The following eight new temple presidents and matrons have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service in November.
Carl Stacey Berg, 68, Murphy Creek Ward, Grants Pass Oregon Stake, called as president of the Medford Oregon Temple, succeeding President Steven W. Bergstedt. President Berg’s wife, Patricia Kay Terribilini Berg, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Irene C. Bergstedt. He is a Medford Oregon Temple presidency counselor and a former stake president, bishop and patriarch. President of Audiology Associates of Southern Oregon and audiologist, he was born in Salt Lake City to Carl Reuben and Corrine Evelyn Cowley Berg.
Sister Berg is assistant to the matron of the Medford Oregon Temple and a former stake Primary presidency counselor, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, and ward Young Women and Primary president. She was born in Vallejo, California, to Joseph Clarence and Virginia Terribilini.
Max Lynn Checketts, 63, Lyman 3rd Ward, Rexburg Idaho South Stake, called as president of the Rexburg Idaho Temple, succeeding President Fenton L. Broadhead. President Checkett’s wife, Donna Lynn Hillis Checketts, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Carol Broadhead. He is a Sunday School teacher and temple sealer, and a former Australia Sydney North Mission president, bishop and stake presidency counselor. A religion professor and retired Academic Vice President of Brigham Young University-Hawaii, he was born in Logan, Utah, to Whitney Roswell and Darlene Barrow Checketts.
Sister Checketts is Sunday School teacher and temple ordinance worker, and a former mission president companion, stake Relief Society president and ward Young Women presidency counselor. She was born in Murray, Utah, to Merrill Don and Linda Mae Hillis.
J. Phillip Freestone, 72, Windsor 6th Ward, Orem Utah Windsor Stake, called as president of the Provo Utah Temple, succeeding President Donald H. Livingstone. President Freestone’s wife, Elizabeth Ogden Freestone, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Marsha L. Livingstone. He is an elders quorum instructor and temple sealer, and a former México Puebla South Mission president, Dominican Republic Missionary Training Center president, stake presidency counselor and bishop. A retired pediatrician, he was born in Mesa, Arizona, to James Russell Freestone and Virginia Hunter Harbaugh.
Sister Freestone is a Primary teacher and temple ordinance worker, and a former mission president companion, missionary training center president companion, stake Relief Society president, stake Primary presidency counselor, and ward Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor. She was born in Richfield, Utah, to Ralph Gerald and LuJeanne Ogden.
David Robert Irwin, 71, Exeter Ward, Plymouth England Stake, called as president of the London England Temple, succeeding President Michael R. Otterson. President Irwin’s wife, E. Lyn Irwin, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Catherine B. Otterson. He is an elders quorum president and a former Czech/Slovak Mission president, London England Temple presidency counselor, stake president and bishop. Retired headmaster, Royal West of England School for the Deaf, he was born in Southport, Lancashire, England, to Robert and Ann Williams Irwin.
Sister Irwin is a Primary teacher and a former mission president companion, assistant to the matron of the London England Temple, stake and ward Relief Society presidency counselor, and ward Young Women and Primary president. She was born in Colwyn Bay, Clwyd, North Wales, to Douglas and Doris Kirkham Protheroe.
Germán Laboriel Guitty, 61, Palmira Ward, Tegucigalpa Honduras Stake, called as president of the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple, succeeding President Rodolfo Díaz Ortiz. President Laboriel’s wife, Lourdes Patricia Espinal Valladares de Laboriel, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Rosario del Carmen T. de Díaz. He is a high councilor and temple ordinance worker, and a former Area Seventy, Costa Rica San José West Mission president, stake president and bishop. A real estate developer, he was born in Santa Rosa de Aguán, Colon, Honduras, to Manuel Gustavo Laboriel Solís and Fidelia Guitty.
Sister Laboriel is a Relief Society teacher and temple ordinance worker, and a former mission president companion, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Primary president and stake family history consultant. She was born in Comayagüela, D.C., Honduras, to Raúl Espinal and Cristina Yalladares.
Talakufa Jackson Mkhabela, 58, Florida 2nd Ward, Soweto South Africa Stake, called as president of the Johannesburg South Africa Temple, succeeding President Colin H. Bricknell. President Mkhabela’s wife, Dorah Majujwa Mkhabela, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Jennifer E. Bricknell. He is a South Africa Johannesburg Mission presidency counselor and a former Area Seventy, Zimbabwe Harare Mission president, stake president and bishop. A coordinator in the Church Educational System and retired attorney, he was born in Giyani, Limpopo Province, South Africa, to Marufu Jackson and Anna Mashaba Shumamuni Mkhabela.
Sister Mkhabela is a former mission president companion, Young Women general board member and ward Relief Society president. She was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Peter Magezi and Annah Tsatsawani Majujwa.
George Forrest Rhodes Jr., 71, City Park Ward, Fort Collins Colorado Stake, called as president of the Fort Collins Colorado Temple, succeeding President J. Steven Garrett. President Rhodes’ wife, Joan Ann Maddox Rhodes, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Sandra K. Garrett. He is a patriarch and temple sealer, and a former Area Seventy, Canada Edmonton Mission president, stake president and bishop. Retired consulting economist, he was born in Ogden, Utah, to George Forest and Barbara Joan Miller Rhodes.
Sister Rhodes is a Sunday School teacher and temple ordinance worker, and a former mission president companion, stake Relief Society presidency counselor, and ward Relief Society and Primary president. She was born in Granite City, Illinois, to Robert Alvin and Madeline Maxine Maddox.
Rick L. Smith, 65, Wasatch 2nd Ward, Cottonwood Heights Utah Wasatch Stake, called as president of the Panama City Panama Temple, succeeding President William H. Wingo. President Smith’s wife, Lynda Lee Smith, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Joy Wingo. He is a former Guatemala Quetzaltenango Mission president, area temple and family history consultant, Central America Area presidency secretary, senior missionary couple and temple ordinance worker. Retired managing director of Merrill Lynch, he was born in Fullerton, California, to Lloyd Dean and Delores Mae Craig Smith.
Sister Smith is a former mission president companion, stake and ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women and Primary president, area temple and family history consultant, senior missionary couple and temple ordinance worker. She was born in Blue Island, Illinois, to Berton Eugene and Jeanette Bell Brewer Lee.
