Monett Missouri Stake has nearly 3,000 members 

More than 130 people attended the celebration of Monett’s 50-year mark of becoming a congregation in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Some traveled far to join in the celebration, which was held in the Monett Missouri Stake Center. There were introductions, memorable stories, pictures, and finger food enjoyed by all.

Created August 31, 1975, the Dependent Monett Branch (dependent on the Neosho Ward), held its meetings in the Gilloiz Theater, downtown Monett. At Monett’s Sept. 7 meeting, there were 114 in attendance, 3 babies blessed, and 13 new memberships read in. The auxiliary meetings — Primary for the children, Mutual for the youth, Relief Society for the women — were held in a small, four-room, rented house in Monett.

In the restored Church of Jesus Christ, a branch is the smallest unit and is presided over by a president. A branch becomes a ward when there are enough faithful members to warrant the ward’s formation, and a bishop is then “called” to preside. When there are at least 5 wards and 2,000 members, a stake is formed, led by a stake president.

To be “called” is explained in the Church’s 5th article of the 13 Articles of Faith. “We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.”  While only priesthood-holding men preside, any member can be “called” to the various positions in their units because units are run by non-paid volunteers.

Monett’s unit became an Independent Branch on February 22, 1976, with V. Jean Guison as branch president. On Aug. 28, 1977, the Joplin Missouri Stake was organized from the Springfield Missouri Stake, formerly called the Ozark Stake, which had been formed on April 24, 1973, with Carroll S. Claybrook as president. Carroll (Clay), age 95, attended the celebration, he being two weeks shy of age 96.

The Monett Missouri Stake was formed October 2014, with Benjamin G. Leavitt, Pierce City, as president and Derek Martin, Carthage, and Donald Walker, Mt. Vernon, as counselors. Monett Missouri Stake currently is in 8 counties, with 9 units, and 2,963 members.

The 50th Celebration was organized by Bishop Shell Claybrook, Wentworth, and his wife Susan. Bishop Claybrook presides over the Pierce City Ward (276 members), which ward was formed from the Monett Ward (now 346 members) but is sharing the Monett Stake Center with the Monett Ward and the Young Singles Branch (65 members, ages 18-35).