Ward Boundary Reorganization

“Good evening, brothers and sisters. It's good to see you all tonight. We do want to announce the adult session — Saturday, November 14th, so all of you can put that on your calendar. Stake conference, general conference, stake conference — put it in your calendar right now, because this is a good turnout.”

“We're going to open tonight by singing I'll Walk With Jesus. Sister Jean McCandless will give our invocation, and then we'll start the meeting.”

Thanks followed to Sister Jones and Brother Manson for the music, and to the High Counselors supporting the meeting from both buildings.

The purpose behind watching membership numbers, he explained, is making sure each ward has the right number of people to support its needs — enough that an Elder's Quorum president or Relief Society president can actually reach everyone, but not so many that people can't find meaningful callings. When a boundary change is on the table, the stake presidency first reviews participation numbers, then submits a proposal for review — a process that today also brings in the stake Relief Society, Young Women, Young Men, and Primary, and the bishops of the affected wards, rather than resting on the stake presidency alone.

“We recognize that any sort of change like this — especially in the world we live in, where there's already a lot of heaviness — can lead to extra anxiety, and we don't want that to be the case. We'll invite everyone's prayers as we go through this.”

The specific changes, ward to ward:

• Homes on Cherokee Street, down to Dakota Drive, move to the Brookhaven Ward. The line was deliberately drawn along across-the-street neighbors rather than backyard neighbors — “a lot of the relationships we have are maybe more across the street than behind, with our back neighbors.”
• Everything north of Golden Eagle, including Eagle Top Court and Sioux Street — currently South Pass — moves to the Kiowa Valley Ward.
• The area above Pawnee Road (between Golden Ridge and Pawnee), across to Hollow Crest Drive and South Pass Road — currently Skyline Ridge — moves to the South Pass Ward.
• Skyline Ridge retains the rest of its existing boundary.

A sustaining vote was called for on the proposed changes to the South Pass, Kiowa Valley, Skyline Ridge, and Brookhaven wards; hands were raised in support.

He closed with a thought tied to Nephi's family leaving Jerusalem — 1 Nephi 17, and how the Lord prepared the way for them — and how, when Nephi needed direction, he went to the temple, to the mountain: “I invite us, as we're trying to figure these things out for ourselves, to seek revelation — get to the temple. We know these changes can affect families. Seek revelation on how to connect with new neighbors, how to invite, how to step out of your comfort zone and enjoy coming together as a ward.”

“This is not something we do quickly, and not something we look forward to doing — this was something we considered for quite a while.” Several leaders spoke briefly to the difficulty of boundary changes from their own experience, and to the intention behind it: “for those adjusting to new wards, we've sought to bring enough of a group that you're not alone.”

Released with thanks:

• Kyle Egan — Bishop, Skyline Ridge Ward, with his counselors
• Nate MacArthur — Bishop, South Pass Ward
• Chris Carlton — First Counselor, South Pass Ward
• Reese Mower — Second Counselor, South Pass Ward
• J.P. Mora — Second Counselor, Kiowa Valley Ward
• plus counselors and presidency members moving with their families into new wards, released along with them

Sustained into new callings:

• Skyline Ridge Ward: Adam Meese, Bishop · Eric Lundell, First Counselor · Second Counselor's name didn't come through clearly
• South Pass Ward: Brady Thompson, Bishop · Amen Stephenson, First Counselor · Dallin Sims, Second Counselor
• Kiowa Valley Ward: Carson Waters, Second Counselor

Brady Thompson, Dallin Sims, Carson Waters, and Eric Lundell were then ordained to the office of High Priest.

“I'm grateful for the opportunity I've had to serve, grateful for all the members, grateful for the counselors I've had the opportunity to serve with. The day I was sustained and set apart, I pulled up to the church building and one of my counselors was pacing in the parking lot. I parked, got out, went over, and he said, ‘I don't think I want to walk in.’ I said, ‘I don't know if I want to either — but let's walk in together.’ That's how we served — we did it together, and I'm grateful to have been able to serve with all of you in this ward.”

“For those of you feeling a little sad or distraught about moving to a new ward — President Stone said at one of our previous meetings that this would be hard, and I went up to him afterward and said, ‘President, I'm one of those people this is going to be hard for.’ Regardless of which ward we attend in a couple of weeks, we belong to the Church of Jesus Christ — he lives, and he leads his church. Callings come and go; we serve where we're called, and we lift where we stand.”

“I remember, when I was called, having some awkward conversations with members of the ward — some wanted to apologize to me for being called as bishop, offering condolences; others offered congratulations. As I've reflected on that, I have a recommendation for each of you: these bishops didn't fill out an application to serve. They didn't get called because they were more righteous than you. We believe a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those in authority. I testify that the stake presidency holds priesthood keys, that President Davis is in authority, and that we are called by God.”

“Bishop — we sustain you, and I look forward to serving with you. We remain unprofitable servants; there's no need for condolences, because as much as we sacrifice, the Lord will bless us beyond what we sacrifice. I know that you are his children. I know that Jesus Christ atoned for the sins and the pains of mankind. I urge you to turn — to repent of your sins, to become clean, to be enabled through his power. When you repent, there's no stain, no mark, no asterisk next to your name — you become clean and whole through Christ's atoning grace. I promise you'll find joy as you serve, and strength and power as you make and keep covenants. I love you, and I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

“It's funny — as a bishop, when you extend a calling to somebody and they say ‘I don't feel [adequate] to do the calling’ — well, after that calling, it's like, whoa, you're looking at the guy who feels the least adequate of anybody. So I respect you not feeling adequate, but that's not a reason not to serve. Serving is hard at times, it requires sacrifice, and those sacrifices bring great rewards. I'm super grateful somebody thought I was adequate.”

“To be a bishop — I don't think most bishops grow up thinking, ‘I'm going to be a bishop.’ Most of us are a little blindsided when we're called, but it's an amazing opportunity, and what makes it most amazing, in my eyes, is how it's sustained. I'm so grateful to my counselors who served with me, grateful for the sisters — the Primary presidents, the Relief Society presidents, the presidents of all the different auxiliaries — everyone who sat through all those ward councils. Brothers and sisters, support your bishops — they go through a lot, and sacrifice a lot on your behalf. Taking the time to love them, to sustain them, to say something kind, really goes a long way.”

“I'm super grateful for my wife, for supporting me as bishop — she never once complained that I was gone too much. I'm incredibly grateful for her sustaining hand — I'm not going to look at her right now, or I'll get too emotional.”

“The church is true. In the last five years I've had the opportunity to be with amazing people, to sit in my office and make it a holy place — a place where people have shared their hearts, their struggles, their triumphs. It's all part of the Father's plan, and we're doing it. This is a beautiful sight tonight — I love our wards, I love our stake, we're living the plan of salvation, we're part of a marvelous work. When it gets hard, brothers and sisters — and it does — find joy in your journey, and know you're part of something marvelous.”

“I'm grateful for our stake presidency, grateful for President McMurtry, who called me five years ago — I'm sure they had their doubts. I remember they came to our house; our dog was going crazy that night, it was so funny — we were like, ‘what was that visit all about?’ Then — ‘oh, you're going to get to be the bishop.’ Pretty memorable. I hope you'll sustain these changes — I'm so excited for our new bishopric. These changes are so we can each be better disciples of Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for everything I've been blessed with, to be part of this wonderful church that I know is true. I share that in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

“My name is Adam Meese, I'm the new bishop of Skyline. I think I traumatized my kids earlier this afternoon when I tried to tell them I'd be the bishop, and I burst into tears. Someone asked, ‘are those happy tears?’ No — they're the kind that give you a headache and hurt your back. But I'm here, and I do have a testimony of the gospel. I know God loves his children — I see it every day, across different nationalities, races, religions; God loves them all.”

“I have a strong testimony there is power in the scriptures. A couple of years ago I accepted a position teaching night classes at a community college, and it was more than I expected — through that experience I received the prompting to study the scriptures more fully. I'm a scientific-minded person, and the day I started, I could feel a relief I hadn't felt for a month and a half. I knew it couldn't be that easy — to carry the same burden, the same schedule, and yet feel lifted — but I did, and I continued to study, and I was lifted through the entire semester I was teaching. It taught me the power of the scriptures is real, that a testimony has a real impact on our lives, and that Christ is our Redeemer. I know we can trust God's timing.”

“Looking back on my life I can see many instances where I've put my trust in God, and he's led me through difficult circumstances. I know Joseph Smith is a true prophet, that he translated the Book of Mormon, and that Christ's atoning sacrifice helps us through repentance and through the difficulties we all endure. I share this with my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

“Recently my wife Jess picked up a new hobby of growing plants, so it hasn't been unusual to come home to more of them — she's got them named, she's got a special spot for them, and honestly, after fourteen years of marriage, if it came down to me or the plant, the plant might win out.”

“About a month ago she came home with a new plant given to her by a ward member, and we were curious how it would do in a new environment — new home, someone new watering it, new sunlight, a new position. It had a hard time at first — the leaves turned a little yellow, got a little wrinkled, and we wondered how it was doing with the change. It didn't happen overnight, but little by little, with a lot of Jess's time and some problem-solving, it wasn't just surviving — it was thriving. This morning it was greener than ever, with new growth coming off it. Looking closely, I noticed the stems had pivoted just slightly, so the leaves could turn toward the light — and that light was part of what let it overcome the transplant shock.”

“I'm feeling a little transplant shock myself, and some mixed emotions, like maybe you are — some sadness seeing wonderful sisters and brothers I've served with who'll now be in different wards, some excitement and nervousness too. If you're feeling uneasy about a new calling, no one feels it more than me, standing here — in large part because of how blessed my family has been by the service of previous bishoprics and their spouses. Thank you for helping us deepen our conversion to Jesus Christ. We love you.”

“Thinking about transplant shock as a stake, there's a lesson in Jess's plant: that intentional, slight pivot toward the light — not s-u-n, but s-o-n, the Son of God. I testify that he is everything he says he is in John chapter 8, verse 12, where he teaches he is the light of the world — that those who follow him shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life. He knows us personally; he knows your name, how you feel, and how these changes will affect your family — and that brings me so much peace.”

“I know he and our Father in Heaven appeared to the prophet Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove and called him to be a prophet. Since then we've had living prophets, seers, and revelators, whom I love and sustain — the same ones who called our local stake leaders, President Stone and President Tuttle, who I know are praying for us. To the youth — Jess and I love you; this is the one part of this calling that hasn't come with any mixed emotions at all, the excitement of getting to serve with you. I testify of a loving Father in Heaven, and of his Son, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

“Thank you for coming on such a late evening — we wanted to make this change before general conference, to give the wards two weeks to get organized, and with another meeting we had to be at today, our option was 7 a.m. or 7 p.m. I think we made the right choice. One point of clarification: if you're switching wards but holding a stake calling, you're not released from that.”

“Just a couple of final thoughts, to echo what Bishop Thompson said — it's about the Son. There's a parable I love: a man was looking for a pearl of great price. He found it, bought it, and wanted to display it well, so he had a box made to show off its value. The box was beautiful — ornate — but its value paled next to the pearl. He put the pearl in the box, and the thing that got all the attention was the box, even though the pearl was of far greater value.”

“I know from experience that ward changes can be challenging, and I know they can also be beautiful restarts. I've been grateful, in my own experience being in different wards, for the additional friendships I've made — frankly, it's more fun, because you know people outside your ward. A ward changing doesn't mean friendships are gone; you just get to open your heart a little more. If we're waiting for someone to come greet us, they're probably waiting for the same thing. This works if everyone reaches out and envelops each other with love.”

“When I was called as a bishop, it was actually at one of these meetings — pieces of three wards put together, including the Fremont Springs Ward. I remember sitting in sacrament meeting, wondering how long it would take before people stopped saying where they came from and just said, ‘this is where we are.’ That was a beautiful moment when it began. There's value in where you came from — don't let it define who you are — but let your new ward become an expansion of your family.”

“I testify that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live, that this church exists so we can draw closer to them — that will happen in whichever ward you're in. I'm grateful for covenants and for temples. Regardless of which ward you go to in two weeks, the covenants you made today at the sacrament stay just as valid — continue to draw closer to Jesus Christ, and reach out to your neighbors. I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

“The closing hymn will be How Firm a Foundation, hymn 85 — verses 1, 2, 3, and 7. Notice the final verse; that's deliberate, specifically for tonight. Brother Zullo will offer the benediction.”