Creation of the 18th and 31st Wards

If the Bountiful 9th Ward is a child of the Bountiful 3rd Ward, then it is the parent of the Bountiful 18th and 31st Wards.

Bountiful City experienced explosive growth during the 1950s and 1960s. The population of Bountiful in 1950 according to census data was 6,004 people. Ten years later, that number had jumped to 17,039. In 1970, there were 27,751 people who called Bountiful home.

That growth is reflected in the age of homes, churches and schools in this area. Bountiful High School opened in 1951, Viewmont High School in 1964, and Woods Cross High School in 1972. Hannah Holbrook Elementary was built in 1962. 

Ward creation in Bountiful also reflects those two decades of phenomenal growth. The first ward in Bountiful dates to 1849. By the end of the 1940s, there were five. The Bountiful 6th Ward was created in 1950, the 7th in 1952, and the 8th and 9th in 1953. Bountiful wards continued to be numbered sequentially through the 50s and 60s with the Bountiful 39th and 40th Wards created in 1970. (The history of Bountiful's wards needs more careful study, as some of the originally numbered wards have been given different names. The Bountiful 8th Ward, for example, was renamed the Woodland Hills Ward. And I do not know when the practice of giving wards unique names like Kimball Mill Ward, Meadowbrook Ward, and Pages Lane Ward began. But still, that remarkable addition of Bountiful Wards during the 1950s and 60s holds true).

The dates of homes throughout this part of Bountiful reflect that drastic growth. If you want an evening of fun, get on Zillow and start mapping out the age of homes around town. On my street, 250 North between 4th and 6th East, just about every home was built between 1954 and 1958. Go south one street and they are predominantly 1950s and 1960s-era homes with some built in the 1970s. To the north one street the homes date to the 1950s and 70s. All around Hannah Holbrook Elementary School and extending down the hill to our chapel are neighborhoods with houses dating to the late 50s and 60s.

This is the context for the minute entries in Church records capturing the creation of the Bountiful 9th, 18th and 31st Wards.

We have already noted the founding of the Bountiful 9th Ward on this blog. The 9th Ward general minutes captured a fun detail. Just over a week after the announcement of the new ward, the two bishoprics met to discuss the division of assets between the two wards. It was decided that the funds would be divided evenly. In fact, the minutes noted, "The adding machine was to be retained by the Bountiful 9th Ward and the typewriter was to be kept by the Bountiful Third Ward and due to the appraisal value of the two machines it was decided to give the Bountiful Ninth ward a $17.50 advantage in the split of the budget funds to offset the price differential." It appears as though thoughtful care was taken to ensure that a sense of fairness was reached as the two wards began their separate journeys.

The Ward's manuscript history captures the creation of the Eighteenth Ward on January 24, 1960, "The division of the Bountiful Ninth Ward was presented to the priesthood by President Lawrence Moss at the regular priesthood meeting. The dividing line between the newly formed Bountiful Eighteenth Ward on the east and the Bountiful Ninth Ward on the west was proposed by President Moss and accepted by 100% vote of the priesthood as the middle of 650 East on the south of Center Street and the middle of 750 East on the north side of Center Street. At Sacrament Meeting President Lawrence Moss presented the proposed division of the ward as approved in priesthood in the morning. This was approved by the 721 members present. Grant Peterson was released as 2nd counselor and Cleon Tucker was released as ward clerk in the Ninth Ward. Glen B. Goodrich was sustained as 2nd counselor and Daniel W. Drumiler was sustained as ward clerk in the Ninth Ward. In the new Bontiful Eighteen Ward the following were sustained: Bernell Wrigley as Bishop; Grant Peterson as 1st counselor, Albert Auernig as 2nd counselor, Joseph Nelson as ward clerk, Blain Johnson as Asst. ward clerk, and Louis Beck as asst. ward clerk." Of course, this division set off weeks or reorganizations of all of the quorums and auxiliaries for the two wards.

I looked at the minutes of the 9th Ward to see if there were more details about the creation of the 18th Ward. The minutes noted, "Pres. Lawrence Moss of Stake Presidency, then presented to the Ward priesthood members assembled, the proposal the 9th Ward be divided and to create a new 18th Ward from the upper half of the present 9th Ward. This was passed unanimously by all present. Pres. Sheffield then informed all 18th ward members they would attend the 3rd ward building."

The manuscript history noted the creation of the 31st Ward on May 21, 1967. "A special sacrament meeting was held for the Ninth and Eighteenth Wards with Stake President Stanford Smith presiding. There were 1,123 members in attendance. The joint meeting was called for the purpose of dividing the two wards and creating a new ward. President Smith released the bishoprics of the old wards and thanked them for their service to the wards and the stake. The three wards formed were the Bountiful Ninth Ward, the Bountiful Eighteenth Ward, and the Bountiful Thirty-First Ward. The following bishoprics were sustained: Bountiful Ninth, Bishop Howard J. Gerber; 1st Counselor William E. Barlow; 2nd Counselor Edwin Case; Ward Clerk, Dick T. Heiner; Assistant Ward Clerks: Lynn W. Hansen, Clifford Chapple, and Robert Hazen. Bountiful Eighteenth Wards: Dal G. Newbold, Bishop; Lamont Sant, 1st Counselor; Gordon Peterson, 2nd Counselor; Ward Clerks: Clyde Ceverett, Monori Stoof, and Heber Meeks. Bountiful Thirty-First Ward: Jerry K. Lawrence, Bishop; Daniel Drumiler, 1st Counselor; Evan Merrill, 2nd Counselor; Ward Clerks: Gene Tooson and Wayne Broxun."

The 9th Ward minutes for May 21, 1967 stated simply, "Special announcement was made of the joint meeting of the Ninth and Eighteenth Wards this afternoon at 3:30 P.M." The meeting minutes for the May 21, 1967 Sacrament Meeting had more details. It also noted that 1,123 people were in attendance for the meeting. "Sacrament Meeting of the Bountiful Ninth and the Bountiful Eighteenth Wards, Bountiful Stake, convened in a joint meeting for the purpose of dividing the two wards and the creation of a new ward at 3:30 P.M. in the chapel with President Stanford O. Smith presiding and Bishop Farrell Mohlman conducting. Opening Song was No. 196 "We Thank Thee, Oh God, for a Prophet," led by Brother Gayle Bradford and accompanied by Sisters Leah and Dorothy Johnson.... President Smith then carried on the division of the two wards and the creation of a new ward - the Thirty-First Ward. The boundaries of the three wards were outlined as follows: The Ninth Ward will include the members residing east of the center of 200 East Street from the center of 200 North Street south to the center of 300 South Street east to the center of 600 East Street on the north of Center Street and to the center of 650 East Street on the South side of Center Street; The Thirty-First Ward will include members residing east of the center of 600 East north of Center Street and the center of 650 East south of Center Street from the Gulley on the North to 300 South and to the center of 800 East Street; the Eighteenth Ward will include members living east of the center of 800 East Street from the center of Turkey Shoot Drive south to 300 South to the established east boundary. The bishoprics of the Ninth and Eighteenth Wards were released and new bishoprics for the three wards sustained as follows: Ninth Ward - Brother Howard J. Gerber as bishop, Brother William E. Barlow as first counselor, Brother Edwin Case as second counselor, and Brothers Dick Heiner, Lynn Hansen, Clifford Chapple, and Robert Hazen as ward clerks; Thirty-First Ward - Brother Jerry K. Lawrence as bishop, Brother Daniel Drumiler as first counselor, Brother Evan Merrill as second counselor, and Brother Gene Toolson and Wayne Broxun as ward clerks; Eighteenth Ward - Brother Dale G. Newbold as bishop, Brother Lamont Sant as first counselor, Brother Gordon Peterson as second counselor and Brothers Clyde Ceverett, Monori Stoof, and Heber Meeks as ward clerks.... President Lawrence Moss was the concluding speaker. All of his life he has enjoyed church work. He enjoys working with the people of the stake. He pointed out that with the ward division many more people will have a chance to sere and grow. Bishop Mohlman announced that the M.I.A. will continue to meet as they are now until the end of the summer. Meeting schedules can be obtained from the priests at the doors. Thanks was given to the choir for the music. The choir and congregation sang 'Let Us All Press On' as the closing song. The closing prayer was by Bishop Bernell Wrigley. Time was 5:00 P.M."

Ward divisions and reorganizations can be disruptive and even reorder the social interactions of former ward members. Regularly worshipping, meeting, learning, and playing together creates familiarity and community. A ward division should certainly be understood as a time of excitement, but also a time of sadness and loss.