Colorado Springs North Stake (CSNS)

Ward Council and Ward Youth Council Bulletin

February 22 - 28, 2021

Upcoming Events

1. RootsTech 2021, Thursday February 25th through Saturday February 27th:

2. Stake Priesthood Leadership Meeting, Sunday, February 28th, 7am-8am [Online]

• Brethren who attend this meeting include:

  • The stake presidency

  • High council

  • Stake clerk and assistant clerks

  • Stake executive secretary

  • Stake Young Men presidency and secretary

  • Bishoprics

  • Ward clerks and assistant clerks

  • Ward executive secretaries

  • Elders quorum presidencies and secretaries

  • Aaronic Priesthood quorum advisers and specialists

  • Ward mission leaders

  • Ward temple and family history leaders

3. Stake General Priesthood Meeting, Sunday, March 14th, 4:30pm-5:30pm [Online]

• All Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood holders in the stake are to attend.

4. Youth Music Festival, Wednesday, March 17th, 2021, 6pm [Online]

• A Great Work - An inspiring concert with music and testimonies:

• On March 17, 2021, we invite youth worldwide to watch the 2021 Youth Music Festival, a virtual global concert. The theme of the festival is “A Great Work,” which is the 2021 youth theme.

• The prerecorded 45-minute virtual concert will feature personal, powerful testimonies from youth and Church leaders; inspiring music in various languages; and photos, videos, and performances of youth from around the world.

• We encourage youth to invite their Latter-day Saint friends and friends of other faiths to watch.

• How to Watch

  • On Wednesday, March 17, at 6:00 p.m. mountain daylight time, tune in to the Strive to Be channel on YouTube to watch the concert. It will also be available on the Church’s Live Broadcasts page.

  • Wards and branches that have previously scheduled activities for March 17 are encouraged to watch the event at a later time.

Recurring Announcements

1. 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, Tuesday 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

2. There is a change in contact information to schedule interview with a member of the stake presidency for temple recommends or BYU ecclesiastical endorsements:

1. • ** UPDATED January 24th **: 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

3. 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 – Begins 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

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

• • Colorado Springs YSAs Facebook and Instagram groups

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

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

6. 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

7. 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.

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

• • If interested, contact your bishop

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

• Wednesday: 4pm-7pm

• Thursday: 9am-12pm

• Saturday: 9am-11am

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."

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

This Week: Monday, February 22nd - Sunday, February 28th

Mon, Feb 22, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - February 22–28. Doctrine and Covenants 18–19: “The Worth of Souls Is Great”

• 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, Feb 23, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - February 22–28. Doctrine and Covenants 18–19: “The Worth of Souls Is Great”

Wed, Feb 24, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - February 22–28. Doctrine and Covenants 18–19: “The Worth of Souls Is Great”

Thu, Feb 25, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - February 22–28. Doctrine and Covenants 18–19: “The Worth of Souls Is Great”

• 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, Feb 26, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - February 22–28. Doctrine and Covenants 18–19: “The Worth of Souls Is Great”

Sat, Feb 27, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - February 22–28. Doctrine and Covenants 18–19: “The Worth of Souls Is Great”

• RootsTech Connect Family Discovery Day [Online] 12 - 1pm

Sun, Feb 28, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - February 22–28. Doctrine and Covenants 18–19: “The Worth of Souls Is Great”

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

• Stake Priesthood Leadership Meeting [Online] 7 - 8am

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

Next Week: Monday, March 1st - Sunday March 7th

Mon, Mar 1, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - March 1–7. Doctrine and Covenants 20–22: “The Rise of the Church of Christ”

• 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, Mar 2, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - March 1–7. Doctrine and Covenants 20–22: “The Rise of the Church of Christ”

Wed, Mar 3, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - March 1–7. Doctrine and Covenants 20–22: “The Rise of the Church of Christ”

Thu, Mar 4, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - March 1–7. Doctrine and Covenants 20–22: “The Rise of the Church of Christ”

• Stake Temple Night [DCT] 5 - 11pm

• Institute [JB] 6:45 - 8:30pm

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

Fri, Mar 5, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - March 1–7. Doctrine and Covenants 20–22: “The Rise of the Church of Christ”

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

Sat, Mar 6, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - March 1–7. Doctrine and Covenants 20–22: “The Rise of the Church of Christ”

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

Sun, Mar 7, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - March 1–7. Doctrine and Covenants 20–22: “The Rise of the Church of Christ”

• Fast Sunday

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

• High Council Meeting [Online] 6:30 - 7am

• Stake Adult Leadership Committee Meeting including Ward Elders Quorum Presidencies and Relief Society Presidencies [Online] 7 - 8am

• North America Areas Devotional for Young Adults with President M. Russell Ballard [Online] 5 - 6pm

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

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:

• Sun, Feb 28, 2021

  • Changed: Stake Priesthood Leadership Meeting [LX] 7 - 8am to [Online]

• Sun, Mar 7, 2021

  • Added: North America Areas Devotional for Young Adults with President M. Russell Ballard [Online] 5 - 6pm

• Sat, Apr 24, 2021

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

A Marvelous Work and a Wonder

24 February 2021

When many of us were growing up, our primary source of information came from authoritative figures in our lives: family members, church leaders and school teachers. Some of us that were blessed to have an encyclopedia thought we had access to the knowledge of the world through its pages.

Today we have the internet that allows us almost unlimited access to information available through search engines like Google, some of it good and some bad, some of it true and some false.

With the easy access to the internet, studies show that the rising generation increasingly go there first as a primary source of learning new information rather than to trusted authoritative figures and experts. Google reported that in 2019 they averaged 3.5 billion search inquiries per day. This trend of seeking new information on the internet is increasing in older generations as well.

This paradigm shift of searching and learning comes with well warranted caution, but also with wonderful opportunities to share and learn from the best that the world has to offer. Never in the history of the world has there been so much access to a plethora of inspirational writings, videos and audio documentation regarding the teachings, commandments, laws, ordinances, covenants and blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Last general conference Elder Uchtdorf said, “God has something unimaginable in mind for you personally and the Church collectively—a marvelous work and a wonder.”

Today we are witnesses to how the Lord is doing a marvelous work and a wonder in helping us gather Israel through social media and the internet in general.

For example, no longer are missionaries restricted to just finding scattered Israel through door knocking and street contacting in specific geographical areas. Missionaries have significantly increased their efforts to contact and share messages of the gospel of Jesus Christ through social media. One post from the missionaries in the Colorado Colorado Springs Mission has so far been viewed over 300,000 times! Many more posts from the missionaries have each been viewed thousand and hundreds of times in the past year. This exposure has had a marvelous effect in the missionary work around us. Almost 50% of people currently being found to teach have been found through Facebook and Instagram. This has led to the number of people being found, attending church for the first time, and accepting baptismal dates almost doubling in the past year!

Is this not a marvelous work and a wonder? And all being done during the trying times of a pandemic.

Let us remember that through the covenants we have made with the Lord, ours is the primary responsibility to find scattered Israel and the missionaries primary responsibility is to teach those being found. We are so grateful that many of you followed President Nelson's plea last November to “flood social media” with messages of gratitude during a very dark and troubling time for our country. We humbly testify that there are so many that need and pray for light and truth in their lives but know not where to find it and we can help them find what they are seeking through our efforts on social media. As members it has never been easier and more convenient for us to share gospel messages to so many and to invite them to learn the light and truth, the love, peace and joy that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Some of you may feel hesitant to learn how to use social media. Please don’t worry. Each ward in our stake has ward missionaries, many of them youth that are very knowledgeable and anxious to help you learn.

Consider having them or maybe your ministering brothers and sisters come to your home (in person or remotely) to teach you.

We invite each of you to consider following each of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Apostles on Facebook. Also consider following the General Organizational Presidencies of the church as well. Our experience has been that doing this has led to so many wonderful posts that inspire us and that we can quickly share with many others by simply pushing a button on our screen.

The prophet Mormon posed the following ­powerful questions: “Has the day of miracles ceased? Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved? Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men.” (Moroni 7:35–37)

Let the fire of the covenant you have made to gather Israel burn inside you. As you do so the Spirit will guide and inspire you on how to engage in this new and exciting world of sharing the gospel.

We affirm that the day of miracles have not ceased and the Lord is doing a marvelous work and wonder among us. We will look back, as the early saints did during the early days of missionary work, and see that Lord’s hand is accelerating His work in new and better ways.

We are blessed to live and serve in a most remarkable season of the dispensation of the fullness of times. With all the energy of our souls, we testify along with Elder Bednar “that no unhallowed hand and no pandemic can keep the Lord’s holy work from progressing” (As Long as the World Shall Stand). And we promise that as you honor your covenants and strive to discern “with an eye of faith” (Ether 12:19) your spiritual vision will be magnified and refined to help you learn that the seemingly small miracles (like sharing a post) in your life will be the mightiest and most impactful of all.

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

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, 17 February 2021: February and March 2021 Area Devotionals for Young Adults in Their Languages

  • Area devotionals for young adults in their languages will be transmitted live in February and March 2021.

Selection of Previously Released

• 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, 30 January 2021: Friend to Friend Event for Children, Parents, and Primary Leaders and Teachers

  • Children ages 3–11, their parents, and Primary leaders and teachers are invited to participate in a Friend to Friend event for children.

• 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, 3 January 2021: Friend to Friend Event for Children, Parents, and Primary Leaders and Teachers

  • We invite children ages 3–11, their parents, and Primary leaders and teachers to participate in a Friend to Friend event [Saturday, February 20th, 11am-12pm, Online]

• 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.

• Notice, 3 December 2020: RootsTech Connect 2021 Leadership Instruction and Family Discovery Session

  • Those with callings listed above are invited to participate in the upcoming Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction.

** NEW ** - 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.

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.

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.