Military district in Iraq will be 'big difference'
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- Elder Paul B. Pieper of the Seventy formed the Baghdad Iraq Military
District on Nov. 9.
- The district presidency consists of two U.S. servicemen and a
government contractor.
- E-mail and other Internet technologies help leaders and members watch
over each other.
The Baghdad Iraq Military District was recently created to provide increased spiritual support for the needs of approximately 1,300 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints living in Iraq. After six years of meeting as military groups the Mormon Church now has a palpable presence and priesthood structure in place to serve those in the armed forces and working in other capacities throughout the country.
Frank Clawson, the Church's Director of Military Relations, said the creation of the Baghdad Iraq Military District will allow for the exercise of priesthood keys on a local level that was not previously possible. "The big difference is without a district we can only have service-member groups," Brother Clawson said. "A group leader can hold worship services and provide the sacrament to members, but he does not have priesthood keys. With keys present, it is possible to meet the full range of spiritual needs of our servicemen and women."
Elder Paul B. Pieper of the Seventy visited Baghdad on Nov. 8-9 to hold meetings with members and friends of the Church and to organize the Baghdad Iraq Military District presidency. Col. Guy M. Hollingsworth was called and set apart as the district president, with James D. Phipps and Lt. Col. Greg T. Adams as the first and second counselors, respectively.
The new district presidency is representative of the Church members serving and working in Iraq. President Hollingsworth is a colonel in the Army Reserves who directs the student internship program at BYU-Idaho. He was called up for a 400-day deployment and coordinates the U.S. training of Iraqi troops. Brother Phipps is an Arabic-speaking attorney from Virginia employed as a U.S. government contractor to build local Iraqi institutional capacity. Brother Greg Adams is a lieutenant colonel and Army Reservist from Spokane, Wash., where he is director of the Institute of Religion. He is serving a one-year deployment training the Iraqi military. Like most of those deployed in Iraq, all members of the district presidency are married and dealing with the challenges of long periods of separation from their families.
"The challenges faced by those serving in Iraq and their families are significant," Elder Pieper said. "We want both to feel the full support of the Church's organization to bless their lives and strengthen them during their time of separation."
President Hollingsworth said: "The members of the Church here in Iraq already feel the excitement of the newly formed district. The fact that branches can now be organized and other Church functions now take place throughout the country is a gospel blessing that many members serving in this country sense and are grateful for."
The Baghdad Iraq Military District will function in much the same manner as the Kabul Afghanistan Military District, created July 1, 2008. Because gathering for meetings is difficult, priesthood leaders and members watch over and care for each other through the use of Internet technologies such as e-mails, Internet telephone and social networking sites.
"What has happened in Afghanistan is gratifying," Elder Pieper said. "When a member has needs, priesthood leaders have used Internet technologies to inform others so that service and support can be given and prayers activated. The existence of the district in Kabul has bound members together in faith, love and unity."
President Eugene J. Wikle presides over the 700 members of the Kabul Afghanistan Military District.
"Members of the district comment how their lives have been blessed while serving in Afghanistan because the Church was here for them," President Wikle said. "I know the members serving in Iraq will receive those blessings too."
In addition to bringing immediate blessings to the lives of members living in Iraq, the creation of the Baghdad Iraq Military District will also have longer-term effects.
"We are not opening Iraq to the preaching of the gospel; that will come when the Lord is ready," Elder Pieper said. "By virtue of having priesthood keys and faithful members in this land, the light of the gospel is beginning to push back darkness and unbelief. That righteous influence and the example of Church members will bless this land and prepare it for future blessings."
The new district is part of the Middle East/Africa North Area. Church members, or families of Church members, deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan can obtain additional information by contacting Church Military Relations at 800-453-3860, ext. 2286, or via e-mail at pst-military@ldschurch.org.
