Updated Temple Construction Progress Report

Hello again, everyone! Having taken some time to analyze newly-reported developments within the last 12 hours in which the Church of Jesus Christ Temples site has again been operational, I am posting a fully updated copy of my temple construction progress report. The degree of the reported developments (including vast changes in the order and time-frames within which the Church may complete new temples and those undergoing renovation), it is necessary for me to publish my fully-updated report.

The updates follow below, and since there has been a dramatic and drastic shift in some of the general completion estimates, I will need to fully rethink my previously-offered and more specific time-frames for these events. And given the fact that all of that may largely depend on what we hear about temples this weekend, I have removed all notes except the most relevant ones.

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 everything you do.

Temple Construction Progress (current as of 10/6/18)

Note about future temple construction: I have previously referenced the statement made by Elder Larry Y. Wilson, who serves as the Temple Department Executive Director, to the effect that 80 temples were on a list of locations that would be considered for an official announcement within the 15 years following that statement. And although we may not know whether or not those 80 locations have been announced by late April 2032, it seems reasonable to believe that the Church could (and likely will) have 200 operating temples by or before Saturday April 6, 2030 (which will mark the Church’s bicentennial anniversary). In order to do so, the Church would just need to complete the 30 temples in various phases, and announce and complete 11 others in the 11.50 years between now and then, which could be done if 3.57 temples are dedicated each year. Although this year will see only 2 temple dedications, there are 5 or 6 anticipated in 2019, and at least 3 that we know of so far the following year. So I am confident the Church will have at least 200 in operation by that time, whether or not an official goal is made to do so.

                        

Current temple status: The Church has 189 temples in various phases. There are 159 in operation, while 1 other has an open house underway; 3 more have a dedication scheduled; and 7 others are in various phases of construction. In terms of temples undergoing renovations, 10 temples are currently closed for renovation (5 or 6 of which are anticipated to be rededicated next year), and 1 other, which closed for renovation in late 2017, is currently stalled in its’ renovation process. The remaining 19 are announced, with at least 1 temple which is anticipated to have a groundbreaking by the end of 2018, while several others are likely to have a groundbreaking in 2019 and the years following that.

Public open house underway:

160. Concepcion Chile Temple: Public open house underway (will go through Saturday October 13, excluding the relevant Sundays); dedication scheduled to occur on Sunday October 28, 2018.

Note: On September 26, 2018, a published article shared on Facebook indicated that President Nelson would preside at the dedication of this temple. Since Elder Jeffrey R. Holland served for two years in what was then the Chile Area of the Church, it would not surprise me if he were to accompany President Nelson to this dedication.

Preparing for public open house:

161.  Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Planting final flowers in flowerbeds; preparing for public open house (which will begin in exactly 4 weeks); dedication scheduled to occur on Sunday December 9, 2018.

Dedication Scheduled:                                                                                         

162. Rome Italy Temple: Exterior doors installed; sod laid; flower beds being planted; dedication scheduled to occur from Sunday March 10-Sunday March 17, 2019.

163. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Laying driveway and walkway pavers; planting trees and shrubs; dedication scheduled to occur on Sunday April 14, 2019.

Under construction, completion estimated during 2019:

164. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Exterior lighting underway; completion estimated sometime during early-to-mid 2019.

165. Durban South Africa Temple: Finishing the temple tower surfaces; tiling the roof, floors, and walls; finish work continues on stairwells; completion estimated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

166. Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple: Waterproofing exterior walls; pouring street curbing and sidewalk; completion estimated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

167. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Stone cladding exterior walls; installing lamp-posts; planting trees and shrubs; completion estimated sometime during mid-2019.

Temples estimated to be completed sometime during 2020:

168. Arequipa Peru Temple: Stone cladding being added to tower; completion estimated sometime during early 2020.

169. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Stone cladding and waterproofing the exterior walls; completion estimated sometime during early 2020.

170. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Plumbing and foundation work underway for on-site chapel; completion estimated sometime during mid-2020.

Groundbreaking scheduled (official confirmation pending):

171. Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple: Preparing for groundbreaking; groundbreaking scheduled for November 8, 2018.

Note: African members report that they were advised by a letter from Church leaders that this temple would have a groundbreaking on this date, and that Elder Neil L. Andersen would preside over it. That has not yet been confirmed through an official Church announcement, hence the date is listed in italics.

Undergoing Renovation (rededication estimated sometime during 2019):

41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; reattaching cladding to temple exterior; staircase to extended parking area poured; completion estimated sometime during mid-2019.

13. Oakland California Temple: Closed for renovation; cleaning and repairing exterior walls; water features being upgraded; rededication estimated sometime during mid-2019.

95. Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple: Closed for renovation; angel Moroni statue reinstalled on September 10, 2018; rededication estimated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

80. Memphis Tennessee Temple: Closed for renovation; stone cladding continues on exterior walls; rededication estimated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

68. Raleigh North Carolina Temple: Closed for renovation; stone cladding continues; rededication estimated sometime during late 2019.

94. Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple: Closed for renovation; waterproofing membrane applied to exterior; rededication estimated sometime during late 2019.

Undergoing Renovation (rededication estimated sometime during 2020):

18. Tokyo Japan Temple: Closed for renovation; scaffolding and debris netting put up around exterior; rededication estimated sometime during early-to-mid 2020.

16. Washington D. C. Temple: Closed for renovation; repairs continue on temple spires; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2020.

8. Mesa Arizona Temple: Closed for renovation; grounds cleared; interior work underway; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2020.

Undergoing Renovation (rededication estimated sometime during 2021):

11. Hamilton New Zealand Temple: Closed for renovation; dismantling interior; rededication may take place sometime during early-to-mid 2021.

Renovation process stalled; full-scale work pending:

112. Asuncion Paraguay Temple: Closed for renovation; full-scale construction pending.

Announced Temples:

172. Urdaneta Philippines Temple: Site preparation phase; construction barrier in place.

173. Pocatello Idaho Temple: Laying asphalt for streets; site confirmed and artist’s rendering released on September 6, 2018; groundbreaking anticipated in early 2019.

174. Saratoga Springs Utah Temple: Government approval phase.

175. Bangkok Thailand Temple: Artist’s rendering and site announcement released on March 19, 2018; groundbreaking pending.

Note: Although the rendering and site location for this temple was one of the first temple-related announcements of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, unless and until verification is provided that the on-site office building has been razed and that the site is cleared, it does not appear likely that the Church will break ground on this temple this year.

176. Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: Planning and preliminary construction phase; awaiting official site announcement.

177. Nairobi Kenya Temple: Planning and approval; awaiting official site announcement; media event held June 14, 2017.

178. Brasilia Brazil Temple: Planning and approval; site inspected by Church engineers on June 21, 2017.

179. Greater Manila Philippines Temple: Planning and approval; awaiting official name announcement

180. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Planning and approval; awaiting official site announcement.

181. Layton Utah Temple: Announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement.

182. Quito Ecuador Temple: Planning and approval; awaiting official site announcement.

183. Richmond Virginia Temple: Announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement.

184. Belem Brazil Temple: Planning and approval; awaiting official site announcement.

185. Managua Nicaragua Temple: Announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site.

186. Salta Argentina Temple: Announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement.

187. Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple: Announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement.

188. Bengaluru India Temple: Announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement.

189. Russia: Announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official location and site announcement.

Final note: If recent statements from Church leaders (regarding how President Nelson’s legacy as a temple-building Church president will outpace and overshadow the previous legacy set by President Hinckley) are any indication, we may soon enter an era where the volume of temple-related developments will be multiplied. As more is known in that regard, I will add any needed elements to this report.

Key:

Bolded numbers and text denote temples whose numbers already exists (for renovations), or is certain due to a scheduled dedication, as well as information that is certain, such as dedication or groundbreaking dates.

Italicized numbers and text denote temples whose numbers may change based on the order in which future dedications and groundbreakings are scheduled.

Underlined numbers and text denote temples whose numbers may change based on progress towards planning, approval, and groundbreaking.

Changes since last report are highlighted in red.

BREAKING NEWS: 2-Hour Block Announced

Hello again, everyone! Elder Quentin L. Cook, acting under the direction and invitation of President Nelson, just announced a 2-hour Church block, which will be home-centered and Church supported. This will be done by having a 60-minute Sacrament Meeting every Sunday. Following a 10-minute transition to classes, there will be a 50-minute second hour, where Primary will be held each week, but Sunday School and Priesthood/Relief Society will be held alternately, with Sunday School on the first and third Sundays, and Priesthood, Relief Society, and Young Men/Young Women on the second and fourth Sundays. Meetings on the fifth Sunday will be held under the direction of the bishop in each ward. effective January 1, 2019.

To that end, the home curriculum was released to place greater responsibility on each of us for what we get out of Church each week. I have to admit, while I did not see that coming, and while I once dismissed it as an impossibility, the minute Elder Cook announced it, I felt the confirmation I had been seeking that what was being announced is in harmony with the Lord's will.To paraphrase a scripture, "If ye are prepared, ye shall not [be surprised]." More details can be found on the Newsroom.

Let me be clear: These changes do not in any way mean any of us should feel comfortable with doing any less than being well prepared for Church each week. To the contrary, this places more of an onus on each of us to personally be responsible for what we get out of the 2-hour block each week. And this comes, according to President Nelson, because of the way the Church embraced the changes that were made in General Conference last April.

This demonstrates to me that the Lord wants to reveal more to his people, but that this will only be allowed to occur as each of us follow the prophet's counsel. We will learn much more about all of this in the days ahead, and I continue to monitor other developments of this General Conference weekend as they occur and will do my best to pass those along to you all as they occur.

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 everything you do.