Latter-day Saint champions literacy in her California community

Patience Christenson helps as Porterville Celebrates Reading event marks 25 years

Published: April 18, 2026, 5:34 p.m. MDT

Patience Christenson poses for a picture at one of the booths at the Porterville Celebrates Reading 25th anniversary event in Porterville, California, Saturday, April 11, 2026. — Patience Christenson of the Porterville California Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints poses for a picture at one of the booths at the Porterville Celebrates Reading 25th anniversary event in Porterville, California, Saturday, April 11, 2026. Janet Uresti

On Saturday, April 11, Veterans Park in Porterville, California, filled with children and their parents commemorating the 25th anniversary of Porterville Celebrates Reading. The annual community event emphasizes the importance of literacy. And each child choses a free book to add to his or her home library.

Patience Christenson, who is a member of the Porterville Ward in the Porterville California Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been the event’s committee chair since 2022.

“Our local Relief Society sisters have been involved with Porterville Celebrates Reading since its founding around 1993, though it became recognized by the city in 2000, so I am just continuing the legacy started by them,” Christenson said.

View Comments

To read the full story, visit TheChurchNews.com.

Looking for comments?

Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.