Hello again, everyone! Much to my surprise, one of two big announcements from the Church today was regarding the opening dates for the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple. The Open house will be held from Thursday October 22-Saturday October 31, with the exception of Sundayh October 25. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside over the 3 dedicatory sessions,on on Sunday November 8, which will be held at 9:00 AM, noon, and 3:00 PM Winnipeg time, which is equivalent to 8:00 Am, 11:00 AM, and 2:00 PM here in Utah. A youth devotional for those in Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women classes, along with their leaders and parents, will be held the night before. This announcement suggests to me that the Church anticipates tthat COVID-19 conditions will have cleared sufficiently to allow the open house and dedication of this temple as scheduled. That in turn means that perhaps the Church will not have to change the planned arrangements for the open house and rededication of the Washington D.C. Temple. But one thing this announcement does not change is that the revised open house and dedication dates for the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple are still pending. Hopefully the Church can soon announce those revisions, but for now, the arrangements for that temple are yet-to-be-determined.
The other major announcement from the Church today was that the First Presidency has determined to cancel all treks and pageants that would have otherwise been held this year. That is a result of the Brethren's ongoing concern about COVID-19. But the Church has also donated cash and commodities and Church spokesman Daniel Woodruff has provided a statement on how the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are handling missionary reassignments in the wake of COVID-19.General details on some of these developments can also be found for missionary work, Church pageants, and youth camps, conferences, and treks. And late yesterday, the Newsroom shared an article about how Latter-day Saints in Wales are partnering with local organizations to provide relief due to COVID-19 conditions in that nation.
It is plain to see that, even in the midst of COVID-19 conditions, the work continues to make outstanding progress on a wide variety of fronts. I continue to monitor all such developments and will pass word o all Church news updates and temple construction milestones and will be sure to pass word of htose along to you all 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.
Thursday, April 30, 2020
BREAKING NEWS: Open House and Dedication Dates Annnounced for Winnipeg Manitoba Temple/Other Major Developments Reported in Response to COVID-19
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.
24 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.
At the same time, however, I recognize that we live in a time when incivility, discourtesy, unkindness, and even cyber-bullying has regrettably become part of online interactions. With that in mind, while anyone who wishes can comment on anything if they choose to do so, I hereby reserve the right to immediately delete any comments which are critical, unkind, lack civility, or promote prodcuts, services, and values contrary to either the Church, or to the rules of online etiquette.
I'd also like to remind all who comment here that I try to respond personally to each individual comment as I feel is appropriate. Such replies are not meant to end the conversation, but to acknowledge earnest feedback as it is submitted.
And in order to better preserve the spirit and pure intentions for which this blog was established, I also hereby request that anyone not commenting with a regular user name (particularly those whose comments appear under the "Unknown" or "Anonymous" monikers, give the rest of us a name to work with in addressing any replies. If such individuals do not wish to disclose their actual given names, a pseudonym or nickname would suffice.
Any comments made by individuals who opt to not give a name by which they can ber identified may, depending on the substance and tone of such comments, be subject to deletion as well. I would respectfully ask that all of us do all we can to keep the dialogue positive, polite, and without malice or ill-will. May the Lord bless us all in our discussion of these important matters.
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Hello again, everyone! The Church News has provided a report on the announced opening dates for the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2020-04-30/winnipeg-manitoba-temple-dedication-open-house-dates-announcement-182664
2 new temple presidents and matrons have been called:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2020-04-30/new-temple-presidents-cape-verde-colombia-182496
The Church News also provided coverage on today’s deadline for missionaries to determine whether or not to begin or resume their service, though many missionaries, as noted in my post above, have already received new assignments:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2020-04-30/covid-19-missionary-deadline-reassignments-online-training-182632
And the Church News provided additional context on the announcement about Church camps and treks being canceled for this year:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2020-04-30/youth-camps-conferences-treks-pageants-canceled-182635
My thanks once again to you all for your continued interest and ongoing support.
I forgot to mention above that the two new temple presidents and matrons will be experiencing a "homecoming" of sorts due to their return to preside over temples in cities where they had formerly been the mission leadership couple, and that my updated list of temples that have gotten or may yet get a new president in 2020 can be found at the following web address:
Deletehttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1qcf4P9oxAlBJ7Mh20Ixy11WQ7BQGxOtgqIRwnFhSn6A/edit?usp=sharing
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church Temples site has provided updates on the Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire and Taylorsville Utah Temples:
ReplyDeletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/abidjan-cote-d'ivoire-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/taylorsville-utah-temple/
Thanks aain, everyone!
Three more Church News articles have been published:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2020-04-30/covid-19-relief-efforts-donations-5-5-million-united-states-182633
https://www.thechurchnews.com/history-revisited/2020-04-30/hill-cumorah-pageant-postponed-final-year-2021-178524
And the final Church news article introduces another new General Authority Seventy, Elder William K. Jackson, whose vast experience living in a variety of nations gave him first-hand knowledge of the strength of first generation Church members and the potential that exists for proufound and significant growth in such populations, where the people who are taught correct principles remain steadfast and immovable and govern themselves well:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-04-30/elder-william-k-jackson-new-general-authority-seventy-2020-april-developing-church-182486
My thanks once again to you all.
The BYU Law School's Graduating Class of 2020 was unable to hold a formal in-person ceremony honoring their achievement, so they and their professors banded together remotely for a video paroday of the song by the Mamas and the Papas called "California Dreamin'. the parody was entitled "Graduation Streamin'":
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2020-04-30/byu-law-school-2020-graduates-music-video-182740
That article is well worthy of your time, particularly for those of you who, like I myself, have an affinity for the music of the '60s and '70s. My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! At 2:27 this afternoon, a comment I published above shared the document on which I am tracking the temples for which a new president has been or may yet be called this year. I have two new temples left on that list, namely, Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire and Quito Ecuador. Because the first presidents have already been announced for the Yigo Guam, Praia Cabo Verde, San Juan Puerto Rico, and Pocatello Idaho Temples, earlier this evening, the Church Temples site reordered those particular temples in the following way: Yigo Guam, Praia Cabo Verde, Pocatello Idaho, San Juan Puerto Rico, and Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire. As a result, the general completion estimate for Abidjan has been shifted to late 2021, the same window of time recently given for Pocatello and San Juan. I imagine that's because the Pocatello temple is well ahead of Abidjan, and San Juan will soon be ahead of Abidjan as well, since it is a comparatively much smaller.
ReplyDeleteWith that in mind, there will be more to think about and consider in terms of my specific estimates for known temple events, which I still continue to work on as I am able to do so. I hope to have that updated document published within the first week of May, if not before. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! The Church News today provided a few new reports on the digital-only BYU Women's Conference:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-05-01/president-bingham-sister-eubank-gathering-israel-covid-19-byu-womens-conference-182784
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-05-01/sister-to-sister-event-byu-womens-conference-2020-182823
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-05-01/covid-19-stella-h-oaks-foundation-single-mothers-182752
The following reports have additionally been shared by the Newsroom:
https://news-ph.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/philippines-missionary-training-center-concludes-first-batch-of-virtual-training
https://news-ng.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-supports-covid-19-response-efforts-in-nigeria
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-cash-commodities-donation-covid-19-april-2020
My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! The latest edition of “This Week on Social” has been published:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-05-01/social-ministering-project-protect-covid-19-missionary-holland-aburto-uchtdorf-182916
The newest installment in this ongoing series featured two posts from each of the following leaders: Elders Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Quentin L. Cook, and Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; while one post each was shared from the following leaders: President Henry B. Eyring, Second Counselor in the First Presidency; Elders Neil L. Andersen and Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Sister Reyna I. Aburto, Second Counselor in the Relief Society; Sister Becky Craven, Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency.
Also, due to the fact that it is now past 11:30 AM on the morning of Saturday May 2 in the Philippines, it is possible that the groundbreaking for the Alabang Philippines Temple has already taken place, or that that will occur within the next 2-3 hours. I will have a report on that ASAP tomorrow morning or affternoon once such a report is made available. In the meantime, my thanks once agin to you all.
Hello again, everyone! Based on my analysis of some data of which I recently became aware, it seems probable that the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple could be dedicated in October or November, If that happens in mid-to-late October following General Conference, then that dedication would occur prior to the recently-announced dedication of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple. But it's also possible that both temples could be dedicated on November 8, or that Brazil's newest temple could be dedicated a week or two later, or sometime in December. In the worst-case sceanrio, the dedication of that temple, along with the rededications of the Tokyo Japan and Mesa arizona Temples, could all take place within the first 3 months of next year. The timing there will largely depend on how well COVID_19 conditions can be eased, diminished, or obliterated completely, and how long that process takes.
ReplyDeleteI also mentioned in an earlier comment on this thread (published here on April 30 @ 10:29 PM) that many sources available to me had changed the anticipated completion order for temples in 2021 from Yigo, Abidjan, Praia, Pocatello, and San Juan to Yigo, Praia, Pocatello, San Juan, and Abidjan. This opens up the possibility that the Abidjan temple could only be dedicated in 2022, and/or that Quito might potentially get ahead of Abidjan in its' construction process. Time will tell in that respect.
In the meantime, progress has again been reported on the Pocatello Idaho Temple, where, while granite cladding and interior framing continue to progress, scaoffolding has been erected around the base of that temple's tower. Meanwhile, the latest update on the Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Temple indcates that the tower walls have been poured, and that construction crews are roughing in the HVAC systems for the temple.
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned a few days ago, two major updates on the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple were provided in a matter of a few hours this week. With the temple foundation being cured and crews setting forms for the main floor walls, significant progress has been made on the landscaping efforts along Founder's Boulevard. At the Bangkok Thailand Temple, crews are still pouring the concrete columns and walls for the substructure of the temple complex. Hopefully in the not-too-distant future, crews and begin working on the temple proper.
As mentioned in my comment just above this one, the groundbreaking for the Alabang Philippines Temple was or will sonn be held today. Because the release of an official report is still pending for that particular development, it is currently not clear whether or not Elder Christofferson was able to preside over that ceremony as he was originally assigned to do. One thing I do know, however, is that the Alabang Philippines Temple now jumps to the top of the list of temples for which full-scale efforts are pending. I am hopeful we will soon find out that construction is finally underway on the Puebla Mexico and Lima Peru Los Olivos Temples, in addition to this newest temple in the Philippines.
Whenever full-scale construction does begin on the Alabang Philippines Temple, it will mark the very first time that two temples were simultaneously under construction in the Philippines. And with other temples having been announced for Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Bacoolod, the odds increase that at some point, 3 or 4 temples couldc be under construction in that nation (which also comprises the Philippines Area of the Church).
In the meantime, with the month of April having come and gone, unless anything has been done under the radar, it appears that the stake center of the site of the future Taylorsivlle Utah Temple has not yet bwen demolished as planned. Hopefully that will happen soon. As a result of the unexpected timing of the announcements confirming the location of the Bentonville Arkansas Temple and for the July 18 planned groundbreaking for the Feather RIver California Temple, I am cauitously optimistic that additional temple site locations and groundbreaking arrangements could be announced in the not-too-distant future.
The final temple construction update I wanted to pass along to you all in this comment is for the Salt Lake Temple. Renovation efforts continue to remain on-schedule. Construction crews have rected scaoffolding around the south towers. I am grateful to have been able to share the details of these developments with you all. I continue to monitor temple construction progress in addition to major Church news, and will be sure to pass word of those along to you all as I become aware of any such reports. In the maeantime, thanks for your continued interest and onogoing support.
Hello again, everyone! The Newsroom and the Church News have provided the following additional reports, which speak for themselves:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/project-protect-begins-distributing-5-million-masks-for-covid-19-relief
https://www.thechurchnews.com/history-revisited/2020-05-02/gerry-avant-kimball-paramore-calling-qualify-apostle-seventy-182197
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2020-05-02/byu-covid-19-janice-kapp-perry-honorary-doctorate-lds-mormon-songwriter-primary-182318
Additionally, new information has come to light regarding the next step in the approvals process for the McAllen Texas Temple. I received word this afternoon that the McAllen Public Utility Board approved submitted plans for the subdivision of which the newest temple in Texas will be a part. Given the fact that the Church unexpectedly announced the groundbbreaking for the Feather River California Temple this week, that opens up the prospect that, while going through the more extensive process of approvals for larger temples both inside and outside the United States, some temples, such as the Feather River California, Moses Lake Washington, McAllen Texas, and Bentonville Arkansas, could, by virtue of their planned smaller sizes, obtain approval and thus have construction begin sooner. Although it still appears that the next four Utah temples to have a groundbreaking (Tooele Valley, Washington County, Orem, and Taylorsville) are still at or near the top of the queue of temples for which a groundbreaking might soon take place, it would not shock me to see at least one or two of the four smaller temples have a groundbreaking in between the time when the larger temples will have that occur. I continue to monitor all temple developments and Church news updates, and will bring word of those to you all here as I become aware of such reports. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
The Church News also recently shared an article by the editor, Sister Sarah Jane Weaver, who contrasted her first-hand experiences covering COVID-19 now with having covered a devastating tropical story which devastated the Pacific Island of Fiji on the same weekend that that temple in the capital city of Suva was rededicated. She also shared the common-thread lesson she learned from observing the Church's response in both life-altering scenarios:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-05-02/crisis-faith-relief-society-priesthood-missionary-humanitarian-fiji-cyclone-sarah-jane-weaver-182628
Still no formal report on the Alabang Philippines Temple groundbreaking, but I will share the web address for that here once I find one. Thanks again, everyone!
I think I have figured five places temples could yet be announced for the Salt Lake metro, if a location does not seem clear to you let me know. Because I used a truck driver's Youtube video of the entire trip from Brigham City to the south Springville exit, he had no traffic, I was able to get a reasonable idea on distances.
ReplyDelete1. Farmington, Utah. Likely north of Lagoon, there is a big main road north of the big freeway interchange north of Lagoon, a major bus route runs it, I do not think the temple will be on that but it could be near where that crosses US-89, it is the first exit north of I-26. But it could be no further south than just north of Lagoon. Reasoning is Bountiful is more near 5-- North, still a distance from the given area.
Holladay area. Salt Lake County blocks are just under 7 to the mile. So Taylorsville will b four miles west of State Street, so around or east of Highland Drive north of Fort Union Blvd is most likely, maybe even Fort Union or north Sandy at the most.
Herriman (oft-taled about 48th West propery a newspaper mentioned some 15 years ago). 6 oe 7 miles from Oquirrh Mountain in an area that is quickly being developed, and a recent major news story about the Olympia Hills plans only adds fuel to this. May in the end not be exactly this spot, but the Church has that property or at least last I heard.
North Lehi/NW Highland. Far enough away from Mt. Timpanogos, would not be built too close to the freeway due to all the large buildings going up near that, but would not be Alpine either as that is too small, would probably be near Timpanogos Highway, south side, industrial first few miles on the north side (IM Flash, etc.) and not near the American Fork Canyon;s river you find just south of the highway in a couple places.
North Orem/Lindon, but not Pleasant Grove. Easily close to 1600 North or north of it, no further up than maybe extreme south Pleasant Grove. Groeing area stil and Orem could be swamped with UVU students when it opens.
Springville/Spanish Fork: Could be between these two, growth patterns favor east Spanish Fork. Wide latitude as to where this could end up but this might not be that near-term a prospect.
James Anderson, thanks for taking time to comment. Based on your two latest comments about potential Utah temples, I put together a list of the cities you mentioned. I will do research on the merits of these locations later on, but for now, I wanted to be sure I understood your feedback correctly. This is the list of locations I put together based on your feedback:
DeleteSandyLehi/
Farmington
Spanish Fork/Springville
Holladay
Northern Lehi/Northwest Highland
Lindon
Let me know if any of the locations listed are inaccurate. In the meantime, do any of these prospects to you seem more imminent than the cities I have on my list for the Utah Area now? Just as a refresher, the prospective cities falling under the Utah area that I have on my list are as follows: Herriman Utah: Evanston Wyoming; Preston Idaho; Mapleton Utah; Heber City Utah; Washington County Utah (Third Temple)
Thanks for weighing in here again on this, James Anderson. Sometimes I get so focused on the list of potential temple locations as a whole that I forget to look at some of the more likely prospects in some areas of the Church. And if President Nelson's recent Utah temple location choices are any indication, I need to broaden my vision in each area a bit. Thanks again, James Anderson, for taking time to share your thoughts on this.
Sandy is north of and borders Draper but covers a wide area from north to south so one, if placed there may need to be placed in the the central to northern part of the city so as not to be too close to Draper or Jordan River.
DeleteIf a northerly location is chosen, a location just south of 45th South would be needed for spacing to Taylorsville, like south of the old Cottonwood Mall property. Research will confirm whether one or two temples might go, just one or both sites although I am thinking with their planning midsized temples for Taylorsville, etc., it could end up being teo. But if just one, perhaps near a like that 72nd South would follow if it went straight across, which it does not quite do.
Thank you, James Anderson, for this additional information. I'm not sure whether or not you saw one of my questions above, so I thought I'd reiterate it again. With President Nelson's announcement of temple locations thus far in Utah, and with what we've discussed back-and forth here in mind, do you have any thoughts about the imminent likelihood of the prospects we've discussed here? I ask because you've clearly done your research on Utah temples, so if there is anything I need to be aware of, and any location I need to add or take off of my current list of Utah temple prospects, I'd like to be able to give those suggestions due consideration. Do you have any thoughts as far as the imminence of any of the locations you or I mentioned here? Thanks again, as always, for taking time to comment. I always appreciate hearing frm you, James Andersn.
DeleteI would put he southwest Salt Lake County one first 2 and 3 would be (one could come in first in either order) Holladay/Fort Union/North Sandy or Lindon/North Orem, and the two that would come latest would be Farmington and Mapleton/E. Spanish Fork. Growth patterns and new home construction in the nearby area of those two possibilities will play a big part in the timing. Mapleton/E. Spanish Fork will depend on how full Provo City Center and Payson get and fill to capacity for a sustained period of time.
DeleteThanks for that additional information. Curiosity question: I have Herriman as the SW Salt Lake Valley location mentioned by President Hinckley, and I also currently have Evanston Wyoming, Preston Idaho, Mapleton Utah, Heber City Utah, and a third location for Washington County. If I were to incorporrate your suggestions onto my list, do you have any thoughts about how to order all those locations? Thanks. I always appreciate your input.
DeleteFirst, forgot Lehi/Highland, at least a couple years off but maybe sooner based on growth trends.
DeleteThe third Washington County one could come at any time, it is on the east side, and the cities in the north are enough away that the third one may well go in one of those.
Evanston has only 7k people, if combined with Coalville, Wanship, and a couple of other places along I-80, maybe, but not yet.
Heber City is 32k population, not sure about the rest. But with winter conditions and possible truck accidents on a regular basis in Provo Canyon, although those are random, the need for one there may come in the next few years. It will be needed.
Thanks, James Anderson, for these additional insights. Based on what you said, I've done more research on my end, and edited and reprioritized my Utah Area temple prospects accordingly. The updates will appear on my predictions when they are posted. Thanks again for the feedback, and for taking time to comment, James Anderson. I always appreciate hearing from you.
DeleteJames, Have you seen or heard anything that would suggest that the Alabang Temple groundbreaking actually occurred? I have scoured the church's sites, twitter, FB and I can't find anything.
ReplyDeleteScott, to answer your question, no, I have not. But I have not seen or heard anything to suggest that it hasn't taken place, and I know enough about Church sources to be sure of two things: 1. If a scheduled event has occurred, unless it's a breaking news development, it can take up to 24 hours after its' occurrence for a report to be provided. 2. If an event has not taken place as scheduled, the Church usually reports on its' postponement. In absence of a report either way, I'm more confortable assuming that the release on it just hasn't been cleared for publication, whatever the reason for that might be. It is possible that it was postponed or cancelled, but given that we have not heard anything either way, I prefer to err more on the side that it has occurred than to assume it has not. Hope that information helps.
DeleteSorry. When I mentioned 24 hours in my comment above, I meant 36-48. It's often commonplace for the report of a scheduled groundbreaking, dedication, or rededication to first be reported on the Newsroom for the nation in which it occurred, then for the main Newsroom to share that report. I have a few other places I can look at for information on this, which I will do as time and circumstances allow. Thanks again, Scott, for taking time to ask about this.
DeleteHello again, everyone! The Church News and the Newsroom have provided coverage on the Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-sister-gay-worldwide-devotional-may-2020
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-05-03/worldwide-devotional-elder-robert-c-gay-young-adults-182998
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-05-03/worldwide-devotional-elder-robert-c-gay-182912
My thanks once again to you all for your continued interest and ongoing support.