Sister Kaylee Sonnenberg has been called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kaylee will report to the North Carolina Raleigh Mission, speaking Spanish. She reports on September 1, 2020, doing virtual MTC. Chris and Karyn Sonnenberg of the Bunkerville 2nd Ward are her parents.

Congratulations to Sam and Pat Reber on 60 wonderful years of marriage. Married August 20, 1960 in the St. George Temple. They have resided in Mesquite all but the 1st 2 years. They are grateful for all of the love and support over the years from this great valley.

Elder Melburn Hollingshead will serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Meb will serve in the Finland Helsinki Mission, speaking Finnish.He hasn't received his reassignment yet. Elder Hollingshead will begin his Virtual MTC Aug 26 for 9 weeks. Jared and Janarah Hollingshead of Bunkerville 2nd Ward are his parents.

During this pandemic, our church leaders have worked feverishly to keep our Missionaries as well as office staff busy. One of the endeavors they were tasked us with is having us work on Family Search. Some of us missionaries/employees have never indexed before and some have a difficult time even using a computer. I equate these actions to when our prophets told everyone it was time to pack up and their families and move to safety. They didn’t always know where they were going. Non the less, sold what they could, packed up what they could carry, loaded their families and off they went; knowing that our Prophet was inspired by Heavenly Father. Another example is, I have viewed conference talks as far back as 1979 and found references to the importance of food storage food. During each General Conference, it was encouraged. Our local authorities also wanted to be kept appraised of our preparedness. The Church has prepared itself by purchasing and running farms, ranches, canneries, storage facilities, thrift stores, and much more. Dec. 18, 2017, ComeUntoChrist.org. President Spencer W Kimball taught “in reviewing the Lord’s counsel to us on the importance of preparedness, I am impressed with the plainness of the message. The Savior made it clear that we can not place sufficient oil in our preparedness lamps by simply avoiding evil. We must also be anxiously engaged in a positive program of preparation” The Miracle of Forgiveness (1969, 8) October 2018, Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints, by President Russell M Nelson. “Consider the great mercy and fairness of God, who, before the foundation of the world, provided a way to give temple; blessings to those who died without a knowledge of the gospel. These sacred temple rites are ancient. To me the antiquity is thrilling and another evidence of their authenticity.” October 2018 Conference - Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints, by President Russell M. Nelson. “The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining.” October 2018 Conference - Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints, by President Russell M. Nelson. “The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining.” As you know, all of the things above have come to pass and have taught us to listen to our prophet. Continuing in this train of thought. In April 2020 conference, President Nelson stated, “I invite you to increase your participation in family history, including family history research and indexing. I promise that as you increase your time in temple and family history work, you will increase and improve your ability to hear Him.” I know we will be blessed by preparing the way for our ancestors to be brought into the fold. They are waiting for their work to be done on earth. Not only will your family be blessed, but families around the world will be joined together, not just members, but all lost souls. u know, all of the things above have come to pass and have taught us to listen to our prophet. Continuing in this train of thought. In April 2020 conference, President Nelson stated, “I invite you to increase your participation in family history, including family history research and indexing. I promise that as you increase your time in temple and family history work, you will increase and improve your ability to hear Him.” I know we will be blessed by preparing the way for our ancestors to be brought into the fold. They are waiting for their work to be done on earth. Not only will your family be blessed, but families around the world will be joined together, not just members, but all lost souls. Jackie Korsgaard, Mesquite Stake Missionary

Braden Cecil Bingham has been called to serve in the Monrovia, Liberia mission, but has been temporarily reassigned to the Morristown New Jersey mission until the Liberia mission opens back up. Elder Bingham will begin his MTC experience on Wednesday August 12th and depart for New Jersey on Sept 1st. Braden is the son of Brian and Kristine Bingham of the Bunkerville 2nd Ward.

Sister Maleena Felshaw will serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Originally, she was called to the Buenos Aires West Argentina Mission, Spanish speaking. Due to the current pandemic situation, she is temporarily reassigned to the Colorado Denver North Mission. On August 5, 2020, Maleena will begin participating in the Virtual Missionary Training for 6 weeks. Gilbert and Deon Felshaw of the Mesquite 1st Ward are her parents. Sister Maleena's Testimony: I know that we have a Heavenly Father and that he knows us each individually. I know that he loves us so much and everything that I've come to know through this gospel revolves around that simple truth.

July 19, 2020 Sister Jennifer Fiso Mesquite, Nevada Stake Relief Society Dear Sister Jennifer and all the sisters of the stake, I enjoyed my visit with you last January and have reflected again and again on the generosity of spirit I felt when we were all together for the Relief Society conference until I simply had to write you and tell you so. Since I have been at home during the pandemic, I have had a chance to enjoy some of the things you gave me. I have loved the scripture crossword books someone selected (perfect for me!). I have shared with my family the Dian Thomas activity books, and just this week I finished the Mesquite Centennial book “A River and a Road.” The photographs made this history come alive and I loved it. Of course the spectacular lemon cream pie is long gone but the beautiful quilt still reminds me of my sisters in the Virgin River Valley. These gifts are outward signs of the ministering spirit we try to share with everyone. When I think of a Zion community, I will now think of the Virgin River Valley -- not because everything goes right but because old friends and new try to help each other through anything that happens. The coronavirus has created new opportunities to minister. It has hit our Navajo and Hopi friends unusually hard. I have no doubt the Mesquite Nevada sisters are in the middle of all that is good. I truly love the power of Relief Society to represent the Savior Jesus Christ in the world. You are some of the very best. May the Lord bless you with eyes to see and the power to respond in love and unity. You have certainly made a difference with me . Much love, your sister Sharon Eubank

Dear Friends and Neighbors of the Mesquite Nevada Stake, First of all I wanted to invite any of you in this Stake who have not had the opportunity of partaking of the Sacrament to please contact your Elders Quorum President or Relief Society President to make arrangements to receive the Sacrament in your home. With everything that is going on I have missed two Stake Conferences and the opportunity of meeting with the members of this Stake that I have grown to love and appreciate for all that each of you do. I was sick for the first one and the other was canceled during this pandemic. I really feel a void by not meeting with each of you and being able to bear my Testimony to you and to share my love for all of you. Elder Jeffery R. Holland said, “Not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with-here, now, everyday”. As we see and hear all of the wonderful acts of kindness that are going on everyday in this Stake it really is true that we are surrounded by Angels. I really like an article written by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf entitled “Mask your face, don’t mask your heart”. He talks about what he and his wife Harriet are doing during these times. He says we need to focus on what we can do, rather than on what we cannot do. Look for ways to be close to others even when we cannot physically be close to them and like he says we can mask our faces, but please don’t mask your hearts. Please continue to love and minister to those around us and those far away. I would like to remind each of us of an invitation from our Prophet President Russell M. Nelson: “My dear friends, today I wish to share with you a special invitation. There are a few wonderful occasions in the scriptures when our Heavenly Father personally introduced His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, with a specific charge to “Hear Him!” Today, this most important invitation from our loving Heavenly Father to listen to the voice of the Lord and to follow His teachings is extended to us. In this special year, as we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the First Vision, I invite you to think deeply and often about this key question: How do you hear Him?” I testify to all of you that he does communicate with each of us in different and simple ways. I have felt his promptings in my heart many times and I know they are real. I continue to strive to live my life better to be worthy of the tender privilege to “Hear Him”. I extend my love to each of you and promise you that Our Father in Heaven is aware of us and our circumstances and what is going on. We are his children and he loves us and will take care of us in these difficult times, Just “Hear Him” and listen to our Living Prophet and we will be OK. President Danny Allen

Elder Fiso, Elder Bingham, Elder Perkins, Elder Ludvigson, Elder Hollingshead, Elder Wakefield, and Elder Waite

Noma Reber Houston, (88) passed away July 3, 2020 at her home in Mesquite, NV. Noma was born January 23, 1932 in St. George, UT the 8th child to Robert Emil and Mable Vinda Waite Reber. She grew up in Littlefield, Arizona where all the kids attended a one room school house until the 8th grade then they were taken by her Uncle Louie to Virgin Valley High School in Bunkerville, NV. Noma loved her school days and continued the friendships she made there throughout her life. Noma married Alton John Houston, February 17, 1951 in Mesquite, NV where they resided and raised their family. They also owned a home in Pine Valley, UT for many years where the family loved to gather. Together Noma and Alton owned and operated a number of businesses including the Polar Freeze Drive-In, where they worked together him cooking and her waiting on the customers. Noma also worked at J.L. Bowler’s grocery store and for many years at the Peppermill/Oasis. Her special joy was selling Avon, she developed many friends whom enjoyed receiving their delivery and visits. Noma would spend time with each of her Avon clients and developed great friendships. Her kids always told her she spent all of her profits on gifts for everyone. Noma was a talented homemaker, seamstress, quilter and baker. Her beautifully tended home was decorated for each holiday. She was often found in her kitchen with her family making suckers, frosted sugar cookies and peanut brittle. She was also an adventurous cook and enjoyed making meals from her many, many recipe books. Her grandchildren recall holiday’s at Grandma’s home where the Easter Bunny AND Santa Claus would come in person to hand out presents. Halloween was especially fun because each grandchild would go fishing in the “fishing pond” to receive their own goodie bag of treats and trinkets. Noma was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in many positions including Relief Society Presidency, Compassionate Service but especially enjoyed coordinating all day Tuesday Homemaking Days. Where the ladies of the valley would meet to donate time and talents making amazingly, wonderful handmade works of art. She and the sisters would then organize the Bazaar and Dime a Dip Dinner to raise money for the building fund. She had so many talents but her best talent was being a friend and the genuine concern and love she had for everyone. Noma is proceeded in death by her husband, Alton, her son Merrill, sons-in-law Lynn Gardner and Kevin Calkins, grandson Garrett Gardner, great-great grandson Jaxson Emmett, all 8 siblings Lillith, Wilma, Burdett, Margie, LaFell, DeMurren, Nola and Elwin. She is survived by her children Emmalyn Hardy, Syracuse KS, Janece Gardner, Pine Valley, UT, Deral (Julie) Houston, Scenic, AZ and Dorene Copley, Overton, NV, along with 16 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren. Because we’re Houston’s (or maybe Covid-19) we will be doing things a little differently. We will be celebrating the life of our Mother and Brother together. Mom’s informal viewing will be held Sunday evening July 12th, 6-8 pm at the LDS Whipple Chapel, 100 N. Arrowhead Lane, Mesquite, NV. There will be a joint graveside service at the Mesquite City Cemetery, July 13, 2020 9am. Please be mindful of the heat and social distancing. Friends and family are invited to sign our online guest book at www.virginvalleymortuary.com Services Visitation Sunday July 12, 2020 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Mesquite LDS Whipple Chapel 100 North Arrowhead Lane Mesquite, NV 89027 Graveside Service Monday July 13, 2020 9:00 AM Mesquite City Cemetery 301 Hillside Drive Mesquite, NV 89027

Elder Tauaimalo Fiso has been called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Samoa Apia Mission, speaking Samoan. Gaosi and Jennifer Fiso of the Mesquite 5th Ward are Taua's parents. Elder Fiso will participate in the virtual Missionary Training, reporting July 22, 2020. Elder Fiso Testimony: I know that God lives and that He loves all of us. He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth to die for us; to be our Savior and Redeemer. We can find and obtain everlasting peace and joy through Jesus Christ. He is the light, the life, and hope of the world. I know He lives and that He will come again. This gospel is so true and I love it!