Tyler Daley Receives Mission Call

        Tyler Daley, son of Don and Cori Dailey, will soon be known as Elder Daley and will be off to the MTC March 3 to prepare for his service in the Missouri St. Louis Mission. 

     When a potential missionary learns where he will be going on his mission the call is sent digitally and the letter from President Nelson is read on a computer.  Tyler wanted to have the more traditional experience so Brother Adam Sroufe was given permission to open the email and make a paper copy of the mission call, which he did.  In the picture on the left, Tyler had opened the envelope and is reading the letter to a group of friends and family who were gathered for the occasion. In the picture on the right, two of  Tyler's best friends Bryce Farley and James Boyer pose with him after the reading.  Others present were his parents and siblings, grandparents and two aunts and uncles.

    Elder Daley says is so excited about his call to St. Louis and isn't nervous at all.  Whether he will actually be going to Provo, or doing a computer-MTC, will be determined by the state of the COVID-19 virus in March.  Either way, the MTC will be a great experience.  We wish Tyler a successful mission and look forward to sharing his experiences.

Ward Singers Participate in Stake "12 Days of Christmas"

     Lodi California stake produced a delightful and spiritual event for the Christmas season.  In each of the 12 days before Christmas various members of the stake participated in a short video consisting of Christmas songs and a spiritual message.

On the 9th day of  Christmas Teresa Sroufe (right) gave a wonderful spiritual rendition of the ways she knows Christ.  Berny Moreau sang a solo of "Silent Night" on the 12th day of Christmas and it was beautifully performed.

On the 10th day of  Christmas the women of the Skip and Julie McGhie family sang "We Three Kings of Orient Are" and "What Child is This."  Their oldest daughter Samantha accompanied on the guitar while her four sisters and mom joined in the beautiful Christmas songs.

One Man's Story: Administering the Sacrament is a Blessing

      There have been two time periods during the COVID-19 pandemic when it was necessary for members to not go the church building at all, but to study at home and use the “Come Follow Me” materials that we have been given for our lessons.  Sacrament meeting began to be held over Zoom and families were permitted to have the actual sacrament in their own homes if there was a Priesthood holder there to administer and pass it.

   Priesthood holders in the ward were assigned single women to bless their lives with the opportunity to partake of the sacrament in their homes. It didn’t need to be done every week, but once a month was approved.

   Priscilla Quanstrom is a widow living alone and very active in the church but has no family who can administer the sacrament for her.  The Elders Quorum assigned Curtis Weight, who lives near Priscilla, to perform that ordinance for her once a month.  Priscilla however, wanted to have the sacrament every week. No problem.  Curtis was willing. Sometimes he used a skateboard to get to her house.  Sometimes he rode a bike, and sometimes he walked just for the exercise.

  Making cakes, cookies, and various kinds of breads is one of Priscilla’s talents. It was just a natural thing that (as she said) they “broke bread together” before the sacrament.  “He is a true ministering angel,” she said.  “He wants to know how I’m doing and what I need."    

   Brother Weight also administers the Sacrament to Betty Kirschenmann who lives nearby.  Like Priscilla, she wanted to have the Sacrament every week. She gives him gifts of flowers and fruit when he comes.  She loves to have a conversation about all kinds of things.   Curtis says she has “100 years of wisdom!” 

   About his calling to serve these sisters he says, “I feel like I’m winning. It’s like the Lord gave me several extra moms.”

Note:  Tammy Woods happened to be at Betty's home  when Curtis came and she snapped this picture.

Special Baptism for Kamille Broughton

 Because we've been asked not to use the buildings for meetings, Brother Riley Broughton baptized his 8-year-old daughter Kamille Saturday, December 5 in a friend's heated spa.  "It was a unique experience for both of us, as well as family and friends,"  he said, "as we briefly met together outside for the baptismal service."  Kamille was confirmed poolside by her father.  Bishop Holden presided and conducted.  Below is a copy of her program.

Holiday Messages from our Bishopric

  The Christmas season is upon us and the  COVID-19 pandemic is still with us. We are not able to meet together.  One of the ways our leaders communicate with us is through emails.  This is one message from the bishopric:

  Dear Brothers and Sisters: As we enter the season of giving and reflect on the birth of our Savior, we would like to invite each of you this Sunday to participate in a special ward fast.  First, we want to pray and fast for the missionaries and their efforts to bring additional families to Christ, along with asking for opportunities that you can find to share the gospel with friends, family members or neighbors this month.  The Christmas holiday tends to soften the hearts of those around us and creates a season of giving.  What better gift than that of the Gospel? Please ponder in your minds this week about someone that might be receptive to an invitation to speak with the missionaries, and during your fast, pray for the opportunity and guidance to invite them.  As you do, the Lord will bless you with the help you need to make these invitations. 

    We appreciate all that you do during these difficult times and want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas.  Sincerely, Bishop Holden, Tyler Burton and Joseph Stringer.

                  Bishop Holden also sent ward members a special greeting:

"Moments With The Missionaries"

  Our amazing sister missionaries, Sister Nicoll and Sister Caldon, came up with an idea to bring a little joy and learning into our lives once a week.  On Wednesday nights for several weeks they are going to give a 15-minute "Zoom" presentation.  Their first one was about the importance of light in our lives. They asked their audience to open their scriptures and read with them from Matthew 5: 14-16.  " Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, ad glorify your Father which is in heaven."

    Here are some screenshots for their enlightening (yes, they used lots of LIGHTS) presentation. Viewers were invited to participate. They pointed out that a unique light comes from each of us, and we can make beautiful light together. Light can come from our eyes even if part of our face is covered with a mask during the pandemic.

COVID-19 Doesn't Stop Primary Children

   It's impossible to have a "normal" Primary sacrament meeting program when children would have to wear masks, stay six feet apart, and are not allowed to sing.  All of this didn't pose a problem for our creative primary presidency.  They decided to invite all children to participate in any way they desired.  Primary president Ginny Shull (left) said it was totally "free range." Children could sing, bear their testimony, play an instrument, give a talk--just about anything they wanted.  Some children were filmed by Sister Shull on her front steps, all the while she was wearing a mask.  Other children were filmed at home and parents sent their video to Sister Shull who compiled them all into a presentation.  The program has been saved and a link can be sent to grandparents and friends who would like to see talents and testimonies of our delightful children. 

Below are pictures of all the children who participated in the video program.

New Interview Series: Living for Family History

"Living for Family History!" is a new interview series about the blessings of Family History and Temple work.  Hosted by the Ward Temple and Family History leader, Luis Gonzalez, members of the Mokelumne River Ward will share their experiences and testimonies.  For the first interview, Judy Wilcox shared amazing stories about her ancestors and her own life.  It's very interesting.  Brother Gonzalez does a great job of conducting the interview and hopes to do one a month.  Links to the interviews can always be found on the weekly ward newsletter.

 

Shad Farlee is Baptized

 

   Eight-year-old Shad Farlee was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 24 by his father Clay Farlee.  On this special day he also received the Holy Ghost.  His mother Sara said, " We are thankful for the covenants (promises) we can make and keep with Heavenly Father and in return receive His promised blessings!"

                                         The Farlee family on baptism day.

Serena Allen Called to Serve Fulltime Mission

    Serena Allen, daughter of Adam and Mecarla Allen has just received her call to serve a mission in the Louisville, Kentucky mission. Sister Allen said she had been struggling in High School with a variety of things and decided she needed to come to church more often.  She reached out to the sister missionaries and went to teach a lesson with them.  At 17-years-old Serena "just knew" that she needed to serve a mission.  She will begin at Home MTC (due to the COVID-19 virus) on November 18, and will leave for her  mission in Kentucky on December 8.

   

Left picture: Serena is standing with her grandmother, Susan and grandfather, Lawrence.  Her grandparents have offered to pay for half of her mission.  Right picture:  Serena with her mother.

A Need to See Each Other!

   Above: Our Relief Society presidency, Suzanne Fairbanks, Lisa Clegg, and Tammy Woods, finish setting up the table of drinks and desserts for a long overdue get together for sisters  in the ward.  Sister Clegg said that people needed to get together.  "They needed to see each other."

Since the COVID-19 virus is still prevailing in the world, precautions were taken.  Sisters were asked to bring their own dinner, wear a mask, and obey social distancing. The event was held in Ann Grether's backyard and all the chairs and tables were sanitized.   Lisa works on cleaning a chair while holding a handful of plastic eating utensils. 

Introducing our new missionary

    Attending the get-together were our sister missionaries:  Sister Brandley (left) and Sister Nicoll who has just arrived to work in our ward.  She is from Lehi, Utah and has been in the mission field for 16 months.

 

Max Young Baptized by His Father

    Max Young celebrated his 8th birthday by choosing to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints. He  and his family traveled to Utah for the baptism and had friends and relatives  come from Northern Idaho, Southern Utah, and Texas.  Max was baptized and confirmed by his father Steven Young.

    Max poses with his family in the picture on the right.