David Allen Leavitt, 61, passed away at home surrounded by family on Saturday, August 10, 2024. He was born June 13, 1963 in Denver, CO. He was adopted and raised by Lorin “Dutch” & Ethel Leavitt in Bunkerville, NV. He married his sweetheart, Nancy Pearson, on July 16, 1985 in the Jordan River Temple in South Jordan, UT. David was raised in Bunkerville, NV. He was the youngest of 7 children. He always said how lucky he was to end up in Bunkerville. He graduated from Virgin Valley High School. After high school, he went on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to New York, New York Spanish speaking, the greatest city in the world. After his mission he went to Dixie College and the University of Utah where he got his degree in Political Science and minor in Spanish and later got his teaching certificate at SUU. He taught for 32 years at Virgin Valley High School, Beaver Dam High School & KO Knudson High School. David organized school trips and traveled with students locally and worldwide. David was a teacher by profession and a lifelong student by passion. He loved to learn new instruments and had many hobbies such as Coleman lanterns, pioneering, Dutch Oven cooking, making noodles and vinegar, tuning pianos, and many others. He loved being with family, camping in Pine Valley, going fishing, playing music, going to jazz and bluegrass festivals and taking day trips to explore with Nancy. He was recently able to connect with his birth family and enjoyed a sweet relationship with them. He was an amazing educator teaching in school, church callings, or just with friends and family. David had a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He lived a life of service, faithfully serving in many callings for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including Spanish Branch President, a member of the Bishopric, Sunday School teacher, Primary Chorister and many years in Scouting and Young Men’s. He is survived by his wife, Nancy of Bunkerville, NV, his children Thomas (Jessica) Leavitt of San Tan Valley, AZ, Sara (Jade) Griffith of St. George, UT, Michael (Sierra) Leavitt of West Jordan, UT, Gregory (Katelyn) Leavitt of St. George, UT, and Emily (Logan) Ballard of Rexburg, ID. His grandchildren: Reagan, Rylie, Claire, Loryn, Carter, and Taylor Leavitt, Emmett and Ellenore Griffith, Elias, Olivia, and Evelyn Leavitt, and Tucker Leavitt. His siblings Cecil (Carol) Leavitt, Judy (Erik) Laub, Dannie (Sharon) Leavitt, and Myrna (Steve) Miller all of Bunkerville, NV. Preceded in death by his mom and dad, Ethel and Lorin “Dutch” Leavitt, sisters Gloria Gregerson and Sheila Anderson. Viewings and funeral services will be held at the Mesquite Stake Center at 100 N Arrowhead Lane. Viewings will be Wednesday, August 14th from 5:00-7:00 PM and Thursday, August 15th from 2:00-3:00 PM. Funeral service will be Thursday, August 15th at 3:30 PM. Burial will be at the Bunkerville Cemetery at 5:00 PM. We invite family and friends to leave condolences or memories at www.starmortuary.com . To order memorial trees  or send flowers to the family in memory of David Allen Leavitt, please visit our flower store .

Sister Danzel Park has accepted the call from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She will serve in the Arequipa, Peru Mission, speaking Spanish. Danzel will start Home MTC on August 19th and enters the Provo Missionary Training Center on August 28, 2024. Brandon and Camrin Park of the Vista Ward, East Stake are her parents.   Sister Danzel Park's farewell talk will be August 18th , 12 pm in the Whipple Building. The chapel is located in Mesquite at 121 Whipple Way. Sister Park's Testimony: I know that my Savior lives and loves each and every one of us, He died so we could live with him again. I know that the Holy Ghost is a messenger from God and is here to guide and comfort us. I know the Book of Mormon is true. It brings peace and knowledge to my mind. Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God to restore this church and translate the Book of Mormon and President Nelson is our living prophet today called to lead us in these latter days. I know families can be together forever through covenants made in the temple, and that temple is Gods house here on earth. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Sister Jasmine Bundy will serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ. She will serve in the Knoxville Tennessee Mission, speaking English, Jasmine will start her Home MTC on August 26, then onto the Provo Missionary Training  Center. Ryan and Angie of the Mesquite 6th Ward, West Stake are her parents. Sister Jasmine Bundy will speak on August 18th at 9 am in the Mesquite Stake Center. It is located at 100 N. Arrowhead Ln.

Sister Jerusha Bundy is home after serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in the Vancouver Canada Mission, speaking English.. Jerusha returned to Mesquite July 31. Angie and Ryan Bundy of Mesquite 6th Ward, West Stake are her parents. Sister Jerusha Bundy will report her mission on August 18th, 9 am in the Stake Center. It is located at 100 N. Arrowhead. Welcome home!

Elder Chandon Jensen will serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He will be serving in the Texas Dallas South Mission, starting in his Home Missionary Training Center on August 12th. Chad and Shaelynn Jensen of the Bunkerville First Ward, West Stake, are his parents.. Elder Chandon Jensen will give his talk on August 11th, 10:30 in the Bunkerville Chapel.

“Pioneers and Patriots” was the theme of the Pioneer Day celebration and ice cream social for the West Stake on July 24 held at the stake center.  The primary children sang about handcarts and pioneers and the audience joined in singing “Come, Come Ye Saints, America the Beautiful and The Star-Spangled Banner.   Laren Abbott told stories about his family who crossed the plains in the George A. Smith Company walking for four months and settling in Ogden. In 1879 Myron, their son, came to Bunkerville to settle.  Wiliam E. Abbott, his son, and his wife Mary Jane Leavitt, came to Mesquite to build a home, the “Abbott hotel” which welcomed church visitors and friends. They served the community and church raising a family of 13 children.  He was bishop form 1901-1927. He also surveyed the road from Mesquite to Las Vegas and the road that is now Mesquite Blvd.   Erastus Snow came to a conference and prophesied that someday there would be a road 100 feet wide and 1 ½ miles long going west through the valley. The next morning following the conference, William Abbott and James Hughes started hacking out a road going west.  It took the men and boys of the town a grueling 3 years to build it because the dense impassible underbrush was so “thick a bird couldn’t fly through the thicket.” He did not want the words of an apostle to not be fulfilled.  There were 13 original families who came to Mesquite.    William E. and Mary Jane have their statues are in front of city hall and they represent the countless men and women who worked to establish this area and build this community.  “Charity never failed - was more than their motto, it was what they lived by.  Mesquite thrived because good women performed good works. This is an expression of their faith written with indelible ink.” When you read these words on the plaque on the statue’s base put yourself in place of their names and use their example to continue to build our community.  They came! They conquered the river! They created a home for all of us!  Bro. Abbott said, “I invite all of you to come to family search center when it reopens on August 12 and search for your family stories, that you might share those events with your children and grandchildren.”   Pres. Jared Hollingshead spoke about patriots and told of Pres. Ezra Taft Benson’s passion for the constitution and the founding of America so the gospel might be restored.  He quoted D& C 101:80 These were wise men, not ordinary men but” men raised up for this very purpose and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.” They were held in reserve for this time when they were needed. Pres. Hollingshead related the story of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution waiting on Wilford Woodruff in the St. George Temple for 2 days and 2 nights until their temple work was completed. He said, “Pres. Kevin Peason, area president, has asked that we read the constitution and study it as families.  Study it as you would the scriptures. “    Pres. Hollingshead said, “My great grandmother was in the Willy handcart company and left our family a legacy of faith.  Each of you has a legacy of family in the stories of your ancestors.  Take that legacy and the torch of faith and run with it!” By Cheryl Jensen

Pioneers/Patriots Activity July 24th The West Stake is celebrating the 24th of July Celebration! It will consist of a ice cream social starting at 6:00. There will be special musical numbers and pioneer/patriotic messages from stake members. Families welcomed!

Elder Cameron Daniel Wright will be serving a mission for the  Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His mission will be, McAllen Texas (Spanish Speaking).  June 17, 2024 Cameron will begin his home MTC and then he'll attend the Mexico Missionary Training Center. Dan & Mindi Wright of the Valley View Ward, East Stake, are his parents. Elder Cameron Wright will be speaking June 9, 2024, 12 pm NV time at  the Littlefield Chapel. The chapel is located at 3260 E. Old Hwy. 91 Elder Wright Testimony: I'd like to bear my testimony that I know this Church is true and Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and translated The Book of Mormon through the power of God. I know that because of the plan and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can live with God and Jesus again and be perfected through the Atonement. I know that if we will strive to become like God and Jesus everyday we will be blessed and be rewarded for our efforts. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen