Friday, July 21, 2017

Goals

Brothers and Sisters-

We've attached our Stake/Area Plan (mission statement, vision, etc) and our Stake Steps (goals) for your reference.  Please be a revelatory family and regularly hold family council.  Please have a plan and review your plan regularly.  

We love you and pray for you always!

-The Stake Presidency



Become, and Help Others Become, 
True Followers of Jesus Christ 
and Enjoy the Blessings of the Holy Temple

  1. Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ

  • Strengthen ourselves and our families by receiving the ordinance of salvation and exaltation and keeping the associated covenants 
  • Strengthen our faith in Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ and His Atonement by regularly studying the Book of Mormon and by honoring the Sabbath Day.

  1. To Gather Israel through Missionary Work, we will:

  • Teach repentance and baptize converts
  • Rescue less-active members

  1. To Care for the Poor and the Needy, we will:

  • Build spiritual and temporal reliance 
  • Live the law of the fast and serve others

  1. To Enable the Salvation of the Dead, we will:

  • Find family names
  • Take family names to the temple for ordinance and teach others to do the same


Stake Steps/Goals

  • Personal plan for each family/individual (My Plan)
    • Every individual or family will counsel and prepare a specific Individual or Family Plan with specific and personal goals relating to the 4-fold mission of the church.  The plan will be reviewed monthly in family council meeting.

  • Live worthily of receiving the blessings of the temple and hold an active recommend
    • Every adult member will strive to receive the living ordinances of the temple and hold an active temple recommend (limited-use or full recommend).  Every youth will strive to live worthily of the temple and hold a limited-use recommend.

  • Attend the temple regularly 
    • In each family council, each individual and family will make a goal regarding regular temple attendance and will bring own names for work in the temple

  • Read the Book of Mormon daily
    • Participate in the stake's Easter to Christmas reading challenge 


  • Be registered on JustServe and participate in at least 1 service activity a quarter

Book of Mormon and Goals

Brothers and Sisters of the Orlando Florida Hunters Creek Stake:

I am grateful for this opportunity to share some thoughts regarding the Book of Mormon.  It's not too late to join our stake's challenge!  Start reading now until Christmas and see what blessings come!

By Sunday if you are following the bookmark, you should be at page 196, chapters 25 and 26 of Mosiah.

I love the Book of Mosiah.  It contains the account of the faithful prophet Abinadi. 



Can you imagine what he felt when brought before evil king Noah under threat of death?  This picture depicts Abinadi as an older man yet strong and determined in the face of opposition.  We are privy to some insight in his state of mind and spiritual strength despite such circumstances when we read Mosiah 12.  When the priests were ordered to kill Abinadi he said, "Touch me not...for I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver...I must fulfil the commandments wherewith God has commanded me."  Essentially, Abinadi still had work to do and he was committed to doing it irrespective of his current state.  I've read the account of Abinadi many times.  This most recent reading really drove home the principle of persevering always and maintaining faith regardless.  He had such great faith; He was so steadfast and true.  As the world unravels around us, as the inequity and ufairness of mortality weighs heavily on us, we can find strength in Abinadi and courage to continue our personal and ongoing journey of conversion...and we can help others likewise become converted to the gospel.  Abinadi declared powerfully that he believed completely in the Savior and trusted in what would come.  He spoke with power and the authority of God in declaring his belief.  And though almost all those that heard his testimony that day rejected him, one man listened and was touched...Alma.  Alma repented and changed his life and brought the redemptive joy of the gospel to many.  

Despite the challenges of life and irrespective of opposition, we can find joy and peace through Jesus Christ.  When we share our experiences and bear testimony regarding gospel truths, we can help others also find that joy.  We have a work to do.  We are commanded to do it regardless of the hurdles that are in our way.  If we doubt or lack the faith, let's not give up...but rather let's dig in, study, ponder and pray and see what transpires.  

I know that God lives and Jesus is the Christ.  I know that we have much to do and we can do it!  Keep trying, keep working, keep believing!

-The Stake Presidency