Remember

Archive of messages sent while serving as a bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

It was so great to see so many of you last Sunday! We missed those we still cannot see, but we understand the importance of everyone's safety as well. We will meet again on August 16.

This week's Come, Follow Me reading is one of my favorites. I've always loved reading Alma the Younger's advice to his three sons. There are so many nuggets of wisdom in this fatherly advice. Something that stands out the most to me is Alma's recounting of his own conversion story.

Decades later, and many, many miraculous mission stories later, the visitation of an angel and Alma's subsequent conversion is still the most important thing he wants to leave with his sons.

In doing so, Alma also tells his sons to remember. To remember the captivity of their fathers and the many miracles that scripture has recorded.

With our very infrequent meeting, remembering is more important than ever! Feelings of peace from the Holy Ghost can quickly be forgotten in the craziness of life. Without regular opportunities to meet and feel those things, those feelings can become distant memories until they are completely forgotten.

Like Alma admonished his sons, I invite you to do the same: Remember! If you were able to attend on Sunday, remember what you felt when we finally got to meet together again. Remember your own conversion like Alma. Remember your last great spiritual experience, even if it was a long time ago. Remember that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings peace. Remember that you have covenanted to follow Him and He has promised His peace to you.

I can't wait until we meet again next month on August 16. I will post more updates and details as we get closer.

Thank you for all you do,

Bishop Sullivan

Welcome Back to Church

Archive of messages sent while serving as a bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

I'm so excited to invite everyone back to church tomorrow!

Please watch this short video to know what to expect when you arrive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCKe0Vx2WP4

A few thoughts about tomorrow's services:

• If you cannot attend for any reason, you are still authorized to hold sacrament services in your home
• Please come to be unified in worshiping our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, leave all judging behind
• We will follow all guidelines from the Church and from the state to create a clean and safe environment for you

For those that cannot attend - I miss you! Please reach out to your ministers, the Elders Quorum, Relief Society, or me even if it's just to say hi.

A reminder on the schedule:

9:00 am - Last names A-G

10:30 am - Last names H-P

12:00 pm- Last names Q-Z

We have made a slight buffer during the 9 am meeting for anyone in a slightly higher risk category that would feel most comfortable attending the first meeting.

See you tomorrow!

Bishop Sullivan

Gathering

Archive of messages sent while serving as a bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

Gathering on July 19th

I believe an important part of the gospel of Jesus Christ involves gathering. We gather as a Zion people to better ourselves and to lift others. We gather to live up to our covenants of mourning with those that mourn and comforting those that stand in need of comfort. We gather to feel the Spirit, share our struggles, rejoice, and worship our Heavenly Father.

While our current circumstances make it difficult to gather regularly, I am excited to invite everyone back for Sacrament Services on Sunday, July 19. Details on how we will do so safely are to follow, but before I get to that, I want to discuss how important it will be that we help, lift and support one another as opposed to being judgmental.

When we meet, there will be many that will not be able to come for a variety of reasons. We will miss you. You will not be judged for making those decisions for you and your family.

When we meet, masks will be strongly encouraged; however, a few people may not wear a mask for any variety of reasons. Those wearing masks and those not wearing masks will not be judged for making those decisions for you and your family.

When we meet, we will take the sacrament together to help us renew our covenants and to invite the Spirit to help us be better. We are all at different spots in our disciple's journey back to our Heavenly Father. No one will be judged with where we are falling short or trying to be better.

In short, there is no room for the prevalent divisiveness of today's culture inside our chapel and among a Zion people. This is a great reason we must gather: to exercise faith, charity, and hope for a better world. The answer to today's problems and all our problems is always Jesus Christ.

Welcome back to church.

With Love,

Bishop Sullivan