Marvin Jeremy Ashton (May 6, 1915 – February 25, 1994) was a Utah politician and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1971 until his death in 1994.

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Marvin J. Ashton
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
December 2, 1971 (1971-12-02) – February 25, 1994 (1994-02-25)
Called by	Joseph Fielding Smith
LDS Church Apostle
December 2, 1971 (1971-12-02) – February 25, 1994 (1994-02-25)
Called by	Joseph Fielding Smith
Reason	Death of Richard L. Evans
Reorganization at end of term	Robert D. Hales ordained
Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
October 3, 1969 (1969-10-03) – December 2, 1971 (1971-12-02)
Called by	David O. McKay
End reason	Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Personal details
Born	Marvin Jeremy Ashton (1915-05-06)May 6, 1915 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Died	February 25, 1994(1994-02-25) (aged 78) Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Resting place	Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery 40°44′27.96″N 111°49′22.08″W

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Ashton was born to Marvin O. Ashton and Rachel Grace Jeremy in Salt Lake City, Utah.^[1] His father was a local LDS leader and later became a church general authority. Ashton worked in the lumber business as a youth. He graduated from the University of Utah. He worked as managing director of LDS Social Services. Ashton served as a member of the Utah State Senate from 1957 to 1961 as a Republican. He was also president of Deseret Book and involved in other business ventures including a lumber company.

Ashton served a mission in Great Britain from 1937 to 1939 during which time he edited the Millennial Star.^[1] His mission president was Hugh B. Brown. From 1958 to 1969, Ashton was an assistant to the general superintendent of the church's Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. He served as an assistant to superintendents Joseph T. Bentley and G. Carlos Smith.

He was named managing director of the then-newly formed Church Social Services Department in September 1969.^[2] A month later he was named an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Ashton was ordained an apostle on December 2, 1971, after the death of Richard L. Evans.^[2] Among his assignments, he was president of the Polynesian Cultural Center and a member of the board of trustees of Brigham Young University–Hawaii.^[3]

Ashton died on February 25, 1994, and at the time of his death was serving as chairman of the church's Leadership Training Committee and was also a member of both the Correlation Executive and the General Welfare Services committees.^[4] The vacancy created in the Quorum of the Twelve was filled by Robert D. Hales.^[5]

Ashton married Norma Berntson in the Salt Lake Temple on August 22, 1940, and they were the parents of four children.^[2] They won the mixed doubles championship in the all-church tennis tournament in 1954.^[2] Ashton was involved with the Boy Scouts of America most of his life and earned Eagle Scout as an adult in 1963. As an adult he was a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, the Silver Beaver Award, and the Silver Antelope Award.

• Marvin J. Ashton's grave marker

• Ashton, Marvin J. (1978). What Is Your Destination?. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87747-719-1.
• —— (1982). Ye Are My Friends. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87747-934-8.
• —— (1987). Be of Good Cheer. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87579-106-9.
• —— (1990). One for the Money. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ISBN 0-87579-417-3.
• —— (1991). The Measure of Our Hearts. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87579-564-1.
• —— (1998). Classic Talks. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87579-983-3.

• Carl W. Buehner
• George R. Hill III
• Hartshorn, Leon R. (1972). Outstanding Stories by General Authorities, Vol. 2. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book. p. 11.