Carlos E. Asay

Who was Carlos E. Asay?

Carlos Egan Asay was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1976 until his death.

Asay was born in Sutherland, Utah, and raised in Monroe, Utah. In 1947, just prior to leaving on his mission, Asay married Colleen Webb.

From 1947 to 1950, he served as an LDS Church missionary in Palestine, Syria and Lebanon. When he first arrived in the mission Asay had a hard time finding his mission president, Badwagan Piranian, who was also arriving at the mission from Switzerland. Asay and his mission companion eventually managed to locate Piranian and his wife in Beirut, Lebanon.

Asay had a bachelors degree from the University of Utah, a masters degree from California State University, Long Beach and a doctorate from the University of Utah.

After his return to Utah, he served in a variety of callings in the LDS Church, including bishop, regional representative of the Twelve Apostles, and member of the general board of the Sunday School. He was president of the church's Texas North Mission from 1970 to 1973 and later was the president of the International Mission of the LDS Church.

In 1976, Asay became a general authority and a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy; his first assignment was to head the church's missionary department. He was a member of the seven-man Presidency of the Seventy twice, from 1980 to 1986 and from 1989 to 1996. In October 1996, he was given general authority emeritus status and appointed the president of the Salt Lake Temple. He died of a heart attack while serving in this calling. His funeral was held in the Salt Lake Assembly Hall on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.