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Archiver > LDS-WARD-CONSULTANT > 2009-03 > 1237849408


From: RAY FRIESS <>
Subject: Re: [LDS-WC] Which Utah temples accept FORs?
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:03:28 -0600
References: <BAY111-W44A7CDA9174FC63B9ED554B0920@phx.gbl><80730003CC08444E85D6EA66BC80DD0D@JILLS0033000064><BAY139-W26A9EE5CB8E4E47509BC50CA920@phx.gbl><1913A7CD1A544CAE8ED5D64A28ADF70E@JILLS0033000064><BLU130-DS3DA0F35E2CA94E1C2C976AA920@phx.gbl><BAY139-W416B49AC4D0BE9E43F49EBCA920@phx.gbl> <957FD5008FBF40AD835C0752A9988721@JILLS0033000064>
In-Reply-To: <957FD5008FBF40AD835C0752A9988721@JILLS0033000064>




In trying to teach, one cannot go ahead of your local and stake priesthood leaders. In other words, you need to get their cooperation and approval for any type of teaching event that you want to plan for your ward and stake.



Remember the many times when the prophet has been ill that his counselors have stated that they would do nothing to step ahead of the prophet because he is the file leader or priesthood leader. The same applies on the stake and ward level. You cannot initiate teaching opportunities in the ward or stake without their go ahead and approval.



You can talk to ward and stake members on a one to one basis if approached or you approach them, but you cannot go in to the bishop or stake president and just announce "I want to see a fireside or class set up and an emphasis put on family history in sacrament meeting talks" can you? Especially on the stake level. You can't as a family history missionary just walk into another ward's bishop's office and say, "I'm a missionary and here's what needs to be done." You can explain your activities as a missionary and you can make suggestions, but if there's no enthusiasm you can't just take the lead and go for it. I don't think so. So, if there is no enthusiasm among priesthood leaders and their philosophy is "when that someday arrives we'll start working on it" how are you supposed to teach your heart out? You certainly can't go door to door tracting.







> From:
> To:
> Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:36:33 -0600
> Subject: Re: [LDS-WC] Which Utah temples accept FORs?
>
> Ray wrote:
> A "someday" thing isn't going to get them moving.
>
> Ray,
> I understand your frustration with this, but no deadline is going to be
> announced because of the very real issues of dealing with each problem as it
> occurs. They cannot predict the problems--or they would be preventing
> them--but they can deal with them when they occur. That being the case, they
> also can't determine how long the solutions will take to program. Based on
> what I have heard, the Wasatch Front is going to give this system its very
> biggest challenge to date. If there are problems as it continues to
> roll-out, things will likely slow down or stop again. If a deadline is
> given, the complaints when that deadline is missed are FAR worse than if the
> people didn't know when it was coming and didn't know that they missed their
> target date.
>
> You have indicated that you think participation in family history work among
> Church members will greatly increase when the program is released in your
> area. Has anyone in the rolled-out areas had that experience? I would be
> curious to know. I assume that there is a brief time period of curiosity and
> learning about the new system, but has anyone seen a truly significant
> increase in long-term participation? I'm not trying to be negative here, I
> want to make a point. I don't believe any "tool" is going to generate the
> level of family history and temple work participation that needs to be
> occurring. I think making the process more user friendly is a definite plus,
> but it isn't a life changer. Missionaries don't convert, the Spirit does.
> Family History tools are fun, but they don't inspire testimony and
> commitment.
>
> When I started this work, my biggest concern in life was how on earth I was
> going to be able to afford a long-carriage typewriter! Before I had the
> money, PAF 1.0 was created. I started by submitting names to Salt Lake and
> waiting 6 months for approval, then we had TempleReady, and now we have New
> FamilySearch. I saw the IGI go from the CFI on microfiche to the current
> online system. There has been a steady increase over time in participation
> in family history, but as you mentioned, the current level of participation
> is still peanuts. The new tools released over the last 30 years have not
> been life-changers. It's my contention that no tool is going to bring the
> commitment and dedication needed to accomplish this work--without the
> testimony and conversion necessary to change our lives and the way we use
> our time.
>
> These tools are being created and will continue to roll forth as the Lord
> sees fit to reveal them to us. He is in charge, and He knows the roll-out
> schedule. I have been teaching family history through this entire process,
> and trust me, the tools are not what the students get excited about. The
> "life-changing event" is the testimony they gain of the work that gives them
> the desire to learn about and use the tools--whatever they are. I would
> suggest letting the roll-out schedule fall off your radar, and focus more on
> testimony and the doctrine. I know that's hard to do, but I truly believe
> you will have greater success with that approach. I have been asked to speak
> in Sacrament meeting in a few weeks, and I was asked if there was a
> particular theme I would like the meeting to focus on. I started laughing
> and asked if they really had to ask that question! I don't know about any of
> you, but our ward has certainly not had its one-third share of Sacrament
> meeting talks for this aspect of the three-fold mission of the Church!! :-)
>
> Just some thoughts,
> Jill Crandell
>
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