George R. Hill, III
Born: 24 November 1921
Called as Second Assistant Superintendent in the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association: 1967
Called as First Assistant Superintendent in the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association: 1969
Released: 1971
Called to the First Quorum of the Seventy: 4 April 1987
Called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy: 1 April 1989
Released: 2 October 1992
Died: 22 April 2001
Called as Second Assistant Superintendent in the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association: 1967
Called as First Assistant Superintendent in the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association: 1969
Released: 1971
Called to the First Quorum of the Seventy: 4 April 1987
Called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy: 1 April 1989
Released: 2 October 1992
Died: 22 April 2001
Talks on the Church WebsiteImage source: Wikipedia, fair use
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Image source: Improvement Era, December 1969
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Biographical Articles
Improvement Era, December 1969, The New YMMIA Superintendency
Ensign, May 1987, Elder George Richard Hill III of the First Quorum of the Seventy
Ensign, May 1987, Elder George Richard Hill III of the First Quorum of the Seventy
"The New YMMIA Superintendency." Improvement Era, December 1969: pg. 6-8.
New YMMIA Superintendency By Eleanor Knowles Editorial Associate The Prophet Joseph Smith, when asked how he could govern great numbers of the Saints, is reported to have replied, "I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves." This has long been the philosophy of W. Jay Eldredge, new general superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. It is a guiding principle he has used with his own family, in leadership positions in the wards and stakes in which he has resided, as a mission president, and as a Regional Representative of the Council of the Twelve. "I intend to emphasize this same philosophy in the YMMIA also," he said. "We should give youth good background in the principles of the gospel, for nothing is as great a motivating factor as a strong belief in doctrinal principles. Then we should give them a chance to live by and experiment with those principles." Superintendent Eldredge was sustained and set apart as the twelfth general YMMIA superintendent at a meeting of the YMMIA and YWMIA general boards September 17. Sustained as his assistants were George R. Hill III, first assistant superintendent, and George I. Cannon, second assistant. Released were Superintendent G. Carlos Smith, Jr., who had served since October 1962 and has recently been called to preside over the new Southeast Asia Mission; Marvin J. Ashton, first assistant, who was sustained at the October general conference as an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve; and Superintendent Hill, second assistant. Superintendent Eldredge, who with his new appointment also becomes general manager of The Improvement Era, was born in Salt Lake City on April 27, 1913. He attended the old LDS University and then the University of Utah before leaving for a mission to Great Britain. When he returned from his mission, he entered business in a school supply company and later established his own retail furniture store. Coming on the heels of his new YMMIA appointment was the grand opening in October of a new branch of his thriving furniture business. With his many business activities, however, he has never neglected his opportunities to serve in the Church nor his family obligations. In his youth he was active in the priesthood and auxiliary programs. ("The MIA programs today are much more intense and structured than they were when I was a youth," he remarked.) When he returned from his mission he served as a ward Sunday School superintendent before being called as ward YMMIA superintendent. One of his assistants in the MIA was Marvin J. Ashton. Other church activities have included 11 years as bishop of the Parleys Ward in Salt Lake City; member of a high council for four years; and president of Parleys Stake six years. From 1965-68 he presided over the Eastern States Mission, during which time he witnessed great growth in the Church in that area, for this was the period immediately after the successful New York World's Fair, at which so many persons were introduced to the gospel and the Church through visits to the Mormon Pavilion. Upon his release as mission president, Superintendent Eldredge was set apart as a Regional Representative of the Twelve, with responsibility for ten stakes at Brigham Young University and one at College of Southern Utah. He was released from this position when the call came to serve in the YMMIA. Family has always ranked first, along with the gospel, in the life of the new general superintendent. He and his wife, the former Marjory Hyde, have five children: Jay, an M.D., who is specializing in pediatric cardiology at the University of Virginia Medical Hospital; Heidi (Mrs. William C. Vriens, Jr.), of Salt Lake City; Sharon (Mrs. Randy Harmson), of Palo Alto, California; and Rosemary and Brent, students at the University of Utah. The Eldredge family has strong roots in MIA. In addition to the children's activities in the auxiliary in their youth, Sister Eldredge is a member of the YWMIA general board and is currently serving as chairman of the Mia Maid committee, while Heidi is a member of the YWMIA Laurel committee. "A family man with a warm interest in youth" is how one of Superintendent Eldredge's daughters describes her father. "He knows how to counsel youth and take them through their problems —how to really reach the spirit of the person." As the children were growing up, Superintendent Eldredge found ways to include them in projects that helped bring them closer together. A woodworking hobbyist, he built a chalet-type cabin for the family at Brighton, in the mountains east of Salt Lake City, with the entire family helping. "Every house—every ward—every stake center he has been associated with has had a new wing or room built on it," his daughter recalls. Now Superintendent Eldredge will be putting his building interests to even greater tasks, as he guides the YMMIA in building new programs and strong leadership, which in turn will help build strong young men who will be the leaders of the Church tomorrow. Supporting, sustaining, and assisting him in this new task are two assistants who between them have many years of MIA leadership experience. Superintendent Hill, who is directing age-group activities of the YMMIA, has long been active in the Scout and Explorer programs. He was serving as chairman of the Explorer committee when he was called as second assistant superintendent in October 1967. His experience in scouting goes beyond the confines of the Church, however, for he has been active on local and national committees of the Boy Scouts of America and has served as chaplain at both national and international Scout jamborees. A graduate of Brigham Young University, he received his Ph.D. from Cornell University, where he taught from 1942-46; he also served as president of the Ithaca (New York) Branch. He is now dean of the College of Mines and Mineral Industries at the University of Utah. In addition to his service on the YMMIA general board, Superintendent Hill has served as bishop of the Holladay Second Ward and the Federal Heights Ward in Salt Lake City. He is married to the former Melba Parker, and they are parents of seven children. Superintendent Cannon has had a great heritage in MIA service, for his mother, Lucy Grant Cannon, was fourth general president of YWMIA. George served on the YMMIA general board 12 years before being called as bishop of the Parleys Sixth Ward in 1963. He was released from that position in 1966 to accept a call to preside over the Central British Mission. As assistant general superintendent, he will be responsible for the activity programs of the YMMIA. Superintendent Cannon, an insurance company executive, is married to the former Isabel Hales, and they have seven children. |
General Superintendent W. Jay Eldredge
George R. Hill III, first assistant superintendent
George I. Cannon, second asst. superintendent
G. Carlos Smith, Jr., Southeast Asia Mission
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