Elder Joe Kazek has returned after serving his mission. Elder Kazek served in Mexico Sonora Mission. He is the son of Mike and Amy Kazek, Heritage Ward, West Stake. Elder Joe Kazek will be speaking Sunday, March 9th, at 9 am in Stake Center. It is located at 100 N. Arrowhead Ln. Welcome Home!

Heritage Days was held with the East and West Stakes Saturday, March 1 at the Heritage Park. The local VFW presented the flag followed by Alana Davis singing the National Anthem.   President Ryan Toone of the East welcomed everyone and told the story of Mary Jane Leavitt whose statue stands in front of city hall. Mary Jane Leavitt is a great example of faith and service in her care for the sick and broken hearts.  She delivered babies and took care of their mothers.  Her door was always open to those who stopped by and she always fed them saying, ‘there is enough such as ‘tis!’ “I hope that same feeling will exist here, and we can use her example to show love and to help one another.” President Jared Hollingshead of the West Stake also spoke of the pioneering spirit.  When they had hardships they soldiered-on. He said,” I see the same grit and determination that was exemplified in the settling of the valley. I have witnessed adversity today in the lives of people in this valley and their strength to overcome adversity and help one another.  Elder Emerson Carnavale at our recent stake conference said, “there is a special spirit here in this valley. “He could feel that spirit of kindness and caring.” Pres. Hollingshead continued, “Let us continue that legacy and help our friends and neighbors. “ Thank you to all those that provided booths, food to taste, crafts, and activities. The kids enjoyed eating cotton candy and kettle corn.  There were numerous pioneer games, stick pulling, horseback rides, or roping “steers”.  The Abbott family had a petting zoo with goats to love, baby rabbits to cuddle, baby chicks, hens and roosters and pigs to feed.  Kids and youth could try milking a cow or making adobe bricks.  The Cox family had their branding irons heating and burned initials in wood for the kids to take home and wear around their neck.   Rag doll making was a favorite activity as well as making small handcarts.  They could also try the ring rolling area.  The Harlachers had small wagon train that took kids around the parking lot to get the feeling of a long journey across the plains.  Leon Gubler brought his team of horses and wooden wagon to give rides.  We appreciate his traveling to Mesquite to help with the Heritage Days celebration and give us the feel of pioneering.   Pioneer stories were related by Elayne Storrs about her great, great, great grandmother, Mary Elizabethe Cox Whiting, and how they lived in dugouts in San Pete County during the winter.  The area was infested with rattle snakes and rattlers would drop down through the ceiling of the dugouts and it terrified the pioneers.  There were rattle snakes in their beds.  The men got torches and weapons and killed over 300 rattlers in a cave or den of the snakes!  This happened night after night.  There was a 2-year-old boy who looked sickly after being in the dugout all winter.  His mother set him out on the stoop to get some sunshine while he ate his morning bread and milk.  But he didn’t seem to get any better, in fact he grew sicklier and had a little blue tint to his skin.  He would dip his spoon in the milk, move his arm to the side for a little and put it to his mouth.   The answer – a rattlesnake was licking the spoon each time he extended his arm and then the boy was getting a little venom with each bite!  When this was discovered, the rattler was killed, and the boy grew and regained his health and color returned to his skin!  Amazingly no one was ever bitten by a ratter! Rosa Zarate and her daughter Isela make authentic fresh tortillas, rolled and cooked them and served them with freshly made salsa.  Rosa is an expert at mixing, rolling the dough and cooking it perfectly on the grill. Terry and Josie of the Summercrest Ward served 3 kinds of lemonade – Raspberry, Strawberry, and just lemonade along with scrumptious homemade cookies.    Homemade ice cream was a favorite as the day grew warmer and it was hard to decide between chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry! Jan & Craig Mitchel and family had their electric ice cream freezer going and it fascinated the kids who wanted to look inside as it turned.   When asked their favorite flavor, Craig said banana and Jan voted for strawberry.  They are carrying on the family tradition of ice cream making.  They remember Sunday afternoons making ice cream and having the neighbors come over to enjoy the sweet treat. History presentations with pictures and slide shows could be viewed inside the building. Aaron Bunker of the Virgin Valley Water District told the history of the water supply from the piping of the springs on the mountains to the water reservoir and new wells and tanks presented through pictures and posters.  The story of the longest running non-union picket line was told with posters, photos and a video slide show, and documents.  It told the story of the Pron Store that was opened in Mesquite in 1993 and the battle to get it finally shut down in 1996. A timeline with pictures showed the chapels built, Camp Helaman and Camp Ruth, three trek enactments for the youth and three recent floods in the valley.  The family history center was open for people to search records of their ancestors.  The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers had a booth to share information about their pioneer ancestors.    Everyone received a punch card and after visiting all 18 stations a drawing was held.  Prizes included Daniell’s popcorn and two quilts which were tied by ladies that morning.   Norman Ray sang and played country music while lunch was served. Dutch Oven chicken and potatoes, salad and rolls, and dessert were enjoyed in the picnic area. Thanks to Wes Carter and his crew who had 40 Dutch Ovens on the fire pit.  Thank you to the chefs -- Jon Meierhoff and sons, Vall Woods and Jos. Thank you! Tietjen for the traditional pioneer food.  Thanks to Krissy and Richard Cook for their committee or organizing the event.   By Cheryl Jensen

Connie Jo Tanner, beloved mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2025, at the age of 75. Born on January 27, 1949, in Shelbyville, Indiana, to Rowland and Margaret Moore, Connie spent her early years traveling the world due to her father’s military service, including spending time in Germany. She later graduated from high school in Woodlake California, before attending a small business college to pursue a career as an administrative assistant. While living in Southern California, Connie met the love of her life, Dennis LeRoy Tanner. Their love story began in a rather unconventional way—Dennis, a skilled tire salesman, convinced Connie to let him inspect her tires, only to hoist her car up on a lift until she agreed to go on a date with him. That fateful meeting led to their marriage on October 16, 1971, in Los Angeles, California. The couple later settled in Mesquite, Nevada, where they built a life together and raised their family. Connie found great joy in her faith and was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after moving to Mesquite. Through the kindness of neighbors and friends, she embraced the gospel and was baptized on October 11, 1987. Two years later, on October 20, 1989, Connie and Dennis were sealed in the St. George Utah Temple, a testament to their deep commitment to their faith and each other. A hardworking and dedicated woman, Connie worked in the “cage” at the Peppermill Casino before transitioning to banking as a teller. Later, alongside Dennis, she became a business owner, opening Tanner’s Videos, which evolved into Tanner’s Collectibles and eventually Tanner’s Pawn Shop. The couple worked side by side for over 26 years, forming not just a successful business but a treasured partnership. After Dennis’s passing in 2008, Connie continued to embrace life with resilience and humor. She spent several years in Mesquite before moving to Hurricane, Utah, to live with her son and daughter-in-law, and later to Prineville, Oregon, to be with her beloved sister, Bonnie Rogers. In Prineville, she found joy in caring for her elderly stepfather, Gene Ridgway, and was known for her mischievous spirit and ability to bring laughter to those around her. Connie is survived by her two devoted sons, Tommy Jo Tanner and Jimmy James Tanner, her cherished sister Bonnie Rogers, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She was a loving mother, sister, and grandmother who found her greatest joy in her family. Connie will be remembered for her kindness, humor, and unwavering love. Her legacy of faith, resilience, and devotion to family will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know her. Though she is no longer with us, her spirit will remain a guiding light, and the memories she created will be forever treasured. A funeral service was held on Saturday February 22, 2025, in Prineville OR to honor and celebrate Connie’s life. A graveside service will be held on Friday, February 28, 2025, at the Mesquite City Cemetery in Mesquite, Nevada at 11:00 a.m. pacific standard time. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you share a kind act in her memory, just as she always did for those around her. Until we meet again, Connie. You will be dearly missed but never forgotten.

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Mesquite Nevada West Stake, As we prepare for Stake Conference on February 22nd and 23rd, we will be pondering in our hearts with whom we should share an invite to come to know the gospel of Jesus Christ.  This the February action item in our 2025 Stake Missionary Plan to assist us in sharing the gospel of our Saviour.  Stake Conference can be a very special and spiritually uplifting time and we will call on that spirit that as we attend our heats may be directed to a name of one ready to receive a gospel message. Please join us this next weekend and hear from Elder Emmerson Carnevale, an Area Seventy, our Stake Presidency and various members of our Stake. Adult Session 6:30pm Saturday General Session 10:00am Sunday Special Youth Devotional 8:00am Sunday - Parents also invited Adult Leadership Training 4:00pm Saturday - All Ward Council members and their Counselors/Secretaries With much love and respect, The Stake Presidency

Mesquite Nevada West Stake Dear Members of the Mesquite Nevada West Stake,   We are excited to announce that our upcoming stake conference will take place on February 22nd and 23rd, 2025.  This conference offers a wonderful opportunity for all of us to come together as a stake, to be spiritually uplifted, and to receive guidance for our lives and families.      We have been blessed to have  Elder Emerson B. Carnavale,  who will be joining us for the conference and will be sharing inspired messages and guidance. We encourage everyone to make every effort to attend the conference in person and invite family, friends, and neighbors to join us.   The schedule for the conference is as follows:   Saturday, February 22, 2025   -  Leadership Meeting : 4:00 pm - for all members of Stake and Ward councils and their presidencies.    -  Adult Session : 6:30 pm - for all members over the age of 18 and their invited friends.    Sunday, February 23, 2025   -  Youth and Parents Devotional : 8:00 am to 9:00 am - for all young men and young women and their parents.    -  General Session : 10:00 am - for or all stake members, the community, and invited friends.   Please prepare yourselves spiritually for this special event and pray for those who will be speaking and otherwise participating in the conference.  We look forward to seeing you all there and sharing in this special event together.   Sincerely Yours, Jared Hollingshead

James Nephi Pulsipher Jr., age 84, of Mesquite, NV passed away on February 8, 2025, at his home in Mesquite. He was born in St George, UT on August 5, 1940, to James Nephi Pulsipher and Rita Holt Pulsipher. He grew up in Mesquite and moved to California only to return in 1998. James was an avid outdoors man who enjoyed hunting and shooting, spending time at his cabin in East Zion. He enjoyed going for an early morning walk. He enjoyed his music collection and loved to listen to it for hours. James loved building model airplanes and flying them with his friends. Classic cars were another passion of his and he restored many Ford Mustangs. He was an amazing artist and painted many beautiful paintings. He was a member of the Church OF Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is survived by his daughter Lisa Deon DiMambro (Mark) of Mesquite, NV; two sisters Barbara Frehner of Alamo, NV, Catherine Stewart (Edward) of Alamo, NV; six grandchildren and five great grandchildren, three nieces and three nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law a son James Nephi Pulsipher III. Graveside service will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 10:00 at the Mesquite Cemetery 310 Hillside Drive Mesquite, NV 89027.

Bunkerville 2nd new Bishopric Walter Dalton - 1st Counselor, Bishop Benjamin Leavitt, Derek Cunningham - 2nd Counselor New Bishopric and the West Stake Presidency