MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Organized in 1960 with 2,600 members, the Minnesota Stake (think "diocese") of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had boundaries extending from Princeton to the north, Austin to the south, Eau Claire (WI) to the east, and Mound to the west. It was renamed the Minneapolis Minnesota Stake in 1974. Soon after, the stake divided to form the St. Paul Minnesota Stake in 1976. Multiple divisions since then have resulted in five stakes in the larger Twin Cities Metropolitan Area with over 24,000 members in 50 congregations.
The Mormon Church is well known for its lay ministry who receive no financial compensation for their work. This includes stake presidents and bishops (ministers) who also have demanding careers in the business world while serving church callings that most people would consider full-time jobs.
In a book written by Laura Willes, entitled Minnesota Mormons, she writes: "Mark's calling was both a great challenge and a great blessing to our family...Within his first year of being stake president, he became chief financial officer at General Mills, Inc. Several years later he was named president of the company."