Hello again, everyone! I am posting again on this Easter Sunday to pass along a theory which I have heard offered in a couple of places based on reports by members in Kenya and Zimbabwe. The report suggests that, while it has not been confirmed, local members in those nations have been made aware of the site locations that are earmarked for the announced temples in Nairobi and Harare. And the theory I have heard about this is that, depending on what occurs before President Nelson and Elder Holland head out on their tour of Africa, Asia, and Europe, groundbreakings could be conducted by President Nelson for both temples, in addition to the theory I have previously mentioned that he could also potentially break ground for the Bangkok Thailand Temple while he is in that city.
So, depending on what happens within the next week or so before the Nelsons and Hollands depart, if this theory proves to be correct, ground will be broken in Nairobi on April 16, Harare the following day, and Bangkok on Friday April 20. It will be interesting to see whether or not that will happen. With about 1.5 weeks remaining until their departure, and with his visits to these areas set to occur in around 2 weeks, that is not a lot of time to announce an intention to break ground for those temples so it could be done while these Brethren are there.
It is also worth noting that it may not be a stretch to assume that part of the time President Nelson spends in Bengaluru on April 19 might be devoted to finding a suitable site for the temple announced for that city earlier today.
Nor would it be unheard of, in my opinion, to assume that President Nelson may pay a courtesy visit to the Chinese governmental leaders during his time in Hong Kong, with the purpose of seeing if his status as an "old friend of China" and his new calling as Church president might be enough to convince the Chinese government to officially recognize the Church and to allow full-time missionaries to proselyte in that country.
I may be wrong on this, but perhaps the Lord was waiting on having His prophet announce the temples that were announced today and to enable the Church to obtain approval to proselyte in China until this time, when President Nelson was Church president, since he is very much motivated to both bring the temples to the people and for him, as "an old friend of China", to be able to convince the Chinese government to approve whatever is needed to enable missionary work to begin in full there.
Whatever might occur regarding this theory, you can be sure I will post anything about it as I learn of it. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
Sunday, April 1, 2018
Sharing a Theory Based on Reports from Church Members in Kenya and Zimbabwe
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
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There are already missionaries in Hong Kong, and a temple. And several stakes. Mainland China is a completely different story. President Nelson would not get anywhere trying to send missionaries to mainland China by way of Hong Kong. HK and China are "one country" but with a fair amount of tension between them as China wishes it could completely get rid of policies that are a hold over from British colonial times in HK
ReplyDeleteHelen, thanks for letting me know your thoughts. You are likely right in what you say. But President Nelson is "an old friend of China", not just Hong Kong. While his trip may not involve visiting mainland China, I can see him getting a feel for what the obstacles might be in terms of the Church's ability to progress in the mainland. We were repeatedly reminded just this week that the Lord's ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and as an avid student of Church history, I have witnessed through reports shared by the Church times when apostles and prophets have, through various ways and means, been able to effect change in certain nations at certain times. So whether or not this trip yields the result of allowing missionary work to begin in mainland China, I fully believe that the Lord may have preserved President Nelson's life until now for the changes he would be willing to effect during his Church presidency, and, for myself, I choose not to place limits on what the Lord can do when the timing is right. While you are likely correct that this trip may not yield any progress towards the Church being able to make progress in China, I would not be surprised in any way if, at some point during President Nelson's administration, his status as "an old friend of China" did yield the result of missionary work being able to progress on the mainland. If and when that occurs, I will be sure to pass that along here. Thank you for your thoughts, Helen. I appreciate your comment.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that President Nelson and now Elder Gong may be able to open doors that are now closed. But, it will not be via HK
ReplyDeleteI don't disagree with that assessment, Helen. While apostles have at times been in a position where their status as respected individuals whom leaders of certain governments have recognized that Church leaders making requests to expand the things the Church is allowed to do in such nations, if President Nelson is only stopping in Hong Kong, it is unlikely that he would extend his plans to include a visit to the governmental leaders of the mainland. But I had not considered that Elder Gong's status as the first Asian American apostle might help in effecting that change as well. Thanks for this additional comment.
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