Located in south central Wyoming, Rawlins is a small town planted in the barren part of the state, far away from Jackson or Yellowstone. Summers are cool and breezy, but short. Winters are long and harsh, sporting wind gusts that bring the wind chill factor to 65 below zero.

The Rock Springs Wyoming Stake center is more than 100 miles away and the temple is in another state - yet just as in other areas where Church members are separated by distance, many of these faithful saints are always found at stake conference, auxiliary meetings and frequently in temple sessions.Because of the harsh weather and the fact that it is the furthermost boundary of the Utah North Mission, missionaries often refer to Rawlins as "outer darkness." However, once in Rawlins, they find loving families who feed them, work with them, and a strong group of youth whose referrals have resulted in many baptisms.

One missionary from Missouri wrote to ward members after his return home, saying he actually missed Wyoming!

Ward member, Thelma Banks, said, "Young brides cry when they come here, and they cry when they have to leave." Why? What impact could a small town have on Church members' testimonies and hearts when it is such a small appendage of a worldwide Church?

I have asked myself that question as I look back on the 12 years my husband and I spent in Rawlins. It has been more than a year now since we moved away, and with new adjustments come also a time for reflection on past growth.

With two years of marriage behind us and BYU degrees in hand, we accepted a position with a company in Rawlins. We wondered why the job offers in Salt Lake City hadn't seemed right and why in the world we accepted the one in Rawlins, especially after an interview in May that was delayed because of a blizzard.

We arrived with the faith that surely the Lord must be mindful of His saints in every corner of His Kingdom, and He is. It would be in Rawlins that our souls would be stretched and reshaped, our five children would be born, and opportunities for Church and community service would be many and varied.

Relief Society sisters always had meals waiting when they sensed a family's need. Diane Poledna and Anne Marie Ross were known to obtain house keys from husbands in order to clean and organize a home prior to the arrival of a new mother and her baby.

What fun we had in our first calling with the Young Single Adults. After obtaining the names of all active and less-active singles, we held firesides, weekly home evenings, picnics at the park and other activities.

Fred and Valerie Baldwin were married [from that groupT. There were many individual conversations with one struggling young lady. Feeling lonely and depressed, she had contemplated suicide on many occasions. What a relief and joy to see her transition, and her smiling face as she participated with and felt acceptance from these young adults.

Sol and Melba Baldwin, our Church custodians, kept the grounds looking beautiful with trimmed trees and fresh cut grass. In the chapel each bench was polished and the drinking fountains in the halls were rubbed until they shone.

When Sol developed cancer, he worked on. When he passed away, his wife continued her duties of love; cleaning, scheduling, preparing our house of worship so the Lord would be pleased to dwell there.

The elders quorum and high priests group helped people move in and out over the years. Young women would

babysit for free and served at dinners. Young men were drawn into the circle of Scouting, learning and serving as they reached to become Eagles. They would, in thoughtful moments, emulate the quiet selflessness of leaders like Dean Umpleby.

Surely in our times of trial, or in peace, our sense of "family" will be to those saints who have reached out in service, those who have loved us, those who have exemplified the Savior's counsel: "As I have loved you, love one another."

It does not matter so much what area of the world we find ourselves in - but that wherever we are, we make a difference in the lives of others, that our influence for good will be felt wherever our lot may be cast.

Whether your name is Hickman, Russell, Olson, Vanderkooi, Ross, or among the scores of others, you will be remembered because you cared enough to give that which was most precious.