By RUSTY PAYN
The First Presidency recently announced the calling of H. David Burton as Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Burton replaced Merrill J. Bateman, who assumed presidency of BYU Jan. 1.
Bishop Burton previously served as first counselor to President Bateman in the Presiding Bishopric. Bishop Richard C. Edgley was called as the new first counselor. Bishop Edgley formerly served as second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric. Keith B. McMullin, managing director of the Welfare Services Department of the church, replaced Bishop Edgley as second counselor.
Bishop Burton is a native of Salt Lake City. He was called to the Presiding Bishopric in October 1992 and served under President Bateman and Bishop Robert D. Hales, who is now a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Bishop Bateman also served as assistant church budget officer, and for 14 years, served as secretary to the Presiding Bishop. He and his wife Barbara Matheson Burton are the parents of five children.
Also in LDS-church news, plans for a second temple in Mexico were announced during the holidays.
Monterrey will be the site of the new temple, serving members from 49 stakes and 20 mission districts. It will ease traffic in the Mexico City temple, formerly the nation’s only one. It was dedicated in 1983.
The LDS church has 47 operating temples and another 15 in the planning and construction stages.
