All-Spanish Sacrament Meeting – From Rochester 3rd Ward’s History 2007

by Andrew Johnson | Sep 3, 2023 | All Member Stories, Callings/Leadership, Service, Testimonies/Spiritual Experiences

On December 16th, we had an all-Spanish sacrament meeting. Bishop Rackham conducted the meeting completely in Spanish, the sacrament prayers were in Spanish, as well as the opening and closing prayers and the talks. Sister Ali normally translates the English talks...

From 4 to 5 Rochester Wards – By Keri Bellows

by Andrew Johnson | Sep 3, 2023 | All Member Stories, Callings/Leadership

Keri Bellows served as the 4th Ward Historian for 9 years.  These are her notes, both historical and personal, taken from the Rochester MN Stake History, 2008. Historian Notes: On December 28th, 2008, a special four ward meeting was held to divide the four Rochester...

Thoughts on Being a Bishop – by Devaughn Rackham, 2008

by Andrew Johnson | Sep 3, 2023 | All Member Stories, Callings/Leadership, Service, The Spirit/Promptings

I was released on February 24th of this year after serving as Bishop for almost five and a half years. Being released was a very bitter-sweet experience, and I was not prepared for the flood of emotion that came with being released. On one hand, I love my family and...

My Pioneers – by Neil Taylor

by aubrirobinson | Apr 23, 2022 | All Member Stories, Callings/Leadership, Testimonies/Spiritual Experiences, Trials and Challenges

I grew up on a farm near Burley, Idaho. Burley is where the “Ida” part of “Ore-Ida” potato products come from. My father was called as a bishop of a country ward when I was six years old. He only served for three years because of an illness in...

The Calling of a Bishop or a Branch President – by President Robert Foote

by aubrirobinson | Apr 23, 2022 | All Member Stories, Callings/Leadership, Prayer, Testimonies/Spiritual Experiences, The Spirit/Promptings

The calling of a bishop or branch president is one of the weightiest responsibilities of a Stake President. During my 14 years of service in two stake presidencies, I have been involved in the calling of 38 bishops and branch presidents. Having served as a bishop...

On Being the Patriarch of the Stake – by Wayne Barrett

by aubrirobinson | Apr 22, 2022 | All Member Stories, Callings/Leadership, The Spirit/Promptings

2012: Wayne Barrett, the stake patriarch, spoke at a conference: This 16th Street building brings back a lot of memories. It was 28 years ago when my wife and I (and two children) moved to Rochester. At that time it was the original Rochester Ward. Over the years, as...