Author: Jacob Paulsen

Prayer In Unity – Denver Coming Together in Faith

The Multifaith Leadership Forum consists of faith leaders across Denver from many different traditions.

They work to build relationships of understanding and give support to all believers of different faiths while also being a voice for all those who care about their freedom of religion.

In late April the Forum started the “Prayer in Unity” which is a LIVE prayer broadcast via YouTube once a week. Each week the prayer is offered by a different faith leader in the metro area.

On June 9th the prayer was offered by Karen LaCouture, who serves as the Interfaith leader in the Denver North Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can see that video below.

If you are interested in viewing other of these videos or if you would like to subscribe to future prayers and video click here and subscribe to the YouTube channel.

Posted on , updated on by Jacob Paulsen

The Creative Way Members in Boulder Are Engaging And Building Faith

As we move into phase two of Governor Jared Polis’ Safer At Home Initiative, many houses of worship have begun to reopen with safety guidelines in place. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, remains closed for in-person worship. Local congregations, or wards, of The Church, eagerly await direction from local Church authorities on even tighter safety precautions required to reopen their doors. Members of these wards are particularly ready to join each other in worship because they partake in the sacrament each Sunday and listen to talks prepared by other members- not paid clergy. This makes for internet-based meetings impossible and discouraged by Church leadership. Some members have been able to partake in the sacrament at home, while others rely on special deliveries by other members each week. 

One member, Charlotte Alan, recently moved out of the area but doesn’t mind the 40-minute drive back to Boulder each Sunday. With the in-person services suspended, however, Sundays have looked a lot different. “It can be really difficult to focus my attention on feeling the Spirit and remembering the sacrifices Christ has made for me when I am taking the bread and water in the mailroom of an apartment complex next to a vending machine. However, I am so grateful for these sacrament deliveries because they are crucial to my faith. My ward is small- only about 50 regular members, so I hope we get the green light to return to the church building soon”. 

Though church services haven’t gone online for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, some members in the area got together to create a 12 part series named “Hear Him” in which they talk about their faith and share ways they can hear Christ and understand the gospel in more depth. They have also hosted numerous “member challenges”, the most recent is an action a day to become more kind. The Hear Him video series and Kindness Challenge can be found on their Facebook page “Church of Jesus Christ Boulder”.

#HearHim Alan

How do you #HearHim?

Posted by Church of Jesus Christ Boulder on Sunday, May 17, 2020
Posted on , updated on by Jacob Paulsen

Largest Food Distribution Drive-Thru in Colorado

Courtesy 9News – KUSA May 12th 2020

On April 30th The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a 5.5 million dollar cash donation to be provided to a number of key relief agencies in the US including The Salvation Army.

A small part of that donation was manifest this Tuesday in Aurora where 3000 Coloradan families received a box of food to feed a family of 4 for a week.

From KUSA – NBC – 9News:

The entire event came together in about two weeks. With donated funds The Salvation Army placed an order for the groceries from Safeway Grocery stores who provided this much needed food at a steep discount.

From May 7th-9th volunteers, including full-time missionaries and members of The Church dressed in the signature yellow “helping hands” shirts helped to pack and prepare the 3000 boxes of food.

At 9am the “gates” were opened on Tuesday May 12th to a line of over 100 waiting vehicles. Each car was directed down one of 6 lanes where volunteers placed a box of food, a gallon of milk, and 1 dozen eggs into the vehicle; no questions asked.

Prior to this event, The Salvation Army had already done much good during this COVID19 pandemic. Thousands of boxes of food had already been distributed by The Salvation Army Intermountain Division but the community’s need isn’t going away.

Support and cash donations from local organizations such as this most recent collaboration with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints help The Salvation Army to continue to do what they do best.

By 2:45pm all 3000 boxes of food had been distributed to those in need.

The distribution event was held at the Town Center at Aurora Mall. The mall graciously provided the greater parts of the parking lots for this event.

The event was attended by many leaders from the various participating organizations including Elder Balli, newly called as an Area Seventy in April 2020.

Elder Balli along side Mayor Coffman of Aurora, CO
Salvation Army Major Mike Dickinson shows Elder Balli and President Savage (Denver North Mission) what is packed into the food boxes being distributed

Live from Aurora

Posted by Church of Jesus Christ Colorado on Tuesday, May 12, 2020

In addition to the news story on 9News | KUSA above, the event was also generously promoted and covered by Fox31 | KDVR.

and by CBS7 | KMGH:

and by Telemundo Denver:

Posted on , updated on by Jacob Paulsen

Denver Metro “Citywide Food Drive” Saturday, April 25th

Recently a Citywide Communication Council meeting was held to discuss the needs of local food banks. Demand for food bank assistance has multiplied dramatically in light of recent events and the usual suppliers are not able to keep up.

As a combined effort with various faiths, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are working along with their neighbors to help fill this need.

Many local congregations will be engaging in a large Food Drive effort on Saturday, April 25th. Local leaders will organize the when and where of specific drop-offs and pickups.

What follows is a list of area-specific food banks along with any special requests and drop off locations and times. Please consider identifying the food bank nearest you and contributing as you are able.

Arapahoe

Food Bank:  Hope Starts Here  20050 E Smoky Hill Rd, Centennial, CO 80015

Special Requests: Cash donations to fix or buy new truck, canned goods, diapers.

Drop off Locations and Times: Cash donations can be made at https://www.hshfoodbank.org/donate/, bags will be dropped off to community members during the week and collected on Saturday, April 25. Will be delivered to pantry the following week.

Aurora

Food Bank: Aurora Interfaith Community Services 1553 Clinton St, Aurora, CO 80010

Special Requests: Only non-perishable items: canned fruits and vegetables; protein (beans chicken, ground beef, tuna); powdered milk; peanut butter; rice; pastas; dried herbs and spices; granola bars; nuts; canned soups, stews and chilis; whole grain cereal; face masks; hand sanitizer; toilet paper; paper towels.

Drop Off Locations and Times:  Anytime now until the evening of Friday, April 24.

5252 Truckee St, Denver, CO 80249 

There will be a box on the front step for donations and they can ring the doorbell. We are asking for zero contact drop off locations.

Aurora South

Food Bank: Ruby’s Market/Bazaar

Special Requests: Rice: Jasmine or Basmati; dried beans: kidney or black; lentils; oil: olive, canola or vegetable (in a plastic bottle); pasta; powdered milk; salt; sugar (4-5 lb bag); flour (4-5 lb bag); $25 gift card for H-Mart, Walmart, or King Soopers (for meat and fresh items); soap; shampoo; hand sanitizer; laundry soap; disinfectant cleansers/wipes; dental hygiene products; feminine hygiene products; tissues; toilet paper; diapers, wipes and diaper cream.

Drop Off Locations and Times:  10am – 12pm, Saturday, April 25

740 Hudson Street, Denver & 3101 S. Flanders Street, Aurora

Boulder

Food Bank: Erie Food Bank; 635 Pierce St, Erie, CO 80516

Drop Off Locations and Times:  Saturday,* May 2* 10am-12pm at one of 3 locations: 

Erie Community Center Parking Lot: 450 Powers Street, Erie, CO 80516

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1250 Main Street, Broomfield, CO 80020

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 701 South Boulder Road, Louisville, CO 80027


Food Bank: Community Food Share; 650 S Taylor Ave, Louisville, CO 80027

Drop Off Locations and Times:  Saturday,* May 2* 10am-12pm at one of 3 locations: 

Erie Community Center Parking Lot: 450 Powers Street, Erie, CO 80516

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1250 Main Street, Broomfield, CO 80020

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 701 South Boulder Road, Louisville, CO 80027

Castle Rock

Food Bank: Health and Hope Center Castle Rock; 1638 Park St, Castle Rock, CO 80109

Special Requests: Canned chili, canned stew, canned meat or chicken soup, feminine hygiene products – especially tampons, laundry pods (we will divide these up so that more families get them), taco seasoning and/or taco shells, canned tuna fish.

Drop Off Locations and Times: Donations can be dropped off between 8 am and 1 pm, Monday – Friday in the back of the Help & Hope Center Food Bank.

Food Bank: Valley View Cares, a branch of SECOR;

11004 Wildfield Lane, Littleton, CO 80125

Drop off at Valley View Cares Friday 12-4, Saturday 9-1 (Go around back and look for Valley View Cares sign)

Columbine

Food Bank: Integrated Family Community Services (IFCS)

Drop off Location and Times: IFCS (3370 S Irving St, Englewood, CO 80110)  M-F 8:30-11:30a; 1-3p (no afternoon dropoff Wednesday)

Food Bank: Open Arms

Drop Off Locations and Times: by appointment only call (720) 288-0155


Denver

Food Bank: Jewish Family Services; 3201 S Tamarac Dr, Denver

Special Requests: Canned fruit, peanut butter, cereal/oatmeal, canned soup, canned salmon/tuna, diapers (sizes 5 and 6) and wipes.

Drop Off Locations and Times:  Drop off at one of the following locations from 12-3pm on Saturday, April 25th

Hope United Methodist Church  5105 S. Dayton Street, Greenwood Village, CO

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 6061 S. Havana St. Englewood, CO

Covenant Cupboard Food Pantry 5400 S. Yosemite, Greenwood Village, CO

Food Bank: Covenant Cupboard (located at the east side or rear of Presbyterian Church of the Covenant) 5400 South Yosemite St., Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Drop Off Locations and Times:  Drop off at one of the following locations from 12-3pm on Saturday, April 25th

Hope United Methodist Church  5105 S. Dayton Street, Greenwood Village, CO

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 6061 S. Havana St. Englewood, CO

Covenant Cupboard Food Pantry 5400 S. Yosemite, Greenwood Village, CO

Denver North

Food Bank: Northglenn Christian Food Bank; 1800 E 105th Pl, Northglenn, CO 80233

Special Requests: Cereal, mac and cheese, peanut  butter, canned goods, monetary donations.

Drop Off Locations and Times:  Please drop off at one of these locations:  9am – 12am Saturday April 25, Trailer in parking lot of 100 Malley Dr Northglenn CO 80223

Trailer in parking lot of 3501 Summit Grove Parkway, Thornton, CO 80241 

Food Bank: Thornton Community Food Bank; 8990 York St., Thornton, CO 80229

Special Requests: saltine crackers, mac and cheese, tuna fish, canned vegetables (no corn or green beans) peas, carrots, pasta, large oatmeals (not packets), spaghetti sauce, canned tomatoes, diapers, baby wipes, monetary donations.

Drop Off Locations and Times:  Please drop off at one of these locations:  9am – 12am Saturday April 25, Trailer in parking lot of 100 Malley Dr Northglenn CO 80223

Trailer in parking lot of 3501 Summit Grove Parkway, Thornton, CO 80241 (Summit Grove Building)

Front Range

Food Bank: To benefit the Spanish Branch

Drop Off Locations and Times: 12-5pm April 25

Evergreen Building — 7645 Malamute Dr, Evergreen, CO 80439

and

Jewell Building — 6465 W Jewell Ave, Lakewood, CO 80232

Littleton

Food Bank: St Mary’s Catholic Church Food Pantry & Meals on Wheels

Drop Off Locations and Times: 1-3pm Saturday, April 25 1939

East Easter Ave., Centennial, CO  80122

Parker

Food Bank: Parker Task Force

Special Requests: Rice-A-Roni; fruit snacks; BBQ sauce; Bisquick; flour; homestyle bakes; snack crackers; juice; oil; pickles; mac and cheese cups; graham crackers; Quaker oats; organic food; gluten free; honey; nuts; juice boxes; tomato soup; saltines; coffee; chili; helpers; wheat thins; white beans; hand sanitizer; liquid hand soap; napkins; paper towels; zip lock bags; laundry detergent; cleaning supplies; lotion; body wash; diapers – Size 5/6 ; dishwasher soap; toilet paper; dog food.  Grocery store gift cards in any amount!

Drop off Locations and Times:

April 25th 9-11:30AM

Mainstreet Building

20850 Main Street

Parker, CO 80138

AND

Across Ponderosa HS

7160 Bayou Gulch Rd

Parker, CO 80134

Non-Contact Drop Off:

Drive through and open your trunk and volunteers will get your donation.

Parker South

Food Bank: Parker Task Force; 19105 Longs Way, Parker, CO 80134

Special Requests: Rice-A-Roni; fruit snacks; BBQ sauce; Bisquick; flour; homestyle bakes; snack crackers; juice; oil; pickles; mac and cheese cups; graham crackers; Quaker oats; organic food; gluten free; honey; nuts; juice boxes; tomato soup; saltines; coffee; chili; helpers; wheat thins; white beans; hand sanitizer; liquid hand soap; napkins; paper towels; zip lock bags; laundry detergent; cleaning supplies; lotion; body wash; diapers – Size 5/6 ; dishwasher soap; toilet paper; dog food.  Grocery store gift cards in any amount!

Drop Off Locations and Times:  Empty Grocery bags left on neighbors doorsteps April 25-29.  May 2, homeowners leave bag(s) of donations on doorstep by 8am.  Volunteers will pick up donations by 11:30.

Food Bank:  Helping Hands of Harvest; 826 South Elbert Street Elizabeth, CO 80107

Drop Off Locations and Times: We will ask people to drop off groceries at one of three locations  from 9:00 – 11:30 AM:

Mainstreet Building 20850 Main Street, Parker, CO 80138

Stake Center 7160 Bayou Gulch Road, Parker, CO 80134

Elizabeth Building 34200 CO RD 17, Elizabeth, CO

Drive Through and open your trunk and volunteers will get your donation!

Westminster

Food Bank: Broomfield FISH; 6 Garden Center, Broomfield, CO 80020

Special Requests: Cereal, peanut butter, canned meats, oatmeal, mac and cheese, monetary donations

Drop Off Locations and Times:  10am-12pm Saturday, April 25, 

13370 Lowell Blvd, Broomfield, CO 80023

Food Bank: Growing Home; 3489 W 72nd Ave #110, Westminster, CO 80030

Special Requests: Rice, pasta, canned soups, canned meats, monetary donations, cleaning supplies, gloves and masks for workers and boxes to put food in to give to clients.

Drop Off Locations and Times:  10am-12pm Saturday, April 25, 1951 Elmwood Lane, Westminter, CO 80221

13370 Lowell Blvd, Broomfield, CO 80023

All members of the local faith community are invited to support these efforts! Additional information will be added to this webpage as it becomes available.

Posted on , updated on by Jacob Paulsen

Your Colorado Church History Tour

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the first vision of Joseph Smith in which he saw God the Father and His son Jesus Christ the Savior.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hold sacred the events of that morning which ushered in a new dispensation and a restoration of the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This being the 200th anniversary of that event; many members of the church may be inspired to visit the sacred grove south of Palmyra New York where the church normally operates a few museums and provides tours.

For those of us in Colorado, even in the best of times a trip to New York may be out of the question; but given the current COVID-19 pandemic even if you drove to Palmyra you would find the site closed to the public until further notice.

So I embarked on a journey to discover more of the church’s history here in Colorado. Without violating any social distancing protocols I invite you to consider taking this journey with me; either virtually via the pictures below or on your own on a Sunday evening to come!

Where it All Started In Colorado

On August 7th, 1846 a settlement of 61 recent converts of the church traveling from Mississippi made camp on the Arkansas River just east of present-day Pueblo.

They had come along the main Overland trail to Fort Laramie but discovered the first groups from Nauvoo had stopped for the winter at Council Bluffs. Rather than turn back to join them; a trapper named John Renshaw led them down to a small adobe trading fort called El Pueblo which was thought to be a more suitable place to spend the winter.

They made their camp about a half-mile south of El Pueblo.

While encamped in Pueblo the settlement was also joined by 3 different groups of the Mormon Battalion arriving between September 1846 and January 27th, 1847. With the arrival in January, the population of the colony reached 289 people.

While encamped this temporary colony was the first branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colorado. The settlement is also widely believed to be the first Anglo settlement in what is now the state of Colorado. The settlement also was the home of the first anglo born child in Colorado; Sarah Emma Kartchner.

In April 1847, the first members of the settlement began their trek north to Fort Laramie where they were waiting when Brigham Young arrives on June 1847. By the fall of 1848, all the members of the church had left the Pueblo settlement.

When You Visit:

Click here for Google Maps. Nestled behind a city baseball diamond on an empty corner of the lot is a marker. The nearest public parking is at the Runyon Field Sports Complex.

Courtesy: KennethMays – Deseret News
Courtesy: Google Maps
Courtesy: KennethMays – Deseret News

“Mormons Are In Denver”

A clipping from the Rocky Mountain News Newspaper Monday, February 8th, 1897

The first official opening of the church in Colorado took place on December, 15th 1896 when John W. Taylor arrived in Denver with three other missionaries. At that time the mission was named the “Colorado Mission” and comprised the State of Colorado.

The first mission home and consequently the first building officially occupied by the church in Colorado is shown below. Its address or where it was located in Denver is not known although I found a home extremely similar near the Governor’s mansion on Pennsylvania st, I’m rather confident that the home shown below at which President Taylor lived is either no longer standing or is still hiding from me.

Pictures courtesy of the Church History Catalog – Physical Facilities Department

President Taylor remained the mission president until 1901 when Joseph A McRae was called. He served until 1909.

In 1904 the church built its first building in Colorado. The building would serve as the new mission home and the first chapel until 1917. That building is still standing and is located at the corner of Galapago St and 6th Ave.

Now apartments, this building was the first officially built by the church in Colorado in 1904.

On the end of the building, easiest to read from 6th avenue is a plaque erected June 1, 2000, for the 60th anniversary of the Denver Colorado Stake.

On April 1st, 1907 the mission name was changed to the “Western States Mission and encompassed several other neighboring states.

Bonus Places to Visit

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site sits east of the original Mormon settlement in Pueblo along the Arkansas river.

Although there is no marker about the Mormons at the Fort, they did have a lot of interactions with the site during their stay at Pueblo. Two of the Mississippi Saints from the colony; William Kartchner and James Harmom worked for the U.S. Army setting wagon tires.

Journal entries from members of the first detachment to separate from the Battalion, called the Higgins, or Family Detachment, mentions that after they separated from the main Battalion in present-day Kansas, they stopped for a couple of days before reaching Pueblo to use a forge to make repairs on their iron wagon tires. The only place along the Santa Fe Trail between Kansas and Pueblo with a forge that would enable them to do that was at Bent’s Fort. Therefore, it is safe to speculate that perhaps some of the women in the group may have visited the Fort, making them among the first Angelo women to be there. Finally, because the Battalion members at Pueblo were active members of the U.S. Army, they were authorized to draw rations from the Army’s food and supplies that were stored at the Fort, which they did on at least two occasions.

The Trappers Trail Marker is a marker that sits on the property of Adams County Historical Society located at 9601 Henderson Rd, Brighton, CO 80601.

Donated by members of the church, this marker tells the story of the “Trappers Trail” which was traveled primarily by trappers between Fort Laramie and Bent’s Fort in the 1800s.

Although this image doesn’t show it clearly, the right 3rd of the marker tells the story of the Mormon settlement in Pueblo that traveled this trail

It was along this trail that the members of the church from Mississippi traveled down to the settlement in Pueblo and likely along this same trail that they traveled back north in 1847 to join Brigham Young’s party.

That concludes my church history tour of Colorado!

Posted on , updated on by Jacob Paulsen

35 Teachers and Mentors Honored in Longmont

On Thursday, March 5, 2020 the Longmont Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held their 14th annual Teacher Appreciation  Night.

Thirty-five students expressed their gratitude and awarded certificates of appreciation to 35 different teachers and mentors from around the St. Vrain Valley School District and elsewhere.

The evening began with our keynote speaker Carrie Adams who is the program director for the Silver Creek High School Leadership Academy. She started off the evening with an uplifting speech and by awarding the first certificate to her mentors and teachers.

Bitsy and her husband Ron Carlson had a positive impact in Carrie’s life at a critical time in her life at Boulder high school 40 years ago. This led to her life as an educator and coach.

Our MC’s for the evening were Seniors Austin Robison and Kerrigan Thornock. The crowd shed some tears and laughs as the Seniors each highlighted their special mentors. The evening concluded with a musical number by the Graduating Seniors called “Each Life That Touches ours for Good.”

Posted on , updated on by Jacob Paulsen

Teachers from 8 Area High Schools Honored By Their Students

Twenty-one local High School Seniors from eight area high schools were able to honor the teachers who had the greatest impact on their lives at a Teacher Appreciation Ceremony held Tuesday, March 3 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building on Lowell Boulevard in Broomfield.

Westminster Stake Senior Wyatt Eames and his parents along with his basketball coach Bryce Babcock and Mrs. Babcock

The Seniors, who all belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were able to share tributes to the teachers they nominated and presented them with special certificates. The teachers taught a wide variety of subjects: calculus, physics, chemistry, literature, statistics, English, orchestra, music theory and more.

There were also various coaches and music teachers. Many principals also attended to support and honor the nominated teachers and their students. The tributes the students read were touching and left no doubt in anyone’s mind how hard these educators work to teach and mentor.

Sophie Hendrix said that Mr. James Hinkle, her middle school Spanish teacher, taught her that no one is too small to change the world for the better. Izabella Luna said, “She makes the whole world feel like home,” when speaking of her teacher, Ms. Kathy Zook.

Chase Esplin felt like his baseball team was a family thanks to his coach Mr. Ty Giordano. Amelia Curtis learned many life lessons in addition to how to play the piano from her piano teacher Ms. Yvette Mitchell.

One teacher helped a student through the tragic death of a friend. Another teacher continued to be an excellent teacher and mentor despite being diagnosed with cancer.

Several teachers inspired their students to pursue teaching as an occupation in the future. All of the teachers and coaches touched their students’ lives by listening to them and caring for them. The teachers were great at passing down academic knowledge but even better at letting kids know their worth.

The night ended with light refreshments and a chance for students and teachers to visit with each other. Those who attended the event were uplifted and given hope for the future. Our community is full of great teachers and great students.

Posted on by Jacob Paulsen