How It All Began
1938--Maricopa Stake Presidency and Bishoprics
at the old farm house (aka "Rat Castle") on camp property.
Back Row: A. F. Haymore, Dr. George M. Bateman, Otto Shill, Alma M. Davis, Lyman Shrieve, Dave Kleinman, R.L. McCook, Lawrence Kleinman
Front Row: J. F. Freestone, M.L. Griner, Donald Ellsworth, Lo Wright, W. R. Ellsworth, E. D. Brown, John Bond
Kneeling in Front: Rial Randall
That "Lo" is in the name of "Camp LoMia" is fitting.
Below are two accounts written by Lo's granddaughter, Jeanine Wright Smith that describe the vision and determination of Lorenzo "Lo" Wright in purchasing the approximately 160 acres at the mouth of Pine Creek Canyon in Pine, Arizona.
Camp LoMia—How It All Began
Soon after Lorenzo Wright was sustained as Stake President of the newly created Maricopa Stake, he became familiar with the stake boundary lines, which included the pioneer town of Pine, in the far northern portion of the stake just beyond Payson.
Upon visiting the members in Pine, President Wright found a generous welcome by a devoted group of saints. The solidarity of their faith was equaled only by the height and grandeur of the Mogollon Rim. Even though the roads were almost impassable, President Wright and other stake leaders visited the area often, especially during the summer. They delighted in a drive up to Pine Creek with the awe inspiring rugged mountains, knee deep ferns, evergreen pines and swift, pure spring water. At this sight, President Wright was overcome with a vision of a summer haven for boys and girls from the valley.
Arrangements were made and 160 acres on Pine Creek were purchased for the church for the sum of $2500.00 during the summer of 1940. The land was set aside for the use of future generations.
By 1958, the first cabins, bath facilities and pump house were completed for the use of girls in the Mutual Improvement Association of the Maricopa Stake, which was now led by Lo Wright’s son, President L. Harold Wright, along with the other (*)five stakes of the Valley of the Sun. Many more facilities have been added through the years which have resulted in a resort atmosphere serving as respite from summer heat.
The name of LoMia was chosen to honor the foresight of President Lo Wright while M.I.A. stands for Mutual Improvement Association, the title of the youth program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. President Wright’s vision and the helping hands of many others give Young Women and other groups summer recreation and camping experiences in beautiful Camp LoMia.
(*) By Marla: The other "five stakes of the Valley of the Sun" were: Mesa, East Mesa, Phoenix, North Phoenix, East Phoenix.
When Lorenzo Wright passed away September 11, 1962, at seventy-nine years of age, between 900 and 1000 friends, family, civic leaders, and church dignitaries attended one of the largest funerals ever held in Mesa, Arizona.
Friend and future LDS Church president, Spencer W. Kimball, presided over the service and gave the closing remarks. In his eulogy, Spencer W. Kimball focused on the one character trait that made Lorenzo Wright different and stand out from most men: Lorenzo Wright had been “a doer.”
“My beloved friends and particularly the family: I, like you, knew Lo Wright. I admired Lo Wright and I loved Lo Wright. In Salt Lake City, Lo Wright was an institution. He was a legend. If we ever received a letter from Lo Wright asking for permission to build a building, one of the brethren would say, almost certainly, ‘There’s no use approving that. He’s probably got it already built!’”
“And that was Lo Wright. He was a doer. He wasn’t one to stand around and figure out how it could be done or how someone else could do it. He just went to work. He did things.”
... In 1938, Lorenzo Wright was called upon to preside as president of the LDS Maricopa Stake. Called during a spurt of growth and activity in the LDS Church, Lo was first to implement the LDS Church’s modern Welfare system with the creation of welfare farms and a modernized bishop’s storehouse. He also oversaw several large projects for the youth, including the implementation of the High School Seminary program in Arizona.
It was at this time, Lo had a desire to find a recreation property for the girls, ages twelve to eighteen. After viewing a 155-acre tract for sale of forested property in the northern community of Pine, Arizona, Lorenzo Wright knew he had found the perfect spot. He ran into problems, however, when the majority of the High Council of the LDS Maricopa Stake refused to agree with him, arguing there was not a good road leading into the camp and there were no plans in the future to improve the roads.
It was then that Lo ‘tabled’ the final decision, saying that they would vote again in a month and reminded the men that they had been called to support him. He also told them that if they continued to oppose his decision of buying this property, that he and his 2 counselors in the presidency would buy it themselves. Needless to say, at the next High Council meeting all voted in support of buying the Pine property. Today, this recreational property is said to be the most valuable of its kind in the entire Tonto National Park. The camp, Camp LoMIA, was named in Wright’s honor by combining his first name (Lo) with the acronym MIA (Mutual Improvement Association).
In Camp Meeting minutes dated December 18, 1958 (preserved by Doris Sloan, Maricopa Stake) is the following:
"The camp will be given a name this year. It was suggested that a contest be run while at camp. The girls are to write a legend--give story, Name, etc. to be at least one type-written page. Three of the best chosen from each stake and then the final chosen."
There is no documentation that I know of to show whether the contest was actually held and, if so, who won. But it does tell us the camp wasn't named before 1959.
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