Maria Duncan was raised in the San Francisco East Bay area where she learned the gospel from sister missionaries and joined the Church as she entered her teens. She moved to Cache Valley, Utah for high school and college, graduating from Utah State with a bachelor’s degree in Technology Systems, then worked in the professional media market and has since transitioned to project work.

In the Church, Maria has served in Young Women and Relief Society, worked with the stake youth, and been a Public Affairs (now Communication) director for the most recent six years. She serves on boards for non-profit organizations in her community while coaching middle school sports and raising seven children with her loving husband, Tom.

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Maria Duncan, a stake communications director in the greater Sacramento Valley area, shares insights into her unique calling, which involves internal and external communications for the stake, including interfaith work and community outreach. She emphasizes the importance of aligning her efforts with the priesthood objectives of the stake presidency and building strong relationships with other faith communities.

Maria discusses her approach to visiting various churches in the community, where she focuses on building connections. She highlights the power of genuine relationships in fostering unity and mutual respect among diverse religious groups. Maria also shares her experiences with temple open houses and the impact of inviting community leaders to tour the temple.

– Explanation of the role of a stake communications director

– Misconceptions about the role of a stake communications director

– Involvement of youth in stake communications work

– Attending different churches in the community and building relationships

– Composition and roles of the stake communications team

– Involving youth in stake communications activities

– Importance of networking and building relationships with other faith communities

– Focusing on connections and relationships rather than conversion

– Reflection on the experience of temple open houses

– Gratitude for the stake communications work and its impact

– How leadership in stake communications has enhanced following Jesus Christ

The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, Kirby Heyborne, and many more in over 700 episodes.

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