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