Bagpipe Major Spreads the Good News
Syracuse NY Post - Standard p2, 21Oct99 P2
By Mike Fish staff writer;
Staff writer Mike Fish interviewed Dale Hawkins, who is in Fayetteville on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Dale Hawkins, 20, of Fayetteville, Utah, was recently interviewed by Mike Fish of the Syracuse NY Post while serving a two-year mission in Utica, New York for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Elder Hawkins is a recent graduate of Ben Lomond High School in Ogden, Utah where he started a bagpipe band. He led the band to various Western and Canadian competitions. He ultimately received a full scholarship from Southern Utah University where was the director of the bagpipe band.

He is a grade two piper. There are five grades of piping, five being beginner and one being professional open class. Players move up by winning medals in competitions.

Hawkins explained that he will return to his educational and musical pursuits after completing his two-year mission in New York. "When you turn the age of 19 or 20 in our church, you have the opportunity to volunteer for two years," he said. "We share with the people the gospel of Jesus Christ and some of the teachings in the Book of Mormon and the Bible, too, to help us benefit from the plan of our Heavenly Father."

Hawkins explained some of his impressions of Utica. "The people are different. There are deeper roots here. Some of the religious traditions here are older and more established than many out West. But the cool thing about it is, no matter where you go in the world, our church's message is for everybody. So, you wouldn't format it for the West Coast or the East Coast. The message is universal."