Hello again, everyone! With the time now being almost 9:00 PM Sunday in Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo, all dedicatory sessions for that temple have concluded. So I wanted to provide a glimpse at coverage of the dedicatory events. Firstly, it is worth nothing that, in presiding over the dedicatory events this weekend, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (for whom, as I explained in another post yesterday, this temple's dedication was personally significant) was accompanied by his wife, Ruth L. Renlund, and their only child, Ashley.
The Africa Southeast Area Presidency (Elders S. Mark Palmer, Joseph W. Sitati, and Joni L. Koch) were also in attendance, along with their wives. I had thought I remembered reading about the Temple Department Executive Director, Elder Larry Y. Wilson,. also being in attendance, along with Elder Kevin S. Hamilton of the Seventy, who was just released last year as president of the Africa Southeast Area, but I could not find that verified in any of the sources I found.
So for now, I wanted to pass along the news articles I was able to find on this weekend's events. This article provided an overview of the dedicatory weekend, including the note about Elder Renlund presiding thereat. Another article highlights the youth devotional that was held roughly 24 hours or so ago, while a third article highlights the temple's dedication. Elder Renlund is, as I previously mentioned, the new least-senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to ever preside over the dedication of a temple, and he received this assignment due to both his service on the Temple and Family History Executive Council and to his personal connection to that area.
With this temple dedication having been held, the next major temple events will be the Fortaleza Brazil Temple open house, which will begin in less than two weeks, the groundbreakings on May 4 of this year for the Yigo Guam, Praia Cabo Verde, and San Juan Puerto Rico Temples, the private rededication of the Memphis Tennesee Temple on May 5 by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, the groundbreaking for the Quito Ecuador Temple the following Saturday, the private rededication of the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple on May 19 by President Henry B. Eyring, the dedication of the Fortaleza Brazil Temple on June 2, the groundbreaking for the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple the following Saturday, and the rededication of the Oakland California Temple 8 days after that/
Time will tell, but if what I am hearing on my end is any indication, the second half of 2019 will be just as busy (if not more so) in terms of scheduled temple events. We already know about the scheduled dedications for the Port-au-Prince Haiti and Lisbon Portugal Temples on September 1 and 15 respectively, and that the rededication of the Frankfurt Germany Temple is scheduled for October 20. I woud anticipate that, following the scheduled announcement this Friday about the renovation plans. details, and involved timing for the Salt Lake Temple, there will be at least a few other temple events announced at some point over the next couple of moths and beyond.
It will be a busy season for the Church in terms of such developments, and for my part, I will be doing my level best to bring you all word of those as they occur, in addition to continuing to share any other major Church news which crosses my radar. At this point, I am not sure what to expect in terms of how soon the area leadership assignments for this year may be announced. That could happen prior to or just after Friday's announcement, or it could be delayed another week or two. But whenever any such announcements are made, I will be sure to bring word of those here as I learn about them.
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 comments are 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.
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple Dedicated as 163rd Operating Temple of the Church
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
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Hello again, everyone! I wanted to post a comment here to note some additional coverage the Church News had about the dedication of the Kinshasa temple today. The First article covers the youth devotional:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2019-04-13/kinshasa-youth-celebrate-new-temple-elder-renlund-speaks-of-temple-blessings-49519
The second highlights what leaders and members are saying about the new temple:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2019-04-14/what-church-leaders-and-members-in-kinshasa-are-saying-about-the-new-temple-there-49521
And the third and final article focuses on the dedication, and particularly on remarks Elder Renlund made and things he said during the dedicatory prayer. I should add that it was this article that mentioned Elder Kevin S. Hamilton, who had been serving up until August of last year as Africa Southeast Area President, and Elder Larry Y. Wilson, in one of the last offficial occasions he would attend as Temple Department Executive Director, accompanied Elder Renlund from Church headquarters:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2019-04-14/elder-renlund-dedicates-kinshasa-dr-congo-temple-compares-the-new-edifice-to-the-powerful-congo-river-49523
I should also mention that Elder Renlund presiding over this weekend's dedication of the Kinshasa DR Congo Temple could signal a new precedent in which President Nelson has members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles preside over dedications or rededications that are personally significant to them. That means that, for the Fortaleza Brazil Temple dedication, I could see the First Presidency sendibg Ekder Ulisses Soares to dedicate the Fortaleza Brazil Temple on June 2. Elder Gerrit W. Gong was born in a city less than 35 miles from Oakland, and Elder David A. Bednar was born right in Oakland, so either or both could be sent for that temple's rededication. And as I already noted, I could see Elder Uchtdorf being sent to rededicate the Frankfurt Germany Temple.
If anyone had told me as recently as earlier this year that the Church would be sending Elder Renlund, as a junior apostle, to preside over the dedication of the Kinshasa temple, I would have dismissed it as impossible. But with that having occurred, we may be entering a phase in Church history where the apostles, regardless of seniority, and more fully involved in temple dedications and rededications. I look forward to seeing what happens next in that regard. I suppose I also should mention that I did not factor in Port-au-Prince Haiti or Lisbon Portugal into my offered thoughts here, but depending on what happens with the dedication of the Fortaleza temple and the rededication of the Oakland Temple, we may have a better idea of what's ahead.
Just some additional insights from me based on those new resources. I'd fully anticipate that the dedicatory prayer given by Elder Renlund will be released by the Church News within the next few days. And either at some point before Friday or not long after, I'd also anticipate the First Presidency announcing new area leadership assignments, and perhaps also scheduling another temple event, whether that is a dedication, rededication, or groundbreaking(s) for other temples. Thanks again, everyone!
The other interesting part is the Elder Renlund dedicated the temple in French. Only other was the rededication of the Frieburg Germany Temple by Pres Uchdorft.
ReplyDeleteThank you, coachodeeps. That may also become a new tradition. It would not shock me if Elder Andersen was sent to dedicate the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple and were to do so in French. It is amazing that we have at least 4-5 apostles now who are fluent in more than one language. If that is not a sign of the more international nature of the Church, I don't know what is. Thank you for taking time to comment.
DeleteHello again, everyone! Around an hour ago, the Church News reported the appointment of a new Tabernacle organist. Brother Joseph Peeples now joins 3 other full-time organists (Richard Elliott, Andrew Unsworth, and Brian Mathias) and the 2 part-time organists (Linda Margetts and Bonnie Goodliffe), and will help provide daily organ recitals, music at General Conferences, during the weekly "Music and the Spoken Word" broadcast, and at other Church and community events. Previously, the most recent organist appointed (Brian Mathias) replaced Brother Clay Christiansen when he retired. At this point, I don't know whether principal organist Richard Elliott is preparing to retire, or whether Brother Peeples will be a fourth full-time organist for the time being. More will be learned in that respect in the days ahead.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, the Church News article sharing more information can be found at the following address, which comes complete with a link to the Tabernacle Choir's official webpage where additional information is available:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2019-04-15/new-organist-joins-tabernacle-choir-at-temple-square-49531
My thanks once again to all of you for your ongoing interest and support.
On the Tabernacle choir's website it reads that he joins 3 full time organists and two other part time organists. It also specifically tells what the part time organists do. The way it reads I wonder if brother Peeples will serve as a part time organist.
ReplyDeleteScott, thanks for commenting. Based on what you said, I did further research on my end. The following article was the announcement about the Tabernacle Choir seeking an organist indicates they were looking for a part-timer:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.deseretnews.com/article/900041916/want-to-play-the-salt-lake-tabernacle-organ-choir-is-accepting-applications-for-a-part-time-organist.html
With additional study, I learned that part-time organist Bonnie Goodliffe is in her mid-70s. With that in mind, it appears that Brother Peeples may have been brought on to replace her. I have not been able to find any information in that respect about Linda Margetss. But that would be my guess. Thank you, Scott, for catching that, which I hadn't noticed at the time I read the article.
Glad we got that figured out. As always, thanks for taking time to comment on this.
And the Church News has released an article covering the reaction of Church members (especially that of Presiding Bishop Gerald Causee, our native French General Authority) to the fire that struck the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris (known to the French citizenry as the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris). The article follows below:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2019-04-15/notre-dame-fire-flames-paris-holy-week-hope-jesus-christ-49533
I would just add on a personal note that it was devastating to hear of this fire. Very early in life, I determined that, as soon as I was able to do so, I would study French in school. My first chance to do so came in the form of a one-semester class in Junior High that allowed seventh-graders to take 6 weeks each of French, German, and Spanish. I was able to subsequently get into studying French in earnest all three years of High School. The cahtedral was one of several landmarks we learned a lot about.
But if the French Latter-day Saints are any indication, the citizen of France will easily be able to rebuild it, and will do well to recovery from this tragedy. And I look forward to seeing that process unfold. My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! The Church News earlier today released a copy of the text of the dedicatory prayer offered by Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo, which can be found at the following web address:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2019-04-16/congo-dedicatory-prayer-mormon-lds-highlights-symbolism-elder-renlund-49538
A couple of things specifically jumped out to me about this prayer (aside from the fact that it was given in French): First, Elder Renlund explicitly noted that he was dedicating the temple through the keys of the apostleship, and under the direction of the prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. Such phrasology is often noted on such prayers, which more or less confirms what I said in my post above and on other occasions: that the keys of the apostleship are necessary to dedicate a temple. While General Authority Seventies can and do dedicate chapels and temple grounds for the commencement of construction, it is the inherent keys of the apostleship that are required to bind and seal on earth and in heaven.
The other thing that stuck out to me was the following petition: "May those who oppress and abuse any of Thy children, especially Thy beloved daughters, be thwarted." A few thoughts came to mind in relation to that sentence: Lately, the Church has enacted additional measures to more fully address the problem of abuse. As we have seen in the world lately, there are those who, when in a position of power (or in Church terms, authority) abuse the trust which has been placed in them. The recent adjustments to Church policies and procdures relating to abuse will hopefully prevent any situation where that kind of thing could otherwise occur.
But more than that, in many nations of Africa, the cultural practice of "bride price", even within the Church membership, continues to one degree or another to this day. And for any father of a prospective bride or an intended husband to try to put a price on the worth of such women is, as Church leaders have recently noted, not acceptable to the Lord and could be seen as a form of abuse. I say that because haggling over the worth of a woman is not ever pleasing to the Lord, and surely those who cling to such traditions in violation of the higher law of the Lord will be held accountable for their involvement in such practices.
That said, the prayer is well worthy of your review, and I can recommend it as worthy of your time without hesitation. I have some temple updates I will be sharing in a new comment in just a few minutes. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
Here are the temple updates I promised: First, on the Durban South Africa Temple, new information indicates that oxen have been installed under the baptismal font, that doors and window frames are being fitted, that marble claddinghas continued on the grand staircase, abd that exterior lighting tests are underway. While that progress is encouraging, I would still anticipate that the Arequipa Peru Temple will be dedicated before the Durban Temple. I would perhaps put Arequipa's dedication during October or November, and Durban in either November or December. And as another note, it may be a while yet before we know whethr or not the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple will be dedicated or merely just have construction conclude before the end of this year.
ReplyDeleteOpen house tours for the Memphis Tennessee Temple will continue through this Saturday, one day following the scheduled release of details for the renovation of the Salt Lake Temple. And at the Hamilton New Zealand Temple, scaffolding has been erected in preparation for its' exterior refurbishment.
I continue to monitor all Church news and temple developments and will bring you all word of those as I receive it. My thanks once again to you all.