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TWIN FALLS, IDAHO
William K. Mendenhall
William K. Mendenhall was the perfect chairman of the Twin Falls Idaho Temple youth cultural celebration committee. He was positive and enthusiastic. He loved music and teenagers. He was a natural leader.
His efforts culminated Aug. 23 when 3,200 Latter-day Saint youth, celebrating the rich heritage of south-central Idaho through music and dance, filled the rodeo arena of the Filer, Idaho, fair grounds.
The evening was a stunning success, with one exception.
Brother Mendenhall, 57, former president of the Declo Idaho Stake, was not there to see it. The husband and father of five died of cancer two days earlier, Aug. 21, 2008.
His death "was one of the difficult things" of the events surrounding the local celebrations of the new temple, dedicated by President Thomas S. Monson on Aug. 24, said Elder Brent H. Nielson, an Area Seventy and temple committee chairman.
President Monson personally greeted Trish Mendenhall, Brother Mendenhall's widow, after the cultural celebration.
Celebration organizers also paid tribute to Brother Mendenhall in the opening moments of the show.
"We received inspired guidance and tireless encouragement from our chairman President William Mendenhall," said producer Steven Tuft. "We wish to dedicate this performance to him and what he taught us about living water."
Earlier, Brother Tuft told the Church News that Brother Mendenhall "was our guiding light."
"He put everything together, had a great deal of enthusiasm, a real vision," he said. "We followed in his footsteps."
Sister Tuft said he got along very well with the teenagers. "They really liked him. He could get them fired up and make them feel like they wanted to go out and enthuse their peers."
Elder Nielson said Brother Mendenhall attended the cultural event rehearsal Aug. 6 — the first time youth from all 14 stakes performed together.
Speaking of the cultural event Aug. 23, Elder Nielson added: "We all feel like he is going to have a front row seat.... We are all sad that he is gone."
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