75th Anniversary – June 2022 Events

June 8, 2022

Dear Members of the Spokane Washington Stake,

We just completed an uplifting stake conference weekend with visiting authority, Elder James E. Slaughter of the Seventy, and our hearts are full. We appreciate all those who contributed to our conference in any way, including those who spoke and those who provided music. We are energized and renewed in our commitment to stay on the covenant path and to help others find the path!

This month marks 75 years since the formation of the Spokane Washington Stake as the 168^th stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The stake was organized in a series of conference meetings presided over by Elder Ezra Taft Benson held on June 29, 1947 in the old gymnasium of Lewis and Clark High School. Hymns sung at our most recent stake conference were selected from among the hymns sung at the original stake conference.

During the coming weeks we wish to commemorate the service and sacrifice of the faithful saints who came before us and were pioneers in the area. To that end we invite you and your family to participate in the following events:

Spokane River Cleanup and Riverside State Park Forestry Project: June 20-23, 25. This service project will include weekday projects by ward picking up trash and performing some trimming along the Centennial Trail from the state line to Riverside State Park. On Saturday, June 25 from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m, stake members will work together to perform service within Riverside State Park. Please contact your ward leaders to learn how you can help in these efforts.

75^th Anniversary Commemorative Fireside. Please plan to attend this special fireside on Sunday, June 26 at 7pm at the stake center (1620 E 29th Ave). The event will feature special musical numbers and highlight key events in church history in our region. We will also be pleased to hear from former stake presidents Bates, Borders and Lee.

We hope you will take a moment to ponder the scripture that was selected for the 75^th anniversary of the stake and think of how much the Lord has blessed us in this region.

D&C 128:23 Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy!

And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and immortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers!

With sincere appreciation,

Spokane Stake Presidency