Lasgna made known abroad

 Most choice associates,

First, I want to say thank you for being patient with me this month. I also want to thank so many of you for so much that you did and do! I just can't mention you all by name because there were soooooo many of you doing sooooo much this month. I saw SO MANY baked goods being delivered and carols sung to SO MANY families and neighbors. I saw miracles happen this past month and I hope you did too. December has been glorious.

The new year is upon us! We have so much joy to share with the world and to make known to our community and our friends. Our congregation, and the Church of Jesus Christ, has so so much joy to share. I just have to say that I am so excited for the new year. I've still been thinking about the Shepherds that went to witness the nativity scene and how they then went to make known abroad what they had seen. I've been wondering... How long do you think they shared those good news? How long did they go about sharing all that they had seen and heard? With what amount of passion did they emphatically declare, like the angel had to them, the good tidings of great joy? How much did they spread that message of peace on Earth and good will to men?

I'm not sure of the answer to that question. However, I do know that ~2000 years later, we are still proclaiming that message. I also know that just a couple of hundred years ago, that message was proclaimed to a boy in the woods asking for truth. I know that that the message of the restoration is that Christ, in all His Glory, lives and loves His children and is reaching out to us to follow Him. I know He has restored the fullness of His Gospel back to the Earth. 

I love the temple. I love it because I feel like when I'm in the temple, I'm like one of those shepherds, beholding the Glory of Heaven and His presence. I feel pure in the temple.  The message of the restoration is that the Heavens are open, my friends. I'm so excited for 2025 because I've set new goals to share that message with my friends, neighbors, family, and all of you. And it feels so good to have those goals. I'm excited to proclaim that the Heavens are open, God is speaking, Christ lives and is leading, and all of His Glory can be felt (just like it was by the shepherds and wise men and early witnesses of Christ's coming) by visiting the temple and participating in the sacred ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I love you all so much and I love feeling the joy of the Gospel with you as we did last week and as we will tomorrow and every single moment of 2025 as we worship Christ together. It's going to be an amazing year and I'm excited to share it with you in a way I never have. 

Now, I want to share some things coming up and invite you to be a part of it in any way shape or form you can be :). We are a family. 

December 29: 5th Sunday Lesson ;) 
December 29: Linger Longer Lasagna Lollapalooza 
January 03:    Temple Night for EVERYBODY
--- Baptisms: We have the baptistry reserved at 5pm (meet at church at 3:40pm to carpool
--- Endowments/Initiatory/Sealings: Come at the same time as the youth OR coordinate in Relief Society and Elders Quorum to carpool
January 05:    Worldwide Discussion for Youth: Look Unto Christ (stake youth watch party @ 7pm in the stake center)
January 18:    Stake Temple night (Starting next month, we will switch our ward temple trips to the third Saturday of every month)
February 02:   Renewal through Christ, Ensign Chorus free presentation at the stake center
February 23:   Arlington (Ward) Conference
April 13:          Arlington Easter Concert
April 20:          Arlington Easter Sunday Church Service (best service in the history of the church)

With so much love and adoration,

Bishop Kienzle

Thank you for the Hope of Christ

 Brothers and sisters,

The Christmas season is in full force and I have been absolutely inspired by you and our congregation! There is beauty among us! I've met with many youth this week and I am awestruck by their faithfulness. I've seen countless members of our congregation glowing with the Spirit of Christmas. You absolutely inspire me. 

"A Bishop must... ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection... For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God."  I know I've said it before but I need you to understand so very clearly that I am neither of those things. My children are certainly not in subjection and I feel extraordinarily unqualified taking care of the church of God. My house is an absolute mess, our decorations are half up, I struggle to meet the needs of my children, I'm behind at work, and I'm confident that I've let more than one of you down in some way.  How often do you feel like you're trying your very hardest but seem to be coming up short? How often do you pray to be calm, but find yourself frustrated? How often do you beg the Lord to change your circumstances, yet they remain unchanged? How often have you prayed for faith, and felt unanswered? How often do you wish that you had more of the Christmas spirit? How often do you lament? How often do you come to the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit? How often do you come to the Lord?

Personally, I have a fairly unreasonable expectation of the Christmas season - I envision my house looking like the Griswolds', my wife thinking she's in a romantic Hallmark movie, and my children being angels on earth. However, that's just not that case. That was blatantly clear in the Kienzle household tonight, it wasn't good. I'm so thankful that I was able to stop by the church where, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, I was absolutely inspired by each of you and you reminded me that I'm not alone. I'm also thankful for the angel voices that were present and reminded me of the divine night when Christ was born. He was born 2000 years ago and He brought hope into the world for you and for me. He brought hope to remind us that all things are right as long as we have Him. He came to show us that His grace is sufficient and his Atonement is all encompassing. Hope in Him endures all things and is enough for even the greatest of struggles. 

If you feel alone, weak, betrayed, lost, or inadequate, know that you are not and remember that Christ was born, lived, atoned and now IS your REDEEMER. Come to the Nativity Festival and see that miracles are real. Come and be lifted up by the angels that are there and I promise you, there are angels in our chapel this weekend. If you seek an answer, I feel inclined to promise you that you find it there.

Finally, if you haven't invited every single one of your neighbors, please do so. Christ loves you and He loves them. He has placed you in your home and in your circumstances for a reason. I promise that the Lord will bless you as you share His Gospel and as you bring glad tidings and good cheer to others. 

He is our healer and our friend. He is our comforter and our King. He is our light and our life. He is the Joy of the World. He is the Light of the World. Through Him, you will find hope this holiday season and always. 

With love and adoration,

Bishop Kienzle

PS: Please, talk to me about getting ready to visit the temple on Jan 03. We will do baptisms at 6pm and attend the 6pm endowment session. However, no matter your circumstances, please just come and be with us. 

Email me if you're coming!!! <3

PSS: Sacrament meeting will be amazing for the next couple of Sundays (and forever) so also a really special opportunity to bring friends, co-workers, neighbors, distant neighbors, forgotten loved ones, strangers, gas station attendees, and anybody else to church. ;) 

PSSS: Love you so much. 

There is room in the Inn!

 Friends,

I want to share my thoughts with you from inspiration I received while at the temple with the youth last night. As we gathered together, I found myself reflecting on one of the topics of our sacrament meeting - making room in the inn for Mary, Joseph, and the Christ child. I think sometimes we forget that there is room for us in the inn. How often do we knock and ask to be let in? Because of Christ, there will always be room in the inn, His door will always be opened for you. Our Savior is the God of Miracles. And so, miraculously, the Lord has provided us with places of refuge, sanctuaries of safety, houses of holiness. He has opened his House to us and given us access to His Glory where we can visit with Him in His holy inn.

Brothers and sisters, there is always room for us in His inn. We will always find Him there, always find peace in his covenants, always find power in His ordinances. 

The youth last night were a POWERFUL example of that power. I want, more than anything else, for you to experience that beauty, unity, and light. The Lord can light our world as we we visit Him. And if we catch that light, we can light the world with His love.

Will you please come to the temple with us? January 03 will be the next temple night. It will start off our new year. Last night, I told the youth that there may come a day in their lives when they will be nervous to return to the temple because it has been so long. I begged them to remember this day when/if that day comes and to return, to not be afraid, to know that the temples' doors are always open and the Lords arms always outstretched. 

Please, please, please consider this my personal invite to you, Will you join me in the temple on January 03? You can do any of the following;
- Come to the baptistry with us (sit and watch or participate, we have a session reserved at 6pm)
- Just sit in the temple's internal waiting room or chapel
- Participate in invitatories
- Sit on the grounds with your family
- Participate in sealings or an endowment session

I love you all so much and look forward to seeing your beautiful, bright, shining faces tomorrow, every Sunday, and in the temple. I know that the Lord is blessing you for your righteous desires and you will receive all that was promised, none will molest you. You are heralding in the moment when Jesus will say to all Israel, 'Come Home". May we continue to be guided.


Sincerely with all the love and adoration I can muster,

Bishop Kienzle

PS: I really, really do love you all so much <3

Light the world

 Delightful Disciples,

Let's first talk about how wonderful our ward is! I'm so excited for the Missionary Blitz and Outreach tomorrow. This missionaries have worked so very hard into turning this into a powerful experience for our youth. The whole goal is to help them catch the fire of the Gospel. This activity is truly for all of us. Please feel free to come by the church tomorrow at 2pm and join the group. Ultimately, I'm inviting all of you to go out tomorrow afternoon to the families you minister to, to neighbors, and families that you have been inspired to minister to. Invite them to the Nativity Festival, invite them to the Ward Christmas Party, invite them to Church or the Temple (as appropriate). More than anything else, I personally invite you to be inspired, be prophetic.

This week, somebody was prophetic in my life, they received revelation and acted on it. I came home to find a card that had been written in by every member of a family in our ward. The purpose of the card was simply to help my family feel seen and loved. There were some personalized short, sweet messages from their family to mine. It filled me with light and hope. My heart swelled. I felt like I could see the light of our Lord's love. 

As I read Ether 6 this week, I felt inspired. I received new insight into that story that I'd like to share. I'll be short and sweet. Friends, I think that we are the rocks that can be touched by the Lord. We can bring light to the lives of others if we just allow the Lord touch our hearts and fill our souls with our light. We can shine brightly and be a source of light and security to our neighbors, friends, family/ward members so that no matter how much the storm of life rages, there need not be fear or darkness.

The season is upon us, let's light the world.

PS:

1) Please reach out to a member of the Bishopric or Brother/Sister Hubbards if there is a Christmas Hymn that is special to you. We would love to hear why it's special and possibly make it part of the Christmas Cantata on Dec 22.

2) You may not know, but Elizabeth Kienzle, is a joined the Church when she was 18. Recently, her younger sister reached out to us to let us know that she wanted to understand more. Subsequently, she decided to be baptized and asked us to participate in her program. The Kienzle family is out of town again this Sunday as we participate in her baptism. My heart is heavy to miss another Sunday but luckily you don't really need me ;). And I'm also soooo excited to be a part of such special moment in Alex's life. Love you all so much. Thank you again for your faith and for making miracles happen in our ward. 
- I promise this will be the LAST missed Sunday in a loooooooooong time. Don't judge me too harshly (a little is okay). 

Mighty Prayer

 My friends,

 

The time is here. The season is upon us. I'm looking forward to the next month and a half and am overwhelmed (in a really good way) by all the activities, festivities, service opportunities, and feelings that will bring me (and all of us) closer to Christ. I've made a list of activities that I see as our prime opportunities to be swallowed up in the joy of the season and Christ.

 11/16, 6pm: Church Music Festival from Temple Square

11/23, 2-6pm: Ward Missionary Outreach/Blitz. Our entire ward will be meeting at the church and heading out to bring cookies to the people we minister to and invite neighbors/friends to the Arlington Festival of Nativities. It is going to be GLORIOUS!

11/28: Thanksgiving Day!

11/30, 4-7pm: Live Activity at Arlington Hometown Holiday - our ward/stake is in charge of this event. We need volunteers – contact Becca Yadon!

12/03, 6pm: Ward Christmas party! 

12/06, 5pm: Youth/Ward Temple Trip! 

12/08, 5pm: First Presidency Christmas Devotional

12/13 – 12/15: Arlington Festival of the Nativities. Plus, the youth pop-up choir on Dec 14 @ 6pm. Volunteers are realllly needed for the nativity fesival! Contact Elizabeth Kienzle.

Jan 03: Youth/Ward Temple Night

 

I’ve been thinking that that this upcoming season is going to set the fire as we turn to 2025. I’ve been utterly impressed as I’ve been reading about Mormon and his son Moroni. I find myself continuing to dwell on Mormon’s words when he said, “I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of Israel”. I am absolutely blown away by the faith he exercised by dedicating his life, his work, his writing, his effort, his words to a people that he only believed would come. Sometimes I struggle as I prepare a lesson or write one of these e-mails wondering if it's really to somebody, if it’s a message that somebody really needs to hear. But Mormon! He wrote to a people 2000 years into the future with absolute dedication and decisive faith that his message would reach our hearts. He confidently promises that that "great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world" will be revealed to us WHEN we shall "rend that veil of unbelief" (Ether 4:15). Moroni believed in us and knew that we could rend that veil and see miracles. Do we believe that we can be like Mormon and Moroni? Do we believe that we're tools with a glorious purpose? Do we believe that we can have the same confidence and decisive faith that Mormon and Moroni had?  

I know that the lord believes in us. He believes in me and each and everyone of you. Moroni exhorts us to, after we receive the message of the Book of Mormon, pray with real intent, having faith in Christ, and the Holy Ghost can manifest the truth of all things. 

I'd like to invite each of you to join me in prayer this holiday season. Let's pray that the Holy Ghost will reveal the truth to us - the truth of our worth, of our purpose, and of what our ward family can become in 2025? I invite you to pray mightily with me and our ward for 1) the spirit of prophesy and revelation in your life and calling, 2) the success of the rising generation, 3) establishing zion in our ward in 2025. 

With love and admiration,

Bishop Kienzle

My Testimony (Sacrament meeting is your's)

 Fellow Saints,

I've let you down this week! My goal is actually to send these out on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, feel free to hold me accountable to that ;) 

On the other hand, you have all lifted me up. I pray that I can convey this message clearly to you. I'm writing this message to YOU. I imagine that your assumption is that this is a letter to the ward. However, I've been praying that I can reach YOU. I promise that each sentence in this message is for one of you. I've earnestly prayed for the Spirit to deliver it to your heart and I have faith that it will. If there is fault, please forgive me and if you are inspired, please glorify our God, love our Lord, and share His Gospel.

I learned this week with greater surety that the Lord knows you and loves you, He sees you. You are not alone. I know you're tired - I promise that the Lord can strengthen you in your weakness.  I know that you wonder if you're adequate, I promise that you are qualified for the work. I saw you forgive your neighbor and I witnessed the Lord forgive you. You are concerned about your children, the Lord is concerned for them too - I promise, with so much surety that He has a plan for them.  You are worthy of the greatest promises that heaven has to offer. You have wondered if you should return to the Temple - the answer is He is begging you to return and I promise that we will find a way to get you there. You will find the Lord in the temple. You have sought your family's support, your family is here, we are your family too. You have been frustrated with those few that don't recognize your dedication - I have seen the Lord recognize you, I recognize you. Your covenants matter. If you seek peace, please forgive. If you seek peace, please ask the Lord to soften your heart. If you seek security, come to the temple. You are seeking perfect righteousness, practice patience and just remember that the Lord doesn't expect perfect righteousness, He seeks only a broken heart and contrite spirit. If you wonder if you're welcome, YOU ARE WELCOMED. If you wonder if there is love for you here, I love you.

This week, I wondered if I could be enough. In the temple, I learned that I am not. I also was powerfully reassured that the Lord absolutely is. I doubted if I was worthy enough to be around such powerful saints. I was reassured that the Lord qualifies each of us and that His atonement makes each of us worthy. I learned that He is the miracle we are seeking. I learned that if we sacrifice desires and consecrate our gifts to the Lord, He will unify us. I learned that our ward is becoming mighty and strong, great and beautiful.

Brothers and sisters, come to church. If you have a calling, will you magnify it? If you don't have a calling, will you seek one? Please, come to the temple with me. Zion is awaiting us.

Lastly, thank you so much for restoring my faith in miracles. Thank you for igniting my passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is His Church. I was lost and I truly am found. I have had ups and downs and, my friends, I have never felt so up as I do now. Thank you for your patience with me and for molding me into a true disciple of Jesus Christ. I have hope that we are molding each other. I am going to extend a little prophesy that Zion will be built in our testimony meeting today. Jesus is the Christ, He is our Redeemer and Prince of Peace. He died that we can live. Joseph Smith was the prophet through which Priesthood Authority and Sealing Power was restored to the Earth. President Nelson is absolutely 100% the Prophet of all the Earth today. The Book of Mormon IS another testament of Jesus Christ, it is perfect and was translated by the power of God. The way to everlasting joy is through Christ the Lord.

With love and admiration,

Bishop Kienzle

PS I'm soooooooooo excited for the Christmas season!!!

Stake Conference Broadcast Plus

 Friends,

I'm sorry you haven't heard from me this week! Last night was a fabulous evening in the temple. I attended with the youth in the baptistry. However, we had members doing initiatory sessions, endowments, and sealings. I believe that our ward was richly blessed. There are miracles happening in our ward, it is so very true. I hope you're seeing them, if not, please let me know ;). I want EVERYBODY to experience them. 

I'm really trying to think of how to bring the miracles to everybody.  I am putting a LOT of hope and faith in the outreach activity, the Missionary Blitz activity on Nov 23. That activity is for EVERYBODY so we can minister, meet our neighbors, and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please help us to make cookies :). Ask the missionaries for details. It is going to be awesome. One of the main opportunities for this activity is to invite people to the Arlington Nativity Festival - we'll have a ton of cookies and nativity invites to provide to the people we minister to, our neighbors, and anybody else. 

I recently listened to President Uchtdorf's talk, "Nourish the Roots, and the Branches will Grow". In the talk, he briefly talked about how he had "the great privilege of assisting in this important task." He says that he pumped with all [his] strength so the organ would not run out of wind. As I read those comments, I thought about how each of you are pumping with all of your strength to keep the music going. I thought of how beautiful the allegorical music of our ward is as we pump that fuel of testimony into our congregation. You are FABULOUS.

Also, if you aren't able to attend stake conference due to some impairment, please attend with us online. I'm attaching the link to the broadcast below. The Saturday adult session today at 7pm and Sunday General Session at 10am will be broadcast online. Please, please join us. Of course, if you can come in person, please attend with us. There is nothing that brings me more joy than seeing your BEAUTIFUL faces :) 

https://zoom.us/j/99079536364?pwd=M2xGdHdwWnJacm5XWDNVSmFyVUx2QT09 

With so much love and adoratin,

Bishop Kienzle

Now is the time (still)

 Fantastic friends, breathtaking brothers, and spectacular sisters,

I'm late this week but better late than never! :)  I am SOOOO excited for the upcoming weeks! There is just so much. Also, it's embarrassing to say but, I'm already getting excited for Christmas! As I look forward to the upcoming activities and hear of your excitement and energy, I just know that our community is going to be so full of faith, hope, love and the Christmas spirit. That's because of you!

Here are some of the things getting me so excited;
- Primary Program this Sunday! 
- 10/29: Trunk or Treat plus Chili Cook-off
- 11/01: Youth/Ward/Stake/Everyone Temple Night!  Baptistry is reserved at 6pm. Come as you are, ALL visitors welcome :) 
- 11/02 - 11/03: Stake Conference
- 11/23: Missionary Blitz Activity
- 12/13 - 12/15: Arlington Nativity Festival

Do you see how exciting it is!?

In General Conference, President Nelson said, "now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority". As I've studied 'Come, Follow Me' this week, I've been reflecting on a specific verse. Nephi said, "they had all things common among them". I've wondered, 'what exactly was common among them?' and 'can we be similar?'  The same verse says that they were all partakers of the heavenly gift. I've wondered how to bring that commonness to our ward. How can we stand united with each other? How can we make sure that we are all equally committed to Christ?

I just really, truly believe that we too can have mighty miracles among us and be free of envy, strife, and lies. We can be as the Nephites were - we really can be. I'd like to suggest that at least part of the answer is found in 4 Nephi 1:15. "There was no contention in the land because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people."

As we come in to this marvelous season, let's replace our anger with love, our bitterness with meekness, our pride with humility. Let go of your hurt.  If there is something in you that is keeping us apart, come to church this Sunday and be healed by Christ. Come and wrestle with the Lord. I promise that there will be angels in Sacrament Meeting this Sunday that will heal your wounds. I invite you to come and let them minister to you. I will be there with you, asking for my own weaknesses and frustrations to be eased and lightened. Let's look to the Lord together and receive His Heavenly Gift.

With unimaginable amount of love and adoration,

Bishop Kienzle

PS. Don't forget, we have the Linger Longer after church (bring your favorite comfort foods!). We also have a special Bishop's Youth Discussion. We'll be watching the worldwide youth devotional at 7pm at Brother Wiggins' home. 

Days Never to be Forgotten

 Awesome, amazing, and awe-inspiring associates,

I love you all so much! It appears that I'm going to be authoring these messages on a weekly basis. It's official. I feel out of place with this goal of mine, many of you are so much more inspirational than me. I'm confident the work will go on without my wondering thoughts put to e-mail. Nevertheless, the Spirit continues to prompt me incessantly that it needs to happen and I feel constrained to listen. Some of you have certainly contributed to those promptings. I'm going to work on making the messages come around the same time of the week and I hope you'll be patient with me. 
I truly believe that we are commencing an era of our lives, the ward, the stake and The Church that will be unparalleled. I'd like to share with you why I absolutely believe that to be true. Coming to know each of you reaffirms that to be true. Other things that have been reaffirming that faith include; seeing you in sacrament, witnessing your love for each other, feeling the spirits of the youth in the temple and as they speak in sacrament meeting, and sharing revelatory experiences as a ward in marvelous and miraculous sacrament meeting. As I listened to Elder Kearon's talk in General Conference, I knew that the Lord was happy with our efforts exemplify his Church of Joy. Do you believe it? Do you feel it? Do you feel to sing the song of redeeming love with me? Perhaps that's why I love musical numbers, so we can all sing that song of redeeming love...

What will make this next era be the greatest? What will make us experience an era never to be forgotten? I watched a video from the Church this past week that filled my heart with hope. I'd like you to watch it. It's about the perfect balance that should co-exist between the Lord's greatest commandments; that we shall "love the Lord [our] God with all [our] hearts... and the second... like unto it, [that we] we shall love [our] neighbor". On those commandments, hang all the laws and the prophets. As we balance that struggle, I promise that all the rest will fall into position and will support even the weightiest of burdens. As we allow the Lord, through His love, to bear those burdens, we will be able to be cross the bridge that exists between where are now and the potential he sees in us. We will be able to live up to our privilege and be partakers in our noble birthrights. 

As we cross that bridge, held up by our love of God and his children (our neighbors), we will live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, have compassion for those in need, share the gospel, and make sacred covenants in the House of the Lord. 

I so so so look forward to seeing you all in Sacrament on Sunday. The momentum continues to build. I'm confident that the upcoming stake conference will also be absolutely amazing.

With so much love and adoration,

Bishop Kienzle

PS: I just had a prompting. Let me know your thoughts. I propose we all go to the temple together on Nov 01. The youth will be doing baptisms. If you're not sure about endowments or initiatory, go to the baptistry with the youth. If you're not sure about the baptistry, come have a picnic on the grounds. If you're not sure about being on the grounds, we should meet for pizza after. ;) Truth is, I just love you guys and we should be together. <3.

PSS. I'm sorry I wasn't there last Sunday but I heard those amazing talks and that absolutely spectacular musical number and it filled me with joy. This sacrament meeting will also be revelatory, I'm sure. 

Now is the time

 Mighty friends,

I hope this Tuesday morning finds you well. I hope that General Conference provided you with a needed weekend of rest and nourishment. I've already begun re-listening to general conference talks. I have found that, for me, most of my learning comes as I listen a second time. I felt so unified with all of you as we gathered in our homes to listen to a prophet's voice. What inspiration did you receive? Which was your favorite talk? Which questions did you have? I ask that with sincere interest, I'd love to hear your responses!

For me, the message I received most clearly is that joy is found in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. All the things I do at church and in the Gospel is or should be with the sole intent of focusing my heart (and the hearts of others) on Jesus Christ. I hope that our ward activities and culture can reflect a similar sentiment. I received some other specific instruction as well and I look forward to putting it into action in the upcoming months.

As we approach this upcoming season, I invite you to reflect on the messages you received in General Conference and allow your faith to inspire action. These upcoming months are FULL of opportunities to minister, to unify and serve, to build Zion, and to focus our hearts on Jesus Christ through covenants. October is full of fall activities and festivities. In November, we'll have family focused events and Thanksgiving as well as starting to prepare for the Festival of Nativities. Finally, December will come and we'll spend the entire month celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Let's start preparing for Christmas now.   

I hope we can take advantage of as many opportunities as possible. Please be aware of the following: 

Oct 11 (Friday)- Temple Cleaning assignment in the evening for endowed members. Please respond to this e-mail for details. We do need volunteers for this.
Oct 11 - Youth Temple Trip, meeting at the church at 4:45 PM.
Nov 01 - Youth Temple Trip + Adult Stake Temple Trip
Nov 02 - Stake Conference with visiting general authority
Nov 23 - Ward Missionary outreach activity
Dec 13-15   Festival of Nativities

Friends, I really do love all of you so much. I hope you continue to be patient with me. I hope you can feel how much I love you. I was impressed by President Nelson's comments, "Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority." and "every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find him in the temple". Please, please join me in mighty prayer and strive with me to make our discipleship our highest priority. Let's pray mightily to soften our hearts, sanctify our souls, cleanse ourselves of pride and anger and to be sincere Christ seekers.

Thank you for always inspiring me and praying to make our ward Zion. 

With love and adoration,

Bishop Kienzle

PS: Remember to let me know if you're interested in helping with a cleaning assignment in the temple this Friday evening. 

To the Best Congregation in the World

 Fantastically fabulous ward members,

I have felt prompted to reach out but I've struggled to know what I'm supposed to say. Perhaps, it's just to remind you that I love you all and make sure you know that the excitement of this new era has not burned out for me. I've thought about you daily.  As I have studied "Come, Follow Me" this week, I've been thinking of my own inadequacies. I have wondered if I've been deceived by the naysayers, by my own doubt, by my own lack of faith or diligence. I have been overwhelmed at times - this week in particular. I've been sorrowful.  However, this morning on my way to work (as I was pondering on a "dispute" with my daughter :o from the night before), I remembered 3 Nephi 1:13 and reminded that, the signs have been given and on the morrow, He comes. I wonder how the believers felt when bombarded with accusations that their beliefs were false, that they were not guided by a prophetic leader, or that their church/leaders had deceived them. Was their hope darkened? Did their testimonies shake? Were they humiliated? Were they confused by peers? Have I felt similar? Do you feel similar?

I have.

But, brothers and sisters, for the believers in 3 Nephi 1, the sun went down and it did NOT get dark. The Lord was born and He did fulfil all things. A new star DID appear. Their doom did not endure. Their despair did not linger. The Lord was born. Thirty some years later, on a dark and dreadful Friday, similar despair occurred during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. However, 3 days later, on a Sunday, He rose. Our Sunday will come. This morning, as I pondered that truth, I was filled with joy and hope. If you have been in despair (over any of the above), I humbly invite you to look to the Lord and your covenants for peace.

If you doubt, if you despair, find empathy in our congregation. Let's remind each other that Sunday will come, hope is on the horizon. Our covenants with the Lord will bring us home to and through His Holy hands. As we minister to each other and make/keep covenants with the Lord, we will see His light. This Sunday, we'll hear talks based off of 3 Nephi 1:13 and be reminded, through word and song, of the promise of Peace (and hope) In Christ.

PS. We have some amazing and exciting events coming up! Also, have you felt the testimonies of our youth over the past several weeks!? I have found their talks inspiring and their faith in the Savior absolutely astonishing. I'm going to include some dates below of upcoming events that I want you to know have a special place in my heart. I invite you, in whatever way you can, to find a way to participate in or support them in some way. 

Sept 22, 2024: Linger longer after church
Oct 11, 2024: Ward Youth Temple Night
Nov 01, 2024: Ward Youth Temple Night + Stake Temple Night
Nov 23, 2024: Ward Missionary Outreach Activity
Dec 13-15: Nativity Festival
April 13: Easter Concert of Heavenly Proportion
April 20: Best Easter Sacrament in the history of the restored church. 

With all the meekness, kindness, and appreciation I can muster,

Bishop Kienzle

Back to School

 Friends,

I've been thinking of you again as we start the new school year. I wanted to take a moment again and make sure you know that miracles are happening! My eyes and ears were opened on Sunday when I heard the reports from you of the miracles you have seen in your lives. Your eyes opened mine. I am still remorseful that I missed sacrament meeting last Sunday but I'm so thankful to feel the strength of your testimonies. As we head into the new school year, I'd like to extend two simple invitations. If you are not entering school or don't have children in school, please accept the invitation in support of this rising generation. It takes a village :) 

Invitation 1: Remember the Lord, recognize His miracles. As I've read through 'Come, Follow Me' this week, I've been learning a lot about signs of how the Lord reminds us of His presence. He also uses signs to remind me of His love. The Lord did that for me this week by prompting some of you to send me a text/e-mail - your messages caused me to remember Him. I'm expressing some faith by extending my promise that the Lord will reach out to each of you this week. I invite you to look for His hand. I promise that if we are willing to believe, He will make himself known. Let's be sure that our youth start this school year with Christ going before them.

Invitation 2: Look for the one.  I just simply want to reiterate President Nelson's invitation to find the one in your circle that is in need of a helping hand. I know that we all feel a little lonely sometimes. We all have off days. We all struggle. We all need a friend. Let's choose this week to be that friend and neighbor to another. I'll emphasize my promise that if you lift another, you'll more easily feel how the Lord is lifting you. He is there and He loves us.

I look forward to hearing about your experiences. Also, I want to let you know that I feel your lifting hands in my life. I've heard from others that being the Bishop can get lonely - I'm confident that I won't ever have that experience.

Always available for you,

Bishop Kienzle 

PS: If you need help offering any young man or young woman a Priesthood blessing for the new school year, please reach out to me, President MacDonald, or any other member of the Bishopric. We would love to be there :) 

A Message of Thanks and Some Testimony

 Good morning family!

I love and appreciate you all so much! I wanted to send a note of my thankfulness to each of you. I spent the entirety of yesterday pondering on the messages I personally received during our Sacrament meeting. Thank you for the Spirit that each of you invited into yesterday's meeting.  I learned with more surety that the Lord loves us and uses us as his instruments. I learned that preparation yields miracles and I learned that our youth and members are prepared for miracles. Next week we will have Fast and Testimony Meeting and I am looking forward to your testimonies with so much anticipation. Your testimony and faithfulness already astonishes me beyond measure (Helaman 3:25). I bear you my testimony that miracles are coming to our ward, through our diligence and faith. I've experienced that faith and witnessed the miracles already.

As we approach this week, I've been considering Helman 1:1 that mentions the difficulties that were suffered by the Nephites. I consider the difficulties that you have each had to endure over the past weeks, months, or years. I want you to know that you are in my prayers and I KNOW that you are in the prayers of the leaders in this ward as I've met with them frequently over the past couple of weeks. As you read through Come Follow Me this week, know that you are each a Nephi and a Lehi. Your faithfulness will make the Earth shake and the walls tremble.

I'll be out of town on Sunday but I look forward to feeling the Earth shake nonetheless. :)  I am so excited to see how the Lord is going to be blessing our ward as we minister to each other, focus on the temple, build the Kingdom and "cry unto the voice of Him who [has] shaken the Earth". I know that we too will be "encircled about by a pillar of fire" and the walls of doubt/sin/anxiety/fear will shake before us. I can't thank you enough for helping me to shake those walls.
 

With so much love and adoration,

Always available for you,

Bishop Kienzle