https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzgX9IDA3-A&feature=youtu.be

A merit badge Pow Wow sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held for scouts in the Virgin River Valley Boy Scouts of America to help them complete the requirements on the trail to Eagle Scout. Thirteen different merit badges were offered including Family Life, Emergency Preparedness, First Aid, Sports, Electricity, Communications, Cooking Sports, Photography, Fire Safety, Personal Fitness and Citizenship in the Community, Nation and World. Scouts starting in the scouting program could learn the requirements on the Trail to Tenderfoot. There were 73 scouts that participated that was held on two Saturdays which began with a flag ceremony outside followed by the Scout Oath and Law. The district would like to thank Chris and Sarah Allen for organizing it and for the many counselors who came and taught the scouts the skills and knowledge they need to meet the requirements for the merit badges.

RootsTech 2017 Streaming Schedule Can’t get to Salt Lake for RootsTech? Come to the FamilySearch Center to watch selected sessions live. Session times are shown in PST. Thursday, February 9th 7:30 am – 9:00 am RootsTech General Session (Keynote Speakers) 10:00 am – 11:00 am Getting Started in Genealogy 11:15 am – 12:15 pm DNA: The Glue That Holds Families Together 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm DNA Matching on MyHeritage 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Jewish Genealogy: Where to Look and What’s Available 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm Family History is Anything But Boring Friday, February 10th 7:30 am – 9:00 am RootsTech General Session (Levar Burton) 9:30 am – 10:30 am RootsTech Innovator Showdown Finals 11:15 am – 12:15 pm Mothers, Daughters, Wives: Tracing Female Lines 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Censational Census Strategies 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Big 4: Comparing Ancestry, FindMyPast, FamilySearch & MyHeritage 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Cross the Atlantic with Religious Records Saturday, February 11th 7:30 am – 9:00 am RootsTech General Session (Cece Moore / Buddy Valastro) 10:00 am – 11:00 am Journaling Principles That Work 11:15 am – 12:15 pm Don’t Just Be a Searcher, Be a Researcher 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Creating Google Alerts For Your Genealogy Saturday, February 11th Family Discovery Day (lds.org) Noon Family Discovery Day General Session (Elder Russell M. Nelson & Sister Wendy Watson Nelson) 1:15 pm One Work: Temple & Family History Blessings (Vai Sikahema, Kalani Sitake & Sheri L. Dew) 2:30 pm Home With Hank (Hank Smith)

Cubmaster Beth King from pack 2042 put on a fun pack meeting!

The annual Scout Leader Recognition Dinner was held for all the scout leaders in the Virgin River Valley. Castina Woolsey was the recipient of the Award of Merit Plaque for her service in the cub scout program. She was Cub Scout Day Camp director for 4 years, Webelo Den leaders for 6 years, and has also served as a Bear and Wolf Den Leader. She was cubmaster for 12 years and served as Cub Round Table Commissioner. Charles Lee and Rene Layton received the 2nd miler award for their service. Rene Layton has been Bear Leader, 11-year-old leader, Advancement Chairman in Unit 2042 sponsored the Littlefield Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Four of the 5 scouts that started with Layton as cubs went on to become Eagle Scouts. Charles Lee, an Eagle Scout and Duty to God recipient, has served as a Scout Master in Troop 2488, and a Chartered Organization Representative for Mesquite 3rd Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was the chairman of the Scouting for Food Drive in November that benefitted the Salvation Army Food Bank. Lee was also awarded the Cub Leader Recognition Certificate, the Scout Master’s Key and the Boy Scout Trainer Award. Lester Miller, former Long Beach area BSA Council President, was the guest speaker. He is a Silver Beaver and a WWII Veteran – serving as 1st Lt. in the 9th Infantry Division and then in the engineering Battalion in Germany. He took his scouts to the national BSA Jamboree in Pennsylvania and to the Word BSA Jamboree in Norway in 1995. He started Troop 14 when his son and a few other scouts when they turned 12 and the troop grew to 30 and then to 50 scouts; 19 of these went on to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. Miller said, “We encouraged the scouts to advance by requiring that they advance one rank to be able to qualify to attend summer camp. The following year the scout had to advance another rank to go on special trips. We did a canoe trip of 8 days one summer. We hiked the Grand Canyon down the South Rim and the next year we hiked Mt. Whitney. We hiked Mr. Whitney twice while I was scoutmaster, going up the north side once also. In 1993 we went to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to the Nation Jamboree and in 1997 to the National Jamboree in Pennsylvania. We as leaders helped the scouts always have a goal in mind. The Scout Oath applies to all of us too.” Miller said his advice to the leaders was, “The best memory you will have is to help a scout become a good member of your community!” Mr. Miller was presented with a handmade knife as a token of appreciation for speaking at the recognition dinner. The knife was made by Brent Hughes, scoutmaster of Troop 2483. Keith Belnap, Scout Committee Chairman for Troop 2640, was honored for his 70 years as a registered scouter. He was given a framed collage of pictures of his scout activities and will be presented with a 70 year pin.

Sister Cyndy Kuta (Kuta Shimai) has returned home after honorably serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Sapporo Japan Mission. She will be speaking on Sunday, January 29, 2017, 1 pm in the Stake Center, located 100 N. Arrowhead Ln. Cyndy is the daughter of Francis and Elspeth Kuta of the Mesquite 7th Ward.

Elder Colton Mickelson leaves February 8, 2017 to serve a mission for The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He will be serving in the Michigan Detroit Mission for 24 months. Elder Mickelson will speak at 11 am on Sunday January 29th. in the Whipple Building, 121 Whipple Way. Kameron and Traci Mickelson of the Mesquite 3rd Ward are his parents.

Elder Jefferson Thornley has returned after serving an honorable mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the Cochabamba Bolivia Mission for 24 months. Elder Thornley will speak Sunday, January 29, 2017, 11 am in the Whipple Building. His parents are Cody and Jodi Thornley of the Mesquite 3rd Ward.

Kaden Laub received his Eagle Scout Award at a Court of Honor. He is a member of Venture Crew 2082 sponsored by the Mesquite 2nd Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His Eagle Project was improving the landscaping at the Mesquite City Cemetery and the Rec Center by putting in rock landscaping near the wall. He is the son of Randy Laub and Diann Ficklin. Kaden’s favorite merit badge was archery. He is a senior at Virgin Valley High school where he participates on the tennis team and the guitar ensemble. He will attend Dixie State University in the fall. Josh Tietjen, Kaden’s scout leader, spoke about the great experiences of camping, learning skills. “there were some challenging times on hikes and camps but we made great memories.” Tietjen continued, “There are 2 things that you must remember about your years in scouts – First, remember the scout oath and do your best to do your duty to God and your country, to help other people, be physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight; Second, Live the scout law. Remember these and act on them, using them in your everyday life and as you follow and make these a guide for your life and you will have more success in your career and you family life.” Duane Thurston, scoutmaster, gave Kaden the Eagle charge and had him repeat the scout oath to reaffirm is allegiance to the three promises of the scout oath. Thurston said, “Being an Eagle Scout brings with it obligations and responsibilities to do your best in all you undertake to do. Help build America on a solid foundation through clean living, honest work and reverence for God. I charge you to make your training and experience count toward better citizenship in your community, your county, church and in your contact with other people. The Eagle rank is not the end but the beginning.” Kaden presented the mentor pin to Duane Thurston for helping him with his project and encouraging him along the trail to Eagle. Kaden presented pins to his father and mother to thank them for their help in reaching the rank of Eagle Scout. Mark Tichenor, chairman of Virgin River Valley Boy Scouts of America, presented Kaden with a pocket knife engraved with “Eagle Scout” as a reminder to continue to live the principles of scouting.

LDS Missionaries Serving in the Valley While young men and women are leaving the valley and being sent on missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints other missionaries from around the world are being assigned to serve here. When a young man of 18 years or a young women of 19 years makes the decision to serve a mission for the LDS Church they must go through a process of preparation, interviews and selection. After submitting their paperwork which includes the results of medical and dental exams and the approval of their local church leaders the prospective missionary then waits for their assignment which is sent from church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. They can be called to serve in any of the 418 missions in the world joining the 74,079 missionaries already serving. The area of assignment will be a complete surprise to the missionary and their family and is anticipated with must excitement and reverence. Young men are called to serve for 2 years and young women are called for 18 months. Time is allowed for the obtaining of passports and inoculations if necessary and additions to wardrobes such as heavy winter clothing if the call is to areas with cold climates. Missionaries from the valley have served missions since the early days of settlement. From just the years 1886 to 1900 twelve young men left the valley to serve in the Eastern United States and the Oklahoma Indian Territory. The first missionary to leave for a foreign mission was Albert Frehner of Littlefield in 1899 as he was assigned to serve in Sweden. Today eight missionaries have been called to serve in the Virgin Valley area which is part of the Utah St George Mission. They work in companionship of two with one companionship being a married couple, Elder and Sister McNeil. These missionaries can be seen about town delivering their message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, serving others and assisting in service projects. They can be reached by calling 435-862-0931, 435-862-0978, or 702-239-7340. Caption for photo, left to right. LDS missionaries serving in the Virgin Valley on January 14, 2017. Elders Johnston from Canada and Michigan, Corey from Oregon, Pace from South Carolina, King from Washington, Callister from Kansas, Martell from New Zealand, Gallegos from California, and Hammer from Oregon.

Bridger Toone, a member of Troop 2998 sponsored by the Mesquite 7th Ward of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints received his Eagle Scout Award at a Court of Honor. His project was building toys similar to those used by children when this valley was settled. The toys are for use by children who visit the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum. They include a wooden checker board set, corn husk and yarn dolls, wooden puzzles, and a wooden pull toy. He has earned 33 merit badges; 21 merit badges are required to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout and therefore he will be eligible to receive a bronze and gold palm. His favorite merit badges were archery, shooting, first aid and cooking. He is the son of Ryan and Kena Toone and is in 8th grade at Hughes Middle School. He is on the baseball team, football, basketball and swim teams. His father and scoutmaster, Ryan Toone, spoke about Bridger’s grandfather and great grandfather’s service in scouting, helping young men on the trail to Eagle. “In scouting we have fun and learn new skills, go camping and fishing but scouting is more – it is learning important things to help us be better members of our community and family. Remember the 12 points of the scout law and continue to learn and serve others. Less than 7% of scouts go on to be an Eagle. They are respected for their character, honor, hard work and integrity. This is the beginning of the trail - to lead younger scouts, remembering the scout oat and law”, Toone said. Greg Toone, Bridger’s grandfather gave him the Eagle Charge having him reaffirm his allegiance to the 3 points of the scout oath by saying, “I thoughtfully take the obligations and responsibilities of the rank of Eagle Scout to make my training and example strongly count for better scouting and citizenship in my troop, my community and my conduct with other people.” He challenged Bridger to, “lift up every office you hold to the highest level of service and dedicate your skills to help build America on a solid foundation of clean living, honest work, unselfish citizenship, and reverence for God.” Bridger presented the mentor pin to his grandfather who has always helped him when he visits. Bridger presented pins to his mother and father to thank them for their help in achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Mark Tichenor, chairman of the Virgin River Valley BSA, presented Bridger with a pocket knife engraved with Eagle Scout to remind him to live the scout oat and law.