Hello again, everyone! As the final moments of June 2021 wind down, it is time once again for a review of temple construction developments which have occurred between the beginning of this year and now, at the half-way point of this year. Let's get right into all of that. First, we look at where things stood as 2021 began,, the progress noted on temples a few days before the April 2021 General Conference, and the developments which have been reported to close out the first half of this year.
The information largely speaks for itself, but I will note that the quarterly reports I share here relating to temple construction are seeing more significant changes per quarter than those which have applied to each quarter in the past years I've covered all of that. And it seems that other reports this year will demonstrate even more signficant updates. It's already been quite a year for temple developments and other major Church news, and I look forward to seeing what may be next in terms of future marjor announcments related to temples and anything else.
I remain committed to monitor all of these developments and to pass them 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.
Hello again, everyone!
ReplyDeleteThe Newsroom has shared the following additional reports, all of which I might not have previously passed along when they were first shared:
https://news-uk.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/global-latter-day-saint-leaders-support-measures-enhancing-spiritual-healing-of-religiously-oppressed
https://news-gh.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/strengthening-families-conference-strengthen-the-rising-generation-theme-invigorates-people-to-make-a-difference
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/latter-day-saints-around-the-world--country-newsroom-websites--june-25--2021
Meanwhile, the Church News has shared the following additional reports:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-07-01/byu-camps-summer-sports-academics-pandemic-217990
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-07-01/olivia-moultrie-soccer-nwsl-latter-day-saint-portland-218381
And three weeks after the Church News shared information on the cities and nations in Africa which had temples announced in April, the Church News has shared similar information about the three European cities and nations in which temples were announced:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2021-07-01/europe-new-temples-announced-april-2021-217568
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News and the Newsroom have both covered an honor given to President Dallin H. Oaks tonight as part of Provo's Freedom Festival:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-07-01/president-oaks-freedom-awards-gala-provo-218437
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-oaks-honored-american-freedom-festival
My thanks once again to you all.
Freetown (233 second entry) should be real 234.
ReplyDeleteEphraim brings total to 252.
Thanks for pointing that out. I will fix that error. I appreciate hearing from you.
DeleteHello again, everyone! As observed by Cuffers in the subthread above this one, there was an unintentional error in my third temple construction progress report where the number had not been noted for the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple, and where the numbrs by the other temples were each one digit higher than they should have been. This is to advise you all that I have corrected that error, and the corrected version of that section is now found at the corresponding link in this post.
ReplyDeleteAside from that, his morning, the Church News has provided the following updates, which speak for themselves:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-07-02/family-history-library-reopening-new-renovations-218302
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-07-02/cardinal-dolan-elder-cook-defending-religious-freedom-218465
Additionally, a new update on the Quito Ecuador Temple indicates that construction on it has been completed, with the announcement of opening arrangements anticipated soon:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/quito-ecuador-temple/
Based on what I've been able to ascertain on my end, with the information I have available, it seems likely that when the opening dates are announced for Quito, the dedication may be sometime between December 2021 and March 2022. I'm sure the Church is evaluating that and that an official announcement might be coming in a week or two. But it wouldn't shock me if the dedication for Quito also occurs before the dedications of the Rio de Janeiro Brazil and Winnipeg Manitoba Temples.
More temple updates to follow shortly. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
As mentioned in my previous comment, updates have been provided on the following additional temples: Orem Utah, Urdaneta Philippines, Brasilia Brazil, Syracuse Utah, Davao Philippines, and Hamilton New Zealand:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/orem-utah-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/urdaneta-philippines-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/brasilia-brazil-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/syracuse-utah-temple
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/davao-philippines-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/hamilton-new-zealand-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has published an article exploring how the speed and duration of the recent period of time between the announcement of and groundbreaking for the Helena Montana Temple compares with the speed and duration between the announcement of and groundbreaking for other temples in Church history:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2021-07-02/helena-temple-84-days-announcement-to-groundbreaking-fast-turnaround-217918
My thanks once again to you t.
The Church News has published the latest edition of “This Week on Social”:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-07-02/social-media-gymnastics-savior-constitution-joseph-smith-218397
The newest installment in that ongoing series has featured content from the following apostles: Elders Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Quentin L. Cook, and Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; additionally, the following general officers were featured as well: Young Women General President Sister Bonnie H. Cordon and her First Counselor, Sister Michelle D. Craig; Primary General President Sister Camille N. Johnson and her Second Counselor, Sister Amy A. Wright; and Young Men General President Steven J. Lund and his First Counselor, Brother Ahmad S. Corbitt.
Meanwhile, the Church News also covered the report from June 26 that had originally been featured in the Ghana Newsroom. Here is the original report:
https://news-gh.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/strengthening-families-conference-strengthen-the-rising-generation-theme-invigorates-people-to-make-a-difference
And here is the Church News coverage on that development:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-07-02/strengthening-families-conference-rising-generation-children-youtth-ghana-africa-218499
My thanks once again to you all.
I have mentioned in the recent past that the progress (or lack thereof) for temples now under construction or undergoing renovation may lead to shifts in the order of temples in the queue, or in terms of the completion estimates listed for each. For a variety of reasons, the completion estimate for the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple has been one that has fluctuated. The estimate for that temple has shifted once again, from early 2022 down to early-to-mid 2022, which puts it in the same general window as the anticipated completion for the Belem Brazil Temple:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/san-juan-puerto-rico-temple/
And a late update was also provided this evening for the Feather River California Temple:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/feather-river-california-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Saturday, the Church News has shared a few new reports. The first two speak for themselves:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-07-03/new-zealand-ghana-provo-mtc-resume-onsite-training-new-missionaries-218604
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2021-07-03/scott-taylor-elder-davies-participating-temple-events-groundbreaking-218184
And exactly three weeks ago today, the Church News published an article introducing Elder Vaiangina (Vai) Sikahema. When sharing that article, I had noted that the only new general leaders sustained in April who had not yet been featured were the members of the Primary General Presidency. While I'm not sure why there were 3 weeks between the introduction to Elder Sikahema and today, I am pleased to report today that an article introducing new Primary General President Sister Camille N. Johnson:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-07-03/getting-to-know-primary-general-president-camille-n-johnson-faith-life-look-forward-217847
My thanks once again to you all.
I am back on this Sabbath day to pass along the latest updates from the Church News. Most of them speak for themselves:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-07-04/quintuplets-missionary-calls-texas-family-siblings-216489
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-07-04/week-in-review-president-oaks-honored-freedom-festival-elder-holland-sister-eubank-amar-windsor-cook-notre-dame-218605
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-07-04/5-times-church-leaders-religious-liberty-holland-bednar-cook-renlund-soares-218654
And the final Church News report could use some additional context: As previously reported, within the last week, President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, was honored for his lifelong efforts to support and advocate the values and importance of God, family, freedom, and country. In conjunction with that, the Church News shared a link to an article on the importance of those subjects. The article in question was written by President Oaks himself, and was prepared for inclusion in the latest bimonthly edition of the Deseret News magazine:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-07-04/president-oaks-inspired-unique-constitution-independence-day-218645
https://www.deseret.com/2021/6/30/22555833/perspective-our-inspired-constitution-god-divine-inspiration-mormon-latter-day-saints-politics
My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! Although yesterday marked Independence Day here in the United States, when July 4 falls on a Sunday, the federal holiday is observed the next day (Monday). And in view of that fact, the Church News noted today that when tomorrow's edition of the Church News podcast is released, the featured guest will be Sister Jennie Taylor. Her husband, Major Brent Taylor, was serving as the mayor of North Ogden a couple of years ago when he was assigned another tour of duty in Afghanistan. Though neither of them knew this at the time he departed, what turned out to be his final tour of duty came to an unexpected close when he was murdered by one of the Afghan soldiers he'd been assigned to help.
DeleteIn tomorrow's podcast, Sister Taylor will discuss her husband's devotion to God, family, faith, and country and how his devotion in each of those priorities has helped her and her children carry on in their lives since his death:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-07-05/jennie-taylor-patriotism-brent-taylor-widow-218376
Meanwhile, the Newsroom and the Church News have both shared a social media post from Church President Russell M. Nelson, who reflected on the difficult decision to close all of the Church's temples, and on his gratitude for the vaccines and medical professionals whose diligent efforts have enabled the pandemic to be controlled enough for the Church to reopen all operating temples in at least initial reopening phases:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-nelson-temples
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-07-05/president-nelson-covid-temples-have-reopened-218724
My thanks once again to you all.
5 more buildings on Temple Square will officially reopen to the public, effective tomorrow, as reported by the Church News:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-07-05/temple-square-reopening-family-history-library-tabernacle-218409
Just a couple other things. A new article from the Philippines Newsroom has shared that the first FSY camp in Asia has recently opened on that island nation, but when the article is clicked on, that yields an error message. I've reported the error through the online feedback form, and when it is fixed, I will provide the working link to the article.
In the interim, I might have some temple updates to pass along, which if I do, I will post ASAP. But for now, I also wanted to note that I am continuing to work as I can on revisions to my predictions for the October General Conference, but for a variety of reasons, that process is going more slowly than I'd hoped. I will do my best to get those completed and published here (hopefully before the 2020 Summer Olympics coverage begins), but I can't promise a specific time-frame on that.
It's also worth noting that I anticipate that the Church will make its' customary announceent about temple reopening adjustments tomorrow. And although I can't guarantee this, I am anticipating that at some point not long after the conclusion of the Olympic/Paralympic coverage, the rededication arrangements could be announced for the Tokyo Japan Temple, which could see that temple reopen in the early months of next year. If COVID-19 conditions and health and travel restrictions are able to be resolved, I believe it is also likely that we might hear sooner rather than later on the revised opening arrangements for the Winnipeg Manitoba and Washington D.C. Temples, in addition to a new announcement on opening dates for the Quito Ecuador Temple. Any of those that don't occur before the end of the year will likely be scheduled to occur in the first 3-4 months of next year.
The big question marks here remain how soon the revised opening arrangements can safely be made for the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple, and whether any local restrictions or conditions or delays on opening or reopening any temples now in the queur will interfere with the timing of subsequent announcements of opening dates for the Yigo Guam, Praia Cabo Verde, San Juan Puerto Rico, and Belem Brazil Temples.
Having acknowledged all of that, I anticipate that, at least for the first half of next year, but perhaps continuing into the rest of next year and most or all of the two years following that, we could be looking at a string of weeks on which two or more temple dedicatons or rededication might take place. It will be exciting to see how all of that works out.
In the meantime, I will continue to cover all additional Church news or temple updates as I hear about them. As noted previously, I anticipate that this year the number of temples for which groundbreakings will occur this year will far outpace the 21 temples for which groundbreakings were held last year. I expect a particular focus on United States temples, in addition to temples in the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America. Once again, my thanks to you all.
Updates have been provided today on the construction process for the Layton Utah and Tallahassee Flordia Temples:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/layton-utah-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/tallahassee-florida-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
In the comment from this thread timestamped at 5:59 yesterday evening, I alluded to a Newsroom report from the Philippines that was not properly accessible. As I wait for this week's temple reopening announcemennts to be made, I happened to check on the article in question. It is now up and working properly:
Deletehttps://news-ph.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/groundbreaking-held-for-first-fsy-camp-in-asia
My thanks once again to you all.