I have also learned that it is most likely that we will see at least three groundbreakings within the next year or so, for the Harare Zimbabwe, Port-au-Prince Haiti, and Urdaneta Philippines temples. There have been some reports that, with the elimination of the delays that have prevailed with the Urdaneta Philippines Temple, that temple could have a groundbreaking by the end of this year. But after studying that situation further and getting some feedback from a couple of different sources, it appears that the Urdaneta Philippines Temple might not have a groundbreaking before next year.
And while I also recognize that temples in the "Mormon corridor" (Utah and Idaho particularly) often have their construction commence well in advance of temples elsewhere in the world, the fact that some temples outside the United States (including some of those announced last General Conference) have had a site officially confirmed by either local leaders or through the Church's official local social media pages, with the Pocatello temple, we only have a probable site identified, which, though recently annexed into Pocatello city, will need some kind of confirmation. And with the Saratoga Springs temple, all that I have been able to find out there is that the Church owns several acres of land in the area. So I have felt it wise, for the moment, to list these temples in this particular order. I will be keeping an eye out on developments as much as I can over the next little while, and I am perfectly willing to reorder some of these temples if newer information necessitates that. For the moment, I hope that will suffice. If any of you have any more particular issues with the order in which these temples are listed, please let me know.
I also want to say that I hope that things I have written either in posts like this or in response to comments on other posts have not driven away anyone's desire to read or comment. I recognize that while I know a fair bit about things I focus on in such posts, I don't know everything. And if I have ever given the impression that I do, or that my thoughts are the only ones that matter, I hope you all will forgive me.
I value any and all feedback I receive. And so I hope that any of you will feel free to bring any concerns or questions you have about my posts to my attention. I am making every effort to be as accurate as possible in such reports, but there are things that escape my notice, and I always appreciate corrections and clarifications. Thank you. That said, here is my updated report. Let me know what you think.
Temple Construction Progress Update
(current as of 4/17/17)
Current Temple Status: 155 operating; 4 scheduled
for dedication; 9 under construction; 1 more has construction
pending, and may commence construction in May or June of this year; 1 scheduled for rededication; 2 undergoing
renovation; 6 renovations scheduled; 13 announced. NOTE: With two groundbreakings
having already taken place this year, we could see several others before too
much longer. For all of the announced temples that have not yet had a
groundbreaking, I offer my best-guess estimate for when that might happen, to
which I have recently made adjustments and corrections. One correction is
noting that we might only see one other groundbreaking this year, though it
seems that one is not as imminent as I originally was led to believe.
Dedication scheduled:
156. Paris France
Temple: VIP/media tours started April 7; accepting reservations for public open
house (which will run from Saturday April 22-Saturday May 13 (excluding the
Sundays of April 23 and 30 and May 7)); dedication scheduled for Sunday
May 21, 2017.
157. Tucson
Arizona Temple: Monument sign being installed; interior finish work underway; accepting
reservations for public open house beginning Monday May 15, 2017; (which will
run from Saturday June 3-Saturday June 24 (excluding the Sundays of June 4, 11,
and 18)); dedication scheduled for Sunday
August 13, 2017.
158. Meridian
Idaho Temple: Monument sign installed; architectural finishes being
installed; dedication scheduled for Sunday
November 19, 2017.
159. Cedar
City Utah Temple: Planting trees and flowers on grounds;
interior paint and millwork installation underway; dedication scheduled
for Sunday December 10, 2017.
Under Construction:
160. Rome Italy Temple:
Angel Moroni installed on March 25, 2017; Christus and apostle statues installed at visitor’s center;
installing art glass; completion anticipated sometime during early-to-mid
2018.
161. Kinshasa Democratic
Republic of the Congo Temple: Exterior walls
waterproofed; structural steel framing for roof underway; completion
anticipated sometime during mid-2018.
162. Barranquilla
Colombia Temple: Exterior walls sheathed with rigid foam insulation; stoe
cladding underway; completion anticipated
sometime during mid-2018.
NOTE: For the two temples above,
they seem to be interchangeable in terms of which one might potentially be
completed and dedicated first. I am trying to keep an eye on any and all
developments and will adjust these estimates as necessary once more is known.
163. Concepcion Chile
Temple: Exterior cladding progressing on north and west walls; completion
anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2018.
164. Durban South Africa
Temple: Scaffolding erected in preparation for
second-level floor and walls; floor slab poured for missionary housing; completion
anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2018.
NOTE: For the two temples above,
they seem to be interchangeable in terms of which one might potentially be
completed and dedicated first. I am trying to keep an eye on any and all
developments and will adjust these estimates as necessary once more is known.
165. Fortaleza Brazil
Temple: Erecting structural framing for temple tower; completion anticipated
sometime during early 2019.
166. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple:
Construction barrier erected; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2019.
NOTE: At this point, since the work
has not begun in earnest on the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple, it is unclear which
of the two will be finished first. I will reevaluate things once that happens.
For the moment, though, it appears that the two could be interchangeable. And
since work has begun in earnest on this Brazilian temple, in my mind, that puts
it ahead of the not-yet-started Winnipeg temple. I will keep an eye on
developments, and will try to make a better estimate when more is known.
168. Lisbon Portugal
Temple: Pouring footings for temple foundation; structural framing continues
for meetinghouse; completion anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.
169.
Arequipa Peru Temple: Construction trailers on site; construction barrier
erected; completion anticipated sometime during late 2019-early 2020.
Construction pending:
167. Winnipeg Manitoba
Temple: Groundbreaking held Saturday December 3, 2016; awaiting
full-scale operations, which may occur in April or May 2017 (construction
currently delayed by a very bad Canadian winter); completion anticipated
sometime during mid-2019.
NOTE: Construction on this temple
is expected to begin in earnest anytime within the next two months. That
construction is anticipated to last 20 months (1.67 years). Right now, it seems
that either this temple or the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple could be interchangeable
in terms of their future completion. Once construction commences on this
temple, I will feel more confident in trying to figure out which of the two
will be completed first. Until that time, since work has begun in earnest on
the Rio temple, I have tentatively put it ahead of this one.
Rededication Scheduled:
8. Idaho Falls Idaho
Temple: Renovation completed; accepting reservations for public open house,
which will run from Saturday April 22-Saturday May 20 (excluding the Sundays of
April 23 & 30 and May 7 & 14); rededication scheduled for Sunday June 4, 2017.
Undergoing Renovation:
20. Jordan River Utah
Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication anticipated sometime during early-to-mid 2018.
41. Frankfurt Germany
Temple: Closed for renovation; building basement addition for new baptistry; rededication
anticipated sometime during early-to mid-2018.
Renovation Scheduled:
80. Memphis Tennessee Temple: Scheduled to close
for renovation in October 2017; rededication anticipated sometime during early-to-mid
2019.
95. Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple: Scheduled to
close for renovation in October 2017; rededication anticipated sometime during mid-2019.
18. Tokyo Japan Temple: Scheduled to close for
renovation in October 2017; rededication anticipated sometime during early-to-mid
2020.
112. Asuncion Paraguay Temple: Scheduled to close
for renovation in November 2017; rededication anticipated sometime during mid-to-late
2019.
13. Oakland California Temple: Scheduled to
close for renovation in February 2018; rededication anticipated sometime during
mid-to-late 2019.
16. Washington D. C. Temple: Scheduled to close
for renovation in March 2018; rededication anticipated sometime during early-to-mid
2020.
NOTE: In view of the fact that we
have already had two temple groundbreaking events so far this year, it is entirely
possible that we might see site announcements and groundbreakings for other
temples in the near future. That said, it is interesting to consider that,
while some of those groundbreakings might be more likely than others,
ultimately, it is more difficult than I originally believed to try and pinpoint
how soon those groundbreakings are likely to take place. Wanting to be as
conservative in my estimates as I am able to be, I have adjusted some things.
As always, I would be gratified to hear of such events happening much sooner
than anyone expects. But for the moment, it seems wise to make some
adjustments. Thanks.
Announced:
170. Harare Zimbabwe
Temple: Approval and construction preparation phase; official site announcement
anticipated later this year; groundbreaking may follow shortly thereafter.
NOTE: While the site announcement
is pending, Elder Kevin S. Hamilton, who serves as the president of the
Church’s Africa Southeast Area, has said that it will be announced later this
year and that a groundbreaking would be anticipated sometime shortly
thereafter. It is therefore not impossible to believe that this temple could
have a groundbreaking sometime between mid-and-late
2017
171. Port-au-Prince
Haiti Temple: Planning and approval phase; groundbreaking pending.
NOTE: On
Sunday March 12, while presiding at a stake conference for the area in which
the first Haitian temple will be built, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles officially confirmed that, just as members in the area had
speculated, the plot of land behind an existing meetinghouse on the Route de
Freres (French for “The Route of Brothers”) had been purchased as the official
site for this temple. Since site confirmations generally precede
groundbreakings by roughly a year, it is more than likely that a groundbreaking
could be held sometime during early-to-mid
2018.
172. Urdaneta
Philippines Temple: Awaiting government approval
and official site announcement.
NOTE: Given
the fact that the delays preventing this temple from progressing seem to be
over, there have been reports that a groundbreaking could happen for this
temple as soon as later this year. However, the nature of such reports are
vague and uncertain enough that it could be pushed back to next year. Speaking
optimistically, I would revise my estimate to say that, if progress continues
unhindered, a groundbreaking could happen on this temple by early-to-mid 2018.
173.
Brasilia Brazil Temple: Announced April 2, 2017; planning phase; site confirmed.
NOTE: As
official site confirmations are not now done at the general Church level as
much as they used to be previously, it is most likely that the site confirmed
by priesthood leaders, which is located in the northern section of the city,
near an arm of Paranoa Lake, will be the official site for the temple. This
increases the likelihood that a groundbreaking for the temple could be held
sooner rather than later, perhaps by mid-2018.
If that happens, then it would be the first time in almost 20 years that the
Church had three temples simultaneously under construction in Brazil.
174. Greater Manila Philippines Temple: Announced April 2,
2017; planning phase; site confirmed.
NOTE: The
Church’s Philippines Facebook page has stated that this temple will be built on
the southern side of the Manila metropolitan area in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
Because this statement essentially constitutes a site confirmation, it is very
possible that we might see a groundbreaking for this temple by mid-2018, if not before. I will be
keeping my eye out for developments as they happen and will revise my estimate
as I am able to. If this groundbreaking happens as estimated, then we would
have two temples simultaneously under construction in the Philippines for the
very first time in Church history. Additionally. it is also not unreasonable to
believe that the Church will be releasing an official name for this second
temple for the capital city of the Philippines, as the official name for the second
temple in Lima Peru was released within 3 weeks after it was announced. So I
have no doubt that will happen for this temple. More to come once more is
known.
175.
Pocatello Idaho: Announced April 2, 2017; planning phase; probable site identified and annexed into Pocatello City.
NOTE: While
many sites are reportedly under consideration for this temple, the most likely
one is a 10-acre plot of land next to the Pocatello Idaho Highland Stake
Center. If that is determined to be the right site for it, and if that is
confirmed, we could see a groundbreaking for this temple by or before mid-2018, especially as US temples
usually get started and finished so much sooner than temples elsewhere. Since
so much is unknown currently about this temple, this seems like a safe revised
estimate.
176. Saratoga Springs Utah: Announced April 2, 2017;
planning phase.
NOTE: As
the Church owns several acres of land in Saratoga Springs, there are several
sites that might do well for Utah County’s newest temple. Temples in Utah in
general and specifically in Utah County are so widely accepted and used that
getting them started is just a matter of time. It is therefore entirely
possible, especially if a site is confirmed anytime soon, that a groundbreaking
could happen by mid-to-late 2018.
Again, that will all depend on how quickly things progress with this temple.
177. Bangkok
Thailand Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.
NOTE: While
local speculation is that an existing building that houses Church offices might
be renovated and repurposed into a multi-purpose edifice that would house not
only Church offices, but a meetinghouse and the temple as well (in similar
fashion to what has been done for the Manhattan New York and Hong Kong China
temples, it could very well be that we could see a groundbreaking for this
temple sometime in mid-to-late 2018, if
the site is confirmed through any means anytime soon. I will be keeping an eye
on developments with this temple and will revise my estimate if needed once
more is known.
178. Lima
Peru Los Olivos Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.
NOTE: The official
name of this second temple for Peru’s capital city (released less than three
weeks after it was announced) seems to indicate that it will be built in the
Los Olivos district. That being the case, it is not hard to believe that we might
see a groundbreaking for this temple sometime during early 2019.
179. Abidjan
Ivory Coast Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.
NOTE: The
Church has seen substantial growth on the African continent in recent years.
This is verified by the fact that, with the announcement of the 12 temples over
the last three years during April General Conference, 3 (25%) of those have
been in Africa. I would therefore hope that this temple, announced in 2015,
would not have to wait too long for a groundbreaking, but I could see it
happening sometime during early 2019,
if not before.
180. Quito
Ecuador Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.
NOTE: While
the first temple in Ecuador had a 14-year delay between its announcement and
the subsequent groundbreaking (the second-longest such period in Church
history), this temple is not nearly as likely to see such delays. The Church in
South America has grown at an astonishing rate, and that is evidenced by the
fact that 4 of the 12 temples announced most recently (25%) have been for South
America. With the temples above most likely to have a groundbreaking first, it
is very possible that we could see a groundbreaking for this time sometime
during mid-2019, if not before.
181. Belem
Brazil Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.
NOTE: South
America, as noted above, has been very receptive to the gospel. As a result, more
temples are coming to that continent. And while this temple has not yet had a
site identified or confirmed, Brazilian temples typically have been built very
swiftly. While I am hoping to see it sooner, and while I will be happy to
adjust my estimate going forward if that is necessary, it seems wise for the
moment to revise my estimate and say that we could see a groundbreaking during mid-2019, which would ensure that we
will have at least two temples under construction in Brazil at least for the
next couple of years. I will revise my estimate if and when I am able to do so.
182. Nairobi
Kenya Temple: Announced April 2, 2017; planning phase.
NOTE: It is
becoming increasingly more likely that this African temple might be the last of
the current bunch to have a groundbreaking. That said, with the Church growth
that is occurring on the African continent, and with temples having gone up
fairly quickly once a site is identified, I will revise my previous estimate
and say that we will likely see a groundbreaking for this temple sometime
during mid-to-late 2019.
ADDITIONAL GENERAL NOTE: Temple
announcements are possible at any time, but the last twelve announcements have
taken place during the April General Conference. I never want to rule out the
possibility of announcements at other times, but that has been the pattern for
the last three years. There have also been reports of several cities that have had
a site purchased for a while now, and where an announcement might happen at any
time. I know of at least five that have been identified to me by name: Managua
Nicaragua, Auckland New Zealand, Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, Bentonville
Arkansas, and Missoula Montana. If other potential temples have had a site
purchased, they have yet to be identified as such. The following temples have
been publicly proposed by apostles at various and sundry times: New Delhi India (in June 1992 by Elder Neal
A. Maxwell; may not happen soon due to intense political and religious
obstacles); Vilnius Lithuania (in May 1993 by Elder M. Russell Ballard, which
may be more of a long-shot possibility); Maracaibo Venezuela (in August 1999 by
President Hinckley, which is just waiting for the right conditions); Singapore
(in January 2000 by President Hinckley, and is likely to be announced when the
time is right); for the Southwest Salt Lake Valley (in October 2005 by
President Hinckley; NOTE: While some contend that this temple announcement has
already happened, verifiable sources widely available prove otherwise. It will
be announced at the right time); Managua Nicaragua (in January 2012 by
then-Elder Russell M. Nelson; very likely at any time due to Nicaragua being
the #1 of the top ten world countries without a temple); Missoula Montana
(sometime in 2014 by Elder David A. Bednar during a stake conference in the
area; while the report of this proposal has yet to be verified, the fact that
there has been a purchase of a temple site seems to indicate that it is a most
imminent possibility, though perhaps not as imminent as I once believed); and
for the Kasai Region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (in February 2016
by Elder Neil L. Andersen). There are likely several other sites that the
Church has purchased for a potential temple, but those have yet to be verified.
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 highlights changes from the last posted temple
progress report.
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