Initial Predictions for the October 2017 General Conference

Hello, all! I have thought a great deal about my predictions for next General Conference (which I initially put together shortly after the last General Conference ended), and I have recently reworked some of them, more particularly the speaking order for General Authority Seventies. While I originally did not want to post them prematurely, now I am making an effort to make them the best they can be. Also in the works is a much-needed update on the latest apostolic statistics. More will come on that, which I hope to post by or before Sunday.

I am also trying to study developments in terms of likely temples and future temple-related developments. I know I have been promising to post my updated estimated timeline for those future events, but I am trying to make the current version the most researched one that I have ever done.

In terms of these predictions for the October Conference, I know for sure that my research in recent days has led me to reconsider some of the temples I have listed. I am leaving the list untouched for now because I want to ensure that there is adequate time for feedback on what you, my readers, feel are more or less likely possibilities. As with anything, I try to take such insights into account when fine-tuning things. And if there are any comments any of you have on any of these other predictions, please share that as well. I look forward to the discussion.

I would also be interested to hear anyone who has thoughts as far as what the update regarding President Monson might mean in terms of whether or not he will speak in future General Conferences. While a prophet not speaking as much, if at all, is not uncommon, it is unclear whether or not his decision means he will not attend future General Conferences. It is also not clear how much longer he might live. It is almost certain he will live to see his 90th birthday in less than three months (though unclear whether or not the Church will do anything special to mark this milestone birthday), he would reach some other milestones regarding his tenure as prophet and his age, to say nothing of his First Presidency moving up on the list of the five longest continuously serving ones, so much is unknown about how his decision will impact things like his speaking in General Conference.

And, in one way, this situation is unprecedented. President Monson voluntarily stepped back from active service, unlike Presidents Kimball and Benson, who were older and had no choice. It is certain that, if he does speak at all in subsequent conferences, his addresses will continue to be 10 minutes or less total in length, and will be given at the top of those sessions. But I could see him stepping back from even that and letting his counselors and the other 12 apostles speak a bit longer instead.

Additionally, I should note that, because I wanted to see what it might look like, I have put together a hypothetical prediction for the April 2018 General Conference. But since that will be largely determined by what happens between now and then, and specifically during the October General Conference, I am not posting that now nor will I until I see how October pans out.

As always, I look forward to the discussion. Here are those predictions:

October 2017 General Conference Predictions

Speaking Order (Text in brackets indicated what actually happened.)

Session	Conducting	Speaker
General Women’s	Joy D. Jones	Christina B. Franco
		Sharon Eubank
		Bonnie L. Oscarson
		President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Saturday Morning	President Henry B. Eyring	President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
		Bishop W. Christopher Waddell
		Jean B. Bingham
		Elder David A. Bednar
		Elder Massimo De Feo
		Elder O. Vincent Haleck
		Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Saturday Afternoon	President Dieter F. Uchtdorf	President Henry B. Eyring (Sustaining of Church Officers)
		President Russell M. Nelson
		Elder Dale G. Renlund
		Elder Larry Y. Wilson
		Elder Joni L. Koch
		Elder Ian S. Ardern
		Elder Quentin L. Cook
		Elder Ronald A. Rasband
Saturday Priesthood	President Henry B. Eyring	President Thomas S. Monson
		Elder D. Todd Christofferson
		Elder Patrick Kearon
		President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
		President Henry B. Eyring
Sunday Morning	President Dieter F. Uchtdorf	President Thomas S. Monson
		Elder Robert D. Hales
		Elder Juan A. Uceda
		Neill F. Marriott
		Elder Gary E. Stevenson
		Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella
		Elder Brian K. Taylor
		President Henry B. Eyring
Sunday Afternoon	President Henry B. Eyring	Elder Neil L. Andersen
		Tad R. Callister
		Elder David F. Evans
		Elder M. Russell Ballard
		Elder Taniela B. Wakolo
		Elder Jose L. Alonso
		Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Changes in General Church Leadership

Presidency of the Seventy: Elders Donald L. Hallstrom and Richard J. Maynes released from the presidency, Elders Juan A. Uceda and Patrick Kearon sustained. NOTE: These changes, announced on May 3, became effective on August 1. For that reason, they will likely be ratified by sustaining vote.

General Authority Seventies: Elders Stanley G. Ellis, Larry R. Lawrence, and W. Craig Zwick released as General Authority Seventies and granted emeritus status. NOTE: Elder Ellis turned 70 in January this year, just as Elder Zwick did in June, and Elder Lawrence did in August, so it would make sense if these men were released and granted emeritus status. RESULT:

Area Seventies: Releases and sustainings. NOTE: It has been customary for most changes in area seventies to take place in April, when President Uchtdorf leads out in the sustaining vote, and for only a few to take place in October, when President Eyring leads out in the sustaining. Since we are talking about an October General Conference, it would make sense if only a few changes happened this go-round. RESULT:

Temple Predictions:

3+ temples announced in any of the following locations:

NOTE: Since it is difficult at best to know where the Lord feels a need for a temple and temple locations are not as cut-and-dried as I have originally believed them to be, I am doing a preliminary list, which I will refine as the time for General Conference draws closer. I will look forward to seeing what happens with those possibilities, if any are announced at all. So far between 2015 and this year, the 12 newest temples were announced during the April General Conference. If any temples are announced, there will only be a few.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: As with the previous conference, these temples are grouped first by geographical area of the Church, then by likelihood within that area:

Africa West: Lagos Nigeria

Asia: Phnom Penh Cambodia; Jakarta Indonesia

Brazil: Belo Horizonte; Salvador

Central America: Managua Nicaragua NOTE: This temple was publicly proposed by then-Elder Russell M. Nelson in 2012, and land for this temple was reportedly purchased several years ago. An official announcement will follow when membership and temple activity in the area this temple district will cover warrant that. Nicaragua is also the first of the top ten countries without a temple in any phase.

Europe: Budapest Hungary; Vienna Austria

Mexico: Puebla Mexico

North America Central: Missoula Montana; (NOTE: Land for this temple was purchased several years ago, and it will be announced when membership and temple activity in the area this temple district will cover warrant that.); Green Bay Wisconsin

North America Northeast: Richmond Virginia

North America Northwest: Salem Oregon

North America Southeast: Bentonville Arkansas NOTE: Land for this temple was purchased several years ago, and both will be announced when membership and temple activity in the area these temple district will cover warrant that.

North America Southwest: Fort Worth Texas

Pacific: Auckland New Zealand; Port Moresby Papua New Guinea NOTE: Land for both of these temples was purchased several years ago, and will be announced when membership and temple activity in the area this temple district will cover warrant that. Of the two, Auckland is more likely, but Papua New Guinea is the second of the top ten countries without a temple in any phase.

South America Northwest: Santa Cruz Bolivia

South America South: Neuquen Argentina; Valparaiso Chile

Utah North: Layton Utah

Utah Salt Lake City: Tooele Utah

ADDITIONAL TEMPLE NOTES: As growth has stagnated in the US, it is unclear how many (if any) additional US temples might be announced. I would not be opposed to removing all but the ones that are most likely. And in terms of a temple for Austria, it makes sense in terms of President Monson's goal to have every member within 200 miles of a temple, but it is not likely because Austria is retrogressing rather than progressing in the gospel. So that would be an easy removal as well. Other than those, any one of them is fair game to happen or to be removed as a possibility. And if I have omitted or overlooked any possibilities, let me know that too. Maybe no temples will be announced this go-round at all, which would be in line with the fact that the last 12 temples were announced during April General Conference. But I am still including them just in case. Thanks.