The first part contains temples for which, in my opinion, there is sufficient information to allow me to make an educated estimate about the general time-frames within which those temples could have a groundbreaking. The second part of that section now contains those temples for which more information will be needed before I move them up to the first section and make an estimate for the groundbreaking process.
That said, I am anticipating that something big will be occurring within the next 2 years or so to clear the current backlog to some degree, and to prepare for any additional temples that may be announced. With a backlog of 31 announced temples in various phases currently, something significant will need to be done to clear it.
But I have a feeling that the Lord would not have prompted President Nelson to announce 19 temples this year alone (with 12 other previously-announced temples in various phases working towards construction) if there was not a plan to deal with the resulting backlog.
I have a similar feeling that temple announcements will not slow at all. If anything, we will enter an era when temple developments are reported with greater frequency, and where announced temples will move more quickly from announcement to groundbreaking to construction. It will certainly be interesting to see it all unfold. That said, my updated list of announced temples, complete with the changes I mentioned, follows below.
So as to not disturb the flow of that information, I will end here and now as I always do. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly-added content, please feel free to subscribe. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in eveyrthing you do.
Note on announced temples: On October 30, 2018, I reviewed the information I had available, and I accordingly reordered the temples in this section splitting them into two sub-categories. The first contains those for which there is sufficient information, based on which I have provided a rough groundbreaking estimate, which will, of course, be subject to alteration in the future as more information is available. The second section contains those temples which are ordered based on the information currently available, but for which more information will be needed before they can join the first list. And for that second list, I do not feel comfortable offering any groundbreaking estimate until more information is available.
Announced Temples (for
which sufficient information has me confident enough to venture a general groundbreaking
estimate):
172. Urdaneta
Philippines Temple: Site preparation phase; construction barrier in place; groundbreaking could occur in late 2018-early 2019.
Note: The Church of Jesus Christ Temples site notes that preliminary
site work is underway to prepare for construction. Depending on how long that
process takes, a groundbreaking could occur by the end of this year or during
the first part of next year.
173. Pocatello
Idaho Temple: Government approval process; streets around temple site opened; groundbreaking anticipated in early 2019.
Note: When the artist’s rendering was released for this temple
(which occurred on September 7, 2018), that announcement noted that
construction was anticipated to begin at some point in 2019. I am anticipating
that will occur within the first quarter of the year.
174. Saratoga
Springs Utah Temple: Government approval phase; probable site identified;
awaiting official confirmation and artist’s rendering; groundbreaking
could occur in early-to-mid 2019.
Note: Although no official site confirmation has occurred, a
probable site has been identified, and a zoning variance has been approved for
a special project. If official confirmation occurs and an artist’s rendering is
soon released, I could see a groundbreaking occur in the time-frame noted above,
if not sooner.
175. Nairobi Kenya Temple: Planning and approval phase;
awaiting official site announcement; media event held June 14, 2017; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2019.
Note: Although an official site confirmation is pending for this
temple, a public affairs representative for the Church in Kenya noted that one
has been selected, and that this temple, which will be on the smaller side, is
anticipated to be dedicated in 2021. So it is not hard to believe that a
groundbreaking could occur during the time-frame noted above.
176. Bangkok Thailand Temple: Artist’s rendering and site
announcement released on March 19, 2018; groundbreaking
could occur in mid-2019.
Note: Although President Nelson noted in March that he foresaw no
delays in getting construction of this temple underway, it was not until
October 14 that the Church of Jesus Christ Temples reported that the final
building would be vacated. Until that building is razed (which could take
another month or two) a groundbreaking may potentially be delayed. Until more
is known, I prefer to be more conservative in the estimates I offer. But I
would not be shocked if a groundbreaking were held in the time-frame indicated
above, but certainly sooner than that if all goes well.
177. Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: Planning and preliminary
construction phase; awaiting official site announcement; President Nelson visited probable site on October 20, 2018; groundbreaking
could occur in mid-2019.
Note: Although an official confirmation of
the site location is still pending, if the site visited by President Nelson is
confirmed as being the temple location, then given the fact that preliminary
work has been underway since March of 2017, I would hope a groundbreaking could
occur within the window noted above, but certainly sooner if all goes well.
178. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Planning and approval phase;
awaiting official site announcement; President Nelson
visited potential site on April 17, 2018; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019-early 2020.
Note: If the potential site President Nelson visited last April is
confirmed as the location where the temple will be built, a groundbreaking
could occur within the noted window of time above.
179. Brasilia Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase;
site inspected by Church engineers on June 21, 2017; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late
2019.
Note: With a site having been confirmed
for this temple not long after its’ announcement in April 2017, it is my hope
that a groundbreaking could occur as indicated above, but certainly sooner if
all goes well.
180. Greater Manila Philippines Temple: Planning and
approval phase; awaiting official name announcement; groundbreaking
could occur in mid-to-late 2019.
Note: As noted on the Brasilia Brazil Temple, a site was confirmed
for this temple not long after its’ announcement. With that in mind, an
official name could be announced in the near future, and a groundbreaking could
easily occur in the time-frame noted above.
181. Layton Utah Temple: Planning and
approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early 2020.
Note: The Church of Jesus Christ Temples site notes that the Church
purchased land in Layton two days before the temple was announced. If
confirmation is provided in the near future that that land will be used for the
temple, then a groundbreaking could easily occur as specified above.
182. Richmond Virginia Temple: Planning and approval phase;
announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early-to-mid 2020.
Note: Not long after this temple was announced, an article published
in a Richmond newspaper noted that the Church had procured several acres of
land in that city sometime during 2015. If that purchased land is confirmed as
the location of that temple, then a groundbreaking could occur within the above
time-frame, but certainly sooner, if all goes well.
183. Managua Nicaragua Temple: Announced April 1, 2018; awaiting
official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur
in early-to-mid 2020.
Note: For several years before this temple was announced, land had
been held in reserve for such an edifice when the time was right. If at any point
the Church confirms that will be the location of the temple, then a
groundbreaking could easily be held within the window specified above, if not
sooner.
184. Salta Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase;
announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
Note: The Church of Jesus Christ Temples site has reported that the
Church acquired land that may be used for this temple in the recent past. If
that land is confirmed as the location where the temple will be built, then a
groundbreaking could easily take place in the time-frame suggested above,
though I could see that occurring sooner depending on what happens between now
and then.
185. Bengaluru India Temple: Planning and approval phase;
announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; President Nelson toured potential locations on April 19,
2018; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
Note: During his initial Global Ministry Tour in April, President
Nelson made a visit to Bengaluru, where he explained to the Saints that the
Lord had told him to announce a temple there the night before General
Conference began. During that tour, he took the time to visit and consider
several locations where the temple could be built. If all goes well, this
temple could easily begin construction within the noted time-frame specified
above.
186.
Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced October 7,
2018; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking
could occur in mid-2020.
Note: In late October 2018, the Church of
Jesus Christ Temples site noted that land had been acquired a short distance
from the Phnom Penh North Stake Center. If the Church confirms at any point
that this will be the location for the temple in that city, then it is not hard
to believe that a groundbreaking could be held within the next 1.25-1.75 years,
depending on what happens between now and then.
187.
Auckland New Zealand Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced October 7,
2018; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking
could occur in mid-to-late 2020.
Note: Although confirmation of the
official site location is pending, many speculate that the temple will be built
on the same hill on which the city’s MTC and the New Zealand Redoubt Stake
Center is located. This information was indirectly and unofficially confirmed
by someone who regularly comments on my blog. If the Church confirms that
location, then a groundbreaking could easily occur within the next 2 years, but
certainly sooner if all goes well.
Announced Temples (for
which more information is needed before I provide an estimated groundbreaking
time-frame):
188. Quito Ecuador Temple: Planning and approval phase;
awaiting official site announcement.
189. Belem Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase;
awaiting official site announcement.
190. Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple: Planning and
approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement
191. Russia Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018;
awaiting official location and site announcement.
192.
Mendoza Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced October 7,
2018; awaiting official site announcement
193.
Salvador Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced October 7, 2018;
awaiting official site announcement
194.
Yuba City, California Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced October 7,
2018; awaiting official site announcement
195.
Praia Cape Verde Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced October 7,
2018; awaiting official site announcement
196.
Yigo Guam Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced October 7, 2018;
awaiting official site announcement
197.
Puebla Mexico Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced October 7, 2018;
awaiting official site announcement
198. Lagos
Nigeria Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced October 7, 2018;
awaiting official site announcement
199. Davao
Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced October 7, 2018;
awaiting official site announcement
200. San Juan
Puerto Rico Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced October 7, 2018;
awaiting official site announcement
201.
Washington County Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; Announced October
7, 2018; awaiting official location and site announcement.
Hello again, everyone! Earlier today, progress was reported on the Mesa Arizona Temple's renovation process, where scaffolding is going up around the exterior of the temple, while windows are being removed, and where the work of grading the grounds continues. I continue to monitor all Church and temple news and will pass word of those developments to you all as I receive them. My thanks again to you all.
ReplyDeleteSome of the delay on the Nicaragua temple may be due to the civil unrest goig on in that country. All of the missionaries were pulled out earlier this year and may not return for some time. Hopefully solutions to the problems can be resolved and allow peace to return to this great country.
ReplyDeleteHello, and thank you for stopping by to comment. I had been vaguely aware of the civil unrest in Nicaragua (I would have to double-check, but I seem to recall reporting on the withdrawal of missionaries here on this blog when word of that development was announced). But in addition to that, in June of last year, Elder Joseph W. Sitati (who, at that time, was one of the Assistant Executive Directors of the Temple Department, and who is also the first native of Kenya to be called as a General Authority) represented Church leaders in meeting with the media regarding the Nairobi Kenya Temple. During that meeting, he noted that it typically takes the Church 2-3 years from the time a temple is announced before a construction process begins. With that in mind, I am not shocked at all that not much progress has been made towards a groundbreaking for the temple in Managua. At the same time, however, I confirmed several years ago that the Church has been holding land in reserve in Managua for the purpose of building a temple, so if there is confirmation provided at any point in the near future that that same land will be the spot for the temple, then I am sure the commencement of construction will follow a few months after that confirmation occurs.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, although President Nelson will probably do whatever he can to get the construction process underway for any or all of the 19 temples he announced this year, given that there were 12 announced temples in various stages (one of which was announced in October 2010, while the others have all been announced since the beginning of 2015), I have long felt something big is coming down the pike to clear the existing backlog. What exactly that might be remains to be seen, but at least one temple (the one for Abidjan in the Ivory Coast) will have a groundbreaking this year. In fact, that event is coming up six days from now.
It will certainly be interesting to see President Nelson's temple-building plans as they continue to unfold. Given the high priority he has placed on temples in his almost 10-month administration as Church President, I am sure that we will see a hastening of the process whereby temples move from announcement to groundbreaking. The fact that many probable or likely sites have been identified for several of the 31 announced temples is huge news, so we may be in for an unprecedented season of temple milestones in the years ahead. It will be interesting to see all of that unfold. Thanks again for taking time to comment.