Intermountain students perform a Nativity play with Native elements. (USU Special Collections & Archives, Intermountain Indian School Photograph Collection, P0327, 1:03:17)

Religion was another extracurricular activity that played a large role on campus. One of the initial concerns that Navajo leaders had about Brigham City was that the predominant local membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would use the school’s presence as a tool to convert the Navajo children.

Though neither the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or any other religious group was allowed to proselytize to the children directly, many local churches had a presence on campus, including the Latter-day Saints, Catholics, Anglicans, and Nazarenes. Sometimes there was competition between these groups for the religious education of the students.

Catholic Intermountain students attending a Mass.

When the students enrolled in the school, their parents had to select a church for them; the students could switch churches only with their parents’ approval. Some students were sincerely interested in these religions while others went because it was required or because of the social activities offered by the churches. Many attended meetings in the chapel on campus which had once served the military hospital. Catholic students attended nearby St. Henry’s. The Latter-day Saints built a special chapel for the Navajo students decorated with Navajo art. The proportion of Latter-day Saint students grew over the years from 1 to 10 percent.

Leaders from many Christian denominations had a presence on campus.

One of the complaints of the American Indian Movement during the 1970s was that the Native American Church, a Pan-Indian religious movement, was not allowed on campus. The use of peyote (and possibly the desire to encourage students to follow more traditionally Christian religions) prevented that church from ever being added to the choices for students.