen to our sisters and to the Spirit.

Below is one of the Ministering videos found on ministering.lds.org.  It is entitled Simple, Individualized and Led by the Spirit and that's what I love the most about this shift of focus.  The Lord knows and loves us as individuals....Ministering is all about just that!

(If the video won't play for you, please use the link to ministering.lds.org - you can find it easily there. It's only a couple minutes long and very worth hearing.)

In one training meeting I attended, President Mitchell commented that our generation - the ones part of this shift to Ministering - are laying the foundation for those who will follow.  There will be blessings that come to us, but it will be the generations who follow that will benefit the most from our efforts to teach and learn and implement.  We are truly part of a great moment in the history of the Church.  As I shared that idea with my oldest daughter, I think it helped her realize that the concern, frustration and anxiety were going to be momentary - that things would improve.  Our ward and branch Relief Society presidencies need our patience as they figure out how to move forward.  There is much required of them and many of them will no doubt be feeling a lot like my daughter felt.

My youngest daughter messaged just a day or two ago to tell me that she had met one of the girls she is assigned to at a 4th of July party and had a good conversation with her.  Sometimes we just need to give it time and keep looking for those opportunities and other times we need to act and make the opportunities happen.  As we invite the Spirit into our Ministering efforts, we will find the right way for us and for our sisters.

-Lorie Pierce

New and More New

It seems like every week we hear of something new in the Church - program changes, revised materials, updated resources. We have many opportunities to learn, to grow, to become better at how we serve in our homes, our Church assignments, our communities.  I don't know about anyone else, but sometimes I find it hard to keep up with all the announcements and find that I sometimes miss things that are interesting or useful.

I thought today I would share three announcements that were posted recently.

Latter-day Saint Hymnbook and Children’s Songbook to Be Revised
"Two books of sacred music published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are about to undergo significant changes. - The new music collections will be created over the next several years to unify members and reflect the needs of members around the world. Selections will include core hymns and songs that teach the doctrines of the gospel. - The new music will be compiled into one hymnbook and one children’s songbook, offering the same hymns and songs in all languages. In addition to the printed books, new audio of the hymns and songs will be recorded. The music will be available online once the new books are available. National anthems will not be included in the printed hymnbooks. - Original hymns, children’s songs, song texts without music or music without text can be submitted for consideration at newmusic.lds.org. Up to five hymns and five children’s songs may be submitted by an individual for consideration. Feedback can also be provided about the current music through an online survey. New submissions must be received by July 1, 2019."

Create Powerful, Visual Presentations with the Church’s Updated Media Library App
"The LDS Media Library app—the mobile app version of the LDS Media Library on LDS.org—has released a software update that makes it even easier for members to teach the gospel at church, at home, and on the go using Church media. - With the LDS Media Library app, you can search the largest selection of Church media, trim video and music, organize clips in a presentation, and present offline—all on a user-friendly interface. - Whether you’re in charge of a Sunday School lesson, a family home evening, or a missionary discussion, you now have the most comprehensive database of Church media at your fingertips. - Because presentations play offline, you won’t have to worry about buffering videos. Download your media at home, and you’ll be ready to go by the time you get to church. Your video will play without interruption, regardless of the Church building’s Wi-Fi connection, or a lack thereof."

Museum of the American Revolution to Open Interactive Exhibit
"A new exhibit for families opens to the public at the Museum of the American Revolution in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, June 9, 2018. Creative teams from the museum and FamilySearch, sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have been working for more than four years to develop the new family-friendly discovery center called Revolution Place. - 'This space is an interactive space where children can connect to the stories of the Revolution at a personal level, not the broader macro history,' said Diane Loosle, senior vice president at FamilySearch, the largest genealogy organization in the world.' - 'But a lot of people, when they hear ‘family’ they think just kids,' explained Mark Turdo, the museum’s curator. 'We intentionally meant families. So there are things here for both kids and adults.' - The museum, located just a few minutes away from the Church’s temple in downtown Philadelphia and famed Independence Hall, focuses on the American revolutionary era that dates from 1760 to 1783, when the 13 American colonies broke away from the British Empire and formed the United States of America."

Below is information that may help you find ways to follow the news and announcements from the Church.

If you are on social media, you can follow Mormon Newsroom to stay apprised of announcements:

https://www.facebook.com/MormonNewsroom
https://twitter.com/mormonnewsroom
https://plus.google.com/101264060152105540821
https://www.youtube.com/user/LDSPublicAffairs
https://www.instagram.com/mormonnewsroom/

Or you can go to https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/ - scroll to the bottom of the homepage and subscribe by email to receive announcements.

You can also find announcements about news and events on the News page on lds.org and follow the Church on social media for uplifting messages and informational posts.  For more information on how the Church uses social media you can view the Social Media Index Page on lds.org.  But here are some of the main ones that you can follow the Church on:

https://www.facebook.com/LDS
https://twitter.com/ldschurch
https://www.instagram.com/ldschurch/
https://www.pinterest.com/ldschurch/

- Lorie Pierce

Hill Cumorah Pageant

Did you know there is a theatrical production held yearly at the Hill Cumorah in Palmyra, New York?  It is known as the Hill Cumorah Pageant.  I haven't been to see it for many, many, many years.  The last time I was chaperoning a Youth Conference trip in the 1990's.  It was quite an amazing production.  Recently, I saw a blurb about it as I was searching online for something else.  It got me thinking about some of the opportunities that are nearby and yet we often seem to miss and I decided to share a bit about the Hill Cumorah Pagent and other Church History sites in that area.  Maybe you and your family or friends will want to make plans to visit there in July for the pageant.

The following is from the Hill Cumorah Pageant page on lds.org and gives a brief idea of what the pageant is about:  Experience the excitement, drama, and pageantry of America's largest and most spectacular outdoor theatrical event, which focuses on the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Witness the trials of Lehi’s family and his descendants, the climactic visit of Jesus Christ to the Americas, and Joseph Smith receiving the plates.

The dates for the 2018 pageant are July 13-14, 17-21.  The pageant begins at 9:15 p.m. and runs for about 75 minutes.  Admission is free. No ticket is required, and no reservation is necessary.  It is held at the Hill Cumorah site grounds (603 State Route 2, Palmyra, New York).  Below are a couple links that can provide further details and contact information:

Hill Cumorah Visitors' Center

Hill Cumorah Pageant Website

While in the Palmyra area there are several more Church Historical sites worth seeing.  My favorite is the Sacred Grove.  I also love the Palmyra Temple and with the Washington DC Temple construction closure - if I'm in the Palmyra area I wouldn't miss the opportunity to attend the temple.  You can find more information about the Palmyra Temple schedule on their lds.org page.  It's a good idea to schedule with them if you want to do a session.  It is a small temple with limited hours and no clothing rental.

To find out more about the other Church History sites see the links below.  I did a previous post in 2015 about the Sacred Grove and the Palmyra area if you want to go back and read that.  Let It Change Your Life, 26 May 2015

The Sacred Grove

Smith Family Farm

Book of Mormon Publication Site

Peter Whitmer Log Home

Martin Harris Farm

While we don't have plans to attend the pageant this year, we love this area and the heritage that all of us as Church members can connect to there.  We will go back to Palmyra again and hope that many of you will find that opportunity as well.

-Lorie Pierce

Farewell to Kim Olivier and Welcome to Mendy Hunter

This past Sunday at Stake Conference Sister Kim Olivier was released as a counselor in the Stake Relief Society Presidency.  We are so sad to say goodbye to Kim, but we truly wish her and her family all the best as they relocate to Pennsylvania.  Sister Mendy Hunter of the Savage Mill Ward was sustained as the new second counselor in the presidency.  We are excited to have this opportunity to work with Mendy and get to know her better.

Mendy was born in raised in York County, PA, the 4th of 8 children. (She grew up in Shrewsbury--the same town her dad's family has lived in since the 1730s!) After graduating from high school, she went to BYU where she majored in English. Before graduating from college, she served a mission in Romania where she fell in love with the warm people and the breathtakingly beautiful Transylvania. After her mission, she graduated from the Y, backpacked through Europe with a friend, and then married Michael Hunter. While Michael finished his schooling, Mendy worked in the staffing industry until her first baby, Maia (19), was born. When Maia was only 3 months old, Mendy and Mike decided to move from Utah back to the east coast, where most members of their families lived. With Mike's family in Virgina and Mendy's in Pennsylvania, he suggested they move to the middle: Laurel, MD--and that's where they've been for the past 19 years! Here, they have added a son, Mason (18), and two more daughters, Marlee (14) and Mackenna (12), to their family. Mendy has remained a full-time homemaker and enjoys volunteering at her kids' schools, reading, doing crafts, and learning new DIY skills. She loves Relief Society and is especially excited to get to know more of the sisters in the stake through this new calling.

Mendy Hunter - Cindy Erekson - Lisa Larson

When We Are Prepared and Ready To Receive

I have been struggling to get over bronchitis the past couple weeks.  I was feeling better yesterday, but felt it was a wiser choice to continue resting rather than attend Stake Conference.  I did not attend the meetings yesterday.  This morning when I woke up I felt significantly better, but was still thinking it wiser to stay home.  However at 9am I was overwhelmed with a feeling of "go to Stake Conference!".  I quickly dressed and headed out the door.  As I sat and listened to the speakers this morning, I knew why the Lord wanted me there.  I received answers to private prayers through the messages shared.  How grateful I am for the preparation of the speakers.  How grateful I am that I didn't question the impression - that I didn't make my excuses and stay home to rest another day.  How grateful I am that I had been faithful this week in my personal reading of the Book of Mormon - even though I really just wanted to lie back down.  How grateful I am that I was indeed well enough to go and spiritually prepared enough to hear what I needed to hear.

For those of my sisters who for whatever reason were unable to be with us this morning at Stake Conference, here are some of the things that impressed my heart and mind.  It's obviously not a complete transcript...just the notes from my scribblings.  Hopefully I have the names of the youth speakers spelled correctly.

Kasey Baird - youth speaker from Columbia 1 Ward
The Savior is the perfect example of how to Minister.  She shared two simple ways for youth (and all of us) to follow Christ's example by ministering: 1.  Being a Friend  and 2. Attend mutual (our RS meetings) with a different mindset - Who Needs Me Today?  We can ask ourselves that question everyday.

Mason Hunter - youth speaker from Savage Mill Ward
Our heart should be in the right place - in the Savior's Way.  We need to choose to Minister for the right reasons.  Love should be our motivation.  Love should be our compass and Ministering our vessel.

Felicity Hancock - Savage Mill Ward
Everyone fights a hard battle.  She has seen direct blessings for their efforts to attend the Temple - peace in difficult times.  She quoted Elder Renlund's 2018 conference talk that spoke of blessings from temple and family history work.   "When ordinances are performed on behalf of the deceased, God’s children on earth are healed."  The best way to keep our youth on the Gospel path is to involve them in temple and family history work.  We matter to our Heavenly Father.  If you're seeking answers and peace - go to the temple.  It's easy for us to over complicate attending the temple, but what we really need is to realize that it is a possibility and work from there.

Sister Christiansen - Maryland Baltimore Mission
Knowing who we are and why we're here on this earth makes all the difference.  When we establish our vision through the Gospel lens, we can see things as they really are.  Faith must be active. Repentance daily. Continuous in keeping sacred covenants. Actively receiving the Holy Ghost.  Each of us much choose to act in faith, to remove distractions, to seek the Lord and to know for ourselves.

President Christiansen - Maryland Baltimore Mission
Our fellowship together is a great opportunity to lift one another.  Do we realize what we know and what we have?  Ministering should be a way of life - looking outward we can find opportunities all around us.  How will you bless?  Who will you bless?  Revelation assists us in knowing who and how to bless.  He also shared this thought from his counselor, President McConkie: Simplicity means focusing on that which is essential.  The ordinances of the Priesthood are essential for us to walk back into the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ.  We are those the Lord is relying on to prepare the world for the coming of Jesus Christ.  There is an urgency in what we are doing.

President Peterson - Columbia Maryland Stake
In our families we first learn and practice worship of our Father in Heaven.  As we remember the blessings of God for our families we will be able to reverence and worship Him more.  We worship through prayer, through our Sabbath Day observance and through Temple attendance.  We need to set aside time to worship in the Temple.

President Towne - Columbia Maryland Stake
The most important things in life are not things.  Do we really understood how important the Gospel is?  The pearl of great price referred to by the Savior is the Restored Gospel.  He quoted President Nelson:  "What will your seeking open for you? What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort."  The truth is what is important.  Knowing Christ is what is important.

President Mitchell - Columbia Maryland Stake
He began by sharing his testimony and told us - you can receive a witness for yourself.  Though the Spirit you can feel peace, assurance, calm, guidance and witness that this is His church and knowing that changes our perspective on life.  He also spoke on Ministering.  To be disciples of Christ we need to love one another.  How can we develop more Christlike love?  We need to be mindful of others needs.  Spiritual strengthening is as important as meeting physical needs.  He quoted President Nelson regarding the need for revelation in our lives: “Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly. -- I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation. -- Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.”  He reminded us that the Gathering of Israel is the most important thing going onto today - on both sides of the veil.  The Lord hasn't left us alone.  We should work together in love and unity.  We need to strengthen and help one another.

- Lorie Pierce

Ministering - A Demonstration of Discipleship, Gratitude and Love for God

Sister Jean B. Bingham, General Relief Society President, has said that “our service to others is a demonstration of discipleship and our gratitude and love for God and His Son, Jesus Christ”. I know we all want to be obedient to the commandments.  We all strive to “Love one another” and to “love our neighbor as ourselves”.  But sometimes it’s a little scary to put ourselves out there, to take that extra step and offer our services, to become friends with someone we don’t know and have little in common with.

But whatever our differences, our divine heritage unites us as sisters and daughters of God.  We are united in our love and devotion to God, and our desires to follow His prophet. It really is an exciting time to live, and as I contemplate all of the new information and guidance we have received during and since General Conference, I am awed and humbled by the need to take better care of and more interest in the sisters whom I serve.

We have literally been asked to strengthen one another in the Lord. To go above and beyond what we usually did in visiting the sisters we are assigned to visit, as well as others in our wards and communities.  I know many of you have already been doing this. You have always gone beyond the monthly required visit.  You have taken a personal interest in the sisters you visit and have become a part of their lives. They have moved beyond being an assignment on a piece of paper.

How do we do this now that a monthly in-home visit with a message is no longer required?  The best place I know of to start is with prayer. Pray for your sisters by name.  Pray that you will be open to promptings that will allow you to help them.  Our Father is mindful of all of us.  He knows our hearts, and He knows their needs.  Turn your heart to Him and let Him guide you.

Ask your sisters what works best for them.  A visit, phone call, text, walk in the park, play date with your kids, lunch together, a short conversation at church…all these and more can be part of your Ministering and care. Sister Aburto, General Relief Society 2nd counselor, has said: “It’s not so much what you do, but how you feel and how they feel.  Do whatever it takes so that person knows that you are a true friend and that you will come when they need your help.”

So maybe we need to ask ourselves - What am I are going to do that will be different than I’ve done before?  How can I show more care instead of less?  How will I be able to respond during my quarterly interview with my Relief Society leaders when they ask how my sisters are doing? Will I really know?

I think we’re going to find greater unity in our wards and branches as we implement this new program.  I think we’ll have more needs being met, and more of our less active sisters returning to activity.  I trust that we’ll grow closer as we counsel together and coordinate with our Priesthood brethren. Whole families will be blessed by our care and love.  Isn’t it marvelous to watch our Father’s plans for us unfold?

I’m so grateful for a living Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, and for his counsel to us to seek revelation. In his words: “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."  I pray that you will seek for and follow the guidance you need as you watch over your sisters with love.

- Cindy Erekson
Columbia Stake Relief Society President