Deseret News | Reader comments: MormonTimes.com: Strange ward names: the sequel

Reader comments
MormonTimes.com: Strange ward names: the sequel

Anonymous | 1:15 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

I hate to say this because I know the author put in some effort but...I don't seen anything funny or strange about most of these names. They are only named for a local area and they don't seem strange at all. I don't see any point to this article. Big deal

Jeff | 1:49 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

This is a pointless article. Non of the Wards listed are that interesting or funny.

tkangaroo | 6:00 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Obviously the Normal 1st, 2nd, and 3rd wards were left out. Yes, Normal, as in not-weird. Located in Normal, IL. My BYU roommates loved that.

Comments continue below

Gotta add one more | 6:59 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Have to add one more: In Milwaukee, Wisconsin one of the chapels is called the Hale's Corner building. Before stake Conference, they always announce that the meeting will be held at Hale's Corner. But it always sounds like they are saying "Hell's Corner". (So if the children were all wild and fussy during the meeting, many Moms feel they spent their Sunday morning in "Hell's Corner"!

Ooloo | 7:32 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

My home ward is called Satan's Throat Ward.

Mark | 7:36 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Jeff and Anonymous,
I have to disagree with you. I'm the Bishop of the Angel Crossing ward and have been a member of the Zionsville ward. Both are interesting and unique.

Thanks for the article.

Mark

More Normal | 7:37 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

I recall the wedding announcement from downstate Illinois with the headline that read, "Normal boy marries Oblong girl."

Hmmm | 7:44 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Hometown branch? What's so unusual about that? A Seinfeld-esque story about nothing, really.

Kate | 8:03 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

I agree with Anonymous - I didn't find many of those name unusual or funny. I lived in the Montgomery Ward in Cincinnati for some time. It is a pretty normal name, but got a lot of laughs because of the Montgomery Ward stores and catalog.

AL is NOT AK | 8:05 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

What a sad state of affairs the Utah education system must be in, when the Editor doesn't know the difference between the postal abbreviation for Alaska and Alabama.

The Homer and North Pole wards are NOT in Alabama, postal abbreviation AL, they are in Alaska, postal abbreviation AK!

RE: AL is NOT AK | 8:21 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

How are you so certain that the editor for this artical was educated in Utah? Perhaps AL? Or even AK?? Don't assume anything.

Wienerschnitzel | 8:57 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!! I was seriously laughing my head off!!! WOW!!!! Those were some funny names! I mean, "Union Mill" Singles' Ward! Isn't that the funniest thing you've ever heard of in your entire life! Do you get it!? It is because in Mormon singles' wards, the kids want to get married, so it is like a factory that produces marriages (a "Union" mill). Seriously, LOL. What about the "Humble Ward" in Humble, TX? Oh. My! GOODNESS!!! HILARIOUS!!! It is like a humble ward--like, soooo funny! What about "Pioneer Ward"? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! HILARIOUS!!! "Great Sky Ward"? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! WOW!!! The author of this article should audition for SNL or write a script for a Mormon comedy starring Kirby Heybourn only to be distributed in Provo or something. I am overwhelmed by how funny that was!

Obi wan liberali | 9:10 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

In the immortal words of Homer Simpson, "BORING".

Mike | 9:23 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Lighten up those of you who have thought that this was a nonsensical article. I, for one, thought it was fun to know of unusual ward/branch names. I live in the Antelope Branch in the Clearfield South Stake named after Antelope Drive that goes to the island. And there is a Freeport Branch (in the same stake) named after and is adjacent to the Freeport Industrial Center. The branches were organized last summer when the Church started the pilot program of creating branches in apartment communities. Before the Antelope Branch was created, I was in the Island View 2nd Ward but I'm not sure where that name came from.

Anonymous | 9:26 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

I like the old way when they were just numbers. I lived in the Uintah 3rd ward then the Unitah 4th for over 27 years and then one day they changed all the numbers to names. I'm now in the Eastwood Ward which is a new ward but no one knows where it really is. I just wisded they would go back to numbers. I'm in the Ogden Utah Weber Stake but it is really in South Ogden Utah, get that one I don't.

kenny | 10:16 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

When I was growing up as a youngster the old joke was the "Mountgomery Ward in the Serloin Stake or T-bone Stake." Personally I dont find anything funny in poking fun at the Lords organization but then we are living in the internet era and anything goes.

kenny | 10:26 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

I'm thinking about the guy who was excomunicated for doing the calendar about the missionaries. So if a member were to poke fun at the church on a web site that was making money with links and advertising and it actually made tons of momey, then would they be subjected to church displine. Lets not poke fun at the names of our wards.Our wards are a place of worship and not foder for Saturday Night Live or The Tonight Show.

Re:Anonymous | 10:41 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Its because a number is no longer classy and a name has a more powerful and elegant ring to it.The numbering system was great when we lived in humbleness and the sisters wore costume jewelry to meeting and the brothers wore clip on ties.Now it is real pearls and Brookes Brothers ties so we need a classy name to keep up the image.Actually I think there is a better answer. When you have multiple stakes in a city and they all have the same 1'st,2nd,3rd,etc ward names then it gets confusing.I do think there is some truth to both reasons.

awesomeron | 10:51 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

In Hawaii a lot of the Wards are named after the Towns or Areas that they are located in. Waianae Ward, is in Waianae, Hawaii. Also located in that Ward House is the Makaha Ward and The Malai Ward. The Stake is the Makakilo Stake, A lovely Steak House sitting on a Hill in an area by the same name. The Stake is famous for different levels of Parking and the fact you can see from the Stake, All the way to Diamond Head, Downtown, and Pearl Harbor, The View Rocks.

Most of those Names are natural for us as we live in Hawaii and adapt. A Wards name has a lot of meaning to the Ward or Stake.

I get tired of hearing Singles Wards called Marriage Mills and Singles Websites and Publications Meat markets. Usually by the Selected.

Singles Wards are Vital to the Church, not everyone goes to College, and in the World of Work there is Great Temptation. There needs to be a place to meet, greet and find a eternal companion.

Vital to prevent Rutting with non members. At some point Emotions, and Desperation May Take Over.

Singles Wards and Events Serve Single Members Needs.

RE: Obi wan liberali | 10:53 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Are we supposed to take any comment seriously from anyone who would not only watch Homer Simpson, let alone quote him??????

If you want to protest something, protest the vulgar, inane "Simpsons".

Ned | 11:01 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

MIKE, you're not serious.... You don't know where Island View Ward came from? You live in Clearfield and even referenced Antelope Drive.... Have you ever considered that Antelope Drive got its name from Antelope Island, ("Island View")not from the millions of antelope running around Clearfield? lmbo

Anon 808 | 11:04 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Names are so much neater then Numbers, I do not really want to attend a Number. I understand the need for paperwork purposes and other stuff. However the Chapel Stake or whatever Needs to be called by a Name. Also remembering Peoples Names when you talk about them is Vital. When you do the Work it is very Vital.

Now some people you just do not stand a chance until you know them for awhile. Most understand that and cut you the needed slack. In a Talk however you should never Butcher and never use a simple name, take the time and effort to get it right. One or Two Mistakes if you are New is excused, because your new, after awhile you got to get it right.

MeInTexas | 12:04 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

It's Homer, Alaska and North Pole, Alaska not Alabama. I used to be in the Fairbanks Alaska Stake, and attended many youth activities in the North Pole Ward. You pass the real Santa Clause house to get to it. I'm serious. No joke. I used to go to the Short Hills Ward (NJ) too. Now I'm in a "plain jane" named ward. LOL!!

MissionField | 12:13 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Here in Colorado, the Golden Stake Center is located on Coors Street (the Coors Brewery is in Golden). As many buildings take their name from the street they are located, many laughingly call this bldg the Coors Building.

Grandma | 12:35 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Our stake center is on Lover's Lane.

Also Happy Camp is in California, not Oregon.

Aggie Fan | 12:38 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

I live in the Huckleberry Ward in Syracuse, UT, and I'm proud to say we get our name from an animated dog.

Anonymous | 1:01 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

If a person told me which ward they were in I knew right where they lived. Now they give me a name of a ward and I could not tell you where in the world it it. Also in some areas wards have the same name but in a another stake. Like the Highland ward in the Ogden East Stake and the Highlands Ward in the Ogden Utah Weber Stake. I don't care but it is imteresting. But I still like my numbers. We have wards in South Ogden with the name of the stake and then the numbers with the stake name. Like the Pleansant Valley 3rd,4th,5th,and 6th. They are in South Ogden but in the Pleasant Valley Stake.

Ryan | 2:52 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

You lucky people that get to have interesting ward names.

I grew up in the Taylorsville 12th Ward (Taylorsville West stake). Our stake also had the Taylorsville 4th, 18th, 25th, 35th, and 38th wards. Growing up I just figured the numbers were the norm.

Chachi | 3:47 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Now, if there were some town somewhere called Psycho or Mental...

Anon | 4:07 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Hmmm. Consider the case of churches looking for names in the rural town of Flippin, Arkansas.

Flippin Church of Christ
Flippin Church of God
First Baptist Church-Flippin

For the full list google "flippin, ar church"

Sometimes it is better to pick another name besides the name of your town

kenny | 4:50 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

If you were moving to a new city and looking for a home would you find it tempting to scan the ward names and find one that you thought sounded just a cut above the rest. I probably would not use that as a reason to buy a house but I would be tempted to look around. Where I live the church is still using the name of the community for the most part.I seem to like it that way.I like names that are more traditional and not one that was pulled out of a cracker jack box.

kenny | 5:03 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Next thing you know we will be naming wards after famous people who live in the ward bounderies.But then we will also refer to the bishops wife as the First Sister,their dog as the First dog,etc,hehehe.
Or if its a small town with a Walmart store then you may live in the Walmart Ward if its in your bounderies or City Hall Ward,Fire Station Ward,Taco Bell Ward,Discount Tire Ward,or one next door to the Temple would be the Temple Ward, or maybe the St.(whatever) Ward next to a catholic parish,or maybe the ward next to the local prison can be called the Warden Ward. Ok I will STOP!!!!!!!!!!!

Itcametopass | 5:26 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

When I served a mission in the Washington D.C. area, I was naively taken off guard when a member told me he belonged to the Falls Church Ward (Falls Church, VA). I thought he was joking with me.

Wally | 5:57 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

If we move to Walla Walla, Washington, which Walla Walla ward will we wanna worship with?

to Wally | 6:25 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

whichever one will work wonders with wannabe worshippers!!!!!!

kentucky | 6:44 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

I served my mission in Kentucky and attended the Possum Trot ward. they also have towns with names like: eighty-eight, deer lick, mud lick and etc....

First Sister | 6:47 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

I live in the Chevy Chase Ward in Murray Ut. We were just renamed a couple of years ago. (It's the name of our street and there's a ward out east with the same name, it's been around a long time). But most young couples that move into the ward seriously have no idea where that name came from. They wonder if our Stake President just watched Caddyshack one too many times. Now that's funny!

New convert | 7:12 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Here are some good possible names:

Branch Ward
Ward Branch

Beth | 7:18 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

In San Diego, California, we not only have the "Mission" Valley Building, we also have the Zion Building. Both are Stake centers.
We had three wards, First, Third and Fourth. The three wards became two wards. For a few months they were called the 3/4 Ward and the 1/4 Ward.

Meshe | 9:03 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Why are people being so rude on the comments? If you don't have anything nice to say it's better to say nothing at all.

Anon 808 | 9:07 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

I am okay with the Name and a Number, Like EWA 1st Ward and EWA 2nd Ward. But even when they grew to 3 Wards do mostly to area development. They choose a different Hawaiian Name. As they did for the Chapel that my Stake just opened in an Industrial Park. Because we go to Church by time and area (something I discovered that I liked so you don't go around forever looking for the Church thatï¿½s right for me/us as some Faith Groups do. Or do I like the Preacher).

If you go to the Church Web Site and keyword in your street address, city and state the Computer will tell you right where to go, and give you directions. Also listed maybe the Phone Numbers of the Church and people to contact.

I did this in late 1999 on my Windows 98, (yeah end of DOS) (I had a Sister bring me Genealogy Work on 7 1/2" Floppy Disks when I was running Windows 3.1)
When I found out I was coming to Hawaii. I found out about ,where we where going to live and I called the Bishop and we had a good talk.

Anonymous | 9:37 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

I'm just glad I don't live in the Boring ward, especially since it's not too far from the Happy Valley and Sunnyside wards (in Oregon).

Anonymous | 9:39 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

I'm just glad I don't live in the Boring Ward, especially since it's not too far from the Happy Valley and Sunnyside wards (in Oregon).

bilbo | 9:59 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

RE: COARSEGOLD WARD...
as a converted member originally from the COARSEGOLD/NorthFork/Auberry area of California (which, as you may suspect, is in the USA)I know the name is from the town of COARSEGOLD, which was named after the Gold-bearing creek of...you guessed it!...COARSEGOLD (which is a tributary of the San Joaquin River system, along with the Creek named FINEGOLD CREEK)....NOT Oakhurst...even though the two towns are located in the mountains of Madera County. There being several miles between each of the two towns, they are definitely two distinct areas/towns.
Where is the humor there, pray tell?

OnlyTrue1 | 10:51 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

I liked the Christchurch Stake
(in Christchurch, New Zealand)

Anonymous | 10:33 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

The ward name for me: FOR WARD
Save us all from: BACK WARD. it's 2008, almost 09!
TIME TO UPDATE!!!!!!!!

Lefty | 9:58 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

I'm in the 1st Ward. I wonder why we didn't make the list?????

Yah | 9:59 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

When they get a ward/branch in French Lick, Indiana, I wonder what they'll name it???

GrrrTiger2u | 4:15 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

The young singles ward in the Herriman UT Stake is called Legacy Ward. Sounds like a Geriatric Singles ward to me.

GrrrTiger2u | 4:25 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

oh and Grandma, Happy Camp is in the Medford, OR stake though, yes it is located in California. So both are right.

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