The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has called the following new Canadian temple presidents and matrons. They will begin serving in October of 2020.
Edmonton Alberta Temple
Robert Wayne Mendenhall, 60, Glen Allan Ward, Sherwood Park Alberta Stake, called as president of the Edmonton Alberta Temple, succeeding President David J. Henderson. President Mendenhall’s wife, Dixie Marie Cahoon Mendenhall, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Janet Diane Henderson. He is a Public Affairs specialist and temple sealer and former stake president, bishop, and stake clerk. An attorney, he was born in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, to Lorin J. and Mildred Aleta Wilde Mendenhall.
Sister Mendenhall is a Relief Society meeting coordinator and temple ordinance worker and former ward Primary president, ward Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor, and stake seminary supervisor. She was born in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, to Lloyd George and Hazel Mildred Swalm Cahoon.
Toronto Ontario Temple
Russell Frederick Willmott, 69, Brampton Ward, Brampton Ontario Stake, called as president of the Toronto Ontario Temple, succeeding President David P. Olsen. President Willmott’s wife, Anna Poppe Willmott, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Anne E. Olsen. He is a counselor in the Toronto Ontario Temple presidency, and a former stake president, bishop, and branch president. A retired partner of a merchandising company, he was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Joseph Frederick and Gladys Rosina Willmott.
Sister Willmott is an assistant to the matron of the Toronto Ontario Temple and a former stake and ward Young Women president, and ward Primary president. She was born in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, to Melvyn Leslie and Ruth Helen Poppe.
Winnipeg Manitoba Temple
George Leslie Spencer, 70, Parkland Ward, Calgary Alberta Fish Creek Stake, called as president of the new Winnipeg Manitoba Temple. President Spencer’s wife, Linda Millicent Aitken Spencer, will serve as temple matron. He is a temple ordinance worker and a former stake president, high councilor, stake and ward temple and family history consultant, and senior couple missionary. A retired dentist, he was born in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, to Mark Leslie and Katie Pitcher Spencer.
Sister Spencer is a temple ordinance worker and a former stake Relief Society presidency counselor, stake and ward Young Women and Primary president, and senior couple missionary. She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to Charles Frederick and Florence Hazel Johnson Aitken.
May 7, 2020 First Presidency Letter on Temple Re-openings
After a six-week period where all temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the First Presidency announced its temple-reopening plan via a letter sent to general and local leaders dated Thursday, May 7, 2020.
The phases are:
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Phase 1: Open for restricted living sealings only. Temple workers will perform living sealings only for previously endowed members, with the ordinances done under strict guidelines and safety precautions.
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Phase 2: Open for all living ordinances only. Temple workers will perform all temple ordinances for living individuals, but temples will maintain closure of patron housing, clothing, and cafeteria operations.
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Phase 3: Open for all ordinances with restrictions. Temple workers will continue providing ordinances for living individuals and provide proxy ordinances for ancestors in a restricted manner. The Church will open patron housing, clothing, and cafeteria operations as needed.
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Phase 4: Open for full operations. The Church will resume regular temple operations.
The First Presidency said that as changing restrictions and local conditions allow, the Church’s Temple Department will authorize the reopening of additional temples, and expanded opportunities will be made available for receiving living child-to-parent sealings and own-endowment ordinances, as well as participation in proxy ordinances.
Phase 1 sealings will take place Monday through Saturday by appointment only and initially will be limited to one sealing ceremony or family at a time in the temple. The Church will have a very limited number of staff in the temple.
Couples to be sealed will need to live within the approved geographic area for receiving ordinances in that temple, according to a Church press release on the announcement. All government and public health directives will be observed, including restrictions related to travel and crossing of state, regional, and international borders and the use of safety equipment such as masks. The number of guests attending the sealing will be limited.