Remember, Remember

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

Remembering is a major theme in the Book of Mormon. From Nephi recounting his life experiences to Moroni sharing letters from his dad, the entire book is about remembering the great things the Lord has done for them, and really, for all of us.

This week's 'Come, Follow Me' is a direct invitation to remember. Helaman (who named his kids Lehi and Nephi to help them remember) recounts many miracles from the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon, exhorting his children to remember. In the midst of their own nation turning wicked, Helaman reminds them to remember "the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God." (Hel 5:12)

This instruction to remember is most relevant in our times. We can remember the great things the Lord has done for others by reading the scriptures and General Conference talks, we can remember the great things the Lord has done for our family through family history work, and we can remember the great things the Lord has done in our own lives through journals, prayer, and pondering.

I invite everyone to take time to remember this week. Remember the goodness of Jesus Christ and His everlasting gospel. Just like Helaman preached to his sons, this is the remedy we each need in our lives today to survive the turmoil around us.

With Love,

Bishop Sullivan

The Power of God

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

Dear Ward Family,

I echo President Walker's email message from Sunday and encourage all Melchizedek Priesthood brethren to offer blessings to your family, your neighbors, and those to whom you minister. I invite everyone to seek the power of God in your life and use it to serve others.

Please view my invitation here: https://youtu.be/3B1LlF-uybw

We had an amazing meeting on Sunday! We were happy to see so many of you and we missed those that still cannot make it. We will hold our next in-person services on September 20.

Have a great week everyone!

Bishop Sullivan

God's Hand

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

I've been driving a lot lately. A last minute trip to Nebraska to pick up my dad, fun in southern Colorado (involving two flat tires!), and a few trips to the airport. This time on the road lends itself to so many thoughts passing through one's mind.

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

One recurring thought I had in my 40+ hours of driving was recounting the many times I've seen the Lord's hand in my life. Whether it was a small memory of comfort or an actual miracle, I realized that I have been witness to God's hand over and over.

I see it in simple things, like the new families that have moved into our ward, the new found family time during COVID, or a farmer in the middle of nowhere with the tool I needed to fix my flat! (Literal middle of nowhere, look up Disappointment Valley for reference.) I've been witness to healings, fulfilled promises, and the most miraculous of all, great changes of heart.

One could describe some of my experiences as mere coincidence. However, this would deny probability and my own strong confirmations of the Spirit. While I have not physically seen God's hand like the Brother of Jared, my experiences are just as real.

God is real. He loves you and want what's best for you.

Our Heavenly Father is in the details. He is in the midst of these crazy times. If we look, we will see Him. If we listen, we will hear Him. Please seek to see and hear your Heavenly Father each day.

With Love,

Bishop Sullivan

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

Return to Church

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

Dear Ward Family,

Mark July 19, 2020 on your calendars. We have tentatively scheduled that Sunday for our ward to return to Sunday Services at church. We will have more specific details about the return between now and the 19th, but we will follow these basic guidelines:

• We will follow all state and local guidelines for social distancing and group meetings
• No meeting will have more than 99 attendees
• Masks will be strongly encouraged
• Those in high risk categories are discouraged from attending
• The Sacrament will be authorized to be done in all homes until it is safe for everyone to return

We are very excited to enter this phase of gathering together again. As we prepare for the return next month, please pay special attention to what is making your at-home services so special. Our altered Sunday Services must be better when we return.

I also highly encourage everyone to plan on maintaining a similar practice to at-home services even when we gather together again. Plan on studying together in your homes. Plan on gathering for a short time to worship together in your homes. While we go through these crazy times, take all the good that has come from it and keep those things.

I look forward to seeing you at the chapel again next month! In the meantime, please let your neighbors know of the update and we will do our best to get all details to you in the coming weeks.

With Love,

Bishop Sullivan