Five new temple presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service later this year.
Preston James Checketts, 68, Bear River 3rd Ward, Brigham City Utah North Stake, called as president of the new Brigham City Utah Temple. President Checketts' wife, Louise Backman Checketts, will serve as temple matron. He serves as a stake patriarch. He has served as president of the California Roseville Mission, stake president, bishop and high councilor. A retired IT director with Box Elder School District, he was born in Brigham City, Utah, to Newell C and Rula Hannah Rasmussen Checketts.
Sister Checketts serves as a patriarch's scribe. She served with her husband as he presided over the California Roseville Mission, and has served in a stake and ward Young Women presidency and as ward Primary president. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Robert LeGrand and Virginia Pickett Backman.
Lloyd Mark Evans, 68, Raymond 6th Ward, Raymond Alberta Stake, called as president of the Cardston Alberta Temple, succeeding President Brent L Nielson. President Evans' wife, Carolyn Anderson Evans, will serve as temple matron. He serves as first counselor in the Cardston Alberta Temple presidency. He has served as a stake president, regional welfare specialist, high councilor and bishop's counselor. A retired dentist, he was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, to Alma Gill and Elizabeth Leavitt Evans.
Sister Evans serves as an assistant to the matron at the Cardston Alberta Temple. She has served as a ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary president. She was born in Raymond, Alberta, Canada, to James Edgar and MayBell Head Anderson.
Jan Knut Evensen, 69, Drammen Ward, Oslo Norway Stake, called as president of the Stockholm Sweden Temple, succeeding President Paul K. Oscarson. President Evensen's wife, Marit Waal Evensen, will serve as temple matron. He serves as first counselor in the Stockholm Sweden Temple presidency. He has served as a district president, stake and district president's counselor, bishop, mission president's counselor and branch president. A retired service manager and engineer, he was born in Drammen, Buskerud, Norway, to Edvard Anker and Gudrun Marie Johansen Evensen.
Sister Evensen serves as assistant to the matron at the Stockholm Sweden Temple. She has served in a stake Relief Society presidency and as a ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary president. She was born in Drammen, Buskerud, Norway, to Kaare Larsen and Elin Ambjorg Waal.
Dirk Smibert, 56, Brisbane Ward, Brisbane Australia Stake, called as president of the Brisbane Australia Temple, succeeding President John R. Gibson. President Smibert's wife, Kerry Ann Benson Smibert, will serve as temple matron. He is serving as interim president of the Australia Perth Mission. He has served as an Area Seventy, president of the New Zealand Auckland Mission, stake president, bishop and high councilor. A retired self-employed businessman, he was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to Donald James and Lola Smibert.
Sister Smibert serves with her husband as he presides over the Australia Perth Mission and served with him as he presided over the New Zealand Auckland Mission. She has served as stake Relief Society secretary, in a stake and ward Young Women presidency, ward Relief Society president and in a stake and ward Primary presidency. She was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, to John Russell and Betty May Benson.
E. Gregory Wood, 63, Wascana Ward, Regina Saskatchewan Stake, called as president of the Regina Saskatchewan Temple, succeeding President Robert A. Gehmlich. President Wood's wife, Jean Marie Clark Wood, will serve as temple matron. He serves as a temple ordinance worker in the Regina Saskatchewan Temple and as a high priests group leader. He has served as a stake president, district president, bishop, branch president and high councilor. A retired partner and general manager of Wintergreene Development Corporation, he was born in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, to William Dale and Donna Woolf Wood.
Sister Wood serves as a temple ordinance worker in the Regina Saskatchewan Temple and as a Primary activity day leader. She has served in a stake Young Women presidency and as a ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary president. She was born in Oakland, California, to Robert L. and Ethel Van Orden Clark.
