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New leaders called to serve over Church historic sites

David Hyrum Smith, son of Emma and Joseph Smith, painted his Nauvoo, Illinois scene sometime before 1869. It’s titled “Bend in the River,” and is featured in the “Documents, Vol. 9.” Credit: Joseph Smith Papers
Recently built structures of “Nauvoo Red” brick blend in with restored buildings. Credit: Photo courtesy Nauvoo Restoration Inc.
Joseph Smith Sr. farm in Palmyra, New York. photo by Tom Smart 7/2001 Credit: Tom Smart, Deseret News archive
Joseph Smith Sr. farm in Palmyra, New York. photo by Tom Smart 7/2001 Credit: Photo by Tom Smart
Elizabeth Ann Abel Durtschi and Grant David Durtschi Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Kathleen Loveland Stapley and Gary Lin Stapley Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
John Stephen Rizley and Marilyn Marie Berg Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Linda Jean Lunt Spallino and Terry Joe Spallino Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Newly constructed apartments for temple workers follow same lines as buildings in historic Nauvoo. The new buildings do not disturb sites representing architectural remnants of old Nauvoo. Credit: Photo courtesy Nauvoo Restoration Inc.
Church News--Pioneer wagons in the historic Nauvoo June 26th, 2002. Allred/photo (Submission date: 06/28/2002) Credit: Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred/Deseret Morning News
Overcast weather adds dramatic touch to procession as it passes by printing office and other buildings found at Historic Nauvoo. Credit: Photo by Laine Ripley

The following couples have been called by the First Presidency to lead the work in various Church history sites. They will begin their service early next year.

Joseph Smith Birthplace 

Elizabeth Ann Abel Durtschi and Grant David Durtschi
Elizabeth Ann Abel Durtschi and Grant David Durtschi | Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

Grant David Durtschi, 65, and Elizabeth Ann Abel succeed President Danny Ferguson and Sister Marcene Ferguson. They are the parents of eight children and reside in the Shelley 10th Ward, Shelley Idaho Stake. Brother Durtschi is a bishopric counselor and a former elders quorum and ward Young Men president, Sunday School and seminary teacher, scout leader and missionary in the Netherlands/Belgium Mission.  He was born in Driggs, Idaho, to Arnold Alfred Durtschi and Marian Heileson.

Sister Durtschi is a stake Primary president and a former ward Primary President, Primary and Relief Society presidency counselor, and Relief Society and Primary teacher. She was born in Camden, New Jersey, to Donald Ray Abel and Barbara Margaret Beard.

Cove Fort

Kathleen Loveland Stapley and Gary Lin Stapley
Kathleen Loveland Stapley and Gary Lin Stapley | Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

Gary Lin Stapley, 67, and Kathleen Loveland succeed President John Falk and Sister Lu Ann Falk. They are the parents of five children and reside in the Mountain Vista Ward, Mesa Arizona Skyline Stake. Elder and Sister Stapley have served as senior missionaries in the South Africa, Cape Town Mission, and are historic site missionaries at Cove Fort (Utah). Brother Stapley is a former mission presidency counselor, elders quorum presidency counselor, bishop, ward missionary, temple worker, ward Young Men presidency counselor, Young Men teacher, and scout leader. He was born in Mesa, Arizona, to Floyd Delbert Stapley and Beverly Jean Brimhall.

Sister Stapley is a former ward Relief Society president, ward Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor, Relief Society, Young Women and Primary teacher, ward missionary, and temple and family history worker.  She was born in Fort Rucker, Alabama, to Duane Garner Loveland and Lois Adele Crandall.

Historic Nauvoo 

John Stephen Rizley and Marilyn Marie Berg Rizley
John Stephen Rizley and Marilyn Marie Berg Rizley | Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

John Stephen Rizley, 64, and Marilyn Marie Berg succeed President Mark Lusvardi and Sister Julianne Lusvardi. They are the parents of four children and reside in the Pinnacle Peak Ward, Scottsdale Arizona North Stake. With his companion, Brother Rizley served as president of the Ukraine L’viv Mission. He is a Sunday School teacher and a former stake president, bishop, high councilor, stake mission president, seminary teacher and missionary in the Germany Hamburg Mission. He was born in Covina, California, to John Henry Rizley and Beth Merrill.

Sister Rizley is a Young Women personal progress leader and a former Relief Society and seminary teacher, ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary president, and ward Relief Society presidency counselor. She was born in Inglewood, California, to Alvin LeRoy Berg and Larae Aleen Baird.

Palmyra

Linda Jean Lunt Spallino and Terry Joe Spallino
Linda Jean Lunt Spallino and Terry Joe Spallino | Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

Terry Joe Spallino, 70, and Linda Jean Lunt succeed President Joe Neff and Sister Karen Neff. They are the parents of six children and reside in the Bountiful 21st Ward, Bountiful Utah East Stake. With his companion, Brother Spallino served as president of the England Birmingham Mission. He is a high councilor and a former bishop, stake Young Men president and missionary in Italy. He was born in Los Angeles, California, to Joseph Frank and Mary Eleanor Gesteland.

Sister Spallino is a ward Young Women presidency counselor and a former ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary president, stake Relief Society presidency counselor, Sunday School teacher and seminary teacher. She was born in Lordsburg, New Mexico, to B. Kenneth Lunt and Eugenia Kemp.

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