AVAILABLE AT CHURCH HEADQUARTERS

WOMEN’S DEPARTMENT MANUAL NOW AVAILABLE

On March 24, 1842, the ladies Relief Society was organized. Emma Smith, wife of the Prophet was the first president. Through the years, the Ladies Relief Society evolved into the Women’s Department. Organization and activities have changed many times, but the basic goal has remained constant—to allow the women of the Church to serve the Lord as handmaidens in whatever areas and endeavors they can.

Throughout Church history, women’s ministries have played an important role in the development of spiritual growth for the women of His Church. Opportunities to help and support others and each other, plus working toward the specific goal of the establishment of Zion, has been the continuing direction of the Women’s Department.

As each congregation grows and has need of an organized Women’s Department, many questions will surface. With this in mind, the Women’s council has put together a “Women’s Department Manual” specifically for the purpose of addressing some of these questions and giving potential women’s leaders some basic ideas for programs and organization for their congregation’s Women’s Department. This manual is presented in loose-leaf notebook form so that future additions and changes can easily be made.

We, on the Women’s Council, hope that this first attempt of a Women’s Department Manual will be both instructional and inspirational in guiding us as we work fervently toward the redemption of Zion. If you have questions about who received a copy in your area, call Marylyn Gosling (816-373-5210), the new General Church Women’s Leader. Price: $5.00 (plus $2.25 shipping and handling)

“A ZIONIC HOME”

Also available is Gwen Sorensen’s 32-page study guide, “A Zionic Home.” This booklet is designed to be used by a Women’s Study Group as a tool in helping to establish and maintain a Zionic environment within the homes of the Remnant Saints. Price: $2.00 (plus $1.00 shipping and handling)

CHURCH SEAL DECALS AND PATCHES

Some of our members have not realized that we sell Church Seal Decals for mounting on the inside of car windows ($1.00) and Patches for sewing on caps, shirts, handbags, etc. ($3.00), along with our books and tracts. These are also available at the Publications Booth at most Conferences and Reunions.

SUMMER PREACHING SERIES FOR 2007

Plans are being made for a 13-week Summer Series to be held at the Gathering Place Worship Center. Speakers are being obtained by the First Presidency, while planning and staffing the services will be the responsibility of the three central congregations, as follows: June – Center Congregation; July – Blue Springs Congregation; August – First Congregation. Services will be at 6:00 PM each Sunday, June 3 through August 26. Visiting Saints and their friends are welcome.

1830s GROUP MEETS

During an already busy week of the 2007 Conference, the 1830s Married and Single Group met together with Brother Francis Custers. We were blessed to be able to hear his testimony about his family’s conversion and decision to move to the U.S. We were also able to lend support as to how the family can adjust more easily to life in a new country. The entire group introduced themselves and spoke about their entrance into the Church. There was a very sweet spirit there with us and it continued with us the rest of the day. We were truly blessed in our sharing session with our beloved brother from Belgium, and we look forward to meeting his family when they arrive. We know that the Lord has and will continue to help them overcome the language barrier. May the Lord bless them in their travels to the land of Zion.

FALL GOLF TOURNAMENT

The feasibility of having such a tournament for interested Remnant Church members, and possibly some of their golfing friends, to be held on a Saturday at some course in the Center Place area, is being explored. Seventy Richard Wilson (phone 816-252-2241) is acting as facilitator, and desires to know the names of all who might wish to participate. If there is sufficient interest, appropriate prizes may be provided. Both men and women golfers are invited, but should be reasonably proficient to keep up with their foursome. Call Richard or Joyce Wilson for further details and possible dates. Please make this contact by May 20 so that feasibility can be determined.

SACRIFICE OFFERING, SUNDAY, MAY 20

As authorized by General Conference vote, the Church will ask for a sacrifice offering to construct Phases A1 and A2 of the Interim Retreat Center, which will be the first part of the Gathering Place Master Plan. This will be fully described in a separate mailer which has been sent to all our members. Those facilities that can be completed with the funds received will be first used by those attending the Women’s Retreat now planned for October 12-14, 2007 at the Gathering Place.

BULK MAIL DELIVERIES

We have been disappointed with the delivery speed for our bulk mailings for the last two issues of The Hastening Times. In discussing this problem with the Independence Post Office, we learned from the supervisor that the Post Office System is experiencing some “temporary” problems which may be causing mail delays to some, but not necessarily all address areas, caused as follows:

      1) Overtime hours usage was prohibited by national order on January 1, 2007. Those offices and bulk mail centers using a lot of past overtime were told to hire extra permanent help to meet their needs. But this process takes time because there is a lengthy examination and training program.

      2) The carriers’ work agreement (contract) expired nationally on September 31, 2006. A new agreement has not yet been reached, and negotiations are now being arbitrated.

Both of these conditions tend to engender morale problems and mail may seriously back up in sorting centers. They hope to return to normal by August 1. Because of this problem we chose to mail the notice of the May 20 sacrifice offering for Phase 1 of the Retreat Center by first-class mail, which is fast but considerably more expensive. We are hoping that delivery times will eventually improve, as we are not currently budgeted for such a large postage increase, and so will continue to send our quarterly magazine by Bulk Mail.

RECENT PROMISING MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES

Several traveling teams of the Twelve and Seventy have been busy pursuing contacts that have developed over the past several months.

·        Apostle Ralph Damon and Seventy Robert Piedimonte traveled to the Missouri Valley area April 21, 22 and visited with five contacts in Eastern Nebraska. Then working with Brother Ted Webb they contacted five more in Western Iowa.

·        Apostle Glenn Vreeland and Seventy Richard Wilson traveled to Central Illinois where they met with a young lady who had been corresponding with them for some time. She has an interesting history of having studied the Restoration movement over a period of several years through library literature and the Internet, and  has now come to the conclusion that the Remnant is the true Church. She was very impressed with President Larsen’s ordination clip on our Web-site. Further suggested preparation is making possible plans for her baptism at the forthcoming In-town Reunion. This same trip permitted the brethren to contact several other isolated members and their families in the Northeastern Missouri (Hannibal) area. Since faithful priesthood still exist among these isolated members, there is the real possibility of a small branch being organized in the foreseeable future.

·        Apostle Lee Killpack and his wife Karen traveled to the Delta, Colorado area to help celebrate the 70^th wedding anniversary of our faithful members, Bill and Leone Hamilton, who remain in western Colorado. Although they had a difficult trip because of the late Spring blizzard which struck the high plains of Eastern Colorado on the way out, and which necessitated their spending an extra day at Limon, the celebration was very uplifting. They were able to hold services on Sunday morning with the Hamiltons, Kip and Sally Carpenter, and a few other Saints still remaining in the Grand Junction area. On their return trip, the Killpacks met with those Saints who are known to us in the Denver area.

PRESENTATIONS SKILLS CLASS

Another class for priesthood members who feel the need or desire to improve their presentation skills (for preaching, presiding, etc.) is being presented by Sister Robin Faulk with assistance by Patriarch/Evangelist Roger Gault on Saturday, May 5, 2007. This is a church-wide improvement program, being presented at Blue Springs Congregation. Reservations are required and 14 brethren have currently signed up through their Pastors. If you would benefit from this training, speak to your Pastor. Sister Faulk is an industry expert on this subject, which she has presented on two previous occasions.