PORTLAND, ORE.
A building near the Portland Oregon Temple formerly used as a Church Distribution Center is now the Church's newest visitors' center.
The Portland Temple Visitors' Center opened to the public on Feb. 25, the day after an invitation-only open house for local stake presidents and other guests. The distribution center that formerly occupied the structure has been moved to a nearby commercial area and consolidated with a Deseret Book store.
The stated purpose of the new center is this: "Visitors will understand the purpose of the temple and its importance in the lives of members. They will leave with a positive impression of the Church and its members. As a result of their visit, visitors will desire either to learn more or to share this message with others."
Accordingly, the key messages of the new visitors' center pertain to Jesus Christ, blessings of the restored gospel and temples and eternal families.
The following elements are featured:
Elder David Johnston, serving with his wife, Sister Beverly Johnston, is the newly called director of the visitors' center. They reside locally in the Lake Oswego area. He served as a counselor in the Caracas Venezuela Temple presidency with Sister Johnston serving as an assistant matron. Locally called couples and sister missionaries assigned to the Oregon Portland mission will staff the center under the direction of President C. Jeffery Morby, the mission president.
"It is hoped that the visitors' center will be a wonderful blessing to the local community and a way for more visitors to enjoy the beauty of the temple and its grounds as they have a place to come and learn about how all can receive temple blessings," said Mark J. Lusvardi, director of public programs at the Church Missionary Department. He said the objectives of visitors' centers around the Church is to "help visitors understand that our belief in Jesus Christ is the center of our religion, help visitors understand the importance of the Restoration for them, strengthen the faith of members, increase the number of teaching opportunities that lead to conversions and create good impressions for the Church."
