Although Ann Jones initially was apprehensive when her husband, Gene Jones, was called to serve as the president of the Hermiston Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nine years later, she said those fears were unfounded.

“I was scared to death, but I knew he was capable,” she said.

Gene said his biggest blessing in serving the church has been how it’s strengthened his marital relationship.

“She has been a perfect support the whole way,” Gene said about his wife.

Jones has worked in the presidency of the local stake with Kurt Bendixsen, first counselor, and Jeffrey Sanders, second counselor. All will be released from their callings – all un-paid positions – on Sunday.

“They’re awfully good men,” Jones said of his counselors. “They’ve kept this thing going.”

In the Hermiston Stake, the presidency presides over six wards that average about 450 people in each of the congregations as well as five branches, including Monument and Fossil, a single adult branch and a branch at Two Rivers Correctional Institute.

Their role is to keep all them organized and uniform, Jones said.

As a teenager in Nyssa, Jones thought Sundays were a good day for hunting and fishing.

Ann had joined the church when she was a freshman in high school after having some cousins and a number of friends who were LDS,

“I liked the family closeness and I liked how they had family prayer,” Ann said.

Ann said the church was a big part of her life and it was important to her and that the couple had the same goals as their friendship grew.

“I was a senior in high school and my high school sweetheart asked me to meet with the missionaries,” Gene said referring to his eventual conversion.

Jones admits initially being unsure about the church.

“They told me the story of Joseph Smith and angels and it seemed pretty humorous at the time,” Jones recalled. “I wasn’t raised in any type of religious home.”

Jones said one of the elders encouraged him to read the scriptures and taught him how to pray.

“I tried it out one evening when I was home alone and after that I knew Joseph Smith was a prophet,” he said. “After that prayer, the lessons were very clear that the doctrines were true.”

Prior to being called as the stake president, Jones previously served as a counselor in two wards, was a bishop for six years and was the stake mission president.

Gene retired after 30 years of teaching math, the last 19 at Hermiston High School. Ann retired after teaching first grade at Rocky Heights Elementary School.

The couple has six adult children and 21 grandchildren.

The Jones’ said in raising their children, it was important to go to church, pray and study scripture together.

“One of the biggest impacts that he has had, is he understands families,” Bendixsen said. “He and Ann really understand the importance of family unity and the things that keep families close.”

The Jones will continue to serve the church. They plan to submit paperwork to serve in a couples mission.

A new stake president will be presented at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Hermiston building located at 850 S.W. 11th St., Hermiston. The service will be presided by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, a general authority of the church from Utah. The public is invited.