For most people, Vermont is known for its rolling verdant hills and rural countryside. But for Church members it is also a land rich in the history of the early saints.
"Land of the Prophets," the theme of the New Hampshire Manchester Mission (which includes Vermont), gives an indication of the deeply rooted Church history that permeates the scenic, picturesque state of Vermont.Joseph Smith Jr. was born in Sharon, Vt., on Dec. 23, 1805. He was born the third son and fourth child to Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith. His brothers Alvin, Hyrum, Samuel, Ephraim, William, Don Carlos, and sister Sophronia were also born in Vermont.
Brigham Young, Oliver Cowdery and Heber C. Kimball were born in Vermont, as well as a handful of other early Church leaders - Albert Carrington, a counselor to Brigham Young; Luke and Lyman E. Johnson and Erastus Snow of the Council of the Twelve; Zera Pulsipher and Jacob Gates of the First Council of the Seventy; and Newell K. Whitney, Presiding Bishop.
While many of the early Church leaders were spawned from Vermont's rugged land, the state is now home to only about 2,900 Church members. Because of the state's rural atmosphere and its lack of major cities, Church growth remains slow but steady.
Vermont was one of the last states in the United States to have a stake organized within its boundaries, just in front of North Dakota and Rhode Island. The Montpelier Vermont Stake was organized in 1976.
"Most of Vermont tends to be rural and the people seem to have a close relationship with the earth as they spend their time working out of doors," explained Elder Gordon H. Williams, regional representative for the Augusta Maine Region, which includes Vermont.
"Because of that, those individuals who have joined the Church tend to be very strong, very dedicated people.
"If you look at the present-day Church membership in Vermont, it probably reflects the same sort of heritage and background of the early members and leaders," he explained. "They were rugged individualists. They had to be in order to survive in that type of climate. The Vermont soil is rocky and not the most rich in the world to farm. That spirit of independence can be seen in members today."
Jim Walton, president of the Montpelier Vermont Stake, agreed: "It's a hearty people that spring from Vermont. I think the early leaders of the Church were from that kind of stock - independent people who were leaders but most importantly listened to the Lord."
Vermont, one of six New England states located in the northeastern corner of the United States, contains 9,614 square miles with a population of 567,000. Only Wyoming and Alaska have fewer inhabitants.
The vast majority of members from Vermont live in the Montpelier Vermont Stake, but a few hundred members live in wards in the Concord New Hampshire Stake and the Albany New York Stake. The stakes are in the Toronto Ontario Temple district, about an eight-hour drive for most Vermonters.
Pres. Walton, Montpelier stake president for almost seven years, said most of the members in the area are converts to the Church, including himself. Many members are farmers, while the occupation of others runs the spectrum from college professors to engineers.
Pres. Walton works as the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety and is colonel of the Vermont State Police.
Vermont, derived from the French words "vert" and "mont" (green mountains), features Lake Champlain on its western border and the Green Mountains running down the middle as the backbone of the state.
The state has a short growing season - only about 120 days - and most farmers are primarily dairy farmers and other related agriculture farmers that support dairy farming.
But the state's claim to fame is being the country's largest producer of maple syrup. During winter months when farming activities slow down, many farmers begin maple sugaring.
"This is an exciting stake," Pres. Walton remarked. "Although it is rural in nature and perhaps attitudinally, there is a great deal of spiritual excitement among the active members of the Church. Many faithfully drive several hours to attend their meetings and the temple.
And while Church growth may be slow in the stake, "We have seen growth in the youth age group in the Church," he said. "This enables us, particularly in urbanized wards, to begin the transition into the full Mutual program. We see that as a very positive step, not only for the Church, but also for the youth of the Church as we begin to implement that program.
"Our primary focus for the upcoming year is to strengthen ourselves spiritually as a stake membership, and also to become more aggressive in missionary work and in taking the gospel to friends and neighbors."
Elder Williams added: "Church leadership is almost entirely converts and a large percentage of them are natives of Vermont. This reflects the growth of the Church locally, both in terms of development of their own leadership as well as missionary work that has gone on in the past half century."
He described Vermonters as a reserved people who tend to mind their own business. "Most of the missionary work receives a strong plus from members themselves."
Church growth is also a result of increased awareness of the early roots of the Mormon Church in their soil, he explained. "They are interested in learning more rather than being antagonistic."
According to Gary R. Ricks, president of the New Hampshire Manchester Mission, "Missionary work has been slow, but it seems to be on the verge of really picking up. We've experienced that in the last couple of months. We have had success right at the birthplace of the prophet, at the Joseph Smith Memorial." (Please see story on page 9)
He continued: "There are two types of people in Vermont. There are those who are long-time residents who are salt of the earth people, set in their ways and slow to change. But when they find the gospel, they really make a full commitment to it because they are very dedicated and loyal people.
"The other type are outsiders who move to Vermont for its beautiful scenery and laid-back lifestyle. They generally don't respond to the gospel, but some are brought in."
Pres. Ricks and his wife have spent the past months holding meetings with members from wards in the Montpelier Stake to encourage member missionary work.
Full-time missionaries are also trained to visit with the local priesthood executive committee to encourage family involvement in the "Who and How Program," he said.
Families are asked to first pray to know who the Lord has prepared and to be inspired to know who that may be. Then they are encouraged to pray about how to share the gospel.
"I think that's made people more conscious, particularly because this is something every member can do. Every member can pray and can take it to the Lord. Many members have responded to the program and have begun to share the gospel much more than before."
About 28 missionaries from the Manchester mission serve in Vermont.
Working in an area rich in Church history has quite an effect on Pres. Ricks and the missionaries that serve under him, he explained. "I think everyone feels a sense of history here. The history provides a sense of focus for the missionaries that they are working on somewhat hallowed ground. They have a sense of the responsibility to carry the gospel to people who may well be related to prior generations of Church leaders.
"We have talked about how the first shall be last and the last shall be first. Much of the first generation of the Church came from here, yet significant numbers of baptisms didn't start occurring here until after World War II."
Vermont made a substantial contribution to the original leadership of the Church in the 19th century, and that contribution continues today, said Linda Stowe Miller, Montpelier stake public affairs director. Successful business and political leaders are numbered among the Church members. Missionary couples, young missionaries and temple workers represent Vermont throughout the world.
"My ancestors helped settle Vermont and New England, and it means a lot to me to live here," she continued. "I'm thankful the Church has grown to the point that our children can have all the advantages of Primary, seminary, and youth activities but still be Vermonters.
"Thirty years ago, being active in the Church was hard work. We had to travel long distances and there were just a few of us throughout the state. But the gospel is powerful, whether there are a few or many people."
