Natalia Hepworth, EastIdahoNews.com

In December 2016, a raging fire destroyed the Palisades ward church building belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since the tragedy, steady progress has been made on construction of a new building.

“We broke ground in the summer of 2017. It’s been fun to watch people pull over and take pictures of the progress and to be excited about it,” Public Affairs Director for the Ririe Idaho LDS Stake Sharon Parry says.

Last April, church officials announced plans to construct a new building in the same location as the old one — 3109 Swan Valley Highway.

The Palisades LDS Ward building was built in 1949 and was destroyed by the blaze on Dec. 6, 201
Palisades Ward Bishop Terry Hulse says members have been conducting Sunday meetings in a local elementary school for a year.

“There are members who have spent their whole lives here, and this building is 70 years old. There are members who only knew this building, so it was a tragedy for them to lose it,” Hulse says.

Read the full story at EastIdahoNews.com