Good Friday Fasting Invitation

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

Wow! General Conference delivered on its promise of being unforgettable. I am so grateful for the words of our prophets and apostles. It brought a needed peace into my life. Like the hope of Christ’s resurrection, the messages brought a brighter hope that our current afflictions will be short-lived. I encourage you to return to those messages soon and often.

We now have an amazing opportunity to prepare for Easter Sunday like never before. The Church has created a library of ways we can ‘Hear Him’ as we celebrate this week. You can find the suggestions here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/.../easter-plan-hear...

In addition to family traditions for the weekend, President Nelson has also called on all of us to fast on Good Friday. He asked:

"I am calling for another worldwide fast. For all whose health may permit, let us fast, pray, and unite our faith once again. Let us prayerfully plead for relief from this global pandemic. I invite all, including those not of our faith, to fast and pray on Good Friday, April 10, that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers be protected, the economy strengthened, and life normalized.”

As I stated in a recent message about fasting, a fast includes prayer, abstaining from food, bearing of testimony, and giving a generous offering.

As you fast with the rest of the world and prepare for a joyous Easter celebration, you will be blessed with health and the Spirit of the Lord in your home.

Christ is risen. Because he rose from the grave on the third day we can always have “hope for a better world” (Ether 12:4).

Happy Easter,

Bishop Sullivan

COVID Newsletter

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

First and foremost, one of the most important things we can do right now is be a light. We have something so many people do not, a steadfast faith in Jesus Christ and a living prophet. Faith in Christ can bring peace and comfort in a time like this. We can truly comfort the comfortless.

Second, we can fortify our own homes by keeping the sabbath day holy. As President Buckner addressed in his email to the stake, until we return to our normal schedule all worthy priests and Melchizedek priesthood holders are authorized to administer the sacrament in their own homes. As this is done under the keys of the bishop, please only do this in your own home or in the homes of members of our own ward. Also, limit this practice to Sunday and do it in a reverent manner, dressed appropriately. If you are unable to contact a ministering brother or neighbor to help you with the sacrament, please reach out to me or President Walker and we will make arrangements to ensure the sacrament can be in your home.

I also highly encourage you to spend time each Sunday reviewing “Come, Follow Me” and studying the First Vision as a family. For some, this may be a fifteen-minute exercise and for others this may be a full Sunday afternoon. Either way, spend time living and studying the gospel in your home.

Finally, find joy and happiness in our strange and shared situation. Serve one another. Seek to brighten someone else’s day. Watch someone’s kids. Share some extra treats or toilet paper! Follow the guidelines we have been given on social distancing, but do not distance yourselves from ministering to one another.

We have the gospel of Jesus Christ. He lives and is our Savior. There is a light and a hope in the eternal plan of happiness. Let us live that way and help others do the same.

Study of the First Vision

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

“Vi una columna de luz”

This was the first phrase I memorized in the MTC. It was fitting it was the first, as I repeated these words thousands of times as I shared the First Vision with the people of Peru. Each time I shared this sacred account, my testimony of its veracity grew—even when I felt I had a strong testimony to begin with!

Starting a few years before my mission, I fell in love with studying church history. So much so that my friends gifted me a replica of Joseph Smith’s wedding ring when I left for my mission.

As you can imagine, I couldn’t be more excited for our prophet’s invitation to study the First Vision in preparation for the 200-year anniversary to be commemorated at this April’s General Conference. https://www.facebook.com/russell.m.nelson/

Here are a few resources I’ve loved reading that you might enjoy as you prepare:

The original is still the best: Joseph Smith – History https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng

I particularly enjoyed the most recent history compiled by the church here: Saints: Volume One https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/ldsorg/media-library/ebook-pdf/Saints-v1-English-PD60001624.pdf?lang=eng (also on Gospel Library app)

Have questions about the different accounts of the First Vision? Read the Gospel Essay here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/first-vision-accounts?lang=eng

Or if you prefer to listen to the experts, try out this podcast: The First Vision:  A Joseph Smith Papers Podcast https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/inspiration/latter-day-saints-channel/listen/series/the-first-vision-a-joseph-smith-papers-podcast?lang=eng

If you have a lot of time and want to search what different prophets, apostles, and professors have said about Joseph Smith at BYU Devotional, browse this curated collection: BYU Speeches Collection https://speeches.byu.edu/topics/joseph-smith/

For a longer read, but very exhaustive, this is my second favorite biography: Joseph Smith: A Biography https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/592733.Joseph_Smith

And saving the best for last, my favorite biography: Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling https://deseretbook.com/p/joseph-smith-rough-stone-rolling-richard-l-bushman-5351?variant_id=104298-paperback

Have a great week!

Read 1st Nephi...Again

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

How many times have you read 1^st Nephi? I would have to think, for members of the Church, that reading 1^st Nephi in January has happened hundreds of millions of times. So, what will be different this time? That’s up to you!

With the new resource of “Come, Follow Me” we all have new tools and insights to help us with our studies this year. There is a concrete, weekly reading schedule, questions and comments in the lesson manual (three lesson manuals actually!), and the new videos the Church has produced.

2020 is your year to dive into the Book of Mormon like never before! Take advantage of all these tools and deepen your understanding and testimony of this great book this year. You will feel an increase of the Spirit in your life and a peace and happiness throughout the trials 2020 will bring. You will become closer to our Heavenly Father and your Savior Jesus Christ. There is great power in reading the Book of Mormon.

-          Bishop Sullivan

From a Child

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

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim 3:15) In speaking to Timothy about the coming apostasy, Paul reminded Timothy that he had known the scriptures since his youth, and would be protected against false doctrines. 

This year, the 'Come, Follow Me' study has helped our whole family be more involved in the New Testament. We still have quite a ways to go to really integrate the studies in our home, but we have definitely had the opportunity to know more about Christ's life and the other teachings of the New Testament. 

As we end this inaugural year of 'Come, Follow Me' and look ahead to 2020's Book of Mormon study, I hope we can see the ways that this year's study has "made [us] wise unto salvation[.]" That we can see how it has helped our "faith which is in Christ Jesus." And finally, that we know and continue to have faith that, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Tim 3:16) 

-Bishop Sullivan

His Grace is Sufficient

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

Like Paul, we all have "a thorn in the flesh." We all have weaknesses, infirmities, and difficulties. While it can be a struggle to face our own shortcomings, I find comfort in reading from prophets, like Paul, who express their own disappointments. 

It's comforting to know we aren't in this alone. We know that others are combating their own thorns in life. However, if we do ever find ourselves feeling alone and it seems as though life has dealt us a more challenging hand than others, there is even greater comfort in knowing that there is one who has overcome all in Jesus Christ. 

This week's lesson allows me to share one of my all-time favorite talks as Paul reminds the Corinthians that Christ's grace is sufficient for each of us to overcome our weaknesses. In Brad Wilcox's talk with the same title he says, "When we understand grace, we understand that God is long-suffering, that change is a process, and that repentance is a pattern in our lives. When we understand grace, we understand that the blessings of Christ’s Atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). 

When we understand grace, we can, as it says in the Doctrine and Covenants, “continue in patience until [we] are perfected” (D&C 67:13)." Last week I asked if our trials really could be blessings. I think Paul answers that question this week. Even if the only blessing is turning us to Christ so we can more fully appreciate the atonement, yes our trials and weaknesses are blessings. God lives and loves us. Christ's atonement is real. We can bring all our weaknesses to Him and His grace will be sufficient to make weak things strong. 

-Bishop Sullivan

Personal Testimony

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

About the middle of Joseph Smith History, the Prophet compares himself to Paul before King Agrippa, which we read this week. I’ve always loved the sternness of Joseph’s conviction in these verses. 

Joseph’s and Paul’s testimonies are similar in their conviction in the face of doubt. Joseph describes them this way: “However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise. 

“So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation.” (JS-H 1:24-25) 

That strong testimony spread the gospel through the known world after Christ’s death and fueled the restoration of the gospel in the latter days. Those testimonies continue to change people’s hearts and people’s lives today. The lesson this week invites us to, “Consider the opportunities you have to share your testimony.” I would add, after considering the opportunities to look for your next opportunity and share your testimony with someone this week. Your own testimony will grow, and who knows who you will affect by doing so. 

Have a great week! 

-Bishop Sullivan