Dear Brethren: In preparation for events surrounding the rededication of the St. George Temple, the Church History Department is seeking memorabilia from the first St. George Temple Dedication of April 6, 1877. These items could include photos, ribbons, buttons, tickets, advertisements, journal entries, and anything that may have helped the Saints as they celebrated the dedication of the first temple west of the Mississippi. Ownership of these items will remain with the family. For a short time, the Church History Department would like to make arrangements to borrow such items. Please have those who have such items contact the directors of the St. George Region Communication Council, Steve or Michelle King at (801) 232-3920,kingcreative@mac.com. This is an urgent request, as these items will need to be researched and authenticated before the temple is rededicated. With much gratitude, Mike Elder Michael S Wilstead Area Seventy Utah Area

Virgin Valley History and Discovery Days was held at Heritage Park and at the Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, March 25. There were many activities for families to enjoy, learn about the local history of Virgin Valley and experience pioneer crafts and foods. The program began with a flag ceremony led by Paul LeVan, Commander of Honor Guard, Navy veteran and Francis Rakow, American Legion, Army veteran. Following the prayer Pres. Jared Hollingshead of the Mesquite West Stake of the LDS church, welcomed everyone and said, “There is a sense of community and belonging in this valley. We can learn from the past and with that legacy we can be one heart and one mind.” While showing us the H5 branding iron used by his grandfather and father on their dairy farm he spoke about the legacy they left him. He told about his coach who asked the team to work together and remember the phrase, “We ride for the brand!” Hollingshead compared this phase to those in attendance and asked, “Are you all in? Can you ride for the Virgin Valley brand?” Throughout the event the local fiddlers entertained the crowd with country music: Monte Morganson on guitar and his wife Teresa vocalist and fiddler, Gary Butler on banjo and his wife, Julie on bass. There were various tasting opportunities from breads to homemade root beer, homemade fresh squeezed lemonade, raspberry mint drink or mango lemonade. A long line formed to get a hot buttered scone with jam or peanut butter. Rosa Zarate and her daughter Isela were kept busy making fresh tortillas on a griddle. She explained how to make the dough from torti mas and using her metal press she made perfectly round tortillas. She had a long waiting line for tasting the fresh off the griddle tortillas that were topped with cheese, salsa and sour cream. Pomegranate juice and homemade pomegranate jelly on fresh baked white or whole wheat bread was a popular spot. If your taste buds needed spicy there was pomegranate jalapeno jelly with cream cheese on Ritz. Richard and Denise Jensen explained the history of pomegranates, the many varieties of pomegranates and their nutritional value while passing out samples of the delicious juice they make. Virgin Valley used to have pomegranate orchards and it was a main crop they traded in Utah for produce grown there. Horseback rides were very popular with the kids and teenagers. Kraig Hafen and family brought their horses and leading the horses around the grassy field gave the “city kids” an opportunity for a new experience. The petting zoo with goats, miniature pigs, baby chicks, bunnies of various colors, and chickens of different breeds was an exciting place for the kids. The kids got to hold and actually get in the pen, hold the baby goats and pet the pigs. A huge turnkey that liked to spread his tail feather in a fan was a little intimidating but fun to watch. Other activities for kids included pulling handcarts, pushing a hoop with a stick, and the competition at the corn hole area was animated. Dressed in his western cowboy boots with spurs and his black hat, Clancy Cox heated his branding irons. The kids told him their initials and he burned it into pieces of wood that they could then take with them. Scott Sessions had a rubber band shooting area for the kids where they could shoot extra-large rubber bands at balloons. He said it was to somewhat replicate what boys did in a by-gone era - old tire tubes were cut into narrow bands and shot at targets in the desert. When the boys would hit a floating balloon, it was, “WOW, look at that!” they couldn’t seem to get enough target practice. Girls enjoyed making rag dolls and hand-carts to put their dolls in. The spinning buttons on a sting were fascinating and then the kids could take their wooden spinning toy with them. Many kids and grown-ups tried their skill at roping a “steer” including Keith Reber who lassoed the “steer” and said I didn’t think I could do that anymore after all these years not being on the farm!” The cow milking area was popular and the small children got a miniature cow while Kyle Reber related the history of the co-op dairy barn and the seven dairies in the valley that supplied milk to Las Vegas and in the winter to the Salt Lake area. The history of the Virgin Valley culinary water system was presented by Aaron Bunker, hydrologist at the water company, with a power point and pictures of the various springs on Bunkerville mountain. He talked about the current nine water wells the water district has now and will soon have eleven. Many unusual quilts from hexagon, appliqued, wedding ring, sunbonnet, fan, and Jacob’s ladder patterns were on display. Nova Mastrogiovanni told about her grandmother’s quilt made of small hexagons – “When we slept over at her house we always wrapped up in that quilt. She would tell us stories about each of the pieces and whose shirt or dress that fabric was from.” A French Star quilt made by Margaret Hardy, lifelong resident of Virgin Valley, was on display. The history of the Relief Society house was displayed and Geraldine Zarate dressed in pioneer outfit told of the restoration that is underway. She had pictures of the house before it was moved and of its ongoing refurbishing work. The next work day will be Saturday, April 15 and she invited anyone interested to come and help. A slide show was continuously shown of the picket line for the porno store from 1993-1996 when it was closed by order of the court. The original clip board and picket signs, letters from Utah’s governor Leavitt and many large pictures were displayed on the wall. Dena Hoff, HOME committee chairman, was on hand to answer questions about the longest running non-union picket line. Scrumptious Dutch oven and country food was served at lunch to large crowd. Pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, corn on the cob and Dutch oven potatoes with cheese were served along with Dutch oven cobbler and ice cream for dessert. Many families enjoyed sitting on the lawn for a picnic in the sunny warm afternoon. Derek Hafen entertained those present with cowboy poetry and had everyone laughing at his tale of “If you must take a drink in the stream, never remount your horse and ride up stream!” He had audience participation with his poem of the old prospector and the mule - at the end of every line the crowd joined in “just because he wanted too!” Pres. David Anderson expressed his gratitude to all those that spent time sharing and teaching about the history of this valley. He said, “The bell that is here in the park used to hang in the belfry of the old church that was on the boulevard. The serial # on it shows that it was cast during WWII and made from steel as brass was too valuable. It used ring every year on Christmas morning. There is a lot of love and kindness show by the people in this valley.” Continue to care for help one another. As you prepare for conference, drink at the head waters. Focus on the Savior Jesus Christ and trust in Him.” was his request. Thank you to Kraig and Aron Hafen and Larry and Jennifer Reber and their committee for organizing and making it a day of learning and renewing of friendships. Many thanks to John and Jennifer Woods for the Dutch oven potatoes and cobbler and Danny and LaVon Allen for the rest of the menu.

Brother and Sisters, Just a quick reminder that this Saturday is the Virgin Valley History and Discovery Days from 10:00am to 2:00pm. A lot of planning and hard work has been put forth in making this happen. There will be historical displays, family history booths, tutoring and activities for all ages. You will not want to miss lunch! Come on out and lets spend a few hours together in learning and remember what make our Virgin Valley so special. President Hollingshead

Project day at the historic Relief Society House on Yucca Street was held Saturday, March 18. The house was built in 1928-29. Funds to build the house were raised by the ladies of the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They grew cotton, took it to the mill in St. George and trading it for fabric, they made quilts to sell in Las Vegas. This Saturday the ladies and girls were busily removing the handles on the drawers, scarping and removing paint. The men were moving the wheelbarrows of old linoleum and repairing the floor near the old fireplace. The historical society is grateful to those that came to help with the project. “The spacious room is very unusual for a room in the early pioneer days, “said Wes. Carter. “It was dedicated in April and our plans are to rededicate it next April when restoration will be complete and landscaping added. We have a lot of old sewing machines and want to display them in the great room and have a quilt on frames for people to experience the art of quilting by hand. It is hoped that this can be a meeting room for many occasions.” The pine flooring is tongue and grove and will be sanded and refinished. The walls are gypsum board with plaster and the ceiling has covered edges where it meets the walls. The two large arches were engineered with triple trusses in the attic and were probably constructed by Von Toble Lumber in Las Vegas. The walls have a stencil trim around the top and will be duplicated when the walls get new paint. The baptismal font which was in the back room under the floor will also be restored to the same measurements. “There was not a crack in the old cement, but we couldn’t move it,” stated Carter. The first room built was the kitchen with lathe walls covered in stucco with linoleum flooring. The floor will be replaced with new plywood and then covered in linoleum. There was a sink but no running water in the kitchen. The cupboards will be sanded, repainted and replaced in the kitchen. The cupboards were built by Walter Hughes who did a lot of carpentry for homes in that era. A Pioneer Dutch Oven Dinner fundraiser is planned for Friday April 14, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Heritage Park, 121 Whipple Way. Uncle Wes’ chicken, chuck wagon Potatoes, garden salad, harvest rolls and apple brown Betty is the scrumptious menu that is planned. April 15 is the next work day and the community is invited to come and help – all tools and supplies are provided. John and Connor Zarate Heather Clements, Geraldine Zarate with her grand daughter Brooke Zarate Geraldine Zarate, Vicki Waite and Brooke Zarate Working on the kitchen Brook Zarate and Vicki Waite

Sister Jamie Jones Sisters Jamie and Staci Jones have been serving as Senior Missionaries (they like to think of it as Education Virtual Missionaries) for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They served for two years as companions from home as BYU Pathway missionaries helping teach students online in the southern countries of Africa. Sister Jamie also served as an institute teacher. Sister Staci reported their mission on Sunday, Feb 26th, 2023 in the Old Mill Ward in Mesquite NV East Stake. Since Sister Jamie recently spoke in their ward. Their mission has been such a blessing in their lives as well as the people they served. Sister Jamie Jones Sister Jamie Jones Testimony: I have a testimony that the Lord is hastening His work in these latter days. Pathway is an inspired program that is helping to gather Isreal across the globe in many ways we have never even thought about. The Lord knows each of us individually. He has a plan that allows us to grow and develop. His end goal is the same as ours, that we live like Him and with Him. I love the simplicity of the gospel! I know Jesus Christ lives, that He is my Savior, and if I repent and keep my covenants, families can be together forever. That's what's important! I am grateful to know the truth of these and so many more things. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Sister Staci Jones Sister Staci Jones Testimony: I want to share my testimony that I know the church is true. As a missionary I have learned the importance of putting my faith and trust in our Savior Jesus Christ. I am thankful for the people I have met, those I taught, and those I served with. BYU Pathway is such an inspired program that shares and spreads the gospel throughout the world. I am thankful for my Savior and the love that he has for all of his children. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen

Saturday March 18, at 8:00 am is the service and work day for the Relief Society House located on Yucca St. The old paint will be stripped off and new paint put on. All the tools and paint will be provided, wear appropriate clothing. Everyone is invited to help.

Mesquite East Stake's Patriarch, Dennis Taylor and Scribe Mary Lee Taylor.