A GREAT BLOSSOMING A History of the Rise of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in OKLAHOMA 3rd Edition Compiled and Written by Hal Pierce Anyone with historical information about the rise of the Church is invited to share that information by sending it to this website and it will be added. Thanks. 1 Table of Contents Editions ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Church Genesis Commentary ..................................................................................................... 6 DEFINITIONS AND INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 7 Definitions/Notes ........................................................................................................................ 7 Sources ........................................................................................................................................ 7 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 7 EARLY OKLAHOMA CHURCH HISTORY ............................................................................. 11 A Second Effort ........................................................................................................................ 25 Early Branches .......................................................................................................................... 32 NORMAN ..................................................................................................................................... 36 Early Norman Priesthood Leadership Chronology ................................................................... 36 Chronology of Church Organizations ....................................................................................... 37 Norman Church Meeting Places ............................................................................................... 38 Branch Organized ..................................................................................................................... 40 Meeting Places .......................................................................................................................... 43 The New Stake Center Building ............................................................................................... 45 Open House ............................................................................................................................... 47 Becoming a Ward ..................................................................................................................... 48 Creating New Stakes ................................................................................................................. 50 Relief Society ............................................................................................................................ 50 Primary ...................................................................................................................................... 52 Youth......................................................................................................................................... 53 Patriarchs................................................................................................................................... 54 Stake High Council ................................................................................................................... 55 Cleaning the Stadium ................................................................................................................ 55 Family of the Year Program ..................................................................................................... 57 Family Home Evening .............................................................................................................. 58 Family History .......................................................................................................................... 58 Church Institute and Seminary.................................................................................................. 59 Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching .................................................................................... 60 Welfare Activity........................................................................................................................ 60 Stake Welfare Ranch................................................................................................................. 61 Ward Welfare Farm .................................................................................................................. 63 Bishops Storehouse and Cannery.............................................................................................. 64 A Special Service Project.......................................................................................................... 65 Stake and Ward Cultural/Social Activities ............................................................................... 66 Missionaries Serving in Norman .............................................................................................. 68 Norman Missionary Efforts ...................................................................................................... 68 Indian Chiefs Baptized .............................................................................................................. 69 Scouting .................................................................................................................................... 70 Ward and Stake Athletics.......................................................................................................... 71 Temple Excursions.................................................................................................................... 71 Solemn Assembly ..................................................................................................................... 72 2 Reserve Officer Training Corps ................................................................................................ 73 Food for Friends ........................................................................................................................ 73 Politicians .................................................................................................................................. 74 Equal Rights Amendment ......................................................................................................... 74 General Conference Broadcasts ................................................................................................ 75 Talents Used By the General Church........................................................................................ 76 Church Correlation.................................................................................................................... 77 New Scriptures .......................................................................................................................... 78 Pictures (Not included in this history) ...................................................................................... 78 ADA .............................................................................................................................................. 79 ALTUS .......................................................................................................................................... 80 ALVA ........................................................................................................................................... 81 ANADARKO ................................................................................................................................ 86 ARDMORE................................................................................................................................... 87 BARTLESVILLE ......................................................................................................................... 89 New Building ............................................................................................................................ 90 New Leadership ........................................................................................................................ 90 Additional Names of Members ................................................................................................. 90 BLACKWELL .............................................................................................................................. 90 BRISTOW..................................................................................................................................... 91 BURNEYVILLE........................................................................................................................... 91 CHEROKEE ................................................................................................................................. 92 CHICKASHA ............................................................................................................................... 92 CLAREMORE .............................................................................................................................. 93 CLEVELAND..............................................................................................................................