Family ties strong in LDS church

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Joe Estes is a successful attorney, a councilman and a respected city leader. But perhaps his greatest success lies along a far different path…one rooted in family, community and a strong belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

“My faith guides me in every aspect of my life,” Estes said. Estes belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, one of the fastest growing religious organizations in Maricopa with more than 3,000 members. And with three church buildings, which house seven different congregations staggered in three-hour meeting blocks, its influence in the city is quietly growing.

“There are 1,169 households in Maricopa,” said Eric Goettl, 1st counselor in the Stake Presidency. “Most are families, couples with or without children. We have just over 200 single adults in Maricopa.”

There’s nothing unorganized about the LDS church. It is divided into geographical regions called wards, with a typical ward containing about 400 members, Goettl said. “The Maricopa Arizona Stake has seven wards and three branches,” he said. A branch is a smaller unit and can consist of a couple of families up to 200-300 members.

Being part of the fabric of Maricopa is vitally important to the LDS church, and many members donate their time and resources to make a positive impact on the community. “We have been heavily involved in F.O.R. Maricopa, assisting (executive director) Wendy Webb with food drives and their Christmas outreach,” Goettl said. “Additionally, the church has maintained a community garden where fresh fruits and vegetables are grown and donated to F.O.R. In 2009, the community garden donated more than 6,000 pounds of veggies to F.O.R.

Additionally, each ward and branch in Maricopa has a chartered Boy Scout troop and an active young women’s organization for 12-18 year olds.”

Jim Montgomery, LDS public affairs director, says the church demands a lot from its members, including tithing 10 percent of their income. “That’s a commitment that is not lightly made,” Montgomery said. Montgomery wishes more men in the church would follow Estes into the public domain by joining some of the city’s different boards and committees. “I think we’re underserved in that regard.”

Estes maintains a careful balance between work, public service and family time. He leads and mentors a young men’s group in his ward. As a city councilman, he is one of the more visible members of the LDS community. On the council, Estes has been a proponent of keeping family on the city’s radar, even as it relates to attracting new businesses and jobs to Maricopa.

“I think family goes hand in hand with business development,” Estes said. “It’s important to keep in mind families’ needs and wants because this is what attracts employers who want that same thing.”

Estes decided this year he would not rerun for his council seat. It was not an easy decision, he said. “We prayed about it, and I put my life in the Lord’s hands,” Estes said. “I enjoy being on the city council, and I’m going to miss it. I don’t know what the Lord’s plan is for me yet, but I know he will bless me.”

It is the hope of leaders and members to continue the growth and community involvement of LDS Church.

“The strength of any community is found in its families,” Goettl said. “If you can strengthen the family, you strengthen the city, state and then nation. We do all we can to support the family and defend the values that support family life,” he said.

“We continue to grow today and will remain a positive influence in the city for a very long time. We have sunk deep roots here in Maricopa, and we are here for the long term.”

(A version of this story appeared in the March issue of InMaricopa News.)

Photo courtesy of Eyefull photography, dawniele castellanos