Sister Julie Ramirez returned from her mission on December 17th, from the Chicago, IL Spanish Speaking Mission. She subsequently provided her mission report in the Littlefield, AZ Ward Sacrament Meeting on December 28, 2014. Miguel & Julia Ramirez are Julie's parents. Welcome home.

Elder Andrew Allen has been called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He will serve for 24 months in the Anchorage Alaska Mission. Elder Allen will be speaking at the Bunkerville Chapel in the Bunkerville 1st Ward on December 28, 2014 at 9 am. He will enter the MTC on January 7th. Sara and Chris Allen are the parents of Elder Andrew Allen.

The Paongo sisters have returned after each served an 18 month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sister Gabriella Cynani Paongo served in the Illinois, Chicago Mission. Sister Francis Ganae Fiona Paongo served in the Dallas Texas Mission. They are the daughters of Lavinia Paongo and the late Fe'ofaaki Paongo. The Sister Paongos will speak on December 21, 2014 in two wards. First at 9 am in the Bunkerville 1st Ward, in the Bunkerville Chapel and at 11am Mesquite 2rd Ward at 11am in the Whipple Chapel in Mesquite. Malo E Ngaue!

Elder Ryan Garlick returned from serving his two year mission to Baltimore, Maryland Mission, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on December 4, 2014. He subsequently reported his mission in the Littlefield Ward Sacrament Meeting on December 14, 2014. Ryan left this area January 2nd to attend BYU Idaho". Ryan’s parents are DeWayne & Susan Garlick.

Seven Webelos from Pack 8 received their arrow of light at a ceremony held on Thursday, December 18. 2014 The Webelos who advanced to boy scouts are: Kobe Romero, Allen Villanueva, Braden Vincent, Estaban Gasca, Ethan Richards, A.J. Mendez and Martin Cordero. Akela, dressed in his full Indian head dress presented each scout with an arrow with a white feather tipped in black to remind them of what they have accomplished and what they can go on to accomplish in scouting. Akela was represented by Kelton Chamberlain, a veteran scouter. Each boy was presented with a framed certificate and patch to wear on their scout shirt by their leader, Jennifer Tichenor and master of ceremonies, Dave West. The Webelos crossed the bridge made of 12 planks represented the 12 points of the scout law and they were welcomed into Troop 60 by boy scouts in that troop. At the pack meeting the Tiger Cubs put on a skit in which Santa told them that he had been a cub scout too. The first year Webelos played Christmas music on their chimes. Many of the scouts there earned their Cyber Chip patch which signifies that they know how to safely use the internet and have good manners when using the internet and cell phones. The scouts were also able to play and exciting game of Ga Ga ball in an inflatable ring thanks to Ryan Moon, Field Service director from the Las Vegas Area Council BSA.

Scout Leaders from the Virgin River Valley District of the BSA were honored at Round Table Meeting on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014 for their service to the scouts in our district. The awards were presented by Joe Schaffer of the Las Vegas Area Council BSA. Jennifer Tichenor received the Distinguished Commissioner Award for 5 years as a commissioner in the district and a member of the Key Three for the Virgin River Valley District BSA. Brent Hughes, activities chairman, received the District Commissioner Key and the Commissioner Award of Merit. Brent has been a scoutmaster in Troop for 18 years, serving for a total of 30 years in the scouting program. Keith Belnap received the Commission’s Key and the Arrowhead Honor certificate and badge for his work with re-chartering the units in our district. He has served in scouting for 65 years. Jill Empy, Susan Frehner, Roger Gessell received the Commissioner’s Arrowhead Key Award for training, service and visits to their units. Kyle Memmott and Art Shaner received Unit Commissioner Arrowhead Honor Award for serving on the Eagle Board of Review. There are 11 scout units sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Troop 60 and Pack 8 sponsored by the Elks Lodge of Mesquite.

The Reber twins returned to Mesquite after serving their missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kristofor McKay Reber served in the Denver Colorado South Mission. Kyle Lee Reber served in the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission. They are the sons of Larry and Jennifer Reber. Elder Kristofer Reber and Elder Kyle Reber will be speaking in the Mesquite 6th Ward on November 30, 2014, at 1:00 PM in the Whipple Chapel in Mesquite.

Elder Jacob Mikkelsen has been called to serve a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His area of service is Cancun Mexico. He will give his departing remarks at the Bunkerville 2nd Ward at 11:00 AM on Sunday November 30, 2014. On December 10, 2014, Elder Mikkelsen will depart and travel to Mexico City for six weeks of language training. He will then report to the Cancun Mexico Mission. Jacob is the youngest son of Ned and Janet Mikkelsen. Jacob is an Eagle Scout, a 2014 graduate of Virgin Valley High School and has been accepted to attend Utah State University when he returns home. Ned and Janet Mikkelsen have been called to serve in the Kyiv Ukraine Mission. They will depart for the Provo Mission Training Center on February 9, 2015, and will report two weeks later to the Kyiv, Ukraine Mission. They will be serving as a Member Leadership Support couple. They will be joining their Son, Jacob on November 30, 2014, to give their departing remarks at 11:00 AM in the Bunkerville Chapel.

Elder Matt Adamson returned from serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on November 4th. He served in the Oregon Portland Mission. Matt plans to stay home, work through the holidays and in January, attend Dixie State University. On Sunday, November 30th at 10am, Elder Adamson will be speaking at the LDS Stake Center, 100 N. Arrowhead Ln. in the Mesquite 1st Ward.

The aspects of being prepared to take care of our families during emergencies were addressed last week by Doug Adams, a preparedness specialist from Utah. The program was organized by Victoria Hafen, President of the Mesquite 5th Ward Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "We had this program planned before the recent floods and power outage so when that happened and many people had emergencies we realized it really was timely. That event was short lived but it showed us that we really could have a situation where our families would need to be prepared." Among the subjects covered in the presentation were cooking without electricity, family health, emergency food supplies, water purification, and meals using food storage items. Among the more than 70 people attending were leaders from other Relief Society groups in the valley who are taking the things they learned back to their home wards. Victoria concluded "Mr. Adams was so generous with his time and information. We learned so much and were inspired to start immediately to prepare for those emergencies that we know will come."

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!