"Now is the time to look to the future," President James E. Faust told some 2,000 Latter-day Saints here Aug. 9 during the commemoration of the centennial of the Pocatello Idaho Stake.
Speaking during a centennial fireside at Pocatello High School, President Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, told his listeners that he looks to the future with optimism, and added: "I foretell many great things to be accomplished in the next hundred years. How big will Pocatello be? Nobody knows. How many stakes in Pocatello? Who knows. How many Church buildings? We can't tell. But more importantly, what will be the devotion of our people? Will they be as committed and dedicated [as] in the past with the increasing number of distractions and the preoccupations with material things that we have?"Brothers and sisters," he counseled, tapping the podium for emphasis, "our homes need to be holy places and sanctuaries, second only in holiness to the holy temples of God."
The centennial fireside was just one of many events that stake leaders have held during the year to commemorate the creation of the Pocatello Stake on Aug. 7, 1898, in southeastern Idaho. Since stake conference in January of this year, members have been rallying around the theme, "100 Years of Service, Past & Future, 1898-1998."
A highlight of the centennial events was President Faust's visit. Local members didn't seem to mind gathering together on this hot summer Sunday afternoon as they began filling the high school's auditorium early for a chance to hear President Faust speak. Old and young alike listened intently to his address while fanning themselves with their programs. As President Faust spoke, the backdrop was a centennial quilt designed and made by Relief Society sisters of the stake and an original oil painting by stake member Anne Marie Oborne.
The quilt, which took 600 hours to complete, portrays various events or places in Pocatello history, including the train station, nearby Fort Hall (established in 1834 by the Hudson Bay Company) and Idaho State University.
Sister Oborne's painting depicts a family in a field of wild flowers. Above them are drifting clouds in which one can see undertones of a pioneer family pushing a handcart and a young girl's face. More than one poignant moment during the afternoon centered on the girl in the painting - then-11-year-old Jeralee Underwood who was abducted and killed in 1993 while collecting on a newspaper route.
Her parents, Jeff and Joyce Underwood of the Pocatello 1st Ward, attended the fireside. Both President Faust and stake Pres. Kert W. Howard spoke of Jeralee, her family and their positive influence in the community despite the tragedy.
President Faust congratulated local members on their centennial activities. He commended them on achieving 100-percent home and visiting teaching during January and February and on other uplifting ways they have celebrated the centennial.
"Now is the time," he continued, "to quit looking back and look forward because this is a new era in the Church. There are greater happenings now than ever . . . as well as the great challenges which we have."
He quoted from D&C 109:57: "That all the ends of the earth may know that we, thy servants, have heard thy voice, and that thou hast sent us."
"Now as we look forward to the next 100 years, we need to say to the Lord, `We have heard thy voice and know that thou hast sent us.'
"In the next 100 years, we're going to have to work harder to keep our family ties strong . . . . We will need to hear the definitive word of the Lord. We will need to listen and always realize the definitive word of the Lord comes from the prophets, seers and revelators. And I promise you as previous presidents of the Church and leaders have said, `Follow the prophet and you will not be misled.' "
President Faust added that in the next 100 years more missionary service, more temple service, more care of the poor and needy, and more commitment to Christlike living will be needed.
"Nobody can see what is happening in this Church, in this day and time without having the question that was asked of Peter and James, `Whence cometh this power?' It comes from the Lord, Jesus Christ."
During the program, a local choir sang an original "Centennial Hymn," written and directed by Sherrill D. Redd.
During the centennial year, stake leaders have combined spiritual activities with fun activities. In February, members held a centennial ball, which included a floor show by the youth, a musical program and narrative, and a grand march with a live band. Then, on March 21-22, the Idaho Falls Temple presidency kept the temple open for a 24-hour period specifically for Pocatello stake members.
Other centennial events have included a talent night, a stake youth conference and service project, and an open house and musical on Aug. 7. The musical, written by Loretta Hansen, was titled, "True Love and Other Pocatello Nonsense." In addition, members celebrated the annual Pioneer Day on July 18 with a parade led by 95-year-old Helen West, who came to Pocatello with her husband, Henry, in 1931.
A written history by Pres. Howard and his counselors, D. Russell Wight and Bryan K. Murray, explains that Pocatello began as a railroad town in the 1860s. The first branch of the Church was established in 1888 with 178 members.
Today, there are 13 stakes in the greater Pocatello area.
