Asia North Area: Celebrate pioneer day

OKINAWA, JAPAN - Hundreds of members from the Okinawa Japan Stake and the Servicemen's District celebrated Pioneer Day July 29 with a picnic and various activities.

A series of skits given in Japanese and English portraying handcart pioneers, sporting events, pioneer games for the children and choral music by missionaries of the Japan Okinawa Mission were among the afternoon-long activities, according to mission Pres. Karl T. Pope.

One of the highlights of the celebration was the picnic. Pioneer-type food was prepared by the Americans, many of whom dressed in pioneer clothing, while Japanese stake members prepared traditional Japanese dishes.

Philippines/Micronesia Area: Scouts celebrate freedom

LUNETA, PHILIPPINES - LDS Boy Scouts participated in celebrating the 97th year of the Philippine independence at Rizal Park in Luneta. The LDS Scouts were part of a contingent of Scouts that saluted the flag and sang the national anthem. The flag ceremony was led by Mel Mathay, Quezon City mayor, and Alexander Aguirre, local governments undersecretary.

The LDS Scouts took part "with dignity and honor," said local Church leaders. "Perspiring under the scorching heat of the sun was not a hindrance for them to commemorate the once-stolen freedom that is now regained and enjoyed by many."

Pacific Area: King, Church leader meet

NUKU`ALOFA, TONGA - Elder V. Dallas Merrell of the Seventy, first counselor in the Pacific Area, recently met with King Taufa`ahau Topou IV discussing the status of the Church and other subjects of mutual interest.

"It is important for us to develop and maintain contacts with the non-member leaders so that we can be heard and understood," said Elder Merrell.

The meeting was arranged by Norman Harris, Tonga director of public affairs.

South America South Area: First branch remembered

SANTIAGO, Chile - About 1,000 Latter-day Saints gathered "in a grand and emotional" meeting to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the creation of the first branch in this country.

The branch was created July 5, 1956, with 13 North Americans, under the direction of Elder Henry D. Moyle of the Quorum of the Twelve.

A large choir, accompanied by a group of six musicians, performed at the anniversary meeting. Elder Eduardo A. Lamartine, area authority, addressed the congregation and discussed the spiritual impact of the Church in Chile. He was followed by Rodolfo Acevedo, historian, who presented a historical look at the growth of the Church in Chile.

Among those attending were Sister Ruth Peters and Elder Guillermo Nunez, the first young Chileans to serve missions.

North America Central Area: DUP marker dedicated

STIRLING, ALBERTA - The Alberta Canada Company of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers recently dedicated a marker mounted on a 17-ton stone to honor immigrants to the area who came to the area between 1899 and 1912. The pioneers traveled to Canada on a narrow gauge railroad that ran between Great Falls, Mont., and Lethbridge, Alberta. Most of the "pioneers by train" were LDS members who had been encouraged by Church leaders to come to the area to help in the massive irrigation project, and by so doing, earning farmland.

North America Northwest Area: Ward centennial celebrated

SHELLEY, IDAHO - Members of the Shelley (Idaho) 1st Ward recently gathered to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ward's creation.

Celebrating the milestone with a Hawaiian luau, Latter-day Saints here enjoyed dinner and a program that included historical sketches of early ward members and Primary children, and musical numbers. One musical number, "Before Thee Lord I Bow My Head," was written by early Shelley stake patriarch Joseph H. Dean in 1924. The hymn was completed after a stake reorganization presided over by Elder Melvin J. Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve.

The Southeastern Idaho town of 3,500 was founded in the early 1890s by John F. Shelley, for whom the community is named. The Shelley Ward was organized on Feb. 10, 1895, with the city's founder as the first bishop. In 1900, a frame meetinghouse was constructed at a cost of $3,000. At the time, the ward consisted of 245 members in 44 families. A red brick building was constructed in 1913. Today, the current ward meetinghouse is occupied by three wards. The Shelley 1st Ward membership is 448.

North America Southeast Area: Youth learn by serving

LEXINGTON, KY. - Some 120 youth and 38 leaders in the Lexington Kentucky Stake divided into teams and completed four service projects during their recent youth conference. The theme of the conference was "Build Your Stairsteps to Heaven."

One project was completed at the Whitley County Community Center where youth did yard work, painted the inside of the building and constructed a deck. They also learned about services provided by the center, which include instruction on nutrition and child care, and distribution of appropriate supplies to needy county residents.

A second group of youth built a ramp to the door of a trailer. The ramp enabled the 80-year-old resident to get into her home after undergoing hip surgery.

A third group helped refurbish another denomination's 100-year-old church that had fallen into disrepair. The youth replaced rotting wood, added a bell tower and painted the outside of the building.

The project with the greatest emotional impact was on the fourth group, assigned to the home of a young mother with four children - boys, ages 4 months to 4 years old. They cleaned and painted the house, installed new rugs and curtains and cleaned up the yard. The youth put up an outdoor kiddy swing and a tire swing in a tree in the yard.

In addition to the seven-hour service project, the youth at the conference enjoyed a dance, cookout, water fight, pizza supper and pool party. They capped the activities with a devotional and testimony meeting.

North America Northeast Area: Youth enjoy serving

QUEENS, N.Y. - Some 160 youth of the Queens East and Queens West districts recently took part in a daylong missionary activity.

The youth met at 8 a.m. for a Missionary Training Center-like devotional and training that included registration and spiritual speeches. Previous missionaries in the districts were honored with their pictures in the local "MTC Hall of Fame."

New York New York South Mission Pres. W. John Bailey presided at the training, and in addressing the youth, shared his faith and testimony. Others who spoke included Pres. Bailey's wife, Lesley; District Pres. Jorge Ordinola; and the Young Men and Young Women presidencies of both districts.

At noon, the youth took part in finding activities as they spread out over their districts and knocked on doors and talked to people in an effort to share the gospel. That evening, they met for a dinner and testimony meeting and expressed the rewards of their effort.

"We leaders felt the urge of serving this chosen and rising generation with deeper love and appreciation," said one youth leader.