With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Arthur William “Bill” Sessions, who left this world peacefully at the age of 83 in his cherished home in Bunkerville, Nevada, on April 27, 2026. Bill was born on March 8, 1943, in Marysville, Utah, to Arthur George Sessions and Anna Laura Rasmussen. Growing up in a small town, he developed a spirit of kindness and determination that would carry him throughout his life. On November 18, 1967, he married the love of his life, Gloria Kay Sessions, and together they shared 59 years of love, laughter, and devotion. Their eternal bond was later sealed in the St. George Temple on November 9, 2013. Bill was a proud and devoted father to five children: William Kirk Sessions, Sonia Kay Smith, Sara Lynn Allen, Arthur Scott Sessions, and Terry Bill Sessions. His family grew to include 18 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren, each of whom he loved deeply and cherished beyond measure. He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Gloria Kay Sessions; his son, William Kirk Sessions; his sisters, Anita Lynn Sessions and Alice Anamae Price; and his son-in-law, Clint Smith. Bill dedicated over 50 years of his life to HVAC and appliance repair, building a respected career and eventually running his own business in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was known throughout Las Vegas, Bunkerville, and Mesquite for his skill, reliability, and strong work ethic. He also proudly served his country in the United States Navy for four years. Bill had a vibrant personality and a gift for storytelling that drew people in and made them feel at home. His humor, quick wit, and love for a good debate made him unforgettable. He had a way of treating everyone not as a stranger, but as a lifelong friend. He held a special place in his heart for the underdog and lived a life marked by generosity, compassion, and genuine connection. A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bill found strength and community in his beliefs. His life was centered on his love for his family, his faith, and serving others. A celebration of Bill’s life will be held on Friday, May 8, at 11:30 AM at the Bunkerville Chapel, followed by a graveside service at 1:00 PM at the Bunkerville Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the chapel. Bill will be deeply missed but lovingly remembered by all who knew him. His legacy of laughter, love, and kindness will live on in the hearts of his family and friends.

The Mesquite Days Mayor's breakfast, May 2, 2026. The cooking was done by Mayor Whipple, East Stake President Toone, West Stake President Hollingshead, some wonderful Sisters and Elders.

Sister Kiera Davis has served her mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kiera will return home on May 6, 2026. She served in the Panama Panama City Mission. Sister Kiera Davis will speak on Mother's Day, May 10th, 11:00 AM in the Stake Center. It is located at 100 N. Arrowhead Ln., Mesquite, Nevada. Kai and Amy Davis of the Spanish Branch, East Stake are Kiera's parents. Welcome Home!

We had the four new sister missionaries in our home. We are so blessed to have them. The spirit is so strong with them. They are ready to teach our friends! Invite your friends to meet with you and them. The gospel is true, always has been and always will be!

Church Newsroom In advance of the upcoming general conference leadership session (April 2, 2026), The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  has announced upcoming adjustments to the Sunday class meeting schedule to support members in their efforts to be lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. The adjustments will strengthen gospel learning in homes and congregations throughout the world. Beginning September 6, 2026, the alternating weekly schedule for Sunday School and quorum or class meetings will be replaced. Under the updated schedule: • Sunday School, Relief Society, Elders' quorum, Young Women and Aaronic Priesthood quorum meetings will be held each week. • Sacrament meeting will continue to be 60 minutes, followed by brief transition periods. • Sunday School and quorum and class meetings will each be 25 minutes. • Primary will continue every Sunday and will be 55 minutes, held while adults and youth attend their respective classes. • Where local circumstances necessitate, units may begin with Primary and quorum and class meetings and conclude with sacrament meeting. Visit the link below to learn more: https://Newsroom.ChurchOfJesusChrist.org/.../changes ...

This morning for the Sunday morning session of general conference, Joey and Karen Bowler was gracious enough to host a watch party! Many of the YSA kids that weren’t gone showed up and had a phenomenal experience as they were fed spiritually and physically! Thank you Brother & Sister Bowler for taking care of the YSA!

Scott Hafen, 57, of Mesquite, Nevada, died peacefully surrounded by loved ones on March 31, 2026, in St. George, Utah. Scott was born to loving parents Gary Bowler Hafen and Monta Louise Woods Hafen on October 28, 1968, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Quickly after his birth Scott had to be flown by his father along with his doctor to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Scott was a go getter from the start and loved being around people. Scott put this outgoing personality to use as the poster child, in 1974, for the March of Dimes, traveling as an ambassador with his mother for several years. During his travels he met Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Presidents and First Ladies of the United States along with professional athletes and celebrities. He also spent a lot of time at Children’s Primary Hospital in Salt Lake City; his disability never stopped him from living life. Scott spent his childhood and younger years in Las Vegas and Graduated from Rancho High School. Scott loved his job at the Las Vegas Water District where he worked for twenty plus years. He also loved the outdoors, a special bike was built for him, and he used his arms to pedal and took many long bike rides biking all over Utah, Arizona and southern Nevada. He participated in bike races and wheelchair races and did extremely well. His love for the outdoors also included the love for off roading in his Honda Odessey with friends. Scott also had a love for cars but especially loved fast cars and owned many over the years and raced in them every chance he got. Scott was a lover of food, dogs and people all his life. He especially loved his bulldog Flash who was his constant companion for many years. He loved socializing with anyone who would stop for a chat. He had many favorite spots in Mesquite and St. George, where many friends were made. Spots such as the Sinclair Gas Station, Rain Thai Cuisine, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chick-fil-A, J Dawgs, Arby’s for the potato cakes and of course getting his Dr. Pepper. He had a memory like a steel trap and remembered important details about those he loved and met. Family was central to his life and he adored his nieces and nephews as he would his own children. Scott is survived by his Mother Monta Hafen, Siblings Brad (Lena) Hafen, Sondra (Jay) Holmstead, Diana (Beau) Strickler, Brett Hafen, various Nieces, Nephews and Cousins. He is preceded in death by his father Gary Bowler Hafen, his Sister-In-Law Lori Hafen, Nephew Hap Holmstead and Niece Lola Holmstead. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday April 18, 2026, at 11AM at Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 100 North Arrowhead Lane, Mesquite, Nevada 89027, with a viewing being held prior to the funeral from 9am – 10:45am. Loved ones and friends may leave condolences for Scott’s Family at Starmortuary.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Scott Wade Hafen, please visit our flower store .

Virgin Valley History Discovery Day was held March 2, 2026, 1 at Heritage Park. Many local history displays were inside while outside there was food to taste and skills to practice, demonstrations and activities for children – Panning for gold, horseback rides, petting bunnies and baby goats or getting dunked in the water tank if the ball hit the target, hoop rolling as pioneer children, or watch branding irons heated and your initial burned into wood. The VFW presented the flag ceremony with a flag raising and the Star-Spangled Banner. Pres. Hollingshead, West Stake Pres., and Tavis Wakefield, counselor in East Stake Presidency welcomed everyone and spoke of the Heritage we have received from our ancestors. “We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before and with the freedom and opportunity they made this valley a welcome place to live. We have come to remember their ways of life and learn from them,” Pres. Travis Wakefield said. “I remember meeting Nellie and Vida Hughes and telling us of the summer months when they slept outside. They would wet their sheets in Virgin River water and when they awoke in the night, they would wet them again - covering themselves with wet sheets they went back to sleep even in the heat of the summer nights. We thank them for their hard work, their blood, sweat and tears that it took to build this valley – we love them for their perseverance.” Pres. Hollingshead grew up on a farm in Utah, and they used a brand to mark every cow with a brand or ear mark. “We knew it was out cow!” The pioneering spirit of ancestors teaches us to know who we are and to whom we belong. “With faith and hard work, they looked after one another. That pioneering spirit and same spiritual feeling exists today in this valley – There is a wonderful sense of community here. We have come to honor our heritage and renew relationships and to gather in Christ with a spirit of love and unity.” A lunch of Dutch Oven food, a pioneer legacy, was demonstrated and shared – Dutch Oven lunch of chicken, potatoes with plenty of onions and ham and bacon was cooked in 22 Dutch Oven over an open fire pit. Jon Meierhoff learned Dutch Oven cooking from his grandfather. He used his special family seasoning recipe for the 500 lbs. of chicken and potatoes. Jon and Josh Thompson started the coals at 6:00 am. to prepare to feed the large crowd. Bluegrass music and some pop music entertained everyone thanks to Gary & Julie Butler and Teressa and Monte Mortenson, playing their instruments - fiddle, bass, banjo and guitar. Some of the favorite tunes were “Stop the World”, “Jerusalem Ridge”, “Foggy Mountain Special” and the exciting “Orange Blossom Special.” Baby goats to feed, bunnies to hold and pet, a tiny pig digging with his snout in his fenced in pen, ducks to watch and many breeds of chickens on the grassy area were a favorite spot for the children and parents. Tidus, a grandson of the Abbotts, said, “The baby goats are about 3 weeks old, and they are named Scout and Cinder!” Laren Abbot said he has Easter eggers, White Polish, and Bresse from France that are prized for their flavorful meat. He extoled the reasons duck is the ‘homesteader’s dream.’ Laren Abbott explained, “They lay delicious eggs, they are good mothers, meat and excellent parents. Death layers hen lay until they die and produce about 250 eggs a year living to be 12-15 years. The kids liked the Silkie small hens with fluffy feathers.” Horseback rides were a new experience for kids to ride around the field on horses thanks to Derik Hafen and family. You could try panning for gold at another station which was demonstrated by Clint Sudweeks. Girls were learning to thread needles and sew on buttons. McKay Magoon, local resident and a farrier, brought his truck with anvil and forge to demonstrate how he makes horseshoes. Starting with the long metal he heated it in the forge and placing it on the anvil, pounded and sharped it to fit his pattern. Repeating the steps of heating and pounding it eventually shaped to fit. Then it was - “Better step back!” he said as the sparks flew from the red-hot metal. When asked how he learned to be a farrier, “I went to school in Tucson and then I was an apprentice.” Calligraphy was demonstrated by Bob Lystrup. “I always wanted to learn so when I retired, I practiced and taught myself,” he said. There was a long line waiting him to write their name with his elegant old English style calligraphy in a color of their choice. Refreshments of homemade lemonade or raspberry lemonade was made by the Summer Crest Ward. Several varieties of homemade cookies and bars offered for sampling using family tested recipes were a favorite stop in the warm weather. Fresh baked tortillas with cheese were served hot off the griddle by Rosa and Isela Zarate. “Where in the World” did your ancestors come from?” was the question above a large world map; you could take a tiny flag pin and put it on the country of your ancestors – at last look Europe had the most pins squeezed together. Thanks to Benell and Rozanne Christensen helping everyone find the county of their ancestors. A patriotic T-shirt quilt was on display at a family history display. The red, white and blue shirts had been worn by David Abplanalp, Lt. Col, retired who served in the Navy and Army in Germany, Texas, Hawaii and Vietnam. The family heirloom- and Edison Cir. 1905 phonograph – was demonstrated by Jeff Hoyt. “Once it is turned on it keeps going using centrifugal force that turns the cylinders. The large tube attached can amplify the sound. I have a large morning glory tube that amplifies it to fill a large area with music of the early 1900’s,” he said. ‘Herbs and Honey’ was the title of Kylie and Megan Teerlink’s display of quart jars of herbs and their uses. “Many of the plants can be harvested here or in the mountains nearby – blue Elderberry, mullein, Chaparral Creosote, sage, and Brigham tea. The Indigenous people used them for medicinal purposes and for tea and also the pioneers,” they said. Bro. and Sr. Mace had a table with information about BYU Pathways to share with those who want to further their education. History displays inside included the history of the culinary water system in Virgin Valley by Aaron Bunker, hydrologist at the Virgin Valley Water District. Pioneer Women in the valley displayed pictures of women who served the community by Geraldine Zarate. The history of the Picket line that lasted 36 months from 1993 to March 1996 when the pornography store was forced to close by the order of Judge Pro in Las Vegas District Court had original picket signs and information about the long hard-fought battle to protect our city. A timeline with pictures of events in the stake in last 30 years was displayed - 4 new buildings, 3 floods, trek, and youth activities. Boy Scouting memorabilia was also displayed. The missionaries gave people an opportunity to answer either of two questions– Because of Christ what has happened to you? What brings you joy? The post it notes were put on a board to share with all. Many thanks to Shem and Cheryl Teerlink, for organizing the event and Krissy and Richard Cook assisting them to make it a successful learning experience. Thank you to the many that volunteered and set up booths and shared their talents and expertise. A quilt was tied and was given away at the end to a lucky person whose name was drawn from those who got their card punched at every booth. By Cheryl Jensen

Sisters, there will be a gathering to watch the RS broadcast and have a testimony meeting on Tuesday Mar 31 6:00 pm at the Whipple building. Hope to see you there!