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

Message from the Bishopric

Dear Banbury Ward,

I did something yesterday I've never done before!  I finished reading the Book of Mormon personally in the morning, and then a second time with Tammy and Emma that evening.  It's been an interesting experience to read the same verses twice, often the same day or a day or two apart.  It's let me ponder some of the themes a little differently than I have before.

One of the strong themes for me this time has been to remember.  From the title page reminding us "what great things the Lord has done for [our] fathers", to the last chapter exhorting us to "remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men", the Book of Mormon is pleading with us to remember.  It is literally the written memory of two civilizations, their rise and collapse.  When the people heed the prophets and remember the Lord, they obey His commandments and they are "prospered in the land".  When they do not obey, they are "cut off from His presence".

The Book of Mormon teaches great principles.  I take very different lessons from the war chapters in Alma about preparing the hearts and minds of the people than I once did.  Amalakiah was flattering the people, using deception, treachery, and a constant drumbeat of war to rile up the Lamanites to anger against the very people he had once called his own.  All in the pursuit of power.  Meanwhile, "Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored."  And then he prepared his people, both their hearts and their arms, fortifying the places that had previously been the weakest and making them strong.  What a great lesson for our own selves!

The Book of Mormon was written for our day.  Moroni saw our day.  He devoted the last chapter of the book to exhorting us to"remember that every good gift cometh of Christ", to have faith, hope and charity, and to not let unbelief or despair enter into our hearts.  He testified that one day, before the bar of God, the Lord would say unto us: "Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust?"

I want to thank all of you who have spent more time in the Book of Mormon since I issued the challenge last summer to the rising generation to read it.  I want to hear from you and your children!  Please email me, text me, or even write me a letter sharing your testimony of the Book of Mormon.  It could be anything, a story that stood out, a theme, a principle, or even just one verse that took on new meaning for you.

I add my witness to the many other witnesses we have that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  Jesus Christ's words are throughout the book.  He authored it through Nephite and Jaredite prophets.  His power preserved it for so many hundreds of years, waiting for our day.  It was translated by His gift and power.  It truly is Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and all mankind will draw nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book!

Love,

Bishop Price

• January Saturday Cleaning Assignments - Please be at the church at 8am Saturday morning. If you are unable to clean on your assigned day, please switch with another family. Thank you!

  • • Jan 24th: Marlatt, Meck, Michalsky, Miller, Moss, Muir, Nate, Nelson, Nelson, Nielsen, Oleson

    • Jan 31st:  Patton, Peterson, Pfleger, Poole, Price, Price, Ragsdale, Ranstrom, Roth, Sasser, Schlosser

• January 19 - Attention Empty Nesters! Finding The Gospel In Great Music Piano/Organ Recital - 7:00pm at the Stake Center (5555 Locust Grove Rd). 1 hour concert. The Vienna Woods Empty Nesters are inviting all Empty Nesters in the Stake to this concert. The hour long concert will be followed by a short reception where you can visit one on one with Brother Earl Cahill. Earl Cahill, the presenter, will feature works by Bach & Shumann.  Brother Cahill pursued piano performance at BYU before ultimately earning a master's degree in Mathematics. Through his YouTube channel, Earl's Music Room, he has met, filmed, and interviewed award-winning pianists from around the world.  He has sung masterworks with BYU's Early Music Ensemble and the Wasatch Chorale.  Brother Cahill has given recitals in Utah, Leipzig and London.  He currently studies with Dr. Scott Holden.

• January 20 - Relief Society Activity - 7pm in the Relief Society Room. Getting to Know You! Snacks and Fun Provided! Bring a printed baby photo of yourself. *New day for the new year - We’ll be meeting the third Tuesday of each month in 2026.

• January 22 - Stake Humanitarian Service Day - From 10am-1pm at the Stake Center

  • • Children’s Center from 10:30 - 12:30

    • Collecting non-perishable food and yarn

• February 6 - Book of Mormon Challenge Celebration - 6:00pm - Dinner, Program and Music.  Sign-ups for Soup, Stew, Chili or Chowder will go around Sunday or you can use this link.  Come up with a creative name that connects your dish to the Book of Mormon (e.g. Nephi's Broken Bow Soup, Measure of Barley Stew, etc.)  Please come, whether you've finished the Book of Mormon, are still reading, or haven't started yet.  It will be a special night.  All are welcome!

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

• Cleaning the Temple  - CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP 

Our stake has been assigned to clean the Meridian Temple the week of January 26, 2026, and 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.

• Reading The Book of Mormon - Join our Ward in reading The Book of Mormon by January 15. Bishop Price said:

  • • • I would like our youth to gain a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ by reading the Book of Mormon, every day from June 1 to January 15, 2026, completing it, for the first time, or another time.

      • I call on their families to join them in this challenge.  Commit to re-reading the entire Book of Mormon again, and reading every day.

      • I call on the primary children to also accept this invitation.  On road trips, listen to the Book of Mormon.  Read it together as families.  Those who can, get your own copy of the Book of Mormon and commit to reading several minutes every day.

      • I call on all the youth leaders, the Sunday School and Primary teachers, the grandparents; all adults, from the newly-wed to those who have reached emeritus status, to join us.  When you speak in Sacrament Meeting; when bearing testimony on Fast Sunday, in a class, or at home — testify of the Book of Mormon and how it is drawing you to the Savior, and drawing His power into your life.  Share what you are reading and what you are learning in classes, at activities, or even in the foyer, in simple and consistent ways.  Plan one or more activities centered around this Book of Mormon challenge as we motivate each other these next seven and a half months.

      • The Book of Mormon was written for our day.  All the major writers saw our day and wrote “those things that would be of greatest worth to us”.  As you consistently read from the Book of Mormon, “the heavens will open for you.  The Lord will bless you with increased inspiration and revelation.” (Pres. Russell M. Nelson, Oct 2018).  You will be inoculated against the “potent mixture of prosperity, possessions and ease that can lead even the righteous to drink the spiritual poison of pride” (Elder David A. Bednar Oct 2025)

      • ”Do you want to get rid of a bad habit? Do you want to improve relationships in your family? Do you want to increase your spiritual capacity? Read the Book of Mormon! It will bring you closer to the Lord and His loving power.” (Russell M. Nelson Oct 1999)

      • ”I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day.” (Pres. Thomas S Monson Apr 2017)

      • “My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.” (Pres. Russell M Nelson Oct 2018)

      • Let us, as a ward, accept this challenge, to read daily, as individuals and families, and to speak often to each other of the power of the Book of Mormon to draw the Savior’s mercy, grace and power into our homes, families and lives.  Let us talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, and preach of Christ, especially to the rising generation, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins (2 Nephi 25:26), that “the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein.” (Pres. Marion G Romney Apr 1980).

      • Will you join me?

• "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/