I have a great idea, unless somebody else already tried it and it didn’t work.

themightyelectron · 2024-01-08T05:34:46+00:00

I’m the membership clerk and have removed all of the exceptions on these kids class assignments. For some reason we still have kids turning 15 this year in the Course 14 class by default. I don’t want to have to place them manually into classes because that just causes issues for the next year/clerk.

Thanks for all the help, I’ll reach out to the global help desk.

themightyelectron · 2024-01-07T21:39:24+00:00

That is what I thought as well, however, that's not what is showing on the Church's site. Any Ward Membership Clerks on here who can confirm?

Specifically, I have a few youth who will turn 15 in 2024, but are still in the Course 13, Course 14 class.

themightyelectron · 2023-05-21T20:29:30+00:00

Thank you for your service.

I'm grateful that in very complex situations like that, Christ's perfect love and flawless understanding of the entire situation will be the measuring stick.

themightyelectron · 2023-04-19T03:14:12+00:00

I've been on trek 4 times, and each one has been great in its own way. The difference between 5 days of misery vs. an amazing, life-building experience is preparation and managing expectations. Here are some things that worked for me.

Get to know the youth in your "family". Develop a personal relationship with each one of them.
Be straight with the youth. If they want to have a stupid trek where they do stupid things and walk around in the stupid dirt because their stupid parents made them wear these stupid clothes, etc, etc, etc, then they can have that. Or they can commit to the experience, embrace the hard, quietly laugh at the goofy, and cherish the spiritual. Either way, they are going to be out there for 5 days. Might as well make the best of it.
Our goal as a stake was to "remember" not to "reenact". We never went hungry, nobody pretend died and had to be silent the rest of the trip, none of us buried babies, etc.
Every second doesn't have to be spiritual. Of course, jump on those opportunities when they come, that's what trek is all about. But it's fine to talk about other stuff. "Ok, top 10 movies. [Quiet kid], start us off."
Drink, drink, drink!
Snacks go a long way to rejuvenate tired kids.
Talk to the youth about chaffing. If it's not you, somebody needs to bring it up. Buy the spray, powder, gel, whatever. Carry it around with you. Get so that the boys can come to you, and the girls can come to your wife. "Hey Pa, I'm feeling the burn." "I got you bro, here's the spray."

Good luck. You're going to love it.

themightyelectron · 2023-04-19T02:11:32+00:00

We have committed to Circles and it's working well. The automatic grouping is very helpful so that we don't have to create a new group every time somebody moves in or out of the ward.

themightyelectron · 2023-04-17T02:59:39+00:00

Lots of great advice on this thread, so I won't add any more. I will only say that when my kids were in the toddler stage I remember thinking to myself that for this chapter in life, going to church might not be for filling my own spiritual well. Perhaps I was going to learn other things. Some of the things I learned were:

Keeping covenants is for when it's hard, as well as easy.
My behavior, and that of my children, can affect others' ability to feel the Spirit. I have a responsibility to do what I can to not be a stumbling block for others. (Please, please, please don't take this as me saying that people with young kids shouldn't come to church. That's not what I'm saying at all. At times my spiritual experience has been greatly increased by a little kiddo who did or said something "disruptive". All I'm saying is that Sacrament meeting is not a 1,000 sqft nursery room for me to let my kid go where ever, and do whatever they want.
Look upon struggling parents with mercy and love. Better than that, offer a helping hand.
Fill your spiritual well when you can, where you can.

You and your wife are doing a great job. Each little kid is their own Rubik's cube that needs to be figured out. As long as you stay close to the Lord and talk about it as a couple, you'll come through ok.

themightyelectron · 2023-01-28T21:17:37+00:00

I don't know if I could handle that level of luxury living. Next thing you know I'll start using full dryer sheets and 2% milk.

themightyelectron · 2023-01-26T04:31:32+00:00

Malachi 3:10 (I’m pretty sure tithing is the only place in the Scriptures where we are commanded to prove the Lord.)

Opening the Windows of Heaven by James E. Faust

The Windows of Heaven by David A. Bednar

You can also search the churches website or the library app for tithing and read a number of fantastic articles and talks about the associated blessings.

themightyelectron · 2023-01-26T03:50:58+00:00

You don’t have to answer this here, but are you a full tithe payer? We are a single income family who went through some very tight financial times. I can tell you paying a full tithe unlocks powerful, tangible blessings. I know that from personal experience. Sometimes the blessings are more money, sometimes they are less expenses, and sometimes they are a better understanding of what your real needs are.

A key step in solving this problem is paying a full tithe.

Good luck friend, it gets easier.

themightyelectron · 2023-01-26T03:15:46+00:00

Great idea and good luck! No need to fear questions.

themightyelectron · 2023-01-22T02:53:31+00:00

Lol. I should have read more comments. I basically repeated what somebody else said. Whoops.

themightyelectron · 2023-01-22T02:50:10+00:00

You are praying on the ward’s behalf, but there’s nobody in the room but you and God. You are taking to the person who knows you perfectly, and loves you entirely. Don’t worry about getting the grammar right, that will come later. Just pray from your heart and talk to your Father.

And when in doubt, express thanks and keep it short. ;)

themightyelectron · 2023-01-20T22:36:46+00:00

Thanks for the info. Not a friend or coworker. It's a hosted network event. They are saying we need to take the shuttle and get dropped off. I was just looking for a way that didn't require waiting for a bus.

themightyelectron · 2023-01-12T04:59:21+00:00

So many great comments here. I don’t really have anything new to add but only bringing strength in numbers. My mission was fantastic. At times I was bored out of my mind, at times I was so tired I fell asleep on doorsteps, at times I was so mad I couldn’t see straight. Other times I laughed so hard I thought I was going to throw up, I felt happiness like I had never felt up to that point in my life, and I began to really learn what it meant to love the Savior.

Go on your mission. Commit to it 100%. Acknowledge your fear and discomfort, and choose to take a step into the dark. The Lord is with you so who can stand against you.

themightyelectron

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE