A crowd that filled the chapel and beyond were delighted with the presentation " The Spirit of Christmas" Sunday evening, December 13, 2015. The Mesquite Nevada Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were represented with musical groups and speakers from Littlefield, Mesquite and Bunkerville. Each ward or congregation provided a Christmas musical number interspersed with interpreters representing figures from the nativity. The variety and wide age range of the performers added a special spirit of joy and wonder. On a large screen at the front of the chapel specially produced videos showed the wondrous events of that sacred night long ago. David Anderson, President of the Mesquite Stake concluded the program with a moving testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He encouraged everyone present to take the spirit that we felt there and carry it through all our activities this season. Videos may be viewed at mormon.org

Ted & Nancy Mickelson will serve a 23 month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They will leave on December 28, 2015 to the Canada, Winnipeg Mission and will be member and leadership support missionaries for 23 months. Brother and Sister Mickelson will speak in the Mesquite 2nd Ward meeting on December 13, 2015 at 10 am in the Littlefield Chapel.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has called Theron N. & Chris Jensen to serve in the Urdaneta Philippines Mission. On December 14, they will leave Mesquite for a twenty-three month mission. Brother and Sister Jensen will speak in Mesquite 2nd Ward November 29, 2015 at 11 am in the Littlefield Chapel located 3260 E Old Hwy 91, Littlefield, Arizona.

They are the first 3 Eagle Scouts from Troop 87. Boy Scout Troop 87, sponsored by the Virgin Valley Spanish Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held a special Court of Honor on Sunday, January 26, 2014, at the LDS chapel 100 North Arrowhead, to honor three young men who earned Scouting's highest honor, the rank of Eagle Scout. There were 65 in attendance, including many Scouts and their families. Edgar Silveyra, 18, completed all of the requirements for Eagle, which included a service project. His project was re-striping the parking lot of the Mesa View Regional Hospital. He was assisted by several Scouts and adults. Fernando Gonzalez, 17, also completed all of the requirements for Eagle, which included a service project. The project consisted of painting the curbs red for the No Parking zones at the Sports Complex for the City of Mesquite. Many Scouts and some adults helped with this project. Kevin Zúñiga, 17, completed the requirements for Eagle Scout, including a service project for the City of Mesquite and the Mesquite Fire Department. He and his team of 10 Scouts re-painted approximately 45 fire hydrants and the red curbing nearby each one. Congratulations Eagle Scouts!

Cub Scouts from Bear Den 2640 sponsored by the Mesquite 6th Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were given a tour of the Mesquite Veteran’s center by Ed Fizer, Vietnam Veteran. Mr. Fizer taught them about the history of the U.S. flag and to be respectful of our flag. He gave each of the scouts a star from a retired flag to put in the pocket of their scout shirt. “This little star will help you know that the U.S. flag is not forgotten,” he said. He also gave them a Vietnam Veteran coin as a keepsake to remember their visit to the center. The scouts saw many uniforms of the different services, equipment and memorabilia of different wars. The scouts saw 55 plaques of Veteran’s that hang in the center. Ed showed them his office where he has many pictures of his time in Vietnam. The scouts were accompanied by their leaders, Blake and Michelle Syndergaard.

The Littlefield Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Desert Rose Baptist Church participated in a food drive on November 24, 2015. Together with Boy Scout Troop 2042, over 650 pounds of canned food and various other food products were collected. Food Bank Director Darr Willy and Bishop Bob Frisby were pleased with the communities’ response to the food drive. The Food Bank will benefit the residents of the Littlefield/Beaver Dam area. Photo names l to r: Mike Martin, Bob Frisby, Bruce Quittschreiber and Darr Willy

Boy Scouts from Virgin River Valley BSA will doing their annual Food Drive the week of November 17-21, 2015. The cub scouts will deliver the yellow bags Nov. 17-20 and hang them on your door. The boy scouts will then pick up the bags of food on Saturday, Nov. 21. Please have your food out before 10:00 am. They will also pick up any bags that are still on the doors. Scouts from Troop 2060 sponsored by the Elks Lodge will be at Smith's Food on Sat. Nov. 21 and you may donate your food there. Littlefield scout troop will collect food and give it to the Beaver Dam food bank. There are 11 scout troops in Virgin Valley sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The food collected in Mesquite and Bunkerville will be taken to the Salvation Army where it will be weighed and the girl scouts will sort and stock the shelves. The cub scouts and boy scouts receive service hours for the time they spend delivering and picking up the bags. The Salvation Army will be able to distribute the food to those in need this winter. We thank you for your support of this service project by the scouts in the Valley. Ezra Baker, Andrew Cox,Josh Matthews back row: McKay Mulitalo, Hyrum Baker, Chance and Zackery Thornton

A 50 mile hike in the high Uintas was completed by 7 Varsity and Venture Scouts and 6 leaders from Virgin Valley and Maryland. They are members of Varsity Teams and Venture Crews sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kameron Mickelson, Virgin Valley District Activities chairman BSA, planned and coordinated the hike. The scouts who went were: Colton Mickelson, Christian Martinez, Dorian Fisher, Dawson Abbott, Chandler Abbott, and Brenden Irvin. The leaders were Kameron Mickelson, Curtis Jensen, Chad Abbott, Mark Tichenor, and Tanner Tichenor. Tim Franklin and his father, Dale, came from Maryland to join the group. The actual mileage by GPS was 63 miles. Mark Tichenor, Virgin River Valley district chairman, carried a step calculator that logged 182,000 steps along the trail. They hiked 6 mountain passes that averaged 12,000 feet. They followed the Highline Trail and hiked through Dead Horse Pass and Porcupine Pass at 12,200 feet. The hike took them 6 days as they started on the trail on Monday morning and completed it on Saturday. The scouts carried 35 lb. packs with all their sleeping gear and food. Mr. Mickelson said “We had a campfire on Thursday night and talked about what we had learned along the way, but most nights they were too tired to do anything but go to bed. Every morning we would give a cheer and when we reached the top of a pass we would yell, still alive! We saw great scenery and counted the trip as a great experience. “ Names for the pictures: #13 Front row: Brenden Irvin, Christian Martinez, Dawson Abbott, Chandler Abbott Back row: Dorian Fisher, Dale Fisher, Colton Mickelson, Curtis Jensen, Mark Tichenor, Kameron Mickelson, Tim Franklin, Chad Abbott Very Back: Tanner Tichenor Picture # 81 Porcupine Pass 12,200 Feet. Curtis Jensen, Brenden Irvin, Chad Abbott, Chandler Abbott, Dawson Abbott, Dorian Fisher, Christian Martinez, Mark Tichenor, Tanner Tichenor, Tim Franklin, Dale Franklin, Colton Mickelson, Kameron Mickelson

Omar Flores received his Eagle Scout Award at a ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 15. He is a member of Venture Crew 2087 sponsored by the Spanish Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Omar built planter boxes at the garden for the Virgin Valley Museum He is a senior at Virgin Valley High School where he is the president of JAG. Omar is a member of the band and plays trombone and trumpet. He also plays the piano and organ. He is the son of Elizabeth Delgado and Jose Flores. Following graduation in June he plans to attend college and go on a mission for his church. Omar said, “I so enjoyed going to all the summer camps and especially Camp Kolob. I went to Maple Dell this past summer as junior staff with Troop 2087. Archery was my favorite merit badge.” Tony Oxborrow, his first scout leader spoke about the standards that an Eagle Scout must live to be an honorable man. “Living with honor is the foundation of the Scouting program. Being honorable is the formation of good character and citizenship. The example you set, Omar, will be a credit to your home, your community, and your church.” Oxborrow said, “The first point of standard is to use your God given agency and have the moral courage to stand for right. The 2nd standard is honesty; honesty gives you peace of mind and self-respect. Give a full day of work for your pay.” Service is the 3rd standard to commit yourself to do; take opportunities to serve in your home, church community and school. The 4th standard to live by is work. Work is honorable and brings a person a feeling of self-worth. “ Oxborrow advised Omar to, “Set goals for yourself, do your best in school and educate your mind. Keep learning in music but make sure you choose music carefully for music has a profound effect on the mind and spirit and behavior.” Mr. Oxborrow also gave Omar the Eagle Charge and reminded him of his duty to God and country and his fellow scouts. “America has many good things and a great past but also a great future. It is only as good as the quality of its citizens. I charge you to lift up every task you do to the finest living and dedicated yourself to the common good, unselfish service and reverence for God. Be a guide to other scouts and an example in your community.” His mother pinned the Eagle Badge on his uniform and Omar presented pins to his mother and father for their support on his trail to Eagle. Omar presented his mentor pins to Tony Oxborrow and Edward Ponce, his scout leaders through the years who have helped him achieve his rank. Ponce said, “Omar is a great scout, determined, hardworking and follows through on what he starts. I helped him with the paper work, but it was his self motivation that got him to the rank of Eagle.” Spanish Branch President David Leavitt said, “Omar didn’t want to miss the last scout summer camp so he signed up to be on the staff so he could still go with his fellow scouts. He is stalwart and I appreciate his dependability in always coming to troop meetings and helping.” Mark Tichenor, Chairman of the Virgin River Valley BSA, presented Omar with a pocket knife engraved with “Eagle Scout” to remind him of his great accomplishment.

A large choir of the Church's Youth sang at the 10th Annual 1000 Flags Over Mesquite in November 2015. The following from the Mesquite Local News; This year’s 10th Annual 1000 Flags Over Mesquite proved to be the biggest one yet, with more participants and spectators than ever before. There were a total of 65 flags that were sponsored by the end of the event. Exchange Club President Pam Gagnon, center, presents a check for $2,000 to Ken Maynard, President of the Mesquite Veterans Center, right, during the Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11. Exchange Club President Pam Gagnon, center, presents a check for $2,000 to Ken Maynard, President of the Mesquite Veterans Center, right, during the Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11. Photo by Stephanie Frehner. “In the ten years of doing this, each year touches my heart more than the last. I am just awestruck by what the community has done. Wednesday night, all the young people were here,” commented Mesquite Exchange Club member Paul Benedict. During the Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11, the attending crowd was fortunate to stand with local Girl Scout Troop 27 as they presented the Pledge of Allegiance. The Mesquite Stake of LDS Youth sang the National Anthem and the Mesquite Veterans Honor Guard presented colors. “Over the past few years, the LDS youth have usually held their own ceremonies to teach about the flags and history of the military. This year, they asked to be part of the Veterans Ceremony on Veterans Day,” commented Benedict. Mesquite Fire Department retired a flag with the help of local Boy Scout Troop 2060. “One of the important traditions of the 1000 Flags Over Mesquite is the Retirement of Colors by the Mesquite Fire Department,” Benedict added. Photo by Stephanie Frehner. Mesquite Fire Captain William Martinez, right, presents pieces of the American Flag he had dismantled to one of the participating members of Boy Scout Troop 2060 during the Retirement of the Colors Ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 15. Members of the local Boy Scouts Troop 2060 assist Captain William Martinez as he dismantles an American Flag stripe by stripe while Firefighter Keith Browning keeps the patch of stars safe. Under the direction of Mesquite Fire Captain William Martinez, the flag was dismantled stripe by stripe as Benedict read the infamous poem by Ruth Apperson Rous “I am the Flag,” which detailed the meaning of each piece. Three of the Troop’s Boy Scouts took the pieces of the flag to its final resting place inside a makeshift fire as Isaac Talahytewa played Taps.

Brother Tony and Sister Marilyn Oxborrow returned to Mesquite September 1st after serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Oxborrows served 18 months in the Family History Preservation, Huaraz Peruvian Missions. Brother and Sister Oxborrow will speak in the Spanish Branch on November 8, 2015 at the Stake Center, 100 N. Arrowhead.

W.R.A.P. Week is October 25th - November 1st and our Stake will participate in this national White Ribbons Against Pornography. White Ribbons are provided by H.O.M.E. Take a stand for decency.