Dear Brothers and Sisters, Due to the spread of COVID-19 and new travel regulations instituted by many governments, missionaries currently serving in some missions in the world will be temporarily moved, reassigned or honorably released. Missionaries will return home to self-isolate for 14 days as a precaution. We ask that you allow them to self isolated for those 14 days. Please avoid any physical contact and let your communication be electronic or from a safe distance. Following that, they will receive new temporary assignments in their home countries based on capacity and need. Here is part of an email Mission Presidents just received from the Area Office in the Philippines who have been working non stop to secure travel for missionaries serving in the Philippines: “Delta airlines is providing six charter planes to carry more than 1,500 missionaries to Salt Lake City. The missionaries traveling on these planes are those who live in the United States or Canada. Barring any unforeseen problems, the planes will depart from the Manila International airport on Sunday afternoon, about 1 hour apart. The missionaries should arrive in Salt Lake City Sunday evening. For missionaries on these Delta charter jets who do not live in Salt Lake City area, the Missionary Department is scheduling additional flights to get them to their home airports”. We live in amazing times Guidelines for Isolation: Returning Home for Self-Isolation For several days prior to leaving the mission, all missionaries have rigorously followed preventative health practices to avoid illness including, remaining in their apartments as much as possible, not engaging in teaching, wearing masks, and frequently washing their hands. Therefore, the likelihood of any of these missionaries having contracted the coronavirus is low. Some missionaries may return to countries where there is government-mandated isolation. In these cases, missionaries should follow the appropriate isolation procedures. In cases where there is not a government-mandated isolation, as a precaution for others, we ask the missionary to isolate himself or herself for 14 days after returning home. It is very important that the missionary follow these guidelines: The missionary should remain in the home with limited contact with others. This includes not visiting public locations, such as church buildings. The missionary should limit interactions with other individuals. Further, individuals visiting the missionary should be free of underlying illness. The missionary should stay in a well-ventilated room, preferably alone. If it is not possible for the missionary to be alone, others in the room should be about 2 meters (6 feet) away. The missionary and others in the home should follow good hygiene practices, including: Frequently wash hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Cover nose and mouth with cloth, tissues, or elbows when coughing or sneezing, followed by cleaning hands. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, drinks, or toothbrushes. Wear a mask if there are any symptoms of respiratory illness (see below). Missionaries and families should contact a local health official for guidance if they have questions about appropriate isolation procedures or if the missionary develops symptoms of a respiratory illness. Prior to visiting a health care provider, contact the provider to inform them of the country from where the missionary recently returned, and that the missionary has developed some of the following symptoms: Fever Cough Shortness of breath Congestion Sore throat Body aches Stomach upset In a letter March 19 to Latter-day Saints around the globe, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles announced additional updates to the April 2020 general conference. Each session will be broadcast from a small auditorium on Temple Square. The First Presidency will preside and conduct those sessions, and only those who have been invited to speak or pray will attend. The music for the conference has been pre-recorded. Currently we have been directed to follow all guidelines and directives requested by local, state and federal authorities – particularly regarding numbers of gathering (which are now 10 and less) and no gatherings with those over 60. This includes funerals and other requested events. Please note that the current situation with COVID-19 is fluid and future instructions may change. Directions that we give today may change tomorrow and so please be flexible and know that we will pass information as soon as we receive it. We need to be able to adapt quickly as we receive additional information and directions. We know that following guidelines and health instruction may cause some discomfort and frustration. We ask that you follow the counsel and example given by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Finally - be kind, loving and patient with one another. Seek for opportunities to bless the lives of those around you. Your Bishoprics, Elders Quorum presidency and Relief Society presidency are amazing and care deeply. Help them every chance you get, encourage each other and share faith promoting experiences. All our love, Mesquite Nevada Stake Presidency

Jeremy Perkins received his Eagle Scout Award at a Court of Honor for Troop 2488 sponsored by the Mesquite 3rd Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jeremy’s eagle project was replacing the sign at Hughes Middle School which was worn and faded. He said his favorite merit badges were wilderness survival, cooking and camping at Box Canyon, Mapledale and Kolob. Jeremy said, “All of these taught me about teamwork. “He is a senior at Virgin Valley High School where he is a member of the football, basketball and track teams. He was also involved in theater. He is the son of Christy and Maurice Perkins. Jayson Andrus spoke about three important ways that the scouting program can help young men. He said, “Earning the Eagle Rank does not mean you have arrived, it means that you, Jeremy, need to continue on the path of service. Live your life with passion. You have been camping, rappelling, kayaking and completed other merit badges – now find areas that interest you and nourish the passion. Don’t settle for small things in your life but continue to grow and learn. The third is to remember God and His role in your life. Scouting is about reverence for God and expressing gratitude; let God become a quiet influence for transformation in your life.” Richard Rushton gave Jeremy the Eagle Charge saying, “Becoming an Eagle Scout qualifies you to enter a fellowship of those who have pledged themselves to the service of others. I charge you to fulfill this special responsibility of service to your family, your church and community and nation. Strive to keep all the covenants that you have made and will make with God. Do your duty to your country with the loyalty and courage that you were taught as a scout Be loyal to the principles of freedom, democracy, civility, tolerance and the rule of law. Be brave and stand up for these principles. Use the skills and the knowledge that you have gained to help other people at all times and continue to do a good turn daily. Keep yourself physically strong, mentally and intellectually sharp and morally upright that you may always be prepared to help others and be an effective instrument in the hands of God. “ Ryan Toone, Eagle board chairman, said, “You have followed through and accomplished hard things and when tough times come you can look back and say to yourself – “I completed my eagle and I can do hard things now!” Toone made the presentation of the eagle award. Jeremy presented pins to his parents and told of his great appreciation for their help in completing his project and his paperwork. Jeremy presented his mentor pin to his father. He thanked his leaders for their amazing influence on him, “I know the value of service from my leaders because they taught me how to apply the lessons of the scout law.” Brian Haviland, district chairman of the Virgin River Valley BSA, formed the Eagle’s nest by inviting all those in attendance to come forward and sit together. He also presented Jeremy with a pocket knife engraved with ‘Eagle Scout’ as a reminder of his great accomplishment.

Patriarch Michael Waite and Lynnette with Stake President David Anderson and Lynne.

Elder Jeron Dalton has received a mission call from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He will serve in the Washington D.C. South Mission,English speaking. Chad and Karlie Dalton of the Mesquite 2nd Ward are Jeron's parents. He will report to the Missionary Training Center on April 8th. Elder Jeron Dalton will speak in the Littlefield Chapel, March 15, 2020 at 9 am.

The Mesquite Stake’s annual Discovery Day on March 21, will cap off with a 6:00 pm fireside by popular historical fiction writer Dean Hughes. His recent novel, Muddy: Where Faith and Polygamy Collide, is set in the Muddy River area of the Moapa Valley in the 1860s. The fireside will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center, 100 North Arrowhead Lane, Mesquite. Brother Hughes’ interest in the Muddy’s history piqued as one of his relatives was an early settler to the territory. He was also one of many people who worked on the new Church History series, Saints; he drafted some of the chapters about polygamy, and “started to know quite a bit about it,” said Hughes. He will share his research and back story of the book. Among the more than one hundred books Dean has written are two well-beloved series: Children of the Promise and Come to Zion. Like Muddy, captivating stories and fictional characters are woven into historical situations. He holds a bachelor's degree from Weber State College in Utah and master's and PhD degrees from the University of Washington. He also attended post-doctoral seminars at Stanford and Yale Universities and taught English at both Central Missouri State University and Brigham Young University. Dean and his wife Kathleen served missions in Nauvoo, Illinois and Beirut, Lebanon. Kathleen also served as first counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency under Bonnie Parkin. They are the parents of three children, grandparents of nine and great grandparents of one.

Bishop Jeff Hughes, CJ Somerville and Brogan Felshaw

Youth 14-18 can go on Trek. If they'll be turning 14 this year, they can also go. Head over to the Facebook page (Mesquite Pioneer Trek 2020) to sign up and receive updates. For more information, contact Josie Hughes.

Gunner McOmie received his Eagle Scout Award at a Court of Honor. He is a member of Troop 2082 sponsored by the Mesquite 2nd Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His Eagle project was making emergency kits in 5-gallon buckets for Virgin Valley Elementary School. They contained items (toilet paper, wipes, dust masks, gloves, duct tape and plastic and coloring books) that would help the teacher in case of any emergency when the class would be locked in their room. He would like to thank ACE Hardware for the donation of the buckets and other businesses that donated the other items. Gunner is in 8th grade at Hughes Middle school and is on the baseball and basketball teams. He is the son of Ian and Lara McOmie. Mark McOmie, Gunner’s grandfather, spoke about scouting in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ‘” It was Pres. Joseph F. Smith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who said that the young men needed not only opportunities for spiritual growth but they needed to have activities to teach them skills for life.” McCombie said that Baden Powell provided the scouting program to teach boys service, responsibility and good character.” McOmie continued, “You may have head the story that William Boyce brought scouting to America after a scout in England provided directions for him. However, the first scout troop in Utah was formed in 1908 with 50 rowdy boys. In 1913 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chartered troops with the Boy Scouts of America. The Scout Oath and law teaches traits of manhood and character. Earning the rank of Eagle is a rare achievement and only 6.5% of boys who start scouting complete the rank of Eagle. The Eagle reminds us of integrity, and freedom, and is a symbol of loyalty, courage and faith. An Eagle exemplifies the very best of what we want our young men to be. The Eagle Scout stands for what is right. If all people lived by the scout oath and law this world would be a better place,” he concluded. Brian Haviland, District Chairman of Virgin River Boy Scouts of America, opened the Nation Boy Scout Court of Honor and formed the Eagle’s Nest by asking all those in the audience who had received this Eagle Award to come forward and sit together. “These are men you can look up to as great examples of service to our community, he said. The Eagle Scout charge was given by Lee Bracken, Gunner’s grandfather, who told Gunner, “This is not the end but the beginning. We recognize your accomplishments but these have all been for a purpose beyond your own edification. You learned these skills so that you could put them to use in the service of others. This is a qualification to enter a fellowship of those who have pledged themselves to the service of others. I charge you to do your duty to your country with the loyalty and courage that you were taught as a scout. Be loyal to the principles of freedom, democracy, civility, peace, tolerance, justice and the rule of law. Be brave and stand for these principles when they are threatened. Stand against oppression, fear, cynicism, intolerance, bigotry and hate of all kinds. I charge you to use the skills and the knowledge that you have gained to help other people at all times. Continue to do a good turn daily. Bracken concluded with, “I charge you to keep yourself physically strong, mentally and intellectually sharp and morally upright that you may always be prepared to help others. Stay curious. Stay honest and stay humble.” Gunner presented his parents with pins to recognize their help in achieving this rank of Eagle Scout. Gunner’s mother pinned the Eagle emblem and ribbon on his scout shirt. Gunner presented his mentor pin to Randy Laub, his scoutmaster, for his encouragement to complete his rank. Gunner received a pocket knife engraved with ‘Eagle Scout’ from Brian Haviland.

Cameron Klug, Bishop Ty Wakefield and Mikey Leavitt