Testimony -- Linda Kil

I was in the Huntsville Alabama Stake since August 1996 when I moved here from Pennsylvania, first under President Michael Knight, second under President Brown, and last under President Keith Draughon. Under the last two presidents I had a stake calling, that of Stake Single Adult Female Rep, from the time we started the single adults program back up (I forget the year), until I married James Williams in August of 2006 in the Birmingham Temple. I met with High Councilors, Bishopric reps, single adult reps, and members in every ward many times during those years, and was impressed how the wards were different enough to specifically support the members in each ward, yet they all had the same program and spirit, each operating individually, yet I felt the Stake was unified.

When I learned the stake was going to split I was excited for the growth of the members – twice as many stake leaders as before for example, leaving the individual wards to stretch to fully support the now two stakes. I am thankful that the Lord trusts the two resulting stakes to carry on the work despite being a little fewer in numbers than is the norm for newly-divided stakes. I know our Heavenly Father is mindful of us, that he sent His Son our Savior Jesus Christ to be the head of the Church. I know as we do the things we are commanded to do that we will be blessed. I especially look forward to strengthening the less active members and to find those who are seeking the Truth as we work in the sacred mission field in the new stakes, sharing the Book of Mormon and our own testimonies. Thank thee, Heavenly Father, for allowing us to be part of it.

Just before the stake split, I was a part of a boundary change that was done to better evenly divide the units among the soon-to-be two stakes. I am pleased to be in my new ward, and feel totally welcome there, even though I loved being in the other ward. I am excited that some of my friends from years ago when I was in the Sparkman ward are now in the Madison Second ward with me – how cool!

I bear this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Linda Williams

Madison Second Ward, Madison Alabama Stake

Stake Patriarch's Testimony

I'm grateful for the opportunity to express some of my feelings about the creation of the Madison Alabama Stake. We moved our family to Madison Alabama approximately 20 years ago the fall of 1991. At that time, Madison was a small community of about 14,000 people. The main intersection in town ( the corner of Old Madison Pike and Hughes Road) was a four-way stop and the corner of the intersection where Kroger’s now stands was a large cotton field. Each year we would see a crop-duster in a bi-plane come in, dive down and dust the field with insecticide. Since that time we've seen Madison grow into a city of almost 50,000 people. At the same time, we've seen phenomenal growth of the church in the area.

When we first moved here, we became members of the Madison Ward. At the time, this was the only ward in Madison proper. North of us was Harvest ward. I believe the Harvest and Madison wards had been created from the Winchester ward only about 18 months before we moved here. At that time, we were meeting at the stake center for the Huntsville Alabama Stake over on Sparkman Drive in Huntsville. We were informed that ground had just been broken for a new building out in the Madison area. The site for the new chapel was only about two a half miles from our home. As a family, we drove out one day and looked at the slab that had recently been poured for the building’s foundation.

Within the next year, the building was completed. I remember well the Saturday that we had a ward service project to “unpack” the church. The building had been filled with huge boxes sent from Church Headquarters. The boxes were full of chairs, tables, sacrament trays, hymn books, library stock and all the other items needed to get us up and running in the new building. It was our job to unpack, assemble and find a proper place for everything. This is the first time I had every experienced the opening of a new building. It was so humbling to me to see how the Lord had blessed us with this beautiful new building and all the necessary equipment and furnishings. The experience left a lasting impression on me and ever since then, I have always had such a great appreciation of those facilities and have felt a special stewardship to take care of it. We moved into the building as a ward shortly thereafter along with the Harvest ward.

I also remember well the day that our stake president, President Michael Knight, came and dedicated our new building under the direction of the brethren in Salt Lake City, setting it apart for the Lord's purposes. Since then, there has never been a time that I don’t feel the Lord’s presence in the chapel area. During the years that I served as bishop of the Madison Ward, after the building had cleared out, I would often go into the chapel and just sit there in the dark pondering. I always felt the Spirit of the Lord permeating the room and it was always a source of great peace, comfort and strength to me.

I became Bishop of the Madison Ward in 1996. During the latter years of my time as bishop, the Madison 2^nd ward was created from portions of the Harvest and Madison Wards. At that point, the Madison ward became the Madison 1^st ward. The remaining portion of the Harvest ward was given to the Sparkman ward in order to strengthen them and thus the Harvest ward ceased to exist as an entity. Since then, Madison has continues to grow and I have witnessed the creation of the Madison 3^rd ward and the Capshaw Ward.

Later, while serving on the high council, I witnessed firsthand the wisdom and inspiration of two Stake Presidents in making changes that would strengthen the stake and prepare it for eventual division. There were numerous realignments over those years and I strongly felt the Spirit of the Lord each time I raised my arm to sustain those actions. Each change was a vital stepping stone. Small branches became thriving wards and weak wards were strengthened. When we first arrived in the area, the brethren in attendance at stake priesthood meeting could all fit into the chapel with the rear curtain closed. In later years, we were filling the chapel and half of the large cultural hall. I also remember that when we first arrived, the entire stake was able to attend the same session of stake conference. Just before the stake was divided, the stake was meeting in two separate sessions each filled to capacity. This growth was not just from an influx of people coming into the area but also due to the increased faithfulness of the members already in the stake. It was such a joy and inspiration to me to travel around the stake becoming acquainted with and working with these wonderful members

I always knew in my heart that one day there would be a stake in Madison and I am so thankful that the Lord has seen fit to grant us this blessing at this time. From past experience, I know that the creation of a new stake blesses the lives of the members by calling them to action and increased responsibility. I also know that the Lord is preparing us for further growth in the future. Over the years we have been here, we have not seen a lot of growth due to our missionary efforts because of the opposition to the Church in the area. However, during our time here we have been so impressed with the goodness of the hearts of the people. I know that one day they will overcome their misconceptions and come to recognize the truths of the gospel. When this happens, I feel that they will come into the church in great numbers.

In my mind’s eye, I yet see the creation of another stake here in Madison. I pray for the Lord's blessings to be upon us that this might occur. I pray that we might open up mouths and hearts to those around us in order to help them see the beautiful truths of the gospel that the kingdom of God might continue to roll forth.

Kevin T. Horrocks

Stake Patriarch

Madison Alabama Stake

Stake Relief Society President

My name is Carol Brown Harries. I cannot begin my testimony without saying that “I was born of goodly parents”. They were and are my source of strength. They gave me the great gift of the gospel and taught me how to gain my own testimony of Jesus Christ. My family resided in Athens, Alabama for many many years. It was there that my dad (Samuel Lee Brown was baptized at the age of 9 years old. His mother Maybelle Pressnell Brown was baptized and married on the same day in 1919 to Lee Andrew Brown. I am thankful for my heritage. I am sure that it wasn’t easy to join the church back then, especially in the South. I will be forever grateful for these wonderful pioneers that forged the way for their progenitors to have the gospel in their lives.

As a child I would sit for hours and listen to my father’s family talk about their love for the gospel. I knew that there was not one in that group of brothers and sisters that would not give their lives for Jesus Christ. They lived their testimonies and I am thankful for their examples. They help shape me and gave me great memories to think about. I am 56 years old, so I am old enough to remember going to church in the Elkmont Branch building. I remember working and helping at the Tanner Building every Saturday until it was built. My job was giving the workers water and picking up debris. I loved working along side of my dad. I am sure I was a hindrance more than a help but he took me every time if I remember correctly. My parents were married in 1950, but my mom was not a member of the Church. It took 10 years for my mom to come around to “Mormonism”. My dad was relentless in talking to her about the Church. I was four years old when she was baptized in 1960. We were able to be sealed as a family in the Salt Lake Temple. I still remember that day even though I was only 5 years old.. I have watched my mom’s testimony grow and she is a rock in my life.

Jesus Christ was always the center of my home growing up. We had a wonderful spirit in our home. I could feel it as a youth and now as an adult, I can still remember the warmth of the spirit I felt. Later when dad was called as a Patriarch, we had the opportunity to have many church members in our home. I remember him telling my mom that she always made our Living Room look like a room in the temple and he appreciated her for that.

I have served in many callings in my life and each one has been a blessing to me. My testimony has grown line upon line. I know my Savior loves me and he knows me personally. We have always tried to teach our boys that if they put the Kingdom of God First in their lives that everything will work out ok. I have enjoyed living in the mission field. We must live our religion here in the South. We cannot blend in, but stand as a witness of God at all times and places. I am not perfect and I do realise that I should have done a lot of things different in my life. But one thing was constant throughout my life and that is that I knew that my Heavenly Father loved me. Maybe it was through the example of my earthly Father that I understood how Heavenly Father feels about all of his children. Thank you Dad for loving me unconditionally.

I know that it is only through the covenants we make and the lives we live here in this short mortal life that determine if we get to return to our Heavenly Home. I want to live my life to be able to be with my family for eternity. I cannot imagine not being with my father or having my family with me forever. I know that our Heavenly Father loves us so much that he has provided a way for us to return to him. For I know that when we see him, we will know him. This is very real to me. The prophets words are scripture to me and I come to know my Savior through studying and pondering the scriptures. There is so much more I can say, but I pray that I can endure and enjoy the journey of this mortal life to the End. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Article about Athens Building Dedication

December 19, 2011

New Latter-day Saints meetinghouse to be dedicated

The News Courier

ATHENS — The recently renovated Athens meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be dedicated at 6 p.m. Saturday under the direction of Elder R. Randall Bluth.

The public is invited to attend.

The dedication will be at 1716 W. Market St. in Athens.

Records indicate the first baptisms in the northern Alabama area of the Southern States Mission occurred in January of 1895. More than 34 years later, on July 28, 1929, traveling missionary elders organized a Sunday School at Locke’s Crossroads near Elkmont.

The Elkmont Chapel was constructed on a member’s donated land and dedicated on Nov. 1, 1931. Local church members worshipped in the humble, one-room frame building and often held meetings outside beneath a large oak tree. The Elkmont Branch (small congregation) was formally created on Oct. 4, 1936 as part of the Alabama District.

“As the granddaughter and daughter of one of the pioneering families in this area, it is humbling to see the growth of the church here,” Shelley Mitchell Merrill said. “My extended family sacrificed a great deal, as did all of the early members in this area, often meeting in rented spaces and borrowed homes in order to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Merrill said her grandparents, John Washington and Elvina Calista Higgins Locke, donated the land upon which the old Elkmont chapel was constructed. Her parents, Samuel A. Mitchell Jr. and Valeria Lodeska Moore Mitchell, helped to construct the first full-use meetinghouse at Tanner Crossroads, which is now People’s Funeral Home.

“I well remember the classroom addition being added to that building during my own childhood,” Merrill said. “Prior to that, classes were often held in the parked cars of the members.”

The church continued to grow and on Sept. 23, 1937, the Alabama District was divided into the North and South Alabama Districts and missionary activity increased. Missionary elders presided over the North District until 1943 when local district presidents were called to preside over the various Sunday Schools and branches.

In 1962, the first phase of the meetinghouse at Tanner Crossroads was constructed. It contained classrooms, a baptismal font and a temporary assembly room. The building housed the Decatur Ward, or larger congregation, which was created by combining the Sunday Schools and branches from Limestone and Morgan counties. As the membership increased, a chapel was added and dedicated on Oct. 14, 1967.

Church growth continued in the area and the Alabama Stake (comprising of multiple congregations) was organized on March 3, 1968. The stake was later renamed the Huntsville Alabama Stake.

On Nov. 3, 1985, the Athens Ward was created from the Decatur Ward with both wards attending at the building in Tanner. Ground was broken on Jan. 9, 1989, for the current location of the Athens Ward meetinghouse.

Ward members assisted in the building site preparation and landscaping. On Aug. 13, 1990, the Athens saints moved furnishings into the new building and the first church service was held on Aug. 19, 1990, with the building being dedicated on March 18, 1994.

Ward membership grew steadily over the years and another addition was needed. In May 2010, the old section of the building was remodeled and the meetinghouse was expanded to include a new chapel and more classrooms. The Athens saints held their first Sunday services in this newly amended building on April 11 and in October, the Athens Ward became part of the newly created Madison Alabama Stake.

From its early roots in Elkmont, the Athens Ward has the distinction of being a parent to all other Church units in northern Alabama.

“Witnessing the growth of God’s kingdom that has spread to create not one, but two Stakes of Zion from the humble frame building that was the Elkmont Chapel is indeed a modern-day miracle,” Merrill said.

To learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its organization and precepts, visit www.lds.org or www.mormon.org.

President Draughon's Testimony