Haight Creek Monthly

My father grew up in the small mining town of Eureka, Utah. He was the oldest son of a mine worker and a schoolteacher. By the 1940s, Eureka had changed from the bustling mining district it had been in the 1910s and 1920s. After metal prices and stock prices crashed in 1929, the Great Depression followed, and the town seemed to grow smaller each year as people and businesses left for other cities.

One thing continued steadily: the railroad. Each day, multiple trains rolled along the Denver & Rio Grande line. My father’s childhood home sat right next to the tracks. There were no fences around the house, so he had plenty of wide-open space to explore. But what he loved most was watching the trains. As a 5-year-old, he was completely fascinated by them.

Keeping him away from the tracks became a constant battle for my grandmother. As his younger siblings came along, it became even harder for her to keep a watchful eye on his wandering ways. So, she did what a mother in 1940s Eureka, Utah, might do: she tied one end of a small rope to a tree in the backyard and the other end to the back of my father’s overalls. The rope gave him enough room to move freely. He could go through the house, get a drink, use the bathroom, and wander around the yard. But it stopped him short before he reached the railroad tracks.

Some may call that extreme, and it probably wouldn’t fly today, but I am living proof that it worked! It kept him safe. It gave him freedom while also protecting him from dangers that could have caused irreparable harm.

This story is 100% true. It is not, as some might suggest, an effort to increase readership in our newsletter because of a rumor that no one is reading it. That can’t be true, because you are reading this, right?

I love that story for many reasons, but especially because it reminds me of our agency here on earth. We are free to explore, choose, learn, and grow. At the same time, dangers wait at nearly every turn. When we strive to live Christ-centered lives, we are strengthened and protected by sacred commitments and daily efforts such as following the commandments, making and keeping temple covenants, repenting and seeking to improve, and turning consistently toward the Savior.

These blessings are like that rope. They do not remove our freedom; they help us use it wisely. They give us room to grow while helping protect us from things in the world that can cause lasting harm.

President Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President, taught this same principle in her April 2022 general conference talk, “Covenants with God Strengthen, Protect, and Prepare Us for Eternal Glory.” She compared our covenants to a rock climber’s ropes, anchors, and harness—the equipment that keeps a climber from falling to the rocks below.

She taught:

“The spiritual equipment that keeps us from being broken on the rocks of adversity is our testimony of Jesus Christ and the covenants we make. We can rely on these supports to guide and carry us to safety. … The Savior will not allow us to [go] beyond His reach. We must choose to be anchored to the Savior, to be bound to Him by our covenants.”

I testify that commandments, covenants and fundamental principles of the gospel are given to us as blessings to guide us, and to protect us. By keeping these sacred promises with God, we can be anchored to the Savior and protected from the dangers in our world.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to serve as a senior service missionary or a full-time senior missionary away from home? Come join us for two enjoyable evenings of information, inspiration, and discovery! This Mission Prep class is designed for anyone age 26 and older who would like to explore the many opportunities available to serve as a senior service missionary in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We’ll share information about the different types of service missions and full-time missions, how to explore available opportunities, what to expect, and how to begin preparing for this rewarding experience. No commitment is required—just come with questions and an open heart! Join us October 15 and October 22 at 7:00 PM at the Stake Center. Bring your spouse, a friend, or someone you think might enjoy learning more. Come discover how the Lord might have a place for you to serve!

Dear Senior Brothers and Sisters,

Our dear prophet has extended an invitation to look for additional ways you can serve either from home as a service missionary or away from home as a full-time senior missionary. There are dozens and dozens of service opportunities that are available right now in our area. The Lord needs you if you have a few extra hours each week. There is also a great need in all the missions of the church. Mission presidents are praying and pleading for more seniors and senior couples to assist in this great work. President Russell M. Nelson said,

“If you are tempted to think you’re not needed, let me reassure you that you are. There is not a mission president in the Church who would not love to have additional couples serving in his mission. … Senior couples are often a literal answer to the prayers of bishops and branch presidents.

“My dear brothers and sisters, these surely are the latter days, and the Lord is hastening His work to gather Israel. That gathering is the most important thing taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, nothing else compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty. And if you choose to, if you want to, you can be a big part of it. You can be a big part of something big, something grand, something majestic!”

If you are considering either serving as a service missionary in our area or would like to serve away from home but don’t know where to look to find what opportunities are available, we can help you. Please call Rick and Connie Johnson (Stake Service Missionary Specialists), 801-301-6890. We would be happy to visit over the phone or come to your home.

Boost your preparedness efforts by gleaning ideas from some of the specialists in our neighborhood and participate in taste testing products and sampling awesome treats made from shelf-stable foods!

No need to be an expert — even the beginners will benefit from this fair!

Another milestone in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ effort to increase access to temples will occur on September 1, 2026, when reservations for tours of the renovated Salt Lake Temple become available.

The theme for this year’s Stake Women’s Conference was “Come unto Christ.” We asked 6 wonderful sisters from the stake to share their favorite title of Christ. The talks were beautiful, each one as individual and inspiring as the woman who wrote it. It’s with their permission that we’d like to share these talks with you, one a month, over the next 6 months. We hope you’ll enjoy reading them and that as you do so you’ll be inspired to consider your own favorite title of our Savior.

With love and friendship,

“Bread is a daily staple that has nourished humans all over the world for thousands of years. Naan, tortillas, African chapati, hardtack, focaccia. Bread not only gives us energy, strength and sustenance, it is CULTURALLY COMFORTING. These are the same qualities of Jesus.

“WE prioritize food every day, what shall I eat for breakfast or make for dinner, what shall I pack in my kids’ lunches, what restaurant should we go to, what food are we going to serve at the party? But do we remember to prioritize Jesus every day? While skipping meals makes us tired and irritable, skipping Jesus time leaves our spirits empty, discouraged and anxious.”

We want to thank Michelle Marsden who served wonderfully in the Fox Pointe RS presidency. Welcome to Heidi Heiniger who will now be serving!

Davis Park Ward (18–25)
For announcements about ward activities refer to their website.
162 E. Burton Ln. Kaysville @ 12:00pm

Mountain Road Ward (26–35)
For announcements about ward activities refer to their website.
2025 E. Antelope Dr. Layton @ 12:30pm

When: 1st Thursday of each month — 7:45pm session

While sign-ups are encouraged, all are welcome to attend—whether or not a reservation has been made. There is always room available and participants are also welcome to take part in other ordinances.

There is something exciting about the beginning of a new school year. It brings new opportunities, new experiences, maybe some nerves, and hopefully some new shoes! This year, that new beginning is also accompanied by a new Church schedule, and we are so excited about what it will mean for our young women!

With the new Sunday schedule, Young Women will have the opportunity to meet together every week. We hope this additional time together will help each of you feel a greater sense of belonging and, most importantly, draw closer to Jesus Christ.

We are also excited about the renewed focus on For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices. It is easy to think of For the Strength of Youth primarily as a guide to standards, but President Emily Belle Freeman recently shared a beautiful reminder that it is so much more.

In her April 2026 General Conference address, “Best Days and Worst Days,” President Freeman shared that after learning her husband Greg’s cancer had returned, she turned to For the Strength of Youth. She had spent years encouraging youth to find strength in its teachings. Now, in one of her own most difficult moments, she needed that strength herself. As she read, she was reminded of the promises of the Savior and the strength that comes from turning to Him. She taught:

“This is not just a guide for standards; this is a guide for strength.”

What a powerful message!

Change can sometimes be difficult, even when it is inspired. But change can also give us an opportunity to refocus on what matters most. As we begin this new journey and meet together each week, we hope For the Strength of Youth will become more than a pamphlet you know about. We hope it will become a resource you turn to and one that helps you understand who you are, make choices with confidence, and find strength in Jesus Christ.

We love you, we believe in you, and we are so excited for this new journey together!

Join us Wednesday nights at 7:00 PM to start learning Spanish together!

All are welcome – no experience necessary.

Interested? Contact Kathy Calle. (385) 416-5565

August 31–September 6 · Psalms 102–103; 110; 116–119; 127–128; 135–139; 146–150

September 7–13 · Proverbs 1–4; 15–16; 22; 31; Ecclesiastes 1–3; 11–12

September 14–20 · Isaiah 1–12

September 21–27 · Isaiah 13–14; 22; 24–30; 35