A temple: Big news thrills little Brigham City

Brigham City (Salt Lake Tribune) » Mormons here were stunned and elated by the big news that their small northern Utah city soon will become home to the Beehive State's 14th LDS temple.

Steve Van Dusen, bishop of the city's Forest Hills Ward, said he and his daughter, home for the weekend from BYU-Idaho, started shrieking when they heard President Thomas S. Monson's announcement during a radio broadcast of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 179th Semiannual General Conference in Salt Lake City.

"We both heard it and just screamed," said Van Dusen, adding that he never expected the church to build a temple in his hometown in his lifetime.

"We got on the phone to my wife, who is with a new grandbaby in California. We called my daughter in Vernal and our son in Texas."

Van Dusen said his family has lived in Brigham City for many years and loves the community of 18,700, named after the second LDS prophet, Brigham Young, and the seat of Box Elder County.

"This just makes it all that much better."

Gregg Kotter, first counselor to the president of Brigham City Stake, said he wasn't sure he heard Monson right at first. Just to be sure, he checked with his wife, Mona, who was watching from another television.

"It's pretty exciting," said Kotter, who nonetheless was unsurprised, given the high demand on the Ogden LDS Temple, which serves a large district. "I'm more filled with gratitude than surprise."

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