Temples

The Feather River California Temple will be a ‘beacon in this area,’ Elder Soares says at dedication

The dedication of ‘temples testifies that God has a divine vision and plan for His sons and daughters from all generations,’ says Elder Soares

By Trent Toone Oct 9, 2023 1:07 a.m. EDT

Sister Rosana Soares and Elder Ulisses Soares, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles waving to members prior to the dedication of the Feather River Temple in Yuba City, California.

Temples

The Feather River California Temple will be a ‘beacon in this area,’ Elder Soares says at dedication

The dedication of ‘temples testifies that God has a divine vision and plan for His sons and daughters from all generations,’ says Elder Soares

By Trent Toone Oct 9, 2023 1:07 a.m. EDT

YUBA CITY, California — As he prepared for the dedication of the Feather River California Temple, Elder Ulisses Soares was deeply touched by the story involving the purchase of the temple site.

In the early 1970s, the property was owned by the family of Mehar Tumber, a devout Sikh, and used for growing peaches.

Tumber was not looking to sell the property — but did so willingly when Church representatives asked about its availability for the purpose of building a house of worship. Tumber was known as a man of great spirituality and faith.

“He had the biggest smile on his face and was so happy,” remembered a daughter when Mehar Tumber announced he had sold the property to the Church. “He thought it was a blessing to have a religious organization ... as an anchor to our property.”

The property first used for a stake center, which was removed to make way for the temple, is now home to a house of the Lord. Another meetinghouse was built next door.

The Feather River California Temple, Yuba City, California in the morning of October 7, 2023, in Yuba City, California.

Heavenly Father was watching over this sacred ground, said Elder Soares, a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“In His omniscience, the Lord knew the end from the beginning, and He was well aware that one day a sacred temple would be erected in this area which would bless thousands of His children throughout generations in this region. I am sure the Lord facilitated this process and provided what was needed to build His house in this location,” the Apostle said. “We are grateful for the Tumber family’s graciousness toward our Church and for their being instruments in the Lord’s hand in this marvelous endeavor.”

Elder Soares dedicated the Feather River temple — the Church’s 184th operating temple — in two sessions on Sunday, Oct. 8, five years and one day since it was announced in 2018.

“The dedication of this and all the other temples testifies that God has a divine vision and plan for His sons and daughters from all generations,” Elder Soares said. “It is indeed evidence of the divinity of His true gospel. This temple stands as a beacon in this area.”

Church leaders and wives take a photo outside the Feather River California Temple.

Elder Soares was joined by his wife, Sister Rosana Soares; Elder Kevin R. Duncan, General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Temple Department, and his wife, Sister Nancy Duncan; Elder Mark A. Bragg, a General Authority Seventy and president of the Church’s North America West Area, and his wife, Sister Yvonne Bragg; and Elder James R. Rasband, a General Authority Seventy, and his wife, Sister Mary Rasband.

How the Feather River temple has already been a blessing to Latter-day Saints in California

‘A special day’

Few looked forward to the dedication of the Feather River temple as much as Virgil Atkinson.

After leading many friends from the community through the temple during the open house, Atkinson said he awoke Sunday at 5 a.m. to arrive at the temple for sunrise and be the first in line.

“This is an important day, a special day,” said Atkinson, who has lived in Yuba City for nearly 70 years. “I’m going to take it all in. I want to treasure this day. We have worked really hard to prepare for this, and here it is. I wanted to make sure this day was a very special day and it has been.”

Members of the Adrian family, also of Yuba City, volunteered to place booties on shoes as people entered the temple for the dedication. They have lived in the area for 25 years. Daniel Adrian, age 16, called it a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

“It has been special to see the temple go up and know we now have our own,” he said.

Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Rosana Soares, greet the Adrian family.

Bart Blair, 96, has lived in Chico since 1953. He attended the original dedication of the Oakland California Temple in 1964 and the Sacramento California Temple dedication. The World War II veteran has served in various leadership callings over several decades. He attended Sunday’s dedication with his son, Bob Blair.

Bart Blair, 96, poses for a photo after the first dedicatory session of the Feather River Temple in Yuba City, California, October 8, 2023.

“Having a temple here means everything, because now that I’m getting old, a little feeble, we can get here in an hour,” he said. “I’m also excited to be here in the presence of an Apostle.”

John Werlhof came to the temple with his parents; his wife, Pang, and their 10-year-old son, Ryan; and his mother-in-law, Ka Moua Xiong, a Hmong refugee who was born in Laos and escaped to Thailand and the United States, where she joined the Church.

Left, Ka Moua Xiong, with her daughter Pang Werlhof, at the Feather River California Temple following the first dedicatory session on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023.

With Pang Werlhof translating for her mother, Xiong reflected on the danger of her escape, dodging bullets in the jungle and struggling to find food, not knowing if she would survive or not. Her first husband was killed. She immigrated to America and joined the Church in 1986.

“She spoke of the joy the gospel brings her when you know you will be blessed for your obedience when you follow the prophet and apostles,” Pang said on behalf of her mother.

Pang then added her own feelings: “This area is filled with such wonderful people, different cultures and religions, and they came together as a community to recognize the importance of our temple and our religion.”

A personal Portuguese connection

Prior to the dedication, Elder Soares was thrilled to learn he had a personal connection to the Yuba City community.

The Apostle received a letter from Richard Landerman, a Latter-day Saint who grew up in Yuba City and now lives in Utah. Landerman informed Elder Soares that many of his friends in school were of second-generation ancestry from Portugal and a fair representation of Portuguese still live in the area.

Elder Ulisses Soares, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Rosana Soares walking the grounds of the Feather River Temple.

Landerman, whose own ancestors settled in nearby Browns Valley, fondly remembers attending community parades that featured a life-size model of Our Lady of Fatima and were led by the local Catholic priest. Portuguese music was played, including Portugal’s national anthem. The festivities included a feast of roast beef cooked in garlic and mint, sopa, with huge loaves of peasant bread and mountains of potato salad. He appreciated their overall goodness and Christian values.

“They were such lovely people, and I grew to love them and their beautiful language very much,” Landerman said.

Elder Soares’ grandparents are from Spain and Portugal and met when they were immigrating with their parents to Brazil. They got married after arriving and kept many traditions from their home countries. Elder Soares says he has many memories made from around the dinner table and family celebrations, he said while speaking at Family Discovery Day at RootsTech in 2022.

“I am a second-generation Portuguese descendant born in Brazil. How thrilled I was to know that in the end of 19th century there was an established Portuguese community in the surrounding area,” Elder Soares said. “Learning of the spiritual background involved in the purchase of this site and the historical Portuguese settlement in this community made me feel even more connected with this beautiful part of North America.”

Church leaders stand outside the Feather River California Temple.

Elder Soares invited Landerman and his wife to attend the Feather River Temple dedication as his guests. As they sang “The Spirit of God” in the temple’s celestial room, Landerman first thought of his deceased family members and felt grateful to return to his hometown for such a monumental occasion.

“They were first and foremost in my thoughts, then it was the joy of being there among old friends,” he said. “This has been a experience in my life that I never imagined would happen.”

Welcomed by the community

Elder Soares received the assignment to dedicate the Feather River Temple in October 2021. Two months later he presided over a special Yuba City California Stake Conference. As he learned about the history of the Church in the area and its members, a sweet impression came to his mind.

“I was also deeply touched to learn that this is a community with congregations of several faiths that have a bond of fellowship and care for one another,” the Apostle said.

Church members take a photo after the temple dedication.

“They have people from all over the world but blend so well together. It is an example for the rest of the world. They help each other, they cooperate and support each other. It is a beautiful, faithful place, because you have people who have heart, and they are close to God.”

The Yuba-Sutter area has a rich tradition of religious diversity, including: the Bok Kai Temple, the iconic Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, Bethel AME Church, the first African American Church, the gurdwaras of the Sikhs and the temples of the Hindus, as well as the Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths.

They all welcomed the Church and the construction of the Feather River temple, said Yuba City Mayor Wade Kirchner, a Presbyterian who noted the temple is located across the street from City Hall.

“We were absolutely thrilled to be chosen as the location for the Feather River temple,” said Kirchner, who made a video inviting people to tour the temple during the open house. “We are a very diverse and a very welcoming and accommodating community. That was kind of the theme during the open house period, where I met people from literally all over the world that came to see how magnificent that temple is. ... It has been nothing but positive.”

A view of the Feather River Temple, Yuba City California in the morning of October 7, 2023, in Yuba City, California.

Opposition to the temple in the community was minimal, said Drake and Holly Brown, who served as coordinators for the open house and dedication.

“It has been so positive, and the people of Yuba City have been just as excited as the members to see this temple built,” Holly Brown said.

People of all faiths came to tour the temple, said Atkinson, who serves on the Yuba-Sutter Community Task Force. “That alone sends an incredible message, I think, of support, of kindness, of respect and of love for someone of a different faith,” he said.

Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella, assistant executive director of the Church’s Temple Department, said he felt a warm welcome from the Yuba City community at the beginning of the open house.

“You see religious freedom here. You see religious inclusion. You see people just being inviting and welcoming the Church and the temple,” Elder Parrella said.

Elder Ulisses Soares of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stands with Karm Bains.

Karm Bains, a member of the Sikh faith who serves with the Sutter County Board of Supervisors, said he toured the temple 11 times, bringing family members and friends right up until the end of the open house. He found the entire temple to be “beautiful” but was most fond of the celestial room where he felt God’s presence.

“It was just an all-around, amazing experience for everybody who attended. The Feather River temple is a real gem in the community,” Bains said. “To have the house of the Lord right here in Yuba City, Sutter County, is a true blessing, and not just for the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but for the entire community.”