Stotts called to serve as mission leaders

WORLAND - Jack and Julie Stott of Worland have been called to be mission leaders in the Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Jack Stott served as a missionary as a young man in Japan. This will be Julie's first mission for the church. The two said they had always planned on serving a mission as a couple since they were married 40 years ago.

As mission leaders they will serve for three years and be responsible for the entire mission and all the missionaries serving there, which currently number 160.

They received the official call in October from President Henry B Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Julie Stott said, "We're thrilled," with Jack adding that both have ties to Canada. Jack was born in Alberta and they were married in the LDS Temple in Carston.

Julie Stott said since they received the call they have been studying and preparing for the mission as well as preparing to leave their Worland home for three years.

In preparations for leaving, their dog Belle will have a new temporary home with David Nicholas at his ranch in South Dakota.

A young couple will be renting their home on North Hillcrest and a neighbor will take care of their few cattle.

In preparing for their new roles with the church, Julie Stott said the roles they have served have been preparing them for this including teaching Sunday school, working with youth, planning camps and more.

They have received a lot of resource material and have been assigned a training mentor, as well as taking webinars and reading books.

Julie Stott said that among all the preparation the major preparation comes from prayer and studying the scriptures.

According to the write-up about the Stotts on the church's newsletter regarding mission callings, Jack Stott is an elders quorum president and former stake presidency counselor, high councilor, stake Young Men president, ward Young Men president, bishop, branch president, seminary teacher and missionary in the Japan Kobe Mission. He was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to Stanley Stott and Beverly Joyce Stott.

Julie Stott is a former stake Primary president, ward Young Women president, ward Relief Society president, Gospel Doctrine teacher, stake Young Women camp director, Cub Scout leader and Primary pianist. She was born in Choteau, Montana, to Thomas Evensen and Fava May Evensen.

The Stotts said within the church there are 402 missions so every three years about 130 couples from all over the world are called to serve as mission leaders. The Stotts are the first mission leaders from Worland since Dr. Dave and Char Asay in the 1980s.

Jack Stott said life has come full circle as they took care of the Asay's home when they served and now David Asay's grandson will be taking care of theirs while they serve.

This year, according to Church News website, there were 164 mission presidents and companions called to serve around the world.

Julie Stott described their role for the next three years as teaching, motivating, training and loving the missionaries serving in the mission.

Jack Stott added that in addition to helping them with mission activities they will also make sure that their basic welfare needs are being met. "We'll be actively engaged in their personal welfare, safety and health."

He said the majority of the missionaries are in the Edmonton area but the mission area itself is quite large.

They said they are used to cold weather living in Wyoming, and used to having to travel. "We're excited about the wide open spaces that will be part of our mission," Jack Stott said.

The Stotts said as they have been preparing they realize three years can be a long time. ""We're happy to respond to a call to serve, happy to join our efforts with other missionaries in bringing people under Christ. It has been a very important in our lives so naturally we want to share that with other people. In some respects it is a sacrifice, but we are happy to do it. We feel blessed to do it as we engage in the most important work on earth," Jack Stott said.

Julie Stott added, "We believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer to every problem and he brings personal peace."

In addition to the Stotts serving, Jack Stott said their son Tanner is preparing to leave for the Mission Training Center in Provo, Utah, as he has been called to serve a two-year mission in the England Ledes Mission.

Julie Stott's mother Fava Evensen is serving a one-year senior mission for the church in the Kansas Wichita Mission.

"For two to three months there will be three generations serving," they said.

The Stotts will be leaving at the end of the month to complete a four-day leadership training before beginning their mission in July.

They have three sons, Tanner, Quincy and Joshua and seven grandchildren.