Banbury Ward of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Message from the Bishopric

Dear Banbury Ward,

Two Sundays ago I was half a world away, in New Delhi, India.  I had just arrived at 3:00 am and was still pretty tired, but I got up for breakfast and learned that a co-worker and his wife, who had arrived a couple of days before me, knew where our church was nearby.  They had arranged for a local driver to take us there.

We arrived at the address but couldn't find any semblance of a church.  Someone standing nearby said that people showed up now and then looking for church but never found it.  Undeterred, we did some more searching and eventually found a family search center.  I was pretty confident we'd find a ward meeting there, and we did!

It was the same service there as we have here, on a smaller scale. The bishop and first counselor on the stand, a priest and another man (possibly his father) at the sacrament table, and two young men passing the sacrament.  The first hymn we sang using a phone setup next to the mic playing the music, because the organist was late (he also was the EQ president and the second speaker). I felt the same spirit as we sang the hymns, as we took the sacrament, and as we listened to talks about the creation and why we have opposition in all things.

The highlight for me was that our driver, who we invited to join us, sat next to me, sang the hymns, and accepted a Book of Mormon and gave his contact info to the missionaries!  He was my friend's driver later that week, and we learned he was reading the Book of Mormon and planned to take his family to church the next Sunday!

The power of the Book of Mormon is that it contains the word of God.  Those who see it for what it is, a conduit for the words of Christ, who press forward, "continually holding fast" to the words of Christ, will be led to partake of the fruit of the tree of life, or the love of God, manifest in His gift to each of us: Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 

"...the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.

Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall ... lead the man [or woman] of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—

And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven... to go no more out." (Helaman 3:28-30)

I testify that heeding the word of God will have a "more powerful effect upon" each of us than on any other thing, if we will but "try [or prove] the virtue [or power] of the word of God."  (Alma 31:5)  May we each seek daily the words of Christ and find power to overcome the "cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil." (Helaman 3:29)

Thank you for responding to the challenge last year to read the Book of Mormon.  I hope you'll continue doing so throughout your life, and that you'll find answers to life's most vexing problems, as you bring God's power into your life through His words. I know that if you read every day, you'll be empowered to make better decisions every day, navigating through the mists of darkness and across that everlasting gulf of misery to reach your potential in God's kingdom.  God bless each of you in this lifelong endeavor!

Love,

Bishop Price

• Choir Practice - Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

• Youth Camps this year will be the week of June 22-27.

• February 12 - JOY Luncheon - 12 noon at the Stake Center for all RS sisters 65+

• February 22 - Youth Fireside - 7:00pm at the church building.

• The Remember Him Area initiative, which invites us all to focus on Becoming Lifelong Disciples of Jesus Christ, is featured on the Area website. All members are invited to:

  • • Share the Remember Him Video featured on the Area Website.

    • Invite families and individuals to visit the site and discuss the video message at home.

• Missionary Meals - We can invite the missionaries to dinner any day or night of the week; there is no longer the requirement to have a non-member present. Please reach out to our Ward Missionary Leader, Larry Nelson, if interested, and for further details and options. The missionaries will not be passing a calendar around, you will need to schedule directly with the missionaries. 

• Cleaning the Temple  - CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP 

Our stake has been assigned to clean the Meridian Temple the week of February 16, 2026.  We were asked to have 15 volunteers each day.  Cleaning in the temple is a wonderful way to experience the temple in a manner other than what some may be used to.  Please consider signing up and giving some of your time to ensure the temple is clean and ready for those attending the temple.  (Our next cleaning assignment will be in June.)

A temple recommend is required to enter and clean the temple.  For those able to attend the Monday cleaning shifts, the temple doors will open at 8:30 am.  Prayer meeting starts at 9 am.  For all other shifts (Tuesday - Friday), please plan to arrive at 9:30.  Prayer meeting will begin at 9:45 am and cleaning will start after the prayer meeting.  

General Information:

• When you arrive, someone will be at the recommend desk to greet you and show you where to go.

• You should come wearing "Church Dress" and bring a clean comfortable pair of shoes.  The temple will provide white scrubs and socks.  The temple no longer provides shoes to wear, but they did have sock and slippers this past week if you prefer those.  Shoe covers are provided for those that bring their own shoes.

• After changing, the group will meet for a prayer meeting.  During this meeting there will be a hymn, prayer, spiritual thought, and then you will be provided your cleaning assignments.

Please make sure to bring your Temple Recommend.  The staff is unable to authorize anyone to come into the temple without one.  Only the temple presidency or a recorder can look someone up.  

It takes many hands to clean and prepare the Lord's House for the patrons that will attend the next day.  Please know how much this cleaning work is appreciated.

• Are you interested in being called as a Temple and Family History Worker with the assignment to work in the Family Search Center? Like a temple worker, this would be a weekly commitment, however each shift is only 2.5 hours. This is an extremely fulfilling calling and an opportunity for anyone to serve the Lord in a meaningful way.  Those who work at the center are witnesses to the miracles that happen there and the joy that the work brings into their lives.  Please reach out to a member of the bishopric if this is something you would like to discuss.

• "To allow for greater access to the words of the living prophets, printed copies of Church magazines are now available at no cost. These magazines include the Liahona, For the Strength of Youth, and Friend. This policy will eventually apply to every area of the Church.

  • • • Members can use their Church account to choose their preferred subscription(s) on a yearly basis at MagazineSubscriptions.ChurchofJesusChrist.org"

      • Please contact a member of the Bishopric, Relief Society Presidency, Elders Quorum Presidency, or your ministering sisters/brothers if you have any questions about this change or if you need assistance with subscribing for no-cost print magazines.

• For temple recommend interviews with the Bishopric and other meetings with the Bishop, please call or text David Swenson at (208) 477-8903.

• All temple recommend interviews with the Stake Presidency must be scheduled ahead of time. There are no walk-in appointments at this time.  For recommend renewal interviews, please visit https://calendly .com/minorth/temple to see available times and schedule an interview with the stake presidency.

Worldwide Church Events

The following link will take you to the church website with a list of all the upcoming and recent church events

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/events/