Feature Story
Recording More Than Ordinances: Kyle Tetterton’s Meaningful Work in the Richmond Virginia Temple
For Kyle Tetterton (‘20), working in the temple isn’t just a job, it’s a calling that has reshaped both his career and his faith. As recorder for the Richmond Virginia Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Tetterton says he feels a deep sense of purpose each day, one that reminds him of the connections, lessons, and community he found during his time at Southern Virginia University.
Tetterton graduated from Southern Virginia University with a political science degree at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He and his wife, Natalie, then moved to Florida, where he worked as an account specialist for Xcel Media Group. During that time, a friend who happened to be the hiring manager for the Richmond Virginia Temple, encouraged him to consider applying for the recently available temple recorder position.
”He looked at my work experience and said, ‘You know, you’d make a good recorder,’” Tetterton recalled. “I told him, ‘I don’t know what that is, but I’m interested if it means working in the temple.’”
Several interviews later, he was offered the position and in 2022 he and Natalie relocated back to Virginia.
As temple recorder, Tetterton oversees the temple’s full-time interior staff, including office and laundry teams, while ensuring that every ordinance is recorded accurately, reverently, and according to the standards of the First Presidency of the Church. He also acts as the temple’s executive secretary, providing support to the temple presidency and overseeing the majority of the temple’s temporal needs.
“My main responsibility is ensuring that a proper and faithful record is kept,” explained Tetterton. “Professionally, this role is fulfilling and gives me confidence knowing the work I’m doing is meaningful. Everyone who serves here truly wants to be here.”
Because the Richmond Virginia Temple serves the same region as Southern Virginia University, Tetterton frequently sees familiar faces among the temple patrons and volunteer temple workers. These moments remind him of how grateful he is for his time at SVU, and how it helped him prepare for his current role and his career.
“SVU’s small classes and overall environment teach you to really know people—their strengths and their weaknesses—which is something I’m so grateful for,” he said. “It was great preparation for a professional workplace, which, believe it or not, the temple is. SVU helped prepare me incredibly for this time in my career by teaching me how to engage with others in meaningful ways.”
Among the most meaningful connections he made at Southern Virginia was meeting his wife, Natalie (‘20). The two met in an intro to college class and bonded over Friday ping pong games. Married in 2017, they now have two children.