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

Message from the Bishopric

If you have ever been to an active construction site, then you know they are rarely quiet places. Between the sounds of saws, hammers, heavy equipment, radios, probably some choice words, and the general commotion, construction sites are, at best, places of controlled chaos.

 So when I read about the very different construction site where Solomon's Temple was being built, it really caught my attention.

 "And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building." (1 Kings 6:7)

It appears this jobsite was quiet, calm, and a place of order. The more I pondered this verse, the more I realized there is much more being taught than reverence on the temple grounds. Before arriving at the temple, every stone had already been carefully measured, cut, and shaped in the quarry. When it arrived, it fit perfectly into its place.

 The Apostle Peter wrote:

 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house..." (1 Peter 2:5)

 Perhaps the quarry in this story can represent our mortal life, and the temple can symbolize our return to the presence of our Father in Heaven. Here in mortality, we are being shaped, refined, and prepared. That process is not always quiet or comfortable. It can be painful. Sometimes it feels as though sharp edges are being chipped away through trials, disappointments, repentance, and growth.

 About a year before his martyrdom, while enduring tremendous persecution, Joseph Smith reflected on this refining process. He said,

 "I am like a huge, rough stone rolling down from a high mountain; and the only polishing I get is when some corner gets rubbed off by coming in contact with something else."

 Those difficult collisions, he believed, were preparing him to become "a smooth and polished shaft in the quiver of the Almighty."

 I pray that as we each face our own refining experiences, we will remember that the Master Builder knows exactly what He is creating. Though we may feel like rough stones in the quarry today, we can trust that He is preparing us for a place in His eternal temple.

Love - Brother Coltrin

• Sunday Youth Assignments

  • • July Chair Set-Up - Priest Quorum.  Please come at 8:30 a.m. to help set up chairs. August will be the Deacons Quorum.

    • July Greeters – Messengers of Hope and Gatherers of Light combined classes. August will be the Builders of Faith class.

• July Building Cleaning assignments

  • • July 18: Meck, Michalsky, Miller, Moss, Mower, Muir, Nate, Nelson, Nelson, Nielson, Oleson, Patton

    • July 25: Peterson, Poole, Poole, Price, Price, Ragsdale, Ranstrom, Roth, Sasser, Schlosser, Schrum, Shreeve

• We are creating a Ward Mission Plan video!  Bro. and Sis. Nelson (Larry and Sharon) are organizing this, and we are looking for about 70 ward members, adults, youth and children, to say a sentence each on camera, to help teach about our Ward Mission Plan and the simple ways to Love, Share and Invite all to come unto Christ.  Please accept their invitation to participate.

• July 23 - Stake Humanitarian Workday - 10am-1pm at the Stake center. Child care provided. Projects for every age and skill!

• July 26 - Regional Single Adult Fireside (36+) - Meridian West Stake Center at 7pm.

• 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) 447-8903.

• 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/