When construction companies come to town on business, they're not just building medical centers, credit unions and hotels.
They often build God's kingdom.
At least, that's what it looks like to the communities impacted for good by a construction company's Mormon employees.
"Our employees have served in many capacities including high councils, bishoprics, elders quorum presidencies, advisers and Scout leaders, and as teachers and leaders in auxiliaries," said Alan D. Rindlisbacher, director of corporate marketing for The Layton Companies. "As some employees move from area to area, the locations and wards change, but their service and impact upon the new area is constant. One of our senior project managers served on the high council in Palmdale, Calif., and upon relocating to Murrieta, Calif., he was again called to the high council in that local stake."
Big-D Construction and Jacobsen Construction companies report similar experiences with their LDS crew members.
Jack Wixom, a spokesman with Jacobsen, said their impact is worldwide, with crews not only going into the United States but into foreign countries to build LDS temples and church buildings.
Layton Companies has recently completed building projects in Wyoming, Hawaii, Colorado, Texas and California. Layton Construction is a nationally ranked commercial contractor with projects throughout the United States.
Alex Rakisits was the project manager for the Wyoming Medium Correctional Facility in Torrington, Wyo. While assigned to the prison project, he served in the Torrington Ward as the high priests assistant group leader and ward mission leader.
Doug Brown was also an assistant high priests group leader and a Boy Scout leader. Travis Johnson, the project engineer, was the elders quorum president, while Jeff Beckstrom, also a project engineer, served as the assistant ward clerk. Johnson and his wife also served as the ward food storage specialists.
Bishop Richard L. Nelson said the influx of strong church members was and continues to be a blessing for the Torrington Ward, the only ward in the small town of 5,300 that is 85 miles north of Cheyenne.
"We had five families come in, good families, about three years ago. They were quick to become involved. It was a positive impact. They brought a lot of strength to our ward," Bishop Nelson said. "Two were elders quorum presidents, two were high priests group leaders, one was a ward mission leader. Their wives were Relief Society and Primary presidents. They brought children with them that provided a boost to our Primary and Young Men and Young Women programs. They were very active, very involved."
Because most of the workers were Layton management, and due to the slowdown in construction projects because of the economic recession, the workers didn't leave when the prison was finished in January. So the Torrington Ward hasn't yet had to deal with the loss it will feel with their departures.
"Their time has been extended. That's been an additional blessing for the ward," Bishop Nelson said. "And now we're starting to get (prison) staff families."
In Gillette, Wyo., Jared Francom, project manager for the Campbell County Recreation Center, served in the elders quorum presidency, as a Primary teacher and taught an addiction recovery class.
Greg Firth taught in the Primary, and Logan Probst was a Sunday School teacher.
Brian Hobbs, construction manager for the Palmdale Regional Medical Center and the Loma Linda Medical Center in California, said that over the years, Layton construction workers have filled almost every calling there is in wards and stakes in the LDS Church.
"It's quite the shot in the arm," Hobbs said. "Being centered out of Salt Lake City, each team is about half LDS."
Hobbs said most bishops evaluate the workers moving in, find they're active and hold a temple recommend, and issue a calling the following week.
Hobbs was called to the high council in Palmdale, Calif. He relocated to Murrieta, only to be called to the high council again.
Others on his team were called into the bishopric and to be the stake executive secretary.
Layton workers are consistently called to work with the Young Men, the Boy Scouts and in the ward missions.
In Hawaii, the wife of Bishop David W. Herr of the Kalaheo Ward said the construction crew is made up of great guys and is a boon to the ward.
"They came about five years ago for a 2½-year project and they're still here," Bishop Herr said. "They can take as long as they want!"
Layton boosted the then-30-member ward with 11 families, swelling the Primary from 10 children to 40 and opening up great opportunities for training local members, Bishop Herr said.
"They are all just rock-solid members. I can use them to help show the locals how to fulfill their callings. I like to mix the locals with the Laytons so when they do leave, the ward won't collapse."
Bishop Herr said it's wonderful to have the influx, and his biggest challenge right now is to find enough positions to keep everyone busy.
"It's a good problem to have."