Elder Chance Thornton has been called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Chance will serve in the Morristown New Jersey Mission for 24 months. He will start his mission in the Home Missionary Training Center on October 9, 2023. Ryan and Nichole Thornton of the Heritage Ward in the West Stake are Chance's parents. Elder Chance Thornton will be speaking in the Stake Center, located 100 N. Arrowhead Ln. in Mesquite on Sunday, October 15th at 10:30 am.

Elder Benson Leavitt will serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He'll serve for 24 months in the Charlotte North Carolina Mission. Benson's mission will start with the Home Missionary Training Center on October 23, 2023. He will enter the Missionary Training Center November 1st and leave for Charlotte NC on November 16th. Ben and Sarah Leavitt of the Bunkerville 2nd Ward, West Stake, are Benson's parents. Elder Benson Leavitt will be speaking on October 22 at 10:30 in the Bunkerville Chapel. Elder Leavitt Testimony: I bear my testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Savior, and Redeemer. Through His infinite Atonement, He has made it possible for us to find hope, healing, and forgiveness. I know that repentance is what we need to do to get back to our Heavenly Father. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Virgin River Coalition “Take me to the River” speaker series starts this Wednesday, October 11th 6-7PM. This will take place at City Hall (10 E Mesquite Blvd, Mesquite, NV 89027) “What the River sees ,Navigating the Night Sky With Binoculars" with Jim Stanger. Jim is the Community & Development Manager for Friends of Nevada Wilderness. A former IT professional, after a few years volunteering on conservation projects throughout Clark County, he pivoted into conservation nonprofit work full-time. Jim lived in Las Vegas for 20 years with the last 8 of those working with groups such as Friends of Sloan Canyon and Southern Nevada Conservancy, including helping to create what is now Friends of Avi Kwa Ame. In 2023 Jim moved to Reno to work for Friends of Nevada Wilderness. He enjoys road trips, camping, photography, and exploring the universe. Pre registration not required for “in person”Hope to see you there. Any questions, Please reach out:) Thanks to Friends of Gold Butte, we are able to offer Video attendance for all of the October dates below. If you are unable to attend in person. You will need to pre register at Friends of Gold Butte via this link- http://Meetup.com/friends-of-gold-butte The Following Speaker Series will continue throughout October. Mark your calendars! Wednesday- October 11, 2023 6-7PM @ Mesquite City Hall- “What the River sees at Night’ - Jim Stanger(Friends of Nevada Wilderness) Wednesday-October 18,2023 6-7PM -@The Virgin Valley Museum Pavilion(outside) FAMILY NIGHT- S’more History- History of the Valley forming because of the river & S’mores- Presented by John Zarate & Geraldine Zarate (3rd Generation Family of Mesquite) Virgin Valley Water District will be there with an interactive display for kids. Wednesday-October 25, 2023 6-7PM@ City Hall- “Beware of what Slithers”- Snakes All ages are welcome. Open to Youth Group activities/Clubs/Schools assignments/Groups Reminder- Zoom is being offered to those that are unable to physically attend- so if there is extra noise , please be respectful of this and there is a hallway if a break is needed.

Elder Brock Hughes, will be returning home from serving  a 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Elder Hughes has served in the North Dakota, Bismark Mission from October 2021-October 2023. Areas he served in include:" Northern Nebraska, Western Minnesota, Eastern Montana, and Southern South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Sioux Reservation. Elder Hughes is the son of Jeff and Jodi Hughes and will be reporting his mission on Sunday, October 15th at 10:30 am in the Bunkerville 2nd Ward. Welcome Home Elder Hughes!

Mesquite Nevada West Stake Good Morning! My sisters and brothers, we would appreciate your willingness to serve at the temple open house tomorrow.  We understand the sacrifice it will be but know there are promised blessings that come with the sacrifice! We are 148 people short for tomorrow. (That leaves us needing 457 more through November.) Please sign up. And after you do, please take a minute and think of someone you can invite to go with you. It can be a friend, a neighbor, or a family member.  They do NOT have to be in our stake. Shoe coverings can be done by 11 years old and up.  Temple ushers need to be 16 years old and up.  It is a great reason to miss school! Parking and Grounds ushers should be 18 years and older.Let us go up to the House of the Lord and serve!President Hollingshead https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4caea62fa3f8cf8-mesquite1#/ President Jared M. Hollingshead

We are in desperate need for more volunteers tomorrow, Oct 3 and Friday Oct 6, to help with the St George Temple Open House. If you can help us we'd sure appreciate it!!! You can sign up by clicking this link https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.signupgenius.com%2Fgo%2F10C0C4CAEA62FA3F8CF8-mesquite&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ca8ed3416a02b45007a7b08dbc38f9894%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638318793743272678%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=1nvkMKjOzuMQBNHgZcw0D9kKo6RwvbtzvZi17Z3W69Y%3D&reserved=0 (https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.signupgenius.com%2Fgo%2F10C0C4CAEA62FA3F8CF8-mesquite&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ca8ed3416a02b45007a7b08dbc38f9894%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638318793743428915%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=CuxJauxiFhoNuawsJlLSehj8%2B0Sfij3n9vHOeDyQ8jw%3D&reserved=0)

Sunday, September 24, 2023, Kent T. Hardy peacefully returned home to his Heavenly Father at the hospital in St. George, Utah. His family gathered around sharing the lessons they learned from him and their love for him. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mark Hardy and Deliliah Tobler Hardy. His siblings, Roland Hardy, Carol Reber, and Dean Hardy. He is survived by his wife of 69 Years, Dawn Marie Huffman Hardy and his children, Alisia Mast, Laura Macdonald, Donald Hardy, Lyla Spendlove, Val Dean Hardy and Nathan Hardy along with 20 Grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandchild. Kent was born and raised in Mesquite, Nevada. It was here that he met and married his sweetheart on November 20, 1954. He owned and operated his own trucking company in Mesquite. He loved driving his trucks and was very particular about them. He made many friends along the way, all of which he cherished like family. The family called him the “Highway Angel,” because he was the answer to many prayers, rescuing many people in need as he traveled along interstate 15. He was always willing to help others and as several cousins have related he was like a father to them and influenced many of their lives. He always thought the best of others and taught his children, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” In 1979 the family moved to Las Vegas where Kent continued to drive truck until the age of 70. While in Las Vegas he served two Stake missions in the 29th Ward for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Later the friends he made there would meet monthly and enjoy dinner together.Then, In 2004, he and his sweetheart relocated to Winchester Hills, in St. George, where they were welcomed with open arms. In 2011 they served a mission to Cove Fort where they shared their love of the church and its history. Over the next ten years he enjoyed going to their cabin on Cedar Mountain with his family. He loved his family and loved being in the mountains with them. His family loves him and will miss his presence in their lives. The Viewing will be in the Bunkerville Chapel, Saturday, October 7th at 9:00 - 10:45, followed by the funeral at 11:00.

Good Morning, Bishops and Young Women Presidents, This is Kellee Horlacher. My husband Glen and I have been called to work with the members of our stake as the Stake Education Specialists. Our role is to help those who are interested in furthering their education and find a way to reach their goals. We hope you already plan to attend this devotional on October 11. We wanted to let you know more about it and give you something you can share with your young men and women and their parents. Since our calling deals with education, we would love to help any of your youth find options and opportunities for higher education. We will be attending the broadcast and would be happy to answer questions or you can direct anyone to us for further information. Thanks. Kellee Horlacher 702-300-9950 kelleehorlacher@gmail.com Glen Horlacher 702-300-9948 glenhorlacher@gmail.com

Thomas “Tom” Raymond McCullough passed away on Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, at his home in Mesquite, Nev. Tom was born on Aug. 7, 1944 in St. Paul, Neb., to Albert Raymond McCullough and Lillian Sorenson McCullough. He married Catherine Louise Bingham March 24, 1977, in Green River. Tom lived with his family in Nebraska until the family moved to Laramie in 1948. He attended elementary school, junior high and Laramie High School until his graduation in 1963. At Laramie High School, he served as class vice president and played on the Plainsmen football team, who were the undefeated state champions three years in a row (1960-62). After graduation he attended the University of Wyoming. He was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and served in the Army National Guard from 1965 to 1970. Upon graduating from the University of Wyoming with a degree in education, he moved to Green River, and began his teaching career at Green River High School. During his 29-year tenure there, he served as the head of the social studies department and was a football coach for several years, including for the 1976 state championship team. In 1977, he married Cathy Bingham, with whom he had two children. After his retirement from teaching, he was elected to the Green River City Council and served for 10 years. He was also active in the Eagles Club and Rolling Green Golf Course. In 2015, Tom and Cathy moved to Mesquite, Nev., where he became a member of the Elks Club. Tom loved sports and the outdoors — football, golf, fishing, and hunting — and improving the communities he lived in, whether through teaching, government, or membership in service clubs. Outgoing and personable, he was beloved by his students, neighbors, friends and family, and was proud of his ability to make conversation with anyone. Tom is survived by his wife, Cathy; his children, Todd and wife Sarah and Lyndsay and husband Rob; grandchildren Abigail, Nixon, Lilly, Gracie, and Ethan; and nieces Tamra and Debbie and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Virgil. A memorial service will take place Sept. 29, at 11 a.m. at Whipple Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Mesquite, Nev. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests making a donation to your local school, athletic, or community organizations, in the spirit of Tom’s service in those fields. To view a live stream of the memorial service, go to https://www.mesquitenevadastakes.org/mes-meetings and select VISTAS WARD.

Donald Gene "John" Christensen, loving father, grandfather, husband, brother, and friend, passed away unexpectedly on September 15, 2023. "John" was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on April 16, 1940 to Robert Emeron Christensen and Lily Johnson Christensen. John lived a full life and often said he had no regrets. He loved his family and was so proud of all of them. He bragged about them to anyone and everyone. John was very active in service to anyone who was in need. He cared deeply for the "underdog" and would give you the shirt off his back. John married Beverlee Bell on September 14, 1962 (later divorced). John married Carolyn Smith Gardner in1990 and they enjoyed 33 years together until they divorced in 2018. John married Candie Suzanne Williams May 28, 2022 and they were together until his death. John loved his country and was extremely proud to be an American. He served in the United States Air Force and was a strong supporter of all Veterans. He was appointed to the Presidential Advisory Committee for Veterans by President George Bush and was very proud and honored to be on this committee. John also served as a Murray City Councilman in District 3, NFIB, VFW, American Legion, Murray Chamber of Commerce, Scenic Betterment Committee, and anywhere else he could serve his community. John was a member of the LDS church and was happy to serve the people in his community of the Scenic Ward Littlefield Chapel, AZ where he made many friends. Their love and support at this time has been greatly appreciated. John worked for Chrysler Corporation and various automobile dealerships as service manager for many years before starting his own company: VJ Sump & Trap Cleaning. John's lifelong dream was to live in Alaska. He built a house in Seward, bought a fishing boat, and invited anyone and everyone to come fishing and experience the beauty of Alaska. He was in charge of the Veterans Cemetery in Seward and dedicated himself to making sure that all Veterans had a beautiful resting place. After 10 years of living in the cold weather, he sold everything and moved to Scenic, Arizona (near Mesquite, Nevada) and became in his words, "a desert rat" He lived there until the time of his death. John is survived by wife Candie Christensen and her family, daughter Cris Baker and his favorite son-in-law Scott Baker of Murray, Utah, his son Spencer Christensen and wife Chris of Sandy, Utah. Grandchildren: Tori Webster, Austin and Mason Baker, Sadie Christensen, Abby and Ryan Gardner. Great granddaughters Alexis and Kayleigh Christensen. Brothers, Carl Christensen of Taylorsville, Utah and Michael Christensen (Janet) of West Jordan, Utah. Sisters Fern Jewkes of South Jordan, Utah and Milissa Christensen of Murray, Utah. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Robert Christensen, sister Yvonne Williams, brother-in- law Kenneth Jewkes, sister-in-law Launa Christensen and granddaughter Cassie Marie Christensen. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 23, 2023 at the Murray South Stake Center 5735 South Fashion Blvd at 12:00 noon. A viewing will be held one hour prior to services at 11:00 am. Interment will be at the Elysian Gardens Cemetery 1075 E 4580 South.