History

History Page

If you have any information you would like to share please email David Faria.

Many thanks go to Sister Calton and Mark Astle for providing the following information.

Last changes made - July 18, 1997

MICHIGAN'S MISSIONARY HERITAGE

1830 Almira Mack, (1st Michigander Convert - born 1805 - 25 years old) daughter of Col. Stephen Mack, (considered the founder of Pontiac) brother to Lucy Mack Smith. Almira - visited relatives in Palmyra - baptized. We know she was there in May 1830 because she wrote a letter from there. She could have been there April 6, 1830. Married William Scobey (He was 6 years her junior also ill of health and died a within two years as a victim of consumption, leaving her a widow.)

1831 D&C 52:7-8 - Almira, her new husband & Lucy accompanied men to Detroit. Almira's mother Temperance joined church. Prophecy made that 1/3 of a congregation would join the church -- Jared Carter and Joseph Wood arrived Jan. 7, 1833. Later Samuel Bent wrote of his baptism & 22 others.

1834 Zion's camp - March from Kirtland to Missouri. Lord called men to redeem Zion - gathered from Michigan? From Beth L. Campbell -- Hyrum Smith headed a division of Zion's Camp that came to Michigan to recruit members. He stopped in Kalamazoo May 10 and 11 in 1834.

1834 Joseph Smith Sr. Jr. Hyrum came to Michigan -- First time Joseph Smith spoke & told story of First Vision to a large congregation of non-members. Missionary activity in many of lower counties of Michigan, including Kalamazoo. (Description by John Cummings)

Sister Carty of Jackson told Elder Coltharp in April 1997 that she remembers her father telling of when he was a small boy -They heard of Joseph Smith visiting in Napolean (south of Jackson - 10 miles) speaking of a vision - went to hear him. They didn't join the church then but did later.

1835 Almira (widow) arrived in Liberty, Missouri as had a number of other Michigan converts. She reported that all of the Michigan people were well, except Brother Fosdick and his family who were suffering from the ague. At this time she was living with the Curtis family, she informed her sister.

Simeon Dunn received a Book of Mormon from his sister (possibly Mary) in Bellville, MI. In 1837 he named his son Mosiah. In 1839 he was baptized in Bellville. In 1840 he walked to Nauvoo to meet Joseph Smith, then walked back to Michigan to get his family, then moved to Nauvoo. He built a home which still stands in Nauvoo. In 1846 he married a 2nd wife at Winter Quarters. He settled in Brigham City, Utah. He has a descendant E.
J. (& Bonnie) Dobbins who recently moved to Michigan (Battle Creek II Ward).

1836 Almira was in Kirtland, Ohio -- October 22-- married Benjamin Covey.

1838 Temperance Mack was in Kirtland where she and her son-in-law David Dort were making preparations to move on to Missouri, having already sent their goods on ahead. She would live with Almira who was the proud mother of an infant son Enoch.

The Lucian Noble family of Livonia were converted and one of their daughters, Angeline, is President Gordon B. Hinckley's grandmother. (On trip west-Emily Wilcox Noble saw her son die in one corner of a hut then went to the other corner to give birth-Story?)

Elder Mephibosheth Serrine (from New York) started his missionary labors in Lenawee county (just east of Hillsdale county) in August when he organized a church of eleven members.   He worked with Orson Pratt in 1839 in Washtenaw county (north of Lenawee). He engaged in debates with the ministers of other faiths at every opportunity.

Temperance joins Almira in Missouri

December 30 - Temperance wrote to Harriet from Far West, Missouri.   She was well and good spirits, also David and his family. "Almira and her child are out of health in some measure." Joseph, Hiram and Sidney Rigdon were in jail. The church has agreed to leave in the spring.   " I must obey, although my heart is with my children and they are near and dear unto me, ... .I do it cheerful, knowing I shall reap in due time if I faint not . . ." "There has been many slain of our friends and some whipped . . ."    Among the Missouri militia was a colonel named Don Carlos Buckland, Temperance Mack's grandson. He claimed later in his biography that he had been compelled by the governor to serve as colonel just because it was learned that he had cousins among the Mormons, and that he had to demonstrate his loyalty by accepting the commission and assisting in quelling the Mormon defenders when they surrendered. Sadly temperance wrote to Harriet back in Pontiac: "Carlos Buckland was sent here with a company of troops against the Mormons. He made us a visit. Almira and I spake very plain to him respecting his coming to drive us out of our habitations. He did not stay long and we don't know if he was offended with our plain dealing." Doubless Buckland was more worried about his business affairs than with the words of his grandmother and his aunt. He claimed that the Mormons owed him ten thousand dollars; and in order to protect his interest, he seized their
stock and grain which he sold at public auction.

Almira saw her husband jailed and trembled with fear when the mob threatened. Throughout this period of violence and fear, she was pregnant, carrying her son, Joseph, who would not be born until March 22, 1839.

Almira wrote to her sister Harriet to tell her about the persecution, but at the same time to reaffirm her faith. "We have been requested in several letters to give a history of the proceedings of the mob in Missouri, but this is more than I can do to paint to you our feelings when surrounded by a wicked mob, not allowed to even go out of town to our farms without leave from that wicked crew. You can better judge what our feelings were than I can tell you when seeing my husband taken away to prison with about 50 others and for what? Nothing but our religion. He was left there three weeks and released as they could find nothing against him. Mother bore her trials very well. She said she never wished herself back in Michigan, and I can say for one that I have never as yet repented of uniting myself to this persecuted people but feel willing to suffer for Christ's sake. . . ."

1839 Spring - After baby born on March 22nd - exodus from Missouri.

Parley and Orson Pratt come to Detroit, Michigan to visit parents and brother, Anson. Father died soon after they left. Preached and published an 84-page pamphlet --History of the Late Persecution inflicted by the State of Missouri Upon the Mormons. The pamphlet ranks among the scarcest of Michigan imprints.

1840 Elder Mephibosheth Serrine was a leader of the Church in southeastern Michigan, and the early 1840s saw branches in Oakland, Lapeer, Wayne, Livingston, Washtenaw and Lenawee counties. Jared Carter's efforts of 1833 continued to spread the gospel to most of western Michigan.

(September) Rufus Beach (from Livonia): "The cause of truth is slowly, but steadily progressing in this section of the country, prejudice is giving way to the force of truth, and some are obeying the gospel; last Sabbath two were baptized . . . ." Beach went on to complain that there were only three in that section of the country who preached "the gospel of the kingdom" even though a wide field was opened for the spread of the gospel. The following March Beach wrote to Jospeh Smith to inform him: "The saints in this section of the country are making the necessary arrangements to move up to the west this coming summer if possible, but the times are hard, and those that sell their effects will have to do it at a considerable sacrifice, but the most of them I think, see the necessity of doing so . . ."

1841 September - Temperance wrote to her daughter in Pontiac with apologies for not having written sooner; but there had been much illness in Nauvoo. Almira's little son Joseph had nearly died of the fever. Joseph Smith, Sr., Don Carlos Smith and youngest son of Prophet died.

Temperance received Patriarchal Blessing from Hyrum Smith. She sent a copy of it to Harriet and desired that each of her children have a copy of it. A portion of the blessing referred to her posterity and the division in sentiment at the present time, "the partition wall shall be broken down. By the power of Faith and exercise of Prayer and careful attention, the wall shall be diminished, and the very sentiments of your religion shall be sought after with eagerness by the residue of your children, and the desires of your heart shall be realized in the coming day. You shall be blessed
with all those with whom you are acquainted, and the Wisdom of God shall rest upon you notwithstanding your advanced age, and I seal you upon unto Eternal Life as a Mother in Israel, to receive a Crown that shall be exalted, shall glitter in the morning of the Resurrection, like the Stars in the Heavens and I bless you with prosperity, comfort, and consolations in the midst of your friends . . . . if it is the desires of your Heart you have only to ask and it shall be fulfilled concerning your children, . . .I seal upon you by way of promise for the benefit of your children a promise
of the Holy Priesthood in its fullness, aside from the lineage of thy daughters or thy sons that have hearkened to the gospel. . . . you have only to ask and it shall be accomplished and your mind shall be fully satisfied, and go down to your grave in peace . . ." --given by Hyrum Smith at Nauvoo,
Illinois, the 6th of Sep. 1841.

Baptism for the dead were performed and Temperance was baptized for her husband

1843 Jan. 20 -- conference in eastern counties-- 206 members. December-- conference in Comstock, Kalamazoo county--with representatives from Kalamazoo, Mottville, Albion, Quincy and Paw Paw.

December -- Temperance and Lucy remained fast friends. They stayed together at the home of Joseph Smith. Temperance still made her home with Almira, but stayed often with her sister-in-law with whom she passed the time "very agreeably," Almira now had three children, all boys, the pride of their grandmother. Frequently in her letters she asked that money be sent to her; for she still had an income from the property which her husband had left her.

Stephen stopped by to visit Temperance. Both he and Harriet offered their homes to Temperance. Almira wrote to Harriet: "We all know that she would be more comfortable as to the world's goods if she would be with you but it is her choice to stay here and we are glad to have her and we try to do all that lays in our power to make her comfortable. She can enjoy many privileges and receive many blessings here that she could not receive were
she not here and this is what she wants to stay here for. This may look strange to you but it is no more strange than true, and I hope the time will soon come that you will see it also. You do but little think of the blessings that are laid up for the Saints and the knowledge that is daily coming forth to those who are ready to receive it.

1844 Jan. 12, Elder Serrine reported that in the previous six months, more than 100 converts had left to gather in Nauvoo. Visiting Church authorities created more branches in June 1844.   A tabulation of the membership as reported from conference to conference would fail to indicate the growth of the Mormon church; for as soon as arrangements could be made, a true believer would depart for Nauvoo to "gather" with his brethren.

Temperance living in a busy household. The Covey's had taken in a ten-year old girl, a fifteen-year old girl and two-twelve year old boys.

May - Almira in a letter to Harriet revealed that Joseph Smith was a candidate for the Presidency of the United States and she urged Harriet to persuade her husband to use all of his influence to win votes for the Prophet. Almira wrote that she and her mother had been down to Joseph's yesterday. Aunt Lucy was very feeble; cousin Emma was sick with the chills and the fever; but Hyrum's family was all well. They all wished to be remembered to their cousins in Michigan. Perhaps Mother would be making a visit to them during the coming summer.

June 1, 1844 - conference held in Kalamazoo, Michigan with apostles Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith, members of the Quorum of The Twelve Apostles, accompanied by three members of the high council, Samuel Bent, Charles C. Rich, and David Fulmer (or Palmer?) - 7 branches were represented. There were 35 elders gathered to hear instructions from the high officials from Nauvoo. A week later a conference in Pleasant Valley, Livingston County had branches from Napoleon, Jackson, and Monroe. June 15 -- Elder Serrine ordained a high priest and be the "presiding high priest over all the branches of the church in Eastern Michigan."

Martyrdom - June 27, 1844 - George A. Smith was on a mission - in Napolean & Jackson area - felt spirit of (depression, horrible) gloom & sorrow --the next morning he said "the prophet is dead"-- knowledge or feeling that Prophet Joseph Smith had died. Several days later received a letter telling of events.

Temperance returns to Pontiac, Michigan and made it an extended visit remaining with her daughter Harriet throughout the year.   Harriet kept her mother with her until Almira could come and get her.

August 9 -- Conference (eastern) in Southfield, several elders rose to offer "appropriate remarks on the death of the prophet and patriarch". "A deep solemnity rested upon the congregation."

At a conference held at Florence (Sturgis & Three Rivers--St. Joseph county) in July, James Jesse Strang appeared before the elders there to announce to them that he had been called as prophet to succeed Joseph Smith and that he had been named by Joseph to that role. This announcement was not received with enthusiasm by the conference. Elders Crandall Dunn and Harvey Green, presiding high priest, immediately denounced Strang's claims.

One source indicated that Strang was excommunicated by an elders conference in Florence, Michigan.

Nov. 1 - 14 Branches met in Livonia to adopt a resolution affirming their support of the Twelve

Dec. 8 - Conference in Comstock (Kalamazoo area) called together by Elder David Savage - voted to sustain the Twelve and all authorities of the Church.

1845 June - Almira left Nauvoo to visit her sisters and brother in Pontiac. She made the trip with relatives, Henry Stanley and his wife. It was a long visit which lasted into October, then Almira and her mother returned to Nauvoo. Upon their return they prepared to move west in the Spring with the Saints. Temperance writes to her children in Michigan: ". . . I firmly believe it to be the will of the great God that his people should go out unto a place prepared for them and there remain in safety until the time of his indignation shall have passed by; and I cheerfully go, being determined to do the will of Heaven in all things, consequently my Son and Daughter, you will see the necessity of my calling upon you for assistance. You will therefore confer a favor upon your aged mother (74) by sending me the amount that is due me at this time as I shall need many things to prepare me for the journey. I wish you to send me all the money you can and the balance in broadcloth's, cotton, factory calico, a box of tea and some stocking yarn. . .. ." She closed her letter to Harriet with her usual invitation for them to adopt the new faith: "And now, my children, mourn not for your mother but rather mourn for yourselves for I bear witness unto you perhaps for the last time that I firmly believe this to be the Church of Jesus Christ, yea the Church of the Living God established on the earth in these Last Days being built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets - Jesus being the Chief Corner-stone. And I again invite you to come under the bond of the new and everlasting covenant. Yield to the principles of the Gospel of the son of God that you may share in the Glory of the Latter- Day Dispensation - be prepared for a part in the First resurrection and thereby Be Enabled to Escape those judgments that the Great God will very shortly pour out upon a wicked and unbelieving world." (Someone else wrote for her but she always added her signature in a labored scrawl at the end.)

Almira had returned from Michigan ill with chills and fever, the "Michigan ague," she called it. In December she writes her sister Harriet: "Things have turned out quite different from what we expected when we left you." She related that the mob would not let them rest in peace, so they had decided that they would move beyond the reach of their antagonists.   She said that her mother was "much engaged about going for she knows it is the will of the Lord" which is the only thing that could persuade her mother to leave that part of the country where her children lived.

1846 Harriet writes Stephen to help in persuading his mother not to go. He writes her and she writes back (toward the end of April) refusing his proposals to remain and live with him. "She says she cannot remain in a country that does not sanction the liberty of conscience and where she cannot worship in her own way. They were to start in about 10 days.

May 20 - leave Nauvoo. June 15 - they have traveled a distance of about 200 miles where they were to rest at "Camp Israel," Mount Pisga, Iowa, before going on to Council Bluffs, about 120 miles distant. Temperance was disappointed with the money and goods sent to her by her children. She needed more and would have liked to have had enough to purchase a team for her own carriage. When she was but twenty miles on the road from Nauvoo, she had received two letters from her children, apparently last minute pleas to the mother to remain behind and abandon all thoughts of the long,
dangerous trip; but Temperance replied, "My dear children, I have no wish to return. My course is onward."

Faithful Saints had moved from the Kalamazoo area to Nauvoo and West.

1847 May - Temperance complained that she had written four letters but had received only two from her children. They had wintered at Cutler's Park at Council Bluffs, Iowa and were considering remaining there until next spring. Almira was not feeling well, she seldom was; and her husband had been ill all winter. ". . . I am growing older as you may well know." (76) In spite of her age she was in good health.   At the end of July, she wrote asking that her children send her certain supplies that she needed for the trip: ". .. . I want money by me as long as I live and then if I am in want of anything I can get it. . . . I want you to send me a good wagon, well covered, that I may have it to carry my things and sleep in while traveling, and a good team to draw it. As I expect to go so great a distance from you it is not likely that I shall ever call upon you for anything more, and my object now is to fit myself out for necessaries as long as I live, or at least for several years, and as the journey is long, I want to make myself as comfortable as I can. . . . I want all my children to send me a little keepsake that I may have it to look back upon and think of them when I am far from them."

Strang settled in Beaver Island with followers; they called themselves Mormons and sent missionaries throughout the area; Strang was crowned King in 1850 and killed in 1856. Negative influence which resulted in a slow growth of the Church.

1848 Temperance made the overland trek with Brigham Young's division, which started for the West June 1st and arrived at the Great Salt Lake on September 20th.

Almira wrote in October that she was feeling well. Nobody had been ill since their arrival in the valley. Mother was growing feeble; but Almira though that the cool weather would help her to regain her strength.

1849 March - Temperance wrote to her daughter Harriet to report that she was in good health and had been well throughout the trip, suffering illness only for a few weeks after the journey was completed. Almira was ill with a nervous disorder. She also wrote that the winter had been much like that of Michigan, but there had not been as much snow. However, they were told that the winter had been more severe than usual. "We have been able to purchase provisions from those who raised more than they wanted for their own use, so that we shall have enough, we expect, to last till Harvest, when we hope to have an abundance. It is a fine country for wheat, and the vegetables raised here are said to be superior to any raised in the states. . . they are much sweeter. . . . I feel thankful that I am here with those whom I believe to be the people of God. I hope you and all the rest of my children will write as soon as possible. . . ."

They suddenly found themselves right on the highway to the gold fields of California. Passing gold-seekers from Michigan stopped to visit, to deliver messages from back home, or to send word back to relatives. Almira wrote: ". . . . There is plenty of land here if you wish to come and settle here. The crops have done well this season." There was one last request for money. Temperance wished her son-in-law to settle all her affairs back in Pontiac. She wanted him to dispose of all her property, pay her half of what was due her at the time, and give what was left in the future to her children in Michigan. Almira wrote, "She says she is feeble and wants things for her comfort while she lives." Temperance subscribed her name to the letter; and Almira explained, "Mother puts her name here so that you may know it is written according to her mind." A postscript said that Mother wished them without fail to send her a carpet to put in her room next summer.

1850 Temperance died in SL valley - always tried to convince children to come and join her through letters sent back and forth (Gold Rush - people from Michigan going back and forth to California).

1855 Thomas Clobber ltr in St. Louis Luminary, 5 May 1855, p.2 We made it a rule to inquire for Saints and places to preach, but no sooner than we had informed them that we were ministers of the gospel from Salt Lake, their doors were closed against us; we traveled hundreds of miles in Michigan, but obtained but one house to preach in. The fact is, Strang, the Beaver Island Mormon, as he styled himself, is sending his emissaries out to rob, steal, plunder, preaching another Gospel, but styling themselves Mormons; hence, the prejudice that exists in the minds of the people against
the servants of God that are sent abroad by the authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

1876 William M. Palmer served a mission in Michigan. He soon organized several branches despite serious persecution.

1878 Northwestern States Mission organized with Cyrus H. Wheelock as president.

Faithful converts migrated steadily to Utah.

1881 Two missionaries were sent to Petoskey from Detroit to asses the growth potential. They apparently were unsuccessful.

1886 Almira dies - At the time of her death she is the oldest living member of the Church

1889 Northern States Mission organized and included Michigan.

1900 September 5, 1900 - Members of faith (Mormon) have established here for winter at 1252 N. Edwards St. under Elder James Prestwick.

1906 Baptism of Mary Bowman and her daughter Rena (Platt) in the Red Cedar River. Probably Lansing's first baptism.

1912 Baptism of Nellie May Edwards (Marler) in a swimming pool in Detroit, she was a residence of Battle Creek and worked for Kellogg Foods as a secretary to Mr. Kellogg. They received an order from Kansas City for a whole carload of corn flakes. When Mr. Kellogg saw it, he whooped it up and said, "We are now really in business."

1915 The first branch in Michigan was created by German E. Ellsworth in Detroit on April 21, 1915.

1915 Dec. 21 - Elder Erik William Erickson arrived in Jackson (copy of Journal in possession of MLM)

1918 Jan 28 - "Bro. Smith cast Tobacco to the winds, gave me his pipe for a souvenir."
   Feb 23 - Above missionary along with two others cut a hole through 27 inches of ice out in Vandercook Lake and at 2:30 p.m. "baptized four souls into the Church of Christ. Bro. & Sis. Frank Smith and Bro. & Sis. Ted Smith. A record breaker for Michigan, two ‘women' baptized in a hole cut through the ice. I too rejoiced and my testimony was strengthen." Mon. April 1, - tracted between Vermontville and Charlotte. Spent the evening with the Smith's friend in Charlotte. April 2 - Walked twenty-two miles today. From Charlotte, to Rives Junction. 24-25- Came to Lansing (train? Car?)

1920 Nettie Jane Bower - baptized (Ancestor of Fredlines)

1922 Some Strangites in Boyne City, Michigan

1927 Branch in Jackson - did not last

1928 First meetinghouse in Detroit was erected and dedicated in December.

1930 East Michigan and West Michigan Districts created. Combined membership was 972.

1936 Lansing Branch of the West Michigan District of the Northern States Mission was organized by Bryant S. Hinckley, President of the Northern
States Mission - Headquartered in Chicago - Their son, Gordon B. Hinckley was left to care for the home downtown and the East Millcreek farm.

1939 25 missionaries who had been recalled from foreign areas because of World War II formed a chorus that performed public concerts.

1941-43 Robert L. Backman served a mission in Northern States Mission - he came to Lansing with a singing group and said it was a struggling branch. Later as a General Authority he supervised this area.

1945 7,183 members resided in branches in Detroit (3), Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Muskegon, Flint, Lansing, Pontiac, and Saginaw.

1947 Lansing Branch - 150 members

1949 Great Lakes Mission created

1950 January - Brother & Sister Campbell (Allan and Beth-Sister Olson's grandparents) move to Kalamazoo from Utah.

1952 Feb. 18 - Lansing Ward organized-also the Detroit Stake - (197th Stake)

Elder and Sister Chris baptized in Dayton, Ohio (Baptized in the YMCA swimming pool, Springfield, Ohio) by Elder Paul Peel, son of Orange, son of
Lemon (In Ripley's believe it or not). Came to Lansing shortly after and finished his mission here.

1954 Thurstons moved to Detroit (they lived there for 8 years before moving to Lansing)

1956 Wilma McMillin moved into Hastings and attended the Battle Creek Branch of the West Michigan District of the Great Lakes Mission (Mich, Ind, Ill, Ohio)

Orrin Hatch served in Michigan around this time.

1960 Jackson Branch organized

**President Gledhill was the mission president who preceeded President Mickelson. I served in the great lakes mission and the replacement occurred in 1962. The mission home was the old Wrigley mansion (Chewing gum family) in Fort Wayne. -- Dave Boss

1962 Lansing Stake (349th stake) organized on Feb. 18 with 2, 300 members by Howard W. Hunter and Alma Sonne - Included all of lower Michigan, from the Indiana border to the Straits of Mackinac, except the Detroit metropolitan area. Wards included Lansing, Flint, Saginaw, Midland, Jackson, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. Branches included Oscoda, Traverse City, (Cadillac?), Muskegon and St. Joseph.

Jackson Ward also organized

1962-65 Mission President over Great Lakes Mission was Michaelson

1963 Romney Inaugural Worship Service

1965-68 Cindy Berg Palmer was with her parents, Frank C. Berg (Mission President) living in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Great Lakes Mission included Indiana, Ohio, Michigan. During this time the Ohio mission was formed. Some of the missionaries always thought they were bad missionaries because they were cut off with the new mission. George Romney was running for President of United States--he was her mother's cousin. Cindy and her mother got on the campaign trail and had a meeting (luncheon or tea) at the mission home. George Romney was President of American Motors and arranged for all
the missionaries to drive Ramblers. They had 633 missionaries go through their mission and 211 was the most they had at one time. They had 27 million people to teach the gospel to. There were only 7 stakes in the 3 states. Also during this time they received an honor for having the most baptism in 1 year -- Gold Record. A tragedy occurred when a missionary was hit by a drunk driver and killed.

1967 Nov. 12 -Petoskey Branch formed - 30 members - 5 counties - Emmet, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Otsego, and Presque Isle.

1968 Lansing II Ward (Lansing Michigan Stake) organized - (Conversion Story of Linda Fisher)

1968 Dec. 1 - 6,000 members - 18 units - Stake divided into Lansing & Mid-Michigan Stakes (name changed to Midland in 1974) President E. Richard Packham - units: Flint, Flint Second, Greenville, Midland Mt. Pleasant, and Saginaw Wards, Oscoda, Traverse City, and Petoskey Branches. 2218 members (469th Stake)

68-71 Great Lakes Mission President was Roberts

1969 Dearborn Stake Created

1970 Indiana-Michigan Mission created

*** The following is a message I received from an alumni to be inserted at this point: "The mission President of the Indiana - Michigan Mission after President Roberts was Mark Benson. Mark was a son of President Ezra Taft Benson"

1973 July 1 - Michigan Mission created (later changed to Michigan Lansing Mission) - C. Russell Hansen, Mission President, first mission home was at
905 Pebblebrook in Whitehills Estate

Nov. 73-Nov 75 -- Mark Astle served -- has written a history of beginning of mission and name change.

From Mark Astle (taken from internet April 1997): "My name is Mark J. Astle, I served in the mission from Nov. 1973 to Nov. 1975. I do not have time at the moment to go into everything right now, but I can give you a lot of history on the mission. I served in the mission office under C. Russel Hansen the first President of the Michigan Mission. This Mission began on July 1, 1973 when the church split the Indiana-Michigan Mission Headquartered in Fort Wayne Indiana. The new mission was called the Michigan Mission, later to be named the Michigan Lansing Mission. The mission home along with the mission office was located in East Lansing. At that time there were only 4 Stakes in the State of Michigan. The four Stakes were: Bloomfield Hills Stake (Detroit area), Dearborn Stake, Lansing Stake and the Mid-Michigan Stake. During the two years that I served an additional stake was created, the Grand Rapids Stake. The Mission home was located on Pebblebrook Lane in East Lansing. The Mission Office was located in East Lansing as well. In the Spring or Summer of 1974, the church made a major name change policy in regards to the names of missions and stakes in the church. I was serving as the Mission Treasurer and was sitting at my desk in my office when all of a sudden President Hansen started yelling from his office. All of the missionaries on the staff became alarmed. He was yelling, "Brethren, they have changed our name!! The Brethren in Salt Lake have changed the Mission name. It's now the Michigan Lansing Mission." He explained that the whole church was going through the name change, and we were told that our mission would be named after the city in which the mission headquarters was located. I remember that afterwards the Elders on the staff were wondering why they did not name the mission the Michigan East Lansing Mission, since the Mission Home and Office were both in East Lansing and not Lansing. But none the less the name stuck. I later learned that the name of the Mid-Michigan Stake was changed at the same time to the new name of Midland Michigan Stake since it was located in Midland, Michigan. When the mission was first formed, after the division of the Indiana-Michigan Mission, it covered only the lower peninsula and the Toledo, Ohio area. The mission stopped at the Mackinaw Bridge. As our mission went a little into Ohio, so the new Indiana Mission took a small chunk of the state of Michigan just above South Bend, Indiana, which included Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. The City of Windsor, Canada had one or two wards and it was part of the Bloomfield Hills Stake so the members had to come to Detroit for Stake Conference. Windsor was part of another mission and it was great to see other missionaries at Stake Conference who were not from our mission. This was rare in the church, and we all thought it was a great treat to meet and visit."

When I arrived at the Airport in Lansing on November 1st. 1973, I was greeted by President Hansen and his wife. I felt so warm and welcomed. Later that evening, we had a Testimony meeting where the mission staff joined in. I remember that great spirit that was there. But immediately following the closing prayer, everyone in the room started shaking hands and saying "Sure Love Ya" and calling everyone by name. So everyone in the room shook my hand and said "Sure Love Ya, Elder Astle." I quickly learned that this was a mission tradition. Every Zone Conference, every missionary meeting, every morning with your companion, you could be sure that you would hear "Sure Love Ya Elder".

Sharon Christensen was with her parents while they served as mission president in Indiana

Dec 2 -Lansing Stake reorganized by Bruce R. McConkie - H. Paul Rasmussen, President -18 wards and branches (Darrell Thomas of Kalamazoo - counselor)

Dec. 8 - Cheboygan and Presque Isle counties were split off forming the Cheboygan Branch with 48 members, 18 active. Petoskey - 124 members, 68 active

1974 Name changed to Lansing Michigan Stake

1975 Mar 2 - Grand Rapids Stake organized (684th Stake)

Oct. 12 - N. Eldon Tanner dedicated Institute and Student Living Center at MSU

Kellogg's (Traverse City) baptized

1976 Grayling Branch started for just a short time

New Mission President - William Richard Horton - 5 Stakes, 80 missionaries

Robert O'Brien was asked three times by State Trooper Charlie Munion to meet with the missionaries. I guess he finally agreed to meet with because of his respect and feelings for Charlie. President O'Brien is now the Traverse City District Mission President.

1977 Oct.16, 1977 the Flint Stake created

1978 Grand Blanc Stake was created from the Bloomfield Hills Stake on June 11

New Mission President - Glenn Baird - 212 missionaries, 6 stakes including Lansing, Bloomfield Hills, Grand Rapids, Midland, Ann Arbor and Dearborn
..
July 5 - Mission divided to form the Detroit Dearborn Mission

1979 May - Kalamazoo Stake created from the Lansing and Grand Rapids Stakes

Nov. - Gordon B. Hinckley at Midland Michigan Stake Conference - pushed paper work for the Petoskey Ward so that Stake could be divided

1980 Michigan had a membership of 22,607

Jan 6 - Petoskey Ward formed - Bishop Arnold Howse with first counselor Robert O'Brien and second - Stan Hoover.

1981 Lansing Stake Reorganized January 3 by Gordon B. Hinckley - Kelly Thurston, President

New Mission President - Kenneth L. Metcalf

1982 President Jon Hoover, President of the Traverse City District, was a youth minister living in Midland, attending SVSU. He opened the door one night to two young missionaries. He reached out, invited them in and felt immediately their special spirit. After they left the spirit left and he wanted to know how he could keep that spirit. He was excited that their were living prophets on the earth today.

Gaylord Branch was created and Otsego County split off from Petoskey.

1984 New Mission President - Richard McDougal

1986 New building in Petoskey completed and occupied by members

1987 New Mission President - Bernard J. Barnes

1990 Michigan had a Church membership of 28,245

Oct. 14 - Lansing Stake Presidency reorganized by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

New Mission President - James C. Taylor

1991 Petoskey Bishop Robert O'Brien was called Feb 17

1990-1992 1085 persons were baptized by the full-time missionaries

1993 Mar. 4 - 21 Sisters and 123 Elders and 6 senior missionaries - Lansing, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Midland Stakes extending from Sault Saint Marie, Canada on the north to the Indiana border on the south and from lake Michigan on the west to lake Huron on the east (excluding the Detroit Michigan Mission area).

1993 New Mission President - Cecil Erwin Waite

1996 New Mission President - Jack R. Calton