Latter-day Saints celebrate groundbreaking

MINDEN - About 200 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their invited guests gathered recently to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new meeting house located just south of the Douglas High School parking lot between the Carson Valley Swim Center and Nevada Fitness.

Darcy Deck, a member of the church, expressed the feelings of many at the event. "It's great to see the church is growing so much in the valley," she said. "There are beautiful views here in this spot, and it feels really good for a church."

Another member of the church, Christine Miller, explained the significance of attending with her children.

"This is a really busy day for my family, but my daughter wanted to come because this is history in the making. As we live here for the rest of our lives, my kids will be coming to church in this building and they'll remember this moment."

William Brewer, president of the Carson City Nevada Stake, explained the use of the building in his remarks. In addition to Sunday meetings, there will be Saturday activities for children under 12, weekday meetings for Cub Scouts ages 8-11 and achievement days for girls 8-11, as well as weeknight activities for youth such as Scouting and Young Women meetings.

Brewer spoke of the daily early-morning seminary class the youth attend before school, which demonstrates their commitment and dedication.

George Keele, Nevada Las Vegas West mission counselor, spoke of the nobility of the church's pioneer heritage in the Carson Valley and of the same noble birthright each person is born with as a child of God.

Construction will begin on the new building upon final approval of building plans and should be completed within a year. The new building, which will contain 16,558 square feet and 23 teaching stations, will accommodate 254 in the chapel and 610 when the partition to the adjacent cultural center is opened. The building will house up to three wards, or geographical congregations.