1. North America Southwest Area North America Southwest Area
In the NASW Area the vision shared with area and stake leadership is three-fold, to:
Strengthen Faith in Jesus Christ
Build Up the Church, and
Strengthen Home and Family
Today we are focusing on the second focus of Building up the Church, but in a way that clearly impacts and strengthens the other two visions. (CLICK)

2. 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

3. Scriptural Focus
For 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
This verse from Doctrine and Covenants is the scriptural foundation for our presentation today—
For Zion must increase in beauty, and in holiness; (CLICK) her borders must be enlarged; her stakes must be strengthened; yea, verily I say unto you, (CLICK) Zion must arise and put on her beautiful garments.
Zion grows both by outward expansion and by inward refinement. Today’s presentation is going to illustrate the positive impact that a wise focus on the outward expansion can have on the inward refinement—or the increasing in beauty and holiness. It will also illustrate the corollary, or how inattention to “borders that must be enlarged” can inhibit that inward refinement.
Because of the inter-relationship of outward growth with inward refinement, we understand why the Lord would use the word “must” in this verse four times. Attention to the creation of new wards and stakes is a must, especially when they become too large.
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4. North America and Canada
Optimal-sized wards tend to have higher:
Sacrament Meeting Attendance
“Her stakes must be strengthened” (D&C 82:14)
Average Sacrament Meeting Attendance
Smaller wards tend to be associated with higher levels of key gospel participation measures such as current temple recommend holders, sacrament meeting attendance, ordinations to the Melchizedek Priesthood and young men serving missions.
Total Ward Members
Note: Similar patterns exist for active Melchizedek Priesthood and current temple recommends
4th Quarter 2014

5. Basic Approach
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

6. Ministering the Ordinances of Exaltation to Individuals and Families
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.
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
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
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.
6. OTHER HELP: Priesthood and auxiliary leaders, and the ward mission leader enlist others to help with conversion, retention and activation efforts.
North America Southwest Area

7. 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.

8. “Yea, Come unto Christ and be perfected in him …”
Endure to the End
Sealing
Endowment
Priesthood
Gift of the Holy Ghost
Baptism