Stake Presidency Message

Greetings Sisters and Brothers of the COS Stake, as well as Friends and Families this may be shared with both near and far.  This edition of the newsletter is being recorded as an option to be listened to, as well as read.  This edition may only reflect the thoughts and opinions of myself, but I have asked for support and direction of our Heavenly Father.

I am Brother Mark Harrington.  Current callings include, member of the High Council, and called as the Stake Sunday School President.   I was born in to the church through a family of convert parents in Western New York State.  As the oldest of 4 siblings, those that can understand the role of the oldest was full in force.  At the age of 18, just out of high school, I chose to go to College with a goal of serving a mission after completing a two year degree.  As college life goes, I met the woman who would soon become Sister Harrington, and life’s greater mission then began.  For the last 34+ years, we have had many blessings, many trials, much happiness and many different levels of sadness.

But let me tell you that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has been consistent in our lives.  Does that make our household perfect? By no means, after all we have been taught that this life is a life of learning.  And these experiences are the things we are able to take with us to the next life.  I hope that this message reminds us, helps us, encourages us, and strengthens us.  Note that perfecting us is not on that list.  As we are taught, that our Heavenly Parents, and Jesus Christ are the perfect examples we strive for while we live this life.  As we are commanded to be more Christ-like, to meet that highest achievement is not going to be completed here.

We have plenty of worldly guidelines to be happy and helpful to one another, we also have the gospel guideline to be the knowledge that we are to take with us to the next level.  Through the path of my very average journey in life, I have gathered information, been taught many things, had to understand and relearn many things.  It is indeed a challenge and many of my outlooks looked bleak. However the constant contact of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints reminds me, corrects me, supports me to follow the path, and stay to the iron rod, or at times, know where it is to improve my standards or grip of the rod.  Let me stress to you here, that I am not in any way on higher ground than the rest of us.  We all judge ourselves harder than anyone else.

Which brings me to the thoughts of self reliance, self worth, self confidence, and even loving myself.  Before you think this is turning to the Church programs and you hear many of the things that we hear time and time again.  Fear not, this will not go there.  But know this, there is help, and there is strength and joy in the programs the church has.  I have participated, and continue to get help through programs that the church does provide.  I know that another Sister of the Church and I have reported our activities in these programs.  Know this, we may have felt broken, and we have been helped, but we are not completely fixed.  But the outlook is brighter, and we are closer to the path, than where we were.  Know that self-reliance is not a single persons effort, but the help of one another, and being open to that help is a step.  I will end this thought, with reminders from this passed Stake Conference, from Elder Dominic Senechel, -   1) We are not alone, 2) We have the Spirit, our families, friends, and ministers. 3) When we work together we have the best successes. 4) We are enough & qualified.

Continuing some thoughts and reminders from Stake Conference, from Elder Senechel and President Hoyt that made my notes, are as follows.

• Heavenly Father wants to hear from us. My addition, I would like to think, so does our Heavenly Mother. And the two of them together indeed want to counsel with us. 

• Daily Repentance is important.

So, are we doing this? With any or all choices we make? How does your day go if we do, or even if we don’t. And do the results make you happy?

These are questions only we can answer.  And the results are probably going to be linked to the efforts we put in.  If you are okay with the results, I do hope you and myself review those results and see how much better we want to be.  The choice is up to you.  But be reminded that an invitation to us all has been extended and we are all to - “Come Follow Me.” 

How you accomplish this work, on this journey, with this example, even with this gospel will be difficult.  Sometimes the barriers we have, we put up ourselves.  May we all have our burdens be lightened, may we have more joy than we had yesterday, may we love one another as ourselves.  

I was reminded by a friend, through a meme, a question is asked… “What would be your greatest achievement in this life?”  Some say, success, family, health, and maybe even riches.  In return, the same question was returned to the first, and the response is humbling, to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” 

I share these thoughts with love and support, and in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Mark Harrington

Stake High Councilor, Stake Sunday School President