Several months ago, Cleeo Wright made an appointment to see his doctor for a “little motion problem,” which he said is not usual for an 89-year-old.
The physician, a Latter-day Saint who Wright has served with in the Jordan River Utah Temple, asked his friend what was causing the problem.
“I said; ‘I don’t know. Maybe because I’m serving as elders quorum president,’” Wright said with a laugh. “The doctor says: ‘You’re what? That’s cruel and unusual punishment.’”
Those who don’t know Wright are often surprised to learn the elderly gentleman and widower is serving as president of the Bennion 5th Ward elders quorum in Taylorsville, Utah.
While reactions have been “interesting,” Wright, who turned 90 years old on March 25, is just grateful to serve.
“To serve and work with people — it’s a joy that is difficult to equal in any other capacity,” Wright said.
Meet Cleeo Wright
Wright was born in 1933, the seventh of 15 children in the family of Cleeo D. and Mary Hill Musser Wright.
He was raised in the Salt Lake Valley, graduated from the University of Utah and earned a graduate degree in electrical engineering from Denver University.
His 20 years of service with the U.S. Air Force took him and his family to many places in the world. They lived in Montana, Mississippi, New York, Japan, Colorado, South Vietnam and Washington, D.C.
Wright then joined Utah Power & Light as an engineer until he retired in 1995, although he continued as a consultant for another four years.
Cleeo and his wife, Orpha Elizabeth Merrick Wright, are the parents of six children, 29 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. Orpha passed away in August 2015.
Over the years, Wright has served in many leadership callings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including bishop, bishopric counselor, high councilor, first counselor in a stake presidency, high priests group leader, stake patriarch (until that stake was dissolved) and temple ordinance worker. Wright served a full-time mission as a young man, and he and his wife served at the Mormon Handcart Visitors’ Center in Wyoming, the Church’s Humanitarian Center and the Family History Library in Utah.
Wright continues to serve two days a week as an ordinance worker at the Jordan River Utah Temple while he serves as elders quorum president, a surprising call that came in September 2021.
‘I’m speechless’
The Church’s General Handbook doesn’t provide any specific age requirements for an elders quorum president.
“After consulting with the bishop, the stake president calls an elder or high priest to serve as the elders quorum president,” the handbook says in section 8.3.3.
Bennion Utah Stake President Chad Stewart said after receiving spiritual confirmation, he wrestled with whether to extend the call to a man in his late 80s. The other elders quorum presidents in the stake range in age from their late 20s to 50s.
When the calling was extended, Wright was initially at a loss for words.
“I’m speechless,” the elderly gentleman told his stake president.
But accept the calling, Wright did.
“I found out who I wanted to be when I grow up when I met Cleeo Wright,” President Stewart said.
Preparing for the Taylorsville temple
It hasn’t been easy, but with the support of his two dependable counselors, Wright has embraced his calling and given his best to fulfill his duties and assignments.
His presidency has made efforts to get to know the men in the ward through regular “spotlights” and ministering, and led efforts to invite all to serve faithfully and receive the blessings of the gospel.
Wright strongly believes one reason he was called is to help ward members prepare for the dedication of the Taylorsville Utah Temple. Ground was broken for the Taylorsville temple on Oct. 31, 2020.
“Working with the people in the ward has been a choice and delightful experience,” said Wright, who doesn’t own a cellphone.
‘Our hidden gem’
Wright’s bishop is Jacob Buhler, a longtime neighbor who lives across the street. He described Wright as a brother to all and a mentor to many, “dedicated, thorough and extremely smart” — the “most incredible elders quorum president you have ever met.”
“Everyone absolutely adores him. He is our hidden gem,” the bishop said of Wright. “Our biggest challenge is trying to keep him from moving pianos and heavy lifting. But everybody knows that brother Wright will serve to the very end. ... He was quite nervous to be called at this older time in his life, but there is no doubt that he was capable, extremely hard-working and just an amazing person.”
Ryan Cooper, who served as the ward’s previous elders quorum president, remembers showing up to shovel snow after a storm and found Wright, shovel in hand, leading the effort.
When helping ward members move, Cooper says Wright doesn’t shy away from the big items.
“Sometimes I get scared when he’s moving up and down those trailers. I say ‘take something else.’ He’s like, ‘No grab the other side of this couch. Let’s go,’” Cooper said. “He’s not afraid to work. Huge heart.”
Heidi Wright, Wright’s daughter-in-law, described him using the words, “diligence, truth and honor,” which he shows consistently by checking in on his many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He doesn’t miss a birthday and he doesn’t miss a phone call.
“He’s probably one of the most honorable men I know. He doesn’t hold back when it comes to serving,” said Heidi Wright, whose family lives nearby and is looking forward to celebrating his 90th birthday with him. “We have all seen him rise to it and he just keeps going. It’s amazing.”
