Elder Owen Rappley has return from a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the Portland Oregon Mission, speaking English the first 6 months and speaking Chuukese for 18 months. Owen is the son of Don and DeNae Rappley of the Old Mill Ward, West Stake. Elder Owen Rappley will share his mission on August 10th at 10:30 in the Whipple Chapel. It is located at 121 Whipple Way in Mesquite. Welcome home Elder!

The West Stake held a Pioneer Celebration on July 24. A clip of Ephriam Hanks Rescue was shown which details the many miracles in the Willy handcart company in the snowy blizzard. Ephraim, wanting to be as clean as he could be, washed his hands before he gave the many blessings he was asked to give to the members of the company. Miraculous healings were a result of their faith. A few quotes at the end of the movie are: “Lift as you have been lifted.” “The gospel is a name for opportunity. It is a privilege and responsibility to give. God always relies on someone to help Him out.” “The spirits of many were lifted so they could carry on!” Brother Greg Walker explained some of the story of Ephriam Hanks before the rescue. He was fishing at Utah Lake when someone appeared to him and told him the handcart people were on the plains and in trouble. Ephriam returning to Salt Lake, heard Brigham Young call for a group to go out in the winter storm and rescue them. Brigham Young asked who ready and Ephraim can be spoke up and said he was ready now! Ephriam left the next morning in the worst storm he had ever seen! The stories and the miracles are all taken from journal entries. He encouraged everyone to go and watch the movie again. It is available on YouTube. Bro. Walker quoted Elder Dieter Uchtdorf, “I doubt they looked forward to the daily effort it eventually required, but they did know it was going to be hard and that there was a possibility they or someone they loved would not finish the journey. And yet they came. By the thousands they came. And we, this nation, and even the world is richer because they came.” Pres. Jared Hollingshead spoke about the great lessons we can learn from history. They pressed forward with unshakable faith. They had faith and determination to keep going and an unwillingness to give up. He invited us to be more like them and find joy in the journey with a goal and vision. “Trust and have faith and press forward.” He told of his great-grandmother, Sara Moulton, who was in the Willey handcart company. Sara was nineteen in 1856 and later wrote, “Food was scare and there was barely enough to keep us alive – never enough to keep us from being intensely hungry. A man roasted beef hide strips over the wood fire. How good it tasted to the starving company.” “We have a great pioneer history in this valley, let us celebrate and remember those that came to settle so we could worship together.” He reminded us of the last conference when Elder Carnavale said, “There is a special spirit in this valley!” He agreed with Elder Carnavale and said, “Those early settlers were good committed, faithful people and you are part of that legacy!” Ice cream was served – lots of choices of flavors with chocolate covered vanilla with crunchies, and fruit bars or just chocolate ice cream bars. There were many delighted kids and parents enjoying the refreshing treats!

Sister Kathy Phippen has been set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sister Phippen of the Anthem Ward, West Stake, will serve as Service Missionary in the Salt Lake City Mission.

Elder Jacob Nelson will serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has been called to the Pocatello, Idaho Mission. He will be starting home MTC on July 28. Robert and Cristen Nelson of Vistas Ward, West Stake, are the parents of Jacob. Elder Jacob Nelson will be giving his farewell talk on July 27th at 1:30 at the Whipple building. It is located at 121 Whipple Way, Mesquite.

Elder Mark Andrew Davis will serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cebu East Philippines Mission. He will report on August 15 at Manila MTC, learning the Cebuano dialect for his mission. John and Nora Davis of the Heritage Ward, West Stake, are Mark's parents. Elder Mark Andrew Davis mission farewell is August 10, 2025, at 9:00 am at the Stake Center, located at 100 N. Arrowhead Lane, Mesquite.

Elder Connor Averett is serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico City West Mission, speaking Spanish. He started home MTC on Monday June 30th and on July 17 he flew from Las Vegas to the Mexico MTC for 4 weeks.   Elder Averett's parents are Jolene and Quinn Averett of the Arrowhead Ward, West Stake.

Brother Dick and Sister Darlene Jones service mission story. Brother and Sister Jones were first called around 2006 by Stake President Theron Jensen. They were called as LDS Family Service Missionaries to conduct the Addiction Recovery meetings.  At that time, we were part of the Las Vegas District. They were finally assigned to the St George District, and they conducted meetings while President David Anderson was the Stake President. During that time another couple (the Johnsons) was called to conduct the Addiction Recovery, but the Jones continued to attend, support and sometimes hold the meetings for them.  For a brief time, the meetings were not held because of no attendance.  Bishop Wally Sleppy started to hold the meetings again and Brother Jones was his facilitator.  The meetings continued until the Stake was divided.  Brother and Sister Rockford were holding meetings at Littlefield and Brother Jones was asked to be their facilitator. The Rockfords are Snowbirds so when they were gone, Sister Jones and Brother Jones started to hold meetings.  President Ryan Toone asked them to be Service Missionaries to hold Addiction Recovery meetings on Wednesday evenings at 7 PM in Littlefield.

Elder Kurt Felix will serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo West Mission. He'll be speaking Spanish and will attend the Mexico City Missionary Training Center, July 21st. Kurt's parents are Jon and Amy Felix of the Bunkerville 2nd Ward, West Stake. Elder Kurt Felix will be speaking July 20th, 10:30 am in the Bunkerville Chapel.

Elder Brandon Perkins will serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Australia, Brisbane mission. He will begin home MTC August 11th and will be attending the Provo Missionary Training Center starting August 20. Brandon’s parents are Maurie and Christy Perkins of the Heritage Ward, West Stake. Elder Brandon Perkins will be speaking August 10th, at 9am in the Stake Center. It is located at 100 N. Arrowhead, Mesquite.

Elder Oliver West has been called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Paraguay Asuncion. He will be teaching in the Spanish language. The home Missionary Training will begin October 6, then he'll attend the Peru MTC October 16 and serve in the field November 15. His mom is Michelle West of the Summer Crest Ward in the Mesquite, NV West Stake. His dad is David West of the Washington UT White Sage Ward. Elder Oliver West will be speaking October 12 at 12pm in the Whipple building. It is located 121 Whipple Way, in Mesquite.