Bishop Dean M. Davies, First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is visiting New Zealand this week. He is accompanied on his visit by Assistant Secretary to the Presiding Bishopric, David McMillan.
Yesterday Bishop Davies and Mr McMillan toured the Church’s construction sites in the Hamilton suburb of Temple View, where a new stake centre (meetinghouse for several congregations), a multi-purpose facility and other projects are underway.
The multi-purpose facility, the Mendenhall Building on the former Church College of New Zealand campus, will house a Church History centre, the headquarters for the New Zealand Hamilton Mission, an LDS Distribution Centre and a theatre.
Both buildings are expected to be completed, dedicated and opened in the coming year.
Speaking today of the development taking place in Temple View, Bishop Davies said, “The Church is building upon the wonderful foundation of the Church College of New Zealand and the contributions of labour missionaries, teachers, students and many others. These efforts will bless generations to come.”
Read more about the Church’s projects in Temple View here.
Bishop Dean M. Davies was employed by the Church as the managing director of the Special Projects Department with responsibility for special purpose real estate, temple design and temple construction prior to being called to the Presiding Bishopric at the April 2012 general conference.
In the Church, he has served as a mission president, mission president’s counselor, stake president, stake president’s counselor, stake executive secretary, high councilor, in several bishoprics and as a full-time missionary in the Uruguay/Paraguay Mission.
Prior to Church employment, Bishop Davies worked in the real estate investment, construction and management industries. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Brigham Young University and has completed advanced executive programs at Stanford and Northwestern Universities.
He was born in Salt Lake City and is married to Darla James. They have five children and 15 grandchildren.