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The local leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints covering Rockbridge County, north to White Sulphur Springs, south to Gretna and including 10 congregations, has changed.
The Buena Vista Virginia Stake, similar to a diocese in other Christian churches, will now be led by M. Jared Huntsman, president, of Rockbridge County and his two counselors, William D. Braddy of Rockbridge County and Evan D. Ownby of Lynchburg.
Under the direction of the First Presidency of the Church, Elder W. Mark Bassett and Elder David S. Kinard of the Seventy called and stake members present sustained the new stake presidency at a Stake Conference in the Lexington Stake Center (chapel) on Thornhill Road. Jan-Erik Jones, who presided over the stake for just over nine years, the usual length of service for a stake president, was released with a vote of gratitude and appreciation for his service, and that of his counselors Edward A. Malone and Brian K. Poulsen.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints operates under a lay ministry. The unpaid volunteer ministry operates the same throughout the world as the church continues to grow its worldwide membership, now at nearly 17 million members.
Huntsman, a certified registered nurse anesthetist by profession, has lived and served in other church callings, including Bishop of the Lexington Ward (congregation), since moving to the Rockbridge area in 2009 with his wife, Michele, and their four children.
Humbled by his new calling, Huntsman noted, “I didn’t seek to obtain this or any other position of leadership in the Church. However, when an authorized servant of Jesus Christ calls any of us to serve, we respond to that call as if our Savior, Jesus Christ himself were approaching us, as he did to the fisherman Simon Peter and his brother when Christ said: ‘follow me, and I will make you fishers of men’ (Matthew 4:19). I view this new calling as an opportunity to serve our Savior, Jesus Christ, as I work to serve in our community and Church.”
Huntsman noted the church has recently completed construction of its first temple in Virginia, located in Richmond. Temples are not general meeting houses but are special buildings reserved for sacred ordinances, such as marriages of couples and the “sealing” of families for eternity. The new Richmond Virginia Temple is currently open to the public for free tours until April 15. The temple will then be dedicated and begin its full operations in early May. “Anyone can reserve a time to tour the temple by going online to Richmondtemple.org,” Huntsman said.
Huntsman and his counselors have already begun service in their new callings as they oversee church programs and activities in this area. They also look forward to service in the community and encourage all to extend a hand of fellowship and support to their neighbors and particularly those in need in any way, as Christ himself did and encouraged others to do also.
