new chapel would be built on this location. The stake leaders wanted at the time to have enough property for a recreational park, but there just wasn't enough in the program moneys. An adjacent piece of property was owned by Brother Sid Heiner. Brother Heiner sold the property to a private investor. As he did so, however, he stipulated in the contract that this adjacent piece of property was to be sold to the Morgan Stake at a certain price' "whenever the stake fathers wished to purchase it." That parcel later was added and a lovely recreational facility now stands on the site.9 The stake center itself was to be built after a plan called "The Big Turtle." The plan, however, called for a flat roof. The committee foresaw the problems that a flat-roofed stake center in Morgan Valley would create. They contacted the building people at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City to voice their concerns. The central building committee was quite adamant that the flat-roof plan be followed exactly. Finally, after some talking, it was agreed that a pitched roof could be added, but the stake itself would have to bear the $6,000 engineering fees all by itself. That was agreed to. Later, when the plan proved its usefulness, it was adopted throughout the Church where the 'Turtle" plan was used. President Little felt this was another instance where the Lord had been working closely with the stake leaders, inspiring them as to their course.10 Another instance of such inspiration came with the actual construction of the Porterville Ward meetinghouse. This building was built large enough to house two complete wards, and it had a full sized cultural hall. At the time of its construction there were only enough people in the ward for one unit, and local growth projections did not include a large influx of people in the Porterville area. By the time the chapel and recreational facility were finished, however, the need for the increased space had become evident, and the Porterville Ward was divided shortly after the dedication. mm In all, the building program strengthened the stake tremendously. President Wilson said, "Whenever the people sacrificed, the percentages of attendance went up. Wherever buildings I were built, the Lord filled them up." | The building program was an essential 1 forerunner to the division ofthe stake. | Without it the two stakes that now exist could not have functioned as they now do.'1 The ground breaking for the new stake center took place on 22 March 1974. Bishop Verl Mecham had arranged for a large flat bed trailer. It was a cold, blustery day. There was a choir put together for the occasion by Sister Ada Waldron. DeOrr Peterson gave the invocation after which President Eugene Jones introduced the dignitaries, which included county commissioners, the mayor, and John 210