New Area Authority Seventy Announced for East, North Texas

FORMER EAST TEXAN CALLED TO LEADERHSHIP ROLE

Elder Jeremy Grisel (Gry-ZELL) of Providence Village, Texas was recently called to serve as a member of the Quorum of the Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Area Seventies offer voluntary service and are called and set apart to serve in specific geographical areas for the church. Elder Grisel will assist both the South and East parts of the greater Dallas area. The call was recently announced at the annual General Conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

For the first time, Elder Grisel attended the conference in person, along with his wife, Robin, and their four children. He says he knew about the call a few weeks prior and began drawing closer to the Savior and preparing spiritually.

“It was absolutely wonderful to be in person,” he says. “There is a different energy when you’re there with the brethren and all the believers. There is a special feeling there.”

Grisel says he was overwhelmed with the call at first but ultimately focused on two main responsibilities.

“My main purpose is to testify and witness the reality of Jesus Christ,” he says. “The other is to support the Church leadership around the area.” 

Grisel is not a stranger to Church leadership. The Grisels raised their children in Lufkin, a small town in East Texas. He says he loves the people and the small town, part of the Longview Stake (a stake is a geographical church district). After serving as a bishop of his congregation, he served as a counselor in the stake presidency for nine years. 

The Grisel’s oldest son was a senior in high school when they got a call to serve as mission presidents in the Tuscon, Arizona mission in 2020. This meant leaving behind everything and serving the Lord for three years. 

“When we got the call, my wife Robin was absolutely rock solid in her support,” he says. “It was just like an extension of her motherhood to care for the missionaries. It was a transformative experience for our entire family.” 

Elder Grisel says similarly now with this call to serve, Robin is all in. She is originally from Flower Mound and the couple met at Texas A&M University. The Grisels work hard to keep their family connected through weekly Zoom calls. Their oldest daughter and son are at BYU-Idaho, their next son is attending  BYU-Provo, and their youngest daughter is a high school junior and living at home. 

One special note about this calling is that Elder Grisel continues to work full-time. He is a physical therapist by profession with a special interest in fitness also coaching CrossFit. He regularly sees patients and is finding a balance with his new church responsibilities and travel. 

When the Grisels returned from Arizona, they settled in the North Dallas area, in the Little Elm Stake. Elder Grisel started serving as a temple worker for the Dallas Texas Temple and says this is one place he felt prepared by the Lord for this new assignment. 

When asked what his leadership style is, he says, “I try to just focus on Jesus Christ, our Savior. I want to make sure that as I go around, that we don’t get so bogged down on administrative roles, that we lose focus of the one and of Him.”

Part of Elder Grisel’s assignments is to work closely with the stake presidents in the surrounding areas as well as the Dallas East and Dallas South Mission Presidents. He is under the direction of Elder Jose Alonso of the United States Southwest Area. 

We have to administer in order to minister,” says Elder Grisel. “But as simply as possible. I’m all about the one and simplicity.” 

Elder Grisel says for any of the members of the Church who feel inadequate in their service to God, they have someone in their club.

“I hope that as we interact with each other,” he says, “That we leave trusting God more and feeling His love more.” 

According to the Church, members of the Quorum of the Seventy are not called to full-time service and typically serve for five years. Their duties include meeting and counseling with local Church leaders to help them fulfill their responsibilities.

Each Area Seventy belongs to a Quorum of the Seventy. There are currently 12 Quorums of the Seventy in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Though all Seventies have equal authority, some are designated as General Authorities and others are designated as Area Seventies. For more information please visit churchofjesuschrist.org