Merrill and Janet Briggs
Merrill Dean Briggs, 64, of the Sterling Ward, Soldotna Alaska Stake, has been called by the First Presidency as the president of the new Anchorage Alaska Temple. The temple, now nearing completion, will be dedicated Jan. 9-10, 1999. Pres. Briggs' wife, Janet Jensen Briggs, will serve as temple matron.
Pres. Briggs has served as a patriarch, stake president, high councilor, bishop, district president's counselor, stake Sunday School president and Young Men president. He served a mission to New Zealand from 1954-57. A retired Church Educational System coordinator, he received a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and a master's degree in religious education from BYU. He was born in Bountiful, Utah, to Clyde LeRoy and Esther Thompson Briggs.
Sister Briggs is a former Young Women president and adviser, institute instructor, ward and stake organist, and spiritual living and gospel doctrine teacher. She served a two-year stake mission. Sister Briggs attended Granite High School in Salt Lake City. She was born in Jersey City, N.J., to Kirby Stanley and Rhea Satterthwaite Jensen.
