Well after 4 years and 9 months we are finally being released from our North CanyonYSA ward. When we were called back in January 2017, we were told it's a 3 year calling outside of our homeward....well with Covid etc... it ended up being a longer haul, but an experience we will forever cherish.
In this time..... we have gone through two sets of counselors: Mark Johnson ( 6 months) and Dale Muir ( 21 months) and Mark Bateman ( 4 years 3 months) and Kurt Gentry ( 3 years).
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| Ron Watson, Mark Harris, Kurt Gentry, Wayne Welch, Mark Bateman |
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| Ron Watson ( Jo is missing), Jeanette Harris, Mark Harris, Cate Gentry, Kurt Gentry, Wayne and Melinda, Terry Bateman, Mark Bateman. |
We have had 114 marriages...which means we have gifted a lot of Jesus pictures.
Sent out 11 missionaries: Andrew Gunderson, Erin Bateman, Liam Clifford, Alexa Minson, Brendon Montgomery, Jacob Palmer, Alexa Rogers, Emily Sunbott, Sara Wilson, Abby Wonnacott, Alisha Steuart.
6 RS Presidents: Cristie Bunnell, Kennedy Bateman, Dani Edgar, Brighton Taylor, Kira Anjeweirden, Matea Holzer
5 Elders Quorum Presidents: Tayson Holzer, Mike Brown, Kaleb Maynard, Edgar Connor, David Butterfield
11 Executive Secretaries: Mike Brown, Jordan Harris, Alex Merrill, Kaleb Maynard, Connor Edgar, Alex Merrill, Griffin Taggert, Alex Morrill, Eddie Carter, Jonny Wilson, Martine Flores
We have loved so many of our High Counselors assigned to our ward but in particular Bro and Sis Hilyard and Bro and Sister Watson. - Ron and Jo have been so excellent for our YSA's.
If I had some final words to impart to these amazing, capable young people it would be.....
1. Questions are okay. Questions are good. They are not a reason for leaving the church. You can question and still be part of the congregation, still attend the temple, and still love Jesus's gospel. I still have questions I don't have answers to and that's okay. It's like a puzzle piece I just don't know where it fits, but I trust I will have a beautiful, complete puzzle at some point if I just keep working on the puzzle. Live in Faith. It feels so good. The opposite of Faith is certainty, not doubt... doubt is part of Faith. I have doubt and I choose to say "that's okay"... I'm just going to believe Jesus Christ. I'm just going to live the standards of the church and do my best to put one faithful foot in front of the next each day.
2. Decide what you believe in and then the other things, issues, problems that arise are just periphery. They don't hold as much weight, so you can get through them. I have decided there are 5 unshakeables for me with the overriding belief of ... I love Jesus and Want to follow Him. 1. The Book of Mormon is true scripture. 2. I've experienced Priesthood power in my life and in the healing of my Laila and Laura Belnap. 3. Power, peace, and perspective are found at the Temple. 4. Mother in Heaven 5. Personal Revelation keeps me here... and allows me to speak up for the marginalized and love all my people.
3. You get to decide what you want to think about all of this, so choose thoughts that serve you... Choose thoughts that keep you close to God and close to those you love. Choose thoughts that bring enlightenment and hope and keep you out of worry and overwhelm. You get to decide who you want to be and how you want to show up as a disciple of Christ.
4. Remember you are a child of God...that's your most important identity!
5. Put your phones down. Make the chapel a no-phone-zone. You've made the effort to be here, so really BE here. Come to meditate, sit in silence, renew covenants, think on spiritual things, and commune with God. Don't get distracted by your phone... sending a text, writing down a to-do list, checking out social media, or playing a game...These are all distractions from the spirit. Satan celebrates when you are distracted. Make this no-phone-zone commitment to yourself. You need to be actively inviting the spirit into your life... not just sit there on your phone waiting to be acted upon.
