BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Exterior Rendering Released and Groundbreaking Scheduled for the Wichita Kansas Temple

Hello again, everyone! This afternoon, in a First Presidency announcement, the groundbreaking arrangements and the exterior rendering have been released for the Wichita Kansas Temple. The Wichita Kansas Temple was originally announced in April 2022, with the site confirmed in June of last year. Ground will be broken for this 9,950-square foot single-story temple on Saturday, September 7, with Elder Steven R. Bangerter, who will begin serving as First Counselor in the North America Central Area Presidency one month prior, on August 1, presiding at that service.

I will let others more qualified than myself comment on this news as they may choose to do so. I would only add a couple of things: I have updated my side-by-side comparison of temple groundbreakings this year vs. last year and my document showing the announced temples for which no information has been officially confirmed yet. These latest updates indicate that the Church is on track to have a high number of temple groundbreakings occur this year. 

And if all of those with a groundbreaking scheduled can promptly begin construction thereafter, that, in turn, will increase the number of temples likely to be completed by sometime in 2028. So I look forward to any additional groundbreakings that might be announced over the next few weeks. It's also worth noting that we are probably a month or two minimum out before we get word of the next scheduled temple dedication(s). I think we are likely to see at least one temple dedication announced in the fall, with such announcements picking up as we hit winter here in Utah.

Stay tuned for more information, analysis, and discussion of all of these developments. For my part, I continue to monitor any and all Church News, Newsroom, and Church of Jesus Christ Temples updates and will be sure to pass word of those along to you all as they cross my radar. In the meantime, that does it for now. All comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated on any post at any time, as long as the offered feedback is made per the established guidelines. 

I hope any of you who would like to share anything will take your opportunity to “sound off” in the comments below. Please subscribe if you liked what you read here and would like to be informed of newly added posts and comments. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.

UPDATED: Current Apostolic Data

Hello again, everyone! It has been a tradition on this blog for me to provide updates on apostolic data every 7 weeks. Having last done so on Sunday, June 2, it is time to publish the newest such data. As with every two-part update, the first part contains updated data about the age and tenure length records for all 17 Church Presidents, in addition to updated information on the tenure lengths for each of the 28 Presidents of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 

The first document likewise notes information on the tenure length rankings for three sets of apostolic groups: the longest-serving First Presidencies (with the current First Presidency now moving up on that list), in addition to the longest-serving groups of members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and groups of all ordained apostles (the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles), and an overview of when each of those current groups will move up on the list.

Meanwhile, the second part of today's update shows the long-form and decimal ages for the members of the current First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the same data for the combined First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in addition to the average ages of each group and apostolic nonagenarians (with 3 of the current 15 apostles being on that list), and a final table showing the remaining time between today and when each of the other 12 apostles will become nonagenarians and join that list. With these updates coming every 7 weeks, the next update will be posted here on the morning of Sunday, .

Hopefully, this post is of interest to you all. Again, I offer an open invitation to ask anyone who has any questions about those documents to ask them here. I continue to monitor any and all Church News, Newsroom, and Church of Jesus Christ Temples updates and will be sure to pass word of those along to you all as they cross my radar. In the meantime, that does it for now. All comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated on any post at any time, as long as the offered feedback is made per the established guidelines.

I hope any of you who would like to share anything will take your opportunity to “sound off” in the comments below. Please subscribe if you liked what you read here and would like to be informed of newly added posts and comments. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.

Elder Patrick Kearon Observes His First Birthday Since His Apostolic Call (His 63rd)

Hello again, everyone! With today being July 18, our newest apostle, Elder Patrick Kearon, is observing his first apostolic birthday since his call to the apostleship in early December of last year. He is now 63 years old and is the youngest and least senior member of both the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and among all 15 current apostles. This is my first biographical tribute to him, so let's dive right in!

Patrick Robert David Kearon was born on this day in 1961 to Paddy and Patricia Kearon in Carlisle, Cumbria, Northern England. His parents met when both were serving in the British armed forces. Despite his family not being religious, Patrick, the youngest of five children, his upbringing was in an environment of service, sacrifice, and devotion to one another. While his family was stationed in Saudi Arabia, Patrick spent time away from his family in boarding schools, and he recounted the hardships of that. 

While at his second boarding school, he and his classmates were tasked with helping to clean up after flooding in the area of his boarding school. That too was a formative experience for him in his youth. Once Patrick finished high school, he returned to his family in Saudi Arabia, where he underwent vocational training in several industries. eventually concluding with a communications consultancy that he ran with his wife.

When he was 19 years old, his father and brother-in-law died in a tragic accident. Patrick went home to England to be with his mother for a time, but soon returned to Saudi Arabia to continue working. In a later return to London, he met some Church members. From them, he gained a genuine appreciation and respect for their Christlike examples. A couple of years after that, some impressive missionaries asked if he would like a priesthood blessing.

During that blessing from a senior missionary he knew well, he felt a strong peace, light, and joy that he couldn't deny. After a couple of other experiences that further touched his mind and heart, he was baptized on Christmas Eve in 1987. Two years later, he was in a YSA ward when he met Jennifer Hulme, who was an American-born student on a foreign-exchange program. She was impressed by the way he interacted with and treated people. They married in the Oakland California Temple in January 1991.

They raised their family in England for 19 years until Elder Kearon's April 2010 General Conference call as a General Authority Seventy. Coincidentally, that was the same conference in which his now fellow apostle Elder Gerrit W. Gong was also called as a General Authority Seventy. Prior to his call as a General Authority Seventy, Elder Kearon served as branch president, stake president, and area seventy.

Elder Kearon was called to the Presidency of the Seventy in August 2017, where he served alongside both Elders Gerrit W. Gong and Ulisses Soares, who would become his immediate apostolic seniors. Elder Kearon became the Senior President of the Seventy in August 2020, serving in that capacity until his aforementioned call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in early December of last year.

Prior to his call to the apostleship, Elder Kearon spoke in General Conference twice as a General Authority Seventy, and once as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. His first apostolic talk was definitely one that stuck out to me from the most recent General Conference. Those who know Elder Kearon best describe him as very soft-spoken, kind, and genuinely interested in everyone with whom he comes in contact. 

As he continues to adjust to his new assignment, I am pleased to testify of the divine origin of his call to the apostleship. The moment I read about the call, the Spirit witnessed clearly to me that he was the right man to fill the apostolic vacancy. He brings a wealth of experience to bear on his new assignment. 

I'm grateful for the opportunity to pay tribute to Elder Patrick Kearon on this, his 63rd birthday. I continue to monitor any and all Church News, Newsroom, and Church of Jesus Christ Temples updates and will be sure to pass word of those along to you all as they cross my radar. In the meantime, that does it for now. All comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated on any post at any time, as long as the offered feedback is made per the established guidelines. 

I hope any of you who would like to share anything will take your opportunity to “sound off” in the comments below. Please subscribe if you liked what you read here and would like to be informed of newly added posts and comments. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.