Hello again, everyone! Tuesday has again rolled around, and with it has come the latest announcements in the week-by-week process to reopen temples worldwide. The most-recently announced changes have been shared within the last half-hour or so. The Church continues to detail them through the official Newsroom release, with more in-depth coverage from the Church News, and an area-by-area update of the latest changes as detailed in the temple reopening status tracker.
As I have customarily done each Tuesday in recent weeks, let me now share additional analysis on the temple reopenings. First, the Church announced this morning that 4 temples in South America (Concepcion and Santiago Chile, Asuncion Paraguay and Cordoba Argentina) will move to phase 3, allowing all living and proxy ordinances, as early as next Tuesday (August 31). And although the Medford Oregon Temple was announced to reopen in phase 3 at some point before the end of August, that has not yet officially occurred, so hopefully the Church will announce that happening among next week's changes.
In last week's update, I mentioned the details about 10 temples which have not yet opened for proxy work. This week's update did not affect any of those 10, but hopefully, at least a few of those will transition to proxy work in the next several weeks. With the updates announced today, by next Tuesday (August 31), the Church will have 8 temples closed for renovation (all but two of which, Hong Kong China and Tokyo Japan) have been granted phase 3 designations, which allows the patrons residing in the districts of those temples to schedule limited proxy work at nearby temples which are also in phase 3).
7 other temples remain "paused" in their reopenings (of which 5 were in phase 3, with 1 each in phases 2-B and 2). Only 1 temple is currently in phase 1, with 6 remaining in phase 2, 15 others offering living ordinances and proxy baptisms in phase 2-B; and the remaining 131 have been given phase 3 status, allowing living ordinances and all proxy work by appointment, with limitations and protocols in place.
As I read about and pass along these reports on this blog, I'm continually blown away by how well the Church is monitoring COVID-19 conditions around the world and making weekly adjustments as necessary. I remain grateful for the moderate, measured, and cautiously-coordinated way in which the Church continues to reopen temples, and to move each temple that much closer to resuming normal operations. We are blessed to see the Lord's hand directing this process every step of the way.
I continue to monitor all Church news reports and temple updates, 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! The Newsroom and the Church News have both reported on how Latter-day Saint Charities, the humanitarian arm of the Church, has provided supplies to Afghan refugees who have fled to Qatar in the wake of the impending US withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan and Iraq:
ReplyDeletehttps://news-middleeast.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/afghan-refugees-in-qatar-receive-aid
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-08-24/afghanistan-refugees-latter-day-saint-charities-223213
The Newsroom has also reported on a visit made by Peru's First Lady to Church offices in Lima, particularly the South America Northwest Area office and the Peruvian MTC. She also learned about the Church's humanitarian program. Elder Jorge F. Zeballos, who serves as that area's president, led the tour, accompanied by his wife. As the Peruvian first lady's tour concluded, Elder Zeballos offered a prayer. He and his wife presented the Peruvian First Lady with framed copies of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World", "The Living Christ", a bouquet of flowers, and a sculpture of a family:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/peru-s-first-lady-visits-church-offices-in-lima
And the latest edition of the Church News podcast has been released, along with a transcript thereof. The guest for the latest edition of the podcast was Sister Shannon Allred Cox, a Latter-day Saint who has raised 6 children, 2 of whom were adopted from Haiti. As a result of those familial ties, Sister Cox has devoted her time and energy to efforts that will help educate the underprivileged in the Caribbean nation of Haiti:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2021-08-24/episode-45-shannon-allred-cox-haitie-miracle-of-easing-personal-trials-through-service-223186
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has provided the following updates, which speak for themselves:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-08-24/lds-paralympians-swimmer-flag-bearer-opening-ceremonies-tokyo-223269
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-08-25/byu-moa-carl-bloch-christ-bethesda-painting-art-223235
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-08-25/president-worthen-byu-belonging-revelation-contention-223300
Also, KSL reported during their noon newscast that Elder Holland's recent remarks during the annual BYU University Conference is drawing public criticism from LGBT+ advoacy and support groups here in Utah, Those groups called out what they saw as divisive language used by Elder Holland.
I personally don't understand why a reiteration of Church doctrine and policy as related to LGBT+ goups was seen as divisive. But there have definitely been times in the past where previous comments from Church leaders on that subject were seen as divisive by those support and advocacy groups . It appears that KSL has not published a report about this issue on their website, but a cursory search on the internet about the remarks in question does yield some analysis thereof. Many of the currently-available sources on that seem to lean more towards a support of the response of LGBT+ advocacy groups here in Utah to Elder Holland's remarks, which is why I've opted not to share any currently-available reports on this matter.
Unfortunately, it's not surprising to me at all that any time the Church reiterates its long-standing policies and doctrines about LGBT+ individuals, the leaders of advocacy or support groups take issue therewith. Coverage of that reaction to Elder Holland's most recent remarks on that subject can be fairly easily found through an internet source. Once KSL publishes their coverage on that reaction, I will try to pass that along.here. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has shared a report on a devotional which was held last Saturday. The speakers were Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Reyna I. Aburto, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, who offered messages of hope and comfort to Latter-day Saints and friends of other faiths in Haiti, in the wake of the newest earthquake that struck there:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-08-25/haiti-earthquake-elder-soares-sister-aburto-devotional-223249
My thanks once again to you all.
There are a few new temple construction updates to pass along. First up is a new update on the Pocatello Idaho Temple. With the open house dates now just three weeks away, the Church is making open house reservations available to the public:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/pocatello-idaho-temple/
For the Yigo Guam and Quito Ecuador Temples, although both are nearing completion, the likely completion window for both has been pushed from mid-to-late 2021 to now being just late 2021. Although I can't say this with any certainty, it appears likely that one or both temples will not be dedicated until the early months of next year:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/yigo-guam-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/quito-ecuador-temple/
Additional updates have been noted on the status of the Taylorsville Utah, Salta Argentina, and Red Cliffs Utah Temples, which speak for themselves:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/taylorsville-utah-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/salta-argentina-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/red-cliffs-utah-temple/
The final update I have for now relates to the Mesa Arizona Temple, for which reservations for open house tours are now also available. The open house for that temple will formally begin in just over 7 weeks.
With all of that being said, I also wanted to note that, based on my recent research, I anticipate that between now and the ned of next month, we will see renderings released and groundbreakings held for both the Casper Wyoming and Elko Nevada Temples, in addition to a site announcement, released rendering, and scheduled groundbreaking for the Bahia Blanca Argeinta Temple.
Depending on how smoothly the approvals process goes, we might also see groundbreakings for the Port MOresby Papua New Guinea, Port Vila VaNuatu and Tarawa Kiribati Temples, each of which have had sites confirmed and renderings released, in addition to renderings being released and groundbreakings scheduled for the Farmington New Mexicod, Grand Junction Colorado, Burley Idaho, and Yorba Linda California Temples.
It also appears likely that at least preliminary information might be released for the Eugene Oregon, Ephraim Utah, Managua Nicaragua, Lagos Nigeria, and Brussels Belgium Temples. We are also likely to see opening arrangments announced for the temples in both Yigo Guam and Quito Ecuador, with reopening arrangements being announced for both the Tokyo Japan and Hamilton New Zealand Temples.\
I feel reasonably confident that each of these anonuncements could come out prior to or shortly following the upcoming October General Conference. And I'm still cautiosly hopeful that temple groundbreakings this year could exceed the 21 we saw occur last year, especially since there are several weeks in which the Church could do so in September, October, November and December.
There is a possibility that any of these developments could be announced before the end of this week.Given that the last major announcement about a temple was made on August 18, I'm hopeful we might see the next big announcement sooner rather than later.I will do my best to bring you all word of any such developments as I learn about those. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! This morning, President Henry B. Eyring, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, was featured in the latest edition of the "How I #HearHim" series, sharing some life experiences that enabled him to hear the Lord through the responses of others:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-eyring-says-we-can-hearhim-through-others-counsel-and-guidance
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-08-26/president-eyring-hear-him-video-mother-223262
The Church News also shared information about the specifics of recent Church donations to Haiti in the wake of the recent earthquake:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-08-26/haiti-earthquake-church-response-supplies-shelters-223344
If there are temple updates, I will pass those along later today. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
While there does not seem to be any new temple updates, I just now realized that I'd forgotten to share a Newsroom report about the recent "All Africa Service Day" Initiative:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-08-26/haiti-earthquake-church-response-supplies-shelters-223344
My thanks once again to you all.
A short while ago, the Church News reported that the wife of emeritus General Authority Elder Cree-L Kofford passed away yesterday:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-08-26/ila-jean-kofford-obituary-cree-l-kofford-faith-family-223426
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has also provided coverage on Latter-day Saints in the paralympics:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/category/olympics
My thanks once again to you all.
As some of you might recall, on August 6 of this year, the Tabernacle Choir announced that former Utah Governor Mike Leavitt would serve as president of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/former-utah-governor-new-tabernacle-choir-president
in conjunction with that announcement, it was noted that Brother Leavitt's wife would serve alongside her husband in that role, and that two counselors and their wives would help form a full presidency for the Choir for the first time.
Then, earlier today, the Choir announced the two counselors and their wives who would assist Brother Leavitt and his wife. Elder L. Whitney Clayton, an emeritus General Authority Seventy who previously served as Senior President of the Seventy, will be the new First Counselor, and will serve with his wife, Kathy.
The new second counselor will be Gary B. Porter, who has previously had extensive roles with various Church organizations and subsidiary companies. His wife will serve with him, but there has not been any information provided on her.
My thanks once again to you all.
Apparently, when noting the information about the new counselors, I did not include the news release in my comment above. Here it is, along with a video showing highlights of Presiding Bishop Causse, the adviser to the Tabernacle Choir, leading the sustaining of the new counselors, remarks from the new Choir presidency members, and featuring the masked Choir members singing their signature farewell song "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" to outgoing president Ron Jarrett:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/two-counselors-announced-to-serve-with-new-tabernacle-choir-president
The Church News provided its own coverage of this development today:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-08-27/tabernacle-choir-leavitt-presidency-causselayton-porter-causee-223497
Additionally, this morning, the Church released the latest edition of "Latter-day Saints Around the World", highlighting contributions made by Church members to various charitable efforts around the world:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/latter-day-saints-around-the-world--country-newsroom-websites--august-27--2021
And the Church News has shared two additional reports as well:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-08-27/sister-craig-video-eyes-to-see-221782
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-08-27/chaplains-army-world-war-examples-joseph-smith-byu-education-week-223402
I'd just add that I don't know whether or not there are any temple updates today. I'm anticipating that some additional temple news will be released at some point, but it's hard to know for sure when that might happen.
DeleteWith the Church having now scheduled the reopening arrangements for the Mesa Arizona Temple, and rescheduling the reopening arrangements for the Washington D.C. Temple, the Church has also wrapped up renovations for the Tokyo Japan and Hamilton New Zealand Temples.
As I've recently observed, it would not shock me if the opeing arrangements for the Tokyo Temple were not announced until after the conclusion of the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. That is set to conclude on Sunday September 5, so I could see the Church waiting until the second or third full week of September.
As I've also mentioned previously, New Zealand has had a high degree of success controlling COVID-19. I haven't heard anything about New Zealand dealing with any variants of COVID-19, so I'm assuming an announcement on the reopening arrangements for that temple could soon come down the pike.
Additionally, with the temple president and matron recently arriving in Yigo Guam, I could see opening arrangements for that temple announced soon, if COVID-19 conditions and restrictions allow that. And the Church has not yet announced a president and matron for the Quito Ecuador Temple, so with that temple nearing completion as well, and in consideration of COVID-19 conditions and any border issues, it will be interesting to see what happens regarding that temple.
It also does not seem out of the question for the Church to announce additional temple groundbreakings in the near future. With the Casper Wyoming and Elko Nevada Temples anticipated to be the same size as the temple currently under construction in Helena Montana, so those two temples could see groundbreakings announced soon. Meanwhile, the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, Port Vila Vanuatu, and Tarawa Kiribati Temples have had renderings released and site locations confirmed, so hopefully each of those could soon have groundbreakings announced soon as well.
DeleteAnd with the Farmington New Mexico and Grand Junction Colorado Temples anticipated to be roughly the same size as the Bentonville Arkansas Temple, news on groundbreakings for both of those temples could be forthcoming as well.
Yesterday, I took a look at groundbreakings that have occurred or are scheduled for this year vs. where the Church was in terms of temple groundbreakings last year. If my memory of that research is correct, by the Saturday following the October 2020 General Conference, the Church had broken ground for a total of 10 temples, with 11 more following by the end of that year.
And this year, once all currently-scheduled groundbreakings are held, by the weekend following the October 2021 General Conference, the scheduled groundbreaking for the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple is set to be the 11th one for this year.
Given the fact that the announced groundbreaking for the Phnom Pehn Cambodia Temple will occur before the previously-announced groundbreaking for the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple, it does not seem out of the question for the Church to schedule other temple groundbreakings to occur prior to others that have already been announced.
With that in mind, I am more certain than ever that the Church will this year exceed the 20 groundbreakings held last year. And given the fact that so many temples have moved into the construction queue since the last General Conference, I am also reasonably certain a double-digit number of temples could again be announced, even if the total is less than the 20 we saw announced last April. With all of that said, my thanks once again to you all.
The latest edition of "This Week on Social" has been published slightly earlier on this Friday than usual:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-08-27/social-media-church-leaders-brad-wilcox-223518
In this week's update, the following leaders were featured: President Henry B. Eyring, Second Counselor in the First Presidency (the only apostle featured this week); Relief Society General President Sister Jean B. Bingham; 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; Sunday School General President Brother Mark L. Pace; Brothers Ahmad S. Corbitt and Brad Wilcox, the respective First and Second Counselors in the Young Men General Presidency;
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News just provided another article of coverage on Latter-day Saints in the Paralympics:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-08-27/lds-paralympians-day-3-wheelchair-rugby-sitting-volleyball-archery-fencing-223588
My thanks once again to you all.
An update was reported earlier tonight on the construction status for the Red Cliffs Utah Temple:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/red-cliffs-utah-temple/
And a change has been made in the listed order of temples for which completion is anticipated at some point in 2024. Primarily, the Bengaluru India Temple has been moved up between Syracuse Utah and Davao Philippines. Previously, the Davao temple was listed between the Syracuse Utah and Bengaluru India Temples, so it was just a slight change.
My thanks once again to you all.
In view of the weekend, I don't anticipate any major breaking updates, but the Church News has provided the following additional reports:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-08-28/elder-spencer-j-condie-joseph-smith-first-vision-just-ask-god-223511
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-08-28/peru-first-lady-humanitarian-program-meeting-mtc-223546
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-08-28/music-and-the-spoken-word-things-bigger-than-basketball-gideon-george-223517
My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! On this Sabbath Day, the Newsroom has reported on how Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles became the first apostle to minister outside the United States since the onset of the pandemic prevented top Church leaders from doing so. Elder Soares visited the Dominican Republicc, where he met with the Vice President of that nation, who had, along with the new President of that nation, began serving last year. Elder Soares was accompanied on that visit by Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Presidency of the Seventy, Elder Eduardo Gavarret, a General Authority Seventy who has served in the Caribbean Area Presidency since August 2018 (and began serving earlier this month as the presidnt of this area). Also in attendance at the meeting was Sister RocÃo Cañar, one of the new Area Organization Advisers for the Caribbean Area of the Church.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, the Church News has shared the following reports, which speak for themselves:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/history-revisited/2021-08-29/exploring-historic-kirtland-ohio-photos-223141
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-08-29/africa-service-day-ghana-planting-trees-blood-drives-community-cleanup-223547
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-08-29/week-in-review-president-erying-hearhim-elder-holland-byu-soares-aburto-223614
My thanks once again to you all.
I wanted to additionally report that, effective next month (September), each of the 3 global Church magazines will list magazine-specific advisers. The one exception to that is Elder Michael T. RIngwood (son-in-law of President Nelson), who chairs the Priesthood and Family Department, and as such, is listed as advising all three magazines.
DeleteHere is a look at the editor/advisers for all 3 magazines starting this month:
September 2021:
Liahona List:
Editor: Randy D. Funk*
Advisers: Sharon Eubank, Walter F. Gonzalez, Jan E. Newman, Michael T. Ringwood
For the Strength of Youth List:
Editor: Randy D. Funk
Advisers: Becky Craven, Adrian Ochoa**, Michael T. Ringwood, Bradley R. Wilcox
The Friend:
Editor: Randy D. Funk
Advisers: Marcos A. Aidukaitis, Cristina B. Franco***, Michael T. Ringwood
*Elder Funk has served as the editor of the Church magazines since 2018. Within the last two decades, the longest period through which any GA Seventy has served as an adviser to the Church magazines has been 4 years, with a new editor most often assigned every 2-3 years. That being said, it’s also possible that Elder Funk could continue to serve as editor of the Church magazines until next year, when he will turn 70 and will likely be granted emeritus status.
**Effective August 1, 2021, Elder Ochoa began serving as Second Counselor in the Mexico Area Presidency. Since that necessitated his departure from Church headquarters, he will likely be replaced as an adviser to the For the Strength of Youth magazine.
***Sister Franco was released as Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, so it appears likely that Sister Amy A. Wright, the new Second Counselor, might be serving as a Church magazine adviser in her place.
My thanks once again to you all.
A few hours ago, the Church News shared another report about Latter-day Saint Paralympians currently competing in Tokyo:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-08-29/lds-paralympics-days-4-5-gold-medals-shot-put-track-silver-wheelchair-rugby-history-swimming-223661
My thanks once again to you all.