Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Final Temple Construction Progress Updates for 2019
Hello again, everyone! With the final hours of 2019 drawing to a close here in Utah, I'd be remiss indeeed if I did not take this opportunity to provide a look back at temple construction progress that has been made throughout 2019. And with my now being able to share specific links to particular reports, there is far less actual information for me to share in this post itself. So, without further ado, I present the first report of 2019, the one from April 1, 2019, what that progress looked like half-way through 2019, how things looked as the fourth quarter began, and where that progress is now that 2019 is coming to a close.
Based on all the progress that has been made this year alone (as evidenced by these reports), I have every reason to hope for similarly-outstanding progress, perhaps to another significantly-unprecedented degree, in 2020. I will continue to monitor all such developments as they occur and bring you word of those ASAP after I learn of them. That does it for now. 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.
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.
34 comments:
In addition to my life-long love for the subjects which I cover in the posts of this blog, I have long held the belief that we can disagree without becoming disagreeable. Differences of opinion are natural, while being disagreeable in expressing those differences is not. And in that sense, I have no desire to close the door on anyone who earnestly desires to contribute to the ongoing dialogue on subjects covered in the posts on this blog.
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My sources in the Central America area offices say that the most likely sequence for construction for the three temples that have been announced in the area are: 1. San Pedro Sula Honduras 2. Cobán Guatemala 3. Managua Nicaragua. This is due their feelings of the readiness of plans and legal requirements from local governments. Patzicia.
ReplyDeletePatzicia, thanks for stopping by to comment, and Happy New Year 2020! I appreciate the information you provided. Sorry for my delayed response. I am having another rough day health-wise. That aside, I don't believe you ever responded to a question I asked a few months ago, and if you did, I somehow missed out on your answer. The question was whether you have any additional information on any of the temples in terms of where any of them might be built, if there is anything you can share about the preliminary plans for them, and if you have anyting specific as far as how soon they might be built. Do you have any information on any of those questions, and if so, are you able to pass anything in that respect along here?
DeleteThat said, based on the new information you provided, it looks like I will have to reorder those temples on my personal list. I am more than a little surprised that the Managua Temple might be the last of the bunch to have construction begin, since AFAIK, that temple is the only one of the three for which land was held in reserve for several years prior to the announcement of that temple. That said, if you got that information from the area office, I have no reason to doubt its' accuracy, So thank you for stopping by to share it. I look forward to all temple-related announcements that will be made, and if the information I have is correct, 2020 will be a busier year for temple construction than was the case in 2019. In fact, it appears likely that the first half of 2020 will see at least as many groundbreakings as occurred during the entirety of 2019 (which would be a minimum of 11 temple groundbreakings between now and the end of June). The one thing I am not sure of at this point is whether any groundbreakings will be held this month, since there have been no offficial announcements in that respect as of yet. In any case, thanks again, Patzicia, for taking time to comment and for sharing this information here. I always appreciate hearing from you.
I have seen information as to the locations in confidence and will await the official announcements from the Brethren.
DeletePatzicia, I assume that you were the one who posted the above reply. I appreciate your response in relation to my question. If you are not at liberty to divulge any information, that is something I can understand completely. No worries there. On my end, I will note that, based on information now available to me, I am anticipating that we will hear quite a few temple-related announcement in the not-too-distant future. In a comment further down on this thread (which I published here on January 4 at 12:08 AM), I detailed the announcements which I hope will be coming down the pike very soon, among which were the 3 Central American temples, per your prior comments. Thanks for sharing as much information as you felt you could provide. I will look forward with great interest to what happens with temples this year.
DeleteHello again, everyone, and Happy New Year 2020 to you all! The Church News has shared a report on how the Church made the 2020 youth theme video in New Zealand:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-01-01/2020-youth-theme-video-new-zealand-170917
And as 2020 begins, Church President Russell M. Nelson has not wasted any time, taking to social media earlier today to share an important invitation for all Latter-day Saints in conjunction with his announcement last October that 2020 will be a year commemorating the bicentennial of many important events connected to the restoration of the gospel and the reestablishment of the Lord's Church in the dawning of the dispensation of the fulness of times:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-01-01/president-nelson-important-invitation-latter-day-saints-2020-171026
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-nelson-invites-sharing-gospel-restoration
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/blog/my-2020-invitation-to-you-share-the-message-of-the-restoration-of-the-saviors-gospel?lang=eng
I would just add in connection to these articles that the blog post apparently included a video version of that invitation which will not play on any of my devices. So perhaps there was not meant to be a video, or it could be that it's something wrong with my personal devices, but it is odd that I encountered the same problem across multiple devices. Just wanted to note that in connection to this invitation, FWIW. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! I have some additional Church news articles to pass along to you all now, which speak for themselves. They can be found at the following web addresses. My thanks once again to you all for your continued interest and ongoing support.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.mormonnewsroom.org.au/article/pacific-area-presidency-announce-january-national-fast
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2020-01-03/senior-missionary-couple-lds-mormon-decades-service-church-171036
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2020-01-02/latter-day-saint-submarine-officer-finds-gospel-light-deep-under-sea-171047
Hello again, everyone! The Church News has provided additional context into the Newsroom’s prior announcement from the Pacific Area Presidency regarding the requested nation-wide fast about the fires that have been devastating Australia this spring:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-01-03/pacific-area-presidency-national-fast-australia-wildfires-171127
I’d just like to note additionally that it would probably be advisable for Latter-day Saints elsewhere to also fast concerning natural disasters and other turmoil which have struck various world areas lately. So much of the world is in a state of unrest at this time, and based on what our apostles have said at various times in various settings, we have an opportunity as 2020 begins to petition the Lord regarding the varied difficulties that are devastating many of the nations in which the Church is and may not yet be established. So that would be my New Year’s encouragement to us all.
Above and beyond that, the Church News also published a very abbreviated edition of “This Week on Social”, which focused on the New Year, and on the new Children and Youth initiative that is being implemented this year:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-01-03/social-young-women-bednar-church-leaders-women-new-year-2020-171115
This week’s installment featured posts from the following leaders: Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the entire Young Young Women General Presidency (Sisters Bonnie H. Cordon; Michelle D. Craig, and Becky Craven)
There have additionally been some encouraging temple updates provided today as well. First, there is now around 2.5 weeks before open house tours begin for the Durban South Africa Temple. And I am cautiously optimistic that, before that open house begins (on January 22), we may have an official announcement on the open house and dedication arrangements for the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple, but unless that happens soon, we may or may not see that temple dedication occur before the annual July recess of the General Authorities. I will be back with additional updates shortly.
I am back now with those additional updates I promised. Though I am presently unsure how recent these next two updates are, but new information indicates that, at the Bangkok Thailand Temple, work has shifted from framing the substructure to building it. When ground was broken for that temple in late January of last year, information then available indicated that it would be roughly a year before full-scale efforts began on the temple proper. And apparently, work has gotten closer to that occurrence.
ReplyDeleteNext, I wanted to note, if I haven’t already done so, that, at the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple site, while the process of grading the temple site continues, bedrock for the foundation is currently being blasted. With Utah in the throes of the winter season, it remains to be seen how much progress may be made on that temple within the next 2-3 months before spring arrives in North America.
I also wanted to mention that, unless work soon gets underway on the San Juan Puerto Rico, Lima Peru Los Olivos, and Puebla Mexico Temples, I may be rethinking my general completion estimates thereon. I will keep you posted on that. In the meantime, it is looking more and more likely that the first temple that will have a groundbreaking this year is the Auckland New Zealand Temple. It may simply be a question of how soon that might happen. Above and beyond that, I anticipate more official information may be announced for the Richmond Virginia and Layton Utah Temples (in terms of more specific designs and a groundbreaking estimate).
And I am hopeful that more official information is coming down the pike in the near future for the Feather River California, Orem and Tooele Valley Utah, San Pedro Sula Honduras, Coban Guatemala, and Managua Nicaragua Temples (which may bring these temples closer to a groundbreaking, unless the groundbreakings themselves are announced within those same windows). It also seems to be a near certainty that more official preliminary information may be made known soon about the Bengaluru India, Nairobi Kenya, Harare Zimbabwe, Brasilia Brazil, and second Manila Philippines Temples.
Again, those would be near-future announcements of additional details for each of those temples. But I cannot in good conscience rule out the possibility that information about other temples, whether site locations, renderings, or groundbreaking arrangements. I have a feeling we are in for another windfall in that respect, and that President Nelson will continue to keep us on our toes in the coming days.
Finally, to conclude the updates I have available at this time, I wanted to pass along additional information about a few of the 7 temples currently undergoing renovations. At the Mesa Arizona Temple, permanent windows and ornamental fences are being installed, the west entrance is being framed, and more walkways are being poured. Meanwhile, here in my home state of Utah, the baptismal font of the St. George Temple has been removed for its refurbishment. I am also pleased to share confirmed information that full-scale renovation efforts are underway at the Salt Lake Temple, where sections of the ornamental fencing have been removed, while construction fencing is being installed in its place, and crews are preparing to demolish the South Visitor’s Center.
From all of these updates, we are seeing a fulfillment that the work of the Lord and His Church is truly moving forward at an accelerated pace. And as we get further into 2020, I renew my commitment to stay on top of all such developments here, about which I will endeavor to bring you word thereof as I become aware of such things. In the meantime, my continued and ongoing thanks to you all for your interest and support. May the Lord continue to bless you all in everything you do.
Hello again, everyone! I was notified earlier this evening about some potential problems with the links to the various 2019 temple construction progress reports, which I have made efforts to fix. Please let me know if any of you have any further trouble in this regard, and in the meantime, thanks again for your continued interest and ongoing support.
ReplyDeleteHello again, everyone! As this Sabbath Day is drawing to a close, I have tried to put in some work on my list of temples which may be renovated in the near future. But while I do my best to get those revisions ready to share here, there is one additional Church News story which has been reported:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-01-05/president-ballard-john-howland-mayflower-lords-hand-170986
I continue to monitor all Church news and temple updates and will do my level best to pass word of those along to you all as I receive it. In the meantime, thanks again, everyone!
Hello again, everyone! The Church News has published a new article, which in turn links to a statement from the Pacific Area Presidency, wherein they express gratitude for those who participated in the fast regarding the Australian wildfires:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-01-06/pacific-area-presidency-expresses-gratitude-fast-australia-171152
There may or may not also be one or two more temple updates, which I will be ascertaining for certain ASAP. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! Although it turns out there are no temple updates to report after all, I am pleased to share with you instead a report from the Church's official Newsroom on a new podcast featuring Church historians discussing six specific aspects of the First Vision, and how that vision as a whole ushered in other events related to the Restoration of the Gospel. These episodes are released, of course, in honor of the bicentennial of these events, which the Church is set to observe throughout this year:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/joseph-smith-papers-first-vision-podcast
My thanks once again to you all for your continued interest and ongoing support.
These are great podcasts!
DeleteAwesome to hear your excitement about them, coachodeeps. I haven't had time yet to actually listen to them, given the volume of Church news and temple updates I have covered of late, and also due to continuing ongoing personal illness. But I look forward to hopefully being able to listen to them at some point in the not-too-distant future. Thanks for sharing this additional comment, and sorry I didn't see it sooner.
DeleteHello again, everyone! The Newsroom and the Church News have both reported today on the process of decommisioning the Salt Lake Temple that has been underway since shortly after the temple closed for renovation. The decommissioning process is anticipated to take at least a few weeks:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/salt-lake-temple-decommissioned
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2020-01-07/salt-lake-temple-lds-decommissioned-171177
The Church News has also reported that, in the aftermath of two separate earthquakes that struck Puerto Rico yesterday and today, all missionaries have been confirmed as safe, and are helping where they can in the regions to which they are assigned, while all Church members with whom local leaders have been able to make contact are safe and accounted for as well:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2020-01-07/puerto-rico-earthquake-missionaries-latter-day-saints-171191
I feel bad for Puerto Rico, and the citizens (including Latter-day Saints) who live there. In the aftermath of the hurricane that struck that island, the Church was able to break ground on the San Juan Temple. Between then and now, the island has been further devastated by another hurricane, and now these two back-to-back earthquakes. Hopefully later this year, the island and its' residents will be able to have a bit of a respite, which would in turn hopefully allow progress to be made on the temple, since prophets and apostles have been clear that the temple is one of the safest places to be when natural disasters strike.
I am grateful to have been able to learn about these developments, and to pass them along to you all here, and, as always, extend my thanks for your continued interest and ongoing support.
And the Church News has also reported on the first BYU-Provo devotional for this semester, which was held this morning and featured remarks from the university's president and first laday, Elder Kevin J Worthen (who also currently serves as an area seventy), and Sister Peggy S. Worthen:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-01-07/president-worthen-focuses-on-enduring-joy-at-byu-devotional-171239
My thanks once again to you all for your continued interest and ongoing support.
Hello again, everyone! The "News and Events" page of the Church's official website has shared an article indicating that the Church is accepting applications from members who would like to be part of a multicultural choir for the "unique" Saturday Evening Session of the April 2020 General Conference. You can find more information on that in the following article:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/apply-now-to-be-in-multicultural-choir-at-unique-april-2020-general-conference?lang=eng
Once again, my continued and ongoing thanks to you all.
Hello again, everyone! I am back in the early morning hours with a few temple updates about which I have been made aware. So let's get right into all of those. First, at the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple, a tarp has been placed over the area where crews are currently laying the temple's exterior brick, in order to protect that area from the anticipated winter storms, and to enable crews to continue to work on that as storms come in during the remainder of winter in the northern hemisphere. Meanwhile, in the southern hemisphere, at the Quito Ecuador Temple, parapet walls are being poured. Meanwhile, in Auckland Nez Zealand, crews have completed the process of clearing the site, and attention has turned to building a retaining wall and leveling the ground of the temple site in preparation for its' groundbreaking ceremony. Hopefully within the next week or two, we may have an official announcement in that respect, within which time I hope we will also hear something more on the Richmond Virginia Temple, based on what information I currently have available. Time will tell.
ReplyDeleteI continue to monitor all such developments and any Church news updates, and will continue to do my level best to pass word of those along to you all here as I become aware of it. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
See this yet?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/whats-new-in-familysearch-2020/
While most of the article tells of anticipated improvements to the site and one's workflow on it, the item about languages is significant. With the languages to be added, the site will function in triple the languages it does now.
A few spots we anticipate temple announcements, while others just had theirs. Some do not have enough members yet to anticipate a temple so this is mainly for the general population that mayh be doing family history but not knowing why although they are doing it.
Hello, James Anderson, and thanks for taking time to comment. I did see that article when you posted about it on the Church Growth Blog. I fully believe that making these languages available will enable the people who speak those languages to develop an enthusiasm for family history work, which in turn will strengthen their faith and open the prospect of a temple in their lands, even in the locations for which such prospects seem a long way off currently.
DeleteWithin the last almost-2-years since President Nelson became Church President, not only has he announced 35 temples, but he has also announced preliminary or more official information for many of those same temples, and is doing what he can to accelerate the pace of temple building. Based on the statements he and his apostolic colleagues have made in that respect, it appears likely that the 11 temple groundbreakings held last year was he way of "starting slowly", and I count as many as 19 temples currently which could, if all goes well, have a groundbreaking in the next 15 months, if not sooner.
My point in mentioning that is that, as the current queue is cleared, room will be made for other new temples to be announced. My recent analysis shows that, depending on how many temples have a groundbreaking between now and the April General Conference, we could see anywhere from 1-3 dozen new temples potentially announced during that weekend.
And given the stated intention, where feasible, to build smaller temples which can be more easily approved and thus will see construction commnce more rapidly and progress quickly as well, that will leave more room in the queue for new temples to be announced, which would result in the announcment of temples in some areas that currently seem unlikely possibly being accelerated above and beyond what any of us might currently expect, which may include some of those areas you mentioned for which FamilySearch has made resources available.
Just my own thoughts here (and sorry if they meandered too much or were disjointed or overly loquacious), for whatever they might be worth to all those who read them. Again, James Anderson, thanks for bringing that information up here and for taking time to comment. I always appreciate hearing from you.
Hello again, everyone! As the Church begins a new year with focus on the Book of Mormon, a new app that uses augmented reality has been created to allow youth to virtually experience, move within, and explore Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life, which will be studied in Sunday School later this month. The app was created for the purpose of helping youth understand that vision and its' various aspects more fully. If I have read the article about this correctly, the plan is to eventually incorporate other Book of Mormon stories and resources into the app with the same capabilities. You can find that article at the following web address:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-01-08/augmented-reality-app-book-of-mormon-tree-of-life-171230
My thanks once again to you all for your continued interest and ongoing support.
Hello again, everyone! The Newsroom has published a new article detailing how Puerto Rican Saints are ministering to their fellow citizens who have been impacted by the recent natural disasters which have once again devastated the island nation:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/latter-day-saints-provide-assistance-puerto-rico-earthquakes
And since I last posted here at 12:51 PM today, the Church News has shared an article covering more detail about the new Joseph Smith Papers Podcast:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/history-revisited/2020-01-08/new-joseph-smith-papers-podcast-invites-listeners-to-consider-little-known-details-of-first-vision-171368
And the Church News has also confirmed that Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Lesa J. Stevenson, will be the featured speakers at the RootsTech Family Discovery Day, which will take place on Saturday February 29:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-01-08/elder-and-sister-stevenson-to-speak-at-rootstech-family-discovery-day-171456
Elder Stevenson's assignment in this respect is highly appropriate, since, insofar as I am aware, he continues to serve on the Temple and Family History Executive Council.
Meanwhile, not long after BYU noted that the keynote speakers for the BYU Women's Conference would be announced in February, today, one announcement was made in relation to that:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-01-08/elder-holland-final-speaker-2020-byu-womens-conference-171457
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who chairs the Church Board of Education, will be the keynote speaker at the final session thereof on the afternoon of Friday May 1. The conference is set to have sessions that day and the day before.
I do continue to monitor all such developments in addition to temple updates and will be sure to pass word of those along to you all as I become aware of it. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
https://richmondbizsense.com/2020/01/09/mormon-temple-in-henrico-on-track-to-break-ground-this-summer/
ReplyDeleteHello, Chris! Thanks for sharing that article here. The most recent information I had was from an article released sometime last year, which at that time noted that the groundbreaking was anticipated in spring of this year. And I had also been under the (apparently incorrect) impression that a further approval beyond that of the Planning Commission was necessary. It will be interesting indeed to see how soon that temple and many others might have a groundbreaking announced. Thanks again, Chris, for stopping by to share that article. I always appreciate hearing from you.
DeleteHello again, everyone! Through the Church News, the Church has announced the new mission presidents who will begin their service in July in 130 of the Church’s soon-to-be 407 missions.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2020-01-09/see-the-complete-list-of-130-new-mission-leadership-assignments-for-2020-171488
I wanted to note some additional information about some of those who have been called to serve as mission presidents:
General Authority Seventies:
Elder Ricardo P. Gimenez has been called to preside over the California San Diego Mission.
Elder Peter M. Johnson has been called to preside over the England Manchester Mission.
In view of his call to serve as president of the Russia Novosibirsk Mission.
Area Seventies:
Elders Jose M. Batalla, Osvaldo R. Dias, E. Xavier Espinoza, Joel Martinez, Isaac K. Morrison, Alexey V. Samaykin, and William B. Woahn.
Elder Samaykin will also need to be released from his service as Second Counselor in the Europe East Area Presidency.
Alaso among the new mission presidents are several former area seventies, and Brother Matthew O. Richardson, who served as Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency from 2004-2009.
The Church News has also reported on the anticipation felt by Latter-day Saints in the eastern states who are anxiously awaiting the open house and dedication for the Washington D.C. Temple, which is anticipated to occur sometime during the later half of this year:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2020-01-09/what-latter-day-saints-in-washington-d-c-are-doing-to-be-a-temple-people-during-renovation-171427
I continue to monitor all Church news updates and temple developments and will do my level best to keep passing those along to you all as I receive it. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! I am back with some additional temple updates about which I have been made aware. First, at the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple, exterior brick is being laid under the tarps that are protecting the temple from the elements, and work on the temple's interior is also progressing. Meanwhile, parapet walls are being poured at the Quito Ecuador Temple, and at the Pocatello Idaho Temple, the newest update indicates that the exterior walls are being framed and sheathed, and that stone cladding is underway on the north side of the temple.
ReplyDeleteNext, I have a few updates on temples for which a groundbreaking is anticipated. First, at the Auckland New Zealand Temple site, with site clearing now completed (as I previously reported), construction crews are working on building a retaining wall and to level the ground, in order to prepare that temple for its' groundbreaking ceremony, which might potentiall occur anytime between late February and early April or thereabouts. And given the information in the article shared by L. Chris Jones earlier in this thread (which pertained to the Richmond Virginia Temple), I am now projecting that the groundbreaking for the Layton Utah Temple could potentially occur before that of the Richmond Virginia Temple.
And between what is and is not known about the other 16 temples for which I feel, based on the current known information I have available, there may or may not be a need to readjust my thoughts on some or all of them in the days ahead. So stay tuned for more on that. In the meantime, I continue to monitor all such developments, and all Church news updates, and will be sure to pass along more information on those as I become aware of such things. Until then, my thanks once again to you all.
With so many temples with potential groundbreakings happening in the spring, could those events happen at the same time as the special meeting on Saturday evening of Conference as part of the meeting?
ReplyDeleteJust a wild thought...
DeleteHello, coachodeeps, and thank you for stopping by to share your thoughts. Right now, based on what I have heard on my end (including information I pulled from a variety of resources), the Auckland groundbreaking will likely occur before the end of New Zealand's summer months. The data I have indicates that summer in New Zealand roughly coincides with winter here in North America, which means that the groundbreaking for that temple will take place before the end of March. Whether any other temples may have their groundbreakings prior to General Conference gets a little trickier, due to what is known and not known. At the moment, all I can say in that regard is that it is likely that some action of some kind could take place with the temple in Layton, we could potentially hear more information on Richmond, and we might also hear more on the three Central American temples and 1 or 2 of the remaining 4 left from the last sets of temples President Monson announced.
DeleteAny other assessment is at best highly speculative, but I can give my personal opinion on your suggestion. And in that respect, I would say that, to my knowledge, the last time the Church broke ground for any temple at a time that coincided with General Conference may have been prior to the Saints' trek west. Is it possible that could occur? I can't rule it out completely.
But I see a few problems with the idea. First, depending on which temples we are talking about, the time differences involved would impact the feasibility thereof. Secondly, I doubt that the Church would be arranging a special session of General Conference if some leaders, most notably area presidencies, would not be in attendance at Salt Lake for it.
Thirdly, the Church just barely put out a request for applications for a multicultural choir for the Saturday Evening Session, with the stipulation that all applicants live within a few hours of the Conference Center. That request wouldn't make sense if large portions of that session were going to be piped in from different areas of the nation or even the world, as would be the case if several temple groundbreakings were to occur during that time. And finally, with the Saturday Evening Session specifically being held for all youth and adults Churchwide, given President Nelson's indication of the intended focus of the conference as a whole, that session will likely include important information that the youth and adults need to hear. And finally, as I have observed elsewhere a few different times, not long after President Nelson made his statement about the unique nature of the April 2020 General Conference, the Church News published the following two articles:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2019-10-20/general-conference-october-2019-president-nelson-bicentennial-164417
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2019-10-06/boyd-matheson-wow-moments-must-be-followed-by-inspired-action-and-forward-movement-163589
These articles suggest that, aside from what President Nelson has specifically noted (that the conference will focus on important events of the restoration), the announcement of the Saturday Evening Session, and likely minor shifts in what we have typically seen as far as speakers and choirs, the conference will likely be much more status quo.
Aside from all of these points, it has been well observed that if our anticipation, conjecturing, or predictions take away, partially or on the whole, from following the counsel President Nelson has given regarding how to adequately prepare, then we likely won't get out of that General Conference weekend everything that we are supposed to.
That is why, aside from a few differences that seem to make sense, I have been one who believes that, for the most part, the April 2020 General Conference will be far more unique in terms of its' content and focus on the Restoration and the events leading up to and following it than it will be through anything too abnormal, such as several groundbreakings being held within that time.
Of course, that is no more and no less than my personal opinion, based on what my research and pondering on that subject has led me to conclude. And I certainly wouldn't want to be the one who is seen as dismissing out of hand anything that could be possible. Whether or not anything like that is probable is another question entirely, and speaking personally, I wouldn't count on it.
DeleteBut in all such cases, I would encourage anyone with any such ideas to hold on to them until we know for sure either way. In some ways, just looking at the merits of the idea on its' own, having a mass number of temple groundbreakings on a weekend celebrating the bicentennial of the restoration would likely make a lot of sense, assuming that bicentennial celebration was not coinciding with General Conference. Again, just my own thoughts (and I apologize if they are disjointed or too overly loquacious). Thanks for stopping by to share your comments, coachodeeps. I always appreciate hearing from you.
coachodeeps, I just wanted to post an additional comment to apologize if I overdid it in my above replies to you. My intent was to try to explain my reasoning behind why I don't see temple groundbreakings occurring during the Saturday Evening Session of General COnference, and I hope that I didn't go overboard as I tried to address that subject. I would love it if that happens, but it seems unlikely to be so. Thanks again for stopping by to share your thoughts. I always appreciate hearing from you.
DeleteHello again, everyone! The Church News has shared two additional reports. The first highlights how Latter-day Saints living in Puerto Rico are helping to assist and bring comfort to their neighbors, even in the midst of their own personal losses. The second contains the final report on how well the 2019 "Giving Machines" did through the holiday season, which were made available in 10 locations worldwide. The web addresses for those articles follow below. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all for your continued interest and ongoing support.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2020-01-10/puerto-rico-earthquake-latter-day-saints-relief-helping-hands-elder-alvarado-171530
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-01-10/giving-machines-donations-light-the-world-171532
Since my last comment on this blog two hours ago, the Church News has additionally published the latest edition of “This Week on Social”, which was another shorter edition thereof that featured posts from the following leaders: Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the entire Young Women General Presidency (Sisters Bonnie H. Cordon, Michelle D. Craig, and Becky Craven), and Sister Cristina B. Franco, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency.
ReplyDeleteYou can find those posts at the following web address:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-01-10/this-week-on-social-messages-from-young-women-leaders-and-an-invitation-from-elder-christofferson-171542
I would just add here as well that I am hoping to publish my first post for 2020 on this blog within the next few days, depending on what projects I can complete and on whatever might be reported by way of major Church news reports or updated temple information. Also, for those of my readers that fall into the category of young adults, I wanted to also post a reminder that, as Elder Christofferson noted in his aforementioned social media post, he and his wife will be the speakers at the first 2020 Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults this Sunday at 6:00 PM, which will be carried live via all Church social media and YouTube channels, through the Church's official website, and (for those of us with access to it) on BYU-TV. So there is that to look forward to as well. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.