All seniors in high school or 18-30yrs please come and enjoy!!!! President Brian Bingham

Sister Alyson Hughes, of the Scenic Ward, is serving as a Family Search Missionary For the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She serves from home 16 hours per week. Most of her work is on the phone answering questions about Indexing or Registration/Login to Family Search accounts.

Sister Veva Snyder of the Bloomington Hills 8th ward and Sister Rita Cox of the Old Mill Ward (formally 4th ward) were called to serve in the Los Angeles California Mission. They entered the Missionary Training Center on March 6th, 2023 and spent the first week of study in, “Preach My Gospel”. There were also classes on Safety, Using Technology with Face-Book and Family History. Other classes were, Ways to support church leaders, Welfare and Self-Reliance, Leading Virtual Groups and any and every source available (government) to use to help others in need. Assignments include teaching others. One of the non-member that the sisters were to teach was a young man from Florida who wanted to know how and if the Book of Mormon preached of Jesus Christ. Another member of the MLS group was assigned to visit with a young girl who was dating a member and wanted to know what things she should know about him. The second week was devoted to learning and understanding the new direction of the MLS missionaries. Which is, to be like a “Contractor” they are to come with a box of tools and use them to help their area in any way that is needed. On March 20th Sister Snyder and Sister Cox reported to the LA Mission Home and were assigned the “Hollywood Ward” as well as overseeing and distributing the missionaries supplies to the missionaries. They live across the street from the LA Temple, Family History Building and the Mission Home and invite anyone coming that way to let them know. They’d love to see friends and family from home. Sister Snyder and Cox say that their little ward is struggling and losing members. Their ward is often called a branch but they say it really is just a twig despite having 750 members on the roll. The Hollywood Ward is struggling with, activating members back to the church, finding a piano player, finding people to take on callings (some members have at least 3 jobs), Igniting temple work and Family History work. They are looking for ways to strengthen this ward and the members in this area.

Mesquite Nevada West Stake Dear Sisters, We are looking forward to our Stake Women’s Conference at the Stake Center and hope you will be able to join us. Yummy breakfast boxes will be available at 9 am. It will be a great time to catch up with sisters in both stakes. All young women from the age of 14 and up are invited to attend. The Conference will begin at 10 am in the Chapel. Please feel free to invite friends to attend with you. We have attached information about our guest speaker, Debbie McEwen, who will speak on our theme: Harmony is Being Different, Together Love, Kathy, Kathryn, Valorie, and Chelsie West Mesquite Stake RS Presidency

Elder Joseph Kazek has been called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has been called to the Hermosillo Mexico mission for 24 months. Joseph starts Home Missionary Training on Monday, April 24th. He leaves for the MTC in Mexico on Tuesday, May 9th. Mike and Amy Kazek of the Heritage Ward are his parents. Elder Joseph Kazek will be speaking  on April 30, 2023 at 10:30 at the Mesquite Stake Center. Elder Kazek Testimony: I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior.  He came to Earth to be our example.  It is through Him that all things are possible.  We have the Gospel to teach us how to live, so that we may return to live with our Heavenly Father.   I know that Russell M. Nelson is a Prophet.  The Book of Mormon is the word of God and by studying it, we can learn more about Jesus Christ. I know that we are blessed when we follow Jesus Christ.  I am grateful for my family and all they do for me.  I look forward to serving the people of Mexico and sharing the gospel with them in Spanish.

The Dutch oven dinner fundraiser for the restoration of the historic Relief Society House in Mesquite was held on Friday, April 14 and the following day was workday at the house. The large crowd was served generous helping of Uncle Wes’ Dutch oven fried chicken, with chuck wagon potatoes, salad and hot apple brown Betty with ice cream for dessert. The evening’s entertainment was provided by Mountain Strings - with country songs including gospel favorites, songs of the Blue Ridge Mountains and western ballads by the Butlers and Mortensons. Historical society is grateful to all those that came to the event. It was held at the Heritage Park with perfect spring weather. Progress was made on the interior of the house with the last of the studs being removed that formed the old walls of the Hughes’ home. The young women of the Willows Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to assist in sanding and painting the kitchen drawers. Brynn and Michelle Andrus made a copy of the quilt pattern stenciled around the ceiling. Geraldine excitedly told the story, “The original stencil pattern was found when the interior walls were removed, and it was still visible at the back of a closet.” Zarate also interview Margaret Hardy several years ago, “Margaret still had a clear memory at the age of 103 and talked about the interior with creamy white walls with the quilt pattern around the top and blue gingham curtains at the windows.” Carter explained, “The original house was small and when the front room was added, a cellar was built under the kitchen with stairway leading down to it. We plan to get steps and sidewalk and install the door by next month.” The next workday will be Saturday, May 13. When the house is restored, it can be used as a meeting room for events, family gatherings and perhaps small wedding receptions. It will have a large room in the kitchen and another small room at the back. Brynn and Michelle Andrus John Zarate and Wes Carter Olivia Law and Cambria Olsen The Dutch Oven Dinner

Elder Scott and Sister Stephanie Sangberg returned after serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They served for a year in the New Jersey Morristown Mission. The Sangbergs will be speaking on April 23, 2023 in the Anthem Ward, of the Mesquite West Stake, in the Bunkerville Chapel at 12:30 pm. Welcome home!

Merrill and LaVerne Chandler are serving as missionaries in the Saint George Service Mission. Their mission started January 23, 2023 and will last for one year. They are from the Scenic ward Nevada East Stake.

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.