Junius Driggs Explained

Junius ElMarion Driggs
Birth Date:28 June 1907
Spouse:Bernice Elizabeth Crouse
Children:5
Death Place:Mesa, AZ
Occupation:Businessman

Junius ElMarion Driggs (June 28, 1907 – July 8, 1994) was the CEO and co-founder of now-defunct Western Savings and Loan. He was also the president of the Mesa Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1975 to 1980.[1]

Early life

Junius was born in Driggs, Idaho, in 1907 to Don Carlos Driggs who founded the town, and May Jerusha Robison.

Career

Driggs was President of Western Financial until his retirement in 1976. He was replaced by his nephew John Driggs[2] During his tenure as Chairman, Driggs made a name for himself in the business community of Arizona and was eventually named to the elite group known as the Phoenix 40 along with Eugene C. Pulliam, Karl Eller, and others.[3]

Church service

Temple presidency

Junius was called in 1975 by LDS Church church president Spencer W. Kimball to serve as the 9th temple president of the Mesa Arizona Temple.[4] While president, his primary responsibilities included greeting temple patrons and interviewing recommended temple workers as well as recommending temple workers. He often attend regional stake conferences and local sacrament meetings, where he urged church members to carry out genealogical work and to attend and assist in the performance of temple ordinances. He was assisted by two counselors as well as his wife and the wives of the two counselors, referred to as the matron and the assistants to the matron respectively.

In larger temples, like the Mesa temple, presidents usually serve for three years,[5] but Driggs served for five years until 1980. Driggs had served as a stake president prior to his calling as temple president in addition to his having been a regional representative of the Twelve.[6]

Books

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of Mesa Arizona Temple Presidents . 2009-03-02 .
  2. News: Western Financial Elects John Driggs as Chairman . Wall Street Journal . 5 March 1976.
  3. Web site: Greater Phoenix Leadership . 12 August 2021.
  4. Web site: List of Mesa Arizona Temple Presidents . 2009-03-02 .
  5. Web site: WVS. 2010-11-18. Mormon Temples: How They Work. Part 3.. 2020-06-23. By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog. en.
  6. Web site: David O. McKay Diaries – “Correlation” – Mormon Studies . 2024-08-21 . mormonstudies.as.virginia.edu.