Temple Update

More Small Temples Announced

Continuing the fast-paced series of new temple announcements, the First Presidency has announced sites for four more small temples, all located in the southeastern United States: Birmingham, Alabama; Columbia, South Carolina; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; and Memphis, Tennessee.

Columbus Ohio Temple Groundbreaking

Ground was broken on Saturday, 12 September, in Columbus, Ohio, about 150 miles southwest of Kirtland, where the Church’s first temple was dedicated in 1836.

The North America East Area Presidency presided over the early-morning groundbreaking ceremonies, which were attended by about 3,500 people. “The first temple in Ohio was for Moses, Elias, and Elijah to restore the keys to bind in heaven and earth,” said Elder John K. Carmack of the Seventy, who serves as Area President.

Teri McGlaughlin, an Ohio member whose parents joined the Church when she was a child, said: “I never thought that in my lifetime we would have a temple so close by. I grew up thinking temples were only in Utah and you went there to get married.”

During the groundbreaking ceremony, a choir of Primary children from seven stakes gathered on a knoll and sang “I Love to See the Temple.” After the temple is built near an existing meetinghouse, it will serve members of 10 stakes in Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Cleveland, Akron, and Kirtland, Ohio.

Minnesota Temple Groundbreaking

The new Minnesota temple “will stand as a remarkable symbol of God’s love of our ancestors,” said Elder Hugh W. Pinnock of the Seventy, President of the North America Central Presidency, at a groundbreaking ceremony held on 26 September and attended by about 3,500 people. After the small-model temple is built on the wooded grounds of the St. Paul Minnesota Stake center in the suburb of Oakdale City, it will serve about 20,000 members living in six Minnesota stakes—St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth, Rochester, Burnsville, and Anoka—and Canada’s Fort Frances Ontario District.

Temple Presidents Called

The First Presidency has announced the names of 19 new presidents for temples around the world:

Karl F. Borcherding of the Stadthagen Ward, Hanover Germany Stake, will serve as president of the Frankfurt Germany Temple. His wife, Hanna Ruth Wolfert Borcherding, will serve as temple matron.

Heber S. Branham of the Columbia Ward, Columbia South Carolina Stake, will serve as president of the Atlanta Georgia Temple. His wife, Glenda L. Player Branham, will serve as temple matron.

Elder J. Richard Clarke of the Mount Olympus 12th Ward, Salt Lake Mount Olympus North Stake, an Emeritus General Authority, will serve as president of the Hawaii Temple. His wife, Barbara Jean Reed Clarke, will serve as temple matron.

Rulon G. Craven of the Pheasant Ward, Centerville Utah Stake, a former member of the Seventy, will serve as president of the New Zealand Temple. His wife, Donna Lunt Craven, will serve as temple matron.

George S. Goble of the Dartmouth Ward, Lakewood Colorado Stake, will serve as president of the Denver Colorado Temple. His wife, Joan Buckwalter Goble, will serve as temple matron.

W. Brent Hardy of the Orchard Valley Ward, Las Vegas Nevada East Stake, will serve as president of the Hong Kong Temple. His wife, Elaine Taylor Hardy, will serve as temple matron.

Don H. Hendricks of the Blackfoot Fifth Ward, Blackfoot Idaho Stake, will serve as president of the Papeete Tahiti Temple. His wife, Betty Ann Pruhs Hendricks, will serve as temple matron.

Owen Drew Jacobsen of the Oak Hills Ninth Ward, Provo Utah Oak Hills Stake, will serve as president of the Dallas Texas Temple. His wife, Joyce Whiteley Jacobsen, will serve as temple matron.

Malcolm S. Jeppsen of the Morningside Third Ward, St. George Utah Morningside Stake, a former Seventy, will serve as president of the St. George Temple. His wife, Marian Davis Jeppsen, will serve as temple matron.

Paul Judd of the Curtis Park Ward, Las Vegas Nevada Meadows Stake, will serve as president of the Las Vegas Nevada Temple. His wife, Eula Mae Earl Judd, will serve as temple matron.

Elder Dean L. Larsen of the Green Valley Fourth Ward, St. George Utah Green Valley Stake, an Emeritus General Authority, will serve as president of the Provo Temple. His wife, Geneal Johnson Larsen, will serve as temple matron.

Magnus R. Meiser of the Wetterau Ward, Frankfurt Germany Stake, is serving as president of the Freiberg Germany Temple. His wife, Ingeborg Bartelt Meiser, serves as temple matron.

Charles Kenneth Powrie of the Gold Reef Ward, Johannesburg South Africa Stake, will serve as president of the Johannesburg South Africa Temple. His wife, Anna Maria Basson Powrie, will serve as temple matron.

Keith L. Sellers of the Hobble Creek Ward, Eagle Idaho Stake, will serve as president of the Portland Oregon Temple. His wife, Elva Louise Last Sellers, will serve as temple matron.

Nile Alma Sorenson of the Carbon Canyon Ward, Chino California Stake, will serve as president of the Los Angeles Temple. His wife, Charlene Wight Sorenson, will serve as temple matron.

R. Paul Thompson of the Washington Ninth Ward, Washington Utah Stake, will serve as president of the Seattle Temple. His wife, Geniel Parry Thompson, will serve as temple matron.

L. Blaine Vorwaller of the Jacksonville Second Ward, Jacksonville Florida East Stake, will serve as president of the Orlando Florida Temple. His wife, Joyce Bedenbaugh Vorwaller, will serve as temple matron.

J. Marlan Walker of the Mission Hills Ward, Henderson Nevada Black Mountain Stake, will serve as president of the Lima Peru Temple. His wife, Colleen Heaton Walker, will serve as temple matron.

Elder Robert E. Wells of the Moss Hill Ward, Bountiful Utah Central Stake, an Emeritus General Authority, will serve as president of the Santiago Chile Temple. His wife, Helen Walser Wells, will serve as temple matron.