Hello again, everyone! On this Monday of the week before General Conference, breaking temple news relating to temple reopenings has been reported yet again. As confirmed by the Newsroom and subsequently reported by the Church News within the last hour, two weeks from today (Monday April 12), 7 more temples will transition to phase 3, which will allow ordinances for the living in the same priority order as phase 2, in addition to allowing work for the dead in small groups by appointment only.
Those 7 include the only currently-operating temple in the Africa Central Area (the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple); the two currently-operating temples in the Africa South Area (Durban and Johannesburg South Africa); the two currently-operating temples in the Africa West Area (Aba Nigeria and Accra Ghana); 1 more temple in the Asia North Area (Fukuoka Japan Temple), and 1 temple in the Caribbean (Santo Domingo Dominican Republic).
Also on April 12, 17 other temples are anticipated to transition to phase 2-B, which allows the performance of all living ordinances in priority order, and also reopens the temple baptistries for baptisms for the dead. The temples anticipated to make that change on that date include 8 in Utah (Bountiful, Brigham City, Draper, Jordan River, Logan, Monticello (that one's not technically part of the Utah area, but counts as a Utah temple), Ogden, and Oquirrh Mountain) ; 3 in Arizona (Snowflake, The Gila Valley, and Tucson) 2 in Idaho (Boise and Meridian); 2 in England (London and Preston); 1 in Nevada (Reno), and 1 in Wyoming (Star Valley).
2 weeks after that, on Monday April 26, the Church will be reopening 22 more temples in phase 2-B. Those planned for that date include 7 more in Utah (Cedar City, Manti, Mount Timpanogos, Payson,. Provo City Center, Provo, and Vernal), 11 elsewhere in the United States (Albuquerque New Mexico, Baton Rouge Louisiana, Bismarck North Dakota, Columbia River and Spokane Washington, Gilbert Arizona, Las Vegas Nevada, Memphis and Nashville Tennessee, St. Louis Missouri, and Winter Quarters Nebraska) and 1 more in Canada (Toronto Ontario).
Additionally, in an unusual (but understandable) move, the Church has also announced that 3 temples which are still undergoing renovation will open their baptistries. That will apply to the Salt Lake Temple, effective April 12, and the Mesa Arizona and St. George Utah Temples, effetive on April 26. I am assuming that, because the work has focused elsewhere thus far in the renovation of these temples, that the baptistries can thus be used without the need for rededication of those spaces.
By April 12, the Church's temple reopenings will see 26 in phase 3, 30 in phase 2-B, 86 in phase 2, 7 in phase 1, 10 "paused" in their reopening, with 9 that had reached phase 2, and 1 more that had reached phase 1; 1 which has not yet reopened (the Kyiv Ukraine Temple); and 8 closed for major renovations (although 3 of those will reopen their baptistries by appointment). All of these changes impacting every temple mentioned are now noted in the temple reopening status tracker.
I am grateful to have ben able to find out about these updates and to bring word of those to you all here. I continue to monitor all Church news, temple updates, and General Conference developments in this week leading up to that, and will bring you word of those reports as I become aware 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.
Hello again, everyone! The Newsroom also reported that General Conference this weekend will yet again reach more worldwide audiences than ever before:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/april-2021-general-conference-reaching-more-people
My thanks once again to you all.
I also forgot to note among these changes that the Manilla Philippines Temple is again pausing in its reopening due to COVID-19 conditions. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAnd the Church News has also shared insights from Church members around the world on how they prepare for (and participate in) General Conference. I was particularly touched by the accounts of Church members who, due to the time difference, arise at 6:00 AM local time to enjoy the first session of conference live.
DeleteI was touched by this because, for years while I was involved in my secondary education, I'd habitually wake up early (6-7 AM) to begin my day. But in the years since then, my situation has changed as my obligations and needs have necessitated, and I wind up having very few (if any) mornings when I get up early.
So I was very deeply touched to read the accounts of those members who may be accustomed to different waking and sleeping hours in general, but who do all they can to catch General Conference live as it airs from Salt Lake.
On another note, my admiration for these members is heightened every time I hear of any of them making a long journey to worship at the temple. One reason General Conferences have been so wonderful of late is the announcement of new temples.
And although there are obviously a few cases where delays are occurring, it appears that President Nelson has set a vigorous and robust agenda for temples, and is trying to get most temples he announces under construction within two years or less of their announcements. That is particularly true in the United States.
So as I think of these Church members living in far-flung areas of the world, who make great sacrifices to both catch General Conference as it airs and to worship in the temple, even if they can only do so once in their lifetimes, hopefully I and others who read such accounts will be inspired to more fully appreciate the blessing that is ours to have relatively easy access to both the sessions of General Conference and to our assigned temples. Just wanted to share these additional thoughts, for whatever they might be worth to all who read them. Thanks again, everyone.
Today, updates have been noted on the construction status for the McAllen Texas Temple, and a minor adjustment has been noted on the status of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/mcallen-texas-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/hamilton-new-zealand-temple/,
With reference to the latter update, I wanted to note that, although the note about the formation of the open house and rededication commmittee being formed has been removed from that temple's status, it appears that that committee is still at work planning the parameters of that event once it is safe enough to be held. Just wanted to note that. My thanks once again to you all.
In my comment from 11:52 AM, I mentioned an article from the Church News about how Church members around the world participate in General Conference. I forgot to share the link to that article:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-03-29/how-members-prepare-for-general-conference-global-207683
And the Church New has provided a report on how missionaries, Church members, and Church facilities have fared in Alabama in the midst of multiple tornadoes:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-03-29/alabama-tornadoes-birmingham-tuscaloosa-members-missionaries-208152
My thanks once again to you all.
In the early-morning hours when Monday has recently transitioned into Tuesday here in Utah, yet another update has been provided on the Antofagasta Chile Temple. A day or two ago, heavy equipment had reportedly arrived on-site. That equipment is now being used to demolish the last residence on the temple lot. Once the debris is cleared therefrom, full-scale work will be able to get underway. These details can be verified on the following pages:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/antofagasta-chile-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/antofagasta-chile-temple/photographs/
I will be interested to see what happens with temple construction throughout the rest of this week before General Conference. I will likewise also be very interested to find out whether this week before General Conference brings us two breaking news developments.
As some of you might recall, on the Thursday and Friday before last October's General Conference, the Church made two separate announcements about 5 temple groundbreakings that went on to occur in November and December. I don't know if something similar might happen this time around, or whether there will be any other breaking news updates before General Conference, but I do anticipate at least one breaking development over the conference weekend, in addition to the breaking news of new temples that will almost certainly be announced.
I will keep tabs on all of that and pass word of anything that happens along to you all here as I find out about it. For now, thanks again, everyone.
The latest recording and transcript of the Church News podcast was released this morning. In this episode, guest host Scott Taylor, a Church News staff writer, spoke to Elder David A. Bednar. Their exchange centered on the pattern Elder Bednar has used and recommended that others use to learn more from General Conference, but Elder Bednar also took time to address temple construction, and to note that when the Church is ready to openings or reopenings, some minor adjustments to the typical traditions may need to be made. He was asked in passing about new temples, but whether he simply chose not to answer that part of the question, or had other thoughts that were more pertinent to the situation, that was one thing that was not addressed. That being said, I appreciate that the apostles have been very careful about not revealing some information before it is official. Here is a link to the transcript and audio for that podcast episode:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2021-03-30/episode-24-elder-bednar-pattern-for-studying-general-conference-208206
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has also provided one additional report:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-03-30/family-history-mission-volunteer-opportunities-familysearch-208040
Thanks again, everyone.
Hello again, everyone! I have previously commented on how, in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19, with a majority of the apostles being among the vulnerable population susceptible to the pandemic, the day-to-day ministires of these Brethren has undergone adjustments. I also mentioned an earlier insight from most of the apostles who indicated that some of the ways their ministry has changed during the pandemic may enable them to do things differently or more effectively with their ministries in the future.
ReplyDeleteSo today, the Church News released a new video featuring President M. Russell Ballard, the Acting Presidnent of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The video highlights key moments of his pre-pandemic ministry and visits with Church members, with a voice-over by President Ballard in which he offered encouragement that these pandemic conditions will pass. The video is well worthy of your time:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-03-31/president-ballard-eternal-perspective-covid-19-208233
Also, as has been the case for a while now, in the days leading up to General Conference, the Newsroom has provided a video copy of "The World Report" , a roughly hour-long program released in conjunction with each General Conference weekend, which provides a summary of some of the top key developments that have happened throughout the Church since the last General Conference and the last edition of the World Report aired. Although some local stations may carry that report, and although it will also be available online as part of the General Conference weekend coverage, here is a link to this latest "World Report" for any of you who may want to watch it at any other time:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/april-2021-edition-of-the-world-report
I will have temple updates, if there are any, later today. Also, with today being the last day of March, I have a post ready for publication that will be available in roughly 12 hours, which will highlight and review the key temple construction developments which have occurred from the beginning of this year tbrough today. Stay tuned for that. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
The Church News also reported a short while ago that each of the members of the Young Men General Presidency (General President Steven J. Lund and his counselors, Ahmad Corbitt and Bradley R. (Brad) Wilcox) now have Instagram accounts.
DeleteI have previously mentioned that, in weekly editions of "This Week on Social", posts from apostles and female General Officers of the Church are shared. I believe that today's report of the instagram accounts may indicate that content in future editions of that ongoing Church news series will also include some content from the Young Men General Presidency, but until that's verified, it's just my own conclusion.
In the meantime, updates have been provided on the status of two Utah temples, Layton and Deseret Peak:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/layton-utah-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/deseret-peak-utah-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has also covered the release of the April 2021 World Report:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-03-31/world-report-april-2021-general-conference-208344
My thanks once again to you all.
The Newsroom and the Church News have also provided information about additional updates which have been recently made to the General Church HandbookL
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/general-handbook-update-march-2021
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-03-31/updates-general-handbook-rewritten-chapters-policy-updates-208257
My thanks once again to you all.
As the Church websites continue to provide coverage in the days leading up to General Conference this weekend, Elder Spencer J. Condie, an emeritus General Authority Seventy, authored an article for the Church News, in which he drew on scriptural examples of the Lord's pattern of repetition, and what was learned by the individuals who received the same instruction multiple times. Elder Condie mentioned these examples to illustrate that, if there is some degree of repetition this weekend in the messages that are received, that is only because we are in different situations than the last time we heard those those, and therefore, their application to our lives will be enhanced and improved:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-03-31/elder-spencer-j-condie-column-embrace-change-third-time-208183
It's a wonderful article, and I personally recommend it to all my readers as General Conference draws ever closer. My thanks once again to you all.
And Ensign College has detailed its' plans to accommodate students during the upcoming Fall Semester 2021:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-03-31/ensign-college-fall-classes-covid-19-208382
Further details are available from the following news release:
https://www.ensign.edu/ensign-college-announces-fall-2021-semester-plans
My thanks once again to you all.