Asay and his mission companion eventually managed to locate Piranian and his wife in Beirut, Lebanon.

Asay gained publicity for the church by joining the Lebanese national basketball team.

[3] Asay served in a variety of callings in the LDS Church, including bishop, regional representative, and member of the general board of the Sunday School.

In 1976, Asay became a general authority and a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy; his first assignment was to head the church's missionary department.

In October 1996, Asay was designated as an emeritus general authority and appointed president of the Salt Lake Temple.