1892: Missionaries open Blount County
1895: Chilhowee Sunday School organized in Millers Cove
1896: Chilhowee Sunday School mentioned in journal
1907: Sabbath School organized in Millers Cove
1942: Home Sunday School organized in Maryville
1944: Home Sunday School organized in Louisville
1963: Maryville Branch organized
1986: Maryville Ward organized
2023: Smoky Mountain Ward organized
Elders Open Blount County (1892)
There are two extant documents that identify the first efforts of missionaries entering Blount County. The first record is August 30, 1892, which is the journal of Elder Robert Young. The second record are missionary reports of the East Tennessee Conference, Southern States Mission that confirm missionaries likely opened Blount County around August 1893, and report the following:
“September 1st 1892
The health of the Elders [is] good during the past six months in their fields… Elders [Samuel Nelson] Alger and [Royal James] Cutler have canvassed Monroe and McMinn Co[unties], Tennessee and could not open any field but went into Blount Co[unty] and are making a nice showing their (sic) now…
Elder R[obert] C[unningham] Young from Utah, Box Elder Co[unty], joined Elder R[oyal] J[ames] Cutler at Maryville, Blount County, Tennessee and labored with him a few days and then they started for conference.”
“Chilhowee Sunday School” (1895)
In December 1895, Elder John Halliday and Elder Erastus Fillerup organized the “Chilhowee Sunday School” at the home of JC Garland in Millers Cove.
“Pres[iden]t [John Roland] Halliday took Elder [Erastus Kruso] Fillerup and visited Blount County, organizing the ‘Chilhowee Sunday School’ at Brother [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland‘s in ‘Millers Cove.’”
On September 6, 1896, Elder John Hinckley, President Gordon B. Hinckley’s great uncle, was serving in Millers Cove. In his missionary journal, he documented a meeting of the “Chilhowee Sunday School” at the home of Brother JC Garland in Millers Cove.
[Sunday] – 6 September 1896 Went to Sunday School at Brother [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] G[arland]’s or Chilhowee S[unday] S[chool]. Held a meeting in [the] afternoon at [the] same place. Elder [William Wright] Fairbourn did most of the talking.
First “Sabbath School” (1907)
In March 1907, the missionaries held meetings in Blount County. They reported the members were “in very good health and spirits” and the “school” was in “thrifty condition.”
“[March 1907] Pres[ident] John H. Batty and Elder J[orgen] G[eorge] Jensen visited Blount Co[unty] and held four meetings, found the members in very good health and spirits, also the [Sunday] School in [West] Millers Cove in thrifty condition.“
On September 22, 1907, the first “Sabbath School” was organized at a member-owned store in West Millers Cove. This record is documentation of the first organized effort to establish a meetinghouse in Blount County for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“[22 Sept[ember 1907] Elders Gus[tavious] Williams and J[orgen] G[eorge] Jensen organized a Sabbath School in [West] Millers Cove, Blount Co[unty], Tenn[essee]. Not being able to obtain consent to hold forth in a schoolhouse nearby, the Elders, with hammer and saw, remodeled an *old store building belonging to one of the members. They have the hearty support of the members [a]round them.“
*Joseph John Calvin (JC) Garland likely owned the “old store building” where the “Sabbath School” was established in West Millers Cove in 1907.
Following the establishment of the “Sabbath School,” Elder Gustavious Williams used the newly-remodeled building as a schoolhouse to teach children during the day and preach the gospel in the evenings. He was a teacher by day and missionary by night.
On December 3, 1908, JC Garland paid the missionaries a visit in Chattanooga to request the missionaries come teach his neighbors in Millers Cove.
“Week ending Dec[ember] 3rd, [1908]
Brother J[oseph John] C[alvin (JC)] Garland of Blount Co[unty] made us a visit Friday night feeling first rate, invited us to come and hold some meetings at his house. He said that several [people] were interested in our doctrine.”
Although there was a location for the first Saints to hold meetings, the missionaries would continue to preach in churches throughout Blount County for many years. In June 1909, the missionaries reported teaching in Piney Grove Church in Blount County. They were threatened and provided the following report:
“…week ending June 9th [1909]
Elder [George] Henry Erickson and H[eber] J[ohn] Smith write from Blount Co[unty]: Tried a meeting at Pine Grove Church on June 2nd [1909]. It rained and only four men cam with, but we preached. Left an appointment for Monday, June 7th. Went back there and found an anonymous letter on the pulpit warning us that if we preached there any more, there would be a ‘gospel’ ball shot into us as big as a wash tub shot into us. Of course, we didn’t know what they meant, so [we] paid no attention to it and held a meeting with about forty people present. There ‘was no disturbance.’
– Elder W[allace] H[unt] Larson“
“For four weeks ending Jan[uary] 5th, 1910
The elders all report well. Elder [Hyrum] James Maxwell and [Ephraim] LeRoy Hulse were invited to preach in one of Blount Co[unty’s] public schools, which opportunity they gladly accepted…”
“History of [the] East Tennessee Conference for two weeks ending April 8, 1911. Elder [Heber Ewer] Palmer and [John Isaac] Morley report good success in Blount County. Some investigators followed them for three or four miles to hear them preach some more…”
Home Sunday School in Maryville (1942)
On March 24, 1942, Sister Martha Russell offered her home in Maryville for weekly Sunday School meetings led by the missionaries.
“March 24, [1942] A meeting was held at Sister [Martha Elizabeth Lane] Russell‘s home and a fine crowd was at the meting. Elders Robert [Gail] Murdoch, George [Wilbur] Brady and Elder David [William] Barker did the speaking. At this time, plans were organized for the holding of a weekly Sunday meeting at the home of Sister [Martha Lane] Russell in Maryville. Everyone seemed very enthused and promise to give their full support to make these meetings a success. The meeting will be held every Sunday afternoon at 2:30 pm.”
Home Sunday School in Louisville (1944)
On February 22, 1944, the “Home Sunday School” was organized in Blount County. Ether Harmon was sustained and set apart as the Sunday School Superintendent and Olive Harmon as the Sunday School Secretary.
“22 February [1944] Elder George R[obert] Quist left Chattanooga on his journey home on the 20th of February 1944. He has served as District President very capibly (sic) and has the district very well organized. He has been a credit to the Church and has filled a wonderful mission. Branch conferences were held in Altamont and Chattanooga – meetings were inspirational to all who attended. The new District President, Elder Lyman S[mith] Wiser and Elder Leffel A[ddison] Bean left Chatt[anooga] for Louisville, Tenn[essee] to organize a Home Sunday School. The organization was effected, officers were sustained and set apart: Brother Ether [Lloyd] Harmon as the Sunday School Superintendent, Sister Olive Retta Harmon as the Secretary. Both are of R[ou]t[e] #2 Louisville, Tennessee.”
First Maryville Branch (1963)
On March 31, 1963, the Maryville Branch was organized. Ether Harmon, who was set apart as the Home Sunday School Superintendent in 1944, gave the opening prayer. His daughter, Marie Harmon, had just departed for her mission to New Zealand. Her mission farewell was held on February 17, 1963. The minutes of the meeting are as follows:
“March 31, 1963
A meeting was held in the Chapel in Maryville at which time the Maryville Branch was organized.
Opening Hymn – The Spirit of God Like A Fire
Opening Prayer – Ether Harmon
Sacrament Hymn – Jesus, Once of Humble Birth
Sacrament administered by Robert C. Eggers and Lenzy Eastridge.
Business: Lenzy Eastridge was released as Superintendent of the Maryville Sunday School with assistant Robert C. Eggers and James F[ranklin] Holder. James Franklin Holder was sustained as Branch President and Claude Theodore Cruze was sustained as 1st Counselor and Lenzy Eastridge was sustained as 2nd Counselor. James A. Mitchell was sustained as Sunday School Superintendent.
The members of the Branch Presidency spoke and bore their testimony, after which Eugene H. Perkins and President Bedford W. Bird spoke.
Closing Hymn – The World Has Need of Willing Men
Closing Prayer – James A. Mitchell
There were 48 members in attendance at this meeting – the sustaining vote for the officers of the branch was unanimous. President Bedford Bird presided and President Leo J. Brady conducted.
Following the meeting: James Franklin Holder was set apart as Branch President by Bedford W. Bird, a seventy. Claude Theodore Cruze was set apart as 1st Counselor by Eugene H. Perkins, a high priest. Lenzy Eastridge was set apart as 2nd Counselor by Leo J. Brady, Elder. James A. Mitchell was set apart as Sunday School Superintendent by Leo J. Brady, Elder.
Source: John H. Hinckley Mission Journal, 1895 February-1896 October, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/7f0c7537-7be2-45e2-be6b-277c651e20d2/0/47?lang=eng (accessed: November 2, 2024)
Source: Knoxville District general minutes, 1884-1963; General minutes; 1905-1912; Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/e3fe132a-2f97-4a20-8277-447c8330ebe8/0/62 (accessed: February 19, 2024)
Source: Nephi Jensen Papers, Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/2b910721-94d3-431c-9285-7a9d4c2e109f/0/23?lang=eng (accessed: December 30, 2024)
Source: Knoxville District general minutes, 1884-1963; General minutes; 1962-1963; Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/6aa0a7a8-f344-4f8b-8f1e-85f173fb328b/0/23 (accessed: January 27, 2025)
Smoky Mountain Ward 