This biographical sketch adapted from the "News
of the Church: Elder Wayne M. Hancock of the Seventy" in the Ensign,
May 1997.
Wayne M. and Connie Hancock wanted to make sure that
their lives were headed in the right direction and would often fast and
pray for guidance. “I was working as an attorney in Arizona and was trying
to determine what kind of a career path to take,” explains Elder Hancock,
who was born in Safford, Arizona, on 16 July 1931, and was raised in Glendale,
California.
“Through a series of seemingly insignificant events,
we were led to Midland, Michigan, where I worked 27 years with the Dow
Chemical Company. The still, small voice and the power of fasting and prayer
have always played a crucial role for us in obtaining the guidance we seek.”
A former stake president, stake president’s counselor,
mission president’s counselor, and bishop, Elder Hancock of the Second
Quorum of the Seventy has often sought guidance in his callings and professional
life. He and his wife have also fasted and prayed often for assistance
as parents of eight children. This trust in the Lord has been reassuring
during hard times.
“After some of the biggest disappointments in my
life have come some of the biggest blessings,” he notes. “Early on, I planned
on serving a mission. I had my mission interview and even had a missionary
farewell. Then I was notified that the draft board had denied my mission
request and said I must be available if needed for military service. I
was sorely disappointed but decided to transfer from the University of
Arizona to Brigham Young University that summer. Fortunately, there I met
my wife.”
After Wayne and Connie graduated from BYU in 1953,
they were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on 25 June that year. They
headed to California to serve in the military, then were dismayed to find
that the call had been postponed. Again
disappointment led to blessings, when Brother Hancock ended up attending
the University of Arizona law school, where he received his degree three
years later.
Elder Hancock feels that with that degree and with
the Lord’s guidance, he was able to be of greater service throughout his
career.
“I am so grateful that through life’s experiences
I have learned to trust in the Lord,” says Elder Hancock.
Grampa Bill is informed by Kim Siever that prior to Elder
Hancock's call into the Second Quorum of the Seventy, he was President of
the Utah Provo Mission from 1994-1997 and was in fact serving as Mission
President when he received his call into the Second Quorum.
Grampa is grateful to Brother Siever and all those
who help make these pages more complete.
On October 6, 2001, a grateful Church, assembled in the 171st Semi-annual General Conference, gave Elder Hancock a vote of appreciation as he was released with honor from the Second Quorum of the Seventy.
