Hello again, everyone! Having just shared some preliminary notes on my initial predictions for the October 2021 General Conference, all that remains is to share my actual predictions themselves. So for this post, I wanted to share my predictions for the speaker layout, the most likely changes in general Church leadership, and my preliminary list of locations in which a temple could be announced. The commenting period for these predictions opens immediately, and will go through Thursday September 30 @ 10:00 PM MDT, at which point I will need to make any last-minute adjustments thereunto that may be needed. I look forward to your feedback.
wI am also keeping my eyes open for all Church news and temple developments, and will be sure to bring you all word of those 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.
Hello again, everyone! When I woke up this morning, I found I had several requests from many of you here to access the list of locations I had put together for temple prospects for the next General Conference. I looked into the issue, and it turns out that I had forgotten to select the correct sharing parameter that would allow anyone on the internet with the link to view it. I have updated the permissions on the document in question. The link to the temple locations should lead to the file in question. Sorry about that oversight on my part, and please let me know if there are any further issues. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe Church News has provided the following additional reports:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2021-04-27/podcast-episode-28-elder-uchtdorf-pandemic-lessons-back-to-the-future-missionary-work-211376
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-27/sister-eubank-california-lawmakers-panel-disaster-relief-211414
My thanks once again to you all.
A status update has been provided on the Okinawa Japan Temple:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/okinawa-japan-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has provided the following additional reports:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-27/pornography-addition-prevention-jill-manning-five-characteristics-211460
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-04-27/belize-covid-19-vaccine-unicef-covax-211529
My thanks once again to you all.
Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong and his wife, Carol, spoke to BYU-Idaho students today, with Elder Wong highlighting the importance of 22 stones found in the scriptures, and his wife offering her thoughts on how to make the most out of our study of each General Conference:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-27/elder-wong-rocks-stones-byu-idaho-devotional-211545
My thanks once again to you all.
And another report shares how those interested can virtually participate in a week of performances from the BYU Arts Department:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-04-27/byu-performing-arts-virtual-concerts-pandemic-211571
My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! On this Wednesday, the Church News has shared the following additional reports:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-28/church-general-conference-podcast-211506
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-28/sister-eubank-neutralize-shame-pornography-utah-coalition-211489
Additionally, one other article provides an update on aid the Church has provided to Church members and friends of other faiths in the wake of ongoing volcanic activity in St. Vincent:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-04-28/st-vincent-volcano-donated-supplies-arrive-puerto-rico-grenada-211544
That article in turn links to an update from the Jamaican edition of the Newsroom:
https://news-jm.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/the-church-of-jesus-christ-helps-in-various-ways-amidst-volcano-eruption-in-st-vincent
My thanks once again to you all.
Also from the Newsroom comes this report:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/sharon-eubank-california-panel-faith-based-disaster-response
My thanks once again to you all.
And the Church News provided one additional report:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-28/coach-niumatalolo-righteous-principles-211636
My thanks once again to you all.
Two more updates have been provided by the Church News:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-28/brother-camargo-byu-pathway-devotional-prepare-education-211683
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-28/watch-byu-womens-conference-online-event-211606
My thanks once again to you all.
And an update has been reported today on the construction status for the Moses Lake Washington Temple:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/moses-lake-washington-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
The BYU Women's COnference is now underway, and the Church News has provided the following coverage on that, which speaks for itself:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-28/watch-byu-womens-conference-online-event-211606
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-04-29/byu-womens-conference-relief-society-a-safe-place-belonging-211785
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-04-29/byu-womens-conference-primary-general-presidency-perfection-211700
My thanks once again to you all.
Some additional reports have been shared regarding the BYU Women's Conference:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-04-29/president-pace-byu-womens-conference-trials-faith-211843
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-04-29/byu-womens-conference-president-lund-children-and-youth-program-211760
And following the conclusion of her curreent committment to the BYU scccer team, a recent BYU graduate is set to start a new internship at the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-04-29/byu-soccer-ncaa-zoo-crocodile-hunter-211729
And I have mentioned previously that the Church continues to announce new temple presidents who will begin serving later this year. I had somehow forgotten about this, but although it's customary for a temple president to have a 3-year tenure, for the first presidents of any temple, that period has typically been two years. With that in mind, new temple leaders have been called to assume oversight for the Kinshasa DR Congo Temple, with their service set to begin in August:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2021-04-29/temple-president-matron-kinshasa-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-211366
As with all other new temple leaders, the couple introduced in the article above have served individually and together in a wide variety of assignments. Most recently, the new leaders for the Kinshasa DR Congo Temple, who reside in that same region, have served as leaders of the DR Congo Kinshasa West Mission.
In view of today's announcement, I have six currently-operating temples for which I anticipate a new president will be called. I also have 5 new temples for which the first presidents will likely be called at some point this year, if all goes well, along with up to 8 others which could have their first presidents announced within the next year or so, if their construction and completion estimates are accurate.
And today's announcement brings the total number of temples for which a new president has been announced thus far this year to 59. Here is the link to that updated list:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MpJO3ESKh0h0fvU93GcYOn1M6dIFmY7QnJ67sIeij_A/edit?usp=sharing
My thanks once again to you all.
Meanwhile, the Newsroom has shared information about a new appointment giveen to a former member of the Young Women General Presidency:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/carol-f-mcconkie-vice-president-ngo-committee-status-women-geneva
My thanks once again to you all.
Here is one additional report from the BYU Women's Conference:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-04-29/byu-womens-conference-young-women-presidency-daughter-of-god-211753
My thanks once again to you all.
Some additional reports have been shared by the Church News:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-30/byu-womens-conference-service-broadcast-sister-nelson-212011
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-30/carol-mcconkie-vice-president-young-women-presidency-211946
My thanks once again to you all.
I am also pleased to note that the HTML version of the May 2021 Liahona has been available online for the last several days. As of now now, only 1 or 2 pages are available in PDF format, but I'm hoping that will change over the weekend:
Deletehttps://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2021/05?lang=eng
My thanks once again to you all.
I have mentioned in the recent past that, for some reason, the Church News periodically covers similar content multiple times. During the last year when the COVID-19 pandemic has raged, that has been particularly true. A few different times in the last few months, through various articles, the Church News has highlighted counsel from Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf on how missionary efforts during the pandemic have changed the way the Church views missionary work, and that the goal following the pandemic is not to go back fully to the traditional ways of doing missionary work, but instead focusing on "going back to the future". That idea denotes that, even when pandemic conditions clear sufficiently worldwide in a way that allows in-person meetings, tracting, and teaching, the missionaries going forward will continue to also use technology, where feasible to expand the reach of their assignments.
DeleteAlthough the coverage of that idea and counsel from Elder Uchtdorf has been covered multiple times in several articles, perhaps the reason to continue reemphasize it is to underscore that the Church will not reverse course on that idea. And as we know from previous repetitions, the purpose thereof is always to underscore important ideas, and to make it clear that that concept will be the "new normal" for missionary service following the pandemic. Here is that article:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-04-30/elder-uchtdorf-missionary-work-pandemic-learnings-technology-211477
And the Newsroom has reported on how the Church in general (and Latter-day Saint Charities in particular) has been able to assist in making 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines available to populations most at-risk, including to parts of the world where vaccinations are not widely available at a nearby location for those who need it:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/2-billion-covid-19-vaccinations-roll-out-at-risk-populations
My thanks once again to you all.
And the Church News continues to share content about the BYU Women's Conference:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/category/byu-womens-conference
Depending on my ability to do so, I may just refer everyone back to the general link going forward, or I might continue to provide coverage on individual articles. I'll play that by ear for the time being. My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has shared the following additional reports:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-04-30/latter-day-saint-charities-unicef-global-covid-19-vaccinations-212122
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-04-30/byu-womens-conference-elder-rasband-divine-destiny-212058
My thanks once again to you all.
Several hours ago, the Church News published the latest installment of "This Week on Social":
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-30/social-media-young-adult-president-ballard-leaders-212086
In the most recent edition of that ongoing series, the featured social media content came from the following apostles: Acting President M. Russell Ballard and Elders Gary E. Stevenson and Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Additional content was provided by the following general officers of the Church: Sisters Sharon Eubank and Reyna I. Aburto, the respective First and Second Counselors in the Relief Society General Presidency; Sister Michelle D. Craig, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency; and each of the new members of the Primary General Presidency, who officially responded to their calls with their first social media posts from the official Church accounts for their callings: Sister Camille N. Johnson, Susan H. Porter, and Amy A. Wright; in addition to new social media posts from the Sunday School General Presidency members who were recently given access to their own official accounts connected to their callings: Brothers Mark L. Pace, Milton Camargo, and Jan E. Newman.
Each of the 9 female General Officers of the Church also used their social media channels to invite women everywhere to participate in this year's all-virtual BYU Women's Conference. Those 9 leaders are the Relief Society General Presidency (Jean B. Bingham, Sharon Eubank, and Reyna I. Aburto); the Young Women General Presidency (Sisters Bonnie H. Cordon, Michelle D. Craig, and Rebecca (Becky) Craven; and the Primary General Presidency (Sisters Camille N. Johnson, Susan H. Porter, and Amy A. Wright). My thanks once again to you all.
Huge announcement! Ephraim Utah to get a new temple.
ReplyDeleteIn a video announcement to local members, the Manti temple renovation will maintain the pioneer heritage and a new temple will be built in Emphraim.