Sisters and Brothers –
I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the lead up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. To me, these two holidays have always fit together well. Thanksgiving allows us a dedicated day to counting blessings. Christmas reminds us of the greatest blessing we’ve ever received — the Lord, Jesus Christ.
As we go into this holiday season, I wanted to touch base on a few items and answer some questions I’ve received over the past few days.
1) For those of you not yet aware, Kenia Guzman was able to return to her mission this week. She returned to her same mission (California San Bernardino Mission), which was a blessing to her. Please offer whatever support you can to her and her family.
2) I am currently in the middle of tithing settlement. Tithing settlement is the opportunity to declare to the Lord your status in sacrificing in this sacred way. You don’t have to be complete in your 2020 donations to meet with me. You can declare your status and then still have to the end of the year to make any donations. I’ve enjoyed meeting with many of you and appreciate the chance to discuss tithing and other offerings with the youth of our ward as they come in with their parents. There’s a sign up sheet on the bishop’s office door.
3) Temple and Priesthood Preview meeting next Sunday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. in the chapel. This is a meeting for youth who will be advancing from primary at the start of 2021 and their parents. Those people will receive more information from the primary presidency.
4) For the time being, we will continue to meet in-person for sacrament meeting in three different sections of the alphabet. Today, it will be H through P. Others are encouraged to watch sacrament meeting from home, partaking of the sacrament afterward, administered by worthy priesthood holders of the appropriate office. Contact a member of the bishopric or elders quorum presidency with questions.
Here is the link for sacrament meeting.
http://mywebcast.churchofjesuschrist.org/Events/spanishforkutahriverstake
5) Second-hour classes will continue virtually. This week it will be Sunday School classes. Please reach out to your Sunday School teacher or a member of the Sunday School presidency if you have any questions or concerns. As always, please be patient with teachers as they continue to adjust to this new teaching style.
6) While religious events are exempt from Governor Gary Herbert’s executive order limiting social interactions and requiring masks, the Area Presidency has invited youth activities to be held virtually, at least until Nov. 23. We will honor this and not hold in-person youth activities.
7) The ward council is currently in the planning stages of our Christmas activity. While a conventional Christmas party like we have in most years is clearly unrealistic, we do have some meaningful Christmas ideas in mind and will announce those as they are finalized.
Let me know if you have any other questions or if I can help any of you with anything. This remains a tough time for us, but offers a chance to learn and grow. None of us will be the same when this is over. The question is, will we be stronger? That is up to us and how we deal with this unique challenge.
I love you all.
Bishop Bennett