Hello again, everyone! For the first time since Saturday September 5, today, two temples of the Church have had a groundbreaking. In addition to my previous report on the remote gorundbreaking being held for the Bentonville Arkansas Temple under the direction of Elder David A. Bednar, today also saw Elder Jeffrey R. Holland return to his hometown in St. George to preside at the groundbreaking for the Red Cliffs Utah Temple. So that's 3 down for November, 1 more scheduled (for one week from today) and 4 others anticipated to occur at some point later this month.
As far as construction time-frames, I am projecting a window of mid-to-late 2023 for Bentonville, with a window of late 2023-early 2024 for the Red Cliffs temple. Just one week into this month, and we are already nearly haflway through the scheduled queue of November temple groundbreakings. I have a feeling that 2-3 more will occur this week, with the remainder scattered through the next 1.5 weeks between then and Thanksgiving. I will keep my eyes open for those reprots and will bring you all word thereof as I receive 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 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.
The Church News just recently covered the Red Cliffs Utah Temple groundbreaking:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2020-11-07/elder-holland-sister-holland-red-cliffs-temple-groundbreaking-197272
Apparently, each of the Holland's 3 children, their spouses, and many of their grandchildren were in attendance. And although the final decision on the site location and name for the temple was made by the First Presidency, the leading Quorum of the Church requested input on both from Elder and Sister Holland. It was Sister Holland who suggested the name for the temple that was approved. My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! The Church News also recently provided a report on the first of two events held for Latin American Saints. The remote version of "Luz de las Naciones", (the Spanish term meaning "Light of the Nations") celebrates Latin American culture and traditions related to Christmas that are celebrated by Latin American Latter-day Saints worldwide. You can read that report in the article below:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2020-11-07/luz-de-las-naciones-lds-latino-event-2020-two-night-broadcast-196896
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has shared the following additional reports:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/history-revisited/2020-11-07/gerry-avant-stargazer-jayne-b-malan-lambs-young-women-general-presidency-196836
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-11-07/music-and-the-spoken-word-worth-a-sacrifice-197006
My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! The Church's official Newsroom and blog shared the next installment in the "How I #HearHim" series, with a video and additional written insights for context:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-holland-encourages-vocal-prayers-in-new-hearhim-video
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/inspiration/to-hear-him-is-the-essence-of-the-restoration?lang=eng
The Church News also covered Elder Holland's contribution to that series:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-11-08/elder-holland-hear-him-video-prayer-restoration-197086
Additionally, Church News editor Sister Sarah Jane Weaver provided insights gleaned from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin and then-Elder Russell M. Nelson on charity (the pure love of Christ):
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-11-08/sarah-jane-weaver-a-lesson-in-love-wirthlin-nelson-mongolia-general-conference-197139
And the Church News continued their new "Week in Review" series, providing a look back at 9 major developments covered within the last seven days:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-11-08/week-review-elder-holland-red-cliffs-temple-elder-bednar-bentonville-president-ballard-devotional-197199
My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! The Church News and Newsroom have shared some information on changes in the reopening status of 3 more temples. The Baton Rouge Louisiana and Cebu City Philippines Temples will transition from phase 1, which allows husband-to-wife sealings for those who have previously been endowed, to phase 2, which allows all ordinances for the living to be performed by giving priority to the living husband-to-wife sealings, then to missionaries already out in the field who were not able to receive their endowment before departing, then to missionaries preparing to enter the mission field, then to anyone else who may need living ordinances for any other reason.
ReplyDeleteWhile two temples have shifted to phase 2, local regulations and restrictions in Philadelphia Pennsylvania have caused that temple to shift back to phase 1 from phase 2.
Both the Church News and Newsroom have provided different focuses in the information provided in the following articles:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2020-11-09/lds-temples-open-worldwide-phased-reopening-183918
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-limited-reopening-temples
The Newsroom has also provided a look ahead at how the annual "Light the World" initiative will be conducted during these COVID-19 restrictions:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/light-the-world-2020-service
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has also provided coverage on the "Light the World" initiative that links back to the Newsroom release:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-11-09/giving-machines-covid-19-light-the-world-service-christmas-197387
My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! The Newsroom and the Church News have published an update on the progress that has been made with the new global proect for the new music (hymns and children's songs) that will be used Church-wide:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/committees-express-gratitude-for-overwhelming-member-response-to-hymnbook-revision-efforts
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2020-11-10/hymnbook-revision-update-childrens-songbook-submissions-elder-soares-197455
The articles shed light on a few things: First of all, as the Church makes changes in general Church leadership, new leaders will either be added to or replace other leaders on the project's steering committee.
That statement requires a bit more explanation: when the project was first announced, the following news release was published:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/church-announces-plans-for-new-hymnbook-and-childrens-songbook?lang=eng
That article provides quotes from Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who had been (and may still be) the chairman of the Church Hymnbook and Children's Songbook Revision Committee, in addition to Elders Erich W. Kopischke and LeGrand R. Curtis Jr., General Authority Seventies, and Sister Cristina B. Francon, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency.
In between that time and now, Elder Kopsichke has departed from his assignments at Church headquarters to serve in the Europe Area Presidency, and Elder Curtis has been asked to serve as Church Historian and Recorder. Since both of them have assignments that are either time-consuming or away from headquarters, it wouldn't shock me if both of them have been replaced in their roles on that committee.
Anyways, it appears from today's article on that revision process that Elder Soares has been assigned to join that Revision Committee as an apostolic adviser, and that Sister Franco remains and adviser. And Elder Curits' biography confirms that the Revision Committee is not listed as one of his assignments:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/legrand-r-curtis-jr?lang=eng
Meanwhile, from today's article, it appears that Elders Adrian Ochoa and Jeremy R. Jaggi (the latter of whom was called as a General Authority Seventy last April), have joined that Revision Committee. More Church news and temple updates will follow.
The following additional Church news updates have been provided:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2020-11-10/episode-4-sister-cordon-150th-anniversary-young-women-organization-face-to-face-197441
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-11-10/elder-cook-byu-devotional-stumbling-blocks-great-expectations-covid-19-197437
Additionally, status updates have been reported on the following temples within the last day or two:
Yigo Guam:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/yigo-guam-temple/
Layton Utah:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/layton-utah-temple/
Bentonville Arkansax:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/bentonville-arkansas-temple/
I'd just interject here that this means that full-scale construction efforts have officially begun on the first temple in Arkansas, leaving only the Red Cliffs Utah, Brasilia Brazil, Salta Argentina, and San Pedro Sula Honduras Temples in the "Full-scale construction pending" status. Unless any of those 4 have contruction begin later this week, they will be joined in their current status by the Coban Guatemala Temple when its' groundbreaking takes place this weekend.
Two additional temple updates, for the Mesa Arizona and Syracuse Utah Temples:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/mesa-arizona-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/syracuse-utah-temple/
Based on the latest update for the Syracuse Utah Temple, I am anticipating that that temple will be one of the first to have a groundbreaking next year. That temple may be joined in the early-to-middle part of next year by the Pago Pago American Samoa, Neiafu Tonga, Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, and Phnom Penh Cambodia Temples. It also seems likely that information and arrangements for the Salvador Brazil Temple will soon be coming down the pike, and there are a few other temples on my radar for next year, depending on what does or does not occur in relation to each over the next several months.
I'd just conclude here by also noting that, based on my analysis of COVID-19 conditions around the world, and the progress (or lack thereof) on temples under construction or closed for renovations that are anticipated to be dedicated or rededicated next year, barring any drastic changes between now and then, it's my opinion, based on my research, that the first temple dedications or rededications for next year will not take place any sooner than May or June. If that turns out to be the case, there seems to be a high likelihood that more than one temple could have its' dedication or rededication set to occur on the same day, with different apostles or apostolic groups sent out to take care of that queue once it is safe to empty the queue and conduct those events. I continue to monitor all such developments and Church news and will be sure to pass word thereof along as I receive it. My thanks once again to you all.
One more Church News article has been published:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-11-10/president-lund-truth-byu-idaho-learning-young-men-197495
My thanks once again to you all.
And here is one more:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-11-10/byu-pathway-devotional-bishop-waddell-presiding-bishopric-temporal-matters-197519
Thanks again, everyone!
Hello again, everyone! The Church News has shared a few new reports today. First, 2 years after all members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles joined Instagram, each of the 9 female general officers of the Church have done so within the last few days as well:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-11-11/instagram-accounts-general-women-leaders-relief-society-primary-young-women-197388
That news item was also covered by the Newsroom:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/instagram-accounts-launched-relief-society--young-women-primary-general-presidencies
In the meantime, Elder Kim B. Clark, an emeritus General Authority Seventy and former president of BYU-Idaho, provided counsel in the weekly devotional for students, faculty, and staff at Ensign College:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-11-11/elder-kim-b-clark-disciple-leader-ensign-college-devotional-christ-byu-idaho-197531
And in recent days, a couple of tropical storms have swept areas of the world, including, but not limited to, Ceentral America, the Philippines, and many states in the southeastern United States. The Church has provided a status report on how missionaries and members in the affected areas have been impacted:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2020-11-11/hurricane-eta-florida-honduras-philippines-typhoon-goni-197547
The fact that Honduras has been directly impacted by the latest storms could explain why, 2 months after its' groundbreaking, there has been no progress on the construction of the San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple. And the storm's impact on Nicaragua is just one of a few reasons why the Church has not been able to take further action on the Managua Temple as well. Depending on how, if, and to what extent the storms impact Guatemala, that could delay the groundbreaking for the Coban temple, which is currently set to occur this Saturday.
I will be interested to see how (if at all) the latest storms in the Philippines may impact temple construction efforts there (including perhaps the planned groundbreaking for the Davao Philippines Temple that was set to occur at some point this month), and am also sure that these latest conditions may further delay the release of additional information about the Tallahassee Florida Temple.
Of course, with that temple, it may have been a while anyways before information was released, since it was just announced in April of this year. Just wanted to note the potential impact of these storms on temple construction.
Aside from the aforementioned report on the female general officers joining Instagram, the Newsroom today also reported on a new app that has been released by the Church to help Church members and friends of other faiths throughout the world draw closer to the Lord:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/become-app
I will be back shortly to pass along temple updates (if any). For now, my thanks once again to you all.
One new temple update has been reported today, with progress noted on the St. George Utah Temple's renovation process:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/st.-george-utah-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
One other update has been provided by the Church News:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2020-11-11/byutv-family-entertainment-michael-dunn-wildbrain-paramount-television-197414
My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! The Newsroom and the Church News have shared the following additional reports, demonstrating how the Church continues to adapt to the times regarding COVID-19:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/christmas-temple-square-celebrated-virtually-2020
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/utah-area-covid-19-udpate-november-2020
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-11-12/utah-area-covid-19-safety-measures-update-sunday-meetings-activities-197655
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-11-12/young-women-150-anniversary-face-to-face-event-197587
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2020-11-12/rootstech-connect-2021-keynote-speakers-nick-vujicic-lorena-ochoa-197621
My thanks once again to you all.
The latest edition of "Latter-day Saints Around the World" has been published'
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/latter-day-saints-around-the-world-country-newsroom-websites-november-12-2020
The newest installment in that series features content from the following regions: Bolivia, Germany, the Pacific and the United States. From each region, two developments were shared apiece.
My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! The Church News has shared the following additional reports:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2020-11-12/temple-square-lights-2020-christmas-virtual-covid-19-pandemic-197675
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-11-12/aaronic-priesthood-quorum-theme-john-bytheway-197473
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2020-11-12/new-mission-presidents-companions-venezuela-madagascar-arizona-scottsdale-197380
The announcement of additional mission presidents who began their service this month was somewhat surprising to me personally. My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! Yet another update has been provided today on the Pocatello Idaho Temple:
ReplyDeletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/pocatello-idaho-temple/
Based on the latest information, a couple of my sources for temple information have moved the Pocatello Idah Temple ahead of the Praia Cabo Verde Temple in the temple construction queue. I am still in the process of evaluating the changes I need to make to my temple documents in light of the latest updates, but will be sure to post those as soon as I have them. In the meantime, I have a post set to publlish tomorrow in honor of the 68th birthday of Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, so stay tuned for that. For now, my thanks once again to you all.