Temple president

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Temple president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A temple president's primary responsibility is to supervise one of the 130 LDS temples currently in operation. He is assisted by two male counselors. The wife of the temple president is also involved in administration of the temple: she is known as the temple matron and the wives of the counselors are called assistants to the matron.

In larger temples, presidents usually serve for three years, but in smaller temples they may serve indefinitely. Presidents of smaller temples are typically experienced church leaders who may have served, for example, as stake presidents or bishops. Presidents of the larger temples include emeritus, former, or current general authorities.

A temple president’s duties include greeting temple patrons and interviewing recommended temple workers as well as recommending temple workers. Presidents often attend regional stake conferences and local sacrament meetings, where they urge church members to carry out genealogical work and to attend and assist in the performance of temple ordinances.

Historical development

The first temple president was Wilford Woodruff. He was called to preside over the St. George Temple, which was dedicated in 1877. Neither the Nauvoo Temple nor the Kirtland Temple had a president.