Stokes Sounds Off: 08/02/19

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Friday, August 2, 2019

BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Groundbreaking Ceremony Confirmed for the Belem Brazil Temple; Artist's Rendering Released

Hello again, everyone! With the planned groundbreaking for the Belem Brazil Temple set for Saturday August 17 (15 days from now), I have been anxiously awaiting confirmation on the arrangements and the release of the artist's rendering. The wait is finally over. The First Presidency has today confirmed those arrangements, and released the rendering for that temple. From that released information, I cannot tell exactly how big the temple might be, but I imagine on the day of the groundbreaking, if not before, those specifics will be provided.


And barring anything unexpected, I would anticipate that construction of the temple will take between 2-3 years to complete. So I'd like to offer late 2021-early 2022 as a preliminary general estimate for that temple's completion. Based on what all we learn about the temple between now and that groundbreaking, or on the day of the groundbreaking itself, there may be a need to adjust that estimate. If that was the only temple news I had to share today, I'd be content enough therewith.

But there are a few other updates on additional temples which I wanted to share as well, so let's get right into those. At the Pocatello Idaho Temple, while the work of pouring the temple's foundation and footings continues, decorative concrete blocks have arrived on-site for the retaining walls around the temple. If the work on the Pocatello Idaho Temple continues at the same pace it has lately progressed, then I think it very likely that the temple's general completion estimate might be pushed up from late 2021-early 2022 to mid-to-late 2021. But time will tell.

In addition to these developments, early this morning, I was also advised that the Church had purchased land in Moses Lake Washington that may be used for the temple announced in that city by President Nelson last April. Of course, nothing is official in that respect until an announcement from the First Presidency confirms it, but it is an interesting tidbit. And given that a new stake center has been built to house the Okinawa Japan Stake, some speculation points to the idea that the land on which the former stake center sat could potentially be used for the temple in that city. But I have nothing more than speculation on that at this time,which is something someone else suggested, not my own idea.

Either way, if nothing else, I anticipate that at least 2 other temples might possibly also have a groundbreaking between now and the weekend of the October General Conference, but I have nothing more than my own theories in that respect at this time, and nothing more definitive for the moment. Rest assured, however, that I will continue to monitor all Church news and temple developments, and will do my best to pass word of those along to you all as I become aware of it.

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 feedback is in compliance 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.