CSNS Bulletin

Last fast Sunday I had the privilege to attend the Pikes Peak YSA ward sacrament meeting. In the middle of the administration of the sacrament, I noticed an elderly couple quietly enter the chapel and reverently find seats in the overflow.

After a few testimonies were shared by some of the YSAs , this elderly sister and brother came forward. The sister went first and humbly shared her testimony of the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ. She then shared that her son was in very critical condition at the hospital because of COVID and they were traveling back to their hotel when they noticed the church building. Having prayed for the need to be comforted, they felt this was the answer to their prayer and they drove into the parking lot, gratefully finding that our meeting was in progress. When she began to describe the dire condition of her son’s health, I immediately recognized that she was describing Jorge Troncoso. Many of you know the Troncoso family. They were in the Pine Creek and Cordera wards, loved by many because of their wonderful service and kindness. I, along with many others, were fasting that day specifically for Jorge, Erin, his wife, and all of their children. Sister Troncoso tenderly described how her husband gave Jorge a blessing and in the blessing declared all would be well eventually and according to God’s will. Brother Troncoso shared his testimony next. Of all the things he could have said, he chose to humbly, yet powerfully, bear testimony of the Church of Jesus Christs of Latter-day Saints, of the Book of Mormon, of the Prophet Joseph Smith, of President Nelson’s role as the prophet now, and then he tenderly said “we believe in a living God, not in a dead God. Because of the atonement and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, my son will live. If it be according to the will of God that he will live longer in this life, we will be forever grateful. But if not, then we will still be forever grateful, for he will live in the next. Glory be to God for all that he has given us!” Then they reverently sat back down.

I have been privileged to see faith in Jesus Christ being exercised many times in my life. But I will never forget witnessing these marvelous parents exercising their faith to move their mountains of heartache and sorrow. I have no doubt that their faith was sufficient to heal their son. Yet it was clear that their faith was even greater to accept and move forward if their son was taken back home, praising God in the process.

I have learned that Jorge’s health began to improve that very Sunday. Although he has a long road to fully recover, he is no longer on a respirator and appears to be out of danger.

In the most recent general conference, Elder Holland said, “Challenging times come in this mortal world, including to the faithful, but the reassuring message of Christ is that although He, the paschal lamb, would go like “a sheep before [its] shearers,” He would nevertheless rise, as the psalmist said, to be “our refuge and strength, [our] very present help in [times of] trouble.”

President Nelson also shared in general conference, “Everything good in life—every potential blessing of eternal significance—begins with faith. Allowing God to prevail in our lives begins with faith that He is willing to guide us. True repentance begins with faith that Jesus Christ has the power to cleanse, heal, and strengthen us.”

Dear sisters and brothers, not everyone is healed, nor are our prayers often answered right away or in the way we want, but let us not doubt for one second the love and commitment our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for us. Let us not doubt the Savior’s power to cleanse, heal and strengthen us as we turn to Him in all things. We add our witness that “everything good in life - begins with faith” in Jesus Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ holds all of the answers to this life and the power to overcome the “challenging times in this mortal world”. As we strive to walk firmly along the covenant path, seek to hear him daily and to minister to others as He did, we can have the faith to move the mountains in our lives. Sometimes those challenging mountains can be miraculously swept away as it may appear to have happened with Jorge. However, most often they are moved beneath our feet, step by step, as we faithfully walk up and over them along the covenant path, allowing God to prevail in our lives along the way.

President Sterling L. Rogers
President Jeffrey A. Johnson
President Christian K. Lovejoy

Fasting for the Temple

30 April 2021

Dear sisters and brothers,

Thank you for your many consistent prayers that the temple will be open and expanded in availability as the pandemic continues to decline. Many of you have also been set apart and trained to be temple ordinance workers. The Denver temple presidency expresses their deep gratitude for your prayers and efforts to support the Denver temple.

The temple presidency and staff are trained and ready to move into phases 2B and 3. Phase 2B allows the baptistry to be reopened and Phase 3 allows all temple proxy ordinances to be performed by appointment only. They recognize that many of you are anxiously waiting for the day to attend the temple again and to continue the work of gathering on the other side of the veil.

However, the temple will not expand into Phase 2B or Phase 3 until local (Arapahoe county) COVID numbers decline and, unfortunately, the number of COVID cases has increased over the past few months.

As a result, the temple presidency is asking that we add to our fasting and prayers this Sunday a plea to our Father that circumstances will improve to allow the temple to move forward into Phase 2B and Phase 3 and beyond.

One of the blessings we receive from fasting is the promise that the Lord will answer our prayers.

“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am." (Isaiah 58:6, 9)

Please join us by adding to your faithful fast this Sunday a plea for a continued decrease in COVID cases to allow temple use to be expanded. We know the Lord will bless us as we strive to do all that we can to gather Israel on both sides of the veil.

Sincerely,

President Sterling L. Rogers
President Jeffrey A. Johnson
President Christian K. Lovejoy

Announcements

Most announcements should be electronically distributed weekly prior to Sunday so they do not take time in sacrament meeting; the bishopric may give essential announcements briefly before the opening hymn (see General Handbook 29.2.2.2).

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."

Upcoming Events

1. Attention High School Seniors!

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend
The Colorado Springs institute will be hosting a high school seniors-only workshop on Thursdays from April 29th through Thursday, May 20th at 7:00 pm at the Jamboree building
Please see flyer for workshop courses:

2. BYU Women's Conference, April 29th-30th, 2021

The 2021 BYU Women’s Conference, cosponsored by Brigham Young University and the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will be available online beginning Thursday and Friday, April 29–30, 2021.
The annual conference, which is celebrating its 45th anniversary, has historically been considered one of the largest gatherings of Latter-day Saint women in the world. The conference will be entirely online this year and will include both free and paid experiences.
The 2021 theme is “I Am a Child of God. His Promises Are Sure.” Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Melanie Rasband, will speak at one of the seven free sessions.
The free sessions also include the Sister to Sister event and five other sessions with presidency members from organizations of the Church. These sessions will be available in English with closed captioning and translation in Spanish and Portuguese. No registration is required for the free sessions. All women and men ages 16 and older are invited to participate.

3. Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults, Sunday, May 2nd, 6pm,-7pm

Live BroadcastsView all upcoming, live, and recent broadcasts from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in one place including General Conference, Face to Face events, Worldwide Devotionals, Music and the Spoken Word, and more.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Sister Lesa Stevenson will be the featured guests at a worldwide devotional for young adults on May 2, 2021.
All single and married young adults (ages 18–30) and students who will be finishing high school or the equivalent are invited to participate
View the live broadcast on the Church’s YouTube channel, ChurchofJesusChrist.org or the Church satellite system on Sunday, May 2, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. mountain daylight time

4. Young Single Adult (YSA) BBQ and outside dance, Saturday, June 12th, 7pm at the Liberty building:

Recurring Events

1. Colorado Springs Institute, for Young Adults (ages 18-30, married and single):

- Draw closer to the Lord during the quarantine through Institute. Register using the Seminary and Institute app (for Apple or Android) or at myinstitute.churchofjesuschrist.org. All meeting link and other information will come once students are registered.

Winter 2021 Institute

Begins Thursday, January 14^th, and we are going to start in-person! We will continue to provide a grab-n-go meal before class at 6:45pm.
Below are two images of digital flyers images you can use to post/share and text to help spread the word about institute starting on January 14^th
An Institute Class Descriptions PDF file is available that will be our poster that hangs in the hallway of the Jamboree building.
All of our information is on our website: cospringsinstitute.org. Please helps us spread word!
The classes we will be teaching on Thursday nights:

Foundations of the Restoration
The Divine Gift of Forgiveness
Old Testament Solutions to New World Problems
The Unique Doctrine from Latter-day Hymns
Missionary Preparation – Began March 4^th

Finally, we are holding workshops again this semester. The topics are:

Learning from Past Mistakes
“I think I’m Addicted”…overcoming all sorts of habits
Beware of the Double Life
Habits of Success

Reed Romney, Institute Director - Colorado Springs, 719-377-8056

2. Young Single Adults (YSA), ages 18-30

- Colorado Springs YSAs Facebook and Instagram groups

3. Middle Single Adults (MSA), ages 31-45, Events and Information

- Colorado Springs LDS Midsingles (ages 31-45) Facebook group and email: CSMidsingles@gmail.com

4. 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

5. 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.

6. Temple Ordinance Workers and Temple Volunteers are Needed at the Denver Colorado Temple

- If interested, contact your bishop

7. Colorado Springs Home Storage Center and Bishops' Storehouse normal weekly schedule:

Wednesday: 4pm-7pm
Thursday: 9am-12pm
Saturday: 9am-11am

Stake Calendar of Events, Lesson Schedules, and Ward Assignments

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

This Week: Monday, April 26th - Sunday, May 2nd

Come, Follow Me - April 26–May 2. Doctrine and Covenants 45: “The Promises … Shall Be Fulfilled”

President Russell M. Nelson taught: “Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take” (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95).

Mon, Apr 26, 2021

Tue, Apr 27, 2021

Come, Follow Me - April 26–May 2. Doctrine and Covenants 45: “The Promises … Shall Be Fulfilled”

Wed, Apr 28, 2021

Come, Follow Me - April 26–May 2. Doctrine and Covenants 45: “The Promises … Shall Be Fulfilled”

Thu, Apr 29, 2021

Fri, Apr 30, 2021

Sat, May 1, 2021

Sun, May 2, 2021

Next Week: Monday, May 3rd - Sunday, May 9th

The Camp Meeting, by Worthington Whittredge

Come, Follow Me - May 3–9. Doctrine and Covenants 46–48: “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”

As you read Doctrine and Covenants 46–48, write down impressions you receive. Then you might ask, as Elder Richard G. Scott suggested, “Is there more I should know?” (“To Acquire Spiritual Guidance,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 8).

Mon, May 3, 2021

Tue, May 4, 2021

Wed, May 5, 2021

Come, Follow Me - May 3–9. Doctrine and Covenants 46–48: “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”

Thu, May 6, 2021

Fri, May 7, 2021

Come, Follow Me - May 3–9. Doctrine and Covenants 46–48: “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”

Sat, May 8, 2021

Sun, May 9, 2021

Updates to the Stake Calendar of Events

The following meetings and activities on the stake calendar are changed due to state and church-wide announcements:

Thu, May 6, 2021

- Cancelled: Stake Temple Night [DCT] 5 - 11pm
- Added: Stake Temple Recommend Interviews (by appointment only) [LX and Online] 6pm-9pm

Fri, May 7, 2021

Cancelled: Multistake Single Adult Temple Night [DCT] 7:30 - 9:30pm

Sat, May 8, 2021

- Cancelled: Multistake Late Saturday Temple Sessions [DCT] 7 - 9pm
- Cancelled: Multistake Young Single Adult Temple Night [DCT] 7 - 9pm

Friday, Jun 9, 2021

- Added: Hill Cumorah Pageant Broadcast [Online]

Tue, Jul 27, 2021 through Sat, Jul 31, 2021

- Rescheduled: Stake Young Men Aaron's Camp [CF] to Tue, Jun 7, 2022 through Sat, Jun 11, 2022

Thu, Aug 5, 2021 through Sat, Aug 7, 2021

- Rescheduled: Stake Young Men Deacons Camp [CF] to Thu, Jun 2, 2022 through Sat, Jun 4 ,2022

Ward Meeting Times for 2021 starting Sunday, January 3rd

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
- Pine Creek Ward: Sacrament meeting 8:30am - 9:10am, quorums and classes 9:20am - 9:50am, Wednesday weeknight activities at the Jamboree building
- Cordera Ward: Sacrament meeting 10:30am - 11:10am, quorums and classes 11:20am - 11:50am, Tuesday weeknight activities
- Gleneagle Ward: Sacrament meeting 12:30pm - 1:10pm, quorums and classes 1:20pm - 1:50pm, Wednesday weeknight activities
- Northgate Ward: Sacrament meeting 2:30pm - 3:10pm, quorums and classes 3:20pm - 3:50pm, Thursday weeknight activities
Monument building, 950 West Colorado Highway 105, Monument CO 80132
- Jackson Creek Ward: Sacrament meeting 8:30am - 9:10am, quorums and classes 9:20am - 9:50am, Tuesday weeknight activities
- Monument Ward: Sacrament meeting 10:30am - 11:10am, quorums and classes 11:20am - 11:50am, Wednesday weeknight activities
- High Forest Ward: Sacrament meeting 12:30pm - 1:10pm, quorums and classes 1:20pm - 1:50pm, Tuesday weeknight activities
- King's Deer Ward: Sacrament meeting 2:30pm - 3:10pm, quorums and classes 3:20pm - 3:50pm, Wednesday weeknight activities
Black Forest building, 6950 Shoup Rd, Colorado Springs CO 80908
- Meadow Run Ward: Sacrament meeting 9:00am - 10:00am, quorums and classes 10:10am - 11:00am, Wednesday weeknight activities
- [Black Forest Ward (Colorado Springs High Plains Stake): 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Tuesday 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]
- Pikes Peak YSA Ward: Sacrament meeting 11:30am - 12:20pm, quorums and classes12:30pm - 1:10pm, Monday and Thursday weeknight activities
- Cheyenne Mountain YSA Ward: Sacrament meeting 12:30pm - 1:20pm, quorums and classes 1:30pm - 2:10pm, Monday and Thursday weeknight activities
- Mount Herman YSA Ward: Sacrament meeting 1:30pm - 2:20pm, quorums and classes 2:30pm - 3:10pm, Monday and Thursday weeknight activities

Church Letters, Notices, and Policy Updates

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

COVID-19 Vaccinations for Missionaries
- Notices | April 23, 2021: All missionaries and prospective missionaries are encouraged to safeguard themselves and others by being vaccinated.
Single Adult Face to Face Broadcast, June 13, 2021
- Notices | April 23, 2021: Announcement of the June 13, 2021 Single Adult Face to Face Broadcast with Elder Neil L. Andersen, President Jean B. Bingham, and Sister Sharon Eubank.

Selection of Previously Released

May 2021 Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults
- Notices | April 9, 2021: A worldwide devotional for young adults will be transmitted live on the Church satellite system, ChurchofJesusChrist.org, YouTube, and other media on Sunday, May 2, 2021.
Notices | March 31, 2021: Revised General Handbook Chapters
- Four chapters and other content have been revised in General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  - General Handbook: Summary of Recent Updates - March 2021 (links to updated sections)
  - Church Newsroom: See the March 2021 Update to the General Handbook
    - 75% of the English handbook has now been revised
Notice, 10 February 2021: 2021 Guidelines for Recording Attendance of Stake Conferences, Sacrament Meetings, and Sunday Quorum and Class Meetings
- Effective January 1, 2021, local unit leaders and clerks should record stake conference, sacrament meeting, and Sunday quorum and class meeting attendance (excluding Primary) in Leader and Clerk Resources or Member Tools.
Letter, 15 January 2021: Youth Activities and FSY Conferences in 2021
- This letter contains information about holding stake and ward youth conferences, Young Women and Aaronic Priesthood camps, and FSY conferences.

Administrative Updates

NEW - Quarterly Report Submission Reminder - Due No Later Than Thursday, April 15th

Four times each year (at the end of each quarter in March, June, September, and 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 churchofjesuschrist.org/lcr and click Quarterly Report in the Reports menu. To view specific instructions for completing the report, click each of the numbered links presented in the report.
Thank you for your diligence in making sure that Church records are accurately maintained.

NEW - Reminder - Recording Attendance

As a reminder, effective January 1, 2021, local unit leaders and clerks have been asked to record stake conference, sacrament meeting, and Sunday quorum and class meeting attendance (excluding Primary) in Leader and Clerk Resources (LCR) or Member Tools, including both number of members who attend in person and the number of those who attend remotely. (See Official Communication dated February 10, 2021 – 2021 Guidelines for Recording Attendance in Stake Conferences, Sacrament Meetings, and Sunday Quorum and Class Meetings)
Attendance recorded will be reflected, as follows, on your Quarterly Report in LCR:
- Sacrament meeting attendance – Average of the first three months of recorded attendance.
- Sunday quorum and class meeting attendance (excluding Primary) – Average recorded attendance in March.
- Primary attendance will be calculated using historical unit reported attendance.
Please note this information cannot be changed on the Quarterly Report page in LCR. Any changes would need to be made on the “Class and Quorum Attendance” or “Sacrament Meeting Attendance” reports in LCR for the first quarter of 2021.

Callings and TrainingsServing in your calling in the Church can help you learn and grow. This collection of training media will guide you in your ministry and development as a teacher and leader.

New Feature Lets Parents Manage Children’s Online Church AccountsA new feature on ChurchofJesusChrist.org makes it easier for Latter-day Saint parents to create and manage their children’s Church accounts.

Instructions for Discarding Obsolete Materials

Many bishops’ offices, clerks’ offices, and meetinghouse resource centers contain excess and outdated materials. In considering what to discard, please refer to the list of meetinghouse resource center materials and guidelines on what to discard. Please also consider the following:
- With the introduction of Come, Follow Me, many manuals have been replaced, including Primary 1–7, Gospel Doctrine, and youth Sunday School manuals.
- The new Children and Youth program has replaced materials associated with Scouting, Duty to God, Personal Progress, and Faith in God.
- Online processes in Leader and Clerk Resources (LCR) have replaced most administrative forms.
Clerks and resource center specialists should identify materials that are not being used regularly or that will not be used again and discard them or offer them to members for use at home. Clerks can also shred outdated stationery, forms, or sensitive materials.

Stake Interviews

- To schedule an interview with a member of the stake presidency for temple recommends or BYU ecclesiastical endorsements send an email to stake.interview@csnorth.org or text/call 719-644-6401
  - Interviews are held on Thursday evenings at the stake offices or online (by appointment only) to not interfere with leader/parents commitments to weekly child and youth activity nights on Tuesday and Wednesday; church dress requested
  - Stake presidency interviews are not to be scheduled until after the bishopric interview is completed
  - Stake interviews are usually scheduled within a week of their request and should be completed within 30 days of the bishopric interview
  - Members are encouraged to keep their recommends current and avoid last-minute efforts to schedule an appointment under very difficult-to-fulfill time constraints; please plan ahead when scheduling your appointment
  - The stake offices are located as the southwest corner of the stake center with an access door to the right of the main foyer doors (8710 Lexington Dr; northwest corner of Lexington Dr and Research Blvd)