Note: An initial version of this post was published on this blog at 10:12 AM. Following the addition of specific details, the updates were published between 1:00-1:30 PM.
Hello again, everyone! Another week has come and gone, and it is time once again for me to provide analysis on the latest temple reopening updates from the Church. Those updates have been (or soon will be) released through the Newsroom, the Church News, and the temple status tracker which lists the temples in each of the Church's 22 areas).
I hope to be able to post a more complete analysis on these changes later today, but I have another commmitment this morning that will delay my analysis on the latest updates. Stay tuned for a more complete report later this afternoon. This post will be updated. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
I am back just under 3 hours from when this post was originally published to provide further analysis and information about the latest temple reopening adjustments which were announced this morning. Two temples in Mexico (Ciudad Juarez and Colonia Juarez Chihuahua Mexico) are expected to transition to phase 3, allowing all proxy ordinances in priority order, with limited proxy work available as scheduled for those temples.
Although the Church has not yet specified how soon it might occur, the updates released today also noted that the Medford Oregon Temple will also transition to phase 3 by the end of this month. Since that shift was not noted as part of today's update, I'm assuming that the phase 3 designation will be effective for Medford either later this week, or by either of the two remaining Tuesdays of this month (August 24 and 31 respectively).
There are now 10 temples which have not been granted any phase designations that would allow any form of proxy work (phases 2-B and 3). Of those temples, 2 are closed for renovation: Tokyo Japan (which is completed but awaiting announced reopening arrangements) and Hong Kong China (which is anticipated to be rededicated in the mid-to-latter part of that year (probably sometime around August, September or October).
For the remaining 8 not yet able to offer proxy work, 1 (San Jose Costa Rica) is in phase 1, with 1 other (Buenos Aires Argentina) which was in phase 2 but had to pause in its' reopening process). The final 6 temples (Barranquilla and Bogota Colombia; Arequipa Peru, Kyiv Ukraine, Montevideo Uruguay, and Seoul Korea) are in phase 2.
As of next Monday (August 23), 8 temples will remain 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, 19 others offering living ordinances and proxy baptisms in phase 2-B; and the remaining 127 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.
Of course, to a certain extent, it's not surprising at all that a Church guided by heavenly inspiration through a living prophet has been better equipped than many secular, governmental, or educational entities at rolling with the changing circumstances that the fluctuating COVID-19 situation requires. While not surprising, it is impressive. And I hope that each of you, my readers and followers, have found similar inspiration and comfort in observing that process as well.
With my having added some new reports from the Newsroom and the Church News that were provided between the release of the temple reopening information and now, I continue to monitor all major updates in that regard, in addition to the latest developments and milestones. I also continue to work as I can on my predictions for the upcoming October General Conference and will publish those here ASAP once I have those completed.
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! I am getting ready to update the post above as promised. But I first wanted to note that the Newsroom and the Church News have shared reports on the address given this morning by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in conjunction with the 2021 BYU-Provo Education Week:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-uchtdorf-five-messages
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-08-17/byu-education-week-elder-uchtdorf-five-messages-all-need-to-hear-222464
Prior to this morning's devotional, the Church News also published another article about Education Week:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-08-16/byu-education-week-2021-diet-exercise-and-sleep-222414n
That article reemphasized important principles of self-care, including diet and nutrition, regular exercise, and the importance of estalbished sleeping routines. My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has shared 2 additional reports this afternoon:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-08-17/lds-paralympians-games-tokyo-wheelchair-fencing-track-shot-put-goalball-222395
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-08-17/children-and-youth-program-byu-education-week-noble-youth-222457
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has provided 2 additional reports covering remarks given during this week's ongoing BYU-Provo Education Week. The first article shares remarks given by Brother S. Michael Wilcox, who is a fairly frequent presenter the Church in general and BYU in particular call upon to offer remarks in settings like Education Week:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-08-17/education-week-wilcox-what-seek-ye-answering-the-questions-of-jesus-222475
And Jason Webb, a Church member who works at Wasatch Behavioral Health assisting patients dealing with various forms of addiction, shared some insights about how addiction can impact spirituality, and how spirituality can be a powerful tool in the arsenal of those dealing with addictions:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-08-18/addiction-atonement-byu-education-week-jason-webb-therapy-love-of-god-recovery-222525
Due to my own continuing battles with chronic pain and related stress, anxiety, and depression, it's been my privilege to work with two professionals from the Wasatch Behavioral Health facility. My referral to see them came from my neurologist, who felt that counseling and medicinal assistance for my ongoing anxiety and depression issues might be helpful in terms of also helping with my chronic pain. I can attest personally to the good work done by the professionals within the Wasatch Behavioral Health umbrella.
Aside from those two Education Week reports, I failed to note yesterday that the latest edition of the Church News podcast had been published. The newest podcast features Brother Richard E. Turley Jr., who previously served as the Assistant Church Historian and Recorder. In the podcast, Brother Turley shared his thoughts on lessons we can learn from Church history that may assist us in our current circumstances, with COVID-19 continuing to be a problem and the First Presidency having recently reiterated guidelines relating to masks, vaccinations, and social distancing:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2021-08-17/episode-44-podcast-historian-richard-turley-vaccinations-face-masks-222519
Before I conclude this comment, I wanted to note something else. It was on August 12 that the First Presidency released a statement highlighting the importance of pandemic precautions, including the usage of masks, social distancing, and vaccinations:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-message-covid-19-august-2021
When that statement was released, I witnessed a wide variety of reactions from those who responded to the reports about the statement. Some people recognized that the First Presidency was reiterating what they had previously said in prior statements. Others expressed gratitude that the First Presidency “finally” weighed in on the matter, seemingly overlooking, forgetting, or choosing to ignore the fact that previous statements had been released, and that top leaders had set the example by getting vaccinated as soon as they could.
There were also others who were complaining about the Church weighing in on yet another secular issue, saying that the Church should not have voiced an opinion on it. Others questioned the qualifications of the Brethren to make such a statement, disregarding the facts that among top Church leaders are several retired surgeons and physicians, and that even if there were no former medical professionals in top Church leadership positions, those we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators do not need any specific qualifications to weigh in on secular matters.
Additionally, some of those who ignored, overlooked, or forgot about earlier statements said that since the Church had “finally” weighed in in support of vaccines, they (those making the comments) will get the vaccine in response to the statement. But others said that no matter what the Church may officially say on the subject, they would still exercise their agency by choosing to not get vaccinated.
DeleteNo matter who it was offering any of these kinds of responses to the latest reiteration of previous statements, it occurred to me that most (if not all) of those responses are, in a very real sense, further signs of the times in which we live. Unfortunately, some people are choosing to rely on their own wisdom and judgement rather than seeking guidance from the Lord or accepting the counsel of the Brethren as being applicable to them.
While I am grateful that the recent reiterated statement has been enough to convince some people to get vaccinated, it’s also somewhat disheartening to realize that some of those who said that didn’t do anything similar in response to previous statements and recommendations from the Brethren. With all of that in mind, I’m additionally grateful that the Church is doing as much as they are to adapt and adjust in response to changing COVID-19 conditions. And I’m also glad that the Lord will eventually be the One to whom all of us will answer for our actions.
I apologize for the lengthy comment here, but hope what I’ve shared may be of value to at least some of you. I will be sure to post another comment or new post later today with any temple developments or other Church news reports. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
Additionally today, the Newsroom provided an update on the ongoing renovation process for the Salt Lake Temple:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/temple-square-renovation-video-august-2021
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has shared the following additional reports:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-08-18/byu-education-week-accomplishing-work-of-salvation-222583
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-08-18/dixie-fire-susanville-california-greenville-evacuation-222595
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2021-08-18/see-photos-video-temple-square-renovation-roof-excavation-222599
My thanks once again to you all.