Ginger Snaps Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 I had an interesting conversation with a friend tonight. She recently moved from another part of the country and told me that a while back, the local temple president's wife died suddenly and unexpectedly. Apparently they "suspended" him (her term) from his calling. He then quickly remarried and resumed serving. She is under the impression that a temple president must have a living wife in order to serve in that calling. Can anyone verify this?
Duncan Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 I have never heard that but I can see why, if your wife passed away you would have other things to concern yourself with other than running a Temple or a Stake or ward. the Montreal Temple was re dedicated and the Temple Presidency was basically on hold until it got completed
Hamba Tuhan Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 The wife of a temple president serves as the temple matron, just as the wives of his counsellors serve as her assistants. 4
Freedom Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 The encyclopedia of Mormonism states the following: TEMPLE PRESIDENCY AND WORKERS. The temple president is selected and called to his position by the First Presidency of the Church. This is a Church calling of usually two to three years. Normally the wife of a temple president serves as the matron of the temple. The president is assisted by two counselors, and the matron by two assistants. Each temple has a temple recorder. 2
Ginger Snaps Posted December 14, 2015 Author Posted December 14, 2015 1 hour ago, Duncan said: I have never heard that but I can see why, if your wife passed away you would have other things to concern yourself with other than running a Temple or a Stake or ward. the Montreal Temple was re dedicated and the Temple Presidency was basically on hold until it got completed Yes, I can see why too. And I did know his wife served as matron. I guess I had just never thought about this particular scenario, and it surprised me. Interesting stuff
busybee Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 8 hours ago, Ginger Snaps said: I had an interesting conversation with a friend tonight. She recently moved from another part of the country and told me that a while back, the local temple president's wife died suddenly and unexpectedly. Apparently they "suspended" him (her term) from his calling. He then quickly remarried and resumed serving. She is under the impression that a temple president must have a living wife in order to serve in that calling. Can anyone verify this? My understanding is that the calling is extended to the couple. As with Mission Presidents. While the president holds the keys to the Temple/Mission, his wife plays a pivotal role. In the temple the Matron takes responsibility for instruction of sisters attending the temple for the first time, for training female ordinance workers etc. It would be very difficult for a man with no wife to perform in the position. 3
HappyJackWagon Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 This doesn't surprise me when I consider that even bishops are required to be married. There are always exceptions to rules but the handbook states that bishops will be released if they are no longer married.
mnn727 Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 12 hours ago, Ginger Snaps said: I had an interesting conversation with a friend tonight. She recently moved from another part of the country and told me that a while back, the local temple president's wife died suddenly and unexpectedly. Apparently they "suspended" him (her term) from his calling. He then quickly remarried and resumed serving. She is under the impression that a temple president must have a living wife in order to serve in that calling. Can anyone verify this? It happened here in Dallas, they replaced the Temple President. Not sure if it was because he no longer had a living wife or from compassion th at he lost his wife.
Ginger Snaps Posted December 14, 2015 Author Posted December 14, 2015 4 hours ago, HappyJackWagon said: This doesn't surprise me when I consider that even bishops are required to be married. There are always exceptions to rules but the handbook states that bishops will be released if they are no longer married. Interesting in light of the fact that Richard G Scott served in the 12 for 20 years after his wife passed away.
HappyJackWagon Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 1 hour ago, Ginger Snaps said: Interesting in light of the fact that Richard G Scott served in the 12 for 20 years after his wife passed away. Yeah, Bishop and Temple President are on a different level than apostle. Bishops and temple presidents are easily replaced. They are term callings meaning they have an end so it's not a huge deal to release them whereas the calling of apostle/prophet does not end until death. Releasing an apostle would be a much bigger deal. Imagine if an apostle loses his wife and he is counseled by the prophet to remarry. What would happen if he doesn't? What if the prophet loses his wife, is anyone likely to tell him he needs to remarry at age 85? Not likely. And even if they did, what would they do if he refused or simply ignored their counsel. They are at a high enough level they can't be ordered. If God doesn't like the prophet's refusal to remarry he can send an angel with a flaming sword. 1
JAHS Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 2 hours ago, Ginger Snaps said: Interesting in light of the fact that Richard G Scott served in the 12 for 20 years after his wife passed away. But he was still married/sealed to her. In an interview on the death of his wife, Jeanene Elder Scott said: "First of all, . . . I didn’t lose her. She’s on the other side of the veil. We’ve been sealed in that holy ordinance of the temple, and we’ll be together forever. And at critical times in my life when I need help, I can feel impressions come through the veil in such a real way that often I just [think,] “Thank you, Jeanene.” So there isn’t that loss. The second is that when you get it right the first time, you don’t want to mess it up with a second time. We are so close and love each other so very much that I don’t have any feeling of need to remarry. I recognize that for some men there’s a very strong support they require from a wife, and so they remarry, and I don’t question that for them. Jeanene and I prepared each other in all the ways we could think of for being able to survive well when one of us passed through the veil, and I wish she hadn’t been the first one, but that’s the way it worked out." I think it is also possible to have Bishops who are widowers, so long as they have been sealed to a now departed wife. 1
The Nehor Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 Bishops are generally released when a spouse dies. I had a friend whose wife died while he was bishop and he got a letter of condolence from the prophet and was told he would be released as soon as it was practical. He was grateful to be released. There are exceptions to the "have to be married" rule but they are usually in areas where the pool of candidates is very shallow. 1
The Nehor Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 3 hours ago, Ginger Snaps said: Interesting in light of the fact that Richard G Scott served in the 12 for 20 years after his wife passed away. I heard he was encouraged to remarry and refused but that might be just gossip.
JAHS Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 29 minutes ago, The Nehor said: Bishops are generally released when a spouse dies. I had a friend whose wife died while he was bishop and he got a letter of condolence from the prophet and was told he would be released as soon as it was practical. He was grateful to be released. There are exceptions to the "have to be married" rule but they are usually in areas where the pool of candidates is very shallow. They may be released when their spouse dies and I can certainly understand the personal need for that, but they can be called after having been widowed for a while.
BlueDreams Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 9 hours ago, busybee said: My understanding is that the calling is extended to the couple. As with Mission Presidents. While the president holds the keys to the Temple/Mission, his wife plays a pivotal role. In the temple the Matron takes responsibility for instruction of sisters attending the temple for the first time, for training female ordinance workers etc. It would be very difficult for a man with no wife to perform in the position. I agree, though I would state it would be basically impossible. Unlike bishops (who they want to be married), Temple Matrons fulfill roles in the temple where men don't even go (unless in emergencies for security purposes). MP's wife is the closest in level when it comes to structural purposes when it comes to necessity, but I'd still state the Matron is still more integral. I can't imagine what the temple would look like in terms of running it, without a Matron. With luv, BD 4
Calm Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 (edited) Apostles generally have a much larger support circle than bishops, temple and mission presidents. And the bishop's wife is usually heavily involved in helping families in need among other things. The last two are also callings that have specific jobs attached. I am not aware of any similarity that applies to an apostle's wife. Edited December 16, 2015 by Calm
The Nehor Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 1 hour ago, JAHS said: They may be released when their spouse dies and I can certainly understand the personal need for that, but they can be called after having been widowed for a while. They can but it is rarely done as a matter of policy but again, exceptions exist. I guess you could call it a soft policy.
Robert F. Smith Posted December 16, 2015 Posted December 16, 2015 On 12/14/2015 at 11:35 AM, Ginger Snaps said: Interesting in light of the fact that Richard G Scott served in the 12 for 20 years after his wife passed away. Apostles have no need for a distaff function. Temple Presidents do -- their wives run the female side of the temple, where temple presidents cannot go -- where the women are performing holy ordinances. St Paul did not have a wife (he was likely a widower) and was committed to not being married.
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