Latter Day Saints

The community is invited to attend free performances of the classic musical, "Bye, Bye Birdie" on July 27 and 28 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, July 29 at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4550 Raymond Ave. in La Crescenta. Seats are first come, so arrive early. For questions, call Marilyn Bayles at 248-0809. This fun musical, based on the excitement caused when Elvis Presley was drafted, is filled with dialogue, names and sayings reminiscent of that time period.

All are welcome to Easter Services on April 8 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at 1830 Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada. The La Canada 1st Ward 9 a.m. service is under the direction of Bishop David Garrett. As occurs each Sabbath, the ordinance of the sacrament will be administered. Bishop Garrett has invited David Blasucci and Jeanne Broberg to speak on the crucifixion, resurrection and atonement of Jesus Christ. Broberg will include Easter experiences she and her husband, Dr. Charles Broberg, had on the three Easters they recently spent in Eastern Europe.

Three local youths, Darron Fors, Benjamin Frandsen and Craig Ballard will be leaving to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Prior to their departure, they will address the La Cañada first congregation. Frandsen will speak on Sunday, May 21 at 1 p.m. at the church, 1830 Foothill Blvd. All are welcome and invited to the services. Frandsen has been called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Munich Germany/Austria mission.

Three local youths, Darron Fors, Benjamin Frandsen and Craig Ballard will be leaving to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Prior to their departure, they will address the La Cañada first congregation on Sunday, May 28 at 1 p.m. at the church, 1830 Foothill Blvd. All are welcome and invited to the services. Darron Fors has accepted a call from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve in the Nashville, Tennessee, area as a full-time missionary.

About 650 people from La Crescenta, La Cañada, Glendale and Sunland celebrated the 160th anniversary of the Mormon pioneers' arrival in Salt Lake City and at Fort Moore in what is now downtown Los Angeles. The party, with the theme "Bringing Together Cultural Pioneers through Friendships and Memories," was held on the baseball field of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Mayors' Discovery Park in La Cañada on July 24. Sponsored by the La Crescenta Stake of the Latter-day Saints, three La Cañada community leaders were recognized for their pioneering spirit of faith, courage and determination in their lives, careers and community service: Chakib "Chuck" Sambar, member of the Glendale Unified School District Board; Dr. Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena; and Dorothy DeVore, California Mother of the Year.

Youth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from La Cañada, La Crescenta, Sunland and Tujunga hosted over 350 youth from around Southern California on May 6 at a prom that encouraged modesty in dress and dancing. "Night at the Museum" was held at the Natural History Museum, and featured red carpet interviews, prime rib dinner, dancing, karaoke, dessert bars and other activities. The purpose of the prom was to provide an environment where teenagers could have the experiences of a prom without freak dancing and other suggestive dancing and clothing.

The Southern California Mormon Choir, under the direction of Janelle Frank Turner, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foothill Women's chorus, under the direction of Janelle Westerbeck Anderson, will be in concert at 7 p.m. March 25 at the church, at 4550 Raymond Ave. in La Crescenta. The Southern California Mormon Choir is a 120-voice choral ensemble organized under the auspices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since its formation in 1953, the choir has been performing concerts of classical, sacred, folk, patriotic and popular choral music throughout the Southern California area.

Approximately 200 people turned out April 16 to hear Olympic athlete Kate Hansen speak at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Foothill Boulevard about her journey from the streets of La Cañada to the luge world championships and to Sochi, Russia. Hansen gave an inspirational talk explaining how by perseverance and her faith, she was able to succeed in her sport. -- Carol Cormaci, carol.cormaci@latimes.com Follow on Twitter: @CarolCormaci .

A man who has spent the past two years in Africa will share his experiences at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in La Cañada Flintridge on Sunday. Elder Jeff Facer was teaching and helping people in Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Ethiopia as part of a mission for the church. The public event will begin at 1 p.m. in the chapel of the church. The church is located at 1830 Foothill Blvd. -- Tiffany Kelly, tiffany.kelly@latimes.com Follow on Google+ and on Twitter: @LATiffanyKelly .

Approximately 200 people turned out April 16 to hear Olympic athlete Kate Hansen speak at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Foothill Boulevard about her journey from the streets of La Cañada to the luge world championships and to Sochi, Russia. Hansen gave an inspirational talk explaining how by perseverance and her faith, she was able to succeed in her sport. -- Carol Cormaci, carol.cormaci@latimes.com Follow on Twitter: @CarolCormaci .

Department of Homeland Security agent Tim Ballard will speak at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in La Crescenta on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. about the dangers of the Internet. Ballard is also an author and a graduate of La Cañada High School. The church is located at 4550 Raymond Ave. Admission is free. -- Tiffany Kelly, tiffany.kelly@latimes.com Follow on Google+ and on Twitter: @LATiffanyKelly . ALSO: La Cañada mother wins story contest and spa getaway Donations cover cost of stolen LCF Rose float items Riel would emphasize services for students

A man who has spent the past two years in Africa will share his experiences at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in La Cañada Flintridge on Sunday. Elder Jeff Facer was teaching and helping people in Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Ethiopia as part of a mission for the church. The public event will begin at 1 p.m. in the chapel of the church. The church is located at 1830 Foothill Blvd. -- Tiffany Kelly, tiffany.kelly@latimes.com Follow on Google+ and on Twitter: @LATiffanyKelly .

Charles Woodhouse awoke early Saturday morning to the roar of rushing water. Debris, loosened from the hillsides by a heavy rainstorm, was snaking down Angeles Crest Highway and spilling into his Arroyo Summit Drive cul-de-sac. Mud filled the street, overwhelmed his driveway and seeped into the house, Woodhouse said. No sooner had the rain stopped, however, than car loads of community members, most of them fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, began arriving to help.

Q. The incident of the police officer who arrested a black man at his own home in Cambridge, Mass., has raised the ire of people who think that police officer James Crowley acted in a racist manner by arresting Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, and people who think that Crowley was just doing his job as a police officer. President Obama even got into the mix by saying that the Cambridge Police Department “acted stupidly” in their arrest of Gates. In what he calls a “teachable moment,” Obama even sat down with the two men at the White House last week for a beer.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Missionaries to speak Sunday Three missionaries, one returning and two departing, will be speaking at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ La Cañada temple at 1 p.m. Aug. 2. Returning from the Tuxtla-Gutierrez Mission in southern Mexico after two years is Elder Eric Scott, a 2006 graduate of La Cañada High School. Departing is Josh Newton and David Bentz, both 2008 LCHS graduates. Newton will be serving in the Milan, Italy, Mission.

On Tuesday night 92 of La Cañada High School’s graduating seniors, their family and friends from all faiths joined at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church for a baccalaureate service sponsored by the La Cañada Flintridge Ecumenical Ministerial Association. The ceremony began with opening remarks by LCHS Principal Damon Dragos, with scripture readings by Elise Townsend from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Amanda Schwartz from St. Bede the Venerable and Iman Kahn from the Islamic Congregation of La Cañada.