Newbury Park Stake Community

North American West Area Single Adult Devotional & Social When: This Sunday, May 16th at 7pm Who: ALL singles 30+ of age Where: Newbury Park Stake Center... Learn more: https://www.lds-sa.org/ #ldssaconf #jesuschrist #SinglesConference

Please come and feel the hope and fun that children give. This is for all ages to enjoy. Invite a friend.

As I spoke this evening at #GeneralConference, I invited those who were watching to think back on the past two years. Amid the losses we have experienced, there... are also some things we have found. One lesson I shared is that the home is the center of faith and worship. You may feel that there is still more you need to do to make your home truly a sanctuary of faith. There are few pursuits more important than this. Between now and the time the Lord comes again, we all need our homes to be places of serenity and security. Present restrictions on gathering will eventually end. However, your commitment to make your home your primary sanctuary of faith should never end. As faith and holiness decrease in this fallen world, your need for holy places will increase. I also shared that we hear Jesus Christ better when we are still. Quiet time is sacred timetime that will facilitate personal revelation and instill peace. Discipline yourself to have time alone and with your loved ones. Open your heart to God in prayer. Take time to immerse yourself in the scriptures and worship in the temple. There are many things the Lord wants us to learn from our experiences during this pandemic. I invite you to make your own list, consider it carefully, and share it with those you love. #HearHim

Through the kindness and dedication of Albert Cornell we are able to see how kickboxing and working hard relates to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How have you seen your hard work rewarded?

Invitation of peace and hope from a living prophet to focus on our Savior this week leading up to Easter Sunday, to do something to follow Christ's teachings, a...nd to join with us this Easter Sunday online to hear Christ-centered messages and music online at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts?lang=eng. See more

Please join us Sunday for the Newbury Park Stake Conference, to be held virtually on Sunday, February 7, 2021 from 10am - 12pm. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, this stake conference will be viewed only online at Zoom Webinar https://zoom.us/j/99184059954 Elder Kevin K. Miskin, a member of the Seventy, will preside.

Youth Theme for 2021 "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind" (Doctrine and Covenants 64:33-34) Learn more > https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org//chil/youth-theme-2021

Devotional for Young Adults on January 11th at 5PM PST https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts

Devotional for Single Adults on January 24th at 7PM PST

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng# Enjoy a message from The Primary General Board sharing their love and advice to the primary children, their parents and their leaders. #NPPrimary

Attention all youth!!! :)

Spread the word!

Stake Blood Drive If you are able and would like to participate, we encourage you to sign up using the link below. Please invite friends and neighbors who might like to give, to sign up as well. Registration in advance is required in order to limit the number of people in the building at any given time. COVID related safety protocols will be in place for the event. Date: Wednesday November 4, 2020... Location: Newbury Park Stake Center Time: 1pm - 7pm Sign Up: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results

We had a wonderful Stake Conference this past Sunday. Here are some of quotes from talks given.

I have spoken of Israel in at least 378 of the more than 800 messages I have delivered during my 36 years as an Apostle. So imagine my delight when I recently l...earned that one of the Hebraic meanings of the word Israel is let God prevail. Thus, the very name of Israel refers to a person who is willing to let God prevail in his or her life. That concept stirs my soul! When your greatest desire is to let God prevail, to be part of Israel, so many decisions become easier. So many issues become non-issues! You know how best to groom yourself. You know what to watch and read, where to spend your time, and with whom to associate. You know what you want to accomplish. You know the kind of person you really want to become. Each of us has a divine potential because each is a child of God. Each is equal in His eyes. The implications of this truth are profound. Brothers and sisters, please listen carefully to what I am about to say. God does not love one race more than another. His doctrine on this matter is clear. He invites all to come unto Him, black and white, bond and free, male and female, (2 Nephi 26:33). The question for each of us, regardless of race, is the same. Are you willing to let God prevail in your life? As you study your scriptures during the next six months, I encourage you to make a list of all that the Lord has promised He will do for covenant Israel. I think you will be astounded! Ponder these promises. Talk about them with your family and friends. Then live and watch for these promises to be fulfilled in your own life. #GeneralConference

So looking forward to hearing messages focused on Christ -- of truth, hope, and love.

Hello Lovely Ladies of the Newbury Park Stake We are so excited for our new callings, but with the current situation we won’t likely get to spend time together with the women in the Stake for a while longer. So, we wanted to reach out and take this opportunity to say hello and introduce ourselves to you. One of the greatest blessings of a new calling, is the love you immediately feel for those you are called to serve. We feel it already and are anxious to find ways to con...nect with you. This is such a unique and uncertain time in all our lives, and we hope you are all doing well and finding time to draw closer to our Father in Heaven through study and prayer. We know that the Come Follow Me program has been such a wonderful blessing to our families these many months. And now with each of the wards holding online sacrament meetings we are starting to feel that sense of gathering that we have been missing so much. In the meantime, General Conference is coming up on October 3rd and 4th, with the Women’s General Session being held on the Saturday evening. Be sure to tune in and hear the messages our Heavenly Father has especially given to us, his daughters. We so look forward to hearing from our Prophet, we need his guidance and assurances so much right now. As President Nelson recently said, My dear friends, our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ know us, love us, and are watching over us. Of that we can be certain. These unique challenges will pass in due time. I remain optimistic for the future. I know the great and marvelous blessings that God has in store for those who love Him and serve Him. I see evidence of His hand in this holy work in so many ways. How we love our dear Prophet, and each and every one of you. With love, Tina, Kim, Tami, & Chari (Newbury Park Stake Relief Society Presidency

Such an inspiration to us all! We love and continually pray for Brother Hart and his amazing family.

I love going to the hospital to welcome new babies to our family! This treasured experience brings me unspeakable joy every time. I love holding these precious ...children in my arms and embracing them for the first time, as in the accompanying picture, taken pre-COVID. These past few months, my pattern has been interrupted. Wendy and I have resorted to greeting our new family members virtually. We have missed holding these babies in our arms and look forward to the day when we can do so again. Gratefully, even a pandemic cannot and will not stop the Lord from embracing us. His love is constant. He never stops watching over us. He has promised that He will be on our right hand and on our left, that His Spirit will be in our hearts, and that even His angels will surround us. You and I have a special opportunity to feel His love during the upcoming general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which will be broadcast on October 3 and 4. I pray that you and your family are preparing to hear the words the Lord will speak to you through His servants. General conference is a magnificent opportunity to feel the depth of the Lord’s love for you. I also hope that you will prayerfully consider inviting friends and family, including those of other faiths, to watch general conference so that they too may feel the Lord’s embrace. I love you, my dear brothers and sisters, and send you my virtual embrace, un gran abrazo. I promise that as we turn our hearts to Jesus Christ, He will encircle us in the arms of His love.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, We extend our love to you and want you to know we are praying for your safety and well-being. This is a time of significant challenge and economic struggle for many as efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 continue and devastating wildfires burn across Washington, Oregon and California. We assure each of you that our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, are mindful of us and our individual needs. We can turn to Them for peace and co...mfort. Sunday, September 27, 2020, is a fast Sunday. It is also the weekend just prior to October General Conference. As an Area Presidency, we invite you to join us in a special day of fasting and mighty prayer. The purpose of this fast is five-fold: 1. To pray for increased understanding and personal revelation in preparation for general conference and the prophetic guidance and messages we will receive. 2. To pray that those suffering the physical, emotional, and economic impact of COVID-19 will be blessed according to their needs. 3. To pray that the hearts of people everywhere will be softened and turned toward the Lord in humility and that faith in Jesus Christ will increase on the earth. 4. To pray for spiritual strength to overcome fear and anxiety, for inspiration to protect ourselves and our families, and for the awareness and ability to minister to those in need. 5. To ask the Lord to bless and inspire our leaders as they address the complex challenges facing our nation and seek to protect the health and well-being of all people. We invite you to consider a generous fast offering and based on your personal circumstances, a donation to the Humanitarian Fund. We encourage each of you to seek opportunities to reach out to those around you who need assistance and support. Sincerely, Kevin W. Pearson Scott D. Whiting Mark A. Bragg North America West Area Presidency

Recently I was asked how I can maintain an attitude of hope amidst life’s trials. I thought back to my childhood. My father was a magnificent, loving, kind fath...er, but he was not active in our faith. We probably had a little more tension in our home than other homes. At times, I worried that my parents would get divorced. But if I had to do it over again, I’d still choose those parents. We had wonderful family experiences and my parents did everything for me they possibly could. I love them dearly. It wasn’t until I left home that I realized my family didn’t have much money. Through a miracle, I was able to go to BYU and Yale University, both on scholarships. We had to scrape, claw, pray, and hope that we would have enough money to pay our tithing and get through school. So, I am not blind to the difficulties of life, but I think now I can see beyond them. Through all of those difficulties, I always knew things were going to be ok. It wasn’t just hope for hope’s sakeit was theological, religious hope in the Almighty. So to anybody struggling today, I say: Be hopeful, be happy, and smile. Remember that God is on your side. He is not an angry, vicious God trying to trip you. He is for younot against you. He is your Father. He is anxious to do everything possible to bless you. He hears your prayers and desires to make your life all that it can be. That is the God I believe in, and I hope you believe in Him too.

During this COVID-19 pandemic, we are grateful for the technology that has allowed us to continue to communicate with you. We appreciate the faithful way you ha...ve continued to teach and minister by a variety of means during this time. Even in this difficult time, the principles we as leaders of the Church hope you will understand are the same fundamentals of faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His gospel that we have always taught. As we are obedient to the commandments, the Lord has promised us, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27). Peace and exaltation are the promised effects of keeping commandments and trusting in the Lord. The way forward is clear: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:56).

Letter from the Stake Presidency: These past few months have been challenging to say the least. We hope that through these difficulties you have felt a deepening connection with God that He is listening and caring for you. The gospel of Jesus Christ is miraculous it replaces fear with love, sorrow with joy.... Stake Fast... As stated recently by our beloved prophet President Nelson, The road ahead will always be bumpy; the destination will be serene and secure. To help with the road ahead, we invite our stake to come together as one in fasting and prayer this Sunday, September 6th, for an increase of peace, respect, and love for all of God’s children. Fasting together as a stake will bring us closer together, even though we can’t physically gather at this time. Sunday Services... During these past six months of home-centered worship, the Lord has shown us how our homes are the primary sanctuary of our faith. Individuals and families who have taken advantage of this time have experienced an increase in spiritual strength and a better understanding of how the priesthood exists and functions in the family organization. Beginning this Sunday, we will begin to gain a better understanding of how the priesthood exists and functions in the church by holding weekly online Sacrament services for the wards in our stake. The Sacrament will still be administered by priesthood holders in the home, as ordinances are to be done in person, not via technology. Each of you should have received an email from your respective Bishopric with the information you’ll need to join your ward’s service. This will be a wonderful time for individuals and families to come together and meet under the priesthood keys held by the presiding High Priest in the ward, the Bishop. As President Eyring stated, It is clear that there is power in leaders being with the Saints and in the Saints being with one another. Attending your ward’s service will deepen your conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, and help to turn fear into faith. We love you very much, and pray continually for your peace and happiness. Sincerely, President Merrill President Laguna President Badurek

Samuel the Lamanite reminds us to follow the Prophet. Prophets lead us to Jesus Christ. The Lord fulfills his promises. Share this with your family. It brings good tidings of peace and joy. #NPPrimary https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org//2018-01-0180-samuel-a

Wonderful testimony by Bryan Niven who grew up in our stake. The Niven family lived in the NP 1st Ward (aka Los Robles) for many years, raising four wonderful children.

This is Sister Monica Sedgwick and me, circa 1994? She is beautiful inside and out! She was my Young Women leader when I was 16 & 17 years old. She has held a special place in my heart ever since because of the wonderful impact she had on me. Being in her presence was a highlight of my formative teenage years. She was fun, she was easy to talk to, she was genuinely interested in us, she was pure goodness! She taught me how to make homemade Christmas toffee and Monster ...cookies. She gave the best Sunday lessons, I kept all her handouts which were always homemade. She taught us the gospel of Jesus Christ and shared her testimony as often as she could. She nurtured us like her own. In fact, she and her husband yearned for children that didn’t come as soon as she had hoped. Selfishly, I wondered if it was part of God’s plan for them to have that blessing after they were done blessing us? She gave us 100% and I’m sure it was to the relief of our parents that we had such an influence for good in our lives. I never had to wonder where her devotion and commitment lied. She honored her covenants with Heavenly Father and nothing was more important to her than pleasing Him. Her eye was single to the glory of God. She was an amazing example to me! In April 2011, I learned in General Conference that Sister Sedgwick was the Young Women’s president of the Laguna Niguel, California Stake. You may remember the story that Elder Cook shared about her she found a purse after a youth dance and in her quest to discover who it belonged to, she took a peek inside to find identification. Instead, she found treasures that represented that young woman and her good traits. That was Sister Sedgwick, always seeing the good in us. Always recognizing our potential and lovingly looking after us! In my various callings serving the Young Women over the years, I have tried to pay it forward because of her giving and being just an ounce of what she was for me. How important it is to have good role models for our youth because their impact is felt for years to come! #strivetobe Love, Sis. Nicki Lorenzen