Hello again, everyone! At this early evening hour, I have breaking temple news to report. As shared by the Newsroom and the Church News, reopening arrangements have been announced for the Tokyo Japan Temple. Let's get right into the details: A public open house will be held from Friday June 3 to Saturday June 18, with no tours offered on Sunday June 5 or 12 (making the open house a total of 14 days).
A youth devotional will be held on Saturday July 2, with the rededication thereof following the next day. President Henry B. Eyring, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, will preside over the 3 rededicatory sessions, which will be held at 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 3:00 PM on that day Tokyo time, which is 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM on Saturday in Utah, and the final session occurring at midnight Utah time when Saturday July 2 becomes Sunday July 3.
Unless I am mistaken, this is the first time since the Hinckley-era smaller temples that any dedication or rededication of a temple occurred in July, which typically marks the annual recess month for the General Authorities of the Church. But as recently as this morning, I had privately theorized that the rededication arrangements for the Tokyo temple might be one of the next major announcements made. And this will actually put the rededication of the Tokyo Temple occurring roughly 6 weeks before the August 14 rededication of the Washington D.C. Temple.
I am grateful for this announcement. My research on the timing for other temple events indicates that we could see announcements soon for the reopening of the Hamilton New Zealand and Hong Kong China Temples, and that the opening arrangements for the Quito Ecuador, Belem Brazil, San Juan Puerto Rico, and Helena Montana Temples could also follow. My understanding is that New Zealand is hoping to reopen to the United States towards the end of spring or the beginning of summer in Utah.
But as always, COVID-19 has been the huge game-changing variable here. So I will be interested to see what happens with all such announcements in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, I'm thinking that any other temple groundbreakings might only be announced to occur after the annual July recess. I'd be pleased to be wrong on that, or on anything else, but for right now, it seems like the Church is easing into scheduling future events, which I think is a very smart approach.
I continue to monitor all such developments and will bring word of those to you here as I become aware thereof. 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 feedback offered is consistent with the established guidelines. I hope any of you who would like to share anything will take your opportunity to “sound off” in the comments below. 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 Church Temples site has moved the Mendoza Argentina Temple up and has changed its' completion estimate to late 2023 or early 2024.
ReplyDeletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/mendoza-argentina-temple/
Shifting Mendoza up meant shifting the Alabang Philippines and Auckland New Zealand Temples down, with both now anticipated to be completed in early 2024:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/alabang-philippines-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/auckland-new-zealand-temple/
Alabang and Auckland now join the Tallahasse Florida, Deseret Peak Utah, and Salvador Brazil Temples with an estimated completion time-frame of early 2024. It seems possible that any temples completed in early 2024 could have their dedications follow in March-June 2024, but that will be up to the Lord through his servants to clarify closer to the time. In the meatime, my thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has shared a couple of updates on the ministry efforts of our apostles:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2022-03-23/elder-dale-renlund-missionaries-mtc-perfection-obedience-joseph-smith-247250
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2022-03-23/elder-soares-brazil-architecture-of-a-diverse-pluralistic-society-needs-religious-freedom-liberty-247162
My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteHere are two more Church News updates:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-03-24/root-cellar-food-bank-medicine-hat-alberta-church-donation-self-reliance-247219
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-03-24/elder-kyungu-byu-idaho-farming-faith-work-testimony-high-school-heavenly-father-247453
The latest group of incoming new temple leaders has also been shared:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2022-03-24/new-temple-presidents-matrons-idaho-falls-mexico-paraguay-246986
Oddly enough, only 3 new couples were introduced in that article. I’m assuming that the Church is waiting for other temples currently under construction to be further along before the announcement of a first president is made. Any currently-operating temples due for a leadership change will likely have that announcement made in the coming weeks.
Here is an updated copy of my document tracking the changes announced:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J-KR6Hdv4ElYa8ZxBn6OqGWSEMcZxi3GaLcCoYTrJec/edit?usp=sharing
My thanks once again to you all.
Here is one more Church News report:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2022-03-24/ukrainian-refugees-ministered-to-around-europe-247501
My thanks once again to you all.
The Newsroom and the Church News have both shared updates on the renovatio process underway on the Salt Lake Temple and through various parts of Temple Square:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/temple-square-renovation-update--march-2022
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2022-03-25/temple-square-salt-lake-temple-renovation-update-main-street-plaza-close-april-247577
The Newsroom also shared the following 2 additional reports:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-refugees-europe
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-bingham-shares-message-hope-resilience-new-video
And the Church News has released a list of the 72 temples in which new leaders will start serving this year:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2022-03-25/these-72-temples-will-have-new-presidents-and-matrons-in-2022-read-the-list-here-247490
Here is the latest updated version of my list tracking the changes that will or might occur:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J-KR6Hdv4ElYa8ZxBn6OqGWSEMcZxi3GaLcCoYTrJec/edit?usp=sharing
And here is one final report from the Church News;
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-03-25/elder-meredith-ensign-college-devotional-scripture-study-high-school-anchor-testimony-faith-crisis-247548
Additionally, new leaders have been identified for the Washington Vancouver Mission:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2022-03-25/new-washington-vancouver-mission-president-and-companion-called-to-serve-247006
My thanks once again to you all.
The Newsroom has shared yet another update:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-soares-and-other-religious-leaders-in-brazil-defend-religious-freedom
And here are some updates from the Church News:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2022-03-25/elder-gary-e-stevenson-visits-island-of-carti-tupile-panama-247612
The latest edition of "This Week on Social" was also published:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-03-25/church-leaders-social-media-elder-holland-elder-christofferson-trials-jesus-christ-emotional-resilience-247689
Featured today were posts from the following apostles: Elders Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, D. Todd Christofferson (from whom 2 posts were shared), Neil L. Andersen, Ronald A. Rasband, and Ulisses Soares; all of whom are members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; the entire Relief Society General Presidency (General President Sister Jean B. Bingham and her respective First and Second Counselors, Sisters Sharon Eubank and Reyna I. Aburto); Sisters Susan H. Porter and Amy A. Wright, the respective First and Second Counselors in the Primary General Presidency; Sunday School General President Brother Mark L. Pace (who revealed his recent diagnosis of kidney cancer in his right kidney that metastatisized in his left shoulder), and his First Counselor, Brother Milton Camargo.
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has shared 3 new reports today:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-03-26/jusoor-azima-program-syrian-refugee-children-lebanon-latter-day-saint-charities-education-247319
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-03-26/sarah-jane-weaver-what-a-memory-and-the-delivery-of-a-wedding-gift-teach-us-about-president-nelson-247333
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-03-26/music-and-the-spoken-word-just-let-the-fire-warm-you-prayer-moses-247645
And an update has been provided on the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple (where the open house is now officially underway, and will be :
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/rio-de-janeiro-brazil-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
Tonight, new updates have been provided on the construction status of the Belem Brazil and Casper Wyoming Temples:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/belem-brazil-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/casper-wyoming-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Sabbath Day, the Church News has shared 3 new reports thus far:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2022-03-27/church-donation-4-million-to-7-projects-to-help-ukraine-refugees-europe-247741
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2022-03-27/president-ballard-remembers-general-conference-as-longest-serving-living-general-authority-247512
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2022-03-27/week-in-review-72-temples-new-leaders-apostle-rio-open-house-main-street-plaza-mtc-online-missionary-work-easter-concert-247774
My thanks once again to you all.
As another workweek begins, the Church News has shared one new update today:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2022-03-28/fiji-french-polynesia-papua-new-guinea-latter-day-saint-charities-medical-supplies-247226
My thanks once again to you all.
The Newsroom and the Church News have provided updates on the renovation of the St. George Utah Temple, which is nearing completion and is anticipated to wrap up later this year or early next year:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/renovation-of-st-george-utah-temple-nears-completion
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2022-03-28/st-george-utah-temple-renovation-enters-3rd-year-247788
I am evaluating what that means for the timing of the completion of other temples, and will present the outcome of tht evaluation with my first quarter 2022 temple construction progress report, which will be posted later this week. My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has noted the death of Sister Dianne Baxter, the wife of current General Authority Seventy Elder David S. Baxter:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2022-03-28/sister-dianne-baxter-wife-of-elder-david-s-baxter-dies-at-age-66-england-scotland-247867
As I've noted in the past, Elder Baxter was on medical leave in the early 2010s to deal with cancer. I had thought that his currently being on medical leave was in view of his own health, but it could have been an FMLA situation where the health of his wife necessitated his taking medical leave. If that is the case, then perhaps he might be able to resume his general service once her funeral has taken place.
The Church News also featured a list of 9 ways to watch or listen to the upcoming General Conference and 3 ways to prepare for it:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2022-03-28/how-to-watch-or-listen-to-april-2022-general-conference-247813
Likewise, the Newsroom has prominently featured a page for the upcoming General Conference that will likely be used to share the latest news and developments from this weekend:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/event/april-2022-general-conference
Thursday will mark the start of the two-day General Conference Leadership Meetings, and you can count on my reporting all major developments from Thursday-Sunday here as they are reported. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
Today, the Church of Jesus Christ Temples site has noted updates on the statuses of the Orem Utah and Syracuse Utah Temples:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/orem-utah-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/syracuse-utah-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has shared 2 new updates so far today:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-03-29/how-church-beliefs-practices-and-cultures-contribute-to-body-image-247071
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2022-03-29/british-pageant-england-postponed-to-2023-247836
No updates have been noted thus far today from the Newsroom or the Church of Jesus Christ Temples site. My thanks once again to you all.
The following additional reports were shared by the Church News:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-03-29/jason-swensen-family-death-grief-comfort-celebration-friendship-247583
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-03-29/love-one-another-lift-burdens-comments-culture-community-melinda-ashton-byu-pathway-devotional-247935
https://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2022-03-29/president-m-russell-ballard-shares-memories-of-general-conference-anchor-faith-in-christ-episode-76-247919
And here is one new report from the Newsroom:
https://news-middleeast.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/backpacks-and-educational-materials-provided-to-children-in-lebanon
My thanks once again to you all.
An update was provided on the Taylorsville Utah Temple:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/taylorsville-utah-temple/
I am not sure whether any other major announcements will come down the pike before Thursday, but Thursday will mark the start of the April 2022 General Conference Leadership Sessions, so there should be news related to that on that day. I will do my best to provide coverage on all the major updates from this weekened. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! On this day before the General Conference Leadership Training begins, the Newsroom has shared a few new reports. The first is the next update on how the Church is helping Ukrainian refugees:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-refugees-europe
The Church has also published the April 2022 edition of "The World Report", which will air this weekend as part of the between-sessions programming for General Conference:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/april-2022-world-report
And Elder Rasband recently returned to Church headquarters from an apostolic ministry visit to Asia, where he made in-person visits to missionaries and members in New Delhi India and Singapore. He also visited virtually with members and missionaries in other parts of Kaohsiung and Taichung Taiwan; Cambodia; Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka.
As we know,temples are under construction in Phnom Pehn Cambodia and Bengaluru India, and temples have been announced in Singapore and Kaohsiung Taiwan. At some point last year, for reasons not entirely clear to me, I felt a distinct prompting from the Spirit to add a temple for New Delhi India to my General Conference list, so it's possible Elder Rasband may have been sent to assess such a prospect. I wouldn't be shocked if he took an opportunity to virtually assess the status of the Cambodia and India Temples. And as I've mentioned, with the new Nelsonian method for temple announcements, a temple in Taichung makes sense logistically since a one-way trip from Taichung to either Taipei or Kaohsiung is more than two hours away, which seems to be a key metric for temples now. Just wanted to make that observation.
Meanwhile, the Church News has shared the following additional reports:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2022-03-30/nnamdi-okonkwo-sculptures-artist-journey-from-nigeria-to-church-history-museum-247269
That article linked to another article:
https://www.ldsliving.com/a-journey-to-jubilation-how-god-refined-a-sculptors-dream/s/10486
Here is the second report to which I referred earlier:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2022-03-30/video-president-m-russell-ballard-from-the-pulpiton-the-awesome-responsibility-of-speaking-in-general-conference-247987
My thanks once again to you all.
Here is one more report from the Church News:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2022-03-30/temples-president-nelson-announced-83-locations-updates-on-current-status-246115
My thanks once again to you all.
One more update from the Church News:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/history-revisited/2022-03-30/1950-us-census-released-april-1-familysearch-ancestry-create-the-digital-index-247683
My thanks once again to you all.
New status updates have been provided for the Auckland New Zealand and Harare Zimbabwe Temples:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/auckland-new-zealand-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/harare-zimbabwe-temple/
And 6 months after its' groundbreaking, work has reportedly commenced on the Nairobi Kenya Temple:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/nairobi-kenya-temple/
That temple has been placed between the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Antofagasta Chile Temples, and I am providing a tentative estimate of mid-to-late 2024 for its' completion. This leaves four temples with construction pending: Phnom Pehn Cambodia, Neiafu Tonga, Bacolod Philippines, and Freetown Sierra Leone.
My thanks once again to you all.