Elder William Slack has returned from his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the Canada Vancouver Mission for 24 months. Christine and Henry Slack of the Mesquite 2nd Ward are Will's parents. Elder Slack will be speaking Sunday, October 16th, 9 am (NV time) in the Littlefield Chapel, located 3260 E. Old Highway 92.

Mesquite 6th Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a change in their Bishopric. Bishop Kevin Jensen serves with Aaron Baker, the Bishopric First Counselor. Don Barnum will fill the position as the new Bishopric Second Counselor.

Elder Omar Salvador Flores has been called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He will serve in the Nevada Las Vegas Mission and leaves October 19, 2016. Omar is the son of Elizabeth Delgado and Jose Flores. Elder Flores will Speak Sunday, October 16, 9 am in the Stake Center, located at 100 N. Arrowhead.

Nathen Philip Abbott received his Eagle Scout Award at a Court of Honor on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. He is a member of Venture Crew 2341 sponsored by the Bunkerville 2st Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He made room number signs and placed them on the playground fence at JL Bowler Elementary to mark the place for each class to meet when there is a fire drill or emergency. He earned 28 merit badges; only 21 are required for Eagle. His favorite merit badges were camping, archery, shooting and automotive maintenance. He will qualify to receive a bronze palm for each 5 additional merit badges he earns. Nathen is a sophomore at Virgin Valley High School where he participates in wrestling and baseball. He is the son of Melinda and Philip Abbott. Jason Abbott, Nathen’s brother, spoke about the meaning of the Eagle, “Scouting teaches skills to remember all your life. It teaches you to always be ready to serve and do a good turn daily and be prepared. Doing a good turn can be as simple as saying ‘Hello’ or giving a smile.Being a scout means you are the first to start and the last one to quit.” Jason quoted Wayne Gretzky when he said, “You miss 100 of the free throws you don’t take!” Jason said, “There is no success in not trying.” Mark Tichenor, representing the Snow Canyon District of BSA, opened the National Boy Scout Court of Honor and then formed the Eagle’s Nest by asking all those in the audience to come forward and sit together. Josh, his brother, who is an Eagle Scout was Nathen’s escort Lyman Abbott, Nathen’s grandfather, gave Nathen the Eagle Charge saying, “You now assume a solemn obligation to be a responsible citizen in your country and help your fellow scouts. America has many good things but it depends of good citizenship to help hold American on a solid foundation of honest work, service to your fellowman and reverence for God. Let your rank and influence count strongly for better scouting and better citizenship in your family, church community and country.” Abbott continued, "Lord Baden Powell was inspired to form the scouting program to help young men learn skills and be good citizens and have reverence for God.” Maurie Perkins, scout leader, presented the Eagle Scout Award to Nathen’s mother to pin on his uniform. Nathen presented a mother’s pinto his mother and a tie tack to his father to thank them for their help and encouragement in achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Nathen also presented the mentor pin to his mother who never gave up on him and helped him along the trail to Eagle. Nathan thanked Mr. Jenkins,principal of JL Bowler Elementary for helping him plan and organize the project. Tichenor then presented Nathen with a pocket knife engraved with the words, Eagle Scout.

Elder Dillon Graves returns after serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the Brazil, Piracicaba Mission for 24 months. Dillon is the son of Trent and Keri Graves of the Mesquite 7th Ward. Elder Graves will speak September 25, 2016 at 11 am in the LDS Stake Center.

The Mesquite Nevada Stake Primary Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held an all-day event Saturday September 10th. More than 100 Girls ages 8 through 11 years spent the day participating in activities that strengthened their relationship with their Heavenly Father and help them recognize their self-worth. They were taught ways to serve others, instructed in ways to remain physically fit and healthy, and assembled over 250 hygiene kits for the local Salvation Army. The theme of the day was Secret Service. The girls learned how to observe and listen to their hearts so that they are better prepared to serve in their families, church, and communities. They heard from presenters who shared ways on how even one young girl can make a difference. Gina Zarate, the Stake Primary President said “I believe the girls had a lot of fun whether they were running an obstacle course, doing Zumba, shooting BB guns, eating spaghetti or sitting quietly in classes.” The leaders felt it was important for the girls this age to understand they need to look beyond themselves and find opportunities to serve. Presenters and classes: Heather Blazzard/ introduction to the theme Secret SERVICE agents Amanda Jensen- Zumba/ taking care of your body so you can serve Cresent Marchant- Self Worth Tonya Walker- obstacle course Mark Tichenor- BB Guns Jamie Jones- Service project/ good Samaritan Lynne Anderson- First observe then serve. Kena Toone- Etiquitte

Keith Belnap, Committee Chairman for BSA Unit 2640 sponsored by the Mesquite 6th Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has served in the scouting program for 70 years as of September this year. He is a recipient of the Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver Award. The Silver Beaver is the highest award a volunteer scouter can receive. He is currently also serving as the Assistant District Commissioner, the Training Chairman and the Membership Chairman for Virgin River Valley BSA. Keith led the scouts on 27 different fifty mile hikes in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area south of Glacier National Park. They would hike 5 – 10 miles a day and pack all their food and camping gear and leave no trace behind. They cooked food every night only using only MREs at the end if needed. They even packed in fresh eggs wrapping them carefully. Another trip they took on horseback with explorer scouts riding 18 horses on steep trails. They were on the part of the trail that was shale and two grizzly bears came up the hill from the lake and Keith was sure the horse would bolt or rear up and their gear be scattered all over the side of the mountain. The grizzlies just kept coming up through a break between the horses and the horses just moved forward never breaking stride! What a relief that was to the explorers and leaders. The trail crossed the continental divide and went to elevation of over 8,00 ft. The younger scouts wanted to go on the fifty mile also but he required them to have their camping, cooking, and first aid merit badges completed and he would take them on a shorter 35-mile hike. They hiked to Cave Mountain and saw signs of grizzlies everywhere. Keith was worried about their safety as they slept in tents. He had the scouts hang their food in the trees as usual to prevent losing their supplies. The scouts prayed for safety that night. There was a very bright moon that night, almost full moon and he saw a doe standing off to the side of the camp. He knew that she would warn them if a grizzly came near and that as long as she was there they were safe. He stayed up all night watching the doe knowing that she would signal them if a grizzly came near. When the boys started to wake up at dawn, she walked off and the boys were protected! In the winter they went camping and held many Klondike derbies using their handmade sleds. They made snow caves in the snowdrifts and always dug the tunnel upward in the snowbank. They slept perfectly warm even when the wind was whipping up outside. One scout dug his cave downward and he was so cold he had to get out during the night. The Klondike is a race using compass and proceeding to certain points but if you lose your compass as they did on one trip you lose your way. Keith led the scouts on float trips down the Missouri River in Montana camping along its banks. They would have rubber rafts holding 5-6 scouts or canoes. The trip would be 2-3 days and they would stop at one of their favorite places to cook and camp for the night. It was a small canyon with sheer walls and a wide area to set up tents and have a campfire. The river is about 600 yards wide and 10 feet deep in places but other places were shallow and you could see the bottom. A person would not want to swim in it due to the swift current. He fulfilled many positions in the Montana Council in Conrad and Valier, Montana including vice President of the Montana Council, district Chairman of the Nu-ooh-ska District, Explorer coordinator in Great Falls, Scoutmaster for Troop 590, Roundtable Commissioner, Outdoor & Program Chairman, and Cubmaster for Pack 590. He has served at the Philmont Scout Ranch as the Mormon Leader Trainer. As a youth he was in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts receiving his Life Scout Award. He was a member of the Explorers and the Order of the Arrow. As a youth he served on the camp staff at Camp Nebekker, Bear Lake, Utah, teaching archery. He was the Lodge Chief for the Order of the Arrow for the State of Idaho Lodge. He was a junior assistant scoutmaster for the 22nd Ward of the LDS church in Pocatello and later as their scoutmaster. Keith began the scouting program in September 1946 in Pocatello, Idaho and has been continuously registered as a scout and leader for 70 years and is still serving the Virgin River Valley District BSA.

Ned and Janet Mikkelsen have returned to Bunkerville after serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They served in the Kyiv Ukraine Mission 18 months in two different areas and their mission language was Russian. Ned and Janet served as Member Leader Support, Church Education System, Pathway missionaries, and helped with Self Reliance. Elder and Sister Mikkelsen speak on September 11, 2016 in the Bunkerville 2nd Ward, in the Bunkerville Chapel.

Elder Fernando Gonzalez has served his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After serving his 2 year mission in Londrina Brazil he will return on September 8, 2016. Fernando is the son of Maria Sandra and Arnulfo Gonzalez of Spanish Branch. Elder Gonzales will speak on September 11 in the Stake Center.

Elder Kai Mitchell will serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Australia Sydney North Mission, English speaking. He enters the Missionary Training Center on September 14th. Kai's parents are Kenny and Kelli Mitchell of the Mesquite 7th Ward. Elder Mitchell will speak on Sept. 11, 2016 at 11 am at the Mesquite Stake Center.

James Bourne of Pack 2008 received his Arrow of Light. Kelton Chamberlain presents an awesome and memorable ceremony.