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In the Mormon Church, every member is part of the lay clergy and a link in a pyramid-shaped chain of command. Observes Salt Lake County Flood Control Director Terry Holzworth: "I'm not LDS [Latter-day Saints] myself, but you have to admire the structure, With one phone call I can get thousands of volunteers right away. It's nothing short of fantastic." At the organization's top are President and Prophet Spencer W. Kimball and his two counselors, who oversee the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. They in turn supervise the Quorum of Seventy, who control the 215 worldwide regional representatives, each of whom is in charge of twelve "stakes." Each stake president is the leader of six or more wards or bishoprics, and each bishop has three quorums whose leaders report to him.
Just before the Memorial Day week end, Salt Lake City's mayor asked for recruits to battle the floods. He got only 70 responses. But, said a city official, "one call to the Mormons, and 1,000 people showed up to help."
That kind of effort will continue to be needed: further flooding is predicted for southern Salt Lake County some time next week. The county and the Mormons are prepared. Says Governor Matheson: "It is awesome to have those resources helping you night and day."
— By Robert T. Grieves. Reported by Alessandra Stanley/ Salt Lake City