Dearest Brothers and Sisters of the Mesquite Nevada Stake, I feel like many of you, that the opening up of “normal life” can’t come fast enough. Many of you are aware that – in a limited way - the temples are slowly starting to open up. What a wonderful blessing. As a stake presidency, nothing could bring us greater joy than to have everyone in the 12th year of their life and older have a current and active temple recommend. Please contact your bishop or branch president to get that recommend if yours needs to be updated. If you are not quite ready, then we encourage you to study and prepare yourself. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples?lang=eng is a great reference. As I have been studying the book of Mosiah the past few weeks, I was reminded that the entire book is about being delivered. It’s one story after another about people who are in bondage or captivity, their desire to be free, and the different ways that they get deliverance. Sometimes it is because of the misuse of agency that causes them to be captive. Sometimes it comes through no fault of their own, but through the wickedness of someone else. But the reoccurring theme seems to be this: in order to find freedom from bondage, I need to trust in the Lord, wait on the Lord, and act in faith when or until the day of deliverance comes. One of my favorite scriptures is Ether 12:6  “And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.” Elder Richard G. Scott, during the October 2010 general conference, interpreted this scripture in the following way: “Thus, every time you try your faith—that is, act in worthiness on an impression—you will receive the confirming evidence of the Spirit. As you walk to the boundary of your understanding into the twilight of uncertainty, exercising faith, you will be led to find solutions you would not obtain otherwise. With even your strongest faith, God will not always reward you immediately according to your desires. Rather, God will respond with what in His eternal plan is best for you, when it will yield the greatest advantage. Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. That causes your faith to increase and your character to grow”. So . . . here is my invitation. During this week, ask yourself this question: What can I do to become more like Jesus Christ? And then act on the impression you receive. It won’t be the same for everyone. For some it might be . . . be kinder. Another might be impressed to pray. Maybe you will be impressed to read your scriptures. Whatever it is - ACT and wait for the witness of the trial of your faith. Once again, Elder Scott: “Your consistent exercise of faith builds strong character. A secure foundation for your growing character is laid by making Jesus Christ and His teachings the center of your life.” Thank you so much for your faith and patience. You are better than you think you are. One last thought from Elder Neal A. Maxwell: "Though we have rightly applauded our ancestors for their spiritual achievements (and do not and must not discount them now), those of us who prevail today will have done no small thing. The special spirits who have been reserved to live in this time of challenges and who overcome will one day be praised for their stamina by those who pulled handcarts." All my love, President David J. Anderson

Good morning: I would like to send you a message this week from the stake presidency telling you that you are in our prayers every day, and how much we love and appreciate each of you. We hope you’re staying safe and having fun. We have found that we have to be a little more creative to keep ourselves busy and get things done. I have heard many faith promoting stories from you about how you spend your time indexing, doing family history, writing your life histories, and your experiences with home centered church. My prayer is that we each take this time to be better neighbors and friends to all. Above all spend more time with family! Many of the distractions we had before are now gone. I ran across some YouTube videos from Stephen Covey called seven habits Of highly effective people. Go to YouTube and search (7 habits of highly effective people). Several things hit home to me. There is one thing that I would like to talk to you about: we need to be more effective and improve ourselves each day. What are we doing to become closer to our Savior each day? One thought I would like to leave you with is that if you are not able to partake of the sacrament each week hopefully you are able to read and study about the sacrament and gain a better understanding of the sacrament. May we all stay safe at this time and enjoy the time we have with family. Again we love you and pray for you, thanks for being who you are, you are an inspiration to me. This is the Church of Jesus Christ, Jesus is the Savior of the world, we are led by a prophet of God, Joseph Smith did restore Jesus Christ church on the earth, the Book of Mormon is the word of God, Our Heavenly Father loves and knows each of individually. Turn to him. Love and Family are what we need. “Begin with the end in mind.” Love Presidents Anderson, Allen, and Abbott, Bro. Bingham and Bro. Waite

Have you heard about the 21-Dau Family History Experiment? It was created as the result of an address by Sister Wendy Watson Nelson in 2015. Prompts are available for each day. Right now you may have a bit more time to participate in this experiment. More information and optional challenge plans are available on the website Family Connections Experiment https://connections-experiment.com/. Daily prompts are posted on the Family History Center website, http://mesquitefsc.weebly.com/and the Mesquite Family History Center Facebook page. Or contact Candy Kammerman. https://connections-experiment.com/?fbclid=IwAR2PhxVfZBKHYCjDfGdXQ95ZvuVYgfJpBXg5BkhqXlnOBufaaNAKWoohmQY

Greetings Friends and Neighbors of the Mesquite Nevada Stake, My prayer is that all are well and making the best of the time we have to be at home with our families during this historical time of our lives. When I was a young boy growing up my Mother continually warned me to be careful when I was around bees because I was severely allergic to their sting. If I were stung I would swell up and was unable to breath. As we were all growing up it seems like almost every General Conference we were warned of trying times ahead and of the importance of having a home storage program to be ready for times of need. Just as a young boy I sometimes had some run ins with bees but was saved by receiving the proper medicine that my Mother kept on hand all of the time, I think a lot of us have been caught with not having some of the necessities that we need to survive when we cannot purchase those items in the stores. I have seen an increase of love and service as those that have what they need have shared with those that did not. I testify to all of you that we are being taught and led by a living Prophet of God; Russell M Nelson has been called to lead us during these trying times. I would like to quote from an article sent to Priesthood Leaders from the 1st Presidency: The Lord has Prepared His Church “Inspired direction over many years has prepared the Lord’s Church and its members, both temporally and spiritually, for changing and challenging times. In addition to the long-time counsel for members to have food storage in their homes, Church members are focused on observing the Sabbath Day, ministering to others, and strengthening Melchizedek Priesthood quorums and Relief Societies. Through His prophets, the Lord has increased focus on home-centered, Church-supported gospel learning and living. Members have been encouraged to make their homes true sanctuaries of faith where children and youth are taught the gospel. The Come, Follow Me curriculum provides a model where members everywhere learn the gospel in their homes and at Church. The Children and Youth program is also home-centered, allowing parents to nurture their children spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially. Members have been encouraged to use technology to share gospel messages in normal and natural ways. Missionaries have been provided devices that permit them to find and teach even when in-person contact is not possible. Members can engage in family history work from their homes. When we look at the interlocking patterns of these efforts and many others, we can see how the Lord has carefully orchestrated and sequenced us to prepare for challenging times.” Just a Nephi said to his Father, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” I know that if we follow our leaders and are obedient to that which we are taught and asked to do we will be blessed. We have already seen many great miracles during these times. Families are home together more and enjoying studying the gospel together, many more families are sitting down together at mealtime and actually talking and visiting with each other. I pray that we may all learn from this experience and make it a part of our history as the time that we became closer as families and closer to our Lord and Savior who does live and watches over all of us. I share my witness of a Living Savior and and a living Prophet who together lead and guide us in these interesting times. This I share with you in his name even the Savior of this World Jesus Christ,Amen. President Danny Allen Mesquite Stake Presidency

https://www.justserve.org/projects/bb8ac689-1a58-4c90-9310-0ecabc407dcf Sewers needed. Contact Ashley Oliver 435-705-4777

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints April 2020 We solemnly proclaim that God loves His children in every nation of the world. God the Father has given us the divine birth, the incomparable life, and the infinite atoning sacrifice of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. By the power of the Father, Jesus rose again and gained the victory over death. He is our Savior, our Exemplar, and our Redeemer. Two hundred years ago, on a beautiful spring morning in 1820, young Joseph Smith, seeking to know which church to join, went into the woods to pray near his home in upstate New York, USA. He had questions regarding the salvation of his soul and trusted that God would direct him. In humility, we declare that in answer to his prayer, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph and inaugurated the “restitution of all things” as foretold in the Bible. In this vision, he learned that following the death of the original Apostles, Christ’s New Testament Church was lost from the earth. Joseph would be instrumental in its return. We affirm that under the direction of the Father and the Son, heavenly messengers came to instruct Joseph and re-establish the Church of Jesus Christ. The resurrected John the Baptist restored the authority to baptize by immersion for the remission of sins. Three of the original twelve Apostles —Peter, James, and John — restored the apostleship and keys of priesthood authority. Others came as well, including Elijah, who restored the authority to join families together forever in eternal relationships that transcend death. We further witness that Joseph Smith was given the gift and power of God to translate an ancient record: the Book of Mormon — Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Pages of this sacred text include an account of the personal ministry of Jesus Christ among people in the Western Hemisphere soon after His Resurrection. It teaches of life’s purpose and explains the doctrine of Christ, which is central to that purpose. As a companion scripture to the Bible, the Book of Mormon testifies that all human beings are sons and daughters of a loving Father in Heaven, that He has a divine plan for our lives, and that His Son, Jesus Christ, speaks today as well as in days of old. We declare that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, organized on April 6, 1830, is Christ’s New Testament Church restored. This Church is anchored in the perfect life of its chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ, and in His infinite Atonement and literal Resurrection. Jesus Christ has once again called Apostles and has given them priesthood authority. He invites all of us to come unto Him and His Church, to receive the Holy Ghost, the ordinances of salvation, and to gain enduring joy. Two hundred years have now elapsed since this Restoration was initiated by God the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Millions throughout the world have embraced knowledge of these prophesied events. We gladly declare that the promised Restoration goes forward through continuing revelation. The earth will never again be the same, as God will “gather together in one all things in Christ.” With reverence and gratitude, we as His Apostles invite all to know — as we do — that the heavens are open. We affirm that God is making known His will for His beloved sons and daughters. We testify that those who prayerfully study the message of the Restoration and act in faith will be blessed to gain their own witness of its divinity and of its purpose to prepare the world for the promised Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Your fast offerings hard at work. Special thanks to Kokopelli landscaping for traveling to St. George to get the food. They had four pallets of non-perishable food and one pallet of sliced bread.

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Mesquite Nevada Stake: Good morning “O What A Beautiful Day” hoping this email finds you all well. We are grateful for you and love you very much. We are living in an amazing time, even though there are many trials and tribulations around us. We can find peace in Jesus Christ. We are grateful for the way that you have shown your Christlike love to your families and neighbors. There are many wonderful faith promoting stories (even miracles) about what is going on in our stake. We urge you to keep up the good work in ministering and being positive. There is a YouTube video entitled “bridge over troubled water General Conference compilation” that we would recommend you watch about finding,Peace In Christ.Click on the link below to view the video. https://youtu.be/cWC5AmS9N4Y We would like to challenge each of you to do some indexing or family history during this time. We promise you all the blessings that have been promised to us by prophets and apostles if we will engage ourselves in this work. Family history is a broad spectrum of things that you can do, you can record stories, pictures and memories. You can also add information or fix any errors you may find about your ancestors where needed. If you need help with family history or indexing you can contact your ward temple and family history leader, or you can contact a member of your elders quorum or relief society presidencies. This can and should be done through technology by phone or email or FaceTime or any other kind of technology at this time, it is possible for those brethren and sisters to help you with your temple and family history work without meeting face-to-face. We also encourage you to record your thoughts and feelings about this historic time in the history of the world, write it down in your journals. Last but not least would be to work on your personal history so that your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren etc. will be able to read the stories that you record, and your thoughts and feelings of how you can make it through hard times. We also encourage you to watch general conference this Saturday and Sunday. I testify that we are led by a prophet (Russel M. Nelson) of God that we will be able to hear prophets, apostles, and other church leaders speak to us and give us instructions on what our Heavenly Father would have us do. I hope we have the courage to follow the prophets, apostles, and promptings we receive. I know that God lives and loves each of us, and Jesus is the Christ the Savior of the world and through him we can be saved by faith, works, and grace. That this is his church on the earth today. That Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration. We are living in inspired times. Families are forever. Keep your family close to you even if they are far away. Always be mindful of those around you and strive to keep the spirit to be with you at all times. Always remember that we will be OK if we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ in our life. We invite all to join us with open arms we can do this together!My wife’s favorite saying and mine too is, “this too shall pass”I testify of these things and extend my love to each of you in the name of Jesus Christ amen. Message from President Anderson "Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious. It is the ability to do God’s will and accept His timing. When you are patient, you hold up under pressure and are able to face adversity calmly and hopefully.” (Preach My Gospel: "How Do I Develop Christlike Attributes?" Chapter 6)Hang in there everyone! We'll get through this! Another video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MnLVTO4oDA Sincerely Mesquite Nevada Sake Presidency

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.