Traces of Mormonism run deep in this part of the rugged Texas hill country, dating back to 1847 when Lyman Wight and a band of about 200 followers settled four miles southeast of here after leaving the main body of the Church at Nauvoo, Ill., in 1844.
Despite those traces, Church growth in this town 75 miles northwest of San Antonio has been slow. Today, Fredericksburg has a branch of about 80 members that is part of the San Antonio Texas Stake.If growth of the Church has been unspectacular in recent years, the impact of former and present members on Fredericksburg has been significant. And the effects of the gospel in the lives of current members have been strong.
First, a look at the original Mormon settlers who occupied the area.
Lyman Wight actually was a member of the Church for only part of his stay in Fredericksburg. Nicknamed the "Wild Ram of the Mountains" for his headstrong nature, he had been called to the Quorum of the Twelve in Nauvoo in April 1841. Wight was forceful in his efforts to seek redress for the sufferings of the saints before and after his call as an apostle. He labored as a missionary, and was traveling with Elder Heber C. Kimball on June 27, 1844, the day the Prophet Joseph and Hyrum were killed at Carthage Jail.
According to Comprehensive History of the Church by Elder B.H. Roberts, Wight "manifested a spirit of insubordination to the authority of the Twelve, and led away a party from the Church" following the death of the Prophet.
Though his spirit was one of insubordination, Wight did receive permission from the Twelve to lead his group from Nauvoo. He was counseled, however, to go north rather than to Texas, which he did initially.
He first led a company to the territory of Wisconsin, in August 1844. For some time he had desired to go to Texas, and had advocated the movement of the Church to the Southwest before Joseph's death.
Determining to pursue his wish, he led his "small colony" to Texas in 1845, settling first near Austin before establishing the community of Zodiac two years later four miles southeast of Fredericksburg. Zodiac was located on the Pedernales River, now private farmland. The only remnant of the community is a stone marker, standing alone in a plowed field.
Lyman Wight was excommunicated from the Church, the action being taken at Salt Lake City in 1848. (Comprehensive History of the Church 2:436.) Prior to that action, historical accounts indicate that President Brigham Young and others of the Twelve made several efforts through letters and personal visits to encourage Wight and his followers into full fellowship and to join the main body of the Church in Salt Lake City. Those efforts were rebuffed, but a number of Wight's followers later rejoined the saints in Utah following the leader's death.
Today, Fredericksburg residents credit Wight and his followers with saving the original German settlers in the area from starvation. A monument honoring the band of settlers sits in the middle of this community of 6,900 people.
"The influence of Mormonism on the early settlement of Fredericksburg was extensive, and people here still have great respect for those early Latter-day Saints," explained branch Pres. Glenn R. Durst, whose German ancestors helped settle the town before Wight arrived. "The community really owes its existence to those early settlers.
"Fredericksburg was established in May 1846, and the early Mormon colony got here in 1847, less than a year later," continued Pres. Durst. "Most of the original settlers of Fredericksburg were German noblemen who weren't used to the meager tasks of providing for their families. They were next to starvation. The settlers from Nauvoo came with plentiful food supplies and helped them a lot. They taught the Germans to make corn meal and brought the first grist mill. Lyman Wight helped develop the early settlement extensively, laying out the city largely in accordance with the other cities settled by the early Church leaders."
Further description of the impact of Wight and his company on Fredericksburg is provided in The Lyman Wight Colony in Texas by J. Marvin Hunter:
"Here, in 1847, about two hundred Mormons, including men, women and children, located. They were industrious, and for those days possessed considerable means. They had a big general store, a saw mill, a grist mill and a cabinet shop. In social and business matters the Germans and Mormons got along fine. . . .
"From the old sawmill came much of the lumber used by the early German citizens, and from the old Mormon grist mill the Germans obtained much of the first meal they used. With the exception of the community gardens at Fredericksburg, the Mormons were the first farmers in the county. Just how much land they cultivated is not known, but it certainly amounted to several acres."
In 1851, Wight and his colony met with reverses at Fredericksburg and moved to a new location in south Texas, moving again in 1853, and settling on the Medina River in 1854.
In March 1858, Wight began a journey north. On the second day of the trip, about eight miles from San Antonio, he suddenly died. His body was carried by his followers back to the old settlement of Zodiac, where he was buried in the small cemetery. His remains are still there.
The modern history of the Church in Fredericksburg may lack some of the color of those early years, but not substance.
A dependent branch was formed in 1977, but was disbanded just over a year later due to lack of sufficient membership. Members went back into the Kerrville Ward. The Fredericksburg Branch was established eight years ago, and Pres. Durst has served as branch president since its inception. Average attendance at meetings is around 45.
During the last eight years the branch has met in three locations: the city hall building, in a historic limestone house, and in the current building acquired in May 1985. The meetinghouse was originally a chicken coop that was converted into a home before its purchase by the Church. Branch members helped renovate the property to make it suitable for worship services, classes and activities.
The Dursts are one of three LDS families with ties to the original German settlers of Fredericksburg. Other members have moved in, largely due to the attraction of a peaceful lifestyle in the hills.
Fredericksburg sits atop the Edwards Plateau, which runs for about 200 miles north of San Antonio and is 100 miles across. The hilly area is more than 1,000 feet higher than San Antonio to the south, and its runoff feeds the Edwards Aquifer beneath San Antonio, one of the largest aquifers in the United States.
"The hill country is just beautiful," exclaimed Pres. Durst, who joined the Church in 1975 and owns a sheet metal and roofing company. "It's a wonderful area. Wildlife is abundant, and there are a lot of lakes and recreation areas."
The region is noted for its love of sports, particularly football, and the town virtually closes down on Friday nights as everyone attends the local high school game. Pres. Durst is active in youth sports, having served as soccer association president and currently on the youth baseball board of directors.
Though the German influence in Fredericksburg contributes significantly to its positive values and conservative lifestyle, it also is a reason for the slow Church growth, according to Pres. Durst.
"Missionary work is a challenge among the staunch Germans," he noted, with a smile. Durst is German for "thirst."
"We have 26 different denominations in Fredericksburg. There is a lot of religious activity, mostly through the old German background that is prevalent with most of the families here. They become fairly set in their ways, and growth is slow."
Pres. Durst isn't critical as he speaks, but matter of fact. His emotions are near the surface as he speaks of the community, its people and the branch, which he says is like a "big family."
During a branch conference earlier this year, Pres. Durst said the 94 people assembled comprised the "largest gathering of Church members for sacrament meeting" in Fredericksburg. "It does my heart good to see this room overflowing," he said, and then emotionally referred to a just-sung children's musical number: "We are very proud of our children. We think we have strong youth."
Two in attendance at branch conference were S. Roy and Ollie Brown, residents of Vancouver, B.C., who served as missionaries in Fredericksburg in 1989. They had come back to visit.
Brother Brown said two families at sacrament meeting were activated while they were serving here. "That's one of the thrills of coming back. There were not a lot of baptisms, but we had some wonderful experiences here."
"We fell in love with the people of Fredericksburg and felt like we belonged here," added Sister Brown. "We still do."
