Men called to serve in LDS presidency

New leaders who live in Jamestown and Valley City have been chosen to serve in the presidency of the Jamestown Branch of the Fargo Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Jay Pickrel, Jamestown, is now serving as branch president. He is assisted by Michael Kelly, also of Jamestown, as his first counselor; and Greg Curtis, Valley City, as second counselor. The trio replaces Heber Golden, Dwight Durfee, and Kelly, who were released from these positions earlier.

All three members of the new presidency have lived in the area less than two years. Because LDS Church leadership has no paid ministry, the men are also employed in the community.

Pickrel, a Tucson, Ariz., native, is general manager of Jamestown Implement Company, which also has a store in Valley City. Jay and Lupe Pickrel are the parents of three daughters: Kayla, who attends Jamestown College; and Emma and Whitney, who are students at L’Amour Elementary School. The Pickrels moved to North Dakota from Logan, Utah, where Jay also managed a John Deere dealership.

“We love Jamestown,” Pickrel said. “It’s one of the best places we’ve ever lived. The people are great here.”

Kelly, Pickrel’s first counselor, is a program manager at Goodrich. He grew up in Hazen, N.D., but had lived most of his adult life in California, before moving to Jamestown a year and a half ago. Kelly and his wife, Kim, are the parents of Melissa, an eighth-grader, and Noah, who is in the fourth grade.

Curtis, Pickrel’s second counselor, was born and raised in Altamont, Tenn., but moved to Valley City a year ago to work as a welder at John Deere Seeding Group. Curtis first became acquainted with North Dakota during a tour of duty at Minot Air Force Base. Curtis and his wife, Dawn, a Montana native, are the parents of Dylan Buck Elk, who attends Valley City Junior High School, and Presley, a first-grader at Jefferson Elementary School.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, presidents of branches (smaller units of the church) and bishops, who preside over wards, are responsible for the temporal and spiritual well-being of their congregations. Counselors assist as called upon by the president or bishop. All three men have stewardship responsibilities over the congregation’s auxiliaries.

A branch presidency or a bishopric is chosen by stake leadership, with the approval of general church authorities in Salt Lake City, Utah. Because the LDS Church operates on the principle of common consent, the individual branches and wards also must ratify any change in local, stake and general leadership.

Of his role in the Jamestown Branch, Pickrel said, “Our goal is to be a contributor to the community and assist those in need.”

The Jamestown Branch is located at 2237 Second St. S.E., across from the golf course and soccer fields. Sacrament service begins at 10 a.m. each Sunday, and is followed by Sunday school and auxiliary meetings.

Tags: church of jesus christ of latter day saints, valley city, lds, leaders, jamestown