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

Message from the Bishopric

Dear Banbury Ward,

Sorry to keep going back to music but I’ve always loved the play “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” My cousins were the stars in a Stake production when I was a teen, and my cousin Becky was the Narrator. I’ll never forget her incredible voice and how she explained the story of Jacob and his sons through song. I also know that there are several in our ward who might have secretly wished they saw Donny Osmond when he performed in it!

After Isaac married Rebekah, Genesis 25:21-23 tells us, “And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.”

Since no ultrasound was handy in those days, can you imagine being told this as parents, first about having twins and then, that there would be this kind of outcome? When she delivered, Esau was born first followed by Jacob. In the culture at that time, the oldest son received the birthright, which meant greater inheritance and greater responsibilities in caring for the family. As we read in Genesis 25:29-34, Esau was willing to give up his birthright in exchange for a meal because he was hungry. Esau forgot to focus on what mattered most and what eternal blessings lay in store. Jacob further received his father’s blessing over his brother Esau due to Jacob’s worthiness and marrying in the covenant, while Esau despised his birthright and married outside the covenant.

There is a lot to this story I’m leaving out, but as you can imagine, there were definitely some sore feelings about this birthright being lost, including how it was obtained. After Jacob went through some of his own trials and life experiences and adventures away from home, the Lord commanded him to return to Canaan. Jacob was distressed about seeing Esau and in humility, asks God to preserve him. Meanwhile, he also prepared gifts for his brother for their reunion. In Genesis 32:9-12, we read “And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff, I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.”

After then “wrestling” all night with a messenger from God, Jacob hears “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” Jacob let God prevail in his life! We find out later that Jacob and Esau are reconciled, and Esau extends forgiveness to his brother. Their reunion turned out to be sweeter than either of them expected.

Jacob’s birthright has shaped the entire trajectory of the Hebrew people. God reaffirmed to Jacob the promises given to Abraham and Isaac—land, descendants, and blessings. His twelve sons became the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The concept of Israel as a people with a special covenantal role trace back to Jacob’s inheritance. The idea of the “children of Israel” as a distinct people with a historical claim to the land of Israel is rooted in Jacob’s covenantal inheritance. Spiritually, his story is about a person who longs for blessings, wrestles for his uniqueness, and is then reshaped by divine encounters. The birthright becomes a symbol of seeking a deeper inheritance—one that is truly spiritual.

What can we learn from this? Let us all recognize a loving Heavenly Father and be more like Jacob, surrendering, if not clinging to God that our faith will grow through our encounters with Him from prayer, scripture study, temple worship, and taking the sacrament. Jacob had struggles with his brother, with himself, and with God but they refined him rather than destroyed him. The one refiner is our Savior Jesus Christ, whose Atonement allows us to be reconciled with The Father. May we all glorify Israel by being less judgmental, quicker to forgive other’s shortcomings (I have many) and more loving and humbler. Let us comfort one another and lift each other up. Let God prevail in our lives! I testify that Jesus is our Redeemer and that he is our Advocate with The Father. Hurrah for Israel!

With love,

Brother Thomas

• Daylight savings time starts Sunday, Mar 8.  Don't forget to "Spring forward"!

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

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

  • • Girls Camp - It will be at Hayfork campground near Idaho City (an hour away)

      • • Girls Camp: YCL's will leave Monday, June 22 to set up camp. The rest of the girls will come up Tuesday morning, June 23rd. Everyone will clean up camp and go home Thursday, June 25th.

    • Boys Camp – info coming soon!

• Sunday Youth Assignments

  1. • March Chair Set-Up - Priests

     • March Greeters - Young Women 14-18 Class

• Seminary registration for the upcoming school year is now open. All youth entering grades 9-12 are invited to participate. Parents should register their student at myseminary.churchofjesuschrist.org and select Religious Release.

• He is Risen - Stake Easter Program - The Stake is presenting a musical program in celebration of the Easter season and we need your voices! Adults, youth and children are all invited to participate. Rehearsals are as follows:

  1. • Adults: March 1, 8, 15, 22 at 7 p.m.; March 28 at 9 a.m.

     • Youth: March 8 at 6:30 p.m. 

     • Children: March 28 at 8:30 a.m.

• All rehearsals are important, but we are flexible if you can’t attend every time. The March 28 rehearsal is mandatory. The performance is March 29 at 6 p.m., participants should be available from 4-8 p.m.       

• For questions or to join, please contact: 

  1. • Adult choir: Tricia Gale (614-668-4499)

     • Youth and Children’s choirs: Daralyn Kynaston (208-921-2524)

• March 12 - Joy Luncheon - Thursday March 12 from 12-1pm at the Stake Center (for sisters 65 and older)

• March 26 - Stake Humanitarian Workday - 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Stake Center. Donation focus is socks. Children’s Center available from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• 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. 

• 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/