Cheryl A. Esplin

Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency

Cheryl Asay Esplin, second counselor in the Primary general presidency, cannot remember a time when she did not believe in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. “I was taught at a young age to pray,” she says. “I remember going in prayer to find help before I did anything else, and I always received answers to my prayers.”

Born in October 1944 to Orson and Mildred Asay, Sister Esplin grew up on a farm eight miles (13 km) east of Lovell, Wyoming, USA. As the second oldest of nine children, she was often called upon to babysit. While in charge of her younger brothers and sisters, Sister Esplin remembers praying for her family’s safety while her parents were gone.

Sister Esplin graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Brigham Young University. While studying, she met her husband, Max Esplin, and married him in the St. George Utah Temple on September 1, 1967. After graduating, Brother Esplin was drafted into the military, and Sister Esplin taught fifth grade for two years near her family in Byron, Wyoming.

She has served in the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary auxiliaries. Her most recent calling was on the Primary general board. She also served with her husband when he was president of the North Carolina Raleigh Mission.

The Esplins have five children. Sister Esplin loves spending time with her grandchildren; they cook pancakes and waffles, play dress-up, go on hikes, and read stories together.

Sister Esplin loves the message of her favorite scripture, Doctrine and Covenants 84:88: “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” She hopes that children will remember that Heavenly Father is always available to them through prayer.