Hundreds of people gathered June 10 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Salt Lake East Mill Creek Stake and to welcome previous stake presidents, among whom was President Gordon B. Hinckley.
President Hinckley served as president of the stake from 1956 until 1958 when he was called as a General Authority. He was called as second counselor in the stake presidency in 1946, a year after the stake was organized on June 17, 1945, and as first counselor in 1948.President Hinckley and his wife, Marjorie, were warmly greeted by their acquaintances. Former stake presidents in attendance included Wendell J. Ashton, Orin R. Woodbury and Frank M. Bradshaw. The current stake president is W. Bruce Woodruff. Also in attendance were members of the East Mill Creek North Stake, which was divided from the East Mill Creek Stake in 1979.
Pres. Woodruff commented, the "people are what make East Mill Creek unique - each one of you gathered here." He praised those in the area for their work ethic and their willingness to hold family home evenings, traits, he said, which helped develop character. He observed that this character is evident in the more than 62 missionaries serving from the stake, almost 3 percent of the stake population, who are among nearly 2,000 who have served throughout the stake's history.
Although the stake is middle aged, its roots are older, stretching back to 1847 when pioneers established a settlement built near a creek, said Paul Swensen, high councilor and local historian. That stream was suitable for mills that later proliferated on its banks and gave the community its enduring name.
He recounted that the stream eventually powered 21 mills, most of which were saw mills. In 1877, a meetinghouse was constructed that was still in use in 1945 when the stake was created.
Both President and Sister Hinckley spoke to those gathered at the anniversary celebration.
Sister Hinckley mentioned that "little things are important in life. Little things make us what we are. We are all a composite of each other. We don't stand alone. . . . I am so thankful to have had the blessing in my life to be surrounded by wonderful people - people who had testimonies, people who were loyal, people who were filled with love. I cannot thank them all enough."
President Hinckley expressed love and appreciation for members of the stake, including H. Leroy Erickson, 95, who served as his first counselor in the stake presidency. Brother Erickson offered the invocation.
"What a great day it is to be alive in this day and time in the history of the world," said President Hinckley of the period of the existence of the East Mill Creek Stake. "No other past century in all of man's life upon earth compares with the past 50 years. The things we've seen have been tremendous. And I think it is all part of the opening of this great work of the Lord. This is the dispensation of the fulness of times when everything of all the previous dispensations have been gathered together for the blessing of the sons and daughters of God through the restoration of the priesthood and the powers exercised therein, under which we do work for those who have passed beyond the veil of death. This is a great time to be alive."
He recalled the experience of facing difficult financial challenges as a stake president when much of the construction of buildings was paid by local members. He said that in following the guidance of the Spirit, he gained confidence to move forward and work hard.
"The lesson I learned here as a stake president is that with the Lord's help, you can do it, and if you move with faith, you can accomplish anything. I believe that. I've seen miracles after miracles after miracles.
"I once thought that the best people in the world were here in this building. But there are millions of others just like you, wherever you go, in Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Bangkok, Singapore, Bombay, Sydney, Canberra, Wellington, Christchurch, Nuku'alofa, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Lima, Stockholm, Copenhagen, London, Dublin [to name a few] - wonderful people in this Church."
