Apr 13 - 19, 2020

Stake Focus

North America Central Area Plan

Announcements should be communicated to members prior to Sunday so they do not take time in sacrament meeting, quorums, or classes; the bishopric may emphasize essential announcements briefly before the opening hymn (see Handbook 2, 18.2.2).

From Elder Quentin L. Cook's general conference talk Deep and Lasting Conversion to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ (after President Nelson's two-hour meeting block announcement), "To help members prepare for the Sabbath, some wards already send an informative email, text, or social media message midweek. In view of this adjustment, we strongly recommend this type of communication. These invitations will remind the members of the Sunday meeting schedule for that week, including the upcoming class lesson topic, and support continuing gospel conversation at home."

Announcements for Events This Week and Next Week

• 1. Review the church's website periodically as the church provides continuing and timely updates and consolidates their announcements on this website:

2. See the Updates to the Stake Calendar of Events section below for adjusted (e.g. now being held online), cancelled, or postponed meetings and activities

3. Colorado Springs North Stake JustServe

• As we have some extra time on our hands, here are a few service projects your family can enjoy while we are spending some extra time at home.
  1. One of the most important projects right now is sewing masks for doctors, hospitals and clinics, that are having a shortage of N95-type masks to treat sick patients.
  2. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado is looking for wish list donations.
  3. Birthday Cards for the Children's Hospital
  4. Make Holiday/Monthly Decorations for Ronald McDonald House
  5. Children's Colorado at Briargate Wish List
  6. Household Supplies for Foster Homes
  7. Send a Smile Today
  8. Girls Love Mail
  9. Make Seed Sticks for Budgies at the Zoo!
  10. Make Comfort Heart Pillows for Breast Cancer Patients
  11. Letters Against Depression
  12. Hand made greeting cards for hospice patients
  13. Make Table Favors for Samaritan's Kitchen

... and many more project ideas at JustServe.org

• Neighborhood:
  1. Shovel your neighbor’s driveway
  2. Pick up trash in the neighborhood
  3. Leave a meal or treat on the doorstep for someone
  4. Draw positive messages on the sidewalks with chalk
  5. Leave a positive sticky note on neighbors’ doors
  6. Genealogy and Family History
  7. Do a surprise act of service for a family member
  8. If you are headed to the grocery store ask if your ministering families, neighbor or someone immunocompromised could use anything and drop off at the door.
  9. Set up an online appointment with Missionaries to teach you about the restoration.
  10. If you have a special skill or talent, share that through online teaching with people interested.

Continuing Announcements

1. To schedule a temple recommend renewal or BYU ecclesiastical endorsement interview, send an email to renewtemple@csnorth.org or call/text 719-491-7003
   • Temple Recommend and BYU Endorsement interviews are held on Thursday evenings at the stake offices - *** Currently Online Only! (by appointment only) to not interfere with leader/parents commitments to weekly child and youth activity nights on Tuesday and Wednesday; church dress requested
2. Colorado Springs Institute, Brothers and Sisters, here are the links for Institute classes Thursday night:
   • Brother Romney - Mere Christianity - 6 pm
   • Brother Romney - Teachings of the Living Prophets - 7 pm
   • Brother Sorenson - Teachings and Doctrines of the Book of Mormon - 7 pm
   • Brother Ronan - How to Receive Revelation - 7 pm
   • Brother Chatelain - Teachings and Doctrines of the Book of Mormon - 7 pm
   • Brother and Sister Powell - Mission Prep - 7 pm
3. Young Single Adults (YSA), ages 18-30
   • Colorado Springs YSAs Facebook and Instagram groups
4. Middle Single Adults (MSA), ages 31-45, Events and Information
   • Colorado Springs LDS Midsingles (ages 31-45) Facebook group and email: CSMidsingles@gmail.com
5. Single Adults (SA), ages 31+, Events and Information
   • Colorado South Single Adults (CSSA) Website
   • Colorado Springs LDS Multi-Stake Single Adults 31+ Facebook group
   • Denver LDS Singles Website
   • Castle Rock LDS Singles crssingleadults@hotmail.com email
6. BYU-Pathway Worldwide
   • A one-year program that helps members of the Church start or return to college
   • Students earn 15 credits toward a degree and upon completion, may continue working toward a skills-based certificate, an Associate's degree, or a Bachelor’s degree online through BYU-Idaho – at a GREATLY reduced cost
   • Learn more and apply online or contact your local Pathway missionaries: Elder & Sister Zenger (ages 18-30) 503-290-9933 or 503-684-6073; or, Elder & Sister Riding (ages 30+) 719-761-2955.
7. Temple Ordinance Workers and Temple Volunteers are Needed at the Denver Colorado Temple
   • If interested, contact your bishop

The online stake calendar provides event details: e.g. end times, participants invited, point of contact for questions, address, reserved building room(s), setup time, cleanup time, etc.

Updates to the Stake Calendar of Events

1. On April 6th, Colorado Governor issued an updated executive order to guard against the spread of the coronavirus extended through Sunday, April 26th

2. The Lexington, Jamboree, and Monument buildings are closed until further notice

• All wards are to complete their building security assignments each evening
• All ward and stake leaders are encouraged to conduct meetings online.

3. Stake Temple Recommend and BYU Endorsement Interviews will be held via online technology

• Send an email to renewtemple@csnorth.org or call/text 719-491-7003 to make specific arrangements)

4. The following meetings and activities are cancelled or changed to Online-only due to state and church-wide announcements and removed from the stake calendar:

a. A reminder to sync your Member Tools app to align with these stake calendar changes as the app is only a snapshot of calendar/member information each time you sync; if you followed the Personal Calendar instructions below, your personal calendar will be updated automatically

• Monday, April 13
  • Cancelled: Multistake Adult Education Gospel Study [ML]12pm-1:30pm
  • Cancelled: Institute [USAFA]6pm - 7pm
  • Cancelled: Multistake Middle Single Adult Home Evening Group [LX]6pm-8pm
  • Cancelled: Multistake Single Adult Home Evening Group [CSCSC]6pm-7:30pm
  • Cancelled: Stake Young Single Adult Home Evening Group [JB]7pm-9pm
• Thursday, April 16
  • Changed: Institute [JB]6:30pm-10pm to [Online]7pm-8:30pm
  • Changed: Stake Temple Recommend Interviews (by appointment only) [LX]6pm-9pm to [Online]
  • Changed: Multistake Support Meeting for Women [DS]7pm-8pm to [Online]
• Friday, April 17
  • Cancelled: Multistake Single Adult Activity [FCSC]7pm-10:30pm
• Saturday, April 18
  • Cancelled: Stake Family History Center Staff Meeting [LX]9 - 10am
• Sunday, April 19
  • Cancelled: Third Sunday: Sunday School (Primary held every Sunday)
  • Changed: Stake Relief Society Women's Conference, from Saturday, Apr 18th [LX]10am - 12pm, to Sunday, April 19th [Online] 9am-10:30am
  • Changed: Stake Missionary Work Coordination Meeting [LX]2 - 3pm to [Online]
  • Cancelled: Multistake Young Single Adult Council [JB]1:45 - 2:30pm
  • Changed: Stake General Priesthood Meeting [LX]4 - 5pm to [Online]
  • Changed: Colorado Springs Coordinating Council Public Affairs Meeting with Stake Directors of Public Affairs [Online]4:30 - 5:30pm to [Online]
  • Cancelled: Multistake Single Adult Leadership Meeting [CSESC]5:45 - 6:45pm
  • Changed: Multistake Support Meeting for Men [JB]6 - 7pm to [Online]
  • Cancelled: Multistake Single Adult Fireside [CSESC]7 - 8:30pm
• Monday, April 20
  • Cancelled: Multistake Adult Education Gospel Study Class [ML]12 - 1:30pm
  • Cancelled: Multistake Middle Single Adult Home Evening Group [LX]6 - 8pm
  • Cancelled: Multistake Single Adult Home Evening Group [CSCSC]6 - 7:30pm
  • Changed: USAFA Institute [USAFA]6 - 7pm to [Online]
  • Cancelled: Stake Young Single Adult Home Evening Group [JB]7 - 9pm
• Thursday, April 23
  • Changed: Institute Senior Night [JB] to [Online]
  • Changed: Stake Temple Recommend Interviews (by appointment only) [LX]6 - 9pm to [Online]
  • Changed: Institute [JB]6:30 - 10pm to [Online]6pm-8:30pm
  • Changed: Multistake Support Meeting for Women [DS]7 - 8pm to [Online]
• Saturday, April 25
  • Cancelled: Stake Family History Workshop [LX]9 - 10am
• Sun, Apr 26, 2020
  • Cancelled: Fourth Sunday: Priesthood quorums, Relief Society, and Young Women (Primary held every Sunday)
  • Changed: Stake Leadership Meeting from [LX]7 - 8am to [Online]9am - 10am
  • Changed: Stake Aaronic Priesthood–Young Women Committee Meeting [LX]3:30 - 4:30pm to [Online]
  • Cancelled: Stake Primary Activities Committee Meeting [LX]3:30 - 4:30pm
  • Cancelled: Ward Mission Leader Council [LX]4:30 - 5:30pm
  • Changed: Multistake Support Meeting for Men [JB]6 - 7pm to [Online]
• Thursday, April 30
  • Changed: BYU Women's Conference to [Online] on Friday, May 1st only
• Friday, May 1
  • Changed: BYU Women's Conference to [Online]
  • Cancelled: Stake Youth School Teacher Appreciation Night [LX]7pm-8:30pm
• Saturday, May 23
  • Cancelled: Stake Youth Fireside [FCSC], 7pm-8:30pm, at the Fountain Colorado Stake Center (FCSC)
• Sunday, May 24
  • Cancelled: LDS Baccalaureate [USAFA], 1:30pm-2:30pm at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Arnold Hall

This Week: Monday, April 13th - Sunday, April 19th

Mon, Apr 13, 2020

• Come, Follow Me - April 13–19. Mosiah 1–3: “Filled with Love towards God and All Men”
• Family Home Evening
• USAFA Institute [Online]6 - 7pm

Tue, Apr 14, 2020

• Come, Follow Me - April 13–19. Mosiah 1–3: “Filled with Love towards God and All Men”

Wed, Apr 15, 2020

• Come, Follow Me - April 13–19. Mosiah 1–3: “Filled with Love towards God and All Men”

Thu, Apr 16, 2020

• Come, Follow Me - April 13–19. Mosiah 1–3: “Filled with Love towards God and All Men”
• Stake Temple Recommend Interviews (by appointment only) [Online]6 - 9pm
• Institute [Online]6 - 8:30pm (see online institute class information in Announcement section above)
• Multistake Support Meeting for Women [Online]7 - 8pm

Fri, Apr 17, 2020

• Come, Follow Me - April 13–19. Mosiah 1–3: “Filled with Love towards God and All Men”

Sat, Apr 18, 2020

• Come, Follow Me - April 13–19. Mosiah 1–3: “Filled with Love towards God and All Men”

Sun, Apr 19, 2020

• Come, Follow Me - April 13–19. Mosiah 1–3: “Filled with Love towards God and All Men”
• Stake Relief Society Women's Conference [Online]9 - 10am (for all women in the stake)
• Stake Missionary Work Coordination Meeting [Online]2 - 3pm
• Stake General Priesthood Meeting [Online]4 - 5pm (for all priesthood holders in the stake)
• Colorado Springs Coordinating Council Public Affairs Meeting with Stake Directors of Public Affairs [Online]4:30 - 5:30pm
• Multistake Support Meeting for Men [Online]6 - 7pm

Next Week: Monday, April 20th - Sunday, April 26th

Mon, Apr 20, 2020

• Come, Follow Me - April 20–26. Mosiah 4–6: “A Mighty Change”
• Family Home Evening
• USAFA Institute [Online]6 - 7pm

Tue, Apr 21, 2020

• Come, Follow Me - April 20–26. Mosiah 4–6: “A Mighty Change”

Wed, Apr 22, 2020

• Come, Follow Me - April 20–26. Mosiah 4–6: “A Mighty Change”

Thu, Apr 23, 2020

• Come, Follow Me - April 20–26. Mosiah 4–6: “A Mighty Change”
• Institute Senior Night [Online]
• Stake Temple Recommend Interviews (by appointment only) [Online]6 - 9pm
• Institute [Online]6 - 8:30pm (see online institute class information in Announcement section above)
• Multistake Support Meeting for Women [Online]7 - 8pm

Fri, Apr 24, 2020

• Come, Follow Me - April 20–26. Mosiah 4–6: “A Mighty Change”

Sat, Apr 25, 2020

• Come, Follow Me - April 20–26. Mosiah 4–6: “A Mighty Change”

Sun, Apr 26, 2020

• Come, Follow Me - April 20–26. Mosiah 4–6: “A Mighty Change”
• Stake Organization Leadership Meeting [Online]9 - 10am (for stake and ward relief society, young women, primary, and sunday school presidencies)
• Stake Aaronic Priesthood–Young Women Committee Meeting [Online]3:30 - 4:30pm
• Multistake Support Meeting for Men [Online]6 - 7pm

2020 Ward Meeting Schedule

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All ward Sunday meetings and weekday activities are cancelled and buildings are closed for all activities until further notice (at least through April 26th per Colorado governor executive order.

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Unless an exception is noted below, all wards hold sacrament meeting first and ward weeknight activities are at the same building as Sunday meetings:

• Lexington building, 8710 Lexington Dr, Colorado Spring CO 80920
  • Cordera Ward, 8:30am - 10:30am, Tuesday weeknight activities
  • Gleneagle Ward, 10:00am - 12:00pm, Wednesday weeknight activities
  • Northgate Ward, 11:30am - 1:30pm, Tuesday weeknight activities
  • Pine Creek Ward, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Wednesday weeknight activities at the Jamboree building
• Monument building, 950 West Colorado Highway 105, Monument CO 80132
  • Monument Ward, 8:30am - 10:30am, Wednesday weeknight activities
  • High Forest Ward, 10:00am - 12:00pm, Tuesday weeknight activities
  • King's Deer Ward, 11:30am - 1:30pm, Wednesday weeknight activities
  • Jackson Creek Ward, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Tuesday weeknight activities
• Black Forest building, 6950 Shoup Rd, Colorado Springs CO 80908
  • [Black Forest Ward (Colorado Springs High Plains Stake), 9:00am - 11:00am, Wednesday (Jan-Jul) and Tuesday (Aug-Dec) weeknight activities]
  • Meadow Run Ward, 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Tuesday (Jan-Jul) and Wednesday (Aug-Dec) weeknight activities
• Jamboree building, 8295 Jamboree Cir, Colorado Springs CO 80920
  • [Chapel Hills Ward (Colorado Springs East Stake), 9:00am - 11:00am, Tuesday weeknight activities]
  • Cheyenne Mountain YSA Ward, 11:30am - 1:30pm (sacrament meeting 11:30am, in the cultural hall), Thursday weeknight activities
  • Mount Herman YSA Ward, 11:30am - 1:30pm (sacrament meeting 11:30am, in the chapel), Thursday weeknight activities
  • Pikes Peak YSA Ward, 11:30am - 1:30pm (sacrament meeting 12:35pm, in the chapel), Thursday weeknight activities

Recording Church Attendance on the Quarterly Report – Quarter 1, 2020

With the worldwide suspension of Church meetings announced by the First Presidency on March 12, 2020, we provide the following guidelines for recording Church attendance on the Quarterly Report for the first quarter of 2020:

Sacrament Meeting Attendance

Beginning in April 2020, the Quarterly Report will automatically calculate the average quarterly sacrament meeting attendance based on what has been recorded in LCR. In weeks where no meetings are held, enter 0 in LCR (these weeks are not calculated in the quarterly average). The Quarterly Report requires that sacrament meeting attendance be recorded in LCR for at least four weeks during the quarter. If fewer than four meetings were held during the quarter, enter the average attendance from the 4th quarter of 2019 in at least four weeks of the 1st quarter of 2020.

Priesthood Quorum and Organization Class Attendance

Second-hour attendance is based on the number of members who attended at least one meeting or class during the last month of the quarter (March). If no meetings were held during the month of March, enter the attendance numbers reported on the 3rd quarter of 2019. (Because only one week of attendance was recorded in the Month of December, the 4th quarter may not be an accurate representation of regular attendance.)

Convert Sacrament Meeting Attendance

Convert sacrament meeting attendance is based on the number of converts who attended at least one sacrament meeting during the last month of the quarter (March). If no meetings were held during the month of March, enter Yes if the convert attended any sacrament meeting during the quarter. If no meetings were held during the entire quarter, enter the same information that was reported for the 4th quarter of 2019.

Ward Quarterly Reports due to be submitted no later than April 15th

Ward Clerks and Organization Secretaries,

Four times each year (Quarters ending in March, June, September, December) the ward clerk completes the Quarterly Report. The stake clerk works with the ward clerks to ensure that the report is submitted by the 15th of the following month after the end of each quarter.

Clerks may complete the Quarterly Report here or sign into leader.churchofjesuschrist.org and click on Quarterly Report from the Reports menu. Specific instructions for completing the report are available by clicking on each of the numbered links presented in the report.

Thank you for your diligence in making sure that Church records are accurately maintained.

The churchofjesuschrist.org online help for the quarterly report provides guidance and clarification to ward clerks and priesthood/organization secretaries:

Policy and Principles

The Quarterly Report includes information for only the last month of each quarter.

The ward clerk or an assistant ward clerk prepares the report under the direction of the bishop. By the 10th of the month following the end of each quarter, quorum and organization leaders or secretaries give attendance information for the previous month to the clerk so he can include it in the report. The bishop reviews the report for accuracy and makes sure the clerk submits it by the 15th of the month following the end of the quarter.

Indicators of Conversion and Church Growth

All of the information in the “Indicators of Conversion and Church Growth” section, except for the actual average sacrament meeting attendance, is provided automatically from Church headquarters. This section also includes the percentages relating to the information above from one year ago and five years ago to help leaders monitor trends.

Every number and statistic in the Quarterly Report represents an individual member who has unique needs and is used in tracking the progress of ward members and deciding how to strengthen the faith of individuals and families. The Ward Council should seek direction from the Lord as they consider who may need their help and what help to provide.

Using Virtual Meeting Technologies

The ready availability of audio conferencing and video conferencing solutions allows local ecclesiastical leaders to conduct virtual meetings with councils or members while avoiding an increase in technology costs for the Church. Local leaders are encouraged to use a free, reputable solution that works best in their area. Some possible options may include:

• Google Hangouts or Google Hangouts Meet
• Zoom
• Webex
• WhatsApp
• Facebook Messenger
• Skype

These solutions should be adequate to meet most virtual meeting needs. If these tools are unfamiliar, it is recommended that leaders test their preferred solution before hosting actual meetings.

• Consider the following when selecting and using virtual meeting technologies:
• Understand the time and participant limits of your selected platform
• Use good lighting for a better video conference experience
• Minimize background noise and other potential distractions
• Encourage everyone to mute their microphones when not speaking
• Be sensitive to confidential information, and avoid recording meetings

If a leader has an account with a videoconferencing platform from their employment, they should ensure they have their employer’s approval before using that platform for Church purposes. Be aware that employer administrators may have access to personal meetings. In all cases, leaders should consider confidentiality and safeguard the personal information of members and others. Please share this information with the leaders in your wards and stake.

Member Tools App Release Notes

Release 3.6

Date Released: June 11, 2019

Membership Related

• Provided access to local unit statistics for members of the stake council.
• Removed the need to use hyphens when searching by phone number.
• Added the ability to search by email address.
• Added numerous latitude and longitude enhancements, including:
  • Ability to get directions to a member’s household location from current location.
  • Ability for members to map their household location.
  • Ability to copy latitude and longitude.

Issues Resolved

• Resolved issues with spaces in password.
• Resolved problems encountered when entering long phone numbers.
• Additional bug fixes and performance improvements.

Member Tools App previous release notes

Leader and Clerk Resources (LCR) Release Notes

Release 4.8

Date Released: January 1, 2020

New or Enhanced Functionality

Finance Related

• Added the “Budget” menu. Leaders can now view the summary of their assigned budget.
• Bishops’ orders now appear along with fast-offering transactions on the “Participant” menu, if applicable.

Membership Related

• Sacrament meeting attendance can be recorded weekly using Leader and Clerk Resources by selecting Sacrament Meeting Attendance in the “Reporting” menu.
• System changes that support changes announced in youth and Primary organizations:
  • Aaronic Priesthood organization changes at the ward level are now reflected.
  • Scouting organization and callings have been retired.
  • Primary activities leaders can now be recorded.
• The ability to view organization budgets is now available to organization presidencies through the “Finance” menu option.

Issues Resolved

• Additional bug fixes and performance improvements.

Leader and Clerk Resources (LCR) previous release notes

Personal Calendar: Synchronize your personal calendar with ward and stake calendar events

You can automatically synchronize the events from your ward and stake calendar with your personal Google, Microsoft Outlook, or Apple calendar. Updates made to events in your Church calendar will be reflected in the sync'd calendar.

To setup your phone, tablet, or computer, go to churchofjesuschrist.org, Church Calendar, Sync, select the type of calendar you use (Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, or Apple Calendar), and follow the instructions.

This has the advantage as items are added, deleted, and modified on the ward and stake calendar, they are instantly updated on your personal calendar.

• The Member Tools app has the drawback that:
  1. it is only synchronized every 30 days, unless the user manually synchronizes it
  2. it is not integrated with your personal calendar for viewing on one screen
  3. the web links listed in some of the calendar events can be directly clicked on to open the web page from the event in your personal calendar, but not in the Member Tools app.

Official General Conference addresses, and BYU-Provo, BYU-Idaho, and BYU-Hawaii speeches.

Official Newsroom and Church News announcements and articles of interest to our stake.

New videos from the church from the Book of Mormon Videos, HopeWorks, ComeUntoChrist.org, Latter-day Saints Channel, Video Series: Give Back, His Grace, Gospel Solutions for Families, Inspirational Messages, Inspirational Messages for Youth, The Daily, etc. -- inspirational stories, news, events, quotes from Church leaders, and more for your daily uplift.

The church’s Official Communication Library messages may contain confidential or privileged information and are only accessible by and for the use of the individual(s) addressed in the letter/policy.

New This Past Week

• Notice, 10 April 2020: May 2020 Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults
  • Includes the worldwide broadcast schedule for the Church satellite system and other media. Speaker: Elder Robert C. Gay of the Presidency of the Seventy and Sister Lynette Gay.

Selection of Previously Released

• Notice, 5 April 2020: Implementation of New Church Symbol
  • This new symbol communicates to the world that this is the Savior’s Church and that all we do centers on Him and His gospel.
• First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles letter, 31 March 2020: Additional Adjustments to Missionary Service
  • We are making available two opportunities for missionary service for those who have returned and are awaiting reassignment or may yet be required to return to the U.S. and Canada.
• First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles letter, 26 March 2020: Further Adjustments to Missionary Service
  • Adjustments to terms of service for missionaries brought back early to the United States and Canada.
• First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles letter, 20 March 2020: Further Adjustments to Missionary Service
  • Further temporary adjustments to missionary work.
• Notice, 20 March 2020: Further Adjustments to Missionary Service
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints takes very seriously the health and safety of its missionaries and of those they teach. In response to the rapidly developing travel advisories and restrictions that are emerging around the world and that present significant logistical and other challenges, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have approved the following temporary adjustments:
• Notice, 16 March 2020: Temporary Changes to Missionary Service
  • In response to rapidly changing conditions throughout the world, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have approved the following guidelines affecting missionary service.
• First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles letter, 12 March 2020: Public Gatherings of Church Members
  • Beginning immediately, all public gatherings of Church members are being temporarily suspended worldwide until further notice.