Nathan Porter is the new S&I Seminary Principal. He and his family are happy to be here and he is excited to teach about the life of Jesus. The theme for this year is John 13:15 and the study will be the New Testament. Seminary Kickoff was held August 14, 2016 where some of the Seminary Council members spoke concerning the importance of Seminary. Shalee Hafen shared her testimony of Seminary and asked the youth to invite their friends. Emily Leavitt spoke concerning her thoughts on how important the life and atonement of Jesus Christ is to the world. Jace Haviland said it was more important to walk as the Savior did than where the Savior walked. Reid Jensen reminded the youth that their level of participation in the class lessons would transform it into more than just a class. The council asked the students to read the lesson beforehand and come prepared to add their input which would in turn invite the Spirit. The council is willing to work hard and they'll need everyone's help. Brother Porter informed the students and parents that this was a group effort. He is there to teach, the youth are there to learn and the parents are there to encourage and engage their youth in conversation. "Don't let seminary end when they walk out...ask questions of your children, learn from them and encourage discussion." "I promise we will open our scriptures this year" Brother Porter emphatically stated. Seminary will be using the Doctrinal Mastery this year, the students will be memorizing the doctrine of the church. "Brother Porter will be an excellent seminary teacher" President Anderson told the audience. "Seminary is an important tool but there's more. Scripture will teach you but you must come to church " President Anderson announced the names of seminary teachers as Brother Darrell Garlick in Littlefield, with Sister Kris Bingham and Sister Janet Dodenbier in Mesquite. Sister Jamie Jones will be a substitute teacher when needed. He closed by saying "What was good enough 5 years ago is not enough for the youth of today. Satan watches for the caliber of the spirits coming into morality and he knows the end is drawing near." Brother Nathan Porter with his wife, Tiffany and son Hudson. "Young people, I ask you to participate in Seminary. Study your scriptures daily. Listen to your teachers carefully. Apply what you learn prayerfully." President Thomas S. Monson August 12, 2011

The Mesquite Stake celebrated the 24th of July by reminiscing the struggles and accomplishments of the Virgin Valley's pioneers. Ice cream was served to help cool the crowd in the 108 degree weather. Spanish Branch President David Leavitt talked about how fortunate this valley is to be able to turn on the faucet and get clean cool water. He talked about some of his ancestors who help dig the ditches in Bunkerville that continue to bring water from the river even to this day. Surviving the pioneer life was hard and involved backbreaking work. Derrick Hafen entertained all with his cowboy poetry and President David Anderson spoke about strengthening our families. President Anderson told us how our battles are different than the pioneers. The battles the pioneers fought were physical, while this generation's battles will be fought to preserve and increase their spiritual well-being. There were water games for the kids, and a demonstration using only rubber bands to cut a watermelon. The Saints enjoyed visiting and sharing spiritually uplifting stories, despite the heat.

Marlan Felshaw has been called to a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He will serve 24 months in the Texas Lubbock Mission (Spanish Speaking). Marlan leaves for the Mexico City Missionary Training Center on August 2, 2016. Gilbert and Deon Felshaw of the Mesquite 1st Ward are his parents. Elder Felshaw will be speaking prior to his departure on July 31, 2016 at 1pm in the Stake Center located at 100 N. Arrowhead Ln.

St. George Temple Garrret Hafen, Jaden Hollingshead, Lorin Reber, Amber Sandoval, Kai Mitchell, Marlan Felshaw and Mern Hafen

Elder Mern Hafen will serve a 24 month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He reports to the Missionary Training Center on July 27th and will serve in the Toronto Canada Mission, English Speaking. Merlin and Victoria Hafen of the Mesquite 6th Ward are his parents. Elder Hafen will speak July 24, 2016 at 11:00 am, in the the Whipple building located at 100 N. Arrowhead Lane.

Sister Amber Sandoval has been called to a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She will serve in the Mississippi Jackson Mission for 18 months, reporting to the Missionary Training Center in Provo July 27th. Amber is the daughter of Ken and Gina Sandoval in the Mesquite 6th Ward. Sister Sandoval will speak July 24, 2016, 11 am in the Whipple Chapel located at 100 N. Arrowhead.

Lorin Reber received his Eagle Scout Award at a ceremony on Saturday July 23, 2016. He is a member of Venture Crew 2640 sponsored by the Mesquite Sixth Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His Eagle project was building a fence around the community garden on Hafen Lane. Lorin earned 31 merit badges including a bronze and gold palm. He graduated from Virgin Valley High School and will serve a mission to Mexico for the LDS church. He is the son of Jennifer and Larry Reber. Mern Hafen, a fellow Eagle Scout, spoke about scouting and how it builds character, self-reliance and teaches ethical standard. “Eagle project give approximately 13.5 million hours of service to communities and about 30 million is donated to fund the Eagle project in the United States. Eagle Scouts value family relations, and continue to serve their communities. Many Eagle Scouts find themselves in real life situations using the skills they learned in scouting. Scouting helps young men find good reliable friends and resist peer pressure,” Hafen said. Bishop Kevin Jensen gave Lorin the Eagle Charge and had him repeat and reaffirm his commitment to the Scout Oath. “As an Eagle Scout you have undertaken a solemn obligation and responsibility to lead only to the best and lift up every task you do to the highest. I challenge you to dedicate your skills to the common good and finest living and do your duty to God and to be a good example to your fellow scouts. Serve an honorable mission for your church and return and help the younger scouts on the trail.” Lorin presented his parents with pins to thank them for their help in scouting. His mother pinned the Eagle Award on Lorin. He presented mentor pins to those that helped him with merit badges and his project – Merlin Hafen, Bishop Kevin Jensen, Kelton Chamberlain, Matt Reber and his grandparents, Pat and Sam Reber. Mark Tichenor, Virgin Valley District Chairman BSA, presented him with a pocketknife engraved with the words, “Eagle Scout” to remind him of his obligations to continue to live the Scout Oath and Law. Tichenor said, “Lorin took the lead on the rifle range at Camp Kolob helping the younger scouts; I depended on him at summer camp.”

Elder Garret Hafen will be serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Oregon Eugene Mission. Derek and Kim Hafen of the Bunkerville 2nd Ward, are Garret's parents. He will report to the Missionary Training Center on July 27. Elder Hafen speaks in the Bunkerville Chapel at 11:00 on July 17, 2016.

Sister Taylor Empey has served her mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Washington Spokane Mission. Taylor is the daughter of Craig and Cynthia Empey of Bunkerville 1st Ward. She plans on returning to Snow College. Sister Empey will speak July 17, 2016 at 9 am in the Bunkerville Chapel.

Ben West of Pack 2008 received his Arrow of Light.

Boy Scouts from 11 troops in Virgin Valley sponsored by the Mesquite Nevada Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints participated in summer camp at Kolob near Zion National Park the week of June 20 -25. Seventy scouts ages 12-14 went camping and twenty scouts ages 15-16 went as junior staff to help with camp activities. Each morning started with a flag ceremony and a patriot story. Nearly 300 merit badges were earned including first aid, environmental science, archery, rifle shooting, wilderness survival, scouting heritage, emergency preparedness, orienteering, leather work, wood carving and basketry. Eleven-year-old scouts were invited to come Tues. and Wed. staying overnight on Tuesday to earn one night for their camping merit badge. They worked on their trail to first class rotating through 6 stations learning maps, first aid, identification of plants, knot tying and fire starting among other things. Jeff Hughes, a counselor, spent many hours helping the 11-year old scouts pass their scout rank, tenderfoot, and second class ranks. The scouts did a 5-mile hike from the top of Kolob down the mountain to Kolob Kamp the first day. After setting up camp they had 5 rotations of fun and games consisting of knot tying, water balloon contest, a trust fall and other skills. Wednesday they had a flag retirement ceremony with Pres. David Leavitt as the MC. He told the story of the battle of Fort McHenry in 1814 and the writing of the Star Spangled Banner. He also told the story of the prisoner of war in Vietnam who after being punished for having a tiny American flag sewn inside his shirt returned to his cell and immediately started sewing a new American flag with a bamboo needle. Cody Law taught the scouts how to start a fire with a bow; many of the scouts tried this and were successful and earned a bead. They also earned beads for learning knot tying with David Leavitt. Mike Kazek did the cooking for the junior staff and taught some cooking skills. Mark Larson, a varsity scout serving on the junior staff, helped the younger scouts with their shelters for the wilderness survival merit badge. “I was really impressed with the shelters they built for sleeping in the forest,” Mark said. “The crawdad cook was awesome,” said Jaron Hafen, “there were lots of crawdads to catch at the reservoir and David Leavitt helped us cook them; they were awesome!” Friday the scouts went to Kolob Reservoir for water activities with canoe races, learning how to swamp the canoe and right it again. The scouts built a raft by tying logs together and attempted to row it to the other side of the lake. Campfire programs in the evening included skits, run-on and songs by each troop. Thursday night the scouts participated in the Honor Trail and one night they had a scavenger hunt. “A great deal of thanks goes to all the merit badge counselors and teachers for making Kolob a great week,” said Art Shaner program director for the summer scout camp.