the projected stake building program were $1,125,000 or $337,000 to be paid in by stake membership.3 At a time when the average annual income per family in the stake was around four to six thousand dollars per year, this loomed over the stake leadership as a tremendous burden to place upon a Church membership that numbered under 5,000 people, less than half of whom were really active, and only a fraction of which were full tithe payers.4 Many faith promoting stories were recorded in the completion of these projects; a few of which are recorded in this history. When the full program was presented to the body ofthe priesthood for a sustaining vote on 25 June 1972, it was approved, but not without some reluctance on the part ofthe membership. One bishop felt that he could not sustain the program. He, however, later became one of the program's strongest supporters. After the proposal was put to a vote and carried, Brother Gower Clark, of Richville, came forward to President Little, put out his handand said, "I don't knowwhat you put up for a vote tonight President, but I sustain and support you all the way. But just what did I vote for?" President Little felt that this one response, more than any other, symbolized the faith with which the members accepted the new stake presidency's leadership.5 Before beginning, a system was worked out to ensure an equitable and continuous flow of funds. It was determined that if each active family contributed just twelve dollars per month, the goals could be met. But all families had to participate to keep the contribution per family that low. "Things were tight," says President Larry Wilson, who in May 1974, was called to be second counselor in the stake presidency when President Jones decided to move to Idaho where he had bought a farm.6 Bishop Gene Hayes of Porterville tells of two inactive brethren and their contribution. "On the first day of every month [one] brother came to my house and handed me a check until the program ended. And yet he never came to Church. Another brother handed me a check for $500 even though he hadn't participated in church before." Bishop Hayes himself, who felt very unqualified to be the bishop and publicly said that he couldn't address a large audience, later acknowledged that he had been called to help build the Porterville chapel and help with the other facilities as well.7 Two, almost miraculous, land acquisitions took place. For the Porterville chapel, the site selection committee chose at least four sites, but felt good about the site where the chapel presently stands. However, when Bishop Hayes approached the owner, he was told "No!" The committee prayed for a change of heart in the owner. When Bishop Hayes went back, the owner offered it to the Church at an appraised value well within market value.8 At the site where the new stake center was built, the property had originally been acquired by Bishop John L Heiner as a ward welfare project. The site at the time ofthe new building program was the location ofthe old North Morgan meetinghouse. Bishop Heiner envisioned the day when a 209