Meet The Panelists
"Sabbath Day Worship"
David Adam
East Bay Singles Ward
David originally hails from Scotland. He has lived in the US, now, for over five years. Professionally, he works as the Operations Manager for a small HR outsourcing company in Walnut Creek. In his spare time, he likes to sing, play guitar and play soccer.
David shares a perspective on how to appreciate the Sabbath when you don't live with any immediate family members nearby (as his are over 5,000 miles away!). He served in the Russia Yekaterinburg Mission, and is now utilizing those valuable missionary tools as the Ward Mission Leader in the East Bay Singles Ward. David is divorced, with no children. Currently, his favorite scripture is 2 Ne 2:7-8, where Lehi teaches about the qualifications to be worthy of the redeeming power of the Atonement.
Jamie Brooker
Lafayette Ward
I have been married 15 years, and we have moved 14 Times. YES, 14!
Some of the fun places include: New York, Alaska, Italy and Vegas.
We have enjoyed seeing this beautiful world and making friends along the way. The Bay area is absolutely amazing. We have lived here in Lafayette for over a year, and love it. We have 5 children ages 13 to 4. I served a mission in the Canary Islands, 20 years ago. While on my mission, I had the opportunity to shake hands with President Hinckley twice.
My two Mormon heroines’ are Lucy Mack Smith, and Sister Julie Beck. I have read Lucy Mack Smith’s biography, at least 5 times; and given over 20 copies away. I absolutely love how faithful Lucy was. She changed history and saved lives, including her own, with her prayers. I am strengthened by her words and faith.
Next, Sister Julie Beck. If I ever need a spiritual boost I turn on one of her conference talks. One of her talks I recently listened to included this powerful statement: "Think of our combined strength, if every sister had sincere prayer every morning and night or, better yet, prayed unceasingly as the Lord has commanded. If every family had family prayer daily and had a family home evening once a week, we would be stronger. If every sister was self-reliant enough to be able to give freely of her knowledge, talents, and resources and if every sister’s discipleship was reflected by what she said and what she wore, we would be immovable in that which is correct.”
I am thankful for all the great guidance, at our fingertips in this church; and most of all I am thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who hears our prayers. He ALWAYS forgives us for our mistakes and sins because of our Savior Jesus Christ!
Leigh Hansen grew up in Spokane, WA where she met her husband, Dan, when she was 12. She got a degree in horticulture from BYU; and enjoys gardens, flowers, plants, trees, and being in nature. She also enjoys making things including: quilting, cooking, knitting, drawing, and reading. Two years ago she moved from Salt Lake City to Moraga with her husband and 5 boys (now ages 6-17). She misses the mountains in Utah but also loves the Bay Area, and all the beautiful trails nearby. Leigh's favorite scripture is D&C 6:36 Look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not.
Leigh Hansen
Moraga Ward
William R. Southwick grew up mostly in Willits, California. As a young boy, he also lived on a cattle ranch in Nevada. While a young man he served in the Guatemala-El Salvador Mission. He graduated from BYU with a major in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies. He served a total of ten years active duty in the Army, with two tours in Germany and completed an additional 12 years in the reserve forces.
For nearly thirty years, he taught Spanish, mostly in the high school he graduated from. He and Lynda served as temple missionaries in the Guatemala City temple where they were members of the temple presidency their last eight months. They have two children and nine grandchildren. His church callings include bishop, high councilor, stake president, and he is currently serving as the president of the Oakland Temple.
Lynda J. Southwick grew up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and joined the Church when she was twenty-two and living in Switzerland. Her B.A. is from Oklahoma State University in French and her minor was German. Later she completed her Master’s in French at the University of Iowa. She taught French and Spanish for over twenty-five years at the community college level. Her Church callings include President of Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society at the ward level; and service in the stake Young Women and Primary Presidencies.
Currently, she serves as Matron of the Oakland Temple and previously served as an ordinance worker and Assistant to the Matron in the Guatemala City Temple.
William & Lynda Southwick
Oakland Temple
President and Matron
Mickell Lethco
University YSA Ward
Mickell Lethco is a 25 year-old doctorate student at The Wright Institute, pursuing a PsyD in Clinical Psychology. She was born the middle of 5 children to Scott and Tammie Lethco in Elk Grove, California, a suburb of Sacramento. She received her Bachelor's in psychology and dance from Loyola Marymount University, a Jesuit University in Los Angeles, California. In her first semester, she was the only active member on campus. Mickell served as a full-time missionary in the southern Chile (Osorno) Mission, working primarily with less active members. One of her most important contributions was testifying of the power of the Book of Mormon and encouraging branch, ward, and stake members to read it and learn for themselves of its truthfulness. Mickell has served as a gospel doctrine teacher, choral director, and family home evening co-chair.
Mickell is known as "Auntie Kell" to her 4 (soon to be 5!) nieces and nephews. She enjoys spending time with them and subsequently posting a ridiculous amount of pictures of them on social media. She likes to cook for her 5 roommates and picked up running 3 years ago to justify eating more. Mickell is a half-marathon and Lake Tahoe Relay finisher. She also likes to host game nights and go on spontaneous adventures. Mickell's favorite scripture is Alma 26:36 - " Blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land."
Tyler Young
Pleasant Hill 1st Ward
Tyler moved around a lot as a little kid and then spent most of his teenage years in Chicago. He served a mission in Mexico, where he sweated, a lot. He also got to teach the Gospel, which he loves. He earned a degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Utah and worked as a design engineer for 3 years. He then attended (oh so reluctantly, Go Utes!) BYU for an MBA.
While in school at the U of U, he met and married his wonderful wife, Sophie. They now have three little boys ages 5 and under and have been living in Pleasant Hill for the last year while Tyler works at Blue Shield of California. Currently, he's serving in his dream calling as a nursery leader, where he gets to play on the floor, eat snacks, and blow bubbles to serve the Lord. He's been asked to share some practical ways to keep the Sabbath Day holy as a young family, which is a throwback to his mission, because just like in Mexico, he mostly sweats his way through sacrament meeting.