Friends of the Cobblestone First Ward

03/29/2020

A letter from Bishop Watson

Brothers and Sisters,

This letter is being sent out a little earlier, to give you some updates on the state of things. May this message find you in a good and faithful place. We would like to welcome home Randy and Raeleen Anderson. They were planning on extending their mission in Nauvoo, but with the covid19 situation, and all temples shutting down, they have come home and are currently under the mandatory 14 day quarantine. This will also mean that the Rust family will be leaving us earlier than anticipated. It is truly bitter sweet, as we get to reconnect with one family, we will lose another.

Speaking of loss, for most of you that might not have heard, the Todd and Heather Barney family put their house up for sale, and it sold much faster than anticipated, so it looks like we will lose them from our ward as well before we all meet again. Although change can sometimes be painful to see such wonderful people leaving our ward, great things can come from change. They will also be greatly missed. Heather did say that a “super cute couple” bought their home. The husband is a HS math teacher and the wife is getting her master’s degree. They have a few little kids, and we are excited to meet them and welcome them into our neighborhood.

There have been many questions out there swarming around, and after getting some guidance, I would like to address some of them this week. Priesthood blessings are still appropriate at this time, but should be postponed if people are sick with the coronavirus symptoms. Some may have also heard that Jill has been sick for a while now and we just took her in to get tested, but I will postpone any and all meetings or interactions with anyone until we hear back from the Covid19 taskforce, which will hopefully be Monday.

One piece of direction that will affect many of you, dealing with new callings, is how we are to proceed right now. Elder Hess said that we are able to call/interview and set apart/ordain and put to work all callings at the ward level. With this guidance, we may be calling and interviewing over the phone and setting apart/ordaining at a later time. We can then ratify these callings when we meet again as a ward, by the uplifted hand.

As far as fast offerings this week and tithing in general, it is best to either pay online, or to mail the tithing and fast offerings to me, using the envelopes at the church or any envelope addressed to my home. (198 W 150 N) You may also hold onto them until we meet again, but we will not be sending the young men out to collect them this month. We thank you for your understanding in this.

President Nelson did ask that we be as generous as possible in making sure you all have an opportunity to have the sacrament, but that the sacrament should not be administered on conference weekend. When we are providing the sacrament opportunity, Elder Hess wanted to make sure that we are allowing everyone to hear the prayers, and not just take people the sacrament and tell them it is blessed. I assume that is how it is already being done, but I thought I would pass the advice along, as I know that in a hospital setting, it is not always done this way.

Once again, please reach out to all that you minister to each week and ensure that they are good and their needs are being met. What a wonderful time for each of us to reconnect with our families and to love and support those around us.

I hope that each of you were able to hear President Nelson’s message this week about us doing a worldwide fast. We are to fast for relief from COVID19, to pray for relief from physical, emotional and economic effects from this global pandemic. Physical and spiritual healing for the whole world can be nothing short of a miraculous opportunity.

May Father in Heaven continue to bless the lives of each one of our ward members and neighbors. May our struggles also be consecrated for our good, as we strive to live, serve and love as our Savior would! What a wonderful opportunity this time is to refocus and recommit ourselves to a more sincere study of the gospel and aligning our lives more closely with our Savior. May this upcoming conference truly be unforgettable and a delight to each of you!

Bishop Watson

03/14/2020

A Message from Bishop Watson:

Ward members and neighbors,

I just wanted to reach out to everyone and give you all an update along with a few thoughts about the Corona virus. For those that have not heard, there will not be church this week or for the next while, until the Brethren let us know that we are to have church again. This is happening worldwide. This also holds true for other meetings and church gatherings. For some reason, I have heard that the temple is still open, at least through today. The Brethren have counseled us to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to receive the sacrament at least once a month, while there is no church. We will get back with you about how this is to be done, as soon as we have decided the proper course for doing so.

I wanted to add that this is not a time to panic or be overly nervous, but it is a time to have faith and trust in our Father in Heaven. As far as I can tell, these are all precautionary measures, and not a reason to react rashly. The Church has cautioned us for decades to be prepared, and all of this abundance of caution right now seems to be another way of being prepared and aware.

As we won't be seeing each other at church, I would appreciate it if all ministering brothers and sisters would check up on their respective families and neighbors at least weekly, to make sure all of their needs are being met, both spiritually and temporally. Please report anything urgent to the Relief Society or Elders Quorum Presidencies. They will in turn let the Bishopric know if it is something they are not able to help with. This is also a wonderful opportunity to reach out to neighbors each week, who may not be active or of our faith, letting them know that this is what we are doing to ensure everyone within our ward boundaries are doing fine and having their needs met. As often as is needed, I will communicate with the ward through this newsletter, but as not everyone is on here, please make sure your ministering brothers and sisters are aware of any updates.

What a wonderful thing it is to know the plan of salvation and the peace that comes from simply having faith, and leaving the rest up to a Father in Heaven. If we are prepared, we shall not fear. I reference that from a spiritual standpoint and not from a toilet paper one, although that is nice as well!

Bishop Tyson Watson

03/04/2020

Bishopric Message

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

One question that was asked in one of the Come Follow Me lessons was, “What does the Lord mean when He says, ’I am able to do mine own work’?” As I pondered upon this question a few different answers came to my mind, but one of them was rather comforting. In a way, I felt like He was saying, “I know what I am doing”. As I pondered upon that thought, I allowed my mind to extrapolate that thought into all aspects of my life. He knows what He is doing with me in my life. He knows what He is doing with my wife and children in their lives. He knows what He is doing with all that I meet with to discuss the struggles that they are going through in their lives.

For many of us, it is comforting to be able to share our troubles with another. To have another listen to us and empathize with us about our thoughts, hurts, or struggles can bring an immense relief about getting it off our chests. We receive that sensation of relief after sharing with others who have their own struggles and trials, but who are willing to listen and empathize in some way.

Are we underutilizing the power, knowledge and wisdom of our Father in Heaven? Do we sometimes discount His “knowing what He is doing” because we have not striven to know and understand how He communicates with us so that we can receive and feel His listening ear and empathy? Are we losing out on one that understands us perfectly, knows exactly what He is doing with us and what is actually best for us? Do we sometimes overlook the great gift and majesty of a Brother who truly knows exactly what we are feeling and a Father who knows how to feed the birds, but we are not sure He knows or cares what we are going through?

As I have looked back on all of the trials in my life, I know that He does “know exactly what He is doing”. That even though our friends would wish away all of our pains and sorrows, He knows how to comfort us through them, and allow them to happen that He may consecrate them for our good. He knows that those exact trials and struggles are what are allowing us to become like Him, and that if we pay attention and learn from them, that we will be able to lift and help others that might have to travel down similar paths. May we all learn to consecrate our struggles to our Heavenly Father and allow him to make more out of us and to use those experiences to help and lift each other. He did not put us here to fail and be miserable, even though in the thick of it may feel that way at times. We are His children, He does love us, He does know what He is doing and He does have joy as a part of this journey, if we will but turn to Him.

Bishop Watson

03/04/2020

Relief Society Birthday Celebration tonight!

11/26/2017

Do you know someone trustworthy who is in need of a bit of extra money? Please pass this info along to them! Jane Nielsen is looking for some help. If someone you know is interested, they may call her at (435) 750-0345.

“I require someone to assist me to complete daily activities. I am looking for someone to help put me to bed and do light housekeeping 3-5 nights a week at 8:00-9:30 PM. Times can be flexible I pay up to $12.83 an hour. Training is provided on the job. You must pass a background check, be 18 yrs or older and have a drivers licences.“

09/21/2017

Relief Society Announcements:
•This Thursday September 21, is our stake Humanitarian Celebration at 6:30 pm. Come see the good that is being done in the stake. This is for all young women and relief society sisters. Dinner will be served.
•We are collecting bags for CAPSA. There will b a box in front of the relief society room each week.
•Institute classes are being held every Wednesday at the stake center. Classes will meet in the primary room at either 10:00am or 6:30pm.

09/12/2017

Relief Society Announcements:

- Thank you to all who participated in our ward Day of Service this past Saturday. It was a huge success!

- Next Thursday, September 21st is the stake Huamanitarian Celebration. Meet at the stake center at 6:30 pm. We'll have the opportunity to hear about all of the ways that we've served this year. This is for all RS sisters and yw. Dinner will be served.

09/07/2017

Sisters,
Don't forget the Salad Social tonight. Meet at the church at 6:30 pm. Bring your favorite salad bar topping to share. Hope to see you there!

08/31/2017

Relief Society Announcements:
-Our RS Salad Social is next week! Join us on Thursday, September 7th at 7:00 pm. Please bring your favorite salad bar topping to share. We will provide all of the leafy greens and rolls. This is always a fun to night to make new friends!
-The stake is having a RS Humanitarian Celebration on Thursday, September 21st at 6:30 pm. This is for all RS sisters and young women. Dinner will be served.
-We hope you have been participating with our current challenge. We have been focusing on The Family: A Proclamation to the World, and The Living Christ. Take some time to review these inspired documents. We have given you ideas for ways to make them a bigger part of your life but if you have something else you would rather do that's ok. It is our prayer that we will use these in our homes and with our families. We know that they will bless your lives!
-We have a RS google group that is set so that we can directly communicate with each other. This is a place you may share things that you would otherwise be giving to the DI, ask for help or even set up a play date or a temple trip. If you are not currently enrolled in our google group and would like to join, please inform Andrea Dye and she will send you an invitation.

08/20/2017

Our beloved Prophet is turning 90 tomorrow and has a birthday wish that you can help fulfill:
"Days before his birthday, President Monson reiterates a birthday wish of almost a decade ago. When asked to describe his ideal birthday gift in 2008, President Monson said: 'Do something for someone else on that day to make his or her life better. Find someone who is having a hard time or is ill or lonely and do something for them. That’s all I would ask.'"

President Thomas S. Monson, a venerable leader and prophet who has given more than half a century of service as a General Authority, will celebrate his 90th birthday on Monday, August 21.

08/15/2017

Relief Society Announcements:
-This Saturday, August 19 is the Stake High Priest Social. All high priests , their wives and single sisters are invited to attend. It will be held at the stake center 6:00pm. Please bring a dessert to share.
-Mark your calendars for our Annual Salad Social. This will be Thursday, September 7th. The Relief Society will be providing all the leafy greens, we are asking each of you to bring your favorite salad bar topping to share. Think hard boiled eggs, beans, olives, mushrooms, peppers, salad dressing, etc. We have been passing around a sign-up sheet but if you haven't had a chance to sign up plan on coming anyway.
-We will also have a RS Board Meeting on Thursday, September 28 at 7:00 pm. This is for all RS teachers, music, humanitarian committee or RS meeting committee members. We will give you a personal invitation but thought it would be good for you to have the opportunity to plan ahead.

08/11/2017

Neighborhood picnic will be TONIGHT 6:00-8:30 pm at Zollinger park! This should be a fun opportunity to make and renew friendships. Please invite those you visit teach as well as any neighbors. You may want to bring a camp chair or blanket. Don't forget to bring the food items that you've signed up for!