Get to know President and Sister Richards
President Matthew K. Richards and Sister Debby Richards began their service as leaders of the Texas Houston South Mission on July 1, 2021.
They are thrilled to have been called to this amazing mission, and look forward to meeting and serving with each missionary who is called here with them. “Your service in our Savior’s behalf inspires us and we can’t wait to serve together in the important work of Gathering Israel.”
President Richards grew up in Salt Lake City, where he worked for more than 20 years as an attorney. For most of that time, he helped manage many of the Church’s legal needs in the United States and Canada.
In his free time, he loves to be active—to run, travel with family, eat good food, and downhill ski. He also loves to learn and is always studying something interesting. He has served as bishop, taught mission prep, and served in a young single adult stake and as an adviser to lots of young men.
Sister Richards is also from Salt Lake City. She grew up a canyon apart from President Richards. They went to the same Elementary and Junior High and then rival high schools (East/West). But because President Richards is two years older, they didn’t meet till after they both served missions and were studying at Brigham Young University. They met while team-teaching a Sunday School class, and after 25 years of marriage are excited to serve side-by-side together again!
Sister Richards graduated in Family and Consumer Science, taught English in Taiwan, and then taught teen life skills at a local junior high before dedicating her time to raising their five children. She recently completed a master’s degree in educational leadership at the University of Utah.
She says, “I love culture and diversity and traveling. I love to cook and host friends and family. I love health, fitness, and playing team sports. I have taught all of our kids to play tennis. I love music. I play the piano and love to sing. I love being a Mom! Raising my children while wrapping my arms around them and their friends has been my life’s work. We are so excited to be part of the mission.”
To all our missionaries, President Richards adds, “We love you already! We pray for you! We need you! We are excited to meet you! We study and work every day so we can serve alongside you in sharing the blessings of the Savior’s atonement with the great people of the Texas Houston South Mission.”
You will get to meet the Richards’ children. They have a daughter in junior high, a missionary son, a daughter and son who recently returned from missions and are now in college, and a returned missionary daughter and a wonderful son-in-law who recently graduated from college and are the parents of the Richards’ two grandchildren.
