"News of the Church," Ensign, Nov. 2000, 107
Changes in the Presidency of the Seventy, Quorums of the Seventy, and Sunday School general presidency were sustained by members during the afternoon session of general conference on 7 October.
Elder Harold G. Hillam was released from the Presidency of the Seventy and is now serving in the Europe West Area Presidency. Elders F. Enzio Busche, Loren C. Dunn, and Alexander B. Morrison of the First Quorum of the Seventy were given emeritus status. Four members were released from the Second Quorum of the Seventy: Elders Eran A. Call, W. Don Ladd, James O. Mason, and Richard E. Turley Sr.
Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander was called to the Presidency of the Seventy.
Elder Hillam was also released as Sunday School general president with his counselors. Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Presidency of the Seventy was sustained as Sunday School general president, with Elder Neil L. Andersen again called as first counselor and Elder John H. Groberg again as second counselor.
Twenty Area Authority Seventies were released, and two new ones were sustained.
"News of the Church," Ensign, Nov. 2000, 107
Dedication of the Conference Center on Sunday, 8 October (see page 70), included a cornerstone ceremony conducted by President Gordon B. Hinckley at the building's southeast corner before the morning session of conference.
The First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Senior President of the Quorums of the Seventy, the Presiding Bishop, and the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary general presidents participated in the ceremony as crowds waiting to attend conference looked on.
[photo] First Presidency participates in Conference Center cornerstone ceremony.
"News of the Church," Ensign, Nov. 2000, 107
Sunday School
Elder Marlin K. Jensen, President
Elder Neil L. Andersen, First Counselor
Elder John H. Groberg, Second Counselor
Young Men
Elder Robert K. Dellenbach, President
Elder F. Melvin Hammond, First Counselor
Elder John M. Madsen, Second Counselor
Relief Society
Sister Mary Ellen Smoot, President
Sister Virginia U. Jensen, First Counselor
Sister Sheri L. Dew, Second Counselor
Young Women
Sister Margaret D. Nadauld, President
Sister Carol B. Thomas, First Counselor
Sister Sharon G. Larsen, Second Counselor
Primary
Sister Coleen K. Menlove, President
Sister Sydney S. Reynolds, First Counselor
Sister Gayle M. Clegg, Second Counselor
"News of the Church," Ensign, Nov. 2000, 108
President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Boston Massachusetts Temple, the 100th operating temple of the Church, in four sessions on 1 October 2000.
In his dedicatory prayer he said, "Almighty Father, ... in humility and with solemn reverence we bow before Thee on this historic day.
"We are assembled to dedicate this Thy holy house. It is a special occasion. This temple becomes the 100th operating temple of Thy Church.
"We have looked forward to this occasion. We have prayed for this day. We extend our gratitude to all who have labored so faithfully and diligently, often in the face of serious opposition, to bring to pass the miracle of the completion of this temple.
"To us it is indeed a miracle. The ground on which it stands, the circumstances of its preservation for this use, and the decision to build it here-all are miracles unto those who have been a part of this process.
"Now it is ready for the purposes for which it has been constructed. We are deeply grateful."
President Hinckley was accompanied by President Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and by Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Seventy, First Counselor in the North America Northeast Area Presidency.
"This is a milestone in Church history," said President Hinckley at the dedication of the temple, which marks the achievement of a goal he expressed in the April 1998 general conference that 100 temples be completed by the end of 2000.
Some 16,800 members participated in the Boston temple's dedicatory sessions. Thousands more watched the ceremonies via satellite broadcast at meetinghouses in the temple district, which includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York.
The dedication of this 100th temple did more than capture the attention of local Church members and many more worldwide; 82,600 guests attended its 29 August-23 September open house (except Sundays), which was widely reported in the media. A local radio station and newspaper produced the first on-line tours of a temple, complete with narration and accompanying photographs of the temple's interior.
Because of a lawsuit filed by some local residents who objected to the temple's proposed 139-foot steeple, the temple was dedicated without a steeple. Yet in a press conference on the eve of the dedication, President Hinckley expressed optimism concerning the issue.
"We wish the steeple were on it. I regret that it isn't. But we can get along without it while awaiting the outcome of the legal action," he said. "In the meantime, we'll go forward performing the ordinance work of this sacred house."
In weeks prior to the Boston temple's dedication, President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated four other temples, located throughout the Americas.
[photo] President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Boston temple, the 100th operating temple of the Church, on 1 October. The dedication of this temple fulfilled a goal that 100 temples be completed by the end of the year 2000. (Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, Church News.)
Caracas Venezuela Temple
The Caracas Venezuela Temple, the first to be built in that nation, was dedicated in four sessions on 20 August. "We pray for this great nation of Venezuela," said President Hinckley in his dedicatory prayer. "May it hold its place among the sovereign nations of the earth. May its people be blessed and prospered. May they enjoy freedom to worship Thee without molestation of any kind. Bless the leaders of the nation with wisdom and understanding and a great desire to serve the needs of the people."
Accompanying President Hinckley were Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Robert J. Whetten of the Seventy, President of the South America North Area.
The temple open house, held 5 and 7-12 August, drew 27,806 visitors. "Many left the temple in tears," said Jorge Alberto Ruiz, president of the Caracas Venezuela Urdaneta Stake. "One woman walked out and asked, 'What next? How can I be a part of this Church?' "
Nearly 6,000 members from throughout Venezuela attended the dedication. "Having the prophet dedicate the temple in our country is something I will always remember," said Carlos Ordeneta of Maracaibo, Venezuela, who traveled 10 hours with many other Maracaibo members to attend. "The temple is the best thing that has ever happened to Venezuela."
The Caracas temple will serve 72,000 members in 16 stakes, 12 districts, and 14 unaffiliated branches in Venezuela.
[photo] The Caracas temple is the first to be built in Venezuela. "The temple is the best thing that has ever happened to Venezuela," said a local member. (Photo by Jason Swensen, Church News.)
Houston Texas Temple
President Hinckley dedicated the Houston Texas Temple in eight sessions on 26-27 August. "How glorious and complete is Thy plan for the salvation and exaltation of Thy children of all generations. How tremendous is our obligation to carry forward this great vicarious work in their behalf," he said in the dedicatory prayer. "Bless the families of the Church with security and unity. ... Let them feel of Thine overpowering love."
Accompanying President Hinckley at the dedication were Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Seventy, First Counselor in the North America Southwest Area Presidency. More than 20,000 members attended the services.
The open house, held 5-22 August (except Sundays), drew an impressive 110,000 visitors. Guests were taken by the beauty and spirit of the new temple; for example, one woman who had turned into the temple parking lot by mistake was so impressed that she decided to stay and tour the building.
The Houston temple will serve 83,000 members in 27 stakes and two districts in southeast Texas. The Church has grown significantly in that area since the first stake was organized in Houston in 1953; now there are 22 stakes in the Houston area alone. "Today, our stakes are as strong as you will find anywhere," said Sterling Pack, a local branch president. Having a temple in Houston will make frequent temple attendance possible for its nearby members, who previously traveled seven hours to reach the Dallas Texas Temple.
[photo] The beauty and spirit of the Houston temple drew 110,000 visitors to its open house. The new temple will serve 83,000 members in southeast Texas.
Birmingham Alabama Temple
President Hinckley dedicated the Birmingham Alabama Temple in four sessions on 3 September. In his dedicatory prayer, he asked, "May the influence of this Thy house be felt throughout this great temple district. May the Church grow and prosper here. May those in government be friendly to Thy people."
With President Hinckley were Elder David B. Haight of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Gordon T. Watts of the Seventy, First Counselor in the North America Southeast Area Presidency. Nearly 5,000 Church members attended the dedication.
The new temple and members of the Church in Alabama received positive media attention. After attending the 19 and 21-26 August open house, which drew 21,000 visitors, one newspaper reporter wrote, "Entering the sacred temple, ... visitors are greeted with open arms. A portrait of Jesus holding out his arms to welcome those [who enter] the temple hangs on the wall." A letter to the editor in another paper, written by a Birmingham man, said, "Having lived for some 70 years and having had a number of next-door neighbors, I can truthfully tell you the Mormons are the best of neighbors you can ever expect to find."
The 21,200 members in the temple district's seven stakes in Alabama and northwest Florida have eagerly awaited the temple's advent. "In the last year, I've done more first-time temple recommend interviews than the previous five years," said Birmingham Alabama Stake president Richard D. May. "Our members have been so excited. They've been working more diligently on their family history. During our open house, I saw a lot of less-active members come out. They said, 'We're ready to get back to living the gospel.' "
[photo] The Birmingham temple will serve 21,000 members in Alabama and northwest Florida. (Photo by Julie A. Dockstader, Church News.)
Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple
President Hinckley dedicated the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple in four sessions on 17 September. "Dear Father, please look down with love upon Thy sons and daughters in this island nation and in surrounding lands," he petitioned in his dedicatory prayer. "Prosper them in their labors that they may have food upon their tables and shelter over their heads. As they look to Thee, reward their faith and open Thy hand of providence toward them. May they find peace in the midst of conflict, and faith amidst the stress of the world. Open the windows of heaven, as Thou hast promised, and let blessings flow down upon them."
Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Richard D. Allred of the Seventy, President of the North America Southeast Area, also participated in the dedicatory services. Some 10,000 Dominicans and their neighbors from Haiti, Puerto Rico, and other islands gathered to witness the dedication of the temple, the first to be built in the West Indies.
"This is the most special day in the history of our country," said Georgina Rosario, a young Dominican woman who joined the Church a decade ago. "Our country and our families will be strengthened because of the influence of the temple."
The temple open house, held daily except Sundays 26 August-9 September, attracted nearly 40,000. After touring the temple, a local journalist reported, "Within the temple, one receives the impression of being in another world, ... mostly because of the images of Christ displayed throughout the building. Nothing in the country can compare with this temple. Its beauty is without equal."
The Santo Domingo temple will be an especially significant blessing to the 80,000 members in its district, which includes the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and small surrounding islands. Economic limitations have kept most of these members from attending the closest temples, in the United States or Guatemala.
The experience of Roland Ciochy, a member of the Jacmel Branch on Haiti's southern coast, is typical. "I have been a Church member for 13 years and will now be able to go to the temple for the first time," he said.
[photo] The Santo Domingo temple is the first to be dedicated in the West Indies, making temple blessings possible for 80,000 members in its district.
"News of the Church," Ensign, Nov. 2000, 110
President Gordon B. Hinckley will speak to youth and young single adults during a special worldwide fireside on 12 November 2000 at 5:00 P.M. mountain standard time (MST).
All youth and young single adults between the ages of 14 and 25 and their leaders are invited to attend the fireside, which will be broadcast via the Church's satellite system. Video of the meeting in English and the audio portion of the meeting in 12 other languages will also be available live on the Church's Internet site at www.lds.org.
The fireside, to be held at the Conference Center, will be broadcast to stake centers throughout North, Central, and South America. It will be rebroadcast on 19 November 2000 at 2:00 P.M. MST to some stake centers in these locations and at 10:00 A.M. MST to stake centers in the Europe Central, Europe West, and Europe East Areas. A videocassette of the broadcast will be distributed to Church units in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific shortly following the broadcast.
The fireside will replace all CES broadcasts previously scheduled for November.
"News of the Church," Ensign, Nov. 2000, 111
The Church's boundaries of the Europe East, Europe West, and Europe North Areas have been realigned. The three newly defined areas are now called the Europe East, Europe West, and Europe Central Areas; the title "Europe North Area" will no longer be used.
The Presidency of what was the Europe North Area is now the Presidency of the Europe West Area; the Presidency of what was called the Europe West Area now presides over the Europe Central Area. The Europe East Area Presidency will continue to preside over that newly realigned area.
A significant change associated with the realignment is the relocation of the Europe East Area office to Moscow, Russia, from Frankfurt, Germany, where both the Europe East and Europe West Area offices had been located.
"The realignment is particularly designed to aid in the development of the Church in Eastern Europe [and] Central Europe," said Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. "We've seen significant missionary work and Church growth in Eastern and Central Europe over the past decade, with eight missions in Russia and a temple already announced for Kiev, Ukraine," he added.
This map shows the new boundaries of the Europe West, Europe Central, and Europe East Areas of the Church, which were recently realigned. Area offices are located in Solihull, England; Frankfurt, Germany; and Moscow, Russia.
The Europe East Area no longer includes North Africa, the Middle East, and certain parts of central Europe. It now encompasses 13 missions and 25 districts in 18 countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
The Europe Central Area office is in Frankfurt, Germany. This area takes in parts of northern and central Europe and the Middle East and Egypt. It includes 20 missions, 34 stakes, 20 districts, and 37 countries: Albania, Austria, Bahrain, Bosnia, Croatia, Cyprus, Northern Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
The Europe West Area now encompasses Greenland and the United Kingdom (formerly part of the Europe North Area); the North African countries of Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia (formerly included in the Europe East Area); and Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Spain. This area, which includes 24 missions, 66 stakes, and 53 districts, is headquartered in Solihull, England, which had been headquarters of the Europe North Area.
"News of the Church," Ensign, Nov. 2000, 111
Elder Bernard P. Brockbank, 91, an emeritus General Authority, died at his home in Holladay, Utah, on 11 October 2000.
Elder Brockbank was called as an assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on 6 October 1962. He was named a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy on 1 October 1976 and became an emeritus member of the Seventy on 4 October 1980.
"News of the Church," Ensign, Nov. 2000, 111
Legacy, a Church film that tells the story of early Latter-day Saints and their westward movement, is now available on VHS videocassette. The video, which will also soon be available in 20 languages other than English, can be purchased through Church distribution centers (item no. 53333, U.S. $7.00).
Watched by five million viewers during its seven-year run in Salt Lake City's Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Legacy was replaced last March by the new film The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd.
Legacy is still shown on the big screen at the North Visitors' Center on Temple Square at 1:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. daily except Sunday. No tickets are needed.
"News of the Church," Ensign, Nov. 2000, 112
Four Church members won medals during the summer Olympic games in Sydney, Australia, and a total of 18 Latter-day Saints representing eight nations competed in the Olympic and Paralympic games.
Rulon Gardner, a deacons quorum adviser in the Colorado Springs Fifth Ward, Fountain Colorado Stake, won a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling. He received worldwide media attention and became the six-foot-two, 286-pound "darling" of the games when he upset world champion and three-time gold medalist Alexander Karelin. Mr. Karelin had not lost a match in 13 years; his defeat was called the greatest upset in Olympic wrestling history. The U.S. Olympic athletes selected Brother Gardner, a native of Afton, Wyoming, to represent them in carrying the U.S. flag during the Olympic closing ceremonies. "I feel overwhelmed to have that honor of representing my country, and hope I'm also always representing the Church," he said just before the ceremonies.
Brother Gardner, who had won the wrestling championship of the National Junior College Athletic Association while at Ricks College in 1991, spoke at firesides in Sydney and Canberra before he competed. He encouraged members to "work hard to accomplish goals, stay focused, and never give up."
Laura Berg, a member of the Downey Third Ward, Downey California Stake, helped her women's softball team win gold when she slugged a fly ball to left field to bring home the winning run during the gold medal game.
Eric Fonoimoana of the Redondo Beach Third Ward, Terrance California North Stake, and his teammate took the gold in men's beach volleyball.
Courtney Johnson of the Sunnyvale Ward, Los Altos California Stake, was among the first women ever to participate in Olympic water polo. Her team won silver.
For Robbie Pratt, who grew up in Mexico but now lives in the El Paso Fifth Ward, El Paso Texas Mount Franklin Stake, a great Olympic moment occurred just after he competed in the pole vault event. He opened his mission call to the Mexico Torreón Mission.
The following are other Latter-day Saints known to have competed in Sydney: Kenneth Andam (Ghana), track: 100m, 4x100m relay; Marsha Mark-Baird (Trinidad and Tobago), heptathlon; Trent Blair (USA), Paralympic track: 200m; Jared Deacon (Great Britain), track and field: 4x400m relay; Jamie Dantzscher (USA), gymnastics; Ryan Millar (USA), volleyball; Leonard Myles-Mills (Ghana), track: 100m; Amy Christiansen Palmer (USA), hammer throw; Jason Pyrah (USA), track: 1500m; Sharon Rackham (Australia), Paralympic track and field: 100m, 200m, long jump; Arunas Savickas (Lithuania), swimming: 200m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 4x100 free relay; Maggie Chan Roper (Hong Kong), track: 5,000m; Charlene Johnson Tagaloa (USA), volleyball.
[photo] Rulon Gardner was selected by U.S. Olympians to carry the U.S. flag at closing ceremonies. (Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.)