Look Unto Christ

 Fantastic friends,

I truly hope that you are doing so well! I love you all so much and I'm so thankful to know each of you. Are you as excited for the new youth presidencies as I am!? We are doing some amazing things! Before getting further, I want you all to be aware of some of the upcoming activities;

1/25 @ 6 PM: Junior/Senior FHE. At the Martinsen's home (Jim Creek Rd) for Juniors/Senior in highschool. 
1/26 @ 1:30 PM: Linger Longer. Bring an item to share. Kienzles will bring lasagna :) 
1/26 @ 7 PM: Program Purpose for Youth/Parents. Ethan Lockard and Brooke Schilaty will lead a meeting introducing us to the purpose of the youth program for the year.
2/14 @ 7 PM: Ward Valentines Day - a dinner and dance with live band for the whole ward. All are invited!
2/15 @ 7 PM: Temple Trip for Youth + Adults (ward and stake). All are invited! Make reservations to attend the 7pm Endowment session, join the youth in the baptistry (at 6pm) or just come enjoy the spirit of the temple!

There are so many great things happening! Please invite some friends to some of these great activities. Our family is growing and it's because of the love that is felt there. 

I received some e-mails in response to my last e-mail. First, I want to say that I LOVE reading those responses. They comfort my heart and fill it with so much joy. Also, I want to say that if you're having a rough time this week, please know that I am here for you AND I PROMISE that somebody else in our ward is there for you too. I have personally witnessed so much love this week. Our ward family is just full of so much kindness, purity, and goodness. I feel like you are the angels in my life and I can't express enough how thankful I am for each of you. There is only one part about Sunday that I don't like - when Brother Wiggins starts conducting and I realize that I have to stop visiting with each of you. 

I just have one simple message for today. With Christ, you are each capable of making heavenly miracles happen. I know that because you regularly bring miracles into my life. As I read JSH 1:27-30 this week, I thought about how I often get caught up in my own distractions and worldly interests. Despite Joseph's distractions, he was able to pray with perfect faith that he would receive forgiveness for his mistakes and saw an angel. I know that you all have faith just like that (or are capable of such faith) and it gives me hope that I can have that faith too. 

Sorry for the short e-mail this week. I just want you to know that your faith is enough, you are perfect, our ward family is exceptionally awesome. The Love of Christ will overcome all despair, all wickedness, all doubt. 

With Love and adoration,

Bishop Kienzle

Finding Fuel

 Angelic associates of Arlington, 

Did you know that I'm in my sixth month as Bishop of the Arlington Ward!? I've reflected on that as we start this new year. It has become more poignant as we've called new youth leaders and as youth have graduated from primary and moved into the youth program. I realized that I will likely be their Bishop for the entirety of their time in young men and young women. That weighs heavily on me. I've wondered if I'm enough. I've wondered if I will always say the right things, ask the right questions, be the right example, and act on the right promptings at the right times. I'm confident that I've driven my counselors, the rest of the bishopric, and possibly the ward council crazy with my micromanagement and the "vision" for the ward (that I don't always understand). However, I've prayed mightily over that vision, and I promise I'm trying my absolute hardest to follow the Lord's will. 

I'd like to take a moment to share some that vision. By the end of the month, I'll have it formatted clearly and beautifully. ;) I envision the members of our ward, including the youth, developing a sure and unshakable testimony that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, their eternal Redeemer. I envision us becoming a diligently faithful people that makes and keeps covenants and thrives to make new ones as often as possible . I envision us developing an insatiable love for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and being proactive participants in the work of salvation - both for the living and for the dead. I envision, that over the next five years, our ward will be a powerful and mighty discipleship training center. 

As I've been thinking on those things, I've been a little worried because I've been quite tired the past couple of weeks. I've worried about getting burned out. I've wondered, 'what is the fuel that I am missing?' There has been a bit of talk about that around our home lately. We've discussed sources of influence, guidance, and inspiration. What are the relationships that we foster that influence us? Am I surrounding myself with positive influences? Am I surrounding myself with powerful examples of righteousness and goodness? Am I fueling my soul with light and joy? Lastly, what brings me purity and lasting joy?

How has your understanding of your purpose and temple covenants led you to experience God's love for your personally? How has proclaiming the Gospel and loving your temple covenants brought you closer to Christ? Have you found strength as you've understood your covenants more deeply? Have you gained strength through Christ as you've shared the Gospel? What goals do you have for 2025? What is your mission for 2025?

I learned this week that I gain strength as I focus on gaining a deeper understanding of my covenants. I know that I can find joy and energy as I share the Gospel. I know that if I am humble, I can find strength. I'm not perfect but I don't need to be. I know that serving the Lord is the quickest way to finding happiness. I know that the fuel I need is faith, the water I need is Christ, and the energy I need is His Holy Sacrament. 

Thank you to all of you that have inspired me so incredibly much over the past several months. Thank you for bringing us to the temple, for sharing the Gospel with your friends, children, spouses, mothers, siblings, daughters, sons. Thank you for speaking in the name of the Savior of the world.


With so much love and adoration,

Bishop Kienzle

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