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Meet the Stake Presidency
Learn more about our leaders sustained on June 8, 2025
Norma King, Media Director (Rush Creek Ward)
President Matthew Russell
His Focus
In his first address to the stake members, he asked them to focus on one thing that they could do better to intentionally and deliberately live the Gospel of Jesus Christ better, and invited members to email him with their response.
“I had so many great responses to that invitation. Some of the more common responses focused on increasing personal scripture study and time serving in the temple,” said President Russell.
Favorite Scripture
3 Nephi 27:21-22
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;
Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.”
Favorite Callings
– Young Men’s President and associating with the youth of the church
– Bishop
When he was called and sustained as president of Liberty Stake he felt an “immediate love for all the members of this incredible Liberty Stake and appreciation for who they are and the Christlike lives that they live.”
Childhood
President Russell grew up in Plain City, Utah, on a small family farm. He was the second of 9 children and the oldest son. “I was my Dad’s right-hand man growing up and I loved working beside him and spending time with him. My life was shaped greatly from the lessons I learned of hard work and relying on the Lord from an early age. My parents were always faithful followers of Christ and taught by word and example regularly in our home.”
Growing up his father taught him the importance of “praying as though everything depends on the Lord, but then getting up and working as though everything depends on me.”
Mission & Marriage
He served a mission in Argentina and did not want his mission to end. He met his wife Heidi two days after returning home. Two months later, he finally got the nerve to ask her on a date, and then 10 months later, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple.
Education
President Russell received his associate’s degree at Ricks College, his bachelor’s in Biology from Weber State, and completed dental school at the University of Florida.
Career
After completing dental school, he served in the U.S. Navy in Norfolk, VA and Camp Lejeune, NC. When his military service was completed, the Russells felt directed to come to the Kansas City area to start his dental career.
Family Life
The Russells have three children, Lincoln, married to Maddy; Paige, currently serving in the Peru, Limatambo Mission; and Kloe, a junior at Liberty North High School.
They live on a small hobby farm outside of Liberty and enjoy spending time working on their farm with family and enjoying sporting activities together. Each Christmas season they host a nativity at the farm.
Their family motto is the Ws: Work Will Win When Wishy Washy Wishing Won’t. “This is a phrase I have come to appreciate more and more over the years,” said President Russell.
Words from His Wife
Heidi Russell said that her husband’s new call has been a huge change and shift in the family. “However, the spirit has been abundant and our life has been filled with many tender mercies. I’m grateful for my ward family and how they have wrapped their arms around our family with his increased absence in the ward.”
His Message for Our Stake
President Russell shared this quote from President Nelson when asked what message he would give to Liberty Stake members at this time:
“Brothers and sisters, now is the time for you and for me to prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority.… It is neither too early nor too late for you to become a devout disciple of Jesus Christ…. [In] a coming day, Jesus Christ will return to the earth as the millennial Messiah. So today I call upon you to rededicate your lives to Jesus Christ.… Come unto Christ and ‘offer your whole [soul]’ to Him.” (Russell M. Nelson)
President Randall Cramer
First Counselor
Favorite Scripture
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” (3 Nephi 13:33)
Childhood & Mission
President Cramer grew up in Boise, Idaho. After graduating from high school he worked for a semester and then served a mission in the California Roseville Mission.
Marriage & Education
After his mission he attended Ricks College in Idaho where he met his future wife, Rosalyn. They were married while attending Ricks.
The couple moved to Omaha so he could attend the University of Nebraska Omaha. Sister Cramer worked as a NICU nurse during that time.
After graduation, they moved to Phoenix, Ariz, where President Cramer attended Midwestern University. He completed his medical residency at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind.
Career
He currently works for North Kansas City Hospital as a physician in family medicine.
Family Life
The Cramers have three children: Elijah and Emma, who are both attending BYU and Evan, a senior at Liberty High School.
Hobbies
When they have time, President and Sister Cramer enjoy good food, taking their dog on walks and exploring new places.
Words from His Wife
Rosalyn Cramer said that their lives haven’t changed much since the new calling. “We have always been willing to serve in any capacity, sometimes we are just busier than other times.”
His Message for Our Stake
President Cramer has been surprised at how fun it is to serve with the new stake presidency and how quick it has been to develop relationships with new friends in the stake.
His message to members of Liberty Stake is: “Stay tuned for Stake Conference next month!”
President Brody Perschon
Second Counselor
Favorite Scriptures
He says he absolutely loves reading the Sermon on the Mount in the Book of Matthew and in 3rd Nephi.
“I had a chance to visit Israel a couple of years ago and studying the words of the Savior in that environment had a profound effect on me,” he said.
Favorite Callings
He loved serving as bishop of Hodge Park Ward before receiving this new calling.
Childhood
President Perschon was born in Salt Lake City, and at the age of eight his family moved to Ephraim, Utah, which is seven miles north of Manti.
“I love growing up in the shadows of the Temple,” he said. “In fact my high school was across the street from the temple and when I played football at night in high school the temple seemed to glow in the background—it was the perfect setting and left an indelible impression on me that I wanted to spend time in the temple.”
Marriage
He met his wife, Amy, in third grade and they have many shared memories of growing up.
Education & Career
President Perschon is Vice President of Planning and Advice at Fidelity Investments, having attended the University of Utah, and Westminster College in Salt Lake City, where he received his MBA.
Family Life
They have four children Maxwell, Luke, Lily and Isaac. Maxwell recently returned from the Germany, Hamburg mission and Luke has received his call to the Portugal, Lisbon Mission.
Hobbies
The Perschons enjoy going on walks, sharing a dinner together, and spending time on their small bison ranch in Holt, MO.
Words from His Wife
“Just in the short time Brody has served in the Stake Presidency, the Lord has expanded capacity and strengthened our family,” Amy Perschon said. “I’m learning how callings, whatever they may be, are opportunities for us to grow and come closer to Christ and this calling for Brody is doing just that….for him, and for our whole family.”
His Message for our Stake
He wants Liberty Stake members to know that they are “known, seen, heard, and loved by our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ. And all of us can be with them again as we make and keep sacred covenants.”