Akron Ohio Stake News

Welcome to Stake Conference

We are excited for our upcoming Stake Conference on May 15 and 16.

We are very pleased that we will be joined by two members of the Seventy. Elder J. Devn Cornish of the Quorum of the Seventy will preside at our Stake Conference (he will attend via broadcast). We are also pleased that Elder David S. Kinard, Area Seventy, will be joining us. Please see their bios on below. 

Our stake presidency recently had the opportunity to meet with Elder Cornish to receive direction on stake conference. Elder Cornish gave us some very thought-provoking guidance. He noted that the purpose of life is really to come to earth to change; to become a new creature in Christ; to literally become a new being. We come to have experiences that will change us. To change and be changed. He discussed the joy that we experience in our hearts when we begin to be changed through the power of Jesus Christ. 

With this background in mind, I would invite us all to ponder the process of being changed through the power of Jesus Christ. This is certainly one of the most exciting, hopeful, and motivating principles of the gospel. 

The following scriptures will help in preparing while pondering and studying this topic: Mosiah 3:19; Mosiah 5:2; Mosiah 5:7; Mosiah 27:24-26; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Thank you for all your wonderful efforts as Brothers and Sisters in the gospel, striving to follow our Savior and be changed through his power. 

We look forward to meeting with you at Stake Conference. 

Warmest regards, 

President Coburn

Details for Stake Conference are as follows: 

Leadership Session: Saturday, May 15, at 4 pm

– This will be for all Stake Council and Ward Council Members and will be held at the Stake Center, 106 East Howe Road

– As per our current practice, due to the COVID pandemic, we ask that you wear face masks and adhere to social distancing

Adult Session: Saturday, May 15, at 7 pm

– All members 18 and older are invited to attend the meeting at the stake center or view the broadcast from their homes (a link to the broadcast will be provided in a separate e-mail)

– As per our current practice, due to the COVID pandemic, if attending in-person at the Stake Center, we ask that you wear face masks and adhere to social distancing

General Session: Sunday, May 16, at 10 am

– This meeting will be a broadcast from the stake center

– All are invited to attend the meeting at their own ward buildings (as coordinated locally) or view the broadcast from their homes (a link to the broadcast will be provided in a separate e-mail)

– As per our current practice, due to the COVID pandemic, if attending in-person at your ward building, we ask that you wear face masks and adhere to social distancing

Elder J. Devn Cornish

Elder J. Devn Cornish was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2, 2011. At the time of his call, Elder Cornish had been serving as a member of the Sixth Quorum of the Seventy in the North America Southeast Area. He is currently serving in a number of committee assignments at Church headquarters. He married Elaine Simmons in August 1973. They are the parents of six children. He received a bachelor of arts in biology from Johns Hopkins University in 1975. In 1978 he received a doctor of medicine, also from Johns Hopkins University. He completed his pediatric residency at the Boston Children’s Hospital at Harvard University in 1981. He has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Guatemala–El Salvador Mission, bishop, stake president, president of the Dominican Republic Santiago Mission (2003–2006), and Area Seventy.

Elder David S. Kinard

Elder David S. Kinard was named an Area Seventy and a member of the Tenth Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the April 2021 general conference. Elder Kinard received a bachelor of science degree in family science and a master of science degree in organizational behavior, both from Brigham Young University. He has worked as vice president of human resources for Eli Lilly & Company and currently works as executive vice president of human resources for Elanco Animal Health. Elder Kinard has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Kentucky Louisville Mission, high councilor, ward Young Men president, counselor in a bishopric, bishop, counselor in a stake presidency, and stake president. David Spencer Kinard was born in Ogden, Utah, on December 31, 1966. He married Heather Kay Hamilton in 1988. They are the parents of four children. Elder and Sister Kinard reside in Fishers, Indiana.