Hello again, everyone! As many of you are almost certainly aware, the Salt Lake Temple and surrounding areas of Temple Square are undergoing extensive renovation. That process begn in December 2019, and is expected to wrap up at some point in 2024 (I am guessing personally that the completion may occur in the latter half or quarter of that year, but that has not been officially confirmed). At the time the plans were unveiled for that renovation, Church leaders had indicated that some parts of the renovation process might be detailed later as those plans were developed.
This afternoon, a renovation process was additionally announceed for the Church Office Building plaza. Among key elements, the current circulating water system and concrete deck are leaking, which in turn is creating a hazard for the parking facility directly underneath it. The renovation of the plaza will thus include a new waterproofing system and the addition of green space and gardens. The existing fountain will also be removed from its' current location and replaced with a large circle of flags from several key locations where the Church has an established presence.
The renovation of the Church Office Building Plaza, which will soon be underway, is expected to last around 18 months, at which point the focus will shift to the nearby Main Street plaza. The plans for that part of the renovation will be announced closer to the time it is anticipated to begin. The final focus of the renovations on Temple Square grounds will then shift to the areas surrounding the Church headquarters block.
Once all of that and the temple renovation is completed, the entirety of the designed space around Temple Square will make it clear that it's connected to the newly-renovated temple. Further information is detailed by the Church News. I am grateful for this latest report, as it demonstrates that the renovation process for the Salt Lake Temple, including surrounding areas on Temple Square, remains on track. I continue to monitor all Church news and temple updates and will be sure to pass word of those along to you all as I become aware of those developments.
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.
Today's announcement is actually for the start of that work, the original announcement did say this would be part of it.
ReplyDeleteOn temples generally, someone on Matt's blog said Elder Gong said there was a new stake created yesterday in the Fairbanks metro, that makes two for that Alaska city. Might well be time if you have not done so already, to put Fairbanks on the radar for a temple as it is hundreds of miles from Anchorage, and the road is not the best in the winter either.
Jim Anderson, thanks for mentioning that. I apparently forgot just how much detail was provided on the renovation process almost two years ago:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/plans-unveiled-salt-lake-temple-renovation
It has been interesting to watch the renovation process continue for that temple. By all reports, that remains on schedule. I have wondered a time or two whether any delays might occur, since it is the first major full-scale extensive renovation for that temple, but it remains on track this far.
As far as a temple in Fairbanks is concerned, that particular prospect has been on my list of potential locations almost since I've had an established list. But a second stake being established in that city will increase the likely probability of that prospect. I anticipate that we could see such an announcement perhaps within the next 2-3 General Conferences, if not sooner. Thanks for stopping by to comment. I always appreciate hearing from you.
All this is great news.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is, Chris! I also have a feeling that there is much more to come this year in general and this month in particular. Always great to hear from you, Chris! Thanks for stopping by to comment.
DeleteHello again, everyone! The Newsroom and the Church News have shared content about next month's first planned Friend-to-Friend event1 for Primary-aged individuals. The event will feature messages from Church President Russell M. Nelson and from Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, as well as participation from the members of the Primary General Presidency (General President Sister Joy D. Jones and her respective First and Second Counselors, Sisters Lisa L. Harkness and Cristina B. Franco):
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-leaders-to-address-children-in-first-ever-friend-to-friend-event
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-01-12/friend-to-friend-children-primary-general-presidency-virtual-event-201593
The event may mark one of the final opportunities the entire current Primary General Presidency may have to provide counsel to Primary-aged Church members. Sister Joy D. Jones was first called as Primary General President in April 2016, with her counselors being Sister Jean B. Bingham and Sister Bonnie H. Cordon.
One year later, Sister Bingham was released and called as the new Relief Society General President, at which time Sister Cordon became the new First Counselor to Sister Jones, and Cristina B. Franco was called as the new Second Counselor. The following April, Sister Cordon was released in view of her call to serve as the new Young Women General President. At that time, Sister Jones opted to call a new First Counselor (Sister Lisa L. Harkness) rather than making Sister Franco the new First Counselor and calling another new Second Counselor.
As a result, Sister Jones is the only one of the three members of the Primary General Presidency that has served a full five-year term. Although the changes in counselors might perhaps have led to the current presidency continuing their service for another year or so, when the new mission presidents were announced a few days ago, Sister Harkness was noted to have been called to serve alongside her husband, which will necessitate her release from her current role in the Primary General Presidency. As a result, I believe Sister Jones will also be released.
It remains to be seen whether Sister Franco might be retained in the new Primary General Presidency, but that is a possibility. To make a long story short (too late!) , since I thus anticipate a new Primary General Presidency being called during the April 2021 General Conference, barring anything unexpected, this event will mark one of the final times (if not the very last time) for which the entire current General Presidency will be involved in such an event.
The Church News also shared some insight into some temple-related updates that have been made to the General Handbook for all Church members:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-01-11/general-handbook-temple-updates-endowment-covenants-201095
The latest edition of the Church News podcast has been released, featuring the current president of BYU-Pathway Worldwide, Elder Clark G. Gilbert, who has also been an area seventy of the Church since April of last year:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2021-01-12/byu-pathway-worldwide-president-gilbert-education-innovation-201621
And in the first BYU-Provo devotional of the Winter 2021 semester has been held, which featured the President and First Lady of the university, Elder Kevin J Worthen, who also serves as an area seventy, and his wife, Peggy:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/archives/2021-01-12/president-worthen-byu-devotional-perserverance-unity-covid-19-201654
My thanks once again to you all.
President Clark G. Gilbert also spoke today at the first BYU-Pathway Worldwide Devotional for Winter Semester 2021:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-01-12/byu-pathway-worldwide-president-gilbert-divine-potential-201693
My thanks once again to you all.
Updates have been provided recently on the Saratoga Springs Utah, Brasilia Brazil, and Red Cliffs Utah Temples, with the changes in the status of each noted on the following respective pages:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/saratoga-springs-utah-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/brasilia-brazil-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/red-cliffs-utah-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
The Newsroom has reported on a donation the Church has given to various organizations that assist the homeless here in Utah:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-jesus-christ-funds-initiatives-shelter-homeless
My thanks once again to you all.