Wyoming

Elder Quentin L. Cook dedicates 201st Latter-day Saint temple in Casper, Wyoming

Published

1 month ago

November 25, 2024

Elder Quentin L. Cook dedicates 201st Latter-day Saint temple in Casper, Wyoming

CASPER, Wyoming — Between 1847 and 1868, more than 60,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints passed through what is now Casper on their overland trek to Salt Lake City, crossing the North Platte River at a spot not far from the new Casper Wyoming Temple.

Most early members came across the plains without severe incident, but members of the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies of 1856 suffered starvation, exposure, death and other ordeals. A significant event was the 1856 Sweetwater River rescue in Central Wyoming, in which young men carried desperate pioneers across the freezing water.

One of those young men was David Patten Kimball, great-grandfather of Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

“My grandfather, Crozier Kimball, explained to me that one of the reasons these young men were heroic was because they were following the prophet,” said Elder Cook. “He taught me that following the counsel of the prophet in our own day would be equally heroic.”

Now, Latter-day Saints in Casper will participate in that kind of heroism by rescuing their ancestors through temple work.

On Sunday, Nov. 24, Elder Cook dedicated the Casper Wyoming Temple in a single 10 a.m. session broadcast to all units within the Casper temple district. It is the Church’s 201st dedicated and operating temple.

The Casper Wyoming Temple on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.

Serving 15,000 Latter-day Saints in nearly 50 congregations within its district, the Casper Wyoming Temple is the state’s second dedicated and operating house of the Lord, following the Star Valley Wyoming Temple, which was dedicated in 2016. The Cody Wyoming Temple, which was announced in 2021, held its groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 27, 2024.

Elder Cook said there are great blessings for those who engage in the work of redeeming the dead, particularly in regards to a person’s own ancestors.

“I believe that the youth of the Church will have greater protection from the adversary if they immerse themselves in searching for their ancestors, preparing their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple and then go to the temple to stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and gift of the Holy Ghost, or act as a witness,” Elder Cook said.

Saints in the temple district have currently been traveling to the Fort Collins Colorado Temple or the Bismarck North Dakota Temple.

Casper Wyoming East Stake President Steven D. Higginson said, “Not only is it going to be wonderful to be close to a temple to do ancestral work, but so many more of our members will have the opportunity to serve inside the temple as temple workers,” he said. “The blessings will be just as important for those who did not have that opportunity before.”

Church members arrive for the Casper Wyoming Temple dedication on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

During the two week open house from Aug. 29-Sept. 14, 27,000 people came to tour the temple.

Beth Worthen, a long-time Casper resident and chair of the temple open house committee, shared the community’s warm reception. She’s spoken with locals, civic leaders, business leaders and others who feel that the temple brings peace to the community.

“It’s our responsibility to keep talking about the temple and the feelings that it gives us and the transformational power that it holds, so that people in our community are continually reminded of that and see how it can fit into their lives,” she said.

Read more about today’s dedication in the Church News.

Elder Ricardo P. Giménez, Sister Catherine Giménez, Bishop Gérald Caussé, Sister Valérie Caussé; Elder Quentin L. Cook, Sister Mary Cook, Elder James R. Rasband, Sister Mary Rasband, outside the Casper Wyoming Temple. — From left: Elder Ricardo P. Giménez, General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the North America Central Area, and his wife, Sister Catherine Giménez; Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé and his wife, Sister Valérie Caussé; Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Mary Cook; Elder James R. Rasband, General Authority Seventy and assistant executive director of the Temple Department and his wife, Sister Mary Rasband, pose for photos outside the Casper Wyoming Temple following the dedication on Sunday Nov. 24, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

People exit the Casper Wyoming Temple with a backdrop of snowy mountains following the temple dedication on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. — Church members exit the Casper Wyoming Temple following its dedication on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

The Casper Wyoming Temple on Friday Nov. 22, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Casper Wyoming Temple on Friday Nov. 22, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Elder Quentin L. Cook and Sister Mary Cook and others exit the Casper Wyoming Temple to take a few photos following the dedication on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. — Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife, Sister Mary Cook, and members of the official party exit the Casper Wyoming Temple following the dedication on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

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Wyoming

Don Day's Wyoming Weather Forecast: Friday, December 27, 2024

Published

4 hours ago

December 27, 2024

Press Room

Clouds/chance of snow in western Wyoming on Friday. Generally sunny in the east. Winter storm advisories in some areas. Highs from the mid 20s to upper 40s. Lows from the single digits to upper 20s.

Central:

Casper: Slight chance of snow after 5 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny and windy today with a high near 41 and wind gusts as high as 41 mph. Mostly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of snow before 7 p.m., a low near 29 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

Riverton: Partly sunny and breezy today with a high near 39 and wind gusts as high as 23 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 17.

Shoshoni: Increasing clouds today with a high near 39 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 16.

Southwest:

Evanston: Breezy, up to 2 inches of snow likely today with a high near 35 and wind gusts as high as 38 mph. Mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of snow mainly before 8 p.m., a low near 23 and wind gusts as high as 32 mph.

Green River: Chance of snow and rain, patchy blowing snow after 3 p.m., breezy and increasing clouds today with a high near 35 and wind gusts as high as 34 mph. Mostly cloudy and breezy overnight with patchy blowing snow before 2 a.m., a low near 20 and wind gusts as high as 33 mph.

Lyman: Snow likely, mostly cloudy and breezy today with a high near 38 and wind gusts as high as 36 mph. Mostly cloudy and breezy overnight with a chance of snow mainly before 8 p.m., a low near 26 and wind gusts as high as 37 mph.

Western Wyoming:

Pinedale: Winter storm watch from 11 p.m. tonight through Monday morning. Up to 3 inches of snow near certain today with a high near 26 and mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of snow mainly before 8 p.m. and a low near 14.

Alpine: Winter storm warning in effect until 11 p.m. Winter storm watch from 11 p.m. tonight through Monday morning. Up to 7 inches of snow, heavy at times, mainly after 8 a.m., patchy fog before 9 a.m. and breezy today with a high near 32 and wind gusts as high as 24 mph. Up to 4 inches of snow likely overnight with a low near 22 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph.

Big Piney: Up to 2 inches of snow mainly after 10 a.m. likely today with a high near 28 and mostly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of snow before 11 p.m. and a low near 7.

Northwest:

Dubois: Chance of snow mainly after 10 a.m., otherwise partly sunny and breezy today with a high near 33 and wind gusts as high as 31 mph. Partly cloudy and windy overnight with a chance of snow mainly before 11 p.m., patchy blowing snow, a low near 24 and wind gusts as high as 38 mph.

Jackson: Winter weather advisory in effect through 11 p.m. tonight. Winter storm watch in effect from 11 p.m. tonight through Monday morning. Breezy, up to 4 inches of snow near certain today with a high near 31 and wind gusts as high as 23 mph. Mostly cloudy and breezy overnight with a chance of up to 3 inches of snow mainly before 8 p.m., a low near 20 and wind gusts as high as 23 mph.

Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park: Winter weather advisory in effect through 11 p.m. tonight. Winter storm watch in effect from 11 p.m. tonight through Monday morning. Up to 3 inches of snow likely, patchy fog before 9 a.m. today with a high near 28 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph. Mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of snow mainly after 2 a.m., a low near 16 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

Bighorn Basin:

Thermopolis: Increasing clouds and breezy today with a high near 42 and wind gusts as high as 26 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 20.

Cody: Increasing clouds and breezy today with a high near 41 and wind gusts as high as 24 mph. Mostly cloudy and breezy overnight with a low near 28 and wind gusts as high as 26 mph.

Greybull: Mostly sunny today with a high near 40 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 20.

North Central:

Buffalo: Mostly sunny today with a high near 42 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 27.

Sheridan: Increasing clouds today with a high near 48 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 22.

Ranchester: Increasing clouds today with a high near 45 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 23.

Northeast:

Gillette: Mostly sunny today with a high near 44 and wind gusts as high as 22 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 25 and wind gusts as high as 18 mph.

Sundance: Sunny today with a high near 38 and wind gusts as high as 17 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 26.

Upton: Sunny today with a high near 42 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 19.

Eastern Plains:

Torrington: Sunny and breezy today with a high near 48 and wind from 10-20 mph. Gradually becoming mostly clear overnight with a low near 26.

Douglas: Mostly sunny and breezy today with a high near 44 and wind gusts as high as 35 mph. Mostly cloudy and breezy overnight with a low near 23 and wind gusts as high as 30 mph.

Midwest: Mostly sunny and breezy today with a high near 42 and wind gusts as high as 33 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 25.

Southeast:

Cheyenne: Increasing clouds and breezy today with a high near 43 and wind gusts as high as 35 mph. Gradually clearing and blustery overnight with a slight chance of snow, a low near 28 and wind gusts as high as 35 mph.

Laramie: Slight chance of snow after 4 p.m., increasing clouds and breezy today with a high near 38 and wind gusts as high as 35 mph. Breezy, gradually becoming partly cloudy overnight with a chance of snow, a low near 24 and wind gusts as high as 40 mph.

Pine Bluffs: Sunny and breezy today with a high near 48 and wind gusts as high as 35 mph. Blustery, gradually becoming mostly clear overnight with a low near 25 and wind gusts as high as 30 mph.

South Central:

Rawlins: Chance of snow, increasing clouds and windy today with a high near 35 and wind gusts as high as 45 mph. Mostly cloudy and windy overnight with a chance of snow, a low near 26 and wind gusts as high as 45 mph.

Encampment: Chance of up to 2 inches of snow mainly after 2 p.m., patchy blowing snow after 11 a.m., increasing clouds and breezy today with a high near 34 and wind gusts as high as 35 mph. Up to 2 inches of snow near certain, windy, patchy blowing snow after 10 p.m. overnight with a low near 26 and wind gusts as high as 40 mph.

Wamsutter: Chance of snow mainly after 9 a.m., increasing clouds and breezy today with a high near 33 and wind gusts as high as 37 mph. Mostly cloudy and breezy overnight with a low near 22 and wind gusts as high as 34 mph.

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Wyoming

Up to 18 inches of snow possible as storm advisory placed on western Wyoming

Published

12 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Up to 18 inches of snow possible as storm advisory placed on western Wyoming

CASPER, Wyo. – Much of western Wyoming is bracing for a good blast of winter as a storm advisory goes into effect.

The National Weather Service in Riverton posted the warning early Thursday on social media:

Snow will begin across western Wyoming this morning and will continue through Friday night. Snowfall amounts up to 18 inches across the western mountains and 4-10 inches for most of the western Valleys. The heaviest snow will fall this afternoon/evening and again Friday afternoon, affecting the evening commute across Teton Pass both days.

The NWS said gusts up to 65 mph are possible in southern Fremont County to southern Johnson County on Thursday afternoon.

The winter storm advisory in the Jackson area will be reduced to a watch on Friday night, lasting through Sunday, said the NWS.

Minimal moisture is expected in Natrona County over the foreseeable future, according to the NWS, but gusty winds will persist. There is an extreme blow over risk on Casper’s Outer Drive and along Interstate 25 between Casper and Douglas on Thursday afternoon, according to WYDOT.

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