More Intentionally Remembering Him

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the St. Cloud Stake,

To start, this communication is a bit longer than what I have sent out to our membership in the past, but I have been deeply impressed by the Spirit to communicate this message to each of you at this time. I would ask that you read and reflect on it in its entirety—even if that means coming back to it in a day or a week when more time is available.

There is no doubt that we live in troubling times. We are reminded that “satan is abroad in the land” (D&C 52:14) and that he is “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Within our very stake, his upheavals and corruption try to thrust themselves into our homes and into our lives, according to his will and pleasure. Satan is “the father of lies” (Ether 8:25) and tries his best to ensnare us in a delusion of “calling evil good, and good evil; putting darkness for light, and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20). There is no doubt his mission is to destroy us.

Brothers and Sisters, there is one way—and only one way—to combat the buffetings of satan, and that is turning to Jesus Christ, our light and our guide through these treacherous times. He is our way and our truth.

Starting today, I call upon each member of our stake to wage an all-out war against satan by more intentionally turning to Jesus Christ, while at the same time helping others onto and along the covenant path.

Remembering the Lord more intentionally in our lives is the catalyst for us in helping others onto and along the covenant path (which is His work and glory; see Moses 1:39). And the reverse is true: when we are focused on helping others onto and along the covenant path, it becomes more natural in our intentions to turn to Jesus Christ. As we are going about doing His work, we will find ourselves more intentionally turning to Him.

I would invite you to consider what this intentional effort consists of in your homes and in your personal lives. Does it mean spending more time in the scriptures? Does it mean turning to our Father in Heaven a bit more fervently in prayer? Maybe becoming a greater peacemaker should be the focus (see “Peacemakers Needed”). Perhaps it’s a rededication to the law of the fast, or setting aside good things in your life to pursue the best (see “Good, Better, Best”).

As stake leaders, we are very passionate about this effort. I would like to share with you a few things that we are doing at the stake level to help build faith in Jesus Christ within the lives of our membership, in an effort to help you “conquer Satan, and… escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work” (D&C 10:5).

• Between now (post-Christmas) and Easter, we will be sharing short testimonies from members of our Stake Council. These messages will be emailed weekly by Sister Tamara Gray (stcloudstake@comm.churchofjesuschrist.org), our Stake Communication Director. In addition to these emails, the Stake Presidency will also be releasing short videos pointing us to Christ. You will be able to reference these items, along with other messages, on our stake website: StCloudStake.org.

• Within the first quarter of the year, we are conducting all ward and branch conferences, with messages from stake leadership focused on intentionally turning to the Savior and helping others onto and along the covenant path. Stake leaders always look forward to spending this time with you!

• On March 21 and 22, we will be holding our Stake Conference, with Elder Rodney A. Ames of the Seventy presiding. Elder Ames has asked us to spiritually prepare for the conference by studying the following materials:

  • 2 Nephi 31 and 32

  • General Conference Addresses:

    • “The Family-Centered Gospel of Jesus Christ” – Oct. ’25: President Oaks (Sunday Afternoon)

    • “Worship” – April ’25: President Christopherson (Saturday Evening)

    • “Overcome the World and Find Rest” – Oct. ’22: President Nelson (Sunday Morning)

    • “And Now I See” – Oct. ’25: President Holland (Sunday Morning)

• We will begin Holy Week (March 29–April 5) with our second annual “Messiah Sing-Along” on Saturday, March 28 at 5 p.m. at the Stake Center (stcloudstake.org/messiah) followed by a special Easter Sacrament meeting being held on Sunday, March 29.

• We will culminate our efforts in turning more intentionally to Jesus Christ between now and our celebration of Easter (on April 5) by gathering for the 196th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that Easter weekend.

In a recent letter to the members in our area, our Area Presidency shared that “Discipleship is not a single act but a daily pattern of living.” I testify that there is safety, there is peace, and there is rest as we more intentionally invite Jesus Christ into our lives and as we continue to fulfill the covenantal role we have made in helping others onto and along the covenant path.

With great admiration,

President Izzo