The First Presidency has called M. Dale and Elaine W. Ensign to serve as directors of Church hosting.
They succeed Stanley and Mary Ellen Smoot who have been released after serving for the past four years. Sister Smoot was sustained at the April general conference to serve as general president of the Relief Society.As directors of Church hosting, Brother and Sister Ensign will oversee the hosting of visitors to the Church Office Building and Joseph Smith Memorial Building. They will also conduct hospitality programs for visiting dignitaries and organizations holding conferences in Salt Lake City.
Sylvia Flynn has been called as director of Church Building Hosting, replacing Virginia Jensen, who is the newly called first counselor in the general Relief Society presidency. Sister Flynn has been serving as an assistant director. Marian Wangsgard has been called as an assistant director. Continuing as assistant directors are Toni Ogden and Donna Barlow.
Brother Ensign, 70, retired in 1993 as executive vice president of Sinclair Oil Corp. He is a native of Stockton, Calif., and attended Colorado College. He also earned a law degree from the University of Utah.
He has served as an ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple, stake president, regional representative, counselor in a mission presidency, president of the Connecticut Hartford Mission and public affairs director for the East Coast.
He also served as a member of the National School Boards Association, and on the governing boards of Northwest Community College, Salt Lake Community College, and on the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges. He was founding president of the Association of Community College Trustees.
Sister Ensign is a native of Salt Lake City and attended the University of Utah. She served with her husband in the Connecticut Hartford Mission, as an ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple and as a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She also served in various callings in the stake and ward Relief Society, Primary and Young Women organizations.
