Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomes new branch president

BY BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

For a man from a town of 45,000 people on the east coast, coming to small-town Mt. Pleasant was a bit of a culture shock, but in a good way, he says.

Zakary A. Mayo, originally from Southington, Conn., moved with his family to Mt. Pleasant in August, to begin his new job at Iowa Wesleyan University as an instructor of sports management. Little did he know, however, he was also set to become the branch president of Mt. Pleasant?s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

?I was a little surprised when I was asked to take on this position,? Mayo admits from his new office space at the local church building. ?But, it has been a real humbling and faith-building experience. My faith has certainly increased because of it.

?It?s also been great to see how nice and friendly everyone in Iowa is,? he continued. ?The ?Iowa-niceness? that seems to come so naturally from people here has made the move for me and my family very easy.?

A father, husband, full-time education professional and clergyman, Mayo certainly has a lot on his plate at the moment. As per church practices, Mayo was asked to preside as the Mt. Pleasant branch president after other local church leaders approached him about the position shortly after Mayo and his family moved to the area. In keeping with the church?s regulations, branch presidents are not paid, but take on such positions voluntarily as a service to God.

Before he arrived in southeast Iowa, the Mt. Pleasant church was actively praying for another leader as their current one was preparing to step down after years of faithful service. Mayo had never served as a branch president before his newfound post in Mt. Pleasant.

?It was a situation where I was approached by leaders within our church as they felt God was calling me to take on the role,? he says. ?After praying about it with them, and with my wife, I realized God was calling me to this and I humbly accepted.?

And while Mayo is still somewhat new to the Mt. Pleasant area and to the local church, he is not a new follower of the Mormon faith. In fact, he was raised up in the Mormon church, as his mother was also a member of the worldwide religion, and has been an active member from a young age, going on various missions within the U.S., and abroad.

?I served my first mission in Southern France for two years when I was 19 years old,? he says. ?And that was a real life-changing experience for me?I think, looking back, it really prepared me for my work here as I mission in Mt. Pleasant.?

On an average Sunday, the Mt. Pleasant church welcomes about 50 to 60 regular attendees to their services, which Mayo presides over. In addition to his Sunday morning duties, Mayo also helps manage the church?s facilities, holds fellowship with church families throughout the week and studies scriptures regularly.

In his free time, Mayo says he tries to spend quality time with his family, saying they enjoy playing sports and board games together.

?Family time is something very important to me, but it?s also something we as a church hold as greatly important. Throughout the week, my wife and I make time to just be together as a family,? he says. ?I couldn?t do all the things I do without my wife, so spending time one-on-one with her is really important, too.?

And despite the fact that the Mt. Pleasant church has many faithful members who attend church regularly, Mayo says the church welcomes newcomers to their Sunday morning services, and offers both English and Spanish-speaking services to the Henry County community.

?We invite people to come visit us and see what we are about,? he says. ?We love getting to know people in the community.?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of Mt. Pleasant, is located at 1100 Palm Avenue.