STAR VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY HISTORICAL BOOKS INVENTORY DETAILS

1. Overview

Title: Short History of the LDS Seminary in Star Valley

Author: Paul M. Hokanson

Subject: LDS Church

Publisher:

Publishing Date:

Number of Pages: 18

ID#: 234

Location: Website

2. Evaluation

Evaluator's Name(s): Kent and Polly Erickson

Date of Evaluation: October 2014

Key Words: Star Valley Stake Tabernacle, Harvest Ball, Red Letter Days, Afton Stake, Thayne Wyoming Stake, World War H

Included Names: George Osmond, Clarence Gardner, Ernest R. Clark, Alda Fugal Gardner

3. Svnopsis

The preface tells the purpose of the seminary program. Background information is given. In 1909, President Joseph F. Smith dedicated the Star Valley Stake Tabernacle. It served as the first home for religion classes. In 1971-18 the first seminary outside was established in Star Valley. There are no records of the early years. In 1943, a new seminary building was dedicated. The development of the seminary program as it changed through the years is described. A listing of the seminary faculty beginning in 1917 and ending in 1996 is given. The author gives credit to the seminary system for providing youth with cultural and social contributions after graduation. 4. Other

* Photos; Old Rock High School (two views) Star Valley Tabernacle, Seminary Building, and new high school 1983 Tabernacle and old Rock High School Building A SHORT HISTORY

OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINT SEMINARY

IN STAR VALLEY

by

PAUL M. HOKANSON

«

•?.? •

^ i PREFACE

One of the signs of Che crue Church is ics commicmenc Co educacion. Each cime Che Church or Gospel or Covenanc has been organized on earch,

educacion, under che direccion of che prieschood, has flourished. The Bible and che Book of Mormon demonscrace greac heighcs in educacional endeavor. Educacion among che Jews bespeaks an earlier cime of greac knowledge and achievemenc by Israel and her ancienc prophecs. The progress of Enoch's antediluvian cicy and of che Nephices afcer being visiced by che- resurrecced Lord echo ciraes when che glory and educacion of che chings of God broughc exhalcacion Co earlier saints. The renaissance and che rise of che universicy in che Wescern World are buc a shadow and replace-

menc of revelacion and knowledge coming from the divine Church. Wich che rescoracion of The Church of Jesus Chrisc of Laccer-day Saints, knowledge and revelacion have come down from heaven and cruch and divine cranslacions speak from che ground. (Psalms 85:11). From che School of che Prophecs Co Universicy and from-che Universicies of Nauvoo and DesereC Co a world wide Church Educacion SysCem, The Church of Jesus Chrisc holds an enviable posicion in che world. Educacion will concinue wich che Saincs uncil "righceousness and cruch...sweep che earch as wich a flood." (Moses 7:62) Noc che lease pare of che Church

Educacional SysCem is che seminaries of che Church. Born in an earlier time, seminaries provide a bulwark of strength against the secular learning of an apostaCe world. For many decades che seminary of che Church of Jesus Chrisc of Laccer-day Saincs in SCar Valley has been a force for good in Cime and in ecernicy for generacions of Laccer-day Saints. BEGINNINGS The first seeders of Scar Valley from 1879 through the turn of the century were already committed to education. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints they had been instructed in religion and learning. Revelations given through the Prophet Joseph Smith paved the way for the establishment of schools and of the first Adult Education classes in America. Members in Ohio and Missouri eagerly awaited the printing of scriptures, hymnbooks and textbooks. One reason for per secution in Missouri was the clash of educationally minded New Englanders

versus the untutored Missourians. Nauvoo saw the first ereat influx of converts to the Church from Europe and a thirst for knowledge which prompted establishment of schools on many levels. As the great Latter-day Saint Exodus began in 1846 schools continued in covered wagons as they were pulled by weary oxen on the 1.000

mile journey to the west. Arriving in Salt Lake City, the Saints quickly e'stablished schools, including the University of Deseret, the first university west of the Mississippi River. In hundreds of settlements from Canada to Mexico members of the Church were equally anxious to build meetinghouses of worship and schoolhouses of learning. Before Utah achieved statehood each stake of the Church boasted an academy or college for training teachers and providing university courses. Star Valley was selected for LDS colonization and dedicated by two members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, Elder Moses Thatcher and Elder Brigham Young Jr., for the "gathering of Zion" in August 1879. Before the -4-

summer ended permanent settlers had arrived in Auburn in the Upper Valley and Freedom in the Lower Valley." The name Valley was changed by

Elder Thatcher to Star Valley.

Branches of the Church were organized as part of the Bear Lake Stake with many young people attending Fielding Academy in Paris,. . For many years, even after Star Valley became a stake and Star Valley High School was built, many persons could not travel daily to Afton and so yoiing people would spend the winter months in Utah or Idaho to attend high school. In

1892 Star Valley was organized with George Osmond as Stake President. Among his assignments, and that of other Priesthood leaders, was to provide for the educational needs of the saints. On August 15, 1909 President

Joseph F. Smith dedicated the Star Valley Stake Tabernacle which became the home for religion classes. During the same year Priesthood leaders applied to the Wyoming State Legislature for the establishment of a high school. The first high school class to graduate was 24 April, 1915. In 1916 a new

high school building was completed on the same block with the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle has often been used as part of the campus of the high school,

especially before the completion of a new high school addition in 1953. With a high school adjacent to the church building the Church was able to hold classes in religion and in 1917—18 the first seminary outside Utah and the third oldest seminary in'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day

Saints was established. i President Joseph F. Smith and other Church leaders felt the need to have religious training at the same level as secular learning in high school. The first seminary began in 1912 adjacent to Granite High School in Salt

'•t -5-

Lake Cicy. A second seminary was started in Mt. Pleasant, Utah in 1916 with

seminaries in Afton, Wyoming; American Fork, Blanding and Lehi, Utah the following year. From these humble beginnings seminary has spread from the

valleys of the Rockies to the western and then all across

America and around the world. The seminary in Afton has been invaluable to the Church in providing youth and families truth and knowledge.

There are no records of the first seminary classes. President of

the Stake, Clarence Gardner and superintendent of schools, J. S. Robinson

appear on early financial reports in Salt Lake City. Perhaps leaders of the stake or faculty of the Star Valley High School taught seminary classes. Heber D. Clark was called by Church Commissioner of Education, David 0. / / \jl McKay to teach in 1919-20.-brother Clark remembered Theras 0. Allred and ^ one or two others teaching in the two years 1917-19...-^^^^ ^ George Curry, an Englishman, was remembered by several of his students.(

Seminary was held in the Star Valley Stake Tabernacle in a room under the pulpits on the west end of the building. Several students remember Brother Curry saying, in his English accent, to noisy students, "I can't hear for the lunatic in the corner

Ernest R. Clark taught seminary for the thirteen years from 1924—1937. Enrollment went from less than 100 to nearly 300. Other seminary teachers r. .:,A included Lynn R. Webb, Charles R. Shepherd and his wife Edith, Chester Hill and Anthony J. Bentley. Brother Hill served a long career at Ricks College///r^ ^ and traveled often to give private music lessons to young people in Star ^ Valley. Brother Bentley became one of the leaders in the Church Educational

System. On April 30, 1943 Elder Joseph F. Merrill of the Quorum of che Twelve """''''^ dedicated a new seminary building built on land between the Stake Tabernacle and the Star Valley High School. The Tabernacle was being remodeled as a

Stake Center and seminary enrollment required, additional classrooms. The building of a seminary and the alteration from Tabernacle to Stake Center showed dedication and a committment to education by members of the Star

Valley Stake. Restrictions and privations of World War Two made the erection of these buildings a great sacrifice. Principals Ray L. Jones and Kenneth E. Muir served during this period. Stake President Royal S.

Papworth called Lorenzo Walker, Arvilla Hyer and Alda Gardner to teach part time as enrollment grew. The work of Sister Hyer and Sister Gardner was considered their contribution to the war effort.

AN INESTIMABLE INFLUENCE

Alda Fugal Gardner's part time teaching grew into full time employment and a teaching career of twenty-eight years, including ten years as the only woman principal in the Church Educational System. Sister Gardner became a legend in the Church as a masterful teacher. Elder Boyd K. Packer stated,

"Sister Gardner is unsurpassed as a teacher." The changes in students lives and conversions by the Spirit of the Lord of her pupils are indicative of the value of seminary in the lives of thousands who enrolled in seminary in

Star Valley over the years.

Besides Sister Gardner, Wallace Grandy and Hugh J. Phillips were seminary principals during the forties and fifties. Teachers included -7-

Walter Litchfield, Walter Bowen, Ray Hall and his wife LaFond Hall, part

time and Stayner W. Call and Lawrence B. Gardner part time. From 1947

to 1970 President E. Frances Winters presided over the Star Valley Stake ^jjjj and the stake board of education.

Ninth grade, freshmen, students studied the Old Testament, sophomores a studied New Testament and juniors in the third year of high school studied LDS Church History. Seminary graduation was for students completing three

years of religious instruction. Credits for Old and New Testament courses

were transferable toward high school graduation. Special Book of Mormon

classes were taught to high school seniors desiring an additional year of

seminary.

Many and varied extracurricular activities were held throughout the

year, over the years. Red Letter Days were held at various seminaries in

the Bear Lake District for graduating students. Trips to the Idaho Falls

Temple to perform baptisms for the dead became annual events. Money for

the trips was raised by serving meals between sessions of quarterly stake

conferences. Church History tours were taken following the original

4 Pioneer Trail from Evanston into Salt Lake Valley and visits were made to y|j| historical sites in Salt Lake City. Seminary Graduations held in the stake center in the spring of each

year were well planned and were attended by greater congregations than I high school commencement exercises. For many years participants in each ™ graduation program traveled to Salt Lake City and broadcast the program on ^ radio. The Harvest Ball, sponsored annually by the seminary, was the most -8-

imporcanc dance of che year co be held in Scar Valley. The Valleon Ballroom or che scake center was elaborately decorated. Music was'often by groups from Utah and sometimes concerts were held before the dance. A Harvest Ball Queen was chosen with an attendant from each ward, as well as escorts for each. The dance was usually held the weekend of Thanks giving when college students were home. Many parents and adults as well

as young people attended. . During the decade of the'sixties Boyd Eddins, Richard Brough and Allan Chriscensen «ere principals. Other teachers included Sister Gardner and her son Ballard Gardner, Richard Tripp, Val Call, David Garner, Chad Howells, Lament Merritt, Luell Perrett, Dennis Jenkins and Keith Nielson. Many o£ these brethren were new teachers who received excellent training in Afton and all have made outstanding contributions in che Church Educa-

tional System. Most former teachers have been Priesthood leaders, namely bishops, stake presidents, mission presidents, high councilors, teachers and auxiliary leaders in wards and stakes in many parts of the world. Many graduates of teh Star Valley Seminary have chosen professions in Church Education.in seminaries and institutes of religion and at and Ricks College and make valuable contributions. In 1969-70 classes began rotating with every teacher throughout the Church teaching the same subject in a given year. The order in which a student took che classes depended on which subject was being taught when he or she entered 9th grade, or high school. Beginning in 1972 four years of seminary were required for graduation. The faculty of the seminary in _9-

Afcon increased to four.

On April 11, 1970 Elder Thomas S. Monson dedicated a new seminary building north of the stake center. The following day President F. Doyle

Child became the fifth president of the Star Valley Stake. Each stake presidency over the years has been especially valiant in promoting seminary and the teaching of the Gospel and building of testimonies of t;he youth. A special day in seminary each year has geen a visit by members of the

Stake Presidency.

A name change from Star Valley Stake to Afton Wyoming Stake was affected 1 February, 1974. Actually, the seminaries in the Church had been designated by the town or city where the building stood rather than the name of the High school a number of years before, but the seminary in

Afton is still often referred to as Star Valley on teachers contracts and

in Church Educational Directories. On 29 October 1978 the Afton Wyoming

Stake was divided and the Thayne Wyoming Stake created under the direction

of Elder Bruce R. McConkie. President Larry A. Call became the sixth stake

president of the Afton Wyoming Stake and President Marlow Bateman became

the first stake president of the new Thayne Wyoming Stake.

Upon the completion of a new stake center in Thayne the Seminary

Graduation was held there on Tuesday, 19 May 1981, after sixty—one grad

uations in the historic stake center in Afton, with graduations alternating

in location thereafter. In 1984-86 the old building in Afton was remodeled

and refurbished and again designated as a tabernacle and graduation was

held in the newly added chapel. Elder L. Tom Perry was the graduation

speaker at this sixty-seventh Smeinary Graduation. -10-

1985 marked the passing of Alda Fugal Gardner and Heber D. Clark.

Brother Clark worked closely with then Commissioner of Education, David

0. McKay, seventy years ago and was one of the first teachers in Star

Valley's seminary. Sister Gardner's near three decades of teaching have already been noted. Brother Paul Hokanson was transferred to Missouri after eleven years teaching in Star Valley. Seminary principals during the 1970's and midway into 1985 were Jerry

Giles, Douglas Williams, Paul Hokanson and Kem Cazier. Teachers included

Robert Canaan, Darrel Gambel, Marvin Loar, Jerry Miller, David Shelton,

Douglas Roos, James Anderson and Kent Haddock. In 1980 a faculty of all natives of Star Valley was assigned. They were Paul Hokanson, Douglas

Roos and Kevan Kennington. Later Kem Cazier and Kevin Hyde, two more Star

Valley natives, joined the faculty. John Scott, a Church convert from outside Wyoming, was appointed in 1984-85. From 1978-79 through 1985-86 the faculty was reduced from four to three, although the percentage of

Church members enrolled in seminary remained high and a dozen or more non-members took seminary each year.

During the 1970's full time missionaries were assigned to Star Valley as part of the Utah North Mission. Many sets of missionaries have visited seminary and have been assisted by faculty and student body in teaching investigators. Star Valley has always sent out a proportionately large number of missionaries into the missionfield, two or three times the number sent out by most other stakes. President Spencer W. Kimball and other Church leaders have long attributed missionary activity to seminary enrollment and this has been one of the objectives of seminary in Star Valley, -11-

Other gauges of success in the seminary in Scar Valley have been che high number of temple marriages and the large number of graduates active in the Church. Virtually every bishop and high councilor, Relief Society, Young Women or Primary President in Star Valley has had training in seminary.

Hundreds of bishops and other Church leaders serve in many parts of the

Church drawing on experiences and spiritual truths learned in their seminary days in Star Valley.

Basic instruction in the Standard Works of the Church has become more important over the years. Bible and Church History text books have been replaced by the scriptures themselves. The Church History course came to include a greater use of the Doctrine and Covenants. With the decision to have four years of study, all seminary students are taught the Book of

Mormon. Books in The Pearl of Great Price became part of course work in Old Testament and Church History and Doctrine. Scripture Chases and Seminary

Bowls have helped the students in their seminary study of the Standard Works.

Most seminary students obtain some college training after high school. For many years most graduates attended Brigham Young College or Utah State

Agricultural College in Logan, Utah. B.Y.C. closed and U.S.A.C. became . Most students had taken religious'education at the Church operated B.Y.C. or at the Institute of Religion in Logan. Some students have attended the University of Wyoming and taken classes at the Institute of Religion near the Laramie campus. In recent years more and more students have attended Ricks College or Brigham Young University. For many years seminary scholarships were awarded to outstanding students from the seminary in Star Valley attending Ricks College and the Institute of -12-

Religion at the University of Wyoming. Many hundreds of thousands of dollars

in scholarships have been awarded to seminary and high school graduates

attending Wyoming, Utah and Idaho schools. Many seminary lessons have

been taught about the importance of continuing education. Representatives of Ricks College and L.D.S. Business College have visited many upperclassmen

at the seminary. Many groups of students have attended special youth

conferences for seminary students at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho.

Educational and social institutions offer to society a better quality

of life but the'Church and the family have even higher goals which reach

into eternity-.. Seminary has helped the Latter-day Saints in Star Valley

in spritual learning and progress. President Spencer W. Kimball said:

"If we spend our mortal days in accumulating secular knowledge to the exclusion of the spiritual then we are in a dead-end street, for this is the time for man to •. prepare to meet God; this is the time for faith to be r'. built, for baptism to be effected, for the Holy Ghost to be received, for ordinances to be performed...

Secular knowledge, important as it may be, can never save a soul nor open the celestial kingdom nor create a world nor make a man a god, but it can be most helpful to that man who, placing first things first, has found the way to eternal life and who can now bring to play all 1 knowledge to be his tool and servant."

N It is incredible that an isolated area like Star Valley has prepared |l its youth to perform so well in a fast moving technical and secular world. Colleges and universities have vied for Star Valley graduates and the work !l world has had high regard for the youth of our western Wyoming communities. Youth who have left the valley have had more than their fair share of

success in every aspect of American life. Marriages have generally been

more stable, high educational goals have been achieved and cultural and -13-

social contributions have been attained in a fast changing world. Not a

little of this success can be attributed to the academic and moral" value: M of seminary. Add to this the spiritual learning and the eternal blessings which come from seminary and we can only work and pray for a continuation

of seminary in Star Valley.

i i 9 star Valley old rock High School note excavation for old semenary started. i

1936--Star Valley High School with busses in winter. t

\

1- star Valley Tal»macl« and Star Valley High School 5/20/ I983 9- Tabernacle and old Rock High School Building. I33 SEMINARY FACULTY I9l7-

Year Name Years of Service

1917-22 Theras 0. Allred 1 principal

1919-20 Heber D. Clark 5 principal

1922-25 George Curry 3 principal m 1924-37 Ernesc R. Clark 13 principal

1936-38 Lynn R. Webb 2 principal

19'38-41 Charles R. Shepherd 3 principal

1938-40 Edich Shepherd 2 part time M 1939-42 Chescer Hill 3

1940-41 Lorenzo Walker 1 part time

1941-42 Anthony J. Bent ley 1 principal

1942-43 Ray L. Jones 1 principal m 1943-45 Kenneth E. Muir 2 principal 1942-71 Alda F. Gardner 28 principal, ten years. includes some part time and one year in American

1942-46 Arvilla Hyer 3 part time

1945-51 Wallace Grandy 5 principal

1951-54 Hugh J. Phillips 3 principal

1954-55 Walter C- Lichfield 1

i 1955-57 Walter D. Bowen 2

1954-58 Stayner W. Call 4 part time < 1957-59 Ray M. Hall 2 1958-59 LaFond Hall 1 part time i 1959-60 Lawrence B. Gardner 1 part time 1960-63 Boyd L. Eddins 3 principal, one year

1960-62 M. Ballard Gardner 2

1962-64 Richard G. Tripp 3

1963-66 Richard Brough . 3 principal

1964-66 LaVal J. Call 2

1965-68 David Garner 3

1965-66 Chad Howe11s 1

1962-64 LaMont Merritt 2

1966-70 Allan Christensen 4 principal 1966-67 Luell Perrecc,.

1967-68 Dennis Jenkins

1968-69 Keith J. Nielsen

1968-71 David E. Shelton

1969-74 Jerry Giles principal, three years

1969-70 Robert Canaan

1970-71 Barrel G. Gambel

1970-75 Marvin J. Loar

1971-72 Jerry L. Miller

1971-74 James L. Anderson

1972-81 Douglas L. Roos 9

1974-78 Douglas G. Williams 4 principal

1975-79 Kent M. Haddock 4

1979-80 Kevan J. Kennington 1

1974-85 Paul M. Hokanson 11 principal, seven years

1980-95 Kern T. Cazier 15 principal, ten years

1985- Mary Lou Halford secretary 1981- Kevin D. Hyde

1984-91 John Scott

1986- 89 Robert Bowen

1989- John K. Challis principal, 1991- 97 Lynn Hopkins 1992- 96 John Scott

1995- Jason. T. Klodni-cki

1996- Delton.;W. Clark

I