When Ralph and Ivonne Crane began their social work practice on the Sarcee Reserve here five years ago, they settled on "Brava" as a theme that summarized their efforts.

According to Brother Crane, brava is a derivative of brave that means "to face danger, pain, or trouble; not afraid; having courage; well done or excellent." The word symbolizes the lives of this quiet LDS couple, along with the characteristics they are helping instill within others.The Cranes, with their four young children, are members of the Oakridge Ward, Calgary Alberta Stake. They live on the rolling hills of the Sarcee Reserve, on the west edge of Calgary, where Ralph spent many of his growing up years. The reserve, established by the Canadian government, is a collection of rich farmland, modest homes and dirt roads. It is a quiet place, slow by comparison to bustling, modern Calgary.

Brother Crane's family has been on the reserve for three generations. His grandfather was a member of the Cree and Stoney tribes. He married a Sarcee and became a member of the Sarcee tribe. "We've been here ever since," explained Brother Crane. "We're not really Sarcee, as far as bloodlines, but we are by membership and by socialization, since our family grew up here."

His mother, Rose, lives on the reserve. So do his three brothers and four sisters and their families. All are converts to the Church. The extended Crane family are the only Latter-day Saints on the reserve. His father, Leonard, passed away in 1978, after Ralph returned from the Canada Winnipeg Mission. All of Brother Crane's mission was spent among native peoples on the more than 10 reserves in southeast Saskatchewan, and in Ontario. He said he enjoyed particular success among the Ojibwa people, who experienced their first widespread contact with the gospel while he was among them.

Though Brother Crane spent many of his early years on the Sarcee Reserve, he also spent time on the Sioux Valley Reserve in Manitoba and went to boarding school on the Blood Reserve near Cardston, in southern Alberta. His commitment to his native people and love of his culture runs deep.

Sister Crane grew up in east Los Angeles. She is of Mexican descent, and calls herself Chicana.

"My mother came to the states when she married my father, who was a U.S. citizen," she recalled. "He went on a mission to Mexico, and was one of the first Mexicans to attend BYU. He was there a year, then traveled throughout the Southwest, picking fruit and doing other labor to get by. He and my mother then settled in Los Angeles.

"I grew up in the barrios, so I had a sense of community and wanted to make things more positive. I wanted to become educated and teach my children the importance of education. Being a member of the Church has always been a positive thing, a reason to have standards. The gospel gives us values to live up to."

Those values instilled in Ralph and Ivonne - they say largely due to wonderful parents - a desire to improve themselves, and to give all they could to their people. Both went to BYU, where they met at the Lamanite Center. "We were both very active there in participating in Lamanite activities," said Sister Crane. Ralph was a member of the Lamanite Generation for four years. He sang, danced, and played native and modern instruments.

The couple married in the Los Angeles Temple in December 1982, while still students. Both graduated from the Y. with bachelor's degrees in 1984. Each earned a master's degree in social work in 1986. They have four children: daughters Xochitl, 7, and Taide, 6; and sons Ben, 5, and Jacob, 2.

"We felt that whatever degrees we obtained, we wanted to return and be part of the contribution within the native community," reflected Sister Crane. "Knowing that, we wanted to obtain the education we felt would be most versatile and helpful."

Both said school was challenging, and that their move to the reserve has not been easy. The Cranes deal daily with clients confronted with serious mental and emotional challenges, many related to abuse of alcohol and other harmful drugs. They work not only on the Sarcee Reserve, but also on the Blackfoot and Stoney reserves in the Calgary area. They conduct counseling sessions, encouraging clients to face and overcome their "danger, pain and troubles."

They also conduct a prevention program for children and youth, where they teach about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs, and encourage positive character traits such as confidence and self-reliance. The program uses as tools drama - including native folk masks - music, dance, art and games.

Though the Cranes are widely known as Mormons on the reserves where they work, they are careful not to exercise undue religious influence in their professional work. But Brother Crane noted that the gospel provides context and perspective to all they do.

"The gospel allows us to operate on fixed principles," he said. "It gives us spiritually rooted beliefs that are very strong and affect how we deal with all people. As a family, we have always tried to go to Church, pray and to pay our tithing. This has been a real strength to us. A lot of times, our work is very lonely here. The gospel gives us vision and hope. We know that it's true."

Part of the conviction Brother Crane has concerning his work stems from his patriarchal blessing, received in 1975. His blessing said his people would turn to him for strength, counsel and guidance, and in general focused on his work among his native people. "When I received the blessing, I really didn't know what that meant, but now I do," Brother Crane mused. "I didn't really realize until I came back to the reserve that I was doing those things. It's interesting how these things roll forth. You don't know how they are going to be fulfilled, but they are."

Sister Crane also credits the gospel with keeping them going, growing and serving. "The gospel includes the Word of Wisdom, which helps us keep the family together. Our children feel they are loved. The Church gives us security, and positive things to do. We have learned to have faith. The mountain may seem heavy and hard to move, but it can be moved. The odds are sometimes against us, but our children are growing up in the Church, and I'm happy about that. I was raised in the gospel, and I hope our children also will learn what I learned. As we grew older, we were able to abstain from many things. We want the same things for our children when they grow older and the pressures come."

The Cranes' strength, resolve and colorful cultural identity is not only a blessing to natives, but also to Church members.

"The Cranes are very spiritual, thoughtful people," said Bishop Brent R. Laycock. "Ralph teaches Sunday School in the ward, and Ivonne was recently called as spiritual living teacher in Relief Society. They have performed on ward programs from time to time and given firesides. I have always been proud, as a ward member, to have the reserve in our ward. I feel it's really an asset and gives us a breadth of experience that is perhaps not available in other wards.

"The Indian culture brings with it a different way of looking at the pace of life. Sometimes, as we deal with Lamanite members, it causes us to reflect on what are the important and essential aspects of the gospel. The Lamanite culture sometimes allows more time for peace and reflection, which is beneficial."

Ward member Denise Norton said the Cranes recently performed native dances at her daughter's wedding. "They were a real hit," she exclaimed. "I really admire them, not for their dancing, but for doing what they are doing. They have chosen to go back and help their own people. They have caught the essence of what the gospel is all about - service."