The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced Donald L. Staheli as the president of the new Draper Utah Temple.
Prior to his calling as temple president, President Staheli served as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. He also has served as stake president, stake president’s counselor, high councilor and stake Young Men president.
President Staheli had a distinguished career as a former chairman and CEO of Continental Grain Co., a New York-based international agri-business company. He also served as chairman of the U.S.-China Business Council. President Staheli holds an M.S. and a Ph.D. in agri-business from the University of Illinois. He was also a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.
His wife, Afton Stratton Staheli, will serve as temple matron. She has served as stake Relief Society president, ward Relief Society president, and as a counselor in a ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary presidency.
President Staheli was born in St. George, Utah, to Lafayette and Grace Sullivan Staheli. Sister Staheli was born in Hurricane, Utah, to George LaMond and Lillian Lund Stratton.
As temple president, he will be in charge of overseeing the functioning of the Draper Utah Temple. To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, temples are literally the “House of the Lord.” Temples are sacred buildings in which Latter-day Saints receive instruction about the purpose of life and their relationship to God. There they take part in religious ceremonies that reach beyond mortality, both for themselves and in behalf of deceased ancestors. They also make covenants to serve God and their fellowman.
The temple will be open to the public 15 January 2009 through 14 March 2009. The dedication of the temple will take place 20-22 March 2009.