Marshall Allen
When the members of the La Canada Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints gather for their Open House on Sunday, it'll be
like members of a family celebrating their home, as the group
recognizes its church building's 50th anniversary.
The church, at 1830 Foothill Blvd., was built in 1952 for $150,000
and 12,000 hours of donated labor, member Jay Johnson said.
Most of the cost was raised by the members themselves, he said.
The church has played a founding role in the growth of the Mormon
religion in Southern California, Bishop Brian Kelley said.
When the church was built, there were only about 200 members from
all over the region, Kelley said.
Now, the La Canada Flintridge congregation is made up of two wards
-- congregations -- of about 500 people each, and there are many
other churches in the area, Kelley said.
The Open House, at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, will be a time to visit with
old friends and reminisce about the roots of the building and the
sacrifice it took to build it, Bishop Brian Kelley said.
About 50 members who were a part of the congregation when the
church was built will be at the ceremony, Kelley said.
Johnson has attended the church since 1955 and the church had a
dramatic ministry in the life of his family, he said.
"The biggest benefit was my dad, who was an alcoholic, gave up
smoking and drinking and became a strong member of the church,"
Johnson said.
"We became a very close family, and that was the biggest benefit
of all."
