The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Australian leaders revealed
As the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints plans to build new multimillion-dollar temples in Australia, see who is in charge and what their role is.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a tight-knit, multibillion-dollar religious community that is on a spending spree in Australia.
They are planning to build new multimillion-dollar temples in Sydney and Brisbane, despite having as few as 35,000 practicing members across the country.
The church, which began in 1830 when an American Joseph Smith claimed to have a revelation, remains a significant presence in the United States.
Smith “received authority to lead the Church from John the Baptist and from three of Christ’s apostles, Peter, James and John”, the church says.
“These men appeared as angels and bestowed the priesthood upon Joseph Smith.”
A list of senior leaders on its website lists only nine women, alongside 141 men.
Here’s a run down of who is in charge of the church, and, as campaigners claim, the lives of millions of members.
DALLIN H. OAKS
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints appointed Mr Oaks in October after the death of former President Russell M. Nelson, who was 101 when he died in September.
The new leader of the church is 93 years old — born before the start of World War Two.
Mr Oaks had six children with his first wife, June Dixon Oaks, who died in 1998.
He married Kristen M. McMain in August 2000.
Mr Oaks studied at the Mormon controlled Brigham Young University and the University of Chicago Law School.
“People who imagine commandments as the way God decides who to punish fail to understand this purpose of God’s loving plan of happiness,” he said in April last year.
“On that path we can gradually achieve the needed relationship with our Savior and qualify for an increase of His power to help us on our way to the destination He desires for all of us.”
Mr Oaks was appointed to the church’s influential Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984.
He is now the leader of the world’s 17 million Mormons, similar to how the Pope is the figurehead of the Catholic Church.
SYDNEY TEMPLE LEADERSHIP
President: Joseph Azar Elias Saikaly
Matron: Denise Marion Haddon Saikaly
Mr Saikaly was born in Tripoli, Lebanon, and had a long list of high profile Mormon roles before taking over the Sydney Temple in Carlingford, in the city’s west.
That temple was established in 1984.
Mr Saikaly had previously been in charge of the church’s grounds as its “engineer”.
Denise Saikaly was born in Sydney.
MELBOURNE TEMPLE LEADERSHIP
President: Afereti Toafa Iuli
Matron: Lepeka Sauvao Iuli
The Samoan couple were from the Dandenong ward and Narre Warren “stake” but are now in charge of the Mormon’s main Temple in Wantirna South.
Their appointment is a nod to the significant Pacific Islander population who are members of the church in Australia.
The Melbourne Temple was first announced in 1998 and opened two years later.
BRISBANE TEMPLE LEADERSHIP
President: Garth Stuart Pitman
Matron: Joanne Davies Pitman
The couple took over the Ipswich, Brisbane Temple, in 2024.
Mr Pitman was born in Cairns, while his wife was born in Brisbane.
They have both held senior positions before they were elevated to their current roles.
ADELAIDE TEMPLE LEADERSHIP
President: Michael William McIlwaine
Matron: Caroline Isobel Spreckley McIlwaine
Mr McIlwaine is a retired human resources consultant who took over the Adelaide church in 2023. He was born in Whyalla, South Australia.
His wife Caroline was born in Selby, England and has had a string of senior roles in the church.
The Temple is in Marden, just 6km from Adelaide’s central business district.
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Originally published as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Australian leaders revealed
