Colorado Springs North Stake (CSNS)

Ward Council and Ward Youth Council Bulletin

April 5 - 11, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

What a wonderful Easter and General Conference weekend we have just experienced. We hope that each of you felt the great love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through the music and words of conference and in your efforts to reflect upon the Savior’s atonement and resurrection.

Now that general conference is over, now what? As Elder Bednar taught in conference, “We have been blessed abundantly in this general conference to learn about eternal principles from the Lord’s authorized servants. Now, our individual responsibility is to govern ourselves according to the truths of which they have testified. ... I invite all of us to learn, live and love principles of righteousness.” The teachings from conference messages should serve as an important guide in our lives until the next general conference.

What is the most effective way to learn and apply the teachings taught from the conference messages?

Elder Bednar once suggested that an effective way to learn from conference is to identify a basic pattern used in almost all of the conference messages:

1. Doctrine taught

2. Invitations to act

3. Promised blessings

You may want to consider simply marking a sheet of paper or on your mobile device three columns with column headings (1) doctrine or principle taught, (2) invitations to act, and (3) promised blessings. Then use the template as a learning tool as you study each conference message. This can be done in a family setting or in your personal study.

In an ever changing and darkening world it is vital to have a “perfect understanding” [Alma 48:11, Doctrin and Covenants 49] of the principles and doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Without this understanding, we can easily become confused and led astray with the philosophies of men and women swirling around us. We testify, along with Elder Holland, Elder Wong and others, that all answers to life can be found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The invitation to act is important because faith in Jesus Christ is a principle of action and of power. President Nelson in his Sunday morning address said, “Faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of all belief and the conduit of divine power.” We all need access to divine power and faith in action is the key to receive it.

Power to endure, to rise above, to forgive, to let go, to overcome and to find joy in troubling times also comes from understanding and recognizing the promised blessings associated with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Hope and strength to do and endure always increases when we can see and understand the rewards that await us at the finish line of a difficult race or task.

Now that the pandemic is beginning to subside, please remember the “lessons learned” (President Nelson) from having more time in your home with your family and having more time to allow God to prevail in your life.

A few months ago I met with a young man and his family as he was set apart for his mission. I will never forget the experience as they told me through tears of gratitude and joy how their home became a holy place during the pandemic. Before the pandemic, they relied mostly on Sunday church meetings and classes to provide the majority of gospel learning in their family. Their weekdays and nights were filled with activities and events that rarely allowed consistent family gospel study and prayers. The kids were struggling and their home felt more like a place of contention and fatigue rather than an environment of love and rest. When the pandemic hit, they found themselves alone in their home with very little to do and few places to go. So they began to dedicate time each evening to do Come, Follow Me as a family. The first thing they noticed was a significant increase of the presence of the Spirit in their home. There was more peace, joy and love felt by all. As they engaged each member family to participate by rotating assignments to teach and discuss gospel principles in the Come, Follow Me lessons, the attitude and relationships of all family members improved. Their faith in Jesus Christ increased as well as they increased their commitment and efforts to joyfully walk the covenant path as a family. Their efforts to consistently and daily follow the Come, Follow Me curriculum and have family prayers played a pivotal part in this young man, their beloved son and sibling, deciding to serve a mission. The entire family was overjoyed!

In conference, President Nelson lovingly counseled, “I urge you to continue to make your home a truly holy place and ‘be not moved’ from that essential goal.... Discipline yourself to have time alone and with your loved ones. Open your heart to God in prayer. Take time to immerse yourself in the scriptures and worship in the temple.”

As a stake presidency, we have witnessed many like this family that have increased their home centered gospel learning during the pandemic. We are so grateful for your efforts to make your homes a “truly holy place”. We have also observed an significant increase in the renewal of temple recommends as well as a surge of requests to be temple workers in preparation for the (hopefully soon) day the temple reopens to phase 3 and then to phase 4. Our hearts are full of joy and gratitude for your faithful efforts!

We invite each of you to dedicate time for the next 6 months to study intently the general conference messages. Consider using the attached spreadsheet to help you identify the 1) doctrine and principles, 2) invitations to act and 3) promised blessings in each conference message in family and personal study time.

As you do so, we promise you an increase of the Spirit in your home and in your life. The power to “move mountains'' in your life will be given according to your faith. You will see more clearly “what our Savior has done for (you),” your “hope in Christ” will be increased, you will clearly see how ”God [is] among us,” your desire to “cleave unto light” will increase, “(y)our sorrow(s) shall be turned into joy,” you “shall be free” to walk along the “...covenant path” and experience all else the Lord is anxious to bless you with.

With much love and appreciation,

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

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. Upcoming stake leadership meetings for ward organization presidencies (more information to be sent directly to meeting attendees):

• Stake Sunday School Leadership Meeting, Sunday, April 18th, 7:00am-8:00am

• Stake Young Women Leadership Meeting, Sunday, April 18th, 4:30pm-5:30pm

• Stake Relief Society Leadership Meeting, Sunday April, 25th, 7:00am-8:00am

• Stake Primary Leadership Meeting, Sunday, April 25th, 4:30pm-5:30pm

Recurring Events

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

1. • 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:

1. Foundations of the Restoration

2. The Divine Gift of Forgiveness

3. Old Testament Solutions to New World Problems

4. The Unique Doctrine from Latter-day Hymns

5. 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

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 5th - Sunday, April 11th

Mon, Apr 5, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - April 5–11. Doctrine and Covenants 30–36: “You Are Called to Preach My Gospel”

• Family Home Evening

• Multistake Adult Education Gospel Study Class [ML] 12 - 1:30pm

• Multistake Middle Single Adult Home Evening Group [LX] 6 - 8pm

• Multistake Single Adult Home Evening Group [CSCSC] 6 - 7:30pm

• Institute [USAFA] 6:20 - 7:50pm

• Stake Young Single Adult Home Evening Group [JB] 7 - 9pm

Tue, Apr 6, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - April 5–11. Doctrine and Covenants 30–36: “You Are Called to Preach My Gospel”

Wed, Apr 7, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - April 5–11. Doctrine and Covenants 30–36: “You Are Called to Preach My Gospel”

Thu, Apr 8, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - April 5–11. Doctrine and Covenants 30–36: “You Are Called to Preach My Gospel”

• Stake Temple Recommend Interviews (by appointment only) [LX and Online] 6 - 9pm

• Institute [JB] 6:45 - 8:30pm

• Multistake Support Meeting for Women [DS] 7 - 8pm

Fri, Apr 9, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - April 5–11. Doctrine and Covenants 30–36: “You Are Called to Preach My Gospel”

• USAFA No Classes

Sat, Apr 10, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - April 5–11. Doctrine and Covenants 30–36: “You Are Called to Preach My Gospel”

• Stake Primary Child-of-Record Baptisms [LX, JB, MN] 9am - 12pm

• Stake Family History Workshop [LX] 9 - 10am

Sun, Apr 11, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - April 5–11. Doctrine and Covenants 30–36: “You Are Called to Preach My Gospel”

• Fast Sunday

• Second Sunday: Priesthood quorums, Relief Society, and Young Women (Primary held every Sunday)

• Stake Council Meeting [LX] 6:30 - 8am

• Multistake Young Single Adult Council [JB] 1:45 - 2:30pm

• Stake Communication Council Meeting [LX] 3 - 4pm

• Colorado Springs Coordinating Council Communication Council JustServe Meeting [LX] 4 - 5pm

• Colorado Springs Coordinating Council Communication Council Meeting [LX] 5 - 6pm

• Multistake Support Meeting for Men [JB] 6 - 7pm

Next Week: Monday, April 12th - Sunday April 18th

Mon, Apr 12, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - April 12–18. Doctrine and Covenants 37–40: “If Ye Are Not One Ye Are Not Mine”

• Family Home Evening

• Multistake Adult Education Gospel Study Class [ML] 12 - 1:30pm

• Multistake Middle Single Adult Home Evening Group [LX] 6 - 8pm

• Multistake Single Adult Home Evening Group [CSCSC] 6 - 7:30pm

• Institute [USAFA] 6:20 - 7:50pm

• Stake Young Single Adult Home Evening Group [JB] 7 - 9pm

Tue, Apr 13, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - April 12–18. Doctrine and Covenants 37–40: “If Ye Are Not One Ye Are Not Mine”

Wed, Apr 14, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - April 12–18. Doctrine and Covenants 37–40: “If Ye Are Not One Ye Are Not Mine”

Thu, Apr 15, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - April 12–18. Doctrine and Covenants 37–40: “If Ye Are Not One Ye Are Not Mine”

• Stake Temple Recommend Interviews (by appointment only) [LX and Online] 6 - 9pm

• Institute [JB] 6:45 - 8:30pm

• Multistake Support Meeting for Women [DS] 7 - 8pm

Fri, Apr 16, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - April 12–18. Doctrine and Covenants 37–40: “If Ye Are Not One Ye Are Not Mine”

Sat, Apr 17, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - April 12–18. Doctrine and Covenants 37–40: “If Ye Are Not One Ye Are Not Mine”

• Stake Relief Society Breakfast for Young Women Transition [LX] 9 - 11am

• Stake Family History Center Staff Meeting [LX] 9 - 10am

Sun, Apr 18, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - April 12–18. Doctrine and Covenants 37–40: “If Ye Are Not One Ye Are Not Mine”

• Third Sunday: Sunday School (Primary held every Sunday)

• Stake Council Meeting [LX] 6:30 - 8am

• Stake Sunday School Leadership Meeting [LX] 7 - 8am

• Stake Missionary Work Coordination Meeting [LX] 4 - 5pm

• Stake Young Women Leadership Meeting [LX] 4:30 - 5:30pm

• Multistake Single Adult Leadership Meeting [CSESC] 5:45 - 6:45pm

• Multistake Support Meeting for Men [JB] 6 - 7pm

• Multistake Single Adult (SA) Fireside [CSESC] 7 - 8pm

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:

• Sat, Apr 10, 2021

  • Cancelled: Multistake Late Saturday Temple Sessions [DCT] 7 - 9pm

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

Sat, Apr 24, 2021

• • Cancelled: Multistake Youth Spring Formal Dance [LX] 7pm-10pm

• 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

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

• 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

Selection of Previously Released

• Letter, 11 March 2021: April 2021 General Conference

  • First Presidency | March 11, 2021: Everyone is invited to view the upcoming 191st Annual General Conference.

• 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.

• Notice, 26 January 2021: Youth Music Festival, March 17, 2021

  • On March 17, 2021, youth worldwide are invited to watch the 2021 Youth Music Festival.

• 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.

• Notice, 18 December 2020: Revised General Handbook Chapters

  • Six chapters and other content have been revised in General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

** 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.

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

1. • 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)

Latest official General Conference addresses, and BYU-Provo, BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii, BYU Pathway Worldwide, and Ensign College speeches.

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

New videos, images, music, and articles from the church from the Church Media and Come Unto Christ.