New Presidency Announced for Los Angeles Temple

President Spencer W. Kimball announced the calling of a new presidency for the Los Angeles Temple at a special meeting in that temple in early February.

Richard C. Stratford is the new president and his wife, Vera Calder Stratford, will serve as temple matron. Arthur J. Godfrey and Walter Gordon Hendry were called as counselors to President Stratford.

The new presidency and matron succeed President and Sister Myrthus Wesley Evans and William Henry Harless and Harold Edward Lofgreen, counselors. They had served since March 1970 and were honorably released.

President Stratford served a mission to Germany, served as president of the Northern States Mission, and served in the Portland Oregon Stake presidency. He has also been director of development for the Church Educational System and executive director of development at Brigham Young University.

He and Sister Stratford are the parents of five children.

Brother Godfrey has been patriarch of the San Luis Obispo California Stake since 1969. Earlier he served as president of the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Stakes.

Brother Hendry has been patriarch of the Riverside California Stake. He served as stake mission president and 11 years as president of that stake when it was known as the Mt. Rubidoux Stake.