With all of that in mind, the updates I have made to the announced temples section of my temple construction progress report follow below. So as not to 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, as long as such feedback is made in accordance with the established guidelines. 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 everything you do.
Announced Temples (for which
sufficient information has me confident enough to venture a general
groundbreaking estimate):
174. Pocatello
Idaho Temple: Government approval process; streets around temple site opened; groundbreaking
anticipated in mid-2019.
175. Saratoga
Springs Utah Temple: Government approval phase; probable site identified;
awaiting official confirmation and artist’s rendering; groundbreaking could
occur in mid-to-late
2019.
176. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Planning and
approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; President Nelson visited
potential site on April 17, 2018; groundbreaking anticipated
in late 2019.
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 late 2019-early
2020.
178. Nairobi Kenya Temple: Planning and approval phase;
awaiting official site announcement; media event held June 14, 2017;
groundbreaking could occur in late 2019-early 2020.
179. Brasilia
Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; site inspected by Church engineers
on June 21, 2017; groundbreaking could
occur in early 2020.
180. Greater
Manila Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official name
announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early-to-mid 2020.
181. Layton
Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting
official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early-to-mid 2020.
182. Richmond
Virginia Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting
official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
183. Managua
Nicaragua Temple: Announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement;
groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
184. Salta
Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018;
awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
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-to-late 2020.
186.
Auckland New Zealand Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official
site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2020.
187.
Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2020.
188. Mendoza
Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement; groundbreaking could occur in late 2020-early 2021.
Announced Temples (for which more
information is needed before I provide an estimated groundbreaking time-frame):
189. Quito Ecuador Temple: Planning and approval phase;
awaiting official site announcement.
190. Belem Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase;
awaiting official site announcement.
191. Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple: Planning and
approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
192.
Salvador Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
193. Yuba City, California Temple: Planning and approval
phase; awaiting official site announcement.
194.
Praia Cape Verde Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
195.
Yigo Guam Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
196.
Puebla Mexico Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
197.
Lagos Nigeria Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
198.
Davao Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
199.
San Juan Puerto Rico Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official
site announcement.
200. Russia Temple: Planning
and approval phase; awaiting official city and site announcement.
201. Washington County Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official city and site announcement.
Hello again, everyone! Two additional Church news stories have been published recently. First, two members of the Primary General Presidency recently sat down with a Church News staff writer to discuss how the new "Come Follow Me" curriculum, along with the 2-hour Church block, would more fully enhance the weekly Church experience for all children ages 3-11. You can find that interview at the web address below:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2018-12-30/qanda-primary-presidency-weighs-in-on-how-to-apply-new-come-follow-me-curriculum-in-2019-48694
In the meantime, a Deseret News staff writer who has covered major Church developments this year takes a look back at the many ways 2018 was historic for the Church. That article can be found at the web address below:
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900048112/it-was-a-historic-year-for-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-heres-a-look-back-at-2018s-major-moments.html
If nothing else occurs between now and then, my next post (which will likely be the final one for 2018) will take a look back at the progress the Church has made in temple construction between New Year's Day and New Year's Eve of this year. Look for that at some point tomorrow. My thanks again to you all for your ongoing interest and support.
If I may, I would like to offer an observation to reiterate something which I may or may not have properly emphasized above. Over the last two years, we have seen the prophetic administrations of Presidents Monson and Nelson take action to get the "oldest" of the announced temples under construction. Last year, ground was broken for the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple. This year, a groundbreaking was held for the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple. And next month, the "oldest" announced temple (Urdaneta Philippines) and the final of the three announced in 2015 (Bangkok Thailand) will have their groundbreaking ceremonies, which will leave the "oldest" group of announced temples being those announced in April 2016.
ReplyDeleteOf those four temples announced in that month and year, I have sufficient information to venture an educated guess on the timing for the Lima Peru Los Olivos and Harare Zimbabwe Temples, both of which, as mentioned in the post above, could have groundbreaking ceremonies next year. I have looked for (and failed to find for now) anything that would indicate that a groundbreaking might be on the horizon for the other two temples announced that year (Belem Brazil and Quito Ecuador).
And based on what I know, it is almost certain that the temples in Pocatello Idaho and Saratoga Springs Utah will be among the next (if not the very next) to have a groundbreaking. With sites already having been identified for the Brasilia Brazil and Greater Manila Philippines Temples, I am keeping my eyes open for more on those temples as well.
Additionally, based on the statement of the international director of public affairs for the Africa Southeast Area (in which he noted that a site had already been selected for the temple, that it would be on the smaller side, and that its' dedication was estimated to occur sometime during 2021), I am watching for further updates for the temple in that city as well. 6 of the 19 temples announced this year have had a probable site identified, and, as previously mentioned, the Church has had land set aside in Managua Nicaragua and Auckland New Zealand for a temple for at least as long as I have been offering my thoughts about potential future temple locations.
Unless I have miscalculated, that means there are a total of 15 temples out of the 28 which have not gone beyond an announcement for which enough information is available to venture a groundbreaking estimate. Therefore, all of those 15 locations could see a groundbreaking within the next 2-3 years or less. That would lower the backlog of announced temples to 13, which in turn would open the way for other locations to have a temple announced.
And based on all that has been heard and said about President Nelson's temple-building plans and the legacy that will leave the Church, that may only be the beginning. We have seen preference being given to the "oldest" announced temples in the recent past, so it might be entirely possible that more information will be forthcoming for both the Quito Ecuador and Belem Brazil Temples within the next year, and that ground could be broken for both temples within the next 2-3 years or less.
That said, as observed in my post above, I wanted to be cautiously optimistic in my estimates for future groundbreakings, which is why I only have 5-6 other temples on my radar for a groundbreaking ceremony at some point next year, in addition to the two already scheduled for January. But I would be absolutely elated if more temples had a groundbreaking next year and in the years that follow than suggested in my post above.
Either way, it appears that 2019 and beyond are sure to be banner years for all temple developments, and I hope to be able to pass word of those along to you all here as I become aware of it. Thanks again, everyone!
Check the following page: utah.lds.org This page links to an area broadcast from last August. There was an inadvertent addition error when counting up the operating temples here, but the big thing is that late in the broadcast they said 'and more to come'. Less than two months after this broadcast, one was, and I am sure they are looking for the right time to announce those on our list for Utah.
ReplyDeleteJames Anderson, thank you for taking time to comment. One of my only major complaints about the Church website is that there is some degree of ambiguity in the way the assignments for area presidencies (particularly those in North America) are listed. Many of my posts this year explored evidence verifying either the combination of the 10 North America Areas into 6, or pointed to the notion that the overall number of areas remained at 10.
DeleteThis broadcast seems to conclusively prove that Utah's 3 areas are now 1, but I would be curious to know what that means for the other North America Areas that were 4 separate areas and whether they too have been combined. The areas in question are Idaho, North America Central, North America Northwest, and North America West. Because if those four are now two (as defined in the same First Presidency announcement referenced in the Utah Area broadcast), that means that there may have been or will be a change in the composition of the Quorums of Area Seventies (since those serving in Idaho had belonged to the 5th Quorum, while those in the North America Central Area were in the 6th Quorum). In the Utah Area broadcast, Elder Rasband referenced that other area broadcasts for North American Areas were happening that same day as well. I looked for them but did not find them.
It was interesting that Elders Rasband, Clayton, and Christensen all had supervision for the 3 Utah areas at some point, and now all will have a role in doing so again. I also found it interesting that Elder Godoy has been asked to assist with the work in Utah. If each North American area is supervised by an apostle and 2 members of the Presidency of the Seventy in addition to the area presidencies, that is likewise significant.
As to your particular comments about temples, I am not sure I noticed the addition error you referenced. According to Rick's temple site, the Cedar City Utah Temple became the 17th operating temple. What caught me off guard was the reference to two temples "under construction" in Utah. I assume they were referring to the Saratoga Springs (which may see construction begin next year) and Layton (where a probable site has been identified but not yet confirmed, and which could see construction begin in 2020 or 2021). The Washington County Temple will be the 20th temple in Utah, so unless they referenced 21 temples and I didn't catch it, I am not sure to what you are referring.
DeleteThat said, it was great to see the enthusiasm these Brethren have for their new assignments. My doctors have periodically suggested that my health might improve if I were in a different climate or elevation, but I love living in Utah near family and where the Church is strong.
It was also profoundly gratifying to see the clear vision these 5 Brethren shared for the future of the Church in Utah, and to see how their experiences living and serving outside the United States has helped mold their perspective on what is most needful in terms of increasing the strength of the Church here.
There is much missionary work to do, that is apparent. During my elementary school years, one of my best friends in Payson was not very religious at all, nor was his family. When we found out we were moving, my sister gave his mom a copy of the Book of Mormon. Whether or not she personally read it, I am not sure, but he found it just before he began serving in the military, and when I last talked with him, he was earnestly studying it and seeking to know the truthfulness of the gospel.
DeleteWhen we moved to American Fork and I entered Junior High, one of my best friends was a Jehovah Witness. During the six years in which we attended Junior High and High School together, our conversation often turned to religion. We would trade questions back and forth, and I saw we had a mutual respect for each other's beliefs.
I have since not had as frequent contact with these friends as I once did, but hopefully their experiences with me planted a seed, no matter how small or how long it might take to take root. My point is that, based on these experiences, there are such opportunities here in Utah. Right now, it seems that many who used to live in California or other states have relocated here for various reasons, and some of them are not of our faith. So the call to seek for opportunities to share the gospel is a timely one as well.
We have seen an urgency in President Nelson to prepare the Church and the world for the Savior's Second Coming, and the goals the Utah Area Presidency and their 3 advisers have set for us seem to be geared towards that purpose as well.
And if a similar focus is being implemented in other areas of the Church, both domestic and abroad, then something big will surely happen for the Church worldwide. I have also commented on the fact that I don't see the temple construction of the Church slowing down anytime soon. More temples will be announced, built and dedicated, or renovated and rededicated. The Lord is hastening his work for sure, and we are blessed to be part of that.
It was also a comfort to me personally to hear the Brethren talk about each Church member in the Utah Area contributing "in their own way" to the furthering of the Lord's work.
I have mentioned before the health issues which have kept my wife and myself from attending Church weekly and the temple regularly, and those issues are ongoing. I like to think that my efforts blogging here may be counted as my small contribution to the furthering of the work. Each day I look at my blog statistics, and am humbled to see the different nations from which content on my blog is being viewed. I hope that's a good sign. I take it as such.
I apologize for my lengthy reply, but these are a few thoughts I had after watching that broadcast. Thanks for sharing it, as I had not previously been aware of it. Thanks also for commenting, James Anderson. Always a pleasure to hear from you. I recall you mentioning having struggled with health issues yourself in the past, and hope you are well on this New Year's Eve. All the best to you and yours for a happy, wonderful, safe, and healthy 2019.
DeleteAnd a matter related to how temple names are reserved and farmed out, in this online Q&A, the product manager over the development of Family Tree details what is being rolled out now as Ordinances Ready, the first of five phases of that was deployed on FamilySearch last month but it is clear from what he said that it is what he was talking about here, later on he says some things about changes planned in how they farm out names for the temples to do that members share with the temple.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8akysbMIbc
Thank you as well for this additional insight. I have also covered on this blog throughout this year many developments reported by FamilySearch. It is plain that the surface has just barely been scratched in terms of ongoing developments, and it will be exciting to see what is ahead.
DeleteIf I may, I would like to just add a general observation about the changes made this year, particularly relating to the Church's ministering program. I have mentioned in the past that Elder Holland described in his October 2016 General Conference talk what effective home teaching should look like. It seemed pretty clear-cut that the reason home and visiting teaching were retired and ministering was initiated is that the administration of the retired programs became more important than what was actually being accomplished when those programs were fulfilling their purpose. In other words, more concern about numbers than the welfare of individuals and families. So on that level, the change to ministering made sense. Unfortunately, some have felt that a simple "contact us if you need anything" counts as effective ministering. I am glad that additional FAQs have been released and for Sister Bingham's article which was featured in the December 2018 Ensign, because they clarify that ministering involves demonstrating genuine concern, and not just blowing off responsibility for those on our lists with a "contact us if you need anything" and feeling that should count.
I see the same motivation behind the shift to the two-hour block and the home-centered, Church-supported curriculum. Too often, so many (at least here in Utah) seem to see Church as a social event, with no forethought about properly preparing to receive inspiration to carry them through the next week. By implementing the home curriculum and a 2-hour Church block, Church leaders are telling us we need to be prepared for Church each week, and that what we get out of our Church meetings should depend on what we put into that preparation process.
DeleteBut that's the thing: the Lord has always trusted His people to do these things, and the scriptures and words of prophets and apostles support such practices, and so many weren't getting it. These adjustments make it clear that individuals and families should focus on their own preparation, and on helping their fellow Saints, not to check off in a box that that has been done, but out of a genuine desire to uplift, encourage, strengthen, and inspire one another. And that is humbling to consider.
I have also referenced President Nelson's statement that there is more to come in terms of changes and refinements. Sister Nelson said that her husband wants to focus his ministry on things that matter the most. And based on what has been said by Church leaders throughout the ages, what matters most is ensuring that we, as individuals and families, are working out our salvation and striving for a life that will enable us to be exalted. More than that, we have the promise that the Savior is coming again, and if we as individuals, families, or the Church as a whole are not focused on the preparation for those things, then the changes we have seen and will yet see are sorely needed. The question is, will we take the opportunity to do things in a different, higher, and holier way, as invited by President Nelson? I hope we will.
The Lord is truly hastening His work in its' time, as He has promised. And in the days ahead, we will need the strength of individual testimony to make ourselves and our families ready for what is ahead. I hope we will do so.
Sorry about getting up on my soapbox. Getting back to what you said, if what we saw this year in terms of changes and developments to FamilySearch are any indication, then other changes are coming for the family history and temple program of the Church. And I am sure that part of that will involve a dramatic increase in the number of temples, and the simplification of the process to get names submitted for temple work. It will be interesting to see all of that unfold, and I hope to be able to pass all of that along to you and my other readers here as I receive word of it.
Speaking of temples, later today, I will be doing a new post to highlight the progress we have seen this year on temples. Be on the lookout for that, and thanks again, James Anderson, for taking time to comment.