A Greg Townsend Legacy

#1 - Timeline

Maybe a comment from friend and coworker Parker Stone stated it best, “You showed me that it is 100% possible to be a normal and cool dude and do the seminary thing. Greg Townsend is a spiritual giant and a normal dude. [That’s] hard to come by.”

Anyone who has been taught by, worked beside, and rubbed shoulders with Brother Greg Townsend would - and do - sing similar praises. 

Take note 

that the “anyone” does not refer to a small number of individuals. Due both to his gift of connection and the sheer length of his career in Seminary and Institutes, thousands of lives have been touched for good by Brother, Teacher, Coach, and Dad Greg Townsend. 

The year is 1992, in the furthest place from Parowan, Utah, Greg had ever found himself. Greg was a 20-year-old serving a 2-year Spanish-speaking mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sevilla, Spain. That was the time he referenced the first of several supporting career path decisions.

“I was a missionary when I decided I wanted to do that. I looked back on growing up and, outside my parents, it was my football coach and Seminary teacher that had influenced me the most.”

“It was on my mission that I thought, ‘You know what, I really like teaching the gospel.’ I felt like I had a knack for it. I could teach it in a way that was easy to understand. I love the scriptures, but I’ve never considered myself to be a scriptorian; I’ve never considered that to be my ‘gift gift’. My gift has way more to do with teaching than my knowledge of the scriptures… My gift is the gift to teach.”

And he was right. 

That gift 

was first exercised after his mission in an Introduction to Seminary Teaching course during a quick stint at Brigham Young University, after which he transferred to Southern Utah University to begin his preservice and student teaching assignments. 

Greg taught as a student teacher in Parowan, UT at Parowan High School Seminary in 1993-1995, during which he met and married his beautiful wife, Jamie Townsend. Under the direction of Brent Esplin and Kevin Bulloch, he was hired as a full-time religious educator and given his first assignment in Kanab, UT.

From 1996 to 2007, Brother Townsend and his family grew to love the students and community of Kanab. There, he worked the near decade alongside Brother John Banks. Throughout his time in Kanab, he worked with the Seminary council, ran the ‘milk run’ assignment across the border to Fredonia, Arizona, and ended that memorable time as principal of Fredonia and Kanab Seminaries. 

The end of a wonderful season came with a new assignment and a big family move to Utah County. There, Greg spent one year teaching in Springville, 4 years as Principal at Payson High School Seminary, and 1 year as Principal at perhaps his favorite teaching assignment, Mt. Nebo. 

Although he taught in Utah County for nearly 6 years, his family had moved without him to Parowan after 4. He touches on that season that came to an end with happy news shared at a truckstop in Beaver, UT, later, but certainly, a time of growth and blessings was experienced by the Townsend family upon their faithful move back home to Parowan, UT, in 2011. 

In 2014, 

Greg received the long-awaited placement call that would put him back with his family during the week with an assignment to teach at the Beaver Seminary. With the whole family back together in Southern Utah, he favored the idea of being a Beaver until the end. Unfortunately, that assignment was short-lived. A 2015 assignment as the principal of Cedar Seminary quickly turned to his 2016 assignment as principal of the Parowan Utah Seminary. Though his intentions were never set to someday teach in Parowan, his kids especially enjoyed the chance to be taught by their dad over the course of his 5 years there. 

He left the seminary for a position at the Cedar City Institute of Religion, which, after 1.5 years, gave way to a 2-year preservice and Swiss Army Knife assignment where he found some of the most stretching responsibilities of his career. 

The day after his 2nd daughter’s wedding in 2024, Greg and Jamie made the furthest and most exciting assignment change yet to become the Institute Coordinator in La Jolla. There, he enjoys his favorite responsibilities yet, in a place they love and their children love to visit. 

What started as a desire to teach the gospel and be around kids expanded into an exciting and beautifully fruitful 30-year career. 

And believe it or not, he still has a few more good years in him before retirement. 

#2 - Incline 

“Originally, I wanted to do this because I love to teach and I love to be with kids. The ironic thing is… if you happen to be good at that, you don’t get to do it as much.”

And his career speaks to that statement. After teaching for only 2 years in Kanab, he immediately became a principal. Though principals still get to teach, much of their time in the classroom is swallowed up by administrative responsibilities. For Greg, nearly 27 years of his 30-year career have been spent in administration. 

This is just one example of the personal and professional growth required of him over the course of his career. 

One thing

about Greg Townsend is that no experience will ever be wasted on him. Though he’s never once sought out an administrative or leadership position, his humble commitment to do what is asked of him and ability to bring others with him have landed him in those positions more times than not - Perhaps unfortunately for him, but quite fortunately for the rest of us. 

Every assignment over the years gave him something to learn. Though some ranked higher on his favorites list than others, no experience was wasted. Greg would be the first to tell you that some of those challenging and unexpected experiences would be the best places to grow. He shared two specific examples from his career. 

Though familiar with the 20+ years of administrative responsibilities, Greg transitioned from leading and instructing teachers within the Seminaries and Institutes program to those hoping to be in the program. After a short stint as a plain old institute teacher on the Southern Utah University campus, he became what is known in S&I as a Preservice Director.

His job 

was to find, train, and prepare individuals looking to be hired on as paid seminary and institute teachers. These individuals are expected to undergo a workshop, 

a practicum teaching experience, qualify for a student teaching job, undergo observations and interviews, and, over the course of at least one semester, be ready to be hired. 

“Any opportunity to change assignments was a stretching experience for me… Preservice was extra intense just because you got close to those kids and you wanted them to succeed. The way the system is set up, a lot of their success hinged on my ability to help them be there.” 

The biggest and boldest career change for Greg and his sweetheart would, ironically, bring them right back to where it started. Under 20 miles from his birthplace in National City, Greg accepted a position as the Institute Coordinator in La Jolla, California. Thrust from a world of Release-Time Seminary and paid Religious Educators, Greg now surrounds himself with some of the most faithful volunteer servants and teachers of the gospel. From teaching online institute classes, serving on the High Council and in the ward of young single adults, training and supporting the called teachers in the surrounding stakes, to serving alongside the full-time missionaries in their efforts to gather scattered Israel, including giving them free haircuts (Jamie, definitely not Greg) - This assignment seems to have asked the very most of these devoted saints while giving them the very most right back. Those blessings never go unnoticed by Greg and his family. 

#3 - Lifeline 

Greg has always had a way with words. His ability to make complicated things simple and simple things meaningful has not only buoyed his career but transformed many along the way. 

When interviewed regarding his ‘most important’ and ‘best decisions’, he shared some of the following lifelines of his career. These simple truths he chose to live by, and the benefits are evident.

“When working with people, 

If I have to err, I believe it is always wise to err on the side of mercy… Whether that’s in dealing with students or people in general, I’d rather err on the side of mercy.”

Brother Townsend shared how, throughout his years of teaching and administering, the highs and lows were closely related to the state of his relationships. Positive relationships with students, parents, and coworkers brought some of the best moments of his career and even life. When relationships were strained, however, the morale for work definitely followed suit. His key to maintaining positive relationships was and is simple - show a little mercy. 

“Don't be afraid to 

Look for other different assignments. It’s always been scary… But the willingness to try something different is, I think, one of the most important decisions I’ve made.”

He can look back on every decision, starting with student teaching and accepting the assignment to go to Kanab, the less glamorous milk run assignment to Fredonia, and the big jump to Utah County, and see the blessing in switching things up. 

The move from Utah County to Iron County proved the scariest leap until that point, leaving Greg to live with his in-laws, teaching in Payson during the week, and commuting to Parowan on the weekends. Parowan was where he and his wife wanted to raise their family, so they took the opportunity when it arose. 

“It didn’t make sense at all to hardly anybody. Most people thought we were total idiots for doing that, but again, that change was obviously exactly what we were supposed to do. I don’t have any doubt that was all, you know, guided by the Lord.”

The leap to La Jolla - an opportunity presented only after humble and faithful opportunity seeking on the Townsends’ part - brought its own challenges and confirmations from God. 

“I’m a janitor, event planner, chef, taxi, groundskeeper…” “We knew that in taking this assignment, missing the kids was going to be hard, but I was excited about the assignment. I ended up being wrong on both accounts. The assignment is actually better than I thought it would be, but missing the kids is even worse than we thought it would be.”

That homesickness is nursed regularly with family trips back and forth from P-town to Petco. 

Remembering the reason why 

Can be one of the most motivating powers as we navigate life. That is surely the case for Greg. 

Remembering his love for teaching. 

Remembering his love for the students.

Remember his love for and commitment to his family.

Remembering his devotion to His Savior Jesus Christ. 

He compared the weighty nature of what he teaches now to some of his earlier alternative paths of coaching football and teaching Spanish. 

“Not making the football team or getting a D on a Spanish test doesn’t seem as significant in the grand scheme as developing faith in Jesus Christ. That can bring a level of difficulty and extra effort.”

Throughout his career, he has demonstrated how these and other simple truths can anchor and guide throughout even the scariest assignments and responsibilities. 

Greg is not the only one who remembers. In fact, his very first batch of preservice teachers would be found within his own family. They often and fondly remember and learn from Greg’s example. 

Jake Topham, Son-in-Law, Seminary Teacher, Current Instructor at the Cedar City Institute:

“No one, especially me, can replicate what Greg does in the classroom. The mixture of stories, questions, and testimony are the brushstrokes he’s used to influence generations of disciples! One thing I’ve tried to replicate in his teaching career is a willingness to adopt assignments and directions from leaders and make them his own. Not only has that provided a great sense of trust and confidence for his leaders, but it’s also allowed him to truly understand the “why” in aspects of our organization. Those things have blessed me tremendously! He’s always been able to help me understand things as a new teacher that would have taken me decades to grasp. I’m doing my best to stand on the shoulders of the giant who is Greg T.”

Madeline Topham, Oldest Daughter, Seminary Teacher, Institute Instructor, Current Church Curriculum Project Manager:

“When I was little I loved Harry Potter. The story never gets old, but when I think about it, the real reason I love it is because it’s something my dad and I love together. I remember listening to the audiobooks in the car and waiting for the new ones to come out! Taking turns when we only had one copy and playing Harry Potter trivia. I loved it because he did. And now I still at least listen to a little bit of it most days. 

Growing up I knew my dad loved his job. He always left and came home whistling. Students were always happy to see him wherever we went. I could see the difference he was making in the communities we were part of. We loved to spend time at the seminary with him. He brought his work home, or rather he brought his testimony and conviction to work. He made the scriptures come alive for us. Daniel, David, Nephi, they all felt like family. 

When we moved to a new place and I was nervous to start school, he comforted with me a reminder that there was a seminary building on the premises and I could always go there if I needed help or a safe place. 

When we moved to Parowan I experienced that safe, peaceful place when I started my own seminary experience. 

When I was a junior in high school my dad sent me a news article about a recent policy change in seminaries and institutes. It said that women with children could now teach full time. I remember getting that text message and for the first time, thinking teaching seminary might be an option for me. 

When I went to college I sought solace in institute. With all the change going on in my life it was nice to have a soft place to land. One that felt like home to me. I was asked to serve as a Sunday school teacher in the YSA ward and my weaknesses were brought into sharp focus. I was nervous to teach. My dad suggested I take the teaching seminary class to learn how to teach more like the Savior. And then I never looked back! Now Jake is in it with me and we have the best little life. 

I was blessed as a child by S&I and now it blesses my children. And still one of the best parts is that I can love it with my dad. Like Harry Potter. And I whistle when I go to work and when I come home. And my kids love hearing the scripture stories he taught me. I love my dad and I am so proud of him.”

Shelbey Jensen, Second Daughter, Current Seminary Teacher at Hurricane and Snow Canyon High Schools:

“Nothing beats how cool it felt to watch my dad testify of Jesus Christ to me and a class full of my friends and me every other day after lunch at the Parowan Seminary. I could count on that testimony. I do count on that testimony as I’ve found my own of my Savior and His Restored Church. Despite the pride of wanting to do “something different” from my siblings, I now hardly have a greater source of pride and gratitude than the opportunity to try and do what they and my dad do so well. I want to tell stories like him, de-escalate like him, know what to say when it counts like him, and teach Jesus like him.”

Greg and Jamie plan to retire from a fruitful career in Seminary and Institutes in La Jolla, California, and move home to Parowan, UT, to be full-time Mimi and Pops. The service given, blessings received, and truths learned will not soon be forgotten or taken for granted by the Greg Townsend family.

Good Job, Greg.