The Hixson Ward of the Chattanooga Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently sustained a new bishopric. Joseph Newton has been called as bishop. A bishop oversees the administrative, spiritual and temporal needs of the ward and serves for a period of five-seven years. Joseph is married to Tawnia Newton and they have four grown sons and 1 daughter. They are also grandparents to 2 grandchildren.
Brooks Mattison, a native of Corvallis, Or., has been called to be first counselor. He served a two-year mission for the church in Taiwan. In his testimony, he states, "That the principles that Jesus taught will bring more peace to people’s lives than any other method. He is the way, the truth, and the light and it is through Him that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father.” While he serves in the bishopric, he hopes to encourage people to draw nearer to Jesus Christ and become more like him on a daily basis.
Matt LaRose has been called to serve as second counselor, and was born in Sacramento, Ca., later moving to Klamath Falls, Or. as a young child. He graduated from Mazama High School in 2004, and served a two-year mission for the church from 2005-2007. While on his mission, he served the congregations of Oneida, Soddy Daisy, Karns, and Alcoa in Tennessee, and in Fort Oglethorpe.
Following his mission on May 26, 2007, he married his wife, Brittany LaRose, and was sealed for time and all eternity in the Sacramento, Ca. Temple.
He attended the I.B.E.W. Electrical Apprenticeship School for five years, culminating in becoming a journeyman electrician.
Matt and Brittany are the parents of Blake and Alexis. Bro. LaRose has previously served on the Stake High Council, in the Hixson Ward Elders Quorum Presidency, Ward Mission Leader and Sunday School President.
Bro. LaRose is very grateful for this opportunity to serve in the bishopric. He has a testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “I know that He lives. I know that through Him we can have eternal life. I also know that because of Him, I have an opportunity to be with my family forever. One of my favorite scriptures is found in the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 3:7 “And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”
Bro. LaRose states that if we follow the commandments of God, we will be able to accomplish many things and be blessed in doing so.