Updated Estimates for Known Temple Events

Hello again, everyone! I wanted to post right now and share my updated thoughts about the time-frames within which future temple events may take place. There has been a lot to consider in terms of the changes I recently made, such as the progress (or the lack thereof) on new temples under construction or those currently undergoing renovation, whether or not that progress is sufficient to warrant a change, and any unknown factors that may delay any of these events.

The revised estimates below represent my best efforts to determine when such events might occur. I look forward to hearing from any of you regarding any feedback describing anything I have missed, overlooked, or failed to consider. 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.

Future estimates for known temple events

2018:

Anytime in the near future: Full-scale renovation anticipated to begin for the Asuncion Paraguay Temple

Note: This temple closed for renovation on October 29, 2017. Within the six months that have followed, the process was delayed while building permits were being acquired. In mid-to-late April 2018, many sources which I consult for temple information removed any completion estimate. While I hope that the Church’s announced intention to rededicate this temple next year will be able to occur, only time will tell if that will be possible.

Monday July 23: Hamilton New Zealand Temple Renovation Closure (confirmed)

Sunday October 28: Concepcion Chile Temple Dedication (160^th operating temple; confirmed)

Note: Since this will be the first new temple dedicated during President Nelson’s administration, he could opt to preside at this event himself, or he could delegate that responsibility to either of his counselors, or to one of the senior members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. It occurred to me that, since Elder Holland spent two years (from 2002-2004) as president of the Chile Area of the Church, he might either be asked (as a senior member of the Twelve) to preside at this dedication, or to accompany the more senior leader who does so.

November: Groundbreaking for the Bangkok Thailand Temple

Note: The Church officially confirmed the site for this temple and also released an artist’s rendering of it on March 19, 2018. It has typically been customary for the Church to schedule a groundbreaking ceremony for a temple not long after the site is identified and a rendering is released. Bearing in mind that the site in question needs to be cleared for this temple, and that Thailand was officially dedicated for the preaching of the gospel by then-Elder Gordon B. Hinckley on November 2, 1966, November seems like a good month for this temple’s groundbreaking. Time will tell how accurate this assumption might turn out to be.

Sunday December 9: Barranquilla Colombia Temple Dedication (161^st operating temple; confirmed)

Note: The note above regarding who might preside at this temple event also applies to this temple, as it is possible that President Nelson, one of his counselors, or a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve could preside at this event. I looked for, but was unable to find, any information regarding whether any of the apostles had ties to Colombia, but if there are any that do, they would likely have a role in the dedication as well.

Final note on 2018: 2018, by all reports, was going to be a big year for temple groundbreakings. However, we are nearing the point of being halfway through the year, and nothing has officially been announced yet. I am hoping that, as noted above, we at least see ground broken for the Bangkok Thailand Temple, even if that occurs at a time other than what I have suggested above. I would also hope that more will be known about the following temples by or before the end of this year: Saratoga Springs Utah, Lima Peru Los Olivos, Urdaneta Philippines, Pocatello Idaho, Harare Zimbabwe, and Nairobi Kenya. While I hope we will see more than one groundbreaking by the end of this year, time will tell.

2019:

Mid-February: Frankfurt Germany Temple Rededication

Note: While this has yet-to-be confirmed, it would make sense if this temple was rededicated at this time. And, since the Church has periodically assigned senior members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to preside at such events, the First Presidency may opt to ask Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a native German who has presided at previous dedications and rededications as a member of the First Presidency from 2008-2018, to preside at this event in his homeland.     

Sunday March 10-Sunday March 17: Rome Italy Temple Dedication (162^nd operating temple; confirmed)

Note: While the Church officially announced that this temple’s dedication will be held over an 8-day period (one of the longest, if not the very longest, in recent years), the exact number of dedicatory sessions that will be held has not yet been made public. I am assuming that the Church could potentially have 3-4 per day, with one every 2-3 hours, but time will tell. Since the dedicatory sessions will be held for longer than a week, it would make sense if the Church rotates attendance among several different Church leaders, which will likely include all members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve.

Mid-April: Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple Dedication (163^th operating temple)

Note: In view of my need to change other estimates, and in recognition of the fact that we have seen two updates recently on the status of this temple, I have changed my thinking and now concur that this temple will be the next new one dedicated in 2019 following the Rome Italy temple dedication.

Mid-to-late May: Fortaleza Brazil Temple Dedication (164^th operating temple)

Note: Although I had previously shared my thoughts that this temple would likely be dedicated before the temple in Kinshasa, in the last couple of weeks, two significant updates on that temple now lead me to concur with most sources available that the Fortaleza temple will not be dedicated until after a dedication is held for Kinshasa. With that in mind, it seemed reasonable to move the estimate for this temple’s completion to around this time. If the need arises, further alterations can be made in the future.

Early-to-mid June: Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple Dedication (165^th operating temple)

Note: Since construction of this temple (which began within a couple of weeks following its’ October 28, 2017 groundbreaking) is anticipated to take 15-18 months, and since the estimates for temples undergoing renovation were recently pushed back, it has seemed wise to move the estimate for this temple’s completion up. If I see another reason to adjust this further, I will do so.

Early-to-mid August: Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple Rededication

Note: With a desire to be more conservative in the estimates I offer, and in recognition of the fact that temple renovations often take longer than originally anticipated, it has felt wise to shift this temple’s completion estimate. Depending on what happens within the next 6-10 months in relation to this temple’s progress, any additional adjustments will be made as they are needed.

Mid-to-late August: Lisbon Portugal Temple Dedication (166^th operating temple)

Note: This temple, which has progressed fairly well, may be dedicated at around this time, if it continues to make steady progress. If I see any reason to adjust this estimate in the near future, I will be sure to do so.

Mid-September: Memphis Tennessee Temple Rededication

Note: The relative progress of other temples compared to the lack thereof on several others leads me to believe that pushing back my estimate for this temple’s rededication would be appropriate. If I see anything that changes my mind in this regard, I have no problem with the idea of adjusting this estimate again.

Mid-October: Raleigh North Carolina Temple Rededication

Note: On May 3, 2018, this temple’s general completion estimate was pushed back in many sources from which I obtain such information. With that in mind, this adjustment has felt necessary. If this temple makes sufficient progress in the near future, I could see the merits of moving this estimate up. Until that time, this alteration feels reasonable.

Mid-November: Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Rededication

Note: This temple’s general completion estimate was altered on May 3, 2018 as well. With that in mind, although I hope for the best for this temple, it has felt wiser to be more conservative in this estimate. If I see a need to move this estimate up, I will be happy to do so.

Mid-December Durban South Africa Temple Dedication (167^th operating temple)

Note: This temple has alternated having some occasions when lots of progress has been noted, and having other times when long periods have gone by with no word on any developments. For that reason, it has seemed more reasonable to be conservative in this estimate. I hope to be able to move this estimate up, if all goes well.

Final note on 2019: As with 2018, I have heard that 2019 could potentially be another big year for temple groundbreakings. If that proves to be the case, there will be other temple-related events to add to this list for subsequent years. A lot could change within the next year that will also change the likely prospects for temple groundbreakings in 2019. Closer to the time, I may venture some thoughts for temples likely to have a groundbreaking during 2019. Additionally, although both the Oakland California and Asuncion Paraguay Temples were originally anticipated to be rededicated in 2019, the former is an older temple, which means delays are possible, and the latter is currently stalled in the process of getting its’ renovation started. For that reason, I am pushing back my estimates for the rededications of both to 2020. But I hope that I will be able to move both back into 2019 if all goes well.

2020:

Mid-January: Oakland California Temple Rededication

Note: This temple closed for its’ renovation in February 2018, and was anticipated to be rededicated during 2019. But in view of the progress (and the lack thereof) made on several new temples and others undergoing renovation, it has seemed reasonable to alter this estimate to around this time.

Mid-March: Arequipa Peru Temple Dedication (168^th operating temple)

Note: This temple had originally been estimated to have its’ dedication occur in 2019, but new information indicates that it will likely happen in 2020, and that it may be the first new temple dedicated during that year. If anything happens to change that, its’ future dedication might either be delayed or pushed up.

Mid-to-late April: Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple Dedication (169^th operating temple)

Note: The main reason this temple’s completion estimate was pushed back to early 2020 is because many sources available to me noted that it is going to be bigger than originally believed. With that in mind, it is not hard to believe that a dedication could (and likely will) occur for this temple at around this time, before winter season hits the southern hemisphere.

Mid-to-late May: Winnipeg Manitoba Temple Dedication (170^th operating temple)

Note: With full-scale construction on this temple having finally begun in early June 2018, if the 20-month estimate for this temple’s construction process proves to be correct, then construction could be finished in either the last few months of 2019 or the first few months of this year, which would enable an open house and dedication to occur at around this time.

Early-to-mid August: Tokyo Japan Temple Rededication

Note: Although full-scale efforts have begun on this temple’s renovation since the last time I posted these estimates, it has seemed wiser to be more conservative in this estimate. If I see any reason in the near future to move this estimate back up, I will do so.

Mid-to-late September: Mesa Arizona Temple Rededication

Note: This temple is older, but has been renovated previously, so the renovation process will likely be completed at around this time. If anything happens to delay that process, this estimate would need to be subsequently adjusted as a result.

Mid-to-late October: Asuncion Paraguay Temple Rededication

Note: This temple closed for its’ renovation process in late October 2017. But as of May 3, 2018, it has not had the full-scale process begin. And although the Church originally said that the rededication for this temple would occur in 2019, unless those full-scale efforts begin before winter 2018 begins in the southern hemisphere, that might in turn delay its’ rededication to around this time. That said, if full-scale efforts are able to begin sooner rather than later, I could see the need to move up this more specific estimate.

Mid-December: Washington DC Temple Rededication

Note: This temple has, as of today (April 27, 2018), been closed for almost two months, but has not had any progress reported on that process as of yet. When we add to that the fact that this is an older temple having its’ first renovation, mid-December is a very conservative estimate. If anything delays that process, I would not be surprised to see this temple’s completion pushed back into 2021.

2021:

Mid-to-late April: Hamilton New Zealand Temple Rededication

Note: This temple’s July 2018 renovation closure was the first temple announcement of President Nelson’s prophetic administration. If, as is widely believed, that process involves an expansion of any kind for this temple, depending on how quickly or slowly progress is made, this estimate may need to be adjusted.

2022:

Mid-to-late April: Bangkok Thailand Temple Dedication (171^st operating temple)

Note: When the artist’s rendering for this temple was released, it showed a six-story temple with an adjacent building that will hold Church offices and 1 or 2 meetinghouses as well. So the completion of this temple will depend on a few things: First, how long we will have to wait before a groundbreaking takes place; second, how long the construction process takes; third, whether there are any delays in that process; and finally, what might occur between now and then. It is also worth noting that several other temples may have a groundbreaking, and might be constructed and completed before this one is dedicated. If that happens, there will obviously need to be an adjustment on this temple’s potential number.

                  

Final Note: As noted above, if several temples have a groundbreaking in 2018 and the years that follow, their completion estimates will need to be added to the list above. I continue to monitor all temple-related developments and will pass news of them along as I become aware of them.