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

Message from the Bishopric

Dear Banbury Ward,

Years ago, when my oldest children were still pretty young, I had an autumn Saturday full of yard work.  Ben was really young, not quite 3 years old.  Spencer had just turned five, and Sarah was six and a half. I told all of them at breakfast that I would pay them for their work with me that day.  They didn't really know what that meant, but we headed out full of vim and vigor for the day.

Sarah and Spencer were more capable workers, because they were older and bigger, but they didn't last very long.  Little Ben, though, stuck by my side the entire day.  I encouraged the older two to come rejoin us, but they found one excuse or another to either not come back out or to slip away again.

That evening at dinner, I told them I had calculated their wages, and I paid Sarah and Spencer fifty cents.  I made a big deal of it, one quarter at a time, thanking them for their work that day. Then I pulled out five dollar bills and gave them all, one at a time, to two year old Ben.  Protests erupted!  "That's not fair!" and "He's younger than we are" were met with a question.  "Who worked with me all day long?"  Then I reminded them of what I had told them at breakfast, that I would pay them for the work they gave me that day.  (I'm happy to report they have since learned the value of hard work).

President Russell M Nelson has said "The Lord loves effort, because effort brings rewards that can’t come without it."  According to Preach My Gospel, “Diligence is steady, consistent, earnest, and energetic effort in doing the Lord’s work.”

I really loved the inspiring mantra that Sis. Emily Bird shared in our Stake Conference this past weekend.  When confronted with a temptation to shirk or shrink, when you're worn down, ready to disengage from the hard work of becoming more like the Savior, when you ask "What should I do?" her answer was "Do the next right thing!"

From D&C 56:2, 28 - Blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven... And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

I hope the messages of the past two weekends' conferences have stirred you, as they have me, to "do a little better and be a little better" (Pres. Nelson).  If so, and if you are wondering how, join me in pondering this question: "What's the next right thing?"  Is it concerning your family, your ministering, your personal worship (prayers, scripture study and temple attendance), or repairing a relationship? Is it settling in your heart some doubts about prophets, tithing, etc.?  Whatever it might be, I'm certain you'll feel spiritual promptings, nudging you to put effort towards the next right thing.  Then, do it!  I promise you'll be happier and gain rewards that come in no other way when you do the next right thing!

Love,

Bishop Price

• Upcoming Youth Events:

  • • The Youth Game Nights that were held on Thursday evenings in the Stake Center Gym have been replaced with a series of Youth Sports Leagues.  Youth Sports Leagues will run for about 6 weeks and be focused on one sport. The first session is a Pickleball League that started on October 3rd and continues to November 21st (skipping Halloween) on Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 pm in the Stake Center Gym. All youth turning 14 to 18 years old in 2024 are invited to join the league and bring their friends with them. Please bring a paddle if you have one. We will have limited supplies available for use.

    • Young Women's Fall Retreat - October 25-26. Meet at the Church at 4pm, dressed for the Temple. Watch email for packing list and other details. Home by 2pm on Saturday.

    • Ignite Your Faith for Graduating Seniors - Sunday, November 3rd at 7:00pm - It will grow your testimony, build your faith, and prepare you for discipleship, missionary activity, and life. All graduating seniors are invited to join in Gospel discussion each Fast Sunday at President Allan Hall’s home located at 1011 River Heights Drive in Meridian. The dress is casual. The desserts are stellar. The discussion will be epic. Help us spread the word! All high school seniors are encouraged to join in, bring your friends, and plan to attend this youth led discussion each month on Fast Sunday.

• Immediate Need - Our stake is being asked to help a Ukrainian refugee family in desperate need. The mom is a widow and has 11 kids, the youngest is only a few months old. The dad passed away unexpectedly in an automobile accident this summer. Our ward has been asked to contribute some items, which can be provided to Dan Stone. Please sign up to contribute what you can. You can text Dan with questions at 208-957-0647 or drop off donations at 14497 W Guinness Drive in Bristol Heights.

• October 24 - Stake Humanitarian Workday - Stop by anytime between 10:00am-1:00pm at the Stake Center. It's more than sewing! No special skills needed. Come gather, make new friends, and work on service projects that benefit others in our community.

  • • • The Stake Humanitarian Committee is in need of new or nearly new books (infant through teen) for their October 24th Activity.  They will be making Book Pillows that day.  You may bring them to the Activity that day (10 am - 1 pm) or give them to Ann DeBurgh, 229 W. River Meadow Dr.  

• Live Nativity w/ Boise North Stake: Dec 6/7

• Light the World Giving Machines: Our stake is hosting the Giving Machines, located at The Village in Meridian, on Saturday December 14.  Learn more here.

• October Family History Invitation - This month, we invite you to think about your preparations to enter the temple. Please consider using the "Ordinances Ready" feature in the Member Tools App to help you take a family name to the temple. "Therefore, if we change our preparation to enter the temple, we will change our experience in the temple, which will transform our lives outside the temple." Elder Ulisses Soares, April 2024 General Conference

• We are inviting all ward members, young, old and in-between, to deepen their connections to their ancestors, both living and deceased, by adding a memory to your Family Search family tree in 2024 and/or by adding an ancestor to your family tree and/or by submitting an ancestor’s name to the temple for ordinance work.  If you do, then add a leaf or two or three to the ward tree on the bulletin board.  Let’s fill the tree!  If you need assistance with any aspect of your family history, please contact a member of the ward council or the ward Temple and Family History Leader.

• MISSIONARY MEALS

  • • • Just a friendly reminder that our day to feed the missionaries is on Fridays. There are a couple of options available.

        • • We can have them come teach a lesson in our home to us or friends, and then feed them.

          • We can provide them a meal to pick up and take home.

          • Please reach out to our Ward Missionary Leader, Daniel Michalsky if interested, and for further details and options.

• "To allow for greater access to the words of the living prophets, printed copies of Church magazines are now available at no cost in your area as of February 1, 2024. 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 Phil Pfleger at (208) 409-9633.

• 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.

• Photos for LDS Tools: If you don't already have a picture in LDS Tools you are encouraged to get your picture taken or upload a picture of your own.  You can also get your photo updated.  If you need help uploading your pictures, please contact Ann DeBurgh at 208-789-4148.

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/