Stephen W. Owen
Stephen W. Owen at BYU Devotional, 2018
22nd Young Men General President
April 4, 2015 (2015-04-04) – April 4, 2020
Called byThomas S. Monson
PredecessorDavid L. Beck
SuccessorSteven J. Lund
Personal details
Born (1958-03-22) March 22, 1958
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
EducationBachelor's degree
Alma materUniversity of Utah
WebsiteStephen W. Owen

Stephen W. Owen (born March 22, 1958) was the 22nd Young Men General President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 2015 to 2020.

Owen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah.[1] Owen and his wife, Jane, owned and operated a chain of Great Harvest Bread Company stores in Utah and Nevada.[2]

LDS Church service

Owen's church service includes serving as a full-time missionary in the Texas San Antonio Mission and as president of the California Arcadia Mission.[1] He has also served as stake president, bishop, Scoutmaster, ward Young Men president, and elders quorum president. In 2018, Owen addressed the Brigham Young University student body in a campus devotional and emphasized the importance of gathering together, "I believe something powerful happens any time we gather as God’s covenant people, anywhere in the world, no matter how many people the gathering may include."[3]

During his service as its general president, the LDS Church made significant changes to the Young Men program. A 2018 change allows boys to be ordained to the all-male priesthood at the beginning of the year in which they turn 12 years of age, rather than waiting for their actual birthday to become a deacon.[4] Owen explains, "They progress together. This change helps in the process of conversion. It creates belonging."[4] The LDS Church ended its 105-year partnership with the Boy Scouts of America at the end of 2019.[5] Owen was involved in the introduction of new tools to prevent child abuse in the LDS Church including an online training that Owen called, "One important way we can help ensure our children have the loving parents and devoted leaders they deserve and need."[6] The LDS Church also discontinued ward young men's presidencies and rolled out a new program for the children and youth of the LDS Church beginning January 1, 2020.[7] The program introduced new initiatives including a theme to be recited by the young men and multi-day For the Strength of Youth conferences, patterned after Especially for Youth conferences.[8][9]

In April 2020, Owen was released as Young General President and was succeeded by Steven J. Lund.[10][11]

Personal life

Owen is married to Jane Stringham and they are the parents of five children.

References

  1. 1 2 Pugmire, Genelle. "Freedom Festival Patriotic Service to feature LDS Church's Young Men General President Stephen W. Owen", Provo Herald, Utah, 28 June 2018. Retrieved on 17 February 2020.
  2. ↑ Harry, Bonnie. "Is It Possible To Successfully Transition From An Employee To An Owner Of A Small Business?", Great Harvest Blog, 30 December 2013. Retrieved on 17 February 2020.
  3. ↑ Bancroft, Kaitlyn. "‘Gather with fellow believers’ Young Men president tells BYU students", The Daily Universe, Utah, 23 October 2018. Retrieved on 17 February 2020.
  4. 1 2 Means, Sean P. and Noyce, David. "Latter-day Saint boys can enter priesthood before they turn 12 under new rules for youths", The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah, 14 December 2018. Retrieved on 17 February 2020.
  5. ↑ Goodstein, Laurie and Hauser, Christine. "Mormon Church Ends Century-Old Partnership With Boy Scouts of America", The New York Times, 9 May 2018. Retrieved on 17 February 2020.
  6. ↑ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "LDS Church launches online training to help prevent child abuse; critic calls it a ‘good start’", The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah, 16 August 2019. Retrieved on 17 February 2020.
  7. ↑ "Latter-day Saints Worldwide Introduced to New Program for Children and Youth", Newsroom, 29 September 2019. Retrieved on 17 February 2020.
  8. ↑ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "Unlike modified version for teenage LDS girls, new theme for boys mentions ‘God,’ not ‘Heavenly Parents’", The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah, 17 November 2019. Retrieved on 17 February 2020.
  9. ↑ Park, McKenna. "LDS Church announces more changes coming with Children and Youth Program during live broadcast", Provo Herald, Utah, 17 November 2019. Retrieved on 17 February 2020.
  10. ↑ "New Seventies and Young Men General Presidency Named at April 2020 General Conference". Newsroom. 4 April 2020.
  11. ↑ Hendricks, Hailey. "Latter-day Saint Church announces new General Authority Seventies and Area Seventies", ABC4 News, 4 April 2020. Retrieved on 2 April 2021.
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