HALIFAX, Nova Scotia -- For the first time in history, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will dedicate two temples on the same day, due to transportation problems encountered by President Gordon B. Hinckley.
President Hinckley was to have presided over temple dedication ceremonies in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, on Saturday and then proceed to Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, to dedicate a temple there on Sunday. However, the Halifax services were postponed one day due to a delay in his departure Friday from Salt Lake City.The airplane scheduled to deliver President Hinckley to Nova Scotia required repairs Friday. He was never in any danger, church spokesmen said. President Hinckley arrived safely in Halifax on Saturday. Three dedicatory sessions are now planned in Halifax on Sunday.
In turn, the schedule changes are having a ripple effect on the weekend dedication of another new Canadian LDS temple in Regina, which was also to be presided over by President Hinckley. Dedicatory sessions there will proceed as planned on Sunday, with President Boyd K. Packer, acting president of the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve, presiding.
"The only last-minute change we're having to make is getting used to not having President Hinckley here," said President Lorin J. Mendenhall of the Regina Saskatchewan Temple. "We're looking forward to being here with President Packer. We're a little disappointed that President Hinckley can't be here but, generally, everybody is very positive, taking it fine.
"We're definitely excited about the temple being here. We're thrilled to share this day with Halifax. It's kind of a historic event in that respect -- having two temples dedicated on the same day," President Mendenhall said.