Missionaries are also encouraged to do service projects, such as helping with a community clean-up day that was held last fall at Lake Mead. While the Church is prominent here, membership comprises only about 12 percent of the population. Christensen, a general surgeon, has been appointed as the spokesman for the Church in the Las Vegas area. Christensen, who noted that willingness has earned respect for members. LDS youth who are active in the Church seem to withstand the negative influences of Las Vegas well, he observed.
Members serve in a number of prominent positions.
James K. Seastrand, a former regional representative and vice chairman of the Las Vegas Temple committee, is mayor of North Las Vegas. Paul J. Christensen is a member of the Clark County Commission. Robert Broadbent is the Clark County director of aviation and as such, is the administrator of McCarran International Airport, as well as small county airports in Jean, Searchlight and Overton. They built a fort near warm springs of clear water, and began farming. Although this mission was recalled and eventually abandoned by the Church, the seed had been planted.