I wanted to note that, since very few, if any, items of information between these two reports is identical, the second report constitutes a complete alteration to just about everything from the first one. I won't highlight the differences in red this time, but will instead let the differences speak for themselves. So as 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.
First Temple Construction Progress Report for 2019:
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 at least 200 operating
temples by or before Saturday April 6, 2030 (which will mark the Church’s
bicentennial anniversary).
With the 12 temples
announced during the October 2018 General Conference, the Church now has a
total of 201 temples in any phase. With that and plans to accelerate the temple
construction process in mind, it is more likely than not that there will be 200
operating temples by or before Saturday April 6, 2030 (which will mark the
Church’s bicentennial anniversary), whether or not an official goal is made to
do so. The Church would just need to complete 39 of the temples in various
phases in the 11.26 years between now and then,
which could be done if 3.46 temples are
dedicated each year. Since 6 new temples will be dedicated within the next
year, I can easily see the Church having 200 temples in operation by that date,
and would anticipate there being more than that. Time will tell, but it seems
to be a safe bet.
Current temple status: The Church
has 201 temples in various
phases. There are 161 in
operation; while 3 others have a
dedication scheduled; 7 more
are currently in various phases of construction; and 2 additional temples for which a groundbreaking has been scheduled.
Also, 11 temples are currently
closed for renovation (1 of which has a rededication announced, with 5 or 6 others that are also anticipated to be rededicated next year).
The remaining 28 are
announced, several of which are likely to have a groundbreaking in 2019 and the
years following that.
During the October
General Conference, President Nelson also announced that many more operating temples
will be renovated in the near future, including several pioneer-era temples (most
significantly the Salt Lake Temple), and that more information will be released
in the coming months about which temples are closing, and what the renovations
will involve and entail.
Dedication Scheduled:
162. Rome
Italy Temple: Construction completed; furnishing and preparing temple for open
house; accepting reservations for open house; dedication
scheduled for Sunday March 10-Tuesday
March 12, 2019.
163. Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Construction completed; furnishing and
preparing temple for open house; dedication scheduled for Sunday April 14, 2019.
164. Port-au-Prince
Haiti Temple: Stone cladding the front exterior walls and tower; dedication
scheduled for Sunday May 19, 2019.
Under construction, completion anticipated during 2019:
165. Fortaleza Brazil
Temple: Finalizing construction and landscaping; completion estimated sometime
during mid-2019.
166. Durban South
Africa Temple: Drywalling, painting, tiling, plumbing, and installing HVAC,
electrical, and fire suppression equipment; adding more trees and plants; completion
estimated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.
167. Lisbon Portugal
Temple: Angel Moroni installed; stone cladding nearing completion; installation
of stained glass windows underway; meetinghouse gardens being planted; completion
estimated sometime during late 2019.
Temples anticipated to be completed sometime during 2020:
168. Arequipa Peru
Temple: Monument sign installed; guardhouse constructed; plaza landscaping well
underway; completion estimated sometime during early 2020.
169. Rio de Janeiro
Brazil Temple: Scaffolding placed around tower; stone cladding of exterior
walls continues; installation of stained glass windows underway; completion
estimated sometime during early 2020.
170. Winnipeg Manitoba
Temple: Building the temple foundation; wood framing and sheathing going up for
meetinghouse; completion estimated sometime during mid-2020.
Temples anticipated to be completed
sometime during 2020 or 2021:
171. Abidjan Côte
d'Ivoire Temple: Setting poles for construction barrier; completion estimated
sometime during late 2020-early 2021.
Groundbreaking scheduled:
172. Urdaneta
Philippines Temple: Official rendering released; preparing for groundbreaking,
which is scheduled for Wednesday January
16, 2019; completion estimated sometime during early-to-mid 2021.
173. Bangkok
Thailand Temple: Demolishing the old Church office building; preparing for
groundbreaking, which is scheduled for Saturday
January 26, 2019; completion estimated sometime during mid-2022.
Undergoing Renovation (rededication scheduled)
13. Oakland California Temple: Closed for renovation; new
water feature operating; Christmas lights on display as work progresses on
interior; rededication scheduled for Sunday
June 16, 2019.
Undergoing Renovation (rededication estimated sometime during 2019):
95. Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple: Closed for renovation; pouring
driveways and walkways; stone cladding nearing completion; rededication
estimated sometime during mid-2019.
80. Memphis Tennessee Temple: Closed for renovation; stone cladding completed; installing stained-glass
windows; rededication estimated sometime during mid-2019.
68. Raleigh North Carolina Temple: Closed for renovation;
stone cladding exterior walls; temporary glass installed; rededication
estimated sometime during mid-to-late
2019.
94. Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple: Closed for renovation; exterior
walls waterproofed; installing hanging brackets for exterior stone; stone
cladding progressing on rear side of temple; rededication estimated sometime
during mid-to-late 2019.
41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; installing
landscaping irrigation; planting trees and shrubs; completion estimated
sometime during mid-to-late 2019.
Undergoing Renovation (rededication estimated sometime during
2019-2020):
112. Asuncion Paraguay Temple: Closed for renovation; interior
and exterior work underway; rededication estimated sometime during late 2019-early 2020.
Undergoing Renovation (rededication estimated sometime during 2020):
18. Tokyo Japan Temple: Closed for renovation; exterior and
interior renovations underway; rededication estimated sometime during early-to-mid
2020.
16. Washington D. C. Temple: Closed for renovation; interior
completely dismantled; Christmas lights on display as renovation work
continues; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2020.
8. Mesa Arizona Temple: Closed for renovation; installing water
retention and irrigation systems; excavating for underground parking at Family
Discovery Center; 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.
Note on announced temples: On October
30, 2018, I reviewed the information I had available, and I accordingly
reordered the temples in this section splitting them into two sub-categories.
The first contains those for which there is sufficient information, based on
which I have provided a rough groundbreaking estimate, which will, of course,
be subject to alteration in the future as more information is available. The
second section contains those temples which are ordered based on the
information currently available, but for which more information will be needed
before they can join the first list. And for that second list, I do not feel
comfortable offering any groundbreaking estimate until more information is
available.
Announced Temples (for which
sufficient information has me confident enough to venture a general
groundbreaking estimate):
174. Pocatello
Idaho Temple: Government approval process; streets around temple site opened; groundbreaking
anticipated in mid-2019.
175. Saratoga
Springs Utah Temple: Government approval phase; probable site identified;
awaiting official confirmation and artist’s rendering; groundbreaking could
occur in mid-to-late
2019.
176. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Planning and
approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; President Nelson visited
potential site on April 17, 2018; groundbreaking anticipated
in late 2019.
177. Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: Planning and preliminary
construction phase; awaiting official site announcement; President Nelson
visited probable site on October 20, 2018; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019-early
2020.
178. Nairobi Kenya Temple: Planning and approval phase;
awaiting official site announcement; media event held June 14, 2017;
groundbreaking could occur in late 2019-early 2020.
179. Brasilia
Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; site inspected by Church engineers
on June 21, 2017; groundbreaking could
occur in early 2020.
180. Greater
Manila Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official name
announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early-to-mid 2020.
181. Layton
Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting
official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early-to-mid 2020.
182. Richmond
Virginia Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting
official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
183. Managua
Nicaragua Temple: Announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement;
groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
184. Salta
Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018;
awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
185. Bengaluru
India Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting
official site announcement; President Nelson toured potential locations on
April 19, 2018; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2020.
186.
Auckland New Zealand Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official
site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2020.
187.
Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2020.
188. Mendoza
Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement; groundbreaking could occur in late 2020-early 2021.
Announced Temples (for which more
information is needed before I provide an estimated groundbreaking time-frame):
189. Quito Ecuador Temple: Planning and approval phase;
awaiting official site announcement.
190. Belem Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase;
awaiting official site announcement.
191. Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple: Planning and
approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
192.
Salvador Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
193. Yuba City, California Temple: Planning and approval
phase; awaiting official site announcement.
194.
Praia Cape Verde Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
195.
Yigo Guam Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
196.
Puebla Mexico Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
197.
Lagos Nigeria Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
198.
Davao Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
199.
San Juan Puerto Rico Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official
site announcement.
200. Russia Temple: Planning
and approval phase; awaiting official location and site announcement.
201.
Washington County Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official
city and site announcement.
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.
Second 2019 Temple Construction Progress Report
Note about future temple
construction: In late April 2017, Elder Larry Y. Wilson, who serves as
the Executive Director of the Church’s Temple Department noted in an interview
that the Church had a list of 80 potential temple locations which were being
considered for an official announcement within the next 15 years (by late April
2032). In 2018 alone, President Nelson announced 19 new temples. And Elder
Quentin L. Cook has been quoted recently as saying in effect that a ten-fold
increase in the total number of temples would be part of that process.
With that in mind
(as confirmed by the Church News recently), the Church is on track to have a
minimum of 200 operating temples by or before Saturday April 6, 2030, which
will mark the Church’s bicentennial anniversary. The Church would just need to
complete 38 of the temples in various phases in the 11.02 years between now and
then, which could be done if 3.45 temples are dedicated each year. And within
the next year alone, the Church is anticipated to have 7 new temples dedicated,
so there will be at least that many temples by that date, if not several more
than that.
Current temple
status: The Church has 201 temples
in various phases, which include: 162 currently
operating, 1 being prepared for its’
dedication; 1 being prepared for
its’ public open house; and 2 more
for which a dedication has been scheduled. There are additionally 7 others in various phases of
construction, as well as 1 which has
construction pending following its’ groundbreaking.
The Church has
scheduled the groundbreaking for 5 other
temples (which are all set to occur before the end of June), and there is
enough information on 9 additional temples to consider them as being in
a “Groundbreaking anticipated” status.
11 previously-dedicated temples are
currently closed for renovation (4 of
which have a rededication scheduled). The Church has also announced that 2 other temples will close for
renovation later this year. During the October 2018 General Conference,
President Nelson also announced that several temples (especially those from the
“pioneer-era” will be closing for renovation as well.
The final 13 temples are announced, most, if not
all, of which could see construction begin within the next few years, but
certainly sooner if all goes well.
Preparing for dedication:
163. Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Preparing for dedication, which is
scheduled to occur on Sunday April 14,
2019.
Preparing for public open house:
164.
Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Preparing for public open house; dedication scheduled
to occur on Sunday June 2, 2019.
Dedication scheduled:
165. Port-au-Prince
Haiti Temple: Temple exterior completed; decorative fencing installed;
dedication scheduled to occur on Sunday
September 1, 2019.
166. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Scaffolding removed; soft
landscaping largely completed around meetinghouse and parking area; dedication
scheduled to occur on Sunday September
15, 2019.
Under construction; completion anticipated during
2019:
167. Arequipa Peru
Temple: Installing lamp-posts; planting trees and shrubs; preparing to lay sod;
completion estimated sometime during late 2019.
168. Durban South
Africa Temple: Poles for security cameras installed; sandstone cladding of entrance
walls and fountain continues; millwork, tiling, painting, plumbing, data,
electrical, and fire suppression installation continues; completion estimated
sometime during late 2019.
Under construction; completion anticipated during
2019-2020:
169. Rio de Janeiro
Brazil Temple: Scaffolding removed from tower; majority of exterior cladding
completed; interior work progressing; completion estimated sometime
during late 2019-early 2020.
Under construction; completion anticipated
during 2020:
170. Winnipeg Manitoba
Temple: Pouring main floor slab for temple; framing continues for meetinghouse;
completion estimated sometime during mid-2020.
Under construction; completion
anticipated during 2020-2021:
171. Abidjan Côte
d'Ivoire Temple: Foundation nearing completion; completion estimated sometime
during late 2020-early 2021.
Under construction; completion
anticipated during 2021-2022:
172. Pocatello
Idaho Temple: Excavation for foundation underway; rough grading continues;
construction trailers on site; completion estimated sometime during late 2021-early 2022.
173. Urdaneta
Philippines Temple: Installing electrical substation and underground lines to
temple site; completion estimated sometime during late 2021-early 2022.
Full-scale construction pending:
174. Bangkok
Thailand Temple: Groundbreaking held on January 26, 2019; full-scale construction pending; completion estimated
sometime during mid-to-late 2022.
Groundbreaking scheduled:
175. Yigo Guam Temple: Preparing Yigo chapel for demolition; groundbreaking
scheduled for Saturday May 4, 2019; completion estimated sometime during
early-to-mid 2021.
176. Praia Cabo Verde Temple: Preparing for groundbreaking, which is
scheduled for Saturday May 4, 2019; completion estimated sometime during
early-to-mid-2021.
177. San Juan Puerto Rico Temple: Demolition of the Trujillo Alto Ward chapel
underway; groundbreaking scheduled for Saturday May 4, 2019; completion
estimated sometime during early-to-mid
2021.
178. Quito
Ecuador Temple: Official rendering released; preparing for groundbreaking,
which is scheduled for Saturday May 11,
2019; completion estimated sometime during mid-2021.
179. Lima Peru
Los Olivos Temple: Official rendering released; existing institute building and
meetinghouse closed on January 27, 2019 in preparation for demolition;
groundbreaking scheduled for Saturday
June 8, 2019; completion estimated sometime during mid-2022.
Groundbreaking
anticipated:
180. Saratoga
Springs Utah Temple: Government approval phase; awaiting official site
confirmation and release of artist’s rendering; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2019.
181. Brasilia
Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; property fence installed around
temple site; groundbreaking could
occur in mid-2019.
182. Greater
Manila Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official name
announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2019.
183. Richmond
Virginia Temple: Preliminary plans submitted to local
government; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late
2019.
Note: On March 27, 2019, new information on this temple indicated
that plans had been submitted, but also the location where the plans will be
utilized, which appears to be the location held in reserve for that prospect
around 3-4 years before the temple was announced. If the First Presidency
confirms this information, it is not hard to believe that a groundbreaking
could be held at around the time indicated.
184. Nairobi Kenya Temple: Planning and approval phase;
awaiting official site confirmation; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2019.
Note:
The Church of Jesus Christ Temples site noted in mid-February 2019 that a site
had been procured for this temple. But during President Nelson’s visit to
Nairobi in April 2018, a public affairs representative had noted that this
temple would be smaller, and that a dedication for it was anticipated to occur
sometime in 2021. So it seems reasonable to assume that a groundbreaking could
occur within the next 12 months, but hopefully sooner, if all goes well.
185. Harare
Zimbabwe Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement; President Nelson visited potential site on April 17, 2018;
groundbreaking anticipated in late 2019.
Note:
Although the site visited by President Nelson in April 2018 has not been
confirmed as the official location for the temple, Elder Andersen, in a
November meeting with Zimbabwe’s Vice President, noted that the Church hoped to
break ground for that temple in the late months of 2019. So I have no doubt
that will be able to occur.
186. Salta
Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019.
Note:
The site has already been confirmed for this temple.
187. Mendoza Argentina Temple: Planning
and approval phase; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019-early 2020.
Note: The site has already been confirmed for this
temple.
188. Puebla
Mexico Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early
2020.
Note:
A Church member living in Mexico reports that the area presidency is scouting
that city for temple locations, and that construction could begin in the early
months of 2020.
Undergoing
Renovation (rededication scheduled):
80. Memphis Tennessee Temple: Entrance doors installed;
open house reservations available through Saturday April 20, 2019; private
rededication scheduled to occur on Sunday
May 5, 2019.
95. Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple: Installing entrance
sconces; exterior lighting fully operational; planting shrubs; open house
reservations available through Wednesday May 1, 2019; private rededication
scheduled to occur on Sunday May 19,
2019.
13. Oakland California Temple: Open house reservations
available through Saturday June 1, 2019; rededication scheduled to occur on Sunday June 16, 2019.
41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Building accessibility ramp;
installing irrigation lines; planting trees and shrubs; rededication scheduled
to occur on Sunday October 20, 2019.
Undergoing Renovation (rededication estimated sometime during 2019):
68. Raleigh North Carolina Temple: Installing decorative
fencing; planting trees and shrubs; pouring walkways; completion estimated
sometime during mid-to-late 2019.
94. Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple: Angel Moroni installed on
February 13, 2019; cladding of exterior walls continues; rededication estimated
sometime during mid-to-late 2019.
Undergoing Renovation (rededication estimated sometime during 2019-2020):
112. Asuncion Paraguay Temple: Interior and exterior work
underway; rededication estimated sometime during late 2019-early 2020.
Undergoing Renovation (rededication estimated sometime during 2020):
18. Tokyo Japan Temple: Interior and exterior renovations
underway; rededication estimated sometime during early-to-mid 2020.
16. Washington D. C. Temple: Exterior wall grout and
stained-glass window repair continues; rededication may take place sometime
during mid-to-late 2020.
8. Mesa Arizona Temple: 104 new trees planted on north lawn; landscaping
elements being installed; replacing sections of roof; rededication may take
place sometime during mid-to-late 2020.
Undergoing Renovation (rededication estimated sometime during 2021):
11. Hamilton New Zealand Temple: Patron accommodation facilities
demolished; preparing ground for replacement facilities; rededication may take
place sometime during early-to-mid 2021.
Renovation scheduled (rededication
estimated sometime during 2022):
48. Hong Kong
China Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on Monday July 8, 2019; rededication anticipated in mid-to-late 2022.
1. St. George
Utah Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on Monday November 4, 2019; completion anticipated in mid-to-late 2022.
Note on announced temples: During
2019, I again reevaluated the information I had available, and made further
adjustments to this section following the completion of the revision process
for the “Groundbreaking anticipated” section. The following estimates represent
my best efforts to predict the timing for the future groundbreaking of each of
these temples based on what I currently know about them.
Announced Temples (for which more
information is needed before I provide a groundbreaking estimate):
189. Layton Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase;
awaiting official site announcement.
Note:
A potential site has already been identified (though not yet confirmed) for
this temple.
190. Belem
Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
Note:
On March 7, 2019, based on the unexpected timing whereby groundbreakings were
announced for the Quito Ecuador and Lima Peru Los Olivos Temples, and given the
anticipated timing for the groundbreaking of the Harare Zimbabwe Temple, the
Belem Brazil Temple is the only other one announced in April 2016 that is not
yet close to a groundbreaking. And since President Nelson has given some
priority to the “oldest” among the announced temples, I am hoping the Lord will
similarly surprise us with word on this temple’s site and groundbreaking in the
not-too-distant future.
191. Managua
Nicaragua Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
Note:
I found out several years ago that the Church had held land in reserve for a
temple in this city for a while now, so I hope that means a site confirmation
will occur sooner rather than later.
192. Bengaluru
India Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting
official site announcement; President Nelson toured potential locations on
April 19, 2018.
193. Auckland New Zealand Temple: Planning and
approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
Note:
I found out several years ago that the Church had held land in reserve for a
temple in this city for a while now (with that fact confirmed by a Church
member living in that area), so I hope that means a site confirmation will
occur sooner rather than later.
194. Phnom
Penh Cambodia Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
Note: A potential site has been identified (though
not yet confirmed) for this temple.
195. Yuba
City, California Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
Note: A potential site has been identified (though
not yet confirmed) for this temple.
196.
Washington County Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official
city (and site) announcement.
197. Salvador
Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
198. Lagos
Nigeria Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
199. Cagayan
de Oro Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
200. Davao
Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site
announcement.
201. Russia
Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official city (and site)
announcement.
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.
