BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Opening Arrangements Set for the Ephraim Utah Temple & Groundbreaking Announced for the Springfield Missouri Temple

Hello again, everyone! The First Presidency has set opening arrangements for the Ephraim Utah Temple and a groundbreaking ceremony for the Springfield Missouri Temple. Let's get righton into the details: The media day for the Ephraim Utah Temple will be held on Monday, August 31, 2026, with invited guests touring the temple on Tuesday, September 1. The public open house will follow between Wednesday, September 2 and Saturday, September 19, excluding the Sundays of September 6 and 13. 

The temple dedication will follow on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 10:00 AM local time (with a reboradcast at 2:00 PM). Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside thereover. Elder Rasband brought the announcement of the Ephraim Utah Temple to the Saints in that district, so it is fitting that, in the absence of President Nelson, Elder Rasband will dedicate this temple. Interestingly enough, Elder Rasband will dedicate this temple one week before he presides over the previously announced dedication of the Managua Nicaragua Temple.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Springfield Missouri Temple wll take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026. Elder Aroldo V. Cavalcante of the United States Southeast Area Presidency will preside at the temple groundbreaking. I had theorized that Springfield Missouri might be one of the next temples to have groundbreakings, so I'm grateful I was proven to be correct in that theory.

As a result of today's announcement, I have updated my documents showing current apostles' temple dedications during President Oaks' prophetic administration and my side-by-side comparison of temple groundbreakings in 2025 vs. 2026. As another interesting fact, the groundbreaking for the Springfield Missouri Temple will take place before the groundbreaking for the Missoula Montana Temple, although both will occur on the same day. And the side-by-side comparison of temple groundbreakings shows we are not currently keeping pace with last year, though I suspect strongly that that will change in the near term.

The Church News has also covered the Ephraim dedication and the Springfield groundbreaking. I am pleased to have been able to provide this analysis for you all. I invite you all to stay tuned here for my coverage of the latest updates from the Church News, Newsroom, and Church of Jesus Christ Temples sites. I’ll be sure to pass word of those along to you all as soon as I learn about them. 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 all such 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. If you liked what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly added posts and comments, please subscribe to receive the applicable updates. 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.

BREAKING NEWS: First Presidency Announces New Young Women Age Group Names

Good morning, everyone! On the heels of last night's stunning temple announcement for Marsyville Washington, the First Presidency has released new names for young women classes that replace the Beehive, Mia Maid, and Laurel names that were "retired" for Young Women in 2018.

The new young women class names are Builders of Faith for those turning 12 or 13, Messengers of Hope for those turning 14 or 15, and Gatherers of Light for those 16 and older. The First Presidency offers the following explanation of the respective class names:

"A Builder of Faith helps build God’s kingdom through her faith in Christ, steadfast witness, and actions that uplift and encourage others (see Ephesians 2:20)."

"A Messenger of Hope carries Christ’s message of hope to the weary, speaking peace, sharing comfort, and lifting hearts through the power of the Spirit (see Mosiah 18:8–9)."

"A Gatherer of Light trusts divine guidance and draws strength from covenants as she seeks, gathers, and reflects God’s light (see Doctrine and Covenants 50:24)."

These new class names are wonderful developments. The official First Presidency letter also includes a great list of FAQs regarding what the name changes mean, when (and how) the changes will be implemented, whether new class presidencies need to be called, the difference between an age group and a class, who attends ward youth council, how adult leaders are assigned to groups, and how age group progression will occur each year. 

It was further noted that bishoprics can act to reorganize classes ASAP, but that some changes in age groups, classes, or class presidencies may need to wait until June 1, 2026, to be reflected on the Church's LCR (Leader & Clerk Resources) System. This was another stunning development I couldnot have foreseen. But I am grateful for it.

It struck me that the description of these young women age group names matches up fairly well with the duties and responsibilities of the corresponding age groups of the Aaronic Priesthood Quorums. So this may be a way for the Church to put young women classes or groups on more equal footing with their Aaronic Priesthood counterparts.

I am grateful for yet another inspired change. I testify that these changes are inspired by the Lord, as I felt that confirmed to me very strongly as I first read the news. These agegroup names will prepare the young women for future service opportunities in the Releif Society and elsewhere in the Church. I know that is true.

I invite you all to stay tuned here for my coverage of the latest updates from the Church News, Newsroom, and Church of Jesus Christ Temples sites. I’ll be sure to pass word of those along to you all as soon as I learn about them. 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 all such 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. If you liked what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly added posts and comments, please subscribe to receive the applicable updates. 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..

BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: First Presidency Announces Marysville Washington Temple

 Good evening, everyone! This evening, as some of you may already be aware, the First Presidency announced a new temple to be built in Marysville Washington this evening. The First Presidency announcement was read by Elder Hugo E. Martinez of the United States West Area Presidency, during a devotional in the Marysville Washington Stake. The full text of the First Presidency announcement follows below: 

"We are pleased to announce the construction of a temple in Marysville, Washington, The specific location and timing of the construction will be announced later. This is a reason for all of us to rejoice and express gratitude for such a significant blessing — one that will allow more frequent access to the ordinances, covenants and power that can only be found in the house of the Lord." 

This announcement continues a pattern laid out by President Oaks at the dedication of the Burley Idaho Temple: a member of the area presidency, as authorized, reads the announcement in the area in which the temple in question will be built. There are now 384 temples worldwide, and this will be the seventh temple in Washington State. 

And this unexpected announcement comes just over 4 months after the first such temple announcement (for Portland Maine). Couldd this suggest a pattern for when we might expect the next new temple to be announced? If so, then the third temple announced under President Oaks' presiding direction could be announced in August of this year. I for one am hoping to see the next announcement sooner than that, but time will tell.

The Church News has not yet reported on this update, but when they do, that report will be shared in the comment section below. In any case, this announcement makes it clear that this is indeed the new method of announcing temples that, as President Oaks stated, will be observed for as long as he has any say in such matters.  I still don't think that this additional temple announcement will be all we get this week. But time will tell. 

I invite you all to keep watch on this blog during the 2:00 PM MDT hour for my analysis of anything else that is announced. I invite you all to stay tuned here for my coverage of the latest updates from the Church News, Newsroom, and Church of Jesus Christ Temples sites. I’ll be sure to pass word of those along to you all as soon as I learn about them. 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 all such 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. If you liked what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly added posts and comments, please subscribe to receive the applicable updates. 

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.