Wendell J. Ashton
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Wendell Jeremy Ashton October 13, 1912 |
| Died | August 31, 1995 (aged 82) |
Wendell Jeremy Ashton (October 13, 1912 – August 31, 1995) was publisher of the Deseret News and director of the Public Communications Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was the elder brother of church apostle Marvin J. Ashton.
Ashton was a graduate of LDS High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. He then attended the University of Utah where he earned a degree in business.
Ashton served an LDS mission in the British Isles. He was a mission companion of future church president Gordon B. Hinckley. During his mission service, Ashton was editor of the Millennial Star, the church newspaper in England. Prior to his mission, Ashton worked as a reporter for the Salt Lake Telegram for three years.
Returning to the newspaper business in Utah, Ashton was the managing editor of the Deseret News from 1947 to 1948. He then joined Gilham Advertising, Inc. in 1950 and remained there until becoming the LDS Church's director of Public Affairs in 1972. In this capacity, Ashton dealt with the issue of the Howard Hughes "Mormon Will". Ashton was the publisher of the Deseret News from 1978 to 1985.
In the LDS Church, Ashton served as a member of the Sunday School General Board starting in the 1930s. He later served as president of the East Mill Creek Stake (where Hinckley had also been stake president). He was one of the original regional representatives called in 1967. Ashton also served as General Secretary of the Sunday School. As a result of this position he served as associate editor of The Instructor, the magazine of the Sunday School until the LDS Church magazines were reconfigured in 1971.
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