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 Wyoming 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 Utah 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 Brigham Young 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 Salt River 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,. Idaho. 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 United States 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.