The following is taken (exactly, with the original spelling and grammar) from the original program for the
Dedication Services of the Del Campo, La Sierra, and Manzanita Ward building, on February 11, 1973.

History of the Church of Latter-day Saints in the Carmichael Area

The area which today constitutes all of American River Stake and part of Fair Oaks Stake was originally part of Homestead Ward, Sacramento Stake. Early in June, 1941, the Robert A. Reiche family moved to Carmichael and he and his son, Robert, were assigned as ward teachers in the area. They called on the families of Leland W. Bolles, Sr., Lyman W. Beutler, Leslie Dana, Darrell Jensen, Betty Marshall and Ireta Bingham.

Two stake missionaries, Elmer Deckard and Dale Whitehead, were assigned to the area and in the summer of 1942 started holding cottage meetings in the home of Brother Jensen. These meetings were very popular with members and investigators alike, partly because of the wartime gasoline rationing and difficulty in getting to regular meetings in Sacramento. Attendance at the cottage meetings increased to such an entent that by November, 1942, the stake authorities saw fit to organize a dependent branch. This organization was effected on the first Sunday in November under the direction of the Stake President I. Homer Smith and Bishop Perry Tingey of the Homestead Ward. Robert A. Reiche was sustained as branch president with Lyman W. Beutler and Jessie Sizemore as counselors.

The Carmichael membership continued to grow and on the first Sunday in May, 1943, they became an independent branch with Robert A. Reiche as president and at various times, Floyd Shupe, Victor Porter, Howard Cunnignham, Raymond A. Larson and Erastus A. Hansen serving as counselors.

Lacking a suitable meeting house, branch members would gather on the lawns of Robert A. Reiche and Grant Sizemore for services. Later they met in the garage of George Clarkson. With coming of cold weather in the fall of 1943, more adequate quarters became a necessity. It was at this time that a Mr. Peterson, a non-member, offered the use of a small house he owned on the corner of Garfield and Robertson Avenues as a meeting place. Later the branch purchased the property, remodeled and added to the house, and it served as their meeting place.

The branch leadership was told b the stake presidency that when the membership reached 250 people a ward could be organized. The organization of Carmichael Ward took place November 2, 1947, under the direction of Stephen E. Busath. Erastus A. Hansen was named bishop with Howard Cunningham and Joseph L. Hill, Jr. as counselors. In 1949, Bishop Hansen was called to serve in the stake presidency, and Howard L. Cunningham became bishop with Joseph L. Hill, Jr. and Wallace J. Liddle as counselors.

Bishop Cunningham broke ground for a new building on October 1, 1950. Work began immediately and was carried forward through a very wet and cold winter. By the spring of 1951, the congregation had grown to such a size that it was necessary to hold meetings in the uncompleted building. The building was completed in 1954 at a cost of $134, 775. When the building was dedicated on May 16, 1954, the ward membership was 1,204.

Today, in the same general area, there are two stakes with a combined membership of approximately 9,000 people.

Arden Ward was created by the first division of Carmichael Ward and all other wards in the American River Stake are divisions of these two wards. Succeeding Bishop Cunningham and his counselors the following bishoprics served in the Carmichael Ward.

Bishop Robert L. Johnson with Melvin C. Woodland, Fenton Williams and Harold Germaine as counselors from November 27, 1954 to September 9, 1956.

Bishop Virge J. Dixon with Harold J. Stoddard, Dell Thompson, Robert Warnock, Burke Olsen and Garner R. Harston as counselors from September 9, 1956 to March 8, 1959.

Bishop Joseph L. Hill, Jr. with Burke Olsen, William E. Aton and John Anderson as counselors from March 8, 1959 to November 19, 1961 when Carmichael Ward was divided again making Carmichael and Carmichael II Ward. After this division, George Stott, Norman Price and Ralph Colins served as couselors until April 21, 1963.

Bishop Myron I. Seamons with Don R. Mathis, Roland Mills, Nikloaus Looser, Allan Hildt, Gerald Matthews and George Groth as counselors from April 21, 1963 to October 15, 1967.

Bishop George Groth with Nicklaus Looser, Curtiss Smith and L. Max Germaine as counselors from October 15, 1967 to May 15, 1969.

The first bishopric of the Carmichael II Ward was organized with William E. Aton as bishop and Harold Stoddard and Garner R. Harston as counselors from November 19, 1961 to September 1962.

Bishop Eugene R. Holderness with Harold J. Stoddard and Lamont Carr as counselors from September 1962 to July 7, 1963.

Bishop William E. Aton with Major A. Nilson, Lamont Carr and Thomas F. Hemingway as counselors from June 7, 1963 to June 26, 1969.

Bishop Major A. Nilson with Thomas F. Hemingway, Niles T. Elwood and L. Neil Loveridge as counselors from June 26, 1966 to May 15, 1969.

In 1965, Bishop Aton was instructed by President Austin G. Hunt to obtain land for a new chapel for Carmichael II Ward. A building site was purchased on Palm Avenue. In 1968, the American River Stake President, Melvin C. Woodland, directed Bishops Nilson and Groth to combine efforts for a new building suitable to house the two Carmichael Wards. Bishop Nilson was instructed by President Woodland to select a building site more centrally located for the two wards. A four-acre plot of ground was purchased at corner of Locust and Garfield Avenues, Carmichael, at a cost of $37, 500.

In May of 1969, the boundaries and names of the two Carmichael Wards were changed and La Sierra Ward and Del Campo Ward were created. Major A. Nilson was named bishop of La Sierra Ward with George L. Moore and A. Max Germaine as counselors. The Del Campo bishop was Paul W. Brown with L. Neil Loveridge, John Anderson and William Hoper as counselors.

At the November 1970 Stake Conference, President Woodland gave authorization to the La Sierra and Del Campo Wards to proceed with construction. Rene Marugg was chosen as building architect. Convest Construction Company of Salt Lake City was awarded the contract. Major A. Nilson acted as agent bishop in charge of the building program. Elmer Jenkins, financial clerk of La Sierra Ward, served as building financial clerk. He also did the engineering of the plot plan and street improvements. Bishop Brown supervised the purchasing of the furnishings for the building.

Ground breaking ceremonies were held May 31, 1971. Construction began June 13, 1971. The building was officially completed in August of 1972, with the first meetings held August 6. The cost of the completed building and furnishings was $561,000 with the membership of the two wards contributing thirty per cent or $169, 120.12

There are 16,540 square feet of floor space within the building with twenty six teaching stations, plus offices for three ward bishoprics, an excellent library, kitchen, and cultural hall. The chapel has a seating capacity of 320 and the cultural hall can provide accommodations for another 400. The parking lot will accommodate 160 cars.

Membership in the La Sierra and Del Campo Wards increased in such number that before the completion of the new building, the Manzanita Ward was created on May 28, 1972. The bishop of Manzanita Ward is Major A. Nilson with Melvin E. Miller and Fred C. Pinnegar, Jr. as counselors. Paul Brown continued as bishop of Del Campo Ward with William Hooper and Kenneth Densley as counselors. Marc Hall has recently been named to replace Brother Hooper. The bishop of La Sierra Ward is L. Garrett Myers, Jr. with A. Max Germaine and Allen Parker as counselors. At the present time, ward memberships are as follows: Del Campo 597, La Sierra 638 and Manzanita 493.

February 11, at 2:00 p.m., the new Del Campo, La Sierra, Manzanita Ward building will be dedicated to the Lord by Elder Thomas A. Monson of the Council of Twelve. May all who enter the doors of this building do so with reverence and a desire to glorify the names of our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ.