Updated Estimates for Future Temple Events: Part One—Overview and Scheduled/Anticipated Events in 2019

Hello again, everyone! In view of the mass number of temple developments which have occurred within the last 3 weeks or so since I posted my estimates for known temple events, I thought it was high time I again revisited them. So this will be the first in a multiple-post series. This post will share those events which have been or may yet be scheduled to occur this year, while the next post will share the events anticipated to occur in 2020 and 2021, and the final post will cover those known events which are anticipated to occur between 2022 and 2024. So let's get right into those updates.

The scheduled or estimated events for this year follow below. In order 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, 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.

2019:

Thursday May 16-Saturday May 25: President Nelson’s Pacific Ministry Tour

Note: On April 10, 2019, the Church announced that this tour would take place on these dates. That gave me hope that some temple news would be announced during the tour. While making the scheduled stop in Auckland New Zealand, President Nelson confirmed the site for the temple in that city on May 21, 2019. This gives me hope that a groundbreaking for that temple could take place within the next year or less.

Sunday June 2: Dedication of the Fortaleza Brazil Temple (165^th operating temple; confirmed)

Note: On January 10, 2019, the First Presidency announced this temple’s dedication. Then, on May 14, 2019, a Brazilian newspaper indicated that the temple would be dedicated by our native Brazilian apostle, Elder Ulisses Soares.

Saturday June 8: Groundbreaking for the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple

Note: On March 7, 2019, the groundbreaking for this temple was announced. Since this temple is being built within the South America Northwest Area, the president of that area, Elder Enrique R. Falabella will preside over it. And based on the fact that the design of this temple reminds me of the Mesa Arizona Temple, I am anticipating a 3-4 year construction period for that process.

Sunday June 16: Rededication of the Oakland California Temple (confirmed)

Note: This temple’s rededication was announced on December 18, 2018. Since senior apostles have presided at temple rededications lately, Elder David A. Bednar, who was born in Oakland, could be asked to preside, as could Elder Quentin L. Cook, who has connections to this area.

Monday July 8: Hong Kong China Temple Renovation Closure

Note: On January 30, 2019, the First Presidency announced the renovation closure for this temple, with the plans to be detailed more fully at a later time. I am anticipating that that process will take around 3 years, so I have set a preliminary estimate of mid-to-late 2022.

Sunday September 1: Dedication of the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple (165^th operating temple; confirmed)

Note: On November 14, 2018, the First Presidency announced the open house and dedication information for this temple (with the latter originally set for mid-May). Then, on January 18, 2019, the dedication was pushed back to this date in view of delays in the construction process. It is possible that President Nelson could preside at this temple’s dedication, and that perhaps that would be done as part of a Global Ministry Tour, but time will tell whether he dedicates this temple, or delegates that task to either of his counselors, or any of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Given that Elder Neil L. Andersen broke ground for this temple and is fluent in French, it wouldn’t shock me if he were sent back to rededicate this temple.

Friday September 6: President Nelson’s 95^th Birthday Celebration

Note: On March 14, 2019, the Church announced this milestone celebration for President Nelson, which will occur 3 days before his actual 95^th birthday. In view of the fact that President Nelson has announced 27 temples since his prophetic administration began, it seems appropriate to mention this milestone birthday among other events on this timeline.

Sunday September 15: Dedication of the Lisbon Portugal Temple (166^th operating temple; confirmed)

Note: On March 4, 2019, the First Presidency announced the open house and dedication information for this temple. What I noted above in terms of who might preside at this event (and under what circumstances that might occur) applies to this event as well.

Saturday & Sunday October 5 & 6: 189^th Semiannual General Conference:

Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.

Sunday October 13: Private rededication for the Raleigh North Carolina Temple (confirmed)

Note: On May 3, 2019, the First Presidency announced that a one-session private rededication for this temple would take place on this date (following a one-week public open house), with President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, presiding.

Sunday October 20: Rededication of the Frankfurt Germany Temple (confirmed)

Note: On March 5, 2019, the First Presidency announced that this temple would be rededicated on this date. I am anticipating that Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, our native German apostle will be asked to rededicate this temple.

Sunday November 3: Private rededication of the Asuncion Paraguay Temple (confirmed)

Note: On May 21, 2019, the First Presidency announced the one-week open house and one-session private rededication for this temple. Since Paraguay is a neighbor nation to Argentina, and since Elder D. Todd Christofferson is a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who has a connection to Argentina, I could see the Brethren asking him to oversee this temple’s dedication.

Monday November 4: St. George Utah Temple Renovation Closure (confirmed)

Note: This temple’s renovation was announced on January 25, 2019. Given the fact that seismic and systemic updates are anticipated to occur, I have set a preliminary general completion estimate of mid-to-late 2022.

Sunday November 17: Private rededication of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple (confirmed)

Note: On May 3, 2019, the First Presidency also announced the one-week public open house for this temple, which will be privately rededicated on this date by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

December 15: Dedication of the Arequipa Peru Temple (167^th operating temple)

Note: On May 21, 2019, the First Presidency also announced the dedication of this temple.  Since Peru is a neighboring nation to Chile, and since Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spent two years presiding over what was then the Chile Area of the Church, it is possible the First Presidency could assign him to dedicate this temple.

Sunday December 29: Salt Lake Temple Renovation Closure (confirmed); Dedication of the Durban South Africa Temple (168^th operating temple)

Note: On April 19, 2019, President Nelson announced renovation plans for the Salt Lake Temple, identifying this date for its’ closure. I will offer an estimate for its’ completion (which is anticipated in early-to-mid 2024) later in this document. Subsequently, in May 2019, I received new information which indicated that the completion of this temple could occur in either late 2019 or early 2020. I am going to be optimistic and say that the dedication of that temple could also occur on this date, but will update my thoughts on that as I find out more.

Final note on 2019: Groundbreakings have been held so far this year for the Urdaneta Philippines, Bangkok Thailand, Pocatello Idaho, Yigo Guam, Praia Cabo Verde, San Juan Puerto Rico, and Quito Ecuador Temples, with the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple groundbreaking scheduled to occur in roughly 2 weeks. Given what I have heard about 2019, it seems more likely than not that several other temples will have a groundbreaking at some point during that year. In particular, I am watching for information on the Brasilia Brazil, Greater Manila Philippines, Richmond Virginia, Nairobi Kenya, Harare Zimbabwe, Saratoga Springs Utah, Bengaluru India, Auckland New Zealand and Puebla Mexico Temples. Even if not all of them have a groundbreaking occur in 2019, many of them will likely have a groundbreaking scheduled before the end of this year.