North America Southwest Area

North America Southwest Area

Strengthen Faith in Jesus Christ,Build up the Church and

Strengthen Home and Family

By leveraging the power of priesthood keys, ward councils, members, and full-time missionaries

Scriptural FocusFor Zion must increase in beauty, and in holiness; her borders must be enlarged; her stakes must be strengthened; yea, verily I say unto you, Zion must arise and put on her beautiful garments. D&C 82:14

North America and Canada

4th Quarter 2014

Aver

age

Sacr

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Atten

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Total Ward Members100 200 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 850 900 900+

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Optimal-sized wards tend to have higher:

Sacrament Meeting Attendance

“Her stakes must be strengthened” (D&C 82:14)

Note: Similar patterns exist for active Melchizedek Priesthood and current temple recommends

Phase 1: Optimally size stakes and wards to increase member involvement and allow adequate time for careful ministering to individuals and families

Phase 2: Minister to individuals and families so that they may receive the exalting ordinances, live the associated covenants and be blessed by temple attendance.

Focus on inviting the most prepared and responsive from the following groups:• Investigators• Prospective elders• Part-member families• Unbaptized youth (9+)• New members• Others identified by the bishop

Basic Approach

6. OTHER HELP: Priesthood and auxiliary leaders, and the ward mission leader enlist others to help with conversion, retention and activation efforts.

3. SELECTING: The ward council reviews a list and selects those with whom to work in the near term: Investigators Prospective elders Part-member families Unbaptized youth (9+) New members Others identified by the bishop

4. MATCHING PEOPLE: The ward council assigns the best members, who should be accompanied by the missionaries to: Visit those identified under No. 3 Teach the missionary lessons as needed Minister toward bringing them to the ordinances, covenants and Church activity Invite and continue to support the individual/family as they progress

Ministering the Ordinances of Exaltation to Individuals and Families

North America Southwest Area

8. PRESIDENCY MEETING: Priesthood and auxiliary presidencies discuss: Home teachers and visiting teachers Members’ assignments Report progress to ward council

7. MISSIONARY COORDINATING COUNCIL: The ward mission leader, full-time and ward missionaries discuss:• Assignments • Progress

1. THE PLAN: The ward council prepares a conversion, retention and activation plan to watch over and strengthen individuals and families.2. IMPLEMENTATION: The ward mission leader coordinates this plan, under the bishop’s direction.

5. TRACKING: The ward clerk keeps a spreadsheet for all those on the selected list of those identified under No. 3 and updates their progress from week to week.

Accountability

• Stakes/wards get updated lists quarterly with needed

ordinances/recommends.

• Ward Councils regularly track and review individual progress.

• Bishops review progress monthly with the stake president.

• Stake presidents review progress quarterly with their area seventy.

• Area Seventies review progress quarterly with their area leadership contact.

“Yea, Come unto Christ and be perfected in him …”

Endure to the End

Sealing

Endowment

Baptism

Priesthood

Gift of the Holy Ghost