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

Message from the Bishopric

Dear Banbury Ward,

Several years ago, our priest quorum activity one Wednesday night was to have the young men look up a story of an ancestor, find a picture, and put it on the Temple and Family History board just outside the chapel. For mine, I found pictures for all eight of my great-grandparents, and my four grandparents, and a story about two of them. I was thinking about that this week, and the prophecy of Malachi about turning the “heart of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6).

We talked this week as a family about some of the traits we each inherited from our ancestors. Some are obvious, like my height and hairline, Tammy’s dimple and laugh, Emma’s hair and eye color. Some traits we inherit through our DNA genetically, while others are instilled in us by our parents, who got them from their parents, and on back through countless generations. We are the product of all those people who came before us, and we’ll also pass many things on to those we influence in our families, as parents and grandparents, and often as cousins, aunts and uncles.

What about spiritual gifts? Do those pass from one generation to the next? We know that when we make baptismal covenants we are brought into the House of Israel, and when we receive our patriarchal blessing, we learn our lineage. That connects us to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the covenant God made with them for their posterity. Each tribe was given certain blessings and responsibilities. Some would be warriors and protect the borders. Others would be the line of royal leadership. Some would be the priests and work in the tabernacle and temple. Others would be responsible for taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.

As you consider the gifts, blessings and responsibilities that are yours because of your tribal lineage, think also of your parental lineage. What gifts, blessings and responsibilities does that inheritance grant you? It might be easy to identify physical traits you inherit from your grandparents (just looking at their pictures might show you that). What about their habits, their desires, and their purpose possibly came to you from them and their parents, and those past generations?

I know some of the struggles I've faced, my ancestors also faced, and I've drawn strength knowing that they overcame, and I can too. My great-great-grandfather spent years battling a tobacco addiction, and eventually overcame it. I saw many parallels to my own disposition and temptations as I read his journals, and learned more about myself by learning about him. I felt a connection to him and realized some of my challenges likely came from him, but also that his growth could be my growth too. I see certain traits and habits in my children and know they got those from me, both good and bad. It makes me work even harder to overcome some of my limitations because I want them to overcome theirs too.

Tammy has requested the patriarchal blessings of some of her progenitors and found exact phrases about blessings and gifts in theirs that match hers. I don't think that was a coincidence, I think it is all part of God's great plan of happiness for his children.

I invite you to consider this week what traits, gifts, limitations, challenges, blessings, and responsibilities are yours because of your "noble birthright", both through your patriarchal and parental lineages. You'll discover a deeper connection to those who came before, and a deeper appreciation for them. If you are able to be in the temple tomorrow, ponder on these connections. I'm certain you'll find your heart turning towards those who came before you.

Love,

Bishop Price

• May is Family History & Fill the Temple Month! - Throughout the month of May our youth have the goal to be in the temple.  We invite everyone to join in, especially on Saturday May 30 for a ward temple day.  Schedule your appointment now.  We'd like everyone to find a name using Ordinances Ready using the Family Search website.  Then bring that family name to the temple, or if you can't attend, share it with someone else.  In addition, you could upload a memory to Family Search or share a memory with your children/grandchildren.  Primary children - We invite you to learn an ancestor's name and a family history story you can share during the ice cream linger longer.  The Bishopric and others want to hear from you!

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

  • • Young Women's 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.

    • Young Men's Camp – June 24-27th at Northwest Passage Campground - McCall & Garden Valley.  All Young Men - Deacons, Teachers, and Priests are invited.

• Sunday Youth Assignments

  1. • May Chair Set-Up - Priests.  Please come at 8:30 a.m. to help set up chairs.

     • May Greeters - Young Women 14-18 Class

• May 28-31 - Boise-Nampa YSA Conference (18-25) - REGISTER HERE - Contact the bishopric if you have any questions.

• May 31 - Ice Cream Linger Longer - Meet directly after second hour (weather permitting). Join us outside the kitchen for ice cream, socializing, and sharing family history stories.

• May 31 - Youth Fireside - 7:00pm at Bishop Price's home. Youth, youth leaders, and any young single adults home for the summer who'd like to attend are welcome.

• June 5 - Stake Primary Activity - At the Stake Center

  1. • Girls: 10:00am - 12:00pm

     • Boys: 1:00pm - 3:00pm

• June 26 - The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square - Watch Party - Friday June 26 at Scentsy Commons (2901 E. Pine Ave., Meridian).  Activities: 5:00-6:30 p.m., Concert 7:00-9:00 p.m. See flyer below.

• July 5 - Unified Fast - On Sunday, July 5, all are invited to participate in a unified fast to express gratitude for religious liberty and to pray that it be strengthened throughout the world. Please consider prayerfully the focus of your fast. 

• 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/