The Boy Scouts of the Mesquite Nevada Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held an environmental science merit badge class. There were 24 boys in attendance, and all of them completed the requirements to receive the merit badge. The class was held in Bunkerville at the park, which gave the young men a great opportunity to do (3) 20 minute observations of their surroundings, and the environment. The class was taught by Chris Allen, with Jaydel Wilson assisting him. Each month, the merit badge powwow committee will be hosting a different merit badge class. Chris Allen said “Our goal is to teach the scouts all of the required merit badges that are needed for the rank of Eagle Scout in an 18 month period. Traditionally we do a merit badge powwow at the beginning of each year. Our goal is to get the boys out into the environment in which they will be learning the different merit badges. This will hopefully give them more enthusiasm to learn, and eliminate the need for sitting in a classroom for 10 - 12 hours for two weekends in January. Putting the scouts in the environment of the class they were learning, helped educate them.” Next month’s class will be first aid, but parents can be assured that classes will not be held in the ER at Mesa View! Each month the counselor teaching the class will be given the opportunity to pick the class location. To reach the goal of Eagle Scout there are 13 required and 8 elective merit badges needed. If the scouts attend these required merit badge classes it gives them more versatility at summer camps to enjoy elective classes like archery, rifle shooting, and canoeing.

Saturday, April 15th Pres. Anderson hosted nearly thirty people at the Heritage Park Pavilion for a dessert social. Everyone enjoyed cheese cake and apple pie served by organizer Mark Barnum of the Mesquite Stake High Council while they visited and heard stories about the varied life experiences of members of the stake. Some attendees were there to bid farewell for the season as they are preparing to return to cooler locations for the summer.

ACTIVITY DAYS - My Body Is A Temple The Activity Day Girls, ages 8-11, from the 3rd & 7th Wards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints recently held an activity titled My Body Is A Temple. Easter season and Christ's miraculous resurrection, reminds us that our body is truly a gift. Our body is a temple! It is a house for the Spirit of God. The girls were reminded how to keep it healthy! A healthy spirit requires that we remember who we are. We are special. We are children of God. A healthy mind requires us to keep our minds pure. We are more beautiful than we think. What we put in our mind effects us. Only watch, read and listen to things that are positive and uplifting. A healthy body requires us to stay healthy and safe. Leaders, Heather Blazzard and Wendy Rasmussen, discussed health, hygiene, nutrition and exercise. The girls identified healthy foods and unhealthy choices. Special guest speaker Dena Hoff was the concluding speaker and covered the topic of safety. Dena is a certified instructor of the radKids program each summer and highlighted a few important tips to keep safe. She read Sam's Secret to the girls. It is about a young boy becoming brave enough to tell his parents of the sexual misconduct to him by an older boy. Dena taught the girls some defensive moves and ways to draw attention to yourself in an abduction attempt. It gave the girls knowledge. The activity ended with the girls being told that knowledge was power. Everyone had a great time learning! Dena volunteers with the radKids program each summer and highlighted a few important tips to keep safe. She read Sam's Secret to the girls. It is about a young boy becoming brave enough to tell his parents of the sexual misconduct to him by an older boy. Dena taught the girls some defensive moves and ways to draw attention to yourself in an abduction attempt. It gave the girls knowledge.

Nearly 200 youth and their leaders from Virgin Valley recently attended an event at Dixie State University where they joined thousands of others to use technology to upload 18,564 records that they had discovered, uncovered and shared from their own family histories. These young people from the ages of 14 thru 18 came to learn, be entertained and eat great food. The event was open to teens of all faiths and was attended by youth from 29 stakes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the region. The event, called KINnect YOU, was put on by youth and their leaders with community partners and national donors. To prepare, the kids had been using their cell phones to photograph documents and images that their families wanted to save. Using the Family Search Memories app, they were able upload these records to be gathered and shared. Also, importantly 12,112 images were identified and tagged, meaning names were put to faces. One local teen (Matt B.) said “What a great way to get Family History across to us young people—by letting us enjoy the day with friends, music, fun and food. I hope this will be a yearly event.” Another, (Margaret H.) especially liked the speaker Hank Smith because “he related family history to modern times and in a humorous way.” She also added “Can I say the food was 10 out of 10. It was great!” (All were served Chik-Fil-A.) Attendees could choose from 13 classes, they heard inspirational talks by popular speakers like Sam Payne and John Hilton III and a key note address by Elder Steven E. Snow. A favorite entertainer was James the Mormon, a young artist who is becoming increasing known for his clean Rap style music.

The new YW for 2017

Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk from April 2010, entitled “Your Happily Ever After,” was the inspiration behind the theme we chose for our New Beginnings. We called it our “Pageant of Values.” Transforming the Relief Society room into a beautiful showroom with lights on low, the staging area in the front of the room being lit with strings of patio lighting and chair backs adorned with value-colored tulle bows, a tea-light lit white carpet runway added to the setting as our Young Women (dressed up as Disney princesses) then made their entrance, being introduced one at a time as they walked up the runway and took their places at the front of the room. Our panel of judges, Bishop Kevin Jensen, Ron Crossman and Don Barnum, quizzed each princess about different aspects of the Young Women program. As part of the questioning, the princesses each shared a value experience/project she has done or is working on. Each princess was then awarded a “value” based on her answers and was presented with a sash by the YW president, Victoria Hafen. Our princesses were Cinderella (Sarah Barnum-Faith), Sleeping Beauty (Kaitlyn Reber-Divine Nature), Moana (Bella Sonnenberg-Individual Worth), Merida (Sarah Walters-Virtue), Belle (Mira Larsen-Knowledge), Elsa (Margaret Hafen-Choice & Accountability), Rapunzel (Abbie Barnum-Integrity), Snow White (Eris Lewis-Good Works). The 4 New Beehives that will be joining us this year were then spotlighted and presented with a “princess” sash and a tiara. The evening was concluded with remarks by the bishop, and paparazzi (Autumn LaForce, adviser) doing photo shoots. Disney-themed refreshments of value-colored frozen bananas and pineapple sherbet floats were served.

An overnight camp out was held at the Hafen Ranch for the 11-year old boy scouts from 9 troops in Virgin River Valley District with about 25 scouts camping for the night. These troops are sponsored by the Mesquite Nevada Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The scouts were working on the Tenderfoot rank on the Trail to Eagle by learning to set up tents and preparing supper on Friday night and breakfast on Sat. morning. Bishop Brian Wursten spoke at the campfire program explaining the steps on the trail to earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He explained that as they progressed they could attend week long summer camps and earn merit badges toward the 21 required to receive the rank of Eagle Scout. At the campfire program scouts from each unit entertained the others with skits. On Saturday morning they participated in a service project for the Hafen Ranch by picking up nails from the pallets.

Tyson Wilson and Hogan Fowles received their Eagle Scout awards at a Court of Honor. They are members of Venture Crew 2341 sponsored by Bunkerville 2nd Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tyson’s Eagle Project was installing lights on the flag pole at the Bunkerville LDS Church so the flag can be lighted at night. His favorite merit badges were rife shooting and tracking. He is a senior at Virgin Valley High School where he a member of the band, marching band, orchestra, FFA, Interact, and National Honor Society. He is the son of Vicki and Trent Wilson and he plans to serve a mission for the LDS church when he graduates. Hogan’s Eagle Project was painting and stenciling the green arches at Virgin Valley High School that at the entrance to the parking lots. His favorite merit badges were archery and camping. He also did a 50-mile hike in the Unitahs with his Venture Crew. He participated in football, basketball and golf at Virgin Valley High School and has received a scholarship to play football at Snow College. He is the son of Dave and Kris Fowles. Mark Tichenor, chairman of the Virgin River Valley BSA, formed the Eagle’s nest asking all those that had received their Eagle Award to come up front and be seated. Evan Wilson, Tyson’s grandfather, gave the Eagle Charge, challenging them to “build your lives on a solid foundation of clean living and lead only to the best and highest service so that those who know you will be inspired to finer living. America has many fine things, but America depends on the quality of its citizens. America has a great past and you can help make the future even greater. I charge you to dedicate your life to the common good, honest work, unselfish service and reverence for God. I welcome you into the brotherhood of the Eagle scouts and ask you to reaffirm your allegiance to the scout oat and law by pledging your “sacred honor” just as the signers of the Declaration of Independence did.” Wilson had Tyson and Hogan raise their right arm, making the scout sign and repeat the Scout Oath and Law. Crescent Hardy said, “you have both learned how to complete something. As you go through life there are always things to complete and move forward and remembering the scouting principles will help you attain your goal. The greatest privilege in life is to have a family and the scout oath and law will help you be a better father.” Hardy presented each of them with an American flag that was flown over the US Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Josh Tietjen, Hogan’s scoutmaster, spoke and asked Tyson and Hogan to remember the scout law and follow the 12 points of the scout law. “Remember each day to strive to live by these principles and I promise you, your life will be better and you will be able to touch others and make their lives better.” Hogan presented his mentor pin to Tietjen in appreciation for his help in completing his Eagle Project. Tyson presented his mentor pin to his Dad to thank him for his help along to trail to Eagle. Hogan and Tyson each gave their parents pins also. Mark Tichenor presented Hogan and Tyson pocket knives engraved with “Eagle Scout” to remind them of their commitment to continue to live the Scout Oath and Law.

Tyson Wilson and Hogan Fowles received their Eagle Scout awards at a Court of Honor. They are members of Venture Crew 2341 sponsored by Bunkerville 2nd Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tyson’s Eagle Project was installing lights on the flag pole at the Bunkerville LDS Church so the flag can be lighted at night. His favorite merit badges were rife shooting and tracking. He is a senior at Virgin Valley High School where he a member of the band, marching band, orchestra, FFA, Interact, and National Honor Society. He is the son of Vicki and Trent Wilson and he plans to serve a mission for the LDS church when he graduates. Hogan’s Eagle Project was painting and stenciling the green arches at Virgin Valley High School that at the entrance to the parking lots. His favorite merit badges were archery and camping. He also did a 50-mile hike in the Unitahs with his Venture Crew. He participated in football, basketball and golf at Virgin Valley High School and has received a scholarship to play football at Snow College. He is the son of Dave and Kris Fowles. Mark Tichenor, chairman of the Virgin River Valley BSA, formed the Eagle’s nest asking all those that had received their Eagle Award to come up front and be seated. Evan Wilson, Tyson’s grandfather, gave the Eagle Charge, challenging them to “build your lives on a solid foundation of clean living and lead only to the best and highest service so that those who know you will be inspired to finer living. America has many fine things, but America depends on the quality of its citizens. America has a great past and you can help make the future even greater. I charge you to dedicate your life to the common good, honest work, unselfish service and reverence for God. I welcome you into the brotherhood of the Eagle scouts and ask you to reaffirm your allegiance to the scout oat and law by pledging your “sacred honor” just as the signers of the Declaration of Independence did.” Wilson had Tyson and Hogan raise their right arm, making the scout sign and repeat the Scout Oath and Law. Crescent Hardy said, “you have both learned how to complete something. As you go through life there are always things to complete and move forward and remembering the scouting principles will help you attain your goal. The greatest privilege in life is to have a family and the scout oath and law will help you be a better father.” Hardy presented each of them with an American flag that was flown over the US Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Josh Tietjen, Hogan’s scoutmaster, spoke and asked Tyson and Hogan to remember the scout law and follow the 12 points of the scout law. “Remember each day to strive to live by these principles and I promise you, your life will be better and you will be able to touch others and make their lives better.” Hogan presented his mentor pin to Tietjen in appreciation for his help in completing his Eagle Project. Tyson presented his mentor pin to his Dad to thank him for his help along to trail to Eagle. Hogan and Tyson each gave their parents pins also. Mark Tichenor presented Hogan and Tyson pocket knives engraved with “Eagle Scout” to remind them of their commitment to continue to live the Scout Oath and Law.