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Show KEGJONALMISSON Pahute Indians Gather in Cedar For Conference Saturday and Sunday. May 13 and 11 more than IVM) Pahute Indians In-dians of -southern Utah, soutn-eastern soutn-eastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona met in Cedar City for the; lourth regional Indian Conference Confer-ence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At this conference members' of four new branches of the church Moccasin, Las Vegas, Moapa and Arizona attended in large numbers, as well as Indians from Kanab who have at present no church organization. Owing to the success of the work at Cedar City and Kichfield and the Shivwitls branches in the past two or tlnee soars the matter of making these eight Indian In-dian settlements into a mission was considered and adopted by the First Presidency and (Quorum of the Twelve upon the recommendation recom-mendation of Apostle Spencer W. Kimball. The work was not so much one of proselyting as setting set-ting up a suitable program by whicli, the Indian.-, could improve themselves in their communities not only spiritually, but socially.: culturally and educationally as well. Wm. H. Manning was called to be president with Kecd r.lontiist of Richfield as first counselor and Will B. Todd as second counselor. coun-selor. The Indians of these outlying districts have seen what lias taken ta-ken place at Cedar City and in a number of cases requested 'he same kind of program. V. Moccasin Mocca-sin the tribal council called a meeting of the 15) members scattered scat-tered about the southern Utah to consider giving the Church permission per-mission to build a chapel and all but one member voted not only to give the ground for the chapel but two acres of ground for al play area and a community garden with water rights for the garden. Many of the Indian communities communi-ties came to conference despite the bad roads over the mountain moun-tain owing to recent storms. Owing to the storm the field kitchen equipment for the conference, con-ference, which was brought by the Kichfield branch, was set up in the Armory w here food w as served and prepared by Oeorge Platte of Kichfield. The older men and women and young women were housed in the First Ward recreation hall and the men and boys in the Armory. Food was furnished by the Cedar Ki. hlield and Shivwits branches. The first meeting of the conference con-ference was held at I:3) Saturday Satur-day in the First Ward chapel for tin- slake and branch presidents and Indian members of the coun-cil. coun-cil. Following at 11 the first' I genera I session was held. Five I Indian men and women gave in spiring and challenging talks. Featured speaker was Prof. John K. Kami, recently appointed appoint-ed president of the Southwest Indian Mission. The Cedar Kranch chol.- of 3D voices furnished the music directed di-rected by Mrs. Cora Corulie with Mrs. Kuth Trie at t' . piano and Sam Cook at the Organ. Not only on-ly was this choir a great surprise, but also a great inspiration to the large congregation. Sunday morning the next ses-Jsion ses-Jsion of the conference was con-! con-! ducted for the young people by Homer Christensen. principal of the Cedar Seminary, and June Nielsen of Kichfield both are leaders of the youth council of' the mission. Fight young men and women representing ai! the Indian communities were speakers speak-ers and all gave splendid talks on a variety of subjects. I One of tile most challenging ! talks was given by 17 year-old Valla Parashont of Cedar City in a prepared talk on the Value of 'an K'ication for Indian Youths. After her prepared talk she laid her paper aside and said. "Now I want to bear my testimony." She began by urging her young friends who might be careless in their conduct to uphold the standards of the church. Willi tears streaming down her checks she rebuked both young and old for their drinking and with a voice that needed no amplifier, slit' challenged her people to rise up. be respectable and to turn away from evil practices. All present were amacd at the courage of this young girl. Hen eloquence, intensified by the tears that streamed from her cheeks, left very few unwet by tears. Saturday afternoon was devoted devot-ed to indoor sports an. I Saturday evening to a very interesting pro gram of skits, a movie film and dances and fetes of magic by Ilex I). Terry and his brother Willard one a high council man, the other a stake mission, ary president from the Las Ve- g is North Stake. After dinner at noon Sunday all visitors returned to their homes, inspired, instructed, and challenged to live better and become be-come an accepted people. |
