Church of Jesus Christ Sierra Vista

06/15/2026

❤️ Join us in the gym on Monday, July 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for our upcoming blood drive with the American Red Cross!
📍 2100 E Yaqui St, Sierra Vista
💻 Make your appointment at redcrossblood.org with sponsor code: LSLSVSTAKE >

06/10/2026

Following a Prompting: Sierra Vista’s Emmy Kerr Serves Mission in Missouri

SIERRA VISTA— “As a missionary, my purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive His gospel,” shared Sierra Vista’s Emmy Kerr, who began her 18-month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 31, 2026. Emmy is currently serving in Independence, Missouri.

Further explaining her life as a missionary, she continued, “Our day consists of teaching people and finding new people who are open to receiving this message. We find people in lots of different ways: we knock doors, reach out on social media, talk to people out in public places such as gas stations or grocery stores.”

A lifelong Sierra Vista resident, Emmy attended several local schools including Village Meadows Elementary School, Huachuca Mountain Elementary School, Joyce Clark Middle School, Arizona Arts Academy, ALA, and Buena High School. She also completed one semester at Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, AZ, prior to her mission service.

While in school, Emmy participated in theater and choir, swam on the high school swim team, and competed in local triathlons. She credits her teachers with having a significant influence on her life. “I was blessed with the most amazing schoolteachers growing up, who helped shape me into the person I am today,” she said.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently lowered the minimum age for women to serve missions from age 19 to 18. The change occurred at the end of Emmy’s first semester at Eastern Arizona College and influenced her decision to serve. “At the time, I was 18 and didn't turn 19 for a couple months. I received a very strong prompting that I needed to pause my cosmetology program and leave on a mission as soon as I could.” She said, “When I received the prompting to go, I felt so much peace and knew it was the right thing for me to do.”

Completing the paperwork required before receiving her mission assignment proved challenging. “Getting my mission paperwork complete was a long process…it took so much patience from me.” She added, “I learned through this process that God's plan is not easy. This is because God loves us too much to keep us how we are, so His paths are going to challenge us so we can grow and become more like Him.”

While Emmy is grateful for the opportunity to share the gospel, she admits that being away from home is difficult. “My family means the world to me,” she said. “But I know that the Lord has great things in store for me. Trusting in Him and His plan will bring me joy that exceeds the pain of leaving home.”

Emmy’s parents, Aaron and Jessie Kerr, shared their support for her decision. “It is definitely hard to say goodbye for 18 months, but we can’t think of a more growing and life changing experience Emmy could have right now in her life. By devoting her life to Jesus, she is gaining a solid testimony to help her through the hard times that life will bring. Getting out of her comfort zone to interact with and serve others will develop so many relationships on a deeper level. A mission is going to help give her skills to set her up for success the rest of her life. So grateful for this opportunity for her.”

Reflecting on her desire to serve, Emmy shared, “It wasn't something I ever thought I would do until I was a junior in high school.” She continued, “I started growing closer to Jesus Christ during this time and I witnessed Him transform my life. As I’ve continued growing closer to Him, my deepest desire is to help others experience that same change through His power.”

Published in the Sierra Vista Herald on June 8, 2026
Written by Erin Fuhriman

06/07/2026

Our Savior Jesus Christ has unconditional love for each of us.

One at a time, where ever we are physically, emotionally or spiritually - He loves us.

The Gospel of Mark testifies that Jesus Christ appeared 3 times on Easter Day:

First, to Mary Magdalene at the tomb.

Second, Jesus appeared to 2 of his disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Third, He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat.

Each of these times they did not know it was Jesus - at first.

But as they recognized the Savior and realized He was with them individually - they knew they were not alone.

As we go through challenges and trials of our own, we may feel we are alone. But our Savior promises to give us “the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost... to teach us all things” (John 14) and He also promises us that He will come to us and not leave us comfortless.

We may not always see our Savior walking beside us - but He is there. As we walk by faith in this life and learn to recognize the love of our Savior Jesus Christ, we will come to know He lives, His promises are real and we are not alone.

It is my testimony that our Savior Jesus Christ is mindful of each of us individually in all aspects of our lives. I am grateful the Savior has been there for me in times of joy and in times of trials and challenges. Jesus Christ atoned for our sins and He died for each of us. He is always there to lead us, guide us and walk beside us to help us find our way back to Him. I testify this is true.

In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
-Sister Brenda Petitt

06/02/2026

Local Food Bank Receives Donation from Salt Lake City

SIERRA VISTA — On May 15, 2026, Sierra Vista’s St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank received a donation of 25 pallets of food from the Bishop’s Storehouse of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah. The delivery included important staples such as flour, beans, rice, pasta, peanut butter, applesauce, dish soap, corn, pears, salsa, and pancake mix.

Wendy Wyatt, the communication director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sierra Vista, assisted in coordinating the delivery from Salt Lake City. She shared, “I am grateful to be part of helping to ensure the delivery was successful, as it provides our community with food for those in need. Though the delivery driver was of a different faith, he was very thankful to be the one delivering food for the church and support our humanitarian aid efforts.”

Stan Garner, director of Sierra Vista’s St. Vincent de Paul, expressed his appreciation for the donation. “The food coming in today is going to be a great help because a lot of it is going to be items that we actually pay for.” He also added, “I appreciate donated food for the simple fact that people will donate food that we don't necessarily buy, and so there'll be something different.”

Stan noted that the food bank now distributes significantly more food than in previous years. “When I first started in 2003, it was myself and one volunteer… a big day was 12 or 15 food boxes,” Stan said. “Now I have myself and at least four volunteers. A normal day is 50 to 60 food boxes every day, Monday through Friday.”

The food bank has also seen a shift in who is seeking assistance, including a growing number of seniors affected by changes in food assistance programs. “We’ve seen an increase in seniors because in the state of Arizona, 40,000 people lost their food stamps,” he said.

Stan remains confident that St. Vincent de Paul will continue to meet the needs of the local community, despite the growing demand. “With your church’s assistance and other churches’ assistance, we’re going to have food. We’re not going to run out of food.”

Donations like the one received from Salt Lake City help keep shelves stocked and food boxes moving out each day. Referring to the donated supplies, Stan added, “We call it God’s food.”

Written by Erin Fuhriman
Published in the Sierra Vista Herald on June 2, 2026

05/23/2026

🎶 Songs of Hope: Watch Party
🎊 Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Tabernacle Choir’s very first performance at the Hollywood Bowl, with a special broadcast of their benefit concert!
Bring your family and friends for an evening of beautiful music and community.🩵

05/15/2026

"'Do whatever it takes to increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation.' Former prophet Russell M. Nelson gave us that inspired counsel over six years ago in the April 2020 General Conference, and I've been pondering it ever since: how do I hear the voice of the Lord in my life? 'We . . . hear Him more clearly as we refine our ability to recognize the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.' That answer has evolved for me over the years, but within the last few months, I've discovered that the Holy Ghost communicates to me when I am outside exercising.

"I love to hike, walk, and jog, especially here in our beautiful Sierra Vista, but really anywhere with mountains or water in view. Sometimes I'm listening to music, other times to audiobooks or podcasts, and on occasion I leave my mind and ears open. Surprisingly, promptings from the Holy Ghost have come during all of those scenarios. Answers to questions I've been seeking heavenly help with are especially forthcoming if I've also spent time that day reading (or listening to) the words of the Savior in scripture and from His prophets.

"Part of Psalm 46:10 reads, 'Be still, and know that I am God.' There are times when inspiration has come when I'm physically still—on my knees in prayer, or sitting at my desk, scriptures open before me. But my mind is very active, and physical stillness tends to increase that activity. If I’m not engaged in reading or a task that requires concentration, my thoughts tend to ping-pong from point to point (sometimes erratically). But like giving a Primary class a picture to color during a Sunday lesson, my mind seems to be more still when my body is moving. And when I’m outside amongst the beauty of this earth, this appears to be the way, at least right now in my life, that the Lord can get through to me. It’s to the point that I get outside when I need to receive an answer. Recently after praying with my husband over a matter we’d been discussing, we said our amens and then he turned to me, asking if I’d had any impressions. My first thought was, 'I need to go for a jog!'

“'It has never been more imperative to know how the Spirit speaks to you than right now. . . . Doing so will help you know how to move ahead with your life, what to do during times of crisis, and how to discern and avoid the temptations and the deceptions of the adversary.' I add my testimony to President Nelson’s that the Lord hears us and He wants to talk to us—but we must do the work to be in a position (literally and figuratively) to hear and recognize what He has to say."

—Allison

05/04/2026

I find peace in Christ when I seek his words. One of the scriptures that has given me peace is Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-9.

D&C 121: 7  “My son (daughter), peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

9 Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.”

These scriptures have given me hope that my trials aren’t forever, that they will end soon. When I need peace, reading the scriptures have helped me to see the Lord’s hand in my life. I know that Jesus Christ loves us. He is over all things. I know his hand has led me to his higher and eternal purposes.
-Sheila

04/27/2026

Youth from the Cherokee Ward woke up before sunrise on Saturday morning to serve in the Tucson temple 🌞

Among them was Alan, a senior at Buena who will be leaving in August to serve a two-year mission in Argentina 🇦🇷

04/24/2026