Colorado Springs North Stake (CSNS)

Ward Council and Ward Youth Council Bulletin

March 29 - April 4, 2021

Easter Message

31 March 2021

Brothers and Sisters,

“On the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre…”

I imagine how Mary must have felt when she rushed to the tomb expecting to find Jesus there, to start the heart wrenching process of preparing His body for a proper burial. All the emotions of a sleepless night, the feelings of loss and heartache while everyone around her was celebrating the Passover and deliverance. How she must have arisen early, gotten ready and paced until she could go to the tomb. The thoughts that must have been going through her mind as she approached; would there still be guards there? What would she say to them? Would they let her in? How would she move the stone herself? Would she be able to emotionally endure preparing the body? These and so many other thoughts.

As Mary gets near, we learn that the stone is moved and the tomb is empty! Mary runs to Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and sadly declares, “They have taken away the Lord… .” What anguish she must have felt. His life was taken away and now they have taken His body. What shall we do? Peter and John “went away unto their own home.”

“But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,” still in a state of disbelief, confusion, shock, heartache, she does what we all do, she checks one more time just to make sure. I'm sure her mind is racing with all sorts of questions and thoughts.

The tomb was empty and Mary wept. I have wondered why she should weep? Why would she not rejoice? We are familiar with the whole story, we know how it ends, so it is easy for us to look back and wonder why she would not be as happy as we feel when we hear the story. As I have pondered this, I have realized that there are many times in my life that I am looking at the empty tomb and weeping. I dont have the whole picture yet, I have an idea of the promises and the covenants but not a clear understanding, so I weep.

We wonder, am I going to be able to endure this trial, this sickness, this health crisis, or emotional crisis, or faith crisis? Will this relationship ever heal, will I ever have the desire of my heart to be a wife and mother, husband and father? Will I ever overcome this betrayal or this rejection?

As Mary “looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.” I wonder if there was a light or a presence that drew her back to the tomb, that prompted her to look inside once again. This must have been an encouraging event, one that would compound all of the thoughts and questions and wonder.

And then the angels speak to her, “And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.” There must have been great hope and yet still a sense of loss, anguish and worry.

After a sleepless night, a hurried dash to find an empty tomb, watching Peter and John see the same thing and watching them leave, weeping and wondering, then to see and hear two angels and still not be sure what has happened or what to do, we can all feel how Mary must be feeling at this moment. This is such a familiar feeling when we are in the midst of trials and struggles and tribulation, when we don't have the full picture or the entire story to look back on years later.

Now for the second time to have someone ask, “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” I can picture the Savior in His kind and compassionate manner trying to comfort and console Mary, anticipating her reaction when she realizes who is speaking to her and what has happened. I picture Mary so overwhelmed with grief and sadness that she doesn't realize what is happening yet. I picture her response through tears and halted by an aching heart, like when we are truly weeping and can hardly speak.

“She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.”

Then, “Jesus saith unto her, Mary.”

“She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni;...”

Oh what JOY, what comfort, what shock and wonder!! Mary recognized His voice when He called her by name. She turned to Him and as she turned, her heart and mind and soul turned as well. As she turned to Him the entire world turned, as she turned to Him so must we. As He will one day call our name and we will recognize and begin to understand the reality of the promises and covenants we have made with Him, our hearts will be changed in an instant as well. We will see that our earlier fear and sorrow over the empty tomb is replaced with multiples of joy and peace because of the Resurrection and Atonement of Jesus Christ.

The disciples went away and Mary wept because “they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” In our lives we often weep and ache because we know not the whole picture, we don't have a complete understanding, we don't know why our pleadings have not resulted in healing, we can't comprehend why our questions have not been answered, why our worry has not been resolved. We wonder why our tomb is empty.

As we celebrate, with much of the world, the resurrection and life of Jesus Christ, as we see so many signs that testify of Christ, the blossoms on the trees, the flowers and the plants, the birds and the animals, the magnificence of spring and all its wonders and beauty, let us remember, remember the promises made to the Fathers, the promises made to us and to our generations. Let us rejoice that He has risen and because of this we will rise! Jesus Christ has completed the Atonement that will allow us to return and live with our Heavenly Parents once again!.

We have the double blessing this Easter to celebrate the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His resurrection, and to hear His word from our living prophets and leaders. As we go and participate, not just listen to general conference, we can receive comfort and peace and understanding! We can rejoice in the knowledge that God knows our name and that the day will come when He will call us by name and we can turn to Him and be comforted and healed! We can choose to “Let God Prevail” in our lives and feel the comfort and peace that promise brings!

We testify that He Lives!!!!

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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

Please enjoy a few of our favorite videos celebrating Easter and consider sharing them on your social media accounts:

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. General Conference sessions, Saturday, 3 April 2021 through Sunday, 4 April 2021, online:

2. 2021 Easter Initiative:

3. Lamb of God: The Concert Film -- in Colorado theatres now:

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, March 29th - Sunday April 4th

Mon, Mar 29, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - March 29–April 4. Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

• 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 30, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - March 29–April 4. Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

Wed, Mar 31, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - March 29–April 4. Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

Thu, Apr 1, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - March 29–April 4. Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

• Institute [JB] 6:45 - 8:30pm

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

Fri, Apr 2, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - March 29–April 4. Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

Sat, Apr 3, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - March 29–April 4. Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

• General Conference Saturday Morning Session [Online] 10am - 12pm

• General Conference Saturday Afternoon Session [Online] 2 - 4pm

• General Conference Priesthood Session [Online] 6 - 7:30pm

Sun, Apr 4, 2021

• Come, Follow Me - March 29–April 4. Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

• Easter

• General Conference Sunday Morning Session [Online] 10am - 12pm

• General Conference Sunday Afternoon Session [Online] 2 - 4pm

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

Next 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)

• 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

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, Apr 1, 2021

  • Cancelled: Stake Temple Night [DCT] 5 - 11pm

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

• Fri, Apr 2, 2021

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

• 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)

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 ** - 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.