Stokes Sounds Off: BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Site Location Confirmed, Exterior Rendering Released, and Groundbreaking Announced for Freetown Sierra Leone Temple

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Wednesday, December 15, 2021

BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Site Location Confirmed, Exterior Rendering Released, and Groundbreaking Announced for Freetown Sierra Leone Temple

Hello again, eveyone! This morning, the Church has confirrm the location of, releaseed the exterior rnedering of, and set the groundbtreaking for the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple. That temple was one of the eight announced by President Nrlson during thr October 3019 Women's Session of General Conference. Before we get to the details here, I wanted to note that, aside from this first temple in Sierra Leone, groundbreakings have already takn place for 6 of the other 7 temples announced at that time. 

Those 6 are Orem Utah, Bentonville Arkansas, Bacolod Philippines, McAllen Texas, Coban Guatemala, and Taylorsville Utah. The remaining temple, Prot Moresby Papua New Guinea, has had a site location confirmed and an extieror rendering released and is awaiting a groundbreaking announcement, so official informtion for all eight temples announced in October 2019 has been confirmed.

We now turn to offivial information released today about the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple. The temple will be built at Jui Road, Kossah Town, Freetown, Sierra Leone on a 2.9 acre site. The temple project will include a two-story ancillary facility that has apartments for the templr presidency members and the orfinance workers, houing for temple patrons, utility buildings, and an arrival center. The temple proper will be an 18,000 square foot single-story ediface.

As far as the groundbreaking is concerned, Elder Hugo E. Martinez, President of thr Africa West Area, will presside therat on Saturday March 19. Barring any unexpected developments, I anticipate that will be the first temple groundbreaking to be held in 2022, but I beliece it will be the first of a double-digit number of temple groundbreakings in 2022.

I am monitoring all such updates and maor Church news updates, and will bring word of those to you all as I receive it. In the meantime, 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.

11 comments:

  1. Hello again, everyone! The Church News also covered the release of information on the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple:

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2021-12-15/freetown-sierra-leone-temple-groundbreaking-site-location-rendering-236660

    Meanwhile, the Church News and Newsroom both covered the completed revision of the English version of the Church's Handbook:

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-12-15/revised-general-handbook-complete-english-latest-updates-236692

    https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/general-handbook-complete-english

    Here are 2 other reports, which speak for themselces:

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-12-15/tornadoes-midwest-helping-hands-church-members-missouri-illinois-arkansas-tennessee-kentucky-clean-up-latter-day-saint-charities-236725

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-12-15/elder-neil-l-andersen-ecuador-colombia-guayaquil-bogota-missionaries-covid-mission-presidents-236524

    My thanks once again to you all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. President Nelson's video Christmas message aired this morning as scheduled:

      https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-russell-m-nelson-christmas-message-2021

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-12-14/watch-president-nelson-christmas-message-video-236570

      Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Presidency of the Seventy was the speaker at the BYU-Idaho graduation held today:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-12-15/byu-idaho-fall-graduation-elder-nielsons-advice-to-gen-z-236783

      And a new update has been noted for the Puebls Mexico Temple:

      https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/puebla-mexico-temple/

      My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
    2. The Church News has provided an update on how local Church leaders and members are helping others in their area in the aftermath of Typhoon Rai, which recently struck the Philippines:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-12-16/tacloban-philippines-evacuees-shelter-church-meetinghouse-as-typhoon-rai-hits-236852

      It appears the area most impacted was Tacloban, the city in which the latest Philippines Temple was announced.

      Meanwhile, the UK edition of the Newsroom has featured an article about an interfaith concert that was previously broadcast here in the US, which is entitled "Special Witnesses of Chtist":

      https://news-uk.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/interfaith-christmas-concert-event-invites-all-to-celebrate-christs-birth

      I would also just like to note here that I've got multiple projects coming down the pike for this blog. December 23 will feature a post honoring Elder Gerrit W. Gong, who will celebrate his 68th birthday on that date. During the final hour of December 31, I have two other posts set to publish, one of which will highlight a year-end review of temple construction progress, with the other constituting a look bsck at the reports on this blog during 2021, and a look ahead at scheduled content for 2022.

      Additionally, on January 2, the first apostolic milestone update for 2022 will be published. And I'm also working on compiling a list of temples which will have an extended closure period in 2022, in addition to an update on which temples might close foe renovations in the near future, which new and currently-operating temples are most likely to have new presidents called in 2022, and an overhaul of my previously-offered estimates foe the timing of known temple events in the near future.

      Aside from the birthday tribute to lElder Gong and the two year-end 2021 posts, I anticipate all of the other posts I mentioned ed will be featured here in January, with some also possibly spilling into February. So there will be plenty of new content to which I hope you will all be looking forward. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
  2. Hello again, everyone! The Church News has shared two new reports:

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-12-17/justserve-san-diego-ronald-mcdonald-house-stuffed-animals-volunteers-236855

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-12-17/shane-smeed-park-university-platte-city-stake-missouri-councils-236886

    And updates have been provided on the McAllen Texas, Casper Wyoming, Urdaneta Philippines, and Puebla Mexico Temples:

    https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/mcallen-texas-temple/

    https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/casper-wyoming-temple/

    https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/urdaneta-philippines-temple/

    https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/puebla-mexico-temple/

    My thanks once again to you all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As some of you might recall, last month, the CHurch News reported that the Seoul Korea Temple President had passed away:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-11-11/seoul-korea-temple-president-chiwon-kim-dies-232842

      As a result of that, the Church News noted today that Oh, Hee Keun, a former area seventy, stake president, and temple sealer will be the new president:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2021-12-17/seoul-korea-temple-president-and-matron-called-to-serve-236694

      And the latest edition of "This Week on Social" has been published:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-12-17/sister-craig-granddaughter-elder-renlund-christmas-devotional-message-family-proclamation-236978

      The newest edition of that weekly overview highlighted posts from the following general leaders of the Church: Church President Russell M. Nelson (whose post was reshared by all 9 female General Officers of the Church in the Relif Society, Young Women, and Primary General Presidencies); Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Soceity General President Sister Jean B. Bingham; Sister Michelle D. Craig, First Counselor in the Young Women Genral Presidency (who shared a behind-the-scenes look at an after-devotional interaction between her granddaughter, who played the violin during the devotional, and Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum od the Twelve Apostles, whose interchange with Sister Ctaig's granddaughter reminded her of the way the Savior interacted with children in His earthly ministry); and Brother Jan E. Newman, Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency. My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
    2. Hello again, everyone! In the lead-up to Christmas, the Church News has shared quotes about the Savior from each of our 15 apostles:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-12-18/modern-prophets-and-apostles-15-quotes-about-christmas-savior-237060

      Two additional Christmas reports have been shared as well:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-12-17/witnesses-of-christmas-concert-rome-temple-visitors-center-copenhagen-236940

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-12-18/tabernacle-choirs-celtic-christmas-concert-celebrates-family-irish-traditions-237020

      The Newsroom provided another summary about the Celtic Christmas Concert:

      https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/the-tabernacle-choir-records-2022-christmas-concert

      My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
    3. The Church News provided the text of thr "Spoken Word" messagr that will be given by Lloyd Newell during "Music and the Spoken Word" tomorrow:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/spoken-word/2021-12-18/music-and-the-spoken-word-3-symbols-of-christmas-candles-holly-newborn-baby-236915

      My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
    4. On this Sabbath Day, the Chuech News has published a couple new reports:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/history-revisited/2021-12-19/christmas-prophet-joseph-smith-vermont-birthplace-kirtland-ohio-liberty-jail-nauvoo-illinois-236204

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-12-19/week-in-review-president-nelson-christmas-invitation-first-presidency-salt-lake-temple-renovation-mesa-237100

      My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
    5. The Church News has provided three new reports:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-12-20/philippines-typhoon-rai-oddette-50-plus-church-meetinghouses-open-as-shelters-237160

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-12-20/philippines-typhoon-rai-oddette-50-plus-church-meetinghouses-open-as-shelters-237160

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-12-20/elder-cook-video-executive-councils-inside-church-headquarters-236946

      With reference to that last report, I'm going to try to use some basic deductive reasoning to highlight what I think may have changed this year with the Executive Councils of the Church. First, it's worth a reminder to note that Elders Holland, Bednar, Cook, and Renlund have been the apostles serving on the Church Board of Education until this year. At that point, Elder Holland continued as the senior member of the Twelve assigned to the board, and with the other 3 apostles being released from that assignment, Elder Christofferson became the one other current member of the Quorum assigned to that Board.

      We also know, courtesy of other reports this year, that Elder Uchtdorf has replaced Elder Cook on the Chairman of the Priesthood and Family Department. With Elder Gerrit W. Gong (and possibly Elder Ulisses Soares as well) serving on that council with Elder Cook previously, the Church has noted that Elder Renlund is now one of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (possibly the only other Quorum member) serving on the Priesthood and Family Executive Council with Elder Uchtdorf.

      With Elder Renlund now assigned to the Priesthood and Family Executive Concil, it can be safely assumed, I believe, that he is no longer serving with Elders Bednar and Stevenson on the Temple and Family History Executive Council. That being said, since I've not heard anything to the contrary, I am assuming Elder Bednar continues to Chair that Executive Council. I am assuming that perhaps Elders Ronald A. Rasband and Gerrit W. Gong may be assisting Elder Bednar on that Council now.

      With the confirmation that Elder Renlund now serves on the Priesthood and Family Executive Council, if I am correct that Elders Rasband and Gong serve on the Temple and Family History Executive Council, then if four Quorum members continue to serve on the Missionary Executive Council, I am assuming that aside from Elder Cook, the other Quorum members on that Council are Elders Neil L. Andersen, Gary E. Stevenson, and Ulisses Soares.

      Until official sources confirm this, that's just my own conclusion based on information I have available. My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
    6. Here are two more reports from the Church News:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2021-12-20/service-at-christmas-changes-hearts-all-year-justserve-236923

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-12-20/president-oaks-witnesses-of-christmas-europe-237189

      My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
  3. Hello again, eveyone! I've mentioned in the past that I've enabled ads on this blog to try to drum up revenue while I have outsranding health issues that p reclude my seeking gainful employment for the time bring. In recent weeks, I hace tried a few solutions,with mixed results. Unfoerunately, blog monetization can sometimes be a teicky business, involcing a lot of eial and erro. I have recently enabled one moew potenrial fix foe that, so we'll see how it works. The layout and format of this blog may change periodically as I run those newest tests. I appreciat your understanding oon this matter. In the meantime, I will plan on hacing the latest analysis of the newest temple reopening developments up on this blog tomorroe ASAP after those adjustments are announced. My thanks once again to you all.

    ReplyDelete

In addition to my life-long love for the subjects which I cover in the posts of this blog, I have long held the belief that we can disagree without becoming disagreeable. Differences of opinion are natural, while being disagreeable in expressing those differences is not. And in that sense, I have no desire to close the door on anyone who earnestly desires to contribute to the ongoing dialogue on subjects covered in the posts on this blog.

At the same time, however, I recognize that we live in a time when incivility, discourtesy, unkindness, and even cyber-bullying has regrettably become part of online interactions. With that in mind, while anyone who wishes can comment on anything if they choose to do so, I hereby reserve the right to immediately delete any comments which are critical, unkind, lack civility, or promote prodcuts, services, and values contrary to either the Church, or to the rules of online etiquette.

I'd also like to remind all who comment here that I try to respond personally to each individual comment as I feel is appropriate. Such replies are not meant to end the conversation, but to acknowledge earnest feedback as it is submitted.

And in order to better preserve the spirit and pure intentions for which this blog was established, I also hereby request that anyone not commenting with a regular user name (particularly those whose comments appear under the "Unknown" or "Anonymous" monikers, give the rest of us a name to work with in addressing any replies. If such individuals do not wish to disclose their actual given names, a pseudonym or nickname would suffice.

Any comments made by individuals who opt to not give a name by which they can ber identified may, depending on the substance and tone of such comments, be subject to deletion as well. I would respectfully ask that all of us do all we can to keep the dialogue positive, polite, and without malice or ill-will. May the Lord bless us all in our discussion of these important matters.