Mike and Sharon Weston History

Reflections on a Life of Faith and Service

Victoria Stake 50th Anniversary

We—Mike and Sharon Weston—have been blessed to experience a life shaped by

faith, family, and devoted service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Our journey together began in Cardston, Alberta, where we were both born and raised

in strong Latter-day Saint homes.

Mike’s early years included a formative experience at age sixteen when he was called

to serve a Stake Mission in the Waterton Branch. The small branch, nestled in a

national park and largely shut down during the snowy winters, was kept alive by a few

dedicated families. Serving there before his full-time mission deeply rooted Mike’s

testimony and commitment to the Savior. Later, he served in the Minnesota-Wisconsin

Mission from 1974 to 1976. Upon returning, Mike married his high school

sweetheart—Sharon Smith—in June 1976.

Sharon grew up in Hill Spring, Alberta, a farming community founded by her great-

grandfather, Edward J. Wood, a pioneering Church leader who served as President of

the Alberta Stake and the first President of the Cardston Alberta Temple. Her family

legacy in the Church instilled in her a lifelong desire to serve. Beginning when she was

about 14 years old, she served as Ward Organist, Choir Pianist and Sunday School

Chorister.

After Mike completed a degree in Environmental Sciences, we moved to British

Columbia in 1978 with our young children—Nicole (2) and Kyle (6 months)—as Mike

began his career with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. A year later, we were transferred

to the remote coastal village of Tahsis, BC, on Vancouver Island where we were

blessed with our 3 rd child Jared.

Our time in Tahsis stands out as one of the most challenging yet strengthening periods

of our lives. With no established ward or branch nearby, and only one other member in

the area, we were granted permission from President Howard Biddulf to hold Church

services in our home as a dependent unit of the Campbell River Branch. For five years,

our living room became our chapel. Mike conducted the meetings and administered the

sacrament; Sharon played the piano, led the music, and taught our children the Primary

lessons. Over time, neighbors and friends joined us—up to 25 attending regularly by the

time we moved. We were blessed to bring one sister into the gospel before out

departure.

In March 1985, we relocated to Victoria, where we joined the Victoria 3rd Ward and

were welcomed with open arms. We found strength, fellowship, and joy in the gospel

community, and our children quickly adapted and thrived.

Mike continued to serve in many callings—Young Men President, Elders Quorum

President, Bishop of the Victoria 3rd Ward, President of the YSA Branch, and as a

counselor in the Victoria Stake Presidency. Among these, serving as Bishop was

especially sacred. The opportunity to know and minister to members one by one

brought a profound sense of the Savior’s love for everyone. Despite the time and effort

required, he always felt uplifted and strengthened beyond his natural capacity.

Sharon could usually be found playing the organ or the piano which she has been

enjoying since she was a young girl. Throughout her life, she has found great joy in

serving in various church callings. She loved her time in the Young Women

organization, where she served many times, including in presidencies and as president.

She also served in Primary, both as a teacher and in the presidency. She loved serving

in the Relief Society as counselor a few times and later as president. She developed a

deep love for the sisters and cherished the opportunity to serve them. Sharon also had

the privilege of serving alongside her husband, Mike, in the YSA Branch, where she

built lasting connections with the young adults and grew to love them dearly. Church

service has been a true blessing and a powerful source of personal growth. These

experiences have strengthened her testimony of the gospel and deepened her love for

the Savior and His work.

Each of our children served full-time missions and married in the temple. Nicole and her

husband, Ben Anderson, have five children: Mason, Lucas, Evan, Kaleia, and Makenna.

Kyle and his wife, Mandy, have three children: Lillian, Hayden, and Cody. Jared and his

wife, Amy, have three children: Maizey, Asher, and Joey.

In addition to serving in the Church, we brought into our home two developmentally

challenged adult ladies who we cared for as members of our family for 33 years. This

was a challenge but also a great blessing for our family.

Looking back, we recognize how every stage of life and service—whether in isolation in

Tahsis or among the Saints in Victoria—was guided by the Lord. We have come to know

that when we respond to callings with faith and humility, the Lord magnifies our efforts.

We’ve also learned that the gospel is not just lived in chapels or temples, but in homes,

on remote coastlines, and in the daily efforts to love and serve others.

Today, as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Victoria Stake, we are filled with

gratitude—for our family, for our fellow Saints, and above all, for the Savior, whose love

and grace have sustained us through every chapter of our journey.