News Story by Julia Ditto | FāVS News
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints installed Benjamin R. Brown as president of the Spokane Valley Stake during a conference June 1, replacing Geoffrey G. Julian after nine years in the position.
More than 1,000 people attended the two-day conference where Brown was sustained alongside first counselor Wesley D. Mortensen and second counselor Wayne T. Lamoreaux.
Just prior to the sustaining of the new stake presidency, Mortensen extended heartfelt gratitude for the nine years of “watchful guidance” given by the previous stake presidency and his two counselors, Presidents Kevin Q. Daines and Brett R. Larsen.
Final remarks from previous president
In his final remarks as stake president Julian shared his conviction that “there is joy in the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
“A [stake] reorganization is a time of renewal — a restart — for everyone,” said Elder Wolsey, who then invited each person in the congregation to think of something in their lives that they could restart, reorganize or renew.
Brown is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Oral Surgery Plus. He and his wife, Alexandria, are the parents of four children and have lived in Spokane Valley for about four years. Brown has served as a full-time missionary in the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo West Mission, as well as a bishopric counselor, a member of the Spokane Valley Stake high council and a bishop.
Mortensen is an attorney at Ford & Mortensen. Members of the Spokane Valley Stake for the past five years, he and his wife, Megan, are the parents of six children. Prior to his call to the stake presidency, he served as a bishop, bishopric counselor, member of the stake high council, elders quorum president, Young Men’s president, seminary teacher and full-time missionary in the Japan Tokyo South Mission.
Lamoreaux is a radiation oncologist at Cancer Care Northwest. He and his wife, Jennifer, have four children and one grandchild. They have lived in the Spokane Valley Stake for 20 years. Serving on the stake high council prior to his call to the stake presidency Lamoreaux has also served as an elders quorum president, bishop and full-time missionary in the Anaheim California Mission-Spanish speaking.
In his first remarks in his new capacity as stake president, Brown shared his favorite scripture, 2 Nephi 2:25: “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”
“I know that joy comes from growing closer to our Savior and progressing on the covenant path,” he said.
A stake president is the lay leader of a stake, a geographic subdivision like a Catholic diocese. He is asked to serve as a volunteer, overseeing Church programs within his area and helping the members of his stake in their efforts to follow Jesus. A stake president typically serves for about nine years.
The stake presidency is supported by the stake council, comprised of members of the high council and presidents of stake organizations, including the Relief Society, Young Women and Primary. Men and women on the stake council work together to identify goals and activities for the stake that will help bring members of the Church closer to Christ. They counsel together in planning service projects, training and other opportunities for stake members to grow in faith.
