Was Wallace Toronto a mission president or spy? Wallace served as mission president in Czechoslovakia during both the Nazi and Communist regimes. Dr Mary Jane Woodger has written an amazing biography of this man called “Mission President or Spy?” In this first conversation, we’ll talk about his grandfather’s conversion from Italy and his major contribution to the Nauvoo Temple. We’ll also discuss Wally’s first mission to Czechoslavakia. Check out our conversation….
How did the Church react when Hitler took over Czechoslavakia? Wallace Toronto was mission president and his biography Mary Jane Woodger details the escapate plans which were used more than once! She also details how Wally helped from LDS missionaries who were imprisoned. They were released just hours prior to the Nazi invasion of Poland! Check out our conversation…
After the Communists led a coup in Czechoslavakia and installed a friendly government there, their Most Wanted Man was LDS Mission President Wallace Toronto. While he was there, he was placed under 24 hour surveillance, deported, and then placed on the Most Wanted list by Communist leaders in Czechoslavakia. How did he continue to lead the church despite this status?
Of course, he had to return to Utah, where he got a job. But Church leaders never released him as mission president. He continued to offer advice to members there up until his death in 1968 from cancer. Following his death, his wife was asked to serve as temporary mission president until a new man could be called. She is likely the only woman to serve as mission president in the history of the Church!
Dr Mary Jane Woodger has co-written several books with Dr Casey Griffiths. She share a few of her favorite relics of Restoration. Interestingly, she showed a photo of a dress by Belle Spafford, General Relief Society President. I did not know Belle hated Relief Society prior to her calling. She wore a 55 cent dress, literally made out of curtains, so an important meeting! Mary Jane also shares Pres Hinckley’s sketch of the Hong Kong Temple.
We’ll also talk about her future projects.
These stories from WW2 and the Cold War were fascinating, and were certainly stories I had never heard.
Wheat & Tares 
I had a neighbor that I think was Wally’s younger daughter. She occasionally would talk about her father but I didn’t hear any of these stories. Fascinating conversation. Thank you both!
MJ Woodger was my 8th grade US history teacher, and I was her class aide the following year. Then when I saw she was teaching at BYU, I took the Teachings of the Living Prophets class from her my sophomore year (after my mission).
Small world!
And I need to get this book stat.