Hello again, everyone! In several previous posts (and various comment threads thereof this year and last year), I had mentioned several temples on which I was keeping my eyes for more offical information. For most of those temples, I listed them by their specific names. But I also mentioned that at least one of the temples for which extensive delays in the approvals process were anticipated was on my watchlist for more information in the near term. I didn't identify that temple by name at any point in recent mentions because I didn't have anything official to pass along about that
Fast forward to a short time ago. I have periodically checked the Church's official temple list for any information that has not otherwise been officially confirmed, and I felt impressed to check that again within the last half-hour. I pulled up the list of 48 announced temples. At my last check, that list had not included the 20 new temples announced by President Nelson almost two weeks ago. But when I checked it today, not only were all 48 announced temples listed, but where it had previously listed the Russia Temple, there is now text that reads "Russia Administration Building".
The text for that entry on the list of temples potentially gives us more details on the temple planned for Russia than we've had since that prospect was first announced in General Conference 3 years or so ago. And it suggests to me that perhaps the Church will be successful in getting approval for a Russian mulltipurpose building that includes the temple perhaps more swiftly that would be true if the temple was the only thing planned.
And with the headquarters of the Europe East Area being Moscow Russia, I could see a scenario where the Church takes a similar approach to doing in Russia what has been done previously in Tokyo Japan and what is being planned for Shanghai China, where a multipurpose building would serve as a home base for the area and mission offices, for meetinghouse spaces, and for rooms that could be used for temple worship.
I need to be very clear here that this is no more and no less than a hypothetical theory on my part based on what I'm seeing on the page where the announced temples are listed. It could just as easily be true that the name or specification here is a placeholder, and/or that there will be more work ahead for the Church to do in order to get the temple (and anything else in Russia) approved. When official information is released, that will be the confirmation of the details which are currently lacking.
If nothing else, at least it's a working theory based on what I am seeing on that list, and what I have heard from a couple of sources on my end. I will be most intrigued to see what happens in terms of temple developments in the days, weeks, and months ahead, even if the theory I have posited here turns out to be misguided or ill-conceived on my part. Stay tuned for more informaiton on this (and any other Church news or temple developments) as I become aware of those.
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! Although I don't have any new information today on the potential development I reported in this post around 12 hours ago, I do have one additional Church news update, along with an update on the status of the Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Temple. Those updates follow respectively, in that order:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-04-14/bob-turner-masters-hideki-matsuyama-japan-mission-210407
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/abidjan-cote-d'ivoire-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
The following additional reports have also been shared by the Church News:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-04-14/service-missionaries-mckendrick-family-arizona-210364
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-04-14/elder-quentin-cook-revelation-lords-hand-guiding-210391
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has shared information about a letter written by the Europe Area Presidency, in which those 3 Brethren (Elders Gary B. Sabin, Massimo De Feo, and Erich W. Kopischke) express condolences to Queen Elizabeth and her family on the recent passing of her husband, Prince Philip:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-04-14/europe-area-presidency-letter-prince-philip-death-210489
The article contained a link to the news release sharing the text of the letter in question:
https://news-uk.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/letter-of-condolence-following-the-passing-of-his-royal-highness-the-duke-of-edinburgh
My thanks once again to you all.
On Russia. I think the Administration building concept may be like The Hong Kong Temple was before the renovation inside and like now outside without the spire. It could have public areas like our meetinghouses and other offices. And private space like the temples. In order to comply with the law or local support. I think
DeleteHey, Chris. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here. I always appreciate hearing from you. You make a good point about Hong Kong and Tokyo being possible examples for how things might work with the administration building. President Nelson made it clear previously that Church leaders and members respect the laws of the land wherever they live. And maybe a combined facility that mixes public worship and meeting spaces for administrative purposes interspersed with spaces specifically designated for temple worship would be the key to getting approvals done for the project in Russia. I do think it highly likely that part of the plan could be space for area and mission offices as well. And if that is the plan, then Moscow is looking like the right location, since that's where the headquarters of the Church's Europe East Area is based. It's good to see that the plans for a temnple in Russia very well could be mmoving forward. Thanks again, Chris, for weighing in here. I always appreciate hearing from you.
DeleteI'm wondering if it(both Russia and China) may look more like an office building than a church so that it 1. Fits in, and 2. Gets approved easier. I dont think we will even have a sign on the building. Maybe the traditional Holiness to the Lord temple sign will be on the inside where the public and more sanctified parts are separated.
DeleteChris, you raise another interesting point that had not occurred to me: that the multi-purpose spaces would be separately defined from official temple worship places in both Shanghai and Russia. The Church has had multi-purpose buildings housing temple spaces in the past, and President Nelson particularly was among the apostles serving at the time when many of those multipurpose facilities were first conceived and designed.
DeleteWe know additionally that President Nelson has reemphasized the importance of Church members honoring the laws of the land in which they live, and he was very careful and deliberate in his choice of words when announcing the Shanghai China temple.
So there are definite workarounds, there are precedents for such scenarios, and if anything, the situations in Russia and Shanghai might necessitate some small adaptations to what we have previously seen being done.
Additionally, President Nelson remains an "old friend of China", and he also had responsibility for the Church in Eastern Europe for several years prior to his ordination as Church president, and that might give him especially more of an inside track when it comes to dealing with some of the nuances that will be in play in relation to the temples in Russia and Shanghai.
He has also taken a very measured approach in pretty much everything he has done as Church president, especially when it has come to matters of temple construction or a response to COVID-19 and the process of resuming normal Church and temple operations.
The last three years in which he has presided over the Church have brought unique challenges, but also unique opportunities, and President Nelson has been well-equipped to take it all in stride and adapt as circumstances have necessitated. I have mentioned in the past that President Nelson seems uniquely suited to lead the Church during this period, so I have no doubts he will continue to amaze us with all he will keep doing to lead the Church in these unprecedented scenarios. Thank you again, Chris, for taking time to comment. I always appreciate hearing frmo you.
Hello again, everyone! After a hiatus of a month or so, the Church has released another video in the ongoing "How I #HearHim" series. In today's featured video, President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, highlighted the importance of seeking for and acting upon spiritual impressions, no matter how unusual they may seem. Coverage on this newest video in that ongoing series was provided by both the Newsroom and the Church News:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/act-upon-impressions-president-oaks-says-in-new-how-i-hearhim-video
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-15/president-oaks-hear-him-video-blog-post-210385
And a full three weeks after the last such announcement, the Church News has shared the biographies of two more temple presidents and matrons. I did not anticipate the first announcement, which was for new leaders for the Arequipa Peru Temple, and the featured couple apparently began serving in that capacity on the Monday after the April General Conference. The new president and matron of that temple are a former area seventy and his wife, who have served both individually and together in a wide variety of assignments.
Meanwhile, a new president and matron were also called for the Cebu City Philippines Temple, which was on my list of anticipated changes, and they will begin their service in August. Both of the new leaders for this temple have similarly rendered extensive Church service, individually and as a couple, with the new president being a current temple sealer who formerly served as a counselor in a temple presidency. Those biographies can be found in the following article:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2021-04-15/new-temple-presidents-arequipa-peru-cebu-city-philippines-210123
The latest announcement of new temple presidents leave 5 currently-operating temples on my list of those for which a new president may be called this year, in addition to 5 new temples for which the first president and matron will almost certainly be called later this year. I also have 8 other temples for which the first president and matron could be called, if construction wraps up within the next 15-18 months or so.
As a result of today's announcement of two new temple presidents, the total number of temples for which a new president has been called has risen to 58.
You can view that updated list in the following document:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MpJO3ESKh0h0fvU93GcYOn1M6dIFmY7QnJ67sIeij_A/edit?usp=sharing
My thanks once again to you all for your continued interest and ongoing support.
And for the Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Temple, an unsual update has been reported. Most temples which have the angel Moroni statue attached to their steeples are gold-plated. But the angel Moroni for the Ivory Coast's first temple is actually silver-plated:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/abidjan-cote-d'ivoire-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has shared a new chart showing the general authorities and general officers of the Church, current as of April 2021. That included an article sharing the details:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-04-15/general-authority-chart-april-2021-general-conference-210560
And you can find the PDF chart through the following link:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/April2021_GA_Chart.pdf
My thanks once again to you all.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recently recorded a message that was broadcast this week to missionaries around the world:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-04-15/elder-holland-missionary-devotional-companionship-holy-ghost-210522
My thanks once again to you all.
And the Newsroom has reported the reopening of a new Deseret Industries thrift store in Houston, Texas. Elder Sean Douglas, who was the first new General Authority Seventy to be sustained in General Conference last month, and was residing in Houston at the time of his call, represented the Church at the opening of the sotre, and offered a prayer to dedicate the facility. The ceremony was also attended by local community and faith leaders:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/houston-deseret-industries-opens
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News also shared coverage on the opening of the Deseret Industries in Houston Texas, observing that it is the first such facility to open east of the Rocky Mountains:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-04-15/new-deseret-industries-houston-texas-210587
My thaniks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! The Church News and the Newsroom have provided the following additional reports:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-04-16/latter-day-saints-distance-running-byu-olympics-returned-missionaries-210478
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/salt-lake-temple-renovation-project-updates
Additional updates have also been provided on the San Juan Puerto Rico, Lima Peru Los Olivos, and St. George Utah Temples:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/san-juan-puerto-rico-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/lima-peru-los-olivos-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/st.-george-utah-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News also highlighted Lloyd Newell's recent 30-year anniversary of providing inspirational messages during weekly broadcasts of "Music and the Spoken Word":
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-16/lloyd-newell-30-years-spoken-word-pandemic-210415
My thanks once again to you all.
And the Newsroom has shared the following additional report:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/latter-day-saint-charities-delivers-running-water-navajo-nation
My thanks once asgain to you all.
The Church News also covered the aforementioned Salt Lake Temple renovation updates that were shared by the Newsroom this morning:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2021-04-16/salt-lake-temple-renovation-update-tunnel-supports-roof-plaza-fountains-210671
My thanks once again to you all.
The latest edition of "This Week on Social" has been published:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-16/social-media-physical-health-general-conference-debris-210578
For this week, content was shared from the following apostles: President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency; Acting President M. Russell Ballard and Elders Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, Neil L. Andersen and Dale G. Renlund, all of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Content from only one general officer of the Church, Sister Michelle D. Craig, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, was also featured. My thanks once again to you all.
On this Saturday, the Church News has shared the biographies of two more new mission leader couples who will begin serving in those assignments in July:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2021-04-17/new-mission-leaders-chile-salt-lake-city-210192
Both couples, individually and together, have served in a wide range of assignments on the ward and stake levels. Most notably, one of the new presidents is an Elders' Quorum presidency counselor who previously served at the stake level on the high council and in the stake young men's presidency. The other new mission president has been called to succeed Elder Alvin F. "Trip" Meredith III, who was called in General Conference earlier this month as a General Authority Seventy. The new mission president in that case is currently serving as a counselor in the stake presidency and was formerly a member of the stake high council and also a member of the stake young men's presidency.
Unless I am mistaken here (which some other readers of this blog might be able to confirm or clarify for us), I believe the Church News is getting closer to having shared all the biographies of new mission leaders who will begin serving later this year. If that has not been fully completed, there are probably just one or two more to share.
Also, in connection with that, I wanted to mention that I anticipate quite a few more new temple leaders to have biographies highlighted in the Church News. Right now, the priority for those new leaders seems to be those temples that are currently operating. There is probably not as urgent a need to note the assignment of the first presidents for new temples for the time being, since we have two temples completed and sitting empty awaitng new opening dates, with at least one or two more new temples that could be completed in the next two months.
It's also worth noting that, as of today, the Church News has not yet started publishing bigraphical sketches for any of the newly-called General Authority Seventies and Primary General Presidency members who were sustained two weeks ago in General Conference. Hopefully those will start being featured in the next week or two.
It is also worth noting that, within the next couple of weeks (hopefully sooner rather than later) the Church will likely announce the new area leadership assignments that will be effective on August 1. I also anticipate the PDF version of the May 2021 Liahona will similarly be made available soon as well. And I'm putting the final touches on my initial predictions for the October 2021 General Conference. So there will be much more ahead to report on here.
In the meantime, one other Church News article has been published:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2021-04-17/sarah-jane-weaver-temple-symbol-faith-family-210310
My thanks once again to you all.
Also, on the heels of yesterday's Church News report about Brother Lloyd Newell's 30th anniversary as the announcer of "Music and the Spoken Word" who has crafted new "Spoken Word" messages for hybrid broadcasts that have also utilized previously-recorded performances, the Church News has provided the text of the new message Brother Newell will share during tomorrow's broadcast:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-17/music-the-spoken-word-something-is-better-than-nothing-210568
My thanks once again to you all.
Updates have been provided today on the construction status of the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple, and the renovation progress for the Salt Lake Temple:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/lima-peru-los-olivos-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/salt-lake-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has reported on BYU-Hawaii's spring commencement, which was held earlier today:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-04-17/byu-hawaii-graduation-eternal-truths-elder-dyches-210738
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Sabbath morning, the Church News has shared the following additional reports, which speak for themselves:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2021-04-18/69-temples-status-president-nelson-announced-three-years-210278
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2021-04-18/new-stake-presidencies-9-brazil-arizona-mexico-nevada-austria-samoa-chile-210631
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-04-18/week-in-review-president-oaks-hearhim-video-elder-holland-missionary-devotional-elder-cook-podcast-service-missionaries-210700
My thanks once again to you all.
A new Church News video, featuring Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, who chairs the Missionary Executive Council, has been made available today. Elder Uchtdorf talked about the miracles that attended the process of reassigning missionaries as a result of COVID-19, and how the current pandemic has changed the mindset of the Brethren regarding the most effective ways to do missionary work going forward:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-04-18/elder-uchtdorf-video-missionary-work-back-to-the-future-210720
My thanks once again to you all.
I just realized something looking over the article about the 69 temples President Nelson announced: For the PHnom Pehn Cambodia, Pago Pago American Samoa, Neiafu Tonga, Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, and Lindon Utah Temples are all noted as "awaiting a groundbreaking date", and that Lindon is also "awaiting a rendering". That to me indicates that the Church may be actively working on approvals for each of those temples, in which case, hopefully several more groundbreaking announcements, for all of these temples, and also for others, may be coming down the pike sooner rather than later.
DeleteAlso, new updates have been provided on three temples here in the Western United States, specifically the Orem Utah, Mesa Arizona, and Salt Lake Temples:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/orem-utah-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/mesa-arizona-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/salt-lake-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
The Manhattan temple, once you walk inside the main door, then it has another sign inside the foyer that then has the temple sign on the wall. I wish I could attach a photo of it.
ReplyDeleteHaving a multipurpose building makes a lot of sense for Singapore, China, Russia, and UAE.
Hi, Kenny. Great to hear from you. Thanks for weighing in here on this. You raise an interesting point. Manhattan is another example of the Church utilizing a single building for multiple purposes, including temple work. I also hadn't considered that something like that could be done in both Singapore and the UAE, in addition to China and Russia. But that would be an efficient way for the Church to use meetinghouse and temple spaces separately but in the same facilities.
DeleteWith the Church having previously established a precedent where combined office spaces, Sunday worship spaces, and temple worship spaces, that kind of scenario could apply to all of the places you mentioned.
But what you said specifically about the UAE temple plans makes me wonder if, at some point, the Church might transfer oversight of the Middle East/Africa North Area away from Church headquarters, and provide an area office in the UAE, from which the president and counselors would be able to meet the needs of that area in a more direct way than could be done from Church headquarters.
As I've also observed, the headquarters of the Europe East Area are currently based in Moscow, Russia, so I think the odds are pretty high in favor of the administration building going there, combined with other uses. It will be interesting to see all of that unfold.
Incidentally, I'm currently putting together some thoughts about area leadership changes that could be announced for this year. I don't know whether I will finish assembling those before the announcement is officially made. But my reason for bringing that up is that I think there may be a possibility that the Europe East Area president, Elder Christoffel Dolden, might be reassigned as a counselor in the Africa South Area presidency, since he's a native of the area headquarters, and will be 70 next year. If that happens, his First Counselor, Elder Boom, might become the new president, and the current Second Counselor, an area seventy, might become the new First Counselor, with another area seventy called as the Second Counselor. If that occurs, and if both area seventy counselors are current residents of Moscow, that could help expedite the approvals for the Russia Temple. Just a random thought I had about the Europe East Area. Thanks again, Kenny, for stopping by to comment. I always appreciate hearing from you.
Hello again, everyone! As the latest string of weekdays begins here in Utah, the First Presidency has provided further information on temple status changes that will go into effect next Monday (April 26):
ReplyDeleteFirstly, the Boston Massachusetts Temple will resume phase 2 operations, which will allow the performance of all living ordinances in priority order. And with the Church having previously announced 22 temples which will open in phase 2-B (allowing all living ordinances in priority order, in addition to opening the baptistries for limited proxy work), one temple has been added to that list of 22, bringing the total to 23 temples that will make baptistries available on a limited and scheduled basis. The affected temples, sorted first by area, then by nation/state are as follows:
Asia Oorth: Sapporo Japan
North America Central: Billings Montana, Bismarck North Dakota, St. Louis Missouri, and Winter Quarters Nebraska
North America Northeast: Toronto Ontario
North America Southeast: Memphis and Nashville Tennessee and Baton Rouge Louisiana
North America Southwest: Gilbert and Phoenix Arizona, Albuquerque New Mexico, and Las Vegas Nevada
North America West: Columbia River and Spokane Washington
South America Northwest: Cochabamba Bolivia
Utah: Cedar City, Manti, Mount Timpanogos, Payson, Provo, Provo City Center, and Vernal Utah
With these changes going into effect next week, as of Monday April 26, the Church will have 8 temples closed for major renovation (with 3 of those: Mesa Arizona, St. George Utah, and Salt Lake, allowing online scheduling though their Church websites for baptistry appointments at nearby temples which are in phase 2-B), the temple in Kyiv Ukraine that has not yet reopened in any phase whatsoever, 10 temples paused (9 of which were in phase 2, with the other 1 in phase 1), 5 in phase 1, 65 in phase 2, 53 in phase 2-B, and the remaining 26 in phase 3.
I am pleased to see the Church continuing its' cautiously-coordinated, area-by-area reopening of temples as it is safe to do so. For more information on these latest changes, any of you interested can find additional details in the following articles:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2021-04-19/lds-temples-open-worldwide-phased-reopening-183918
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2021-04-19/temple-reopening-status-tracker-worldwide-199279
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-limited-reopening-temples
Also this morning, the Church of Jesus Christ temples site reported an updated news item on the Mesa Arizona Temple. I had mentioned its' latest updated status yesterday, and it looks very much like that temple will soon join the Washington D.C. and Tokyo Japan Temples in the list of those for which a renovation has been completed, but for which reopenings will be delayed until large public gatherings are deemed safe. Here is that update:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/mesa-arizona-temple/news/
Just by way of brief reiteration, current evidence suggests that the soonest the Church may be able to provide tentative opening and dedication/rededication information for any temple may be the third or fourth quarter of this year.
But as I've also mentioned previously, it looks right now as though, when the Church can start open houses again, they will be longer than has been typically true in recent pre-pandemic years, and that the number of dedicatory or rededicatory sessions for each temple and the number of days over which those sessions are held may be extended beyond what has been typical pre-pandemic. It will be interesting to see exactly what that looks like when the Church is able to begin announcing those opening/reopening arrangements for each temple currently awaiting that.
DeleteParenthetically, it is also worth noting that the Quito Ecuador Temple may also soon be completed, and might then join the Rio de Janeiro Brazil and Winnipeg Manitoba Temples in awaiting the announcement of opening dates:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/quito-ecuador-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has also reported on donations and relief efforts provided by the Church to those impacted by the volcanic eruption in St. Vincent:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-04-19/st-vincent-la-soufriere-volcano-chapel-shelter-evacuees-210248
That update made rererence to an update published by the Jamaican Newsroom related to this development. I thought I had shared that original report from the Newsroom, but can't seem to find it now, so here is the original report:
https://news-jm.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/how-latter-day-saints-show-their-faith-amidst-volcano-eruption-in-saint-vincent
My thanks once again to you all.
And an update has been provided on the Layton Utah Temple:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/layton-utah-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.