History
Some of the History of the local congregation that meets in Brigham City, Utah
The Brigham City congregation started meeting in late 1960. The congregation was made up of a small group of employees of Thiokol Chemical Corp, BIA Intermountain Indian School and others.
The articles of Incorporation were approved by the State of Utah in September 1961. The numbers grew rapidly to about 80 members in early 1963. Services were held in facilities rented for Sunday and Wednesday night. Preaching was done by the members.
During this period, it was possible to purchase property across the street from what was to be a new high school. At that time in Utah, it was possible to have a release time credit class in Bible studies and every high school in the state had seminaries sponsored by the LDS church. Our plan was to have a Bible class for our high school members who attended services at the church, plus open it to all high school students.
In 1963 and 1964 reductions of employees at Thiakol resulted in the loss of about 1/3 of the members of the congregation,. Members decided to go ahead and build a small building seating 120 plus 4 classrooms to be ready by summer of 1964. Funds were obtained from various congregations to support a minister/teacher for the release time high school class. It was necessary that he qualify as a certified teacher by the state of Utah, which he did.
In 1965 Brother J. K. Bentley, a retired minister/school teacher from Tennessee came and started the release time class. Fifteen students enrolled and received credit for that class, studying the New Testament. Five of the students were members of the Brigham City congregation. In March 1967 he and his wife left to move closer to their daughter in Texas.
A year earlier the church building was paid off and it was decided to add an addition to the building which would have an office, dressing rooms, baptistery and storage room. That was completed in June 1967.
In May 1967 twenty two students enrolled in class. Clarene Keesling whose husband was transferred here to work at the Bear River Bird Refuge was a teacher. She taught the class for a school year. Darrell Keesling, Arthur Cambron, and Pete Hansen did the preaching.
Don Bunnell was hired September 1, 1968 with Iowa Park, Texas congregation supporting him. There were eleven enrolled in the release time Bible class in 1968-1969 school year. The congregation was down to 34 members due to another reduction of employees at Thiokol where most of the members were employed. Don left in May 1971.
In July 1971 Clyde Sloan became the preacher/teacher and was released from employment in June 1972.
The men decided not to offer the release credit class during the 1972-1973 school year and has not offered it again.
Peter Hansen did most of the preaching until Bill Hearn was hired in 1994 as a full time minister. He remained here until December 2003.
The congregation has slowly lost many members due to death and some moving away.
We are a solid Bible believing congregation whose primary goal is to glorify God and His Son Jesus Christ and to reach out in the community with the Gospel of Christ.
The Brigham City congregation started meeting in late 1960. The congregation was made up of a small group of employees of Thiokol Chemical Corp, BIA Intermountain Indian School and others.
The articles of Incorporation were approved by the State of Utah in September 1961. The numbers grew rapidly to about 80 members in early 1963. Services were held in facilities rented for Sunday and Wednesday night. Preaching was done by the members.
During this period, it was possible to purchase property across the street from what was to be a new high school. At that time in Utah, it was possible to have a release time credit class in Bible studies and every high school in the state had seminaries sponsored by the LDS church. Our plan was to have a Bible class for our high school members who attended services at the church, plus open it to all high school students.
In 1963 and 1964 reductions of employees at Thiakol resulted in the loss of about 1/3 of the members of the congregation,. Members decided to go ahead and build a small building seating 120 plus 4 classrooms to be ready by summer of 1964. Funds were obtained from various congregations to support a minister/teacher for the release time high school class. It was necessary that he qualify as a certified teacher by the state of Utah, which he did.
In 1965 Brother J. K. Bentley, a retired minister/school teacher from Tennessee came and started the release time class. Fifteen students enrolled and received credit for that class, studying the New Testament. Five of the students were members of the Brigham City congregation. In March 1967 he and his wife left to move closer to their daughter in Texas.
A year earlier the church building was paid off and it was decided to add an addition to the building which would have an office, dressing rooms, baptistery and storage room. That was completed in June 1967.
In May 1967 twenty two students enrolled in class. Clarene Keesling whose husband was transferred here to work at the Bear River Bird Refuge was a teacher. She taught the class for a school year. Darrell Keesling, Arthur Cambron, and Pete Hansen did the preaching.
Don Bunnell was hired September 1, 1968 with Iowa Park, Texas congregation supporting him. There were eleven enrolled in the release time Bible class in 1968-1969 school year. The congregation was down to 34 members due to another reduction of employees at Thiokol where most of the members were employed. Don left in May 1971.
In July 1971 Clyde Sloan became the preacher/teacher and was released from employment in June 1972.
The men decided not to offer the release credit class during the 1972-1973 school year and has not offered it again.
Peter Hansen did most of the preaching until Bill Hearn was hired in 1994 as a full time minister. He remained here until December 2003.
The congregation has slowly lost many members due to death and some moving away.
We are a solid Bible believing congregation whose primary goal is to glorify God and His Son Jesus Christ and to reach out in the community with the Gospel of Christ.