Menu
In the News
In the Almanac

Meet the new Church historic sites leaders who will begin serving next year

The following five couples have been called to serve by the First Presidency to lead the work at various Church historic sites

Nauvoo Illinois Temple in Nauvoo, Illinois, on Saturday, May 29, 2021.

Nauvoo Illinois Temple in Nauvoo, Illinois, on Saturday, May 29, 2021.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News


Meet the new Church historic sites leaders who will begin serving next year

The following five couples have been called to serve by the First Presidency to lead the work at various Church historic sites

Nauvoo Illinois Temple in Nauvoo, Illinois, on Saturday, May 29, 2021.

Nauvoo Illinois Temple in Nauvoo, Illinois, on Saturday, May 29, 2021.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

The following five couples have been called to serve by the First Presidency to lead the work at various Church historic sites. They will begin their service in February 2024.

Wyoming Mormon Trail Sites leaders Robert Todd Goates and Cynthia Ann Young Goates.

Robert Todd Goates and Cynthia Ann Young Goates have been called to preside over the Wyoming Mormon Trail Sites.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Robert Todd Goates and Cynthia Ann Young Goates, five children, Parkway 8th Ward, South Jordan Utah Parkway Stake: Wyoming Mormon Trail Sites, succeeding President Kirk Dana and Sister Dannette Dana. Brother Goates is a stake presidency counselor and a former bishop, high councilor, elders quorum president and missionary in the Kentucky Louisville Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City to Carol Goaslind Goates and Wayne A Goates. 

Sister Goates is a Relief Society instructor and a former  stake Young Women presidency counselor, ward Young Women president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, Primary music leader and missionary in the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission. She was born in Hempstead, New York, to Donna Marie Merrill Young and Robert John Young.

Mormon Battalion Historic Site leaders Richard Stanton and Shirley Ann Simmons Kauffman.

Richard Stanton Kauffman and Shirley Ann Simmons Kauffman have been called to preside over the Mormon Battalion Historic Site.

Scott Hancock, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Richard Stanton Kauffman and Shirley Ann Simmons Kauffman, six children, Windsor 7th Ward, Orem Utah Windsor Stake: Mormon Battalion Historic Site, succeeding President Brent Top and Sister Wendy Top. Brother Kauffman is a stake clerk and a former mission presidency counselor, stake presidency counselor, bishop and missionary at the New York and Pennsylvania Historic Sites and the Australia East Mission. He was born in Rexburg, Idaho, to Norma Hamblin Kauffman Sanders and William Clayton Kauffman. 

Sister Kauffman is a ward Relief Society president and a former ward Young Women president, Relief Society service coordinator, Primary teacher and missionary at the New York and Pennsylvania Historic Sites. She was born in Murray, Utah, to Louise Hulda Jones Simmons and Don Arthur Simmons.

New York and Pennsylvania Historic Sites leaders Thomas Bennett McCoy and Lani Jo Robinson McCoy.

Thomas Bennett McCoy and Lani Jo Robinson McCoy have been called to preside over the New York and Pennsylvania Historic Sites.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Thomas Bennett McCoy and Lani Jo Robinson McCoy, eight children, Red Cliffs 6th Ward, St. George Red Cliffs Stake: New York and Pennsylvania Historic Sites, succeeding President Thomas Coburn and Sister Ana Maria Coburn. Brother McCoy is a missionary and ordinance worker at the Nauvoo Illinois Temple and a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, elders quorum president and missionary in the Nauvoo Illinois Historic Site Mission. He was born in Boise, Idaho, to Joan Bennett Mutch McCoy and Orrin E. McCoy. 

Sister McCoy is a missionary and ordinance worker at the Nauvoo Illinois Temple and a former stake Relief Society president, ward Primary and Young Women presidency counselor, nursery leader and missionary in the Nauvoo Illinois Historic Site Mission. She was born in Ontario, Oregon, to Mary Jeannette Carico Robinson and James Henry Robinson.

Illinois Historic Sites leaders Daniel Stanley Mehr II and Rebecca Sue Mehr.

Daniel Stanley Mehr II and Rebecca Sue Mehr have been called to preside over the Illinois Historic Sites.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Daniel Stanley Mehr II and Rebecca Sue Mehr, six children, Highland 23rd Ward, Highland Utah West Stake: Illinois Historic Sites, succeeding President Craig Dalton and Sister Sandra Dalton. Brother Mehr is a former Area Seventy, West Indies Mission president, bishop, MTC district president and missionary in the Caribbean Public Affairs Office and Argentina North Mission. He was born in Palo Alto, California, to Kathryn Carol Calcote Mehr and Daniel Stanley Mehr. 

Sister Mehr is a former Relief Society general advisory council member, West Indies Mission president’s companion, Provo MTC Relief Society council member and missionary in the Caribbean Public Affairs Office and France Bordeaux Mission. She was born in Ames, Iowa, to Linda Jo Lewton Olpin and Jay Lloyd Olpin.

Joseph Smith Birthplace leaders Larry Drew and Kristen Maurine Nielson.

Larry Drew Neilson and Kristen Maurine Neilson have been called to preside over the Joseph Smith Birthplace site.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Larry Drew Neilson and Kristen Maurine Neilson, three children, Red Cliffs 1st Ward, St. George Red Cliffs Stake: Joseph Smith Birthplace, succeeding President Keith Buswell and Sister Patricia Buswell. Brother Neilson is a Gospel Doctrine teacher and a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, elders quorum president, stake and ward Young Men president, missionary at the Southwest Utah Historic Sites, and missionary in the Canada Montreal Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City to Elma Jean Pendleton Neilson and Stanley David Neilson. 

Sister Neilson is a former missionary at the Southwest Utah Historic Sites, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Primary presidency counselor, Primary teacher and early-morning seminary teacher. She was born in Los Angeles, California, to Karla Maurine Nielsen Ney and Michael Thomas Ney.

Newsletters
Subscribe for free and get daily or weekly updates straight to your inbox
The three things you need to know everyday
Highlights from the last week to keep you informed