Brothers and Sisters,
This is the fifth and final message of our Five Week Focus. Thank you to our Stake Young Men’s Presidency for preparing. You can already see it’s a bit lengthy, but read on! There is so much great content below (including a a note and picture from President and Sister Murphy and a special video featuring several recently-returned and currently-serving missionaries).
Our hope was that this Five Week Focus would lead to our return to adjusted, in-person Sacrament meetings next week. Given current conditions, our return to in-person Church service has been delayed. Please go forward with faith knowing that we’ll be blessed by our obedience. We’ll gather together just as soon as local conditions and other variables allow.
In the meantime, there is much good work to be done! More on that in the email below.
- To participate with additional content on each weeks’ focus:
https://www.facebook.com/ComeUntoChristRocklin and https://www.instagram.com/ComeUntoChristRocklin/ - To re-watch the devotional or the intro video presented: https://www.youtube.com/c/ComeUntoChristRocklin
- We also have a special invitation. Today at 5pm kicks off the first of a video series of members sharing their conversion stories via Facebook Live. Please visit the Come Unto Christ in Rocklin and Granite Bay Facebook page to like/share/comment and participate at 5pm.
Have a great week! We love you!
Rocklin Stake Presidency
Dear Members of the Rocklin Stake,
We hope that each of you has enjoyed this five week focus and have found inspiration and a desire to reinforce Christ centered homes as we look forward to the time where we can gather again together in our church buildings. The 5th week’s focus, is to Continue Gathering Israel on Both Sides of the Veil.
Gathering is an important principle in the church and is an especially important principle in the Latter Days, as one of our primary objectives is to gather Israel. Gathering is central to our worship. As Elder Bednar has recently said:
“One key realization is that for most faith communities, gathering for worship, ritual, and fellowship is essential; it is not merely an enjoyable social activity. For example, gathering is an especially powerful element in the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A central mission of the Church is to gather together the scattered family of Abraham—and indeed all who are willing—to the ordinances and covenants of the Savior’s gospel. Through that gathering, we believe God will establish a people who are of one heart and one mind, who dwell together in righteousness and peace, and who love and care for each other so completely that no poor, spiritually or physically, are found among them.
“In ancient and modern scripture, the Lord calls such a people and such a place “Zion.” Zion is where “the pure in heart” dwell. And it is where God Himself can dwell in the midst of His people. We believe that such a gathering is essential before the Messiah returns again. Gathering, in short, is at the core of faith and religion. Indeed, if the faithful are not gathering, sooner or later they will begin to scatter.”
- Watch/Listen:
- Read: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/bednar-byu-religious-freedom-review-speech
Gathering on THIS side of the veil
The Family unit is essential to our Heavenly Fathers plan and accomplishing our work here on Earth. The family unit is under attack and the adversary knows that the strength of the church is found in the strength of the family and currently he has an all-out frontal assault on the Family.Though we can’t physically gather at the moment, we can gather with our families to find strength, support and joy. As we go about ‘gathering the family of Abraham’ it is important that we understand why the family is central to His plan. Sister Beck (previous General Relief Society President) gave a wonderful talk on ‘Teaching the Doctrine of the Family’. In it she teaches, “we have a theology of the family that is based on the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement” and also encourages us to “live in your homes, in your families, in your marriages so that youth will develop hope for eternal life from watching you.” As we gather our families together lets hold tight to the Abrahamic covenants that binds us together!
- Watch/Listen:
- Read: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2011/03/teaching-the-doctrine-of-the-family?lang=eng
Missionary work is how we gather ‘the family of Abraham’ on this side of the veil. In some ways COVID-19 has limited this work by not allowing home visits or missionaries being able to serve internationally; however, that doesn’t mean the work stops. “No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing” (Joseph Smith). Many have found other ways to keep the work progressing forward. Here is a video of some recently returned and current missionaries serving in our stake on how we can gather Israel on this side of the veil. (Thanks to Alex Amrine, Sister Bradshaw, Lucas Gondola, Elder Tanner and Elder Christensen!)
BONUS FEATURE: Here is an excerpt from a note from our dear President and Sister Murphy, “All in all, we love it here in Wisconsin, we love these cute missionaries and we feel it a privilege to be able serve here with them. Our church leaders are saying the results of this COVID is the Lord’s way of hastening His work. Miracles are happening! We are certainly seeing that happen as our message is reaching more people faster. Hurrah for Israel!!!”
Gathering on the OTHER side of the veil
Temple work—specifically indexing and family history work– has been the beneficiary of the health crisis that we are in. There has been a significant increase in family history participation in our stake. Technology has been a blessing by allowing us to perform temple work at home.
- If you need inspiration on family history, take a look at this short and powerful video that shows: The Promised Blessings of Family History
- Click here for some activity ideas for families related to family history
We look forward to the time when we can physically be together again and serve side by side. We love you all!
Rocklin Stake YM Presidency
(Chad Hansen, Ryan Bradford, Kevin Amrine)
