President Gordon B. Hinckley rode from the nearest airport for more than three hours over a hot desert to attend graduation ceremonies of a small high school in an obscure part of northern Mexico.
His arrival June 5 in the Mormon colonies in the state of Chihuahua marked the first visit here of a Church president. It also illustrates the regard that the Church holds for the colonies, founded here in 1885, and their pride and joy, the Juarez Academy.President Hinckley spoke at a fireside and at graduation exercises on the academy's 100th anniversary. The academy is the sole survivor of the Church's academies, a chain of stake-sponsored prep schools started mostly in the 19th century. From this remote institution have graduated a remarkable number of Church leaders. (See related story on page 7.) Among them is Elder Eran A. Call of the Seventy (Class of '48), who also spoke at the fireside.
Now part of the Church Educational System, Juarez Academy is an inseparable element of the Colonia Juarez Mexico Stake. Without the academy, many stake members would leave in search of better educational opportunities for their youth. Without the stake, the academy would lose strong priesthood advisory support that has helped maintain its high standards in an anything-goes world. These standards, say local leaders, are directly related to the high success rate of academy graduates.
John J. Whetten (Class of '53) has a 40-year career at the academy and is the director of the 460-pupil school, which roughly corresponds with a U.S. junior high and high school.
Outside influences offer the most difficult challenges, but ones the academy meets. High standards of grooming and personal conduct are maintained through strong priesthood-leader and parental support.
"We consider this home," said Brother Whetten. "We are like a large family. And, yes, we plan to continue to maintain these standards. That's what makes the difference.
"It appalls me what I hear and see that faces schools elsewhere," he said.
Pres. Meredith I. Romney of the Colonia Juarez Stake (Class of '59) expects the academy to grow and the colonists to stay. "We are optimistic about the future," he said.
Pres. Romney added: "We are thrilled to have President Hinckley come and be with us on the celebration."
As the events proceeded, it was difficult to know who was more appreciative: the local members for President Hinckley, or President Hinckley for the local members.
President Hinckley spoke at a fireside attended by some 6,000 members and friends from the area, and addressed ceremonies for the 100th anniversary graduating class. He also rededicated the buildings of the academy that have undergone extensive remodeling.
Following his fireside address, he came down from the stand to greet Lorna Call Alder, 91, (class of '25) with whom he once served on the General Sunday School Board.
His visit was the highlight of a week of celebrating the centennial of Juarez Academy. In the celebration, in addition to the fireside and graduation exercises, were a parade, an original musical play, class reunions, a barbecue lunch, an alumni meeting and a centennial ball with an elegant floor show.
Nowhere was the magnetism of the celebration more evident than in an alumni meeting. In attendance - and acting like students with the teacher out of the classroom - were graduates of classes as far back as 1919. Only a handful of years were not represented by jubilant, cheering alumni. The meeting was a contrast to the reverence shown where President Hinckley spoke.
In his remarks at the fireside June 5, President Hinckley paid high tribute to the colonists and their descendants. He spoke to a congregation seated beneath a wide canopy.
"My dear brothers and sisters, I just wanted to come down here and thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you have done; for the generations of Latter-day Saints who in these little, narrow valleys have kept the faith and lived the gospel all by yourselves and gone on serving the Lord in truth and righteousness," he said.
"What a remarkable thing that school is," continued President Hinckley, "that school that has been here a full century. Great and wonderful have been the educational results attained here.
"Some people in the Church feel a little sorry for you - you seem to be so far away from everyone. But your isolation has been your strength. You have been united together. You have been as a great family. You have shared your sacrifices. You have shared your sorrow. You have held on to one another in times of trouble and distress. You had to because you were alone. You have become as one great family. Keep it up."
At the graduation ceremonies the following day, he expressed appreciation for the academy's centennial that provided him an opportunity to come to a place that "stands out in the history of our people."
"These little valleys in northern Mexico have made such a tremendous contribution to the Church in the more than a century in which they have been established."
In recounting the pioneer history in this sesquicentennial year, President Hinckley reflected on "how hard our people worked." He told of the Saints being driven from Missouri and building Nauvoo - a city and temple in seven years, only to be driven out. They traveled "through terrible weather, through deep mud, over bridgeless rivers to establish Kanesville, now known as Council Bluffs, and Winter Quarters in northern Omaha. Following a journey across the west of 111 days, they arrived in Salt Lake Valley and again began building a city. From Salt Lake City, they eventually branched north to Canada and south to Mexico, "where they worked and worked and worked."
"I stand in absolute awe of what they accomplished. And why did they do it? It was because of the conviction they carried in their hearts . . . because they had a testimony of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.
"Now, I marvel at what I see. I've been here twice before, but somehow it looks better now. That is, the homes are better now. There is more of lawn and shrubbery and trees, and certainly more of apple trees and peaches. I have wondered how your fathers ever found this place. I am satisfied they must have been led here by the inspiration of the Almighty. I believe with all my heart that God was watching over them. And what they planted here, not only a colony, but a future for the work of the Lord here in these narrow valleys.
"I thank the Lord for the faith and the testimony and the conviction of the people of Colonia Juarez and Colonia Dublan."
President Hinckley noted that the past is now behind: "No more lumbering wagons moving down from the states. No more of that great struggle of trying to establish a community. . . . No more revolutions to drive you out and cause you great concerns. . . . The Lord has been kind to you because of your faith and faithfulness and I hope and pray that will always be the case."
In his remarks at graduation, he observed that the academy was built in the days of "the poverty of our people. The people lived here, struggled here, worked hard here, died here. They stayed through the terrible revolution of 1912; through the whole of the burning, looting and destruction, the academy was preserved.
"Here generations of pupils have come to learn. Here, in an atmosphere of faith and an environment of learning, they have come to equip themselves for the future."
He observed that "the richest fruit of these colonies has not been apples or peaches or peppers - it has been young men and women of faith and capacity and ability. We are proud of the academy. We are proud of the student body. We are grateful to the distinguished faculty and officers of this institution. I bring you the congratulations of the entire Church."
President Hinckley suggested to the graduates four things to help them be happy for the rest of their lives.
First, he said, keep the faith. "No knowledge is of more importance than the knowledge of the things of the spirit.
"May your love for things divine never fade, sweet and wonderful things. They may be yours for life if you continue to nourish the spirit."
Second, he said, "Serve the Lord. The time is quickly coming for many of you to give a tithe of your life in service of the Master. You will go to various missions - you are bilingual. You will teach the gospel and bless the lives of many people. They will be forever grateful to you."
Third, he counseled, "Prepare yourselves for a good marriage and a solid home. Now is a time of life when young men and young women become attracted to each other. Let your heart persuade, but let your mind govern. Choose your companion with care and without great haste. You will be with him or her for a very long time. This is a matter worthy of prayer.
"It is the most important decision you will make in your entire lives. Look for the establishment of a home in which there will be peace and happiness and much of love, respect and honor. Love your companion. Welcome the children who come into your home and rear them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
"Choose carefully, and when you are married, be fiercely loyal one to another."
Fourth, he said, "Never stop learning. You have experienced the exhilaration that comes with the acquisition of knowledge. Your minds have been stirred by the minds of great thinkers. All of this can be but preliminary to the wondrous challenge of the future as you continue to study. Read sacred literature along with secular literature.
"You are members of the Church - you have a mandate from the Lord to go on and acquire knowledge."
President Hinckley concluded by leaving his blessing, and testimony. "We pray from the depths of our hearts that God will bless you as you make the choices of our lives, and as you move forward in faith," he said.
