Wendell J. Ashton
Encyclopedia
Wendell J. Ashton was the publisher of the Deseret News and the head of the Public Communications Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was a brother of church Apostle Marvin J. Ashton
.
in Salt Lake City, Utah
. He then attended the University of Utah
where he earned a degree in business.
Ashton served an LDS mission
in the British Isles
. While on this mission he was companions with future church president Gordon B. Hinckley
. While on this mission Ashton served as editor of the Millennial Star
, the church newspaper in England
. Prior to his mission Ashton had worked as a reporter for the Salt Lake Telegram for three years.
Returning to the newspaper business in Utah, Ashton became the managing editor of the Deseret News from 1947 to 1948. He then joined Gilham Advertising, Inc. in 1950 and remained with them until becoming the LDS Church Public Relations Director in 1972.
Ashton served as president of the East Mill Creek
Stake (where Gordon B. Hinckley
had also been stake president). He was one of the first 69 Regional Representative of the Twelve
called in 1967. Ashton also served as General Secretary of the LDS Sunday School
. As a result of this position he also served as associate editor of The Instructor
, the magazine of the Sunday School up until LDS Church magazines were reconfigured in 1971.
From 1985 to 1988 Ashton served as president
of the England
London
Mission
. At the time of his death Ashton was a sealer in the Salt Lake Temple
.
Ashton and his first wife, Marian Reynolds, had six children. After she died, he married Belva Barlow in 1964. Wendell and Belva had one daughter. Belva had previously worked as a secretary to Henry Eyring
when he was director of graduate studies at the University of Utah
. She served as a member of the General Relief Society Board for 16 years during their marriage, and oversaw the building of the monument to women in Nauvoo, Illinois
.
Ashton was the National President of the Sons of Utah Pioneers
in 1947 and was the main organizer of their 1947 commemoration of the Nauvoo to Salt Lake City journey of the pioneers 100 years before.
While head of LDS Public Affairs, Ashton dealt with the issue of the Howard Hughes
"Mormon Will".
Ashton also served as head of the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and was a key backer of the Utah Symphony. He was also involved in the relocation of the Utah Jazz
to Utah from their previous home in New Orleans.
Ashton was the publisher of the Deseret News from 1978 to 1985.
Ashton also wrote several books, one along with Ab Jenkins
. He also wrote a biography of Aurelia Spencer Rogers
. His Voice in the West Biography of a Pioneer Newspaper (New York: Duell, Sloan & Pearce, 1950) has been cited in such places as the Utah History Encyclopedia as an excellent source on the early history of the Deseret News.
There is currently a Wendell J. Ashton endowed professorship in communications at Brigham Young University
.
Marvin J. Ashton
Marvin Jeremy Ashton was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1971 until his death....
.
Biography
Ashton was a graduate of LDS High SchoolLDS High School
LDS High School was a secondary school located in Salt Lake City, Utah operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The school was closely associated with Latter-day Saints' University, the last vestiges of which are now LDS Business College...
in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. He then attended the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
where he earned a degree in business.
Ashton served an LDS mission
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
. While on this mission he was companions with future church president Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
. While on this mission Ashton served as editor of the Millennial Star
Millennial Star
The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star was the longest continuously published periodical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, being printed from 1840 until 1970....
, the church newspaper in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Prior to his mission Ashton had worked as a reporter for the Salt Lake Telegram for three years.
Returning to the newspaper business in Utah, Ashton became the managing editor of the Deseret News from 1947 to 1948. He then joined Gilham Advertising, Inc. in 1950 and remained with them until becoming the LDS Church Public Relations Director in 1972.
Ashton served as president of the East Mill Creek
East Millcreek, Utah
East Millcreek was a census-designated place in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States, that has since been consolidated with neighboring Millcreek CDP. The population was 21,385 at the 2000 census, a minute increase over the 1990 figure of 21,184. It was originally proposed to be included in the...
Stake (where Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
had also been stake president). He was one of the first 69 Regional Representative of the Twelve
Regional representative of the Twelve
Regional representative of the Twelve, commonly shorted to regional representative or regional rep, was a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1968 and 1995...
called in 1967. Ashton also served as General Secretary of the LDS Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
. As a result of this position he also served as associate editor of The Instructor
The Instructor
The Instructor was an official periodical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1930 and 1970, during which It was the official organ of the LDS Church's Sunday School auxiliary....
, the magazine of the Sunday School up until LDS Church magazines were reconfigured in 1971.
From 1985 to 1988 Ashton served as president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
. At the time of his death Ashton was a sealer in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
.
Ashton and his first wife, Marian Reynolds, had six children. After she died, he married Belva Barlow in 1964. Wendell and Belva had one daughter. Belva had previously worked as a secretary to Henry Eyring
Henry Eyring
Henry Eyring was a Mexican-born American theoretical chemist whose primary contribution was in the study of chemical reaction rates and intermediates....
when he was director of graduate studies at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. She served as a member of the General Relief Society Board for 16 years during their marriage, and oversaw the building of the monument to women in Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
.
Ashton was the National President of the Sons of Utah Pioneers
Sons of Utah Pioneers
The Sons of Utah Pioneers is an organization dedicated to preserving the memory of and studying the history of the Mormon Pioneers of Utah. The organizations is open to "All good men of every age and circumstance who have an interest in the early Utah Pioneers. It is not necessary to have...
in 1947 and was the main organizer of their 1947 commemoration of the Nauvoo to Salt Lake City journey of the pioneers 100 years before.
While head of LDS Public Affairs, Ashton dealt with the issue of the Howard Hughes
Howard Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world...
"Mormon Will".
Ashton also served as head of the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and was a key backer of the Utah Symphony. He was also involved in the relocation of the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
to Utah from their previous home in New Orleans.
Ashton was the publisher of the Deseret News from 1978 to 1985.
Ashton also wrote several books, one along with Ab Jenkins
Ab Jenkins
David Abbott "Ab" Jenkins was the 24th mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah from 1940 to 1944 and was a professional race car driver. Jenkins' interest in motorsports began with racing motorcycles on dirt tracks and cross country. He then became interested in land speed records at the Bonneville Salt...
. He also wrote a biography of Aurelia Spencer Rogers
Aurelia Spencer Rogers
Aurelia Read Spencer Rogers was the founder of Primary, the children's organization and official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. His Voice in the West Biography of a Pioneer Newspaper (New York: Duell, Sloan & Pearce, 1950) has been cited in such places as the Utah History Encyclopedia as an excellent source on the early history of the Deseret News.
There is currently a Wendell J. Ashton endowed professorship in communications at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
.