BYU-Pathway Worldwide monthly devotionals complement the student experience by fostering greater faith and discipleship in Jesus Christ. Devotionals launch on Fridays at 10:00 a.m. (Mountain Time) and are available with translated voiceover and captions in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French.
Winter Devotional Speakers
The upcoming devotionals will feature the following speakers and General Authorities and Officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
- January 10: President Brian K. Ashton and Sister Melinda Ashton, BYU-Pathway Worldwide
- February 7: Elder S. Mark Palmer, General Authority Seventy
- March 7: Shima Baughman, professor at BYU Law and distinguished fellow at Wheatley Institute
- April 4: Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
Devotionals typically last 7–10 minutes and can be viewed Fridays at 10:00 a.m. (MT) on the
About the Speakers
President Brian K. and Sister Melinda Ashton
Brian K. Ashton is the president of BYU-Pathway Worldwide and previously served as vice president of field operations. Receiving his bachelor’s degree from BYU and MBA degree from Harvard University, President Ashton has started several companies. He served as the Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency from 2015–2019.
Melinda Ashton graduated from BYU and later attended medical school in Chicago. She served in the Spain Malaga Mission. Melinda and Brian are the parents of seven children. Together, they presided over the Texas Houston South Mission from 2012–2015.
Elder S. Mark Palmer
Stanley Mark Palmer was sustained as a General Authority Seventy in April 2016. He received a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Auckland and a master of business administration degree from BYU. He founded SMP Ventures, a real estate development company, and has served as president since 1993. He and his wife, Jacqueline, are the parents of six children. Together, they presided over the Washington Spokane Mission from 2009–2011 and as interim mission leaders in the Australia Sydney South Mission.
Sister Shima Baughman
Shima Baughman is the Woodruff J. Deem Professor of Law at BYU Law School and a distinguished fellow at Wheatley Institute. She earned her juris doctorate from BYU Law School and started her legal teaching career at BYU in 2010. In 2013, she joined the faculty at the University of Utah Law School, where she taught for 10 years and served as associate dean of Faculty Research and Development. Her work has been heavily cited and featured in top media outlets throughout the U.S. She lives with her husband Ryan and five children in Salt Lake City.
Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus
Andrea Muñoz Spannaus was sustained as Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency in April 2023. She earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Profesorado de Educación Inicial Sara Eccleston in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She and her husband, Alin, are the parents of two children. Together, they presided over the Mexico Cuernavaca Mission from 2009–2012.