Brian Wursten, Petra Jones and Beth King were awarded the Silver Beaver Award at the Las Vegas Area Council Annual Recognition Banquet March. The Silver Beaver Award is the highest national award presented by a local council of individuals for noteworthy service to youth. Brian Wursten is District Member at Large. He has been the camp director of the Virgin River Valley Scout Camp for 5 years and over the merit Badge PowWow for a number of years. Petra Jones is Scoutmaster for Troop 60 and on the Mountain Man Rendezvous Staff. Beth King has been a Den Leader, the Cubmaster for Pack 42 and the District Roundtable chairman.

The stirring setting of the 1000 Flags display at the Mesquite Recreation Center was the gathering place for more than 200 local young people. A program organized by the Young Men and Young Women Youth Council of the Mesquite Nevada Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was presented on November 13, 2014 in the evening. The Virgin Valley High School Marching Band lead the crowd in singing The Star Spangled Banner after hearing the moving story of its composition at Fort McHenry. Two military Veterans, Robb Stepp and Ron Wall spoke of their personal experiences serving the country and lessons that they passed on to the youth about appreciating and respecting their freedoms. Their heartfelt witnesses of the sacrifices made by many to preserve our country was very moving. As the program ended the young people walked the length of the field among the rows and rows of American flags and had the opportunity to reflect on what they had seen and heard. The Exchange Club have done a wonderful job of presenting this visual display of our beloved American flag and providing a place to reflect on what it means to each of us. God Bless America and all the Veterans!

Many of those that gathered October 26, 2014 for the Genealogy Jamboree at the Mesquite Nevada Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were old hands at research. They had come to learn more methods and improve their skills at finding their ancestors and filling out their family trees. Among the 170 attendees were those who wanted to try new areas of research like the class on Descendancy. It opens the way to find cousins you never knew you had. One participant was excited about this aspect of research and couldn't wait to get home to follow up on his ancestral line. A variety of classes helped the students learn things like how to fill in the family trees with photos, store their information via the Cloud, start a blog to find links to other's research, how to use web sites that deal in genealogy, and tips on using census records for Great Britain and Ireland. While being served lunch the attendees were able to visit booths set up around the hall that dealt with resources available locally to aid in their research. The Daughters of the American Revolution shared information dealing with early families of New England. The Virgin Valley Heritage Museum displayed some of their vintage family photos, information of original valley families, and introduced their online catalog of historical materials which can be found at www.mesquitenv.pastperfect-online.com. The Family Search Center showed how to make a family fan chart and offered to help all those interested to come to the center at 100 North Arrowhead Street. The center can be reached by calling 702-346-2342. Researching ones family history has never been so easy. It can be done right from your own home with just a little help and instruction from the knowledgeable researchers at the Family Search Center. This information is free to the public. There is an ever expanding resource of records that are being indexed and made available to use in research. If at one time you felt you could not find members of your family tree it may well have changed because of the millions of records coming out of archives and storage and being made available online. Ushers: Brian Haviland and Barclay Smith

Michael and Jolynn Gubler returned to Mesquite after serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They served a Member and Leader Service Mission in the West Indies for 18 months. Sister and Elder Gubler served in Trinidad, an Island in the Caribbean, for 3 1/2 months and worked in the Mission Office and also assisted the Missionaries and a local Branch (a smaller group of members) in the LDS Church. They also served in Suriname, a small country in South America, for 3 months. Their last area was in St. Lucia, a small Island in the Caribbean. Elder Gubler served as a Branch President of the Vieux Fort Branch in St. Lucia the last five months of their mission. They grew to love the people they worked with in all the areas and were glad to be a representative of the Lord in His great work. The Gublers are members of the Mesquite 1st Ward. Welcome home!

Sister Ehrin Pollock, returned home on August18, 2014 from her mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in the Ohio Columbus Mission for 18 months in the Columbus, Ohio Mission. Ehrin is the daughter of Vernon W. and Bonnie Pollock of Bunkerville. She will be speaking in the Bunkerville 1st Ward on Sunday August 24, 2014, at 9am.

Taylen David Lee, a member of the Troop 488 of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was presented the highest rank in the Boy Scouts, the Eagle Scout Award. Only 2% of Boy Scouts earn their Eagle, so it is indeed a great accomplishment! The Eagle Court of Honor was held on August 19, 2014. Taylen was given the Eagle charge, then presented with his Eagle and invited to join the "Eagle Nest", an elite group. With 21 merit badges required, Taylen went above and beyond earning 28. His favorite merit badge is camping because he loves the outdoors. Taylen attended Boy Scout Camp in Utah this summer as a youth leader. He enjoyed helping the younger Scouts earn merit badges. Taylen joined the scouting program in 2007 and earned his Arrow of Light in 2010, the highest award for a Webelo. To earn his Eagle, Taylen had to complete many steps and appear before the Eagle Board several times for approval. He fulfilled his service hours with projects such as the Scouts for Food drives and giving service as needed to his church and community. Taylen’s Eagle Project was achieved by removing, scrubbing and power washing all the tables and chairs in the Whipple Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After which, the tables and chairs were hand dried and returned back to their place in the building. Taylen Lee is 15 years old and is a sophomore at Virgin Valley High School. He is the son of Dawn and Charlie Lee. Taylen's grandparents are Steve and Dena Hoff and Katie Lee and the late John Lee.

Boy Scout Troops from Virgin Valley went to various summer camps including Bear Lake Aquatics, Thunder Ridge Scout Camp near Brian Head, Maple Dell near Payson, Scofield near Price and Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon. The troops are sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Troop 60 sponsored by the Mesquite Resort Association. Troop 2087 Virgin Valley Spanish Branch of the LDS Church went to Maple Dell along with Troop 2041 of Bunkerville 1st Ward. Edward Ponce, scout leader, from the Spanish Branch Troop 2087 said they had 3 scouts go and Chris Allen, scoutmaster of Troop 2041, said 7 scouts went from his troop. “The scouts completed a total of 37 merit badges,” said Chris Allen. Mr. Ponce said, “We participated in Flag retirement ceremony and every morning and evening a raising and lowering of the American Flag. Some of the merit badges earned were Geology, Soil and Conservation, Environmental Science, Indian lore, Emergency Preparedness, and Rifle.” Troop 2640 of the Mesquite 6th Ward and 2488 of the Mesquite 3rd Ward of the LDS Church with leaders Richard Jensen and Charlie Lee went to Maple Dell. “There were 600 scouts at camp the week we went. A Samoan Troop from Salt Lake City challenged the other scouts to a game of rugby. This drew quite a crowd as the scouts had never seen a rugby game,” Mr. Jensen said. The scouts participated in a triathlon involving canoeing, swimming and races. Bunkerville Ward also went to Maple Dell with 15 scouts. Meb Hollingshead said, “The white water rafting was the most exciting! We got to go down the Provo River in canoes and rafts twice. We also got to go climbing and rappelling.” Scouts earned merit badges in Climbing, Movie Making and Wilderness Survival. Meb said, “I had fun building a shelter and sleeping in it by myself for that merit badge.” Troop 2040 of the Mesquite 1st Ward of the LDS Church with Bevan Reber, scoutmaster, took 3 scouts to Thunder Ridge Camp. Brent Hughes, scoutmaster of Troop 2493of the Mesquite 4th ward and Troop 2082 of the Mesquite 2nd Ward of the LDS Church took a total of 17 scouts to Thunder Ridge also. Ray Toombs, scoutmaster said they completed 19 merit badges. “They played dodge ball, baseball, soccer and slip sticks,” Mr. Toombs said. “Leather Work, Basketry, Wood Carving, Environmental Science and Wilderness Survival were some of the merit badges they completed.” Troop 2060 sponsored by the Mesquite Resort Association with Petra Jones, scoutmaster, took 12 scouts and 3 leaders to Thunder Ridge and completed many merit badges. Troop 2998 sponsored by the Mesquite 7th Ward of the LDS Church with Ryan Toone, scoutmaster took 3 leaders and 9 scouts to Thunder Ridge. Troop 2042 sponsored by the Littlefield Ward of the LDS Church took 5 scouts and 2 leaders to Scofield Camp. Trent Reber, scoutmaster said, “The scouts learned to do search and rescue in the area around the lake. They did lake activities and shooting.” Troop 2596 of the Mesquite 5th Ward of the LDS Church with Duane Thurston, scoutmaster, went to Bear Lake Aquatics Camp. They had 5 scouts and 3 leaders. “The scouts especially enjoyed Sail Boating merit badge. They also earned Water Skiing, Motor Boating, Swimming and Canoeing merit badges,” Mr. Thurston said. Twenty-three Varsity and Venture scouts from Bunkerville 2nd Ward of the LDS Church went to Havasupai Falls for 3 days. Trevon Hollingshead said, “We hiked 10 miles into the canyon. The hardest part was the switch back at the beginning of the trail. The water was a beautiful turquoise. We jumped off the cliff and went swimming. We had to pack our own food into camp. On Wednesday morning at 2:00 a.m. we started our hike out to avoid the heat. It was great fun!”

Braxton Bingham has been called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Bingham will serve in the Utica, New York Mission for 24 months. His parents are Brian and Kristine Bingham of Bunkerville. The farewell talk by Elder Braxton Bingham will be July 20, 2014 at 11:00 am in the Bunkerville 2nd Ward.

Approximately 225 youth and leaders attended the 3 day event held on the Snow College campus in Ephraim, Utah. All arrived at 4:30 am on the morning of June 19 to prepare to board 4 buses to travel the 4+ hours to Ephraim. Upon arrival at Snow College and after unloading luggage at our apartments activities were immediately underway. First was orientation and kickoff. Each youth and leader received a wristband to participate in a variety of activities. Badger Blast games was a 3 hour series of outdoor games and activities such as rock wall climbing, riding tandem bikes, playing dodge ball and human foosball and eating snow cones. That evening we attended the Mormon Miracle Pageant at the Manti Utah Temple Grounds. The kids spent hours saving seats and wandering the streets of Manti. They also encountered protesters. This caused some curiosity and many testimonies were strengthened as they were able to bear their testimonies on what they believe. The morning of our second day was spent in workshop rotations. Topics for the rotations were “Friends”, “Honesty and Integrity”, “Choice and Accountability”, and “The Armor of God: Staying Strong in a Changing World”. Many lessons were learned during each half hour class. In the afternoon the youth attended water games. They played outside running water relays, slipping and sliding, launching water balloons and ending with a giant water fight. Later in the evening the youth attended a fireside where our youth council leaders each spent five minutes sharing their thoughts and testimonies on topics important to them. Topics included building faith, being happy, doing the simple things and choosing the Lord’s side. They also heard from President Jensen. He talked to them about things that are truly important. He also challenged the youth to tithe their time and give at least 2 hours of every day to the Lord. Following the fireside the youth attended a multi-stake dance. Youth from the Sunset Stake in St. George joined with our youth for 2 hours of dancing and fun. There was a lot of involvement and dancing and fun. The morning of our final day in Ephraim was spent in a testimony meeting. Youth took turns sharing what they learned over the 3 day period and how they were strengthened. Many touching testimonies were borne. After testimony meeting we had lunch at the park behind the church before departing for home. It was a fun filled, spirit filled, lots of learning and activities packed into 3 days that will never be forgotten.

The Young Singles Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints received a new Presidency on June 15, 2014. The new President is James DeLaMare with his 1st Counselor, Alan Hepworth and his 2nd Counselor, Danny Decker. Welcome from the Mesquite Nevada Stake! Alan Hepworth, President James DeLaMare, Danny Decker

The Spanish Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints received a new Presidency on June 15, 2014. The new President is David Leavitt, 1st Counselor, Mere Calderon and the 2nd Counselor is Kyle Hughes. Welcome from the Mesquite Nevada Stake!

Seminary Graduation The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints would like to invite the public to join with parents, students and friends for the 2013-2014 Seminary Graduation. 30 students will be receiving their diplomas or other certificates of recognition. The objective of seminary, to help youth understand and rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ, qualify for the blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families, and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven. The Seminary Graduation will be held Sunday, June 1st in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Stake Center, located at 100 North Arrowhead.