Just like a seasoned marathon runner, Gary J. Coleman has kept a steady pace and followed an undeviating course of gospel direction since becoming a member of the Church 29 years ago.
And with that steady pace and constant direction, Elder Coleman - called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy last month - has managed to stretch those around him."Gary is very good about encouraging and stretching us," said his wife, Judy, the mother of the couple's six children. "I think he has stretched everyone of us - not by pushing, but by letting us know we have some talents and abilities and we shouldn't be afraid to use them for our benefit and for others."
A distinguished looking man, Elder Coleman, 50, is 6 foot tall with an athletic build. The Colemans are members of the Pleasant View 4th Ward, Pleasant View Utah Stake.
A quest for learning and stretching has always been a part of life for Elder Coleman, he said, but particularly after he was baptized.
"As a convert I've always felt like I wanted to catch up, so to speak, with my peers," Elder Coleman reflected. "I have always had a great desire to learn about the gospel.
"I have loved going to meetings and learning and growing and participating. When I joined the Church I joined 100 percent and left everything else behind that was not appropriate."
Elder Coleman was baptized in 1962 after learning about the Church through his future wife, Judy, and other members of the Church attending Washington State University in Pullman, Wash.
One such member was John M. Madsen, also called to the Seventy at the same time as Elder Coleman.
"I was playing baseball for the Cougars [at Washington StateT and John would come to nearly every practice to watch and say hi," Elder Coleman explained. "He wouldn't come to talk. He was just there to show his support. That was neat. I didn't understand at the time that he was trying to get into my life.
"We developed a good friendship, he baptized me and we've been close since then. We understand it is a very unique experience for two men to have. We're guessing that you would have to go back a long way to find a General Authority who was called at the same time as the person he baptized.
"Before becoming a member of the Church, I was really vacillating between a secular career in education or becoming a priest in my church," he added.
After his baptism, Elder Coleman decided to work in the Church Educational System, and has since 1964.
"The most beautiful thing a person could ever experience is to incorporate the gospel in his life," he remarked. "And to have the opportunity to teach it all these years has been the greatest career a person could ever want."
During his years in Church education, Elder Coleman has taught a variety of classes, but has particularly enjoyed teaching the missionary preparation course. He is the author of three Church books on missionary work and gospel principles.
"I love to see the light come on in people's lives," Elder Coleman said. "When students discover principles or applications of the gospel, you can see it in their countenance.
"I love to see them discover the scriptures and what the Lord has there for them because He has said `you will hear my voice and know my word' through the scriptures. I've seen people do that."
Throughout the years, missionary work has provided Elder Coleman with some "wonderful experiences" as he has had a hand in converting others and participating in baptisms, he said.
One of his brothers and a sister joined the Church through his efforts.
"The gospel is true and we need to get the message out to all people," Elder Coleman exclaimed. "The gospel changes lives."
While serving as president of the California Arcadia Mission, Elder Coleman worked with nearly 600 missionaries who taught the gospel in five languages and had converts from 60 nations.
"We had an international flavor to our mission," Elder Coleman explained. "There are so many people in that area from outside this country coming to find their way in life and we had the opportunity to teach them the gospel. It was a marvelous experience."
Teaching missionaries to turn their hearts over to the Lord brought results to their work in the area, he said. "Getting your head out of the world and into the world of the gospel, and then sharing it with other people is what it takes to be successful. And it takes a commitment to the Lord, with faith and with a desire to serve with all your heart, might, mind and strength.
"We have to live that now. To take this new assignment is to do just that. It doesn't change our lives. We'll just be serving in a different way."
Throughout their married life, the Colemans have accepted a variety of assignments with Church education that have taken them to different places, mostly in the Northwest United States.
Each summer the Colemans would pack up and make an annual trek to BYU so Elder Coleman could finish his graduate work. "We've moved a lot, but we've made so many friends in every place that we have ever lived," Sister Coleman remarked.
Both Elder and Sister Coleman grew up in eastern Washington. Elder Coleman was reared in Bridgeport, Wash., on a dry land wheat farm, as the eldest of five. Sister Coleman, a lifelong Church member, grew up in Manson, Wash., where her father had an apple orchard. She was the eldest of eight children.
As a family, the Colemans enjoy athletics, music and art and overnight excursions together.
The visiting that goes on when the family gathers for scripture study has been invaluable in strengthening family relationships, Elder Coleman remarked.
And learning about commitment to the Lord, to marriage, and to family has been rewarding, he concluded. "The Lord expects us to take the gospel teachings and use them to help us grow. That's all I want to do."
(Additional information)
Elder Gary J. Coleman
Family: Born in Wenatchee, Wash., on Sept. 18, 1941, to Benton Joseph and Evalin Barrett Coleman, the oldest of five children. Married Judith Renee England June 22, 1963, sealed in Alberta Temple. Parents of six children: Kara Liston, 27; Kyle Coleman, 26; Kory Coleman, 25; Kolette Hall, 21; Kamron Coleman, 19, serving in Samoa Apia Mission; Kent Coleman, 14. They have three grandchildren.
Education: Bachelor's degree in physical education from Washington State University, master of education from BYU in counseling and guidance, doctor of education from BYU in educational psychology.
Employment: associate director and instructor at Weber State University Institute of Religion in Ogden, Utah; division coordinator of New Mexico division; area and institute director of Pacific Northwest Division; Indian area supervisor of Central Washington; institute director and superviser of home study program in Yakima, Wash.
Church service: serving as first counselor in Utah Ogden Mission presidency at time of his call; former president of California Arcadia Mission, 1987-90; mission president's counselor, stake president's counselor, high councilor, bishop.
