Banff Branch Missionary Memories Page

07/19/2024

We have been home from our after serving in the Canada Calgary Mission for almost five years. Since then, Lisa and I have been serving in our long-time California Ward --now known as the Five Cities Ward. Currently, Lisa is the Relief Society President, and I am the Stake Communications Director. Previously, Lisa enjoyed being the ward's organist, and I was blessed to serve as a ward mission leader and later as a high councilor over Temple and Family History.

We have also been serving as ordinance and baptistry workers in the Los Angeles Temple and truly love that experience!

We miss everyone in the Banff Branch! No current plans for a visit, but getting back to the Canadian Rockies is always in the back of our minds!

"Each person who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and in temples—and keeps them—has increased access to the power of Jesus Christ. Please ponder that stunning truth!

"The reward for keeping covenants with God is heavenly power—power that strengthens us to withstand our trials, temptations, and heartaches better. This power eases our way. Those who live the higher laws of Jesus Christ have access to His higher power. Thus, covenant keepers are entitled to a special kind of rest that comes to them through their covenantal relationship with God."

--President Russell M. Nelson "Overcome the World and Find Rest," October 2022

08/26/2022

We so enjoyed our visit on August 14, 2022 and the adventures with members and friends throughout the week! Those we missed, let’s get together next time!

07/12/2022

Tentative plans to be in Banff August 14, 2022. Will solidify plans this week!

"Hello, we are Paul and Lisa Jarvis, of Pismo Beach, California, and we have been married for 37 years! We are blessed with five children and eight grandchildren (four boys and four girls). We love them all so much!

We were both raised by fathers (educators) who taught us the value and importance of learning and hard work. Both were veterans of the armed forces who taught us love and respect for our country. Both took time to teach us; they supported our academic, recreational, and religious pursuits.

We were both raised by mothers who sacrificed their own hobbies and interests to foster, develop, and nurture their children. They were fiercely loyal and thoroughly dedicated to raising honest children who strive to keep God’s commandments.

When we began our family, we were blessed to enter into a parenting partnership with our Heavenly Father and to fulfill a divine purpose. We enjoy many memorable experiences with our children including beach days, camping trips, and attending theme parks. We support our children's’ and our grandchildren's varied interests in sports, drama, art, music and academic pursuits. Being a family has blessed us to trust God, serve others, be kind, demonstrate faith, and develop patience. Most of all, we are blessed with love. Loving our own children and grandchildren helps us better comprehend the love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for us.

Why would Heavenly Father establish these precious family relationships just to see them end? We are grateful for the blessings of family! We derive great joy by helping our ancestors with their “saving ordinances” in the temple. We are blessed to know that our relationships with family and friends endure; we have an opportunity to live with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and our family and friends forever! May we all recognize the importance of families in God’s Great Plan of Happiness!"

04/02/2022

Of the temples in Utah, seven are under construction, two scheduled for groundbreaking and three are being renovated.

03/27/2022

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬

What reasons did the Book of Mormon prophets give for writing their records?
We wrote the records...

𝟏 𝐍𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐢 𝟔:𝟒𝟔
-To persuade men to come unto Christ.
-To share only those things that are of worth and that are pleasing unto God.

𝟏 𝐍𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐢 𝟗:𝟑𝟔
-To obey the Lord’s command to make plates for purpose of having an engraven account of the ministry of the people.
-For a wise purse (being obedient and exercising faith).

𝟐 𝐍𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐢 𝟒:𝟏𝟓-𝟏𝟔
-To record the things of my soul.
-To delight in and ponder the things of the Lord.
-For the learning and profit of my children.

𝟐 𝐍𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐢 𝟐𝟓:𝟐𝟑-𝟐𝟗
-To persuade children and brethren to believe in Christ and be reconciled to the grace of God.
-So our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.
-To clear up stubborn (“stiff-necked”) misunderstandings in doctrine including the fulfillment of the Law of Moses (following Christ’s earthly ministry).
-To teach men “the right way;” specifically to believe in Christ and deny him not.
-To implore others to bow down before the Savior and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul.

𝟐 𝐍𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐢 𝟐𝟔:𝟏𝟓-𝟏𝟔
-To ensure the words of the righteous shall be written.
-To ensure the prayers of the faithful shall be heard.
-To ensure those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not be forgotten.
-To speak to our posterity with the power of God from from “the dust” and with a familiar spirit.

𝟐 𝐍𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐢 𝟐𝟗:𝟏𝟏-𝟏𝟒
-To fulfill the commandment that all nations shall write the words spoken to them by the Lord.
-Because judgement is based on what has been written.
-The Twelve Tribes and all nations are commanded to record what the Lord says.
-The House of Israel will be gathered as one as God’s word is gathered in one.

03/18/2022

Thomas and Valerie Drennan of the Charlottetown ward have been called as the President and Matron of the Halifax Nova Scotia Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: https://bit.ly/3IkxWAF

10/18/2021

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
--James 1:5-6

This painting of the Sacred Grove has hung in my home for many years. It reminds me of the importance of continually building one's own faith. It also reminds me of the importance of helping others build their faith.

Developing faith in Christ leads to a love of Christ, and a love of Christ inspires us to share that love with others.

"How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:15)

Art Credit: "Sacred Grove" by Greg Olsen

08/07/2021

Messages for Missionaries
“Your success will be measured primarily by your commitment to fulfill your missionary purpose. You can testify with confidence, as I testify to you, of the Lord’s promise to His missionary servants, ‘I will give you success.’ And with a comforting assurance ‘you can feel the Lord is pleased when you feel the Spirit working through you.’”

— Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Mission Leadership Seminar, June 24, 2021

07/12/2021

Addressing the world-wide pandemic during general conference last April, President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said,

"Amid the losses we have experienced, there are also some things we have found. Some have found deeper faith in our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Many have found a fresh perspective on life—even an eternal perspective. You may have found stronger relationships with your loved ones and with the Lord. I hope you have found an increased ability to hear Him and receive personal revelation. Difficult trials often provide opportunities to grow that would not have come in any other way."

I invite you to read my article on https://ca.churchofjesuschrist.org/ about how the pandemic affected missionary work in general and two Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionaries in particular.

Click here: https://bit.ly/3wE9pjX

The Lord sent me to Canada for a reason...He also had a reason for my next call. He prepared people for me to teach wherever I was.”