Back
> ... Articles > News

Meet the Devotional Speakers for Jan.–Apr. 2024

Photos of the men and women who will be giving BYU-Pathway devotionals

BYU-Pathway Worldwide monthly devotionals complement the student experience by fostering greater faith and discipleship in Jesus Christ. Students across the world have been inspired by these uplifting messages.

The upcoming devotionals will feature the following speakers and General Authorities and Officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

  • January 16: BYU-Pathway President Brian K. Ashton and Sister Melinda Ashton
  • February 13: Elder Ricardo P. Giménez, General Authority Seventy
  • March 5: Brother Odgerel Ochirjav, Seminaries & Institutes Coordinator, Mongolia
  • April 2: Sister Susan H. Porter, Primary General President

Devotionals typically last 7–10 minutes and can be viewed at 10:00 a.m. (MST/UTC-7) on the BYU-Pathway Facebook page and later on the BYU-Pathway speeches page. Students responsible for leading the lesson in their gathering that week will facilitate a discussion around topics shared in the devotional. All participants are invited to watch, share, and discuss these inspiring messages.

About the Speakers

Brian and Melinda Ashton-grayBackground square .jpg

President Brian K. and Sister Melinda Ashton

Brian K. Ashton is the president of BYU-Pathway Worldwide and previously served as vice president of field operations. Receiving his bachelor’s degree from BYU and MBA degree from Harvard University, President Ashton has started several companies. He served as the Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency from 2015–2019.

Melinda Ashton graduated from BYU and later attended medical school in Chicago. She served in the Spain Malaga Mission. Melinda and Brian are the parents of seven children. Together, they presided over the Texas Houston South Mission from 2012–2015.

Elder Ricardo P. Giménez

Elder Ricardo P. Giménez

Ricardo P. Giménez was sustained as a General Authority Seventy on April 6, 2019. He received an undergraduate degree in accounting and auditing from the University of Santiago Chile and an MBA from the University of Chile. He has worked in the mining, information technology, and finance industries and currently serves at Church headquarters in the Priesthood and Family Department. He and his wife, Catherine, are the parents of two children. Together, they presided over the California San Diego Mission.

Brother Odgerel Ochirjav

Odgerel Ochirjav

Odgerel Ochirjav was called as the first stake president in Mongolia in 2009, and currently serves in the Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission presidency. Their stake choir, “SION,” was in the semi-finals of Mongolia’s Got Talent. Brother Ochirjav received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Voronezh State University of Forestry and Technologies and a PhD from Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. He currently works as a coordinator for Seminaries and Institutes. He and his wife, Ariuna, are the parents of two children.

Sister Susan H. Porter

Susan H. Porter

Susan H. Porter was sustained as Primary General President on April 2, 2022. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from BYU. She has worked as a lab assistant for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and as a math teacher. She previously served as First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency and on the Relief Society General Advisory Board. She and her late husband, Bruce, are the parents of four children.