Hello again, everyone! I am still attempting to put together my thoughts on the General Conference weekend that just concluded, but I do have some breaking news to report as well. During President Nelson's concluding remarks, the prophet 20 new temples that will be built in the following locations:
In Europe: Oslo Norway; Burssels Belgium; and Vienna Austria. In Africa: Kumasi Ghana; Beira Mozambique; and Cape Town South Africa. In Asia: Singapore, Singapore.In South America: Belo Horizonte Brazil; Cali Colombia; Queretaro and Torreon Mexico. And in the Central and Western United States: Helena Montana; Casper Wyoming; Grand Junction Colorado; Farmington New Mexico; Burley Idaho; Eugene Oregon; Elko Nevada; Yorba Linda Califronia; and Smithfield Utah.
Of those new temples, I correcttly predicted the following temple: Oslo Norway, Brussels Belgium, Vienna Austria,, Kumasi Ghana, Cape Town South Africa, Singapore City Singapore, Belo Horizonte Brazil, Cali Colombia, Queretaro and Torreon Mexico, Eugene Oregon, Elko Nevada
I had the following general regions correct, but not the specific locations: Beira Mozambique (I opted for Maputo), Helena Montana (I opted for Missoula), Casper Wyoming (my choice was Evanston), Grand Junction Colorado (I had Colorado Springs), Farmington New Mexico (I had Las Cruces), Burley Idaho (I had Preston), Yurba Linda California (Bakersfield was on my list), and Smithfield.
Apparently, I need to do even more to listen to the opinions of others. That being siad, I'm satisfied and surprised that we go a full 20, which is the new highest number of temples announced by President Nelson at one time. I very much appreciate President Nelson's prophetic dedication to bring the temples to the people. The total number of temples in any phase has now reached 251. I am grateful to have been able to learn of (and pass along) this information to you all. I continue to monitor all Church news updates and reported developments and will be sure to pass word of those along to you all here as I become aware thereof.
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.
Wow, what a great conference weekend. The Lord us surly hastening his work.
ReplyDeleteIt was an amazing weekend. So much that I loved. The advanced sustaining of the area seventies made the process of sustaining so much faster. New members of the Presidency of the Seventy sustained now. Elder Gerrit W. Gong gave his first General Conference address in the Saturday Morning Session yesterday. So many GA Seventies offering prerecorded remarks from their current international assignments. No members of the Presiding Bishopric speaking. An entire session where, aside from President Nelson, all speakers were born outside the United States. A whopping 20 new temples. So many wonderful things that occurred. I loved it all. Thanks for weighing in to share your thoughts.
DeleteMany of those areas on your list should remain because the announced temples are still far away or even farther away the the current temple.
ReplyDeleteBakersfield is on the other side of LA than Yorba Linda, so this doesn't replace that. Same thing in New Mexico, Farmington is 3 hours Northwest of Albuquerque and Las Cruces is 3 hours South of Albuquerque.
I was surprised mostly that Mongolia was not announced. Very exciting though, 20 temples in one announcement.
Kenny, you make a good point, which is well taken. For the US, if a tempole was not announced in any location on my list, I won't remove that location for next time. Rather, we can start to build a new one. I was also surprised that Mongolia was not announced. Probably that's one of the next (if not very next) Asia North prospects. My understanding is that most of these temples will eliminate existing gaps. And I think it may be safe to assume that the Church might be able to begin construction on the Vienna temple before that process begins in Budapest, as I've heard rumblings about situations in Hungary that could delay that prospect. But almost two dozen new temples will keep the Temple Department very busy for the next little while. It will be awesome to see how quickly all temples currently in the queue will be able to see construction begin. Thanks again, Kenny.
DeleteThe Church News has provided some additional analysis on the newest announced temples, including the fact that this is the highest number of temples with specifically-identified locations to ever be announced in any General Conference:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2021-04-04/april-2021-general-conference-temple-announcement-209504
My understanding is that most of these will be small temples easily approved, built, and dedicated. It will be interesting to see what happens there. My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! Since the First Presidency started announcing the phased reopening of temples, it has been somewhat customary for phase changes to be annoounced each week on Monday. For whatever the reason might be, the Church has not released any new updates in that respect this week. Therefore, the information shared on this blog last week reflects the latest update I have on temple reopenings.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, the Church News has provided additional coverage of General Conference weekend within the last 48 hours or so. The following web address is the main repository for all such articles, including any other new ones that may be published about General Conference in the next few days:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/category/general-conference-fall-2019
Aside from that, there are no additional updates from the Church News or the Newsroom, or in regards to temple construction. I should also note that, for whatever the reason, no video or audio versions of any of the addresses from the General Conference that wrapped up yesterday, which is unusual. As a consequence, I will need to wait on compiling the document about the lengths of each apostolic talk, and I will also need to wait to update the total number of talks given by our apostles. The Church's official website has done several updates that mmay make everything easier to find, but perhaps more difficult to update. Stay tuned for those updates as I can make them happen. My thanks once again to you all.
Hello James, and hello all!
ReplyDeleteIt helps me to visualize, so I created a custom list in Google Maps of the 20 temples announced in April 2021, ordered in the exact sequence that President Nelson announced them.
Here's the link to that list:
https://www.google.com/maps/placelists/list/t0F41Ig0kYrP-2O7WCTifAz27hUZUA
Hello again, Mark. Thanks for this additional comment. It continually amazes me how so many of us have figured out ways to better understand, visualize, interpret, and share information like this. Thanks again for your additional input. I appreciate hearing from you again.
DeleteIt's been a while since I commented, but always read your posts :)
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that Mongolia nor Madagascar were announced. But they will come in time.
When looking at the temples announced for the US, all of them are in Intermountain states or west. None announced are east of the Rocky Mountains. I suppose you could argue Casper, but it's not TOO much further east. I was very surprised with Smithfield and not Preston, but I think Smithfield is a good place, especially if it's on the north side of town, which will serve Preston area well.
I am not quite sure to whom I am replying, since no name was posted with this comment, but thanks for weighing in here on this. I actually had some thoughts about the method whereby President Nelson announced these 20 temples. Prior to this weekend's announcement, President Nelson had not announced any temples in the Africa South Area. An argument could be made that, in the April General Conference last year, prior to the official date of August 1, the temple announced for Lubumbashi qualified as an announcement for the Africa Southeast Area, but since the area split occurred four months later, I don't personally count Lubumbashi as an Africa Southeast Temple. So two new temples being announced for the Africa South Area was understandable.
DeleteThe announcement of a temple in Cape Town comes just over a year after the dedication of the Durban South Africa Temple, and the temple in Mozambique was needed because that nation had ranked second among the top ten nations with the strongest Church presence without a temple. I was somewhat surprised that a temple in Beira was announced before Maputo, but as others observed, Beira is the more central location, and Maputo is actually fairly close to another African city in which a temple is either currently operating, under construction, or announced (can't remember which city that is, but that played into the choice of Beira rather than Maputo, I'm sure). A second temple in Ghana was sure to be announced sooner rather than later, and Kumasi seemed to be the most likely location.
The newest temples announced for Brazil, Europe, Mexico, and Colombia were not a surprise either, and are all needed for obvious reasons. That brings me to the US picks most recently announced. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that the Feather River California, Bentonville Arkansas, McAllen Texas, and Moses Lake Washington Temples were essentially the test of a prototype for new temples that would be smaller and of a specific design that could be easily approved, quickly built, and dedicated within 2-3 years of construction beginning. With those temple prototypes having proven effective and successful, President Nelson is able to announce a higher number of temples in the US that would use similar or identical designs as were used for the test cases. And with that being the case, I believe he chose to first focus on the western and central states in the United States for this go-round. Prior to last weekend's announcements, President Nelson had not announced any temples in the central United States. Having done so now, he may announce one or more temples in Utah and the western United States in the next set, but perhaps focus more on the eastern states next time. Additionally, with the Western and Central States, there is a higher concentration of Latter-day Saints than is the case for the Eastern States.
DeleteSo that may explain why only 3 temples have been announced thus far for the Eastern States, while 20 temples have been announced in the Western and Central States (including Utah). A higher concentration of Church members means that temples in the Western and Central States may be more utilized than those in the Eastern part of the US.
DeleteEither way, I anticipate that several more smaller temples are on the way, which means that we may be able to reasonably expect a higher number of temples being announced over the next few General Conferences, with those getting more swift approval and able to be built and dedicated sooner than larger temples would be.
Anyways, these are just my thoughts on the line of reasoning President Nelson may have utilized in focusing on the selection of temple locations where they were announced. I have a feeling that what we saw this weekend was just the beginning of what is to come. And I look forward to seeing what unfolds with all temple matters for the rest of this year. With all of that said, thanks to each of you who have been kind enough to wade through this lengthy analysis on my part. And my thanks also to whomever posted the comment above for weighing in on these latest announced temples.
One thing to remember is the lessons learned from south/east us temples built quickly using the same pattern without regard to material and technically differences needed in various climates. These temples repeatedly had serious mold problems and when renovation happened effectively what happened was a complete tear down and rebuild to fix the issues.
DeleteI trust the temple department has the institutional memory to not repeat the same mistakes as the last temple building boom, so maybe they will have a series of patterns based on climate and materials available and needed to make the temples structurally sound for many years.
Danny, you make a very valid observation. I'm sure that the Church has learned from the mistakes encountered in those OG temples that have since been renovated. The good news is that every member of the First Presidency, in addition to Elder Bednar as the Chairman of the Temple and Family History Executive Council, were all around when that temple-building boom occurred, and would thus have insight into how to prevent those mistakes from being duplicated in the newest edifices that are rising or will yet rise around the world in general and throughout the US in particular. Thanks for that observation. Always a pleasure to hear from you, Danny.
DeleteThe Church News podcast this week recapped talks given by the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and General Officers of the Church:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2021-04-06/episode-25-general-conference-highlights-counsel-direction-church-leaders-209800
My thanks once again to you all.
Another new Church News article introduces the new Primary General Presidency:
DeleteMy thanks once again to you all.
Updates have been provided on the Pocatello Idaho and Antofagasta Chile Temples:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/pocatello-idaho-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/antofagasta-chile-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
Temple predictions are fun. Sometimes we get things right. Sometimes we get things wrong. But the great thing is that members will be getting a Temple closer to them. Temples will bless members and non-members in the places they are built.
ReplyDeleteCraig, thanks for this additional comment. You are, of course, correct. The important thing is that temples are going to the people, where they are needed, and when they are needed there. With 20 new temples announced, it seems probable that a majority of them will be smaller. And with that in mind, I could see the Church announcing the locations of many of these 20 within the next 2-4 months. And if that happens, then ground could be broken within 4-6 months after that, and I'm anticipating construction on most of these that will be smaller will take roughly 2-3 years each.
DeleteThat could mean that, starting in 2023, we could have several new temples dedicated each month. I think that we may be entering into uncharted, or at very least unprecedent territory here. Clearly, when President Nelson said that the work was going to move forward at an accelerated pace, he wasn't kidding. Thanks again, Craig, for taking time to weigh in here. Always a pleasure to hear from you.
Temple INCREASE apr 2021:
ReplyDeleteMozambique first
Norway first
Belgium first
Austria first
Singapore first
Ghana 100% 1/ 1
S Africa 50% 1/ 2
Colombia 50% 1/ 2
Mexico 14% 2/ 14
United States 9% 9/ 97
World 9% 20/231
Brazil 8% 1/ 12
Africa 26% 3/ 13 3.5 areas
Europe 18% 3/ 16 2 areas
World 9% 20/231 22 areas
N America 8% 11/133 9 areas
S America 6% 2/ 33 3 areas
Asia 5% 1/ 19 2.5 areas
Oceania 0% 0/ 17 2 areas
Hello, Cuffers. Thanks for sharing the above information here. I want to make sure that I (and by extension, my readers here) are properly understanding the information you noted. Obviously, the note about the nations that received their first temples is self-explanatory. But for the other nations noted, I am assuming the percentage represents the total increase in the number of temples based on those that were announced last weekend. I am also assuming that the first number represents the number of temples announced in each nation list, with the second number representing the total number of temples in each nation before this weekend's announcements. Is that correct?
DeleteAlso, with the major continents/world regions listed, I am assuming that the percentage increase is based on the number announced (the first number listed) divided by the total number of temples that had been in each area prior to the new temples being announced last weekend. Is that correct?
If I am understanding all of that correctly, then I have one other follow-up question about North America: are you using the more broad definition of North America, which includes Canada, the United States, Mexico, and apparently Greenland as well? Additionally, why do you list Africa as having 3.5 areas? Are you counting Northern Africa from the Middle East/Africa North Area as half an area? Is there anything else you'd like to clarify about this data? Thank you for sharing the information here. I appreciate hearing from you.
Are we going to build temples almost as fast as meetinghouses. With the 2 hour Sunday schedule a building could hold one or more extra wards. Reducing the need to build as many. Thus allocating funds for more temples. The plan at least outside Utah appears to bring smaller temples closer the the members. Within Utah (and a few other places) since they are built so close to each other, new temples seem mainly due to high usage and capacity.
ReplyDeleteChris, thanks for weighing in here. You raise an important question. I believe I recall a statement from one of the apostles (perhaps even President Nelson himself) to the effect that the prophet has prioiritzed the building of temples above building new meetinghouses. There are surely some that may currently be under-utilized, but that may be difficult to gauge for the time being while COVID-19 protocols related to Church services remain in effect.
DeleteWe also know from previous statements or inferences made by his wife, his fellow apostles, and by President Nelson himself that the ultimate goal may be a ten-fold increase in the number of temples.
The better question might be whether the Church could consolidate the number of meetinghouses in use in such a way that any unused meetinghouses could be demolished to make way for temples where they are needed. And I think that would be more likely. Consolidating the number of meetinghouses would likely save the Church more money as well.
But I don't believe that now is the time that the Church will move towards constructing more temples than meetinghouses. Let me clarify that statemnt. It didn't take long after President Nelson became the Church President and started annoouncing temples for the reports of his goal of a ten-fold increase to be more widely shared. But it wasn't until last weekend's General Conference that he officially announced the highest number of specifically-identified new temple locations in Church history.
Prior to the most recent General Conference, we had heard a lot about President Nelson's plans, but it wasn't until early 2019 when the Church started unveiling new styles of smaller temples designed under President Nelson's leadership.
And it wasn't until this last weekend that 20 new temples were announced. Within the last year, we have seen other new temple designs unveiled for smaller temples that are able to be built and dedicated more fully. While I anticipate that most of those 20 newest temples will be smaller, that has not yet been officially confirmed.
So that suggests to me that President Nelson used the smaller temples announced in October 2018 as a prototype for international locations, with new prototypes for smaler temples in North America unveiled in the last year or so. The timeline of these events thus far suggests a gradual but steady rollout for the ten-fold increase. So there is a process to it, and we are seeing that unfold. But with the measured approach that has been taken towards that rollout thus far, what I'm suggesting is that building more temples than meetinghouses will be part of the plan down the line as the measured rollout thereof ocntinues.
That being said, I'd love to see things accelerating, since President Nelson has indicated that will happen in the days ahead/ So I might be entirely wrong in my feeling that it is not yet time for that part of the temple building plans to come to fruition.
We are almost certain to see even more unprecedented developments in the days ahead, and I cannot wait to see what's next. Thanks again, Chris, for stopping by to comment. You made some very valid points, which are well-taken. I always appreciate hearing from you.