“Bishop W. Christopher Waddell,” Ensign, November 2015, 140
Bishop W. Christopher Waddell
Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
As a college athlete, Christopher Waddell received a volleyball scholarship at San Diego State University in California, USA. But he learned to be grateful for a bishop who asked him about other things when he was at home during breaks.
“He didn’t say, ‘How’s volleyball going?’ but ‘How are you doing? Are you saying your prayers, staying strong, staying active in the Church?’ I really appreciated those questions [about] … the things that were most important,” Bishop Waddell recalls.
Focusing on what’s most important has helped Bishop Waddell to live up to two family mottos, “Return with honor” and “Trust in the Lord.” That trust enabled him to put volleyball on hold to serve a mission. After he returned from his mission, it enabled him to continue a long-distance romance with a young woman at another university. Later, after they were married, trusting the Lord enabled them to listen to the Spirit when making decisions about moving.
“You do things the Lord’s way,” he says, “and things will work out fine.”
Trust in the Lord will continue to bless Bishop Waddell, who has served as a General Authority Seventy since April 2011, as he now becomes the Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric.
Wayne Christopher Waddell was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1959. He married Carol Stansel in July 1984 in the Los Angeles California Temple. They are the parents of four children and have three grandchildren. He has been a counselor in the South America Northwest Area Presidency and will stay in Peru for a short time.
Bishop Waddell received a bachelor’s degree in 1984 from San Diego State University. He also did postgraduate work in the Executive MBA program at BYU. Beginning in 1984 he worked with Merrill Lynch, where he became first vice president of investments.
Bishop Waddell has served as an Area Seventy, president of the Spain Barcelona Mission (where he previously served as a young full-time missionary), stake president, counselor in a mission presidency, bishop, and as counselor in a bishopric.