Hello again, everyone! Although the Newsroom and the Church News have already provided multiple reports to cap off the year, and although more of those have come through today, I would be remiss as we close out the year if I did not look back myself at the major highlights covered on this blog this year. Either this year or last year, someone in the comments of this blog said that the content I provide was comparable to "the Church News on steroids". While I don't know if that's an accurate assessment of my work, there has been a lot going on this year. Let's take a look back at key highlights from 2022.
Temple updates, as noted in my last post, were outstanding and significant. Numerous reports covered the day-to-day ministry of our apostles and General Officers of the Church, including birthday tributes to the apostles and female general officers. Breaking news often came down the pike, not all of which was related to temple construction. I hit the outstanding milestone of 2,200 posts earlier this year. And of course, there were the unique projects and milestones of which I took note.
So many of the major announcements were developments I wasn't necessarily anticipating. But with the Church finding ways to hasten temple construction, and with the ongoing ministry of general leaders, updates were never in short supply. And I continued my personal tradition of praying in advance of every maojr announcement. As those developments were reported, I felt they were exactl;y what the Church needed for this period of time.
In the midst of global disasters, the Church stepped up in big ways to help in any way possible. Numerous Church leaders met with dignitaries and major representatives of governments around the world. The Church expanded its' golobal reach, and missionaries continued to find innovative ways to expand their reach as well. If there is one hting I hope my readers take away from coverage of these developments here in 2022, I hope it is that the Lord is very much at the helm of His work, that prophets and apostles continue to provide inspired direction, and that all is well in the Lord's kingdom here on Earth because of that.
And so, as I close out this look back, I also want to look ahead to the future. As I mentioned in my last post, I will not be shocked if 2023 is another big year for temple developments. The Church is on track to dedicate 20-30 temples in 2023 alone, and around the same number of groundbreakings appear to be anticiapted. I also expect the Church will announce a minimum of 35 temples again this year.
As far as content unique to this blog, I have complied a list of anticipated projects for the upcoming year. And the day-to-day updates from the Church News, the Newsroom, the Church Temples site, and the Church Growth Blog will also be shared here as time and circumsstances allow. 2022 has also been a big year for feedback from all of you, my readers, in the way of corrections, clarifications, or additional observations.
I could not do what I do here to the extent that I do it were it not for the extensive intinerest and support provided by those of you who follow along here, who often share feedback and thoughts, and who continue to encourage me in those ongoing updates. So as we look back at 2022 and ahead to 2023, "thank you" seems woefully inadequate, but it will have to do.
For my part, I continue to monitor all Church news and temple construction updates and will be sure to pawss word of the latest developments to you all here as time and circumstancs allow going forward. In the meantime, that does it for now.
All comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated on any post at any time, as long as the offered feedback is made per 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.
Please subscribe if you liked what you read here and would like to be informed of newly-added posts and comments. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
Hello again, everyone, and Happy New Year 2023! On this New Year's Day, we start things off right with a special message for the New Year from our beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/prophet-new-year-message-2023
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/1/1/23522699/president-russell-m-nelson-deep-sea-fishing-resolutions-2023-new-years-social-media-post
And the Church News featured a special edition of "This Week on Social" entitled "New Year's Day on Social":
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/1/1/23522711/new-years-day-2023-social-elder-holland-devotional-hope-elder-uchtdorf-apostle-wisdom-fortune-cookie
The special edition today featured posts from the following general leaders: Church President Russell M. Nelson (as previousoly shared in the articles above); Elders Jeffrey R. Holland, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and Sunday School General President Brother Mark L. Pace.
The Church News also featured the music video for the 2023 youth theme:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/1/23534225/watch-the-2023-youth-theme-music-video-i-can-do-all-things
Finally, the Church News also shared a summary of the top 0 developments covered within the last week as a cap to 2022's coverage:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/1/1/23532698/week-in-review-2022-church-events-temples-studying-new-testament-come-follow-me
I will just mention here that, in view of the pub.ic observance of the New Year's holiday tomorrow, the earliest we may see the first major announcement of 2023 will likely be Tuesday. I'm hoping we get the next temple construction news, but we could also hear about new mission presidents who will begin serving in 2023. I will be sure to pass along anything as I hear about it. For now, my thanks once again to you all, and my best wishes for a happy, healthy, and safe New Year's Day!
Hello again, everyone! On this Monday, the following Church News updates have been published:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/2/23527083/come-and-see-finding-jesus-in-our-study-of-the-new-testament-scott-esplin-come-follow-me
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/1/2/23530979/president-pace-brother-corbitt-visit-africa-south-area
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/2/23531593/9-images-representing-new-testament-events-come-follow-me-gospel-media-library-jesus-christ
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/1/2/23531520/africa-senegal-forum-polio-childhood-diseases-donation
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Tuesday, the Church News has shared the following additional reports, which speak for themselves:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/3/23535574/dominican-youth-2023-youth-theme-music-video-i-can-do-all-things-through-christ
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/1/3/23533638/congo-river-boat-trip-crossing-temple-trip-brazzaville-kinshasa
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/1/3/23537092/familysearch-2023-records-rootstech-features
https://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2023/1/3/23537701/tabernacle-choir-christmas-concert-social-media-influencers-philippines
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/1/3/23533803/church-helps-build-9-new-schools-in-uganda
My thanks once again to you all.
In the last 24 hours, the Church News has shared the following new reports, which each speak for themselves:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/1/4/23537331/president-johnson-provo-mtc-devotional-missionaries-divinely-appointed-orbit
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/1/4/23537760/byu-game-design-no-5-school-in-the-world
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/1/4/23537386/2023-youth-theme-philippians-4-13-young-men-young-women-general-presidencies
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/1/4/23534822/new-classrooms-donated-supplies-trees-belize-guatemala-nicaragua-central-america
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/1/4/23538949/2023-youth-album-in-brazil-som-das-montanhas-behind-the-scenes-video
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Thursday, the Church News has shared the following additional reports, which speak for themselves:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/5/23540752/byu-winter-2023-devotional-forum-schedule
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/1/5/23539663/lessons-learned-from-building-chicken-farm-dzaleka-refugee-camp-malawi-africa
There may be a few temple construction updates to pass along, and if so, those will follow later today. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
Since we are now just 9 days away from the 5th anniversary of President Russell M. Nelson's ordination and setting apart as prophet and Church President, the Church News has kicked off coverage of that milestone with the following article from Church News editor Sister Sarah Jane Weaver:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/5/23539555/sarah-jane-weaver-president-nelson-5-years-playing-scrabble
I will be publishing a post in honor of that milestone on January 14, when that is observed. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
A new update has been provided on the status of the Antofagasta Chile Temple:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/antofagasta-chile-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Friday, new mission leadership assignments have been announced
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/2023-mission-leadership-assignments
I will have additional analysis on that later today as time allows. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
I am back with the analysis I promised. The list of new mission presidents was also shared by the Church News this morning:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2023/1/6/23531979/complete-list-134-new-mission-president-companion-assignments-2023
Among those called are a few current area seventies. Elder Glenn M. Holmes currently resides in Benoni, South Africa, and he and his wife have been assigned oversight for the new South Africa Pretoria Mission. Since Pretoria is less than 40 miles from their home in Benoni, it is possible that, for a time, Elder Holmes could continue his service as an area seventy, but the area of his stewardship would change as he also serves as a mission president. A brief biography of Elder Holmes is available at the webpage below:
https://africasouth.churchofjesuschrist.org/leadership-biography-holmes-glenn-m
In the Brazil Area, Lincoln P. Martins, called as president of the Brazil Recife South Mission, has been an area seventy in Campinas Brazil since April 2018:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/meet-the-new-area-seventies-sustained-at-april-2018-general-conference?lang=eng
Luis C. Chaverri, the incoming president of the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission, was released as an area seventy in August 2021:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/area-seventy-releases-announced
Jose Hernandez, the incoming president of the Nicarauga Managua South Mission, has been serving as an area seventy since 2017:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/meet-the-new-area-seventies-called-during-april-2017-general-conference?lang=eng
If his name sounds familiar, that’s because he currently resides in San Pedro Sula Honduras, and was the area seventy who broke ground for the temple in that city. Since this April would mark 6 years of service for him, they could either have him continue to serve until August or be one of the few area seventies released in the General Cconference Leadership Session in April.
Just a quick interjection here: I will double-check this before stating it definitively, but unless I am mistaken, there are no current GA Seventies that are among the new mission presidents for this year. So given the fact that Elder Hernandez is under 50 years old, he could possibly be sustained as a GA Seventy either prior to beginning or within a year of his beginning service as a mission president. Even if that doesn’t happen, he could also potentially continue as an area seventy in a different part of Central America.
Another current area seventy, Michael D. Jones, has been called to serve as president of the Mexico Mexico City Southeast Mission. He has served as an area seventy since April 2018, and is another who, in view of his age, could be called as a GA Seventy while simultaneously serving as a mission president. If that doesn’t happen, he could continue as an area seventy as well, with his service area changing.
Another former area seventy, Luis J. Camey, who was released as an area seventy in 2021, has been called to preside over the México Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mission:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/area-seventy-releases-announced
Aretemio C. Maligon, an area seventy who was also called in April 2018, will serve as president of the Philippines Davao Mission. He could be released as an area seventy, or his area of responsibility could be changed. And having gone through the entire list, I can now confirm my previous assertion, that no current GA Seventies will begin serving as mission presidents this year, unless any of the TBA slots are filled by current or new GA Seventies, or if any of the current area seventies are sustained as GA Seventies in April. My thanks once again to you all.
Each of the following 3 additional reports from the Church News speaks for itself:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/1/6/23542415/worldwide-devotional-with-elder-and-sister-holland-for-young-adults-2023
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/1/6/23541972/magic-yarn-project-just-serve-wigs-children-cancer-bay-area-california
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/1/6/23542394/sister-amy-a-wright-birthday-9-quotes-from-past-year
And here is one new report from the Church Newsroom:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/capstone-project-gets-byu-named-no-5-school-in-world-for-game-design
If there are any new temple construction updates, I will provide those later this evening. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
I thought I had posted this earlier today, but apparently I didn't. The latest edition of "This Week on Social" was published this evening as well:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/1/6/23541624/this-week-on-social-president-nelson-elder-holland-reason-to-hope
The leaders featured in this latest edition included Church President Russell M. Nelson, Elders Jeffrey R. Holland, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Sister J. Anette Dennis, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency; and Sister Amy A. Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency. My thanks once again to you all.
On this Saturday, although the official fifth anniversary of President Nelson's prophetic tenure is still a week away, the Newsroom and the Church News continue to provide reports related to the milestone:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/a-look-at-president-russell-m-nelsons-5-year-prophetic-ministry
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/1/7/23538006/president-nelsons-5-years-as-prophet-invitations-revelation
And here is the text of the "Spoken Word" message that will be delivered during this weekend's "Music and the Spoken Word":
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/7/23541896/music-the-spoken-word-tabernacle-choir-seeing-gods-hand-journal-eyring
I also wanted to note that, on this first Saturday in 2023, the Church had scheduled the groundbreaking for the Queretaro Mexico Temple for today. Since I haven't heard anything indicating that it didn't occur as scheduled, I'm assuming it did.
There are now 68 temples announced, and of those 68, 41 are still awaiting the release of any official information:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-a6AOFZhlcoRb5P4KhTpJLaedkz9wkpz6J4N-Nnd_3I/edit?usp=drivesdk
If major temple news is shared next week, I could see a dedication set for the Bentonville Arkansas Temple, the announcement of at least a few more temple groundbreakings, and/or official information revealed about any of those 41 temples with sites confirmed, renderings released and/or groundbreakings scheduled. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
Updates have been noted today on the status of the Puebla Mexico, Salta Argentina, Deseret Peak Utah, Antofagasta Chile, Smithfield Utah, and Bahia Blanca Argentina Temples:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/puebla-mexico-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/salta-argentina-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/deseret-peak-utah-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/antofagasta-chile-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/smithfield-utah-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/bahia-blanca-argentina-temple/
Also, in reference to the Smithfield Utah Temple, it has been in the queue between the Elko Nevada and Davao Philippines Temples. The Elko Nevada Temple is now followed by the Davao Philippines and Willamette Valley Oregon Temples, with the Smithfield Utah Temple now listed after those two, and its’ completion pushed from mid-2025 to mid-to-late 2025.
My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! On this Sabbath Day, the Church News has shared one new update as the coverage of President Nelson's upcoming 5-year anniversary as prophet continues.with an interview featuring 3 of the Nelson's surviiving 8 children. They provided insight into how their dad has remained a committed and involved husband and father. They also paid tribute to their mother who molded him into and supported his role as an apostle of the Lord, and they likewise spoke with appreciation of how Sister Wendy W. Nelson has subsequently supported him and their family, especially in these 5 years of his prophetic ministry:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/1/8/23529506/president-russell-m-nelson-children-father-parenting-love
Here is the latest edition of "In Case You Missed It", which features the top 9 developments covered by the Church News this week:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/1/8/23541614/week-in-review-5-years-president-nelson-mission-leadership-2023
And a final new report highlights the cairn that is the symbol for the 2023 youth theme and album:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/8/23540986/what-is-a-cairn-rock-formation-2023-youth-theme-logo
Additionally, earlier this afternoon, the Church Temples site provided some unexpected updates. The first pertains to the Okinawa Japan Temple:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/okinawa-japan-temple/
Based on that update, it has been moved up in the queue to now be below the Bentonville Arkansas Temple. As the result of the status of both temples, I'm cautiously optimistic that we will see opening arrangements for both of those temples set either this week or next week. With the Okinawa Japan Temple being less than 10.000 square feet, I anticipate a dedication will be set for April, and I would place my estimate for the dedication of Arkansas' first temple in either April or May. There may be other temple construction updates to pass along, which I will do as time allows later today. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
The Mexico edition of the Newsroom has provided the following report, which confirms that the groundbreaking for the Queretaro Mexico Temple took place yesterday as scheduled:
Deletehttps://noticias.laiglesiadejesucristo.org/articulo/arranca-la-construccion-del-templo-de-queretaro-mexico?country=mexico
It is nice to have that confirmation. In view of that, I can now officially confirm that there are 57 temples under construction and 68 announced. My thanks once again to you all.
Continuing temple construction updates, here are new reports on the Brasilia Brazil and McAllen Texss Temples:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/brasilia-brazil-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/mcallen-texas-temple/
And it appears at some point in the recent past (probably this weekend) that the Church Temples site switched the positions and estimates for the Salvador Brazil and Syracuse Utah Temples. The former now has a completion estimated in mid-2024, with the latter shifting down to mid-to-late 2024. More to come if/when more is discovered. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
There is also a new update on the Lindon Utah Temple:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/lindon-utah-temple/
Apparently, that does it for temple construction updates for now. But with the day having changed to Monday January 9 here in Utah, I'm aniticipating a major announcement of some kind pertaining to temples at some point tomorrow. For now, my thanks once again to you all.