Stake High Council

Brother Eric Bench

Sister Alison Bench

Brother Bench grew up in the suburbs of New York City.  He went to BYU and served a mission in Barcelona Spain. Dad of 4 boys. Works in Spanish Media.

Sister Bench grew up in Potomac, Maryland. She also went to BYU, and is the Mom of 4 boys.  Works for a management consulting firm.  She has served in YW, Primary and Relief Society.

Testimony:   

Brother Jonah Branham

Brother Branham was born and raised in Mesa Arizona. He  spends his time surfing, skating, climbing, and working out. His job consists of teaching surf lessons and guarding. He also works in the Mesa Temple and loves to serve the Lord any way that he can. ASU is his school at the moment; He plans to go on to medical school afterwards and become a pediatrician. 

Testimony: My witness of Christ is real. The past couple of years have solidified the reality of his birth in Jerusalem and death on Calvary. Most importantly I now know that he arose from the tomb and because of Him, I will live again too one day. 

Brother Matt Fukumoto

Brother Fukumoto ...😄

Testimony: 

Brother Roger Hallsted

Sister Celia Hallsted

Brother Hallsted is an Administration Manager for the Community Development Department at the City of Tempe. He is also an adjunct instructor at Mesa Community College, teaching “Survey of Computer Information Systems (CIS105). He served in the Japan Tokyo North mission. He loves music, movies, playing all kinds of sports, hiking, card games, and grandkids. Roger and  Celia met at an impromptu YSA gathering before the Friday night ASU dance (do they still have those?).

Sister Hallsted grew up in Snowflake, Arizona. She recently retired from managing a Café and is enjoying spending more time at home, watching her grandchildren, and playing all sports. She is a foodie and especially loves baking and desserts.  The Hallsteds have 4 children, 2 daughters-in-law, and 3 grandchildren.

Testimony: We both have a strong testimony of and commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have had many experiences that testify of His love for our family, and this influences our choices daily. We love missionary work and seeing lives change as they learn of Christ and covenant with Him. We are grateful for opportunities to serve in our church and our community. We are so grateful for living prophets and divine inspiration. We love working in the YSA and are grateful to serve here.

Brother Kyle Johnson

Brother Johnson  is the youngest, by 10 years, out of his 4 sisters and brother. He goes to school at Arizona State University, and he is a senior who is pursuing a bachelor's in mechanical engineering. In his free time, he prefers hiking, playing pool, competing in pickleball, and doing anything active outside in the sun.

 Testimony: I know that my Savior Jesus Christ lives! His authority is on the Earth again in the form of His Restored Church, and everyday miracles are the fruits of His Priesthood power! Through that power, families can be knit together in love and unity. I testify of the truthfulness of His Gospel, and I know following God's Will is the happiest way to live my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen!

Brother Bryson Merkley

Brother Merkley has lived in Mesa his whole life. He served my mission in the Twin Falls and Boise Idaho missions from 2015-2017. He currently works as an admin assistant for Seros Financial. He is an accomplished musician, and conducts Voices of the Valley Choir and Orchestra.

Testimony: I have learned for myself that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and love all of their children. I know that Holy Ghost is real, and I’m so grateful for His guidance in my life. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet, that he translated the Book of Mormon, and that the Book of Mormon is God’s word. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Jesus Christ’s church restored to the earth with His authority. God’s plan includes each one of His children, no matter who they are, and He loves us and is providing for us everything we need to return home to Him.

Brother Merrill was raised in Southern Idaho, served a mission in Taiwan, and spent the majority of his career in technology and commercial construction. He enjoys biking, woodworking, and spending time with his family.

Sister Merrill joined the church when she was 16 while living in Ogden Utah. She graduated with a degree in medical assisting and served a mission in Panama. She is an avid quilter and loves spending time with their 6 children and 11 grandchildren.

Testimony:  We love our Savior Jesus Christ and are so thankful to be members of His only true and living church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The gospel is the foundation of our lives and brings meaning, purpose and joy to all that we do. We know the Atonement of Christ is real and depend on it in our daily lives. 

Brother Logan Millett

Brother Millett was born and raised here in Mesa. He went to Mesa High and graduated in 2015. He enjoys playing tennis, pickleball, volleyball, basketball, and other sports. He also loves airplanes, any type of aircraft really, space, clouds, and sunsets. 

Testimony: The church is true, a pillar of my testimony that has stood the test of time is the first vision. I know Joseph saw what he said he saw in that grove that day. Because of that, I know everything that has proceeded from that is true, and I cannot deny it.

Brother Mark Millett

Brother Millett is an ASU accounting major who grew up in West Mesa.  He served a mission in Salt Lake City.

Testimony: I have a testimony of Christ's role as my Savior, the Book of Mormon, the restoration of Christ's church through the prophet Joseph Smith, and the continued direction of His church through modern prophets.

Brother Travis Swallow Sister Jennifer Swallow

Brother Swallow is a CPA, working as the Chief Financial Officer at the Arizona House of Representatives.  He loves biking, hiking, fishing, camping, and spending time with his family.

Sister Swallow has a degree in Elementary Education and was blessed to stay home with their 3 boys.  She loves to sing, dance, and be with people.

Testimony:  We are excited to serve in the YSA and consider it a dream calling!  We have 3 boys with the youngest currently serving a mission in California.  We know God loves us and seeks to bless us as he hears and answers our prayers and that God's timing always works out better than we had planned.  Jesus Christ lives!  He is our Savior and Redeemer and we are so thankful that He loves us so much to give us the Book of Mormon, which testifies of Him, Joseph Smith to restore the Gospel, and living prophets to help guide us back to him.

Brother Doug Waldie

Sister Kristen Waldie

Brother Waldie is a 4 th generation Arizonan, a proud graduate of ASU with a degree in Finance and Real Estate, and lifelong contractor who is currently working as a public insurance adjuster. He served a mission as a young man in the Idaho Boise Spanish speaking mission. He and his wife recently returned from a senior mission in Costa Rica San Jose West Mission and the Honduras Comayaguela Mission. He has a great love for the outdoors and mostly enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren.  He loves to travel and whenever possible he can be found riding his side by side in Baja Mexico.

Sister Waldie was born in Boise Idaho and moved to Arizona at the age of 4. She is a proud mother of 8 children, who have blessed her with 33 grandchildren. She is an avid Sun Devil fan who graduated from ASU with a degree in Elementary Education. She retired after a 30-year career in her cake decorating business to serve with her husband in the Costa Rica San Jose West Mission, also serving remotely for the Honduras Comayaguela Mission. She loves to travel and to spend time in the kitchen cooking and baking and enjoys any time she gets to be with her family.

Testimony:  We love our Savior Jesus Christ and serving Him in His church. We have enjoyed watching and participating in the growth of the church. We know Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration and that that restoration continues even today. We testify that miracles still exist today. We testify of the power of prayer and the power that comes from reading the Book of Mormon. We have a deep love of the great plan of salvation and how the Temple plays an important role in our eternal salvation. We testify that all saving ordinances can be found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that as we are obedient to the teachings of Jesus Christ and follow his gospel plan, we can return to live with Him and our Father in Heaven.

Brother Jim Weston

Sister Lynn Weston

Brother Jim Weston is #7 of 7 children born in Logan Utah and raised a farm boy near the south shores of Bear Lake Utah.  Jim attended Utah State University a year before serving in the Tokyo South Japan mission. Shortly after returning, Jim met and married his best friend in the world, Lynn Hamblin, in the Salt Lake Temple. 

Sister Lynn Weston was born and raised in Southwestern Wyoming near Fort Bridger.  She is #9 of 10 children. They attended Utah State University together until Lynn graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught 3rd grade in Kaysville, Utah while Jim competed a degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Utah. 

The Westons moved to Mesa Arizona in 1988 to work for Motorola where Jim still works today in the public safety communications field. The Westons have 4 children and 8 grandchildren.  Jim loves to create things (woodworking) and work around the house (yardwork).  He loves sports (basketball, softball, running). Lynn loves to spend time with her grandchildren, ride her bike, and is a frustrated seamstress. The Westons love to serve in the church and currently enjoy being temple ordinance workers.

Testimony: We know that Jesus is the Christ - our Friend and Redeemer.  We know that the Church was restored by revelation and that the Book of Mormon contains the words of God and was brought forth by the prophet Joseph Smith.  Joseph Smith was called of God and was the means God restored the priesthood keys to build God's kingdom on the Earth. We testify that prophets are again on the Earth! We love to serve and continue to learn God's ways.  We are excited to continue learning by serving together with our young adults!