B7 Welcomes the Long Family

Rhett, Suzie, Rachel and Zach Long, along with their poodle-mix Buddy, moved to the family's new home at the intersection of Wesley Powell and Jacob Hamblin at the end of July 2013. The move was truly more of a homecoming for Rhett who is originally from Richfield and had lived in St. George starting in 1986 when he ran the Brianhead Royale Lodge and later the Peppermill Resort and Casino in Mesquite, Nev. 

Rhett's older three children attended middle school in St. George. The oldest, Jeremy, served a mission in Oklahoma and is now married with two daughters and lives in Reno, Nev. His middle son, Chris, also lives in Reno. Rhett's daughter, Sarah, lives in Delta with her husband and son and is expecting a daughter to be born in March.

At almost five, the couple's daughter Rachel attends preschool at Barefoot Montessori, is an expert on Princesses, plays dress-up daily and loves the Scotts in Primary. Two-year-old Zach loves diggers, tools and spends as much time in the sandbox as possible.

This move to St. George from Litchfield Park, Ariz., marks the family's fifth move across three states in four years. With the many career advancements and changes, Suzie says the family plans to stay in St. George and really settle in this time. 

Rhett is currently the Publisher of the Spectrum in St. George, the Daily News in Cedar City and the Desert Valley Times in Mesquite. Rhett had worked for Gannett for nearly a decade, starting Hawaii.com and several websites and magazines, before leaving the company to run a hotel and casino north of Santa Fe, N.M. Suzie worked for Gannett for 10 years primarily in her home state of South Dakota. At the Argus Leader she worked in advertising and marketing before becoming editor and general manager of five weekly newspapers. 

Suzie adds her conversion, including a baptism, confirmation and wedding all in one weekend, helping with Relief Society in Santa Fe and her new calling to assist with Activity Days to her family's list of many blessings.

Bishop's Standards Nights

Young men and women of the Bloomington 7^th Ward, along with their parents, participated in a fireside on Wednesday, January 15 with members of the Bishopric to discuss the Lord’s standards relating to the 2014 Church-wide mutual theme which is “Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him and deny yourselves of all ungodliness…” (see Moroni 10:32).   The well-attended Bishop’s Standards Night began with a delicious, sit-down meatloaf dinner prepared by Grandma Tobler’s Kitchen in Santa Clara and ended with poignant words of spiritual direction. Bishop John Goldhardt had a discussion with the youth concerning what the traits of the Savior are and what it really means to “Come Unto Christ”.  He warned the young people of the dangers of  pornography of any kind, and the attack on the sanctity of marriage, family, and the Plan of Salvation.  The Bishop emphasized obedience as a central part of coming to the Savior and reminded his audience obedience is the greatest weapon against temptation and evil.  He ended with his testimony of the Savior and a charge for each young person to come closer to Christ by reading the scriptures, partaking of the sacrament worthily, and making the Holy Temple a central part of their lives.