Thousands of Church members from the South gathered here Sept. 4-6, celebrating the gospel, new friends and, of course, BYU football.

In its first appearance in the South this decade, BYU's football team lost its first-ever meeting with Alabama, 38-31.That, however, did not dampen the spirits of the BYU fans - many of whom attended, during the game weekend, two firesides, a tailgate party, sacrament meeting and potluck dinners held at local meetinghouses.

"We were excited," said Bessemer Alabama Stake Pres. W. Legrand Hutchinson. "It is a rare opportunity for these BYU folks to see their university team play."

BYU sold tickets to 5,000 of the 83,818 record crowd that filled the newly expanded Bryant-Denny Stadium, said Val Hale, BYU assistant athletic director for external relations.

On Sept. 4, more than 600 Church members attended a fireside hosted by the Bessemer Alabama Stake. Elder Merrill J. Bateman of the Seventy and BYU president; his wife, Marilyn; and BYU athletic director Rondo Fehlberg spoke. They welcomed Church members from every Southern state and talked of the influence BYU and its student body have worldwide.

The next day, more than 1,200 members gathered in the Alabama parking lot for a tailgate party before the game. The Young Women from the Bessemer stake provided decorations and took tickets. "We knew that we would have a big lively crowd here," said Pres. Hutchinson. "However, we didn't understand what a large mass of people would show up. Those young women and their advisers were very tired by the time it was over."

And while the team returned to Utah after the game, many fans stayed in Alabama for the rest of the weekend, attending Church and potluck dinners provided by local members.

The Tuscaloosa Ward hosted 150 out-of-state Church members, while the Hoover Ward hosted 120, for dinner after Church on Sunday.

"We all sat around and visited," said Marian Alder of the Hoover Ward, who said she was delighted to meet so many new friends. "It was really very pleasant."

Pres. Hutchinson said members finished the weekend by attending a Sunday-night fireside. Elder Hartman Rector Jr., an emeritus General Authority who also served as a mission president in the South, spoke. The fireside was a wonderful closing event for a "big full weekend," said the stake president.

Pres. Hutchinson added the weekend, coupled with other successful Church activities this year, has provided "a spiritual surge throughout our stake."