Before I go any further, I wanted to just comment on what a tremendous milestone this is, and what it means for the Church. It makes my head spin to realize that, for the first time I know of in the entire history of the Church, a temple outside North America will have a site announced and its ground broken roughly within one year after that temple was announced. No less significant and wonderful to me is the knowledge that, with this groundbreaking to take place when it does, for the very first time in Church history, we will have three temples simultaneously under construction in Africa. There are no words beautiful enough or strong enough to describe my feelings when I think of this news. My mom was born in South Africa and came here over 30 years ago on what she believed would be a "short vacation." Now her home nation of South Africa will soon have 2 temples in operation, and temples are spreading like wildfires throughout the land at an overwhelmingly fast rate. In the continent of Africa alone, there will soon be more temples there than there were in the entire United States, let alone the world, within the first 100 years of the gospel's restoration. And, as those who follow my posts are no doubt all too keenly aware, there is potential for quite a few more temple sites to be announced in just the African continent alone within the next 5 years or so.
What a remarkable time we live in! We are very blessed to live in a most unprecedented era of temple building. While it is still unknown how long construction in Zimbabwe will last, one thing is certain: if temples keep being announced and built at the rate they have been just in the last 5 years alone, not only are we more likely than not to see 200+ temples by or before the 200th anniversary of the Church, but we will also likely see future temple announcements in remote places that no one now believes as being possible.
I am equally certain of one other thing: this blog is fast becoming one of many outlets where such things can be discussed and analyzed in-depth. I am humbled by the knowledge that my recent post about possible locations for temples that may be announced in the near future has received by far the most views and the most comments of any post I've done in the entire time I've been blogging. And that is an absolute testament to me of the high interest in temples. It certainly isn't because of anything I've said here. In fact, it probably is the case in spite of things I've said here. I am awed and humbled that what I have to say means so much to so many. I am beyond grateful to all who are commenting and reading my thoughts about this subject that has been a lifelong love of mine.
Naturally and obviously, with the news that came down today, a massive edit was needed for my temple construction progress report. I share those updates with you now. As always, I am eternally appreciative of any and all of you who will read this post and, if you feel so inclined, comment on it.
That said, here's the report:
Temple Construction Progress Report
(current as of 12/11/16)
Current Temple Status: 155 operating; 1 scheduled
for dedication; 11 under construction; 1 scheduled for rededication; 2
undergoing renovation; 10 announced;
(NOTE: Up to 3
additional temples may soon have a groundbreaking announced).
Dedication scheduled:
156. Paris
France Temple: Interior work underway; open house and dedication dates
announced; scheduled to be dedicated on Sunday
May 21, 2017.
Under Construction:
157. Meridian Idaho
Temple: Exterior lighting tests underway; welcome center reopens in stake
center; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.
158. Cedar City Utah
Temple: Erecting fencing;
landscaping progressing; installing window frames and art glass; completion anticipated
sometime in late 2017.
159. Tucson Arizona
Temple: Adding landscaping structures and walkways; plumbing water feature; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.
160. Rome Italy Temple:
Interior work progressing; completion
anticipated sometime in 2018.
161. Concepcion Chile
Temple: Cupola assembly attached to steeple framework; paving main entrance; completion
anticipated sometime in 2018.
162. Kinshasa Democratic
Republic of the Congo Temple: Building
the exterior walls; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.
163.
Durban South Africa Temple: Pouring the foundations; connecting to city
utilities; installing sewage lines; landscaping entrance mounds; completion
anticipated sometime in 2018.
164. Barranquilla
Colombia Temple: Exterior walls rising; completion anticipated sometime between 2018 and 2019.
165.
Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Groundbreaking held Saturday December 3, 2016;
completion anticipated sometime between 2018
and 2019.
166. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Concrete forms going up for second floor
exterior walls; completion anticipated sometime in 2019.
167.
Lisbon Portugal Temple: Laying meetinghouse footings and foundation; excavating for maintenance building; temple site cleared; completion
anticipated sometime in 2019.
Scheduled for rededication:
8. Idaho Falls Idaho
Temple: Closed for renovation; finish work underway; rededication scheduled for
Sunday June 4, 2017.
Undergoing Renovation:
20. Jordan River Utah
Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication anticipated sometime in late
2017.
41. Frankfurt Germany
Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication anticipated sometime in 2018.
Announced:
168. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Approval and construction preparation phase; official site
announcement anticipated in early 2017, with the groundbreaking anticipated to
take place shortly following the site announcement.
169. Arequipa
Peru Temple: General contractor selected; groundbreaking pending.
170. Rio
de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Construction preparation phase; plans approved by
local government; groundbreaking pending.
171. Urdaneta
Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
172. Port-au-Prince
Haiti Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
173. Bangkok Thailand Temple: Planning and approval
phase; awaiting official site announcement.
174. Abidjan
Ivory Coast Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.
175. Quito Ecuador Temple: Planning phase; awaiting
official site announcement.
176. Belem Brazil
Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.
177. Lima Peru Los
Olivos Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.
Key:
Bolded numbers and text denote
temples whose numbers already exists (for renovations), or is certain due to a
scheduled dedication, as well as information that is certain, such as
dedication or groundbreaking dates.
Italicized numbers and
text denote temples whose numbers may change based on the order in
which future dedications and groundbreakings are scheduled.
Underlined numbers and text denote
temples whose numbers may change based on progress towards planning, approval,
and groundbreaking.
Red text denotes
changes from the last posted temple progress update.
I have been wondering since the Kinshasa announcement, and especially since the Winnipeg groundbreaking if the Church will begin announcing small, meetinghouse-style temples more often. Though they may not be the grand structures we find in Salt Lake or Logan or Tijuana, I believe smaller temples like these will help bring access to a temple closer to those who would otherwise be waiting decades for a larger, more ornate structure.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the Church will be going in this direction to bridge the gap between the smaller temples of the late 90' and early 2000's (which, while still holy places are rather bland and utilitarian architecturally speaking), and the larger, more stylish temples of the Church.
It will be interesting to see, but I applaud the Church's efforts in designing the smaller Kinshasa and Winnipeg temples to look more traditionally church-like and less boxy.
I especially am curious to see if a smaller meetinghouse-style design will be announced for Harare, and if smaller temples (like the one in Kinshasa) will be announced across Africa in other areas of rapid growth. Doing so would help reduce construction costs and time.
DeleteHey, Jonathan! Thanks to you for both of your thoughtful comments. I honestly don't know the answer to your questions or what we can anticipate as far as future temple designs and locations. But that is part of what makes following temple news and developments and, where possible, making predictions for locations for future temples and completion dates for temples now under construction. It will be most interesting to see. I for one wouldn't be at all surprised if the Church elects to build smaller temples than we have heretofore seen to accommodate the basic elements thereof and to allow access to a temple for nations and cities that do not as yet have that privilege. This is one of the many reasons I have made a habit of keeping myself fully abreast of any and all developments related to temples. Time will tell. And, you can be sure, as much as I am able to do so, I will endeavor to always highlight future developments on this blog. Thanks again for the comments.
DeleteThese temples remind me of the island temples in Tahiti, Samoa, and Tonga with the church like sloped roofs. I remember a couple of years ago the church being accomidating to the surroundings when building a chapel in the United Arab Emeritus and having a dome steeple, so perhaps some of this is being a good neighbor and blending need with local customs. Thinking of the chapel in UAE it seemed also like a security feature to reduce the chapel being attacked.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback, Kenny! I appreciate hearing that, especially as I had not been aware of this information before you mentioned it. It will be most interesting indeed to me to see what happens with temples being announced, their designs being revealed, and then ultimately having a dedication for these temples. As I find myself saying more and more lately, it is continuously amazing to me where temples are being announced and to watch announced and under construction temples progress to dedication at such different intervals. I am doing my best to keep abreast of all developments on this front as I am able to do so, but, as I've also repeatedly noted, I am only one man, and, with my imperfections and limitations, it is natural that I habitually overlook things at times. That's one of the reasons I have this blog and have been so adamant about inviting comments on what I post. If anyone who reads my posts has information about posted topics that I, for whatever reason, do not, I want to know about it and to take steps to remedy any incomplete, incorrect, or outdated information that I post. Working together, I hope we all can keep each other aware of all the latest developments. Thanks for the comment. I appreciate, as always, your feedback and perspective.
ReplyDeleteI am excited for progress of the temple in Zimbabwe. I look forward temples all around the world. I especially love it when there are "surprise" announcments or temples that don't seem to be on anyone's prediction list. We seem to have one or more every few announcments, such as Haiti, or even Star Valley. Some of these we may think about much farther in the future but are happening sooner than anticipated.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean, Chris! As I've before mentioned, at various times in my life, and for various reasons, I periodically felt that there would be a temple in Paris France and a temple in Payson Utah, but because of what I knew about Church growth in the area, I never believed it would be possible within my lifetime. When a good friend from my youth group in my parent's ward served his mission in Italy and was getting discouraged about the lack of growth in the area his mission served, I felt to reassure him by telling him of the impression I had about a temple being built in Italy one day. Several years later, all of these temples have been announced. Payson was dedicated a while back, Paris will be dedicated next year, and Rome probably the year after. I know, because I made special note of this, that all the temples announced during the April 2015 General Conference (for the Ivory Coast, Haiti, and Thailand) all took me by surprise. It also was amazing (but not wholly unexpected) to have 3 temples announced for South America and one for Africa in April this year. I was especially excited to hear of the second temple in Lima Peru, which becomes only the third city in the world and the very first outside of Utah that I know of that will have two temples. If I am mistaken and other world cities have more than one temple, I would appreciate the clarification and correction. But it is a wonderful and most unprecedented era of temple building. I am awed to think about what I've posted in the past, that we are a mere 23 temples away from having 200 announced, and I do believe and hope with all my heart that we will have 200 dedicated by the 200th anniversary of the gospel's restoration. This awe and overwhelming gratitude that I feel regarding the worldwide expansion of temples is part of the reason why this blog has become so focused on such developments. I certainly hope (though I can never be sure) that my labor of love, such as it is, will help others to experience the wonder and joy I feel daily about all the milestones in this remarkable endeavor the Church has undertaken. I remember how inspired I was by President Hinckley's ambitious goal of doubling the number of temples for the Church within the period of a few short years. And I can foresee a day when temples will not only be everywhere, but be kept so busy by the faithful Saints who labor there that many more temples will need to be announced in the future. Whether the Church makes it an official goal or not, having 200 temples dedicated by spring of 2030 is becoming more and more of a glorious reality. I will continue to do my best to update my readers on all facets of temple news as soon as I am able to learn about such things. And I hope that many more will be happy to read of these developments as reported in all available outlets. Thanks, as always, for the comment, Chris.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePayson was a surprise but not unexpected. I thought a temple in Southern Utah county was eminent. But I thought it would be in Spanish Fork.
ReplyDeleteIt was not unexpected for me either. That was only true of the timing. As I've said, I always believed there would be a temple built in Payson someday, but I wasn't convinced it would ever happen during my lifetime. Hope that makes my position more clear. Thanks, Chris!
ReplyDeleteI think it is safe to say that Mesa and Gilbert are close enough that those two temples are practically in the same place, especially considering the north side of Phoenix has another one.
ReplyDeleteThe Meridian Temple of Idaho is not too far from Boise. I bet those two temples will be closer than the two of Lima, I don't know. Technically, not the same cities, but I think Lima will have locations in different communities.
Thanks for that feedback, Eduardo! I always appreciate hearing the perspective of others, and I have to admit that I was not aware of some of the facts you shared in your comment. It has always intrigued me to see what happens with temple progress and new site announcements, which is one of the main reasons I have been so focused on this blog on the subjects of Church news in general and any and all temple developments in particular. It will be most interesting to me to see what happens in regards to the future. I have before said this, and I feel it very strongly: The Church is well on track to have 200 or more temples by or before we mark the 200th anniversary of the restoration of the gospel on April 6, 2030. With four temples set to be dedicated and one rededicated next year, and six or more to be dedicated and one rededicated the year following, it is not hard to believe that the Church will be able to reach this milestone, whether they make an official goal to do so or not. As I also have repeatedly observed, when President Hinckley announced in (if I am recalling correctly) 1997 the goal to have 100 operating temples by 2000, not only was that goal met, it was exceeded by two. And we saw 150 by the early months of this year. So to have an additional 50 or more dedicated within the next 14 years, especially in light of how many more may be under construction within the early months of next year, is not only reasonable. In my mind, it is highly likely. And I can't wait to see if it will happen that way. Temple progress has always been and will forever be an important topic of discussion and consideration to me, and I am grateful that I have been able to use this blog to keep my readers informed of developments on this front. I am very humbled by the wonderful response and extensive feedback I have received on the subject of this sacred work, and I hope it will continue. I was told by one who has done the research to verify this that my blog has fast become one of the top Google results on the subject of temple progress and developments, and that means more than I can every express or demonstrate. Thank you to all of you who have been so kind as to read and extensively comment on such posts. I am always humbled by and very appreciative of such comments. For all those who are not aware, I have just today taken the opportunity to refine and rework my predictions for the locations that, in my own humble opinion, are the most imminent possibilities to have a temple announced. If any of you reading this comment have not yet had a chance to look that over, I would appreciate it more than I can say if you would do so, and especially if any or all of you would be kind enough to leave me any feedback containing any corrections, clarifications, or additions you may have in mind in regards to my work. Thanks in advance to all who will continue to so read and comment. That readership and feedback is the reason why I have been able to achieve any degree of success to which I have ascended. Let the discussion continue, in all places possible! Thanks again!
ReplyDeletehttp://stokessoundsoff.blogspot.com/2016/12/revised-list-of-cities-for-which-i-feel.html
I also just barely did another post analyzing and exploring the timetable for possible future site announcements and groundbreakings of temples that have been announced. I welcome any and all feedback on this post as well.
ReplyDeletehttp://stokessoundsoff.blogspot.com/2016/12/altered-predictions-for-when-most.html