Meadowbrook Ward Newsletter - November
If you have any news or announcements, please contact Sherrill Grimmett, 208-233-4638 or sherassist@yahoo.com.
HOSANNA AND HALELUJAH
The Pocatello Idaho Temple has been dedicated. Now we can attend the temple in our own hometown. The Lord’s work continues.
WARD INFORMATION:
New Young Women Presidency:
President: Colleen Romreill
1st Counselor: Kirsten Rowley
2nd Counselor: McKinley Trappett
Secretary: Jean Kunz
Correction: Last month Paula Neil’s name was misspelled. Just know that Paula’s last name is spelled N-E-I-L. Sorry.
No Christmas dinner this year because of Covid. However, a little elf hinted of a special visit that will be coming December 16 at 6:00 P.M…more to come.
The giving tree is now available. Please choose a gift to give. All gifts need to be at the church by the end of church on December 19th.
Tithing Settlement is being conducted November and December
Brother Willes would like to have the ward choir perform in December. More to follow. All members are requested to join.
December 26th- Sacrament meeting only
Dear State Relief Society Sisters, Due to the Thanksgiving holiday this week there will be NO stake volleyball this week. We will resume play on December 1st at 9:00 pm at the stake house.
In November, the Relief Society prepared humanitarian packets to be given to those with special needs.
In October the youth went to the Family Search Center to learn more about themselves and their family. They learned to find names for baptism to take to the temple and about family history.
A special call to Priesthood holders. The Family Search Center is still in need of brethren to be a Priesthood presence at the Center. If you can spare four hours a week to help keep the Center open and increase more hours for patron use, please contact Jerry Myers at the Family Search Center.
NEW WARD MEMBERS
Brayden and Emma Spaulding - 1066 Yellowstone
Mindy Gilbert – 1066 Yellowstone
Jake, Sidney, Auzzi, Lilah and Charles Lewis – 624 Wyldwood
Kellie Butterfield, Faolan Pease, and Avalon and Balian Weaver – 957 Wayne
Rene Iverson – 925 Wilson
Jaden Jones – 1126 Meadowbrook
Elizabeth Caldwell – 716 Wyldwood
Maquella Chacon – 1108 Cherry
BISHOPRIC MESSAGE:
Dear Meadowbrook Ward members,
My heart is full as we enter into this holiday season, especially as we near Thanksgiving, and I encourage each of us to take a moment to review our many blessings.
As we “count our many blessings”, it is easy to see how grateful we should be.
But, I also understand that it can be hard to remember to have gratitude as we live our lives in this tumultuous world. Satan continues to send his fiery darts in the whirlwind, in every way imaginable, and our attention sometimes wanders and we forget the blessings we do have, but, we must always have gratitude in our hearts.
President Monson taught, “Gratitude is a divine principle. The Lord declared through a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things. And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.”
President Monson continues, “Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings. This is a wonderful time to be on earth. While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good. We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that “gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”
President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives.”
We have so much to be grateful for everyday! I’m grateful for a loving Father in Heaven and his Son, our Savior. We are so blessed to have the gospel and the privilege to be a member of the Lord’s church. I’m grateful for the Book of Mormon and i’s teachings, and the opportunity to study the Doctrine & Covenants, which has reminded me of the vital role Joseph Smith had in the restoration of the gospel and the sacrifice of those early members of the church. I’m grateful for the Plan of Salvation and the blessing of eternal families. We are blessed to have a modern day prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, and the inspiration he receives in our behalf. I’m thankful for our stake and ward leaders, especially President Phillips and Bishop Woodland, and their prayers in our behalf and their guidance, and I am grateful for a temple here in Pocatello, and, for my sweet wife and family.
I’m thankful for each of you and for your prayers in behalf of the Bishop and his counselors.
Sincerely,
Brother Gibson
STAKE SUNDAY SCHOOL MESSAGE
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Elder Quentin L. Cook said, "The Institution of the family is the foundation for both happiness and peace."
President Nelson taught us that "the home-centered, church-supported religious observance can unleash the power of families...to transform our homes into a "Sanctuary of faith". If we have this religious observance in our homes, we will also have the Savior's peace." He also said, "There has never been a time in the history of the world when knowledge of our Savior is more personally vital and relevant to every human soul."
These are profound truths and beautiful promises.
As a Stake Sunday School Presidency, acting under the Stake Presidency, we have felt the need to join our voices with our Prophet and Apostles in bearing testimony of these truths and remind and encourage all the members of our Stake to continue diligently using and studying Come Follow Me in your homes. This instrument of "Pure Truth, Pure Doctrine and Pure Revelation", given to us by a living Prophet of the Lord, will provide strength and protection for you and your family. Please continue to study Come Follow Me.
We bear testimony that Jesus lives, that Russell M. Nelson is a living Prophet of God and that Come Follow Me is a divinely inspired tool for gaining knowledge of our Savior and strengthening us and our families. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Stake Sunday School Presidency,
Brother Richard Kunz, Brother Rick Keller and Brother Richy Gaona
OFFICIAL CHURCH ANNOUNCMENT
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
After careful consideration, and with a desire to simplify temple operations, cafeterias in temples around the world will be closed.
The cafeterias are currently closed due to the pandemic and will not reopen. Patrons attending the temple may obtain food at food establishments close to the temple, if needed.
We are grateful for the dedication of Church members and employees who have assisted in the operation of temple cafeterias for many years. And we are grateful for the faith of those who come to the temples to serve and participate in eternal ordinances for themselves and those on the other side of the veil.
(From the Church Presidency).
GETTING TO KNOW OUR NEW STAKE PRESIDENCY
President Joel Phillips
Joel is the son of Rick and Kerry Phillips. He was born in Logan, UT. He spent the early part of his childhood in Boise. Joel moved to Pocatello in the early 90s. He attended Highland High School. In his younger years, you would find him on his rollerblades, BMX bike, or dirt bike. After graduation, Joel served in the Leipzig Germany mission. Following his mission, he attended ISU and received his MBA. While attending ISU, Joel met his awesome wife. They were married in January 2003. Joel is a jack of all trades and a master of many. If it’s broken, he can fix it. If something needs built, he can build it. He enjoys tinkering in the garage, flying his flight simulator, racing race cars, riding motorcycles, shooting guns, but most of all hanging out with his wife and kids.
Heidi is the daughter of Mark and Cindy Ozburn. She grew up on a farm in Soda Springs. She attended ISU and graduated from the PTA (physical therapist assistant) program. She worked in pediatrics physical therapy for 9 years. Heidi enjoys running, biking, Pilates, camping, dates with the hubby, and most of all being with her family.
They have 4 amazing kids. Jacelyn is almost 17 and attends Highland High School. She enjoys soccer, riding horses, and hanging with friends. Brenden is 14, and also attends Highland High School. He enjoys baseball, basketball, video games, and cars. Aeva is almost 10 and attends Ellis Elementary. She loves cheer, soccer, dates with her dad, and friends. Easton is 6, and also attends Ellis Elementary. He enjoys football, soccer, catch, teasing his siblings, and snuggling with his mama.
President Jeff Johnson – 1st Counselor
Jeff was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. When he was 14 years old, they moved to Spanish Fork, Utah. After a year of college, he was called to serve a mission to the Independence, Missouri Mission. He had an opportunity to serve and visit Liberty Jail, Independence, and Adam-ondi-Ahman. After he returned from his mission, he attended UTC. He moved into BYU housing where he met a young lady by the name of Cheri Anderson from Glendive, Montana. Jeff was assigned to be Cheri’s home teacher…it was the best teaching he has ever done before or since. It didn’t take long for Jeff to realize that Cheri was “the one” and they were married in the Provo Temple on November 18th, 1982.
There have been many opportunities for Church service along the way. Jeff served as an early morning seminary teacher for 6 years and several other assignments. Prior to moving to Chubbuck, he served in the Bishopric for the past 12 years with the last 4 as Bishop in Green River Wyoming. Recently he served as the bishop for the past 5 years in the Victory Ward. Jeff and Cheri have been blessed with 7 children, along with their spouses and 11 grandchildren. When free time comes along, they can be found visiting family, skiing, spending time in Silver Gate, Montana or attending grandkids activities. Jeff and Cheri are excited to meet the wonderful saints in the Pocatello North Stake!
President Joel Benson – 2nd Counselor
We are the Bensons! We are kind of a goofy group, but we love being together! We love sports and music and the outdoors.
Joel and Kim are both originally from Idaho Falls but spent some schooling years in Rexburg, Pocatello, and Kansas. Joel served a mission in France and Belgium, and Kim served in Italy. They have been married for 24 years and have five daughters and one son-in-law. They have lived in this ward for about 16 years. Joel works for Farm Bureau working in media focused on agriculture while Kim is a substitute teacher at Alameda.
Joslyn and Sam live in Provo and attend BYU. Sam is an Environmental Science grad student, and Joslyn will graduate this spring in Elementary Education. They love watching football, bird watching, and playing Frisbee golf.
Kelsey lives in Logan and attends Utah State. She is finishing her second year and is studying International Studies with the goal to join the Peace Corps. She plans to never grow up!
Lauren is a senior at Highland. She runs track and cross country and is in show choir. She plans to attend BYU Idaho in the fall and wants to continue her love of sports by becoming a P.E. teacher.
Sophie is a freshman at Highland and plays soccer and runs track and cross country. She also loves choir and is currently taking Drivers Ed. (Yikes!!)
Macy is a sixth grader at Alameda. She also loves to play many sports and spends a lot of time singing karaoke with her dad.
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Wishing Everyone
Wonderful Holidays!