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Meet the Hodge Park Ward Bishopric
Meet the leaders who were called this summer
Norma King, Media Director (Rush Creek Ward)
Matthew Nielsen, Bishop
Childhood & Spouse, Education & Children
I was raised right here in the Liberty Ward (back when there was only one ward in the entire Liberty and surrounding area). After graduating from Liberty High School, I attended BYU, where I met and married my wife, the beautiful and amazing Amber. We went to medical school in Iowa at Des Moines University and then did surgical training at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, before returning to Liberty in 2010 to start my private practice in Podiatry.
We have three children: Carter, 18, serving a mission in Pachuca, Mexico; Hayden, 15, a sophomore at Liberty High School; and Abby, an 8th grader at Discovery Middle School.
Mission
I served a mission to Paris, France, from 1998 to 2000. I have an undergraduate degree in French, and I believe I’m the only doctor in America with an undergraduate degree in French.
Experience That Shaped Your Testimony
I’ve always had a strong testimony of the love of my Savior, Jesus Christ, even as a child. During my teenage years, I felt like that testimony became even more solid, and a central focus of who I was. Honestly, some of the mistakes I made as a teenager help me to understand the joy of my redemption through Jesus Christ. Sinning and making mistakes, and still feeling loved and accepted by my Savior and even feeling that love stronger because of how He succored me in my weakness served as an anchor to my teenage soul. It’s because of those experiences from my youth that meeting with members of our ward to help in the repentance process has been my favorite part of being a bishop so far, the absolute favorite part.
Hobbies
I love to follow BYU sports, especially basketball and football, that BYU is now in the Big 12, and that we are located pretty close to be able to attend multiple BYU sporting events. We also love boating and spending time at Lake Viking.
Favorite Calling
I have a feeling that bishop is going to be my favorite calling of all time. But prior to that, serving as a temple worker was my favorite calling. We saw miracles happen in the temple nearly every week.
Ways to Focus on the Savior
Following President Russell‘s advice to CPR (“Go to Church, Pray, and Read the Scriptures”) is what helps me get through challenges. Additionally, being very mindful and thoughtful about my repentance every day is super important to me. I’ve always known it’s important to rely upon the Spirit in my life, but as bishop, I feel that need for reliance on the Spirit even more intensely. Therefore, daily thoughtful and sincere repentance has been a key to allowing me to have the Spirit to be with me more fully.
Counsel or Encouragement for Your Ward
My counsel for my ward, if I had to boil it down to one word, is LOVE. We should pray with all the energy of our hearts that we may be filled with this love that the Father has bestowed upon all who are true followers of His son Jesus Christ. If we have love in our hearts, we will be kind and peacemakers. If we have love, serving others will feel like a natural extension of that love. If we have love, we will seek to be unified, to let no one sit alone amongst us. For God is LOVE.
Jim Hastings, 1st Counselor
Childhood & Spouse
I grew up in Naperville, Illinois in the 80s and 90s. I married my wife Brandi in the St. Louis Temple in November 2001.
Mission
I joined the church when I was 17, and did not serve a mission. However, I have been able to serve as a Ward Mission Leader and ward missionary in the past.
Education & Employment
I received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Missouri State University in 2005. I was then accepted into medical school at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. When I graduated from there in 2010, I began a four-year residency in anesthesiology at University of Missouri, Kansas City. During that time, we lived in Riverside and attended the Platte Woods Ward in the Platte City Stake. After finishing residency, we built a home in the Shoal Creek neighborhood in 2015, and ever since then we have been in the Liberty Stake.
Children
We have four kids, Logan (22), Reece (19), Nathan (16) and Brody (14). Logan served a mission in Pocatello, Idaho, and is married to our daughter-in-law Kara.
Experience That Shaped Your Testimony
When the missionaries first asked me to read from the Book of Mormon, they had me read chapter 11 of Third Nephi, where Christ visits the people of ancient America. I felt the spirit so strongly at that time and knew that Christ was real and that the Book of Mormon was true. Ever since then the life of Christ–and all of the things that he teaches us–has changed my life for the better.
Hobbies
I have several hobbies, I love astrophotography and astronomy in general. I have a couple of telescopes and I’ve taken some pretty cool pictures. I also really like to go scuba diving, and I’ve been on over 100 dives. I like to go golfing, and I passed that desire on to my boys, which is great except now they are all way better than me!
Life-changing Experiences
Getting married and having kids all while managing a heavy course load at college and a busy calling as a Ward Mission Leader early in our marriage really grounded me. It solidified to me that hard work and dedication really pay off. I did not know what I wanted to go into at that time, but with lots of prayer and faith, the Lord directed my path towards medicine.
Favorite Calling
One of my favorite callings has been being the Gospel Doctrine Teacher for the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants.
Ways to Focus on the Savior
When challenges arise, the things that keep me grounded and focused on the Savior are my family, my ward family, going to the temple and prayer. We are so lucky to have a temple so close to us here.
Counsel or Encouragement for Your Ward
I encourage everyone to go to the temple as often as you can, and if you can’t go now, make plans to go soon in the future. You will draw closer to the Savior as you serve Him in the temple, and that sacrifice of your time is so worth it!
James Von Gunten, 2nd counselor
Childhood & Spouse
I was raised in the northern suburbs of Chicago. I am the youngest of 5. I met Rebecca at BYU-Idaho and we were sealed in the SLC Temple in 2004.
Mission
I served in the Honduras Comayaguela mission from 2000-2002.
Education & Employment
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from BYU Idaho and a Master’s degree in Athletic Administration from Idaho State. A job opportunity in 2008 brought us to the Liberty area. I later went back to a tech school in South Carolina and now work in healthcare.
Children
4 kids, Kaitlyn -19 (serving in Chile Santiago West), Dillon-17, Keira-14, DJ-10
Experience That Shaped Your Testimony
I grew up in a part-member household and my wonderful, dedicated mother set the example of attending church and making Jesus Christ a high priority.
Hobbies
Anything related to family, friends, and sports. When they mix it’s perfect!
Life-changing Experiences
I have changed careers three times, and even went back as a full-time student to a technical program when I was 32.
Favorite Calling
Priest quorum advisor. I enjoy YM camp in the summers and I love staying active.
Ways to Focus on the Savior
I think maintaining a balance of our busy daily lives in terms of activities, kids’ school, hobbies, work commitments, and making sure to keep the Savior the highest priority. What helps is keeping the Sabbath day to be a true day of family and rest.
Counsel or Encouragement for Your Ward
Our plan isn’t always the same as God’s plan for us and that’s okay. He knows better than us what we need. Sometimes that can be hard to accept, but we need to trust in the Lord.