Stokes Sounds Off: 05/16/19

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Thursday, May 16, 2019

Initial Predictions for the October 2019 General Conference: Part Two—Changes in General Church Leadership

Hello again, everyone! I am back now with the second post in this series, to cover the changes in Church leadership which I am anticipating will be announced during the October 2019 General Conference. The reaasoning for these changes is provided in the relevant notes. I will return in within the next hour or two with my initial list of potential locations in which a new temple could be announced, on which I am putting the finishing touches, That list will constitute the third and final part of this mini-series of posts about the upcoming General Conference.

The projected changes speak for themselves and follow below. 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.



Predictions for Changes in Church Leadership
General Authority Seventies: Elders Wilford W. Andersen, Kim B. Clark, Lawrence E. Corbridge, Claudio R. M. Costa, Bradley D. Foster, O. Vincent Haleck, Donald L. Hallstrom, Steven E. Snow, and Larry Y. Wilson released and granted emeritus status[i]; Elder Steven E. Snow released and Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr. sustained as Church Historian and Recorder; Elder Kim B. Clark released and Elder Paul V. Johnson sustained as Commissioner of Church Education[ii]
Area Seventies: The following area seventies may be released for the following reasons:
Called as mission presidents: Aley K. Auna, Walter Chatora, J. Kevin Ence, Jose L. Isaguierre,  Bryan R. Larsen, W. Jean-Pierre Lono, Khumbulani Mdletshe, Hoi Seng Leonard Woo
Called as temple president: Milan F. Kunz; Yutaka Onda; ’Aisake K. Tukuafu
Longest-tenured[iii]: Ruben Acosta, Frederick O. Akinbo, Omar A. Alvarez, Grant C. Bennett, Wilson be Calderon, Hernando Camargo, M.T. Ben Davis, Robert J. Dudfield, E. Xavier Espinoza, Meliula M. Fata, Sam M. Galvez, Claude R. Gamiette, John A. Koranteng, Jose E. Maravilla, Joaquim J. Moreira, Adeyinka J. Ojediran, Gennady A. Podvodov, Abraham E. Quero, Francisco J. Ruiz de Mendoza, Gordon H. Smith, Raul S. Villanueva, Hoi Seng (Leonard) Woo, and Kevin J. Worthen[iv]


[i]In recent years, the Church has released General Authority Seventies when they reach the age of 70. With the first 9 Brethren listed above having been born in 1949, they will all be released.
[ii]On April 10, 2019, the First Presidency announced these changes to the Church Historian and Recorder and the Commissioner of Church Education. Since both assignments are sustained positions, these changes should be presented for a formal sustaining during this General Conference.
[iii]While the length of service for area seventies have varied according to inspiration from the prophet, the following list includes those area seventies who have served for the last 5 years or longer (which includes those called before October 2014 who have not yet been released).
[iv]Regarding Elder Worthen, since he currently serves as President of BYU-Provo, he might not be released until his assignment as such concludes, or until he may subsequently be called as a General Authority Seventy.

Initial Predictions for the October 2019 General Conference: Part One—Overview and Projected Speaking Order

Hello again, everyone! Given the fact that I will likely be knee-deep in covering the events of the Pacific leg of the ongoing Global Ministry Tour over the next week, among other topics as needed, I wanted to take some time tonight to post my initial predictions for the October 2019 General Conference.

Given the nature of these predictions, another miniseries of posts is needed. This post will provide an overview of those predictions, and will be followed up by a post sharing the changes I am anticipating to be made in general Church leadership, then my temple predictions, whether those last  two are in the same post, or whether they are two separate posts.

For now, we begin with my predictions for the speaking order. A few preliminary notes: Given the difference between what happened in April 2018, October 2018, and April 2019, General Conferences under what has been termed the Nelsonian era are going to be harder to predict. President Nelson did not open the April 2018 or 2019 General Conferences, but did open the October 2018 General Conference.

It could be that we as a Church have gotten too comfortable with the routine as it has been observed for at least the last few decades or so, so I could see President Nelson continuing to do things in an unexpected way that keeps us on our toes, and that applies, I think, specifically to General Conferences of the Church. The longer the status quo is maintained, the more comfortable we might get, and the less likely some might be to actually pay attention to what is said and done in General Conference.

So the idea of changing the game frequently as far as conferences are concerned is a very smart move. That is one reason I loved the assessment of the April 2019 General Conference as found in the May 2019 Ensign: the conference was rightly observed as providing constancy in the midst of change, while still being significant in its' own right in terms of the subject matter covered in each address.

With all of that in mind, I put these predictions together based on what I knew: The First Presidency members will speak multiple times, each member of the Quorum of the Twelve will do so once. One member of the Presiding Bishopric will speak. Given the new precedent set during the last 3 General Conferences, it is likely that only 1 member of the Presidency of the Seventy will speak.

Although the number of general officers that speak has fluctuated in recent General Conferences based on what has occurred, given that the General Women's Session will be held during the upcoming General Conference, in addition to the 3 female leaders in that session, I have 3 other speakers from among the general officers in 3 other sessions.

Given that 8 new General Authority Seventies were sustained in April 2018 (with 1 more announced a month later) and that 3 of those spoke during the subsequent October General Conference, with 10 GA Seventies sustained last April, I am theorizing that a minimum of 3 of those Brethren will do so during the upcoming General Conference, and that 3 other seventies who have previously spoken will do so during this General Conference.

These are the most relevant notes relating to the predictions I have put together. I post them 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. 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.


October 2019 General Conference Predictions (Text in brackets denote differences)
Sess.
Conducting
Speaker
SAM
President Henry B. Eyring
President Russell M. Nelson


Elder Jeffrey R. Holland


Douglas D. Holmes


Elder Gerrit W. Gong


Elder Ruben V. Alliaud


Elder Dale G. Renlund


Elder David S. Baxter


President Dallin H. Oaks
SAA
President Dallin H. Oaks
President Henry B. Eyring (Sustaining of Church Officers)


Elder Quentin L. Cook


Elder Terence M. Vinson


Elder Ronald A. Rasband


Elder Jorge M. Alvarado


Elder Scott D. Whiting
           

Elder David A. Bednar
GW
Joy D. Jones
Jean B. Bingham


Lisa L. Harkness


Bonnie H. Cordon


President Henry B. Eyring


President Dallin H. Oaks


President Russell M. Nelson
SUM
President Henry B. Eyring
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf


Cristina B. Franco


Elder Ulisses Soares


Elder Gary E. Stevenson


Bishop Gerald Causse


President Russell M. Nelson
SUA
President Dallin H. Oaks
President Henry B. Eyring


President M. Russell Ballard


Mark L. Pace


Elder D. Todd Christofferson


Elder Anthony D. Perkins


Elder Hans T. Boom


Elder Neil L. Andersen


President Russell M. Nelson

BREAKING NEWS: Elder Soares to Preside at Fortaleza Brazil Temple Dedication; Sissel to Headline Tabernacle Choir's 2019 Pioneer Day Concert

Hello again, everyone! As mentioned in a recent comment here, and shared by the Church of Jesus Christ Temples website, a Brazilian newspaper has featured an article noting that our native Brazilian apostle, Elder Ulisses Soares, will be presiding over the dedication of the Fortaleza Brazil Temple on June 2. This marks the second time in a row that a new temple was dedicated by a more junior apostle than the one who conducted a groundbreaking. Elder David A. Bednar broke ground for that temple.

The other recent time this occurred was in April, when Elder Dale G. Renlund dedicated the Kinshasa DR Congo Temple, for which the groundbreaking had been presided over by Elder Neil L. Andersen. That Elder Soares has been given this opportunity is not at all surprising, given that he has numerous connections to various Brazilian cities. Apostles dedicating a temple in an area to which they have a strong connection seems to be becoming the new normal.

In light of this information, I am more convinced than ever that Elder David A. Bednar, who was born in Oakland California, will preside over the rededication of that temple. I know that since Elder Quentin L. Cook has connections to the Bay Area of California, there is a chance he'd be called on to do it, but he has been asked to presiding over the November private rededication for the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple.

It is also worth noting that I believe that, while any current apostles could preside over temple dedications in areas to which they have a personal connection, for the time being, I believe that the least-junior apostle who may be asked to preside at a temple rededication will be Elder Christofferson. Time will tell how correct that might turn out to be, but that is my theory.

Turning now to another late-breaking news development, the Tabernacle Choir has announced that world-renowned vocalist Sissel, who originally performed with the Tabernacle Choir in the 2006 Christmas Concert, will be the special guest artist for the 2019 Pioneer Day Concert in July. I was anticipating that the special guest would be announced soon, and it is nice to have that confirmed.

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.

7 Additional New Temple Presidents Called

Hello again, everyone! After a two-week hiatus to cover other developments of a more significant nature, the Church News continues to report on new temple presidents, with the call of 7 more noted today. Each of the seven temples were on my list of those for which a new president was likely to be called this year, and 1 of those temple presidents has been called to serve as the first president for the new Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple, for which a dedication is anticipated to be held early next year. The first president of that temple is currently serving as a counselor in the Recife Brazil Temple presidency.

Also among these newest 7 are 1 current area seventy (namely, ’Aisake K. Tukuafu, who consequently now will join the list of those area seventies likely to be released in General Conference around 4.5 months from now) 1 former area seventy, and 1 former counselor in the presidency of the same temple for which he will assume oversight.

This brings the number of new temple presidents called to begin serving later this year to a grand total of 56, while it is now more than definite that the first new president will be called for the Arequipa Peru Temple. I say that because a Church member living near that temple reported seeing the cornerstone of that temple, which reads "Erected 2019."  So if that temple is to be dedicated by the end of this year, then its' first president would need to begin his service by that time.

Additionally, I am anticipating the calls of the first presidents for the Winnipeg Manitoba and  Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Temples, both of which are anticipated to be completed at some point next year. And I now have 12 other temples left on my list of those for which I anticipate that a new president is likely to be called this year. 

Of those 12 temples, 7 have been or are being renovated, or are scheduled to close for renovation later this year. And given that there have been 5 temples thus far which have had new presidents announced (none of which were on my list), I am not ruling out the odds that more surprises may be in store in that respect. 

The Church continues the tradition of calling new presidents for at leat 1/3 of all temples which are either currently in operation or those that will be so within a year from such announcements. Within the next 12-18 months, the number of operating temples is anticipated to rise to either 170 or 171. So the 56 temples which have noww had a new president announced is already 1/3 of that number, and at least 8 others could potentially be announced.

I will be monitoring such announcements and will continue to post updates as I am able to. In the meantime, I have now confirmed that President and Sister Nelson and Elder and Sister Gong have embarked on their Pacific Ministry Tour, with the first stop in Kona Hawaii. Hawaii is apparently 4 hours behind Utah time, so it is now after 2:00 PM there.

If the member devotional at that stop is set for either 6:00 or 7:00 PM Kona time, there may not be a repor published about it until after midnight tonight. If I don't see it by the end of my day today, I will try to pass word along about it ASAP tomorrow. So for now, the updated list of new temple presidents follows below. In order to not disrupt 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. 

New presidents have been called for the following temples:
1.      Copenhagen Denmark
2.      Manila Philippines (not anticipated; current president has only served for two years)
3.      Tampico Mexico
4.      Philadelphia Pennsylvania
5.      Spokane Washington
6.      Manhattan New York
7.      Columbia River Washington
8.      St. Paul Minnesota
9.      Jordan River Utah
10.  Medford Oregon
11.  Rexburg Idaho
12.  Provo Utah
13.  London England
14.  Tegucigalpa Honduras (not anticipated; current president has only served for one year)
15.  Johannesburg South Africa
16.  Fort Collins Colorado
17.  Panama City Panama
18.  Nauvoo Illinois
19.  Suva Fiji (not anticipated; current president has only served for one year)
20.  Paris France (not anticipated; current president has only served for two years)
21.  Dallas Texas
22.  Guadalajara Mexico
23.  Gilbert Arizona
24.  Detroit Michigan
25.  Anchorage Alaska
26.  Twin Falls Idaho
27.  Sapporo Japan
28.  Kyiv Ukraine
29.  Columbus Ohio
30.  Calgary Alberta (not anticipated; current president has only served for two years)
31.  Tuxtla Gutierrez Mexico
32.  Ciudad Juarez Mexico
33.  Monterrey Mexico
34.  Idaho Falls Idaho
35.  Orlando Florida
36.  Halifax Nova Scotia
37.  Mexico City Mexico
38.  Santiago Chile
39.  Nashville Tennessee
40.  Merida Mexico
41.  Star Valley Wyoming
42.  Winter Quarters Nebraska
43.  Portland Oregon
44.  Montreal Quebec
45.  Santo Domingo Dominican Republic
46.  Seattle Washington
47.  Campinas Brazil
48.  Perth Australia
49.  Curitiba Brazil
50.  Melbourne Australia
51.  Chicago Illinois
52.  Reno Nevada
53.  Seoul Korea
54.  Cochabamba Bolivia
55.  Rio de Janeiro Brazil (first president)
56.  Hartford Connecticut


The first presidents will likely be announced for the following new temples:
1.      Arequipa Peru
2.      Winnipeg Manitoba
3.      Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire

List of currently-operating temples which may be getting a new president in 2019:
1.      Aba Nigeria
2.      Birmingham Alabama
3.      Fresno California
4.      Hamilton New Zealand (Note: It is possible that the Church could hold off on calling a new president for this temple until its’ rededication is held in 2021)
5.      Hong Kong China (Note: It is possible that the Church could hold off on calling a new president for this temple until its’ rededication in 2021 or 2022)
6.      Lima Peru
7.      Memphis Tennessee (Note: Since the current president of this temple had his service interrupted by its’ renovation, the Church could hold off another year or two on replacing him.)
8.      Oklahoma City Oklahoma (Note: Since the current president of this temple had his service interrupted by its’ renovation, the Church could hold off another year or two on replacing him.)
9.      Raleigh North Carolina (Note: Since the current president of this temple had his service interrupted by its’ renovation, the Church could hold off another year or two on replacing him.)
10.  St. George Utah (Note: Since this temple is scheduled to close for renovation later this year, the Church could hold off on calling a new president until the renovation is complete)
11.  Veracruz Mexico
12. Washington D.C. (Note: Since the current president of this temple had his service interrupted by its’ renovation, the Church could hold off another year or two on replacing him.)