Stokes Sounds Off: 03/30/18

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Friday, March 30, 2018

A Final Word Before General Conference

Hello again, everyone! I wanted to post again now to offer a final word before General Conference starts in 12.5 hours. We have a great deal to look forward to this weekend, with a Solemn Assembly being held in which all of us, as groups and then as an entire Church, will have the opportunity to sustain the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, including two new members of that Quorum.

In a couple of newspaper articles leading up to this weekend, spokesmen for the Church were quoted as saying that any theories made online regarding the identity of the new apostles, any other Church leadership changes, any temple locations, and any other suggestions of changes in doctrine and policy are nothing more than the private thoughts of the individuals perpetuating them.

I have recently referenced both the fact that my thoughts on the apostolic vacancies had been focused on in an article on Mormon Light, and that that article referred to those thoughts as "speculation". For myself, I have tried to use the patterns of the past to offer informed musings on that subject. And I am just as ready to sustain any one or two men that were not on the list of those I mentioned as I would be to sustain any one or two men that were not. But until something is officially announced tomorrow, anyone's thoughts, mine especially, are no more and no less than thoughts which may or may not reflect the Lord's will.

No matter who might be called to serve this go-round, the two new apostles (as with the others) will have my sustaining vote of support. As I have already indicated, I took time to gain my own testimony that those who will be called have been appointed by the Lord, and I have no doubt that when their names are revealed tomorrow, I will instantly know, as I have in times past, that the two were meant to come to the apostleship at this time. I would also anticipate that, barring anything unexpected, we will see the Solemn Assembly occur, as noted, at the top of the Saturday Morning Session.

And while I fully expect that new temples will be announced, and while I hope that any that are will have been on my list, I will rejoice just as much whether any are announced or not. As I have also observed, I don't see any scenario where President Nelson will not have taken time to call the new apostles and to make any subsequent changes that will fill out Church leadership following those calls, including the calling of new General Authority Seventies.

I am also equally certain that we will see the Young Women General Presidency changed, and I can see a few options there, with one or both of the current counselors retained in the new presidency, or one of the counselors in the other two auxiliaries (Primary or Relief Society), or current members of the Young Women General Board.Board.

Of one thing I am absolutely certain: the Lord leads His Church and knows perfectly what its' members need and how best to convey His will to His servants on what needs to be done and said in every General Conference. What we will hear and what will be done during this weekend will be what the Lord wants said and done in and for His Church at this time. And you can find ongoing reports on all of that here as it occurs.

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.

Update Noted on the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple

Hello again, everyone! This will just be a quick post to note a status update for the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple. New information received late last night was expanded by another update that came in earlier today. The latest information indicates that structural framing has gone up for both the temple and its' steeple.

And, as I noted yesterday, the general completion estimate for this temple has changed from early-to-mid 2019 to just mid-2019, and I am more specifically estimating that this temple could be dedicated in early-to-mid June. Stay tuned for further updates as they are needed.

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.