GPNW Aaronic Ministries Council

Who Are We?

The Aaronic Ministries Council (AMC) was developed in response to the new World Church focus for Aaronic Ministers and the initiative presented by the Presiding Bishopric at World Conference 2002. The new Temple School course AM200 was developed as a result.

The AMC is composed of a facilitator and a group of Aaronic Priesthood representing the three Aaronic Priesthood offices of priest, deacon and teacher, from throughout the area of the Greater Pacific Northwest Mission Center (GPNW). The group meets and maintains contact regularly and will consult with a Bishop as needed. Members of the AMC are committed to participate in identifying all Aaronic Priesthood in the GPNW, making contact and helping them (1) fully understand the breadth and depth of their priesthood office and (2) become more purposeful in their calling in their home congregation. Members of the AMC will work with pastors and congregational leaders in their jurisdiction, if requested, to provide assistance and support in the utilization of Aaronic Priesthood in their congregations.

GOALS OF THE AARONIC MINISTRIES COUNCIL

• Develop a list of active Aaronic Priesthood in the Mission Center
• Personally contact every active Aaronic Priesthood in the mission center to find out where they are in their ministry
• Support Aaronic Priesthood in identifying how they may broaden or focus their ministry
• Encourage Aaronic Priesthood to take the Temple School class, AM 200 "Aaronic Ministers: Ministry of Presence"
• Assist and support pastors and congregational leaders in using Aaronic Priesthood in their congregation, according to their calling
• Develop and recognize leadership within Aaronic Priesthood
• Plan and implement the Aaronic Priesthood Retreat each year
• Provide on-going support and assistance to Aaronic Priesthood
• Ask of Aaronic Priesthood, "What do you feel called to do in your ministry?"

PRIMARY PURPOSE: Support and empower all Aaronic Ministers to function fully in their priesthood.

Stories and Testimonies

2007 Retreat - by John Watts

Back in April of 2005, the Aaronic Council for the Pacific Northwest Region decided to invite Bishop Paul Davis to be our guest minister at our annual Aaronic Priesthood retreat. Little did we know that it would take two years for us to actually get him out here. But it must have been "in the cards," as one might say, or the Lord's will, as I would say, because it was just three weeks after the presentation of Section 163 of the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) to which Paul addressed the entire weekend.
Never before had I scrutinized a section in the D&C as was done that weekend. And had I known the benefit of doing so, would have done the same for every section. I also believe that Section 163 is much more. I believe that it is an urgent call for us to put into action all of those revelations that have already been put in place. As a group we were not able to discuss the entire document. However, we did tackle paragraphs 1 thru 4, 6, and 9 thru 12.
The weekend started out, as usual, with persons arriving, signing in, getting cabins, getting to know each other, etc. Paul also spent several minutes explaining how he had prepared for this event and what this weekend was going to entail. He said that even though he had given it much time and thought, there was no urge to write down a syllabus or outline to go by. He felt that the spirit would lead us in the direction we needed to go. And personally, I can't see how it could have worked out any differently. If there had been a format to follow, the spirit might not have been able to guide and move us where we needed to go.
There were 36 people present at the retreat and Paul had us divide up into groups of four to six. After each paragraph was discussed we were encouraged to switch places and be a part of other groups. We were all seated at tables; and at each group there was a large white blank piece of white paper, about 24" x 36," along with some crayons and pens available for us to doodle on, make notes, and record the discussions that took place in each group. This would be invaluable because Paul would take these correspondences and record what was discussed and took place.
This is how each session was conducted. We'd start out by spending time individually reading the text, followed by a small group discussion, and finally followed by the small groups sharing with the entire body. Quite frankly I have never experienced the time go by so quickly…not once did I look at the clock. And even though the time flew by, by the time each session was completed, we did need a break.
Over six hours was dedicated specifically to covering the above mentioned sections…and may I say they were covered to the satisfaction of all that were present. The spirit seemed to sense the timing of the entire process and allowed each of us the ability to speak exactly what we needed to say and then move on. I believe that much insight was gained by this experience and believe each individual was touched in their own way.
From all of the Aaronic Priesthood at our recent gathering we would say to Paul "Thanks for allowing the promptings of the spirit to guide and direct you…a process that, I feel, is desperately needed in the church today.

2005 Retreat - by John Watts

At our 2005 Aaronic Priesthood Retreat, Fran Smith brought a bundle of jewelry and chains that was literally in a tangled up ball. Wish we had taken a picture of it before we got a hold of it. Anyway, Fran simply laid it on a table in the Dining Hall Friday evening and before you could blink an eye, there was someone there trying to untangle the mess. I think that everyone that was at the camp took a turn. Most likely everyone thought that they would be the one to untangle it all by themselves, but it wasn't to be. I remember trying it and I could only get so far. By Saturday evening, there was still quite a bungled up mess left on the table. But by Sunday Morning the entire quagmire was untangled and Fran wore the jewelry to the Service that morning. It was determined that this bungled up ball, of this and that, represented each of our lives before we came to camp. And that the only way that we could possibly get straightened out was to allow others to help us get untangled. We experienced how it took all of us to untangle that mess of chains on the table. We then applied it to each of our personal lives at camp that weekend. I am certain that all of us left that camp a little less tangled up. What a testimony. We all get tangled up on our life's journey and maybe try to get untangled by ourselves. Eventually, however, we realize that we need each other to get untangled. Each of us can be straightened out, and look like the chains around Frans neck, if we allow others to help.

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