Friendly Greetings

Frankfurt Temple

Friedrichsdorf, Germany

Shortly after being notified of their move to Frankfurt, Mom and Dad received the following letter of welcome:

24 February 1990

Elder and Sister Louis Edward Butler,

Sister Cannon and I want you to know how delighted we are that you have been transferred to work in the Frankfurt Temple, after the closure of the Swiss Temple.  We congratulate you for being worthy and willing to serve and know it will be a wonderful experience for you.  This letter is to welcome you and impart helpful information to you as you make preparations to come.

The Frankfurt Temple was dedicated September 1, 1987.  Our regular temple area includes all the stakes and districts of West Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Northern France, including Paris.  During the closure of the Swiss and London temples, the temple will operate in seven languages:  German, Dutch, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.  Stakes will participate regularly in those language areas, including some American servicemen's stakes.      

We have learned to appreciate the lovely location we have in Friedrichsdorf, which is a small suburb connected to Frankfurt by a direct-line fast train.  In three to five minutes you can walk from the temple site to a grocery store, a bank, or a drug store.  The [Church materials] Distribution Center is nearby.         

On the temple property we have a guest facility that normally houses eighty-five temple patrons, however, during the closure of the Swiss and London temples we are increasing the hostel housing capacity to 208 people.  A villa has the apartments of the president and counselors, as well as some apartments for single sisters and couple missionaries.  In addition, we have leased three houses; the farthest away is only a ten minute walk from the temple.  These were former family houses, two of which can accommodate four pairs of missionaries.  The rent varies from 600 to 800 marks per month for couples to approximately 250 marks for singles.  These prices include an approximate heating cost. 

Total living costs per month are about 800 marks per person (1600 marks per couple.)  The exchange rate varies; lately it has been around 1.65 DM per dollar.

May we say again how delighted we are to welcome you to the House of the Lord and look forward to working with you here.

With friendly greetings,

Edwin Q. Cannon, Jr.

14 April 1990 (after arriving in Friedrichsdorf):

We really had a pleasant welcome from President Cannon.  He is so personable.

 The temple spire seen through the surroundings