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

Message from the Bishopric

Dear Banbury Ward,

I don't remember how old I was when I first learned about church history, but it was certainly before age 8.  I remember going to the Salt Lake Temple visitors center, and running from display to display.  I especially liked the paintings or dioramas that had a button you could press and hear the voice of a pioneer talk about their trek west, or a mother talk in hushed tones about their expulsion from Nauvoo and the terrible difficulties they faced that winter.  I felt proud to know that some of these people might have been my ancestors.

Above all those things, I loved the story of Joseph Smith and the First Vision.  I loved reading his words in Joseph Smith History.  His words have always resonated with me, in a profound way.  They seem to jump off the page and penetrate my heart.  If words could be described as having a taste, not only do his words taste good to me, I want to share them with others!

"During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, ...so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong."

"In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?"

"While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

"Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible."

"So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally."

"After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction."

"But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me."

"It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

Not only do I love his words, I love the prophet Joseph Smith.  When I think of all he did, and all he gave for the cause of Zion, starting at such a young age, I am astonished.  Doctrine and Covenants 135:3 makes this claim: "Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it."  I believe it!

I also believe that Joseph's primary purpose, in all that he did, was to point us all to the Savior Jesus Christ, and to commence the great work of preparing the world for his second coming.  In response to the question "Who are you?", Joseph is reported on at least one occasion to have responded: "Noah came before the flood. I have come before the fire."

I am really excited for our course of study this year, to learn more about church history, about the revelations of the Lord Jesus Christ given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and to do my part to help prepare the world for the Savior's return.  It's my hope, my prayer, and my invitation to all of you to join in this great work!  Share the message, live the Gospel, and help redeem the dead.  Savor the words in the scriptures, look unto Christ, learn of Him, and walk in His ways this year!

Love,

Bishop Price

• Information for Youth:

  • • Ignite Your Faith for Graduating Seniors - January 12 at 7pm at Pres. Hall's home - 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 (please note the different date for January 2025) 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.

    • Ignite Your Faith Retreat - A weekend of Faith and Fun for High School Seniors (Watch for more details coming)

      • • • Friday-Saturday, February 21-22 - Donnelly, Idaho

          • Sunday, February 23 - Homes and Stake Center

    • Stake Youth Conference - SAVE THE DATE: June 26-28 for youth 14+

    • Summer 2025 Youth Camps - Block your calendars for the week of July 7-12, 2025. Please direct any questions or concerns to the Bishopric or YW Presidency.

• Church cleaning for January 2025 - Please come to the church Saturday at 8:00am on the assigned day or trade with another family if your assigned day doesn't work:

  • Jan 18th: Hancock, Hanson di Bartolo, Hartman, Hibler, Hope, Huish, Jackson, Johnson, Kohlwey, Laird, Leach, Lewis

  • Jan 25th: Lish, Marlatt, Meck, Michalsky, Miller, Moss, Muir, Nate, Nations, Nelson, Nielson, Oleson

• January 13-17 - Meridian Temple Cleaning - Thank you to everyone who helped to clean the temple 2 weeks ago. We have another cleaning opportunity coming up very soon. Our stake has been assigned to help clean the temple again, on January 13-17.  Our other cleaning assignments for 2025 will be in March and December. 

  1. 1. • We will need to provide 15 people for each of those days (Mon-Friday). Monday is a morning shift and Tuesday-Friday are evening shifts. You will need a current temple recommend to help with this assignment.

        • You can sign up by clicking on the link: Meridian Temple Cleaning

• January 19 - Smooth Into Retirement - Please join us for an adult fireside on Sunday, January 19 at 6:00 pm in the RS room. We will hear from several couples in our ward and have a panel discussion on preparing for retirement.

• February 9 - Ward Conference

• February 13 - JOY Luncheon - Noon at the Stake Center for Relief Society sisters 65+

SERVICE/MISSIONARY OPPORTUNITIES

• BOISE AREA INSTITUTE SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES: We warmly invite you to join our active community at the Boise Institute! We’re looking for passionate individuals to help in diverse roles such as teaching, assisting, food preparation, and serving meals. Your unique talents, enthusiasm, and inspiration will contribute to a nurturing environment where young adults can truly flourish. As a volunteer, you’ll be essential in offering enriching educational experiences, promoting personal growth, and supporting spiritual development. Help us create a welcoming space where learning, fellowship, and nourishment blend seamlessly to bring everyone closer to the Savior. Your involvement will make a meaningful and lasting impact, and we can’t wait to welcome you into our community!

• We are currently looking for one or two assistants for our Thursday Midday Manna program. Your role would involve preparing and serving a light dish for about 30 young adults. If you’re interested, this can also be combined with teaching a class during or around the same time.

• Be able to serve at least 8 hours a week for a period of 12 to 24 months, Monday – Friday.

• Contact Brother Brendan Felix--208-371-3947 or Amy Groesbeck—(208) 695-4040 ; amy.groesbeck@churchofjesuschrist.org

• BOISE AREA SENIOR SERVICE MISSIONARY OPPORTUNITIES: Boise Welcome Center: Urban Ministry Resource Support-  A call in Boise Urban Ministries is a part-time service mission to care for the poor and needy in an assigned ward of the Boise Stake. Boise Urban Ministries service missionaries, usually called as couples, devote their time and energy to their assigned ward or branch. They assist in alleviating the welfare load of the bishop or branch president by helping individuals overcome personal challenges, improve their lives, and get back on their feet financially so they can focus on their spiritual progression.

• Serve on Sundays and other times during the week for a period of 12-24 months.

• Contact Elder Bret Vaterlaus, 208-866-0325

• Treasure Valley Branch (Swahili): An opportunity to serve as local service missionaries in the Swahili Group affiliated with the Boise Stake. Missionaries support the African saints who are members of the church in this congregation and live in the Treasure Valley.  They have a variety of needs as well and the missionaries are engaged in teaching, loving, serving, driving, and ministering to their needs while also being uplifted and strengthened by the great faith of these saints.

• Serve on Sundays and other times during the week for 12-24 months.

• Contact W Blake Bybee (Branch President) 208-244-2314 or Justin Bailey 208-891-8767

• 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 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. 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/