Hello again, everyone! I am back as promised with a look at the initial version of my predictions for the April 2023 General Conference. This post will discuss the potential changes in general Church leadership, the estimated numbers for the Statistical Report 2022, and the potential locations in which the Church could announce new temples. So let's get right into it:
As I mentioned in my last post, any changes in the Presidency of the Seventy that would be effective in August 2023 are likely to be sustained in advance. And April has traditionally been the General Conference each year in which new General Authority Seventies and Area Seventies are sustained. As I also mentioned in my previous post, I anticipate that the Church will release the current Young Women General Presidency and announce a new one, effective August 1.
If the new Young Women General President is a current counselor in the Primary or Relief Society General Presidency, the subsequent changes will be sustained in advance. There may be changes to the Sunday School or Young Men General Presidency if any members are sustained as GA Seventies. I can't and won't give any more specific predictions there.
So we now turn to the statistical report. All numbers are essentially fairly speculative, with the numbers for the total stakes, districts, wards, and branches based on a guesstimate from the Church Temple site's statistical page and from Fuller Consideration. Aside from the total number of temples, the estimates for other elements typically found in the statistical report are based on complex algorithms that are difficult to describe.
So we now turn to the temple list. I was able to find at least a few new prospects, but most of them are carried over from my corresponding predictions for new temples from October of this year. I have also taken the liberty of adding a general note about which major metropolitan areas might be the next ones to have multiple temples announced simultaneously.
While it is possible that any such announcements could relate to regions in the United States, it seems more likely that, at least initially, the Church will focus on those regions found outside the US. I also think that, because the Church will dedicate four temples here in Utah next year (Layton, Orem, Taylorsville, and Red Cliffs), and since all other new Utah temples are now under construction, the Church could and potentially will announce one or two temples in Utah this go-round.
As we also know, the last new Utah temple was announced in October 2021, and there are several locations within both the Utah area and the state of Utah where new temples would make sense. So although there was a precedent set this year for no Utah temples to e announced, I think we can safely assume that at least one but possibly two new Utah temples are imminently likely.
Since President Nelson is reportedly hoping to announce a minimum of 35 temples per year every year for the time being, I think we could see anywhere between 15-20 new temples being announced in the upcoming General Conference. Whatever may happen in terms of that conference, I will be sure to pass anything along once I hear about it.
It probably goes without saying, but I will, of course, update these predictions once the details of the Saturday Evening Session are outlined. Having said all of that, the commenting period for these predictions is now officially open and will remain open until Thursday March 30 of next year (just over 3 months from now) at 10:00 PM, which will give me 36 hours to make any final adjustments to these predictions if needed.
In the meantime, I continue to monitor all major Church news and temple construction updates and will bring word of those to you as I learn about those developments.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! I wanted to post here to note that the following Church News updates have been published today:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2022/12/28/23501937/rj-hubert-utah-football-rose-bowl-penn-state
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022/12/28/23529447/what-have-young-women-learned-2022-trust-in-the-lord-young-women-general-presidency
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022/12/28/23528416/being-a-disciple-is-more-than-just-being-a-follower-jesus-christ-gaye-strathearn
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2022/12/28/23506102/quotes-about-studying-the-saviors-life-teachings-scriptures-new-testament-come-follow-me
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has published two additional reports:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2022/12/29/23529355/temple-milestones-2022-series-dedications-rededications-historic-growth
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022/12/29/23529919/20000-handmade-christmas-ornaments-donated-to-disaster-survivors
Also, as 2022 winds down to its' conclusion, updates have been noted on the status of the Bentonville Arkansas and Elko Nevada Temples:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/bentonville-arkansas-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/elko-nevada-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
On this second-to-last day of 2022, the Church News has published 3 new reports. Beginning this week, those following along with the "Come Follow Me" Sunday School curriculum formally began their study of the New Testament, which will be the focus of Sunday School classes for all ages and for the Primary. The Church News continued to provide insights into what's coming up this year with another mini-series of articles about New Testament passages referenced by Church leaders this year. The first part looks back at references drawn from the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John):
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2022/12/30/23525361/new-testament-verses-used-by-church-leaders-2022-part-1-four-gospels
The Church News also continued to look back at temple milestones in 2022 with a look at temple groundbreakings and other temples under construction:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2022/12/30/23529711/temple-milestones-2022-series-groundbreakings-construction-renovations
And in a surprising development I wasn't expecting, the Church News has also already shared the latest edition of "This Week on Social":
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022/12/30/23530898/this-week-on-social-elder-andersen-pele-tribute-president-cordon-fsy-2023
The general leaders featured in this latest edition included Elders David A. Bednar, D. Todd Christofferson, Neil L. Andersen and , all of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Society General President Sister Camille N. Johnson; Young Women General President Sister Bonnie H. Cordon and her First Counselor, Sister Michelle D. Craig; Brother Jan E. Newman, Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency; and Brother Bradley R. (Brad) Wilcox, Second Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency.
My thanks once again to you all.
THe Church News has shared a summary of favorite developments covered by each member of the Church News staff in 2022:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022/12/30/23516921/church-news-staffs-favorites-2022
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has also shared a summary of developments covered in 2022 with a photograph gallery:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2022/12/30/23532713/see-news-of-the-church-in-2022-through-photographs
My thanks once again to you all.
I think it will be some time before another temple is announced in Utah. Temple attendance has not recovered to its pre-pandemic levels. No, not even close. I think the focus will be on temples that are difficult to attend due to traffic issues, like was seen in Mexico City in the last General Conference.
ReplyDeleteBen H, thanks for taking time to share your thoughts here. You could be correct. Even with 4 temples in Utah set to be dedicated next year, there are 6 others at various stages in the current construction queue. And it is a fair point that temple attendance has not yet rebounded from the pandemic. While that could be seen as a deterrent to the idea of more Utah temples being announced in the near term, there are a couple of factors that have led me to believe that, with all previously-announced Utah temples now in the construction queue, others could soon be announced.
DeleteAny analysis of whether temples could be announced anywhere in the near or more distant term will fall woefully short if that analysis fails to account for the unusual times in which we live. Under President Nelson's two immediate prophetic predecessors, a significant queue of announced temples would lead to a hiatus on temple announcements. We saw that repeatedly. We also saw a few times when those prophets would announce a small number of new temples in deference to the existing queue.
But in less than 5 years, President Nelson has announced a whopping 118, which is unprecedented for similar periods in Church history. A huge backlog that would have been a deterrent to future announcements by his predecessors seems to be motivation for this prophet to decisively act as fully as possible between General Conferences to reduce the queue of announced temples in preparation for the next large batch to be announced.
President Nelson has said at least a few times that "unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures". Above and beyond that, he's emphaiszed the need to be in the temple (or at least living inside our temple covenants) will be paramount and vital in the days ahead. When those factors are considered, if the Church is building for the future of the Saints, I doubt very highly that Utah temples are not part of the near-term plan.
Could another year or two pass before the next Utah temple(s) are announced? Of course. But is that likely to be the case based on Nelsonian trends thus far? Maybe not. The pandemic effect on temple attendance won't last forever, and in the days ahead, I believe the Church is taking a longer view of things and planning for what will almost certainly be a flood of temple attendance as the effects of the pandemic on the world in general and the Church in particular wear off.
That's why my predictions include a high likelihood that at least one Utah temple could be announced. Of course, I say that based solely on my analysis of such announcements thus far, and on what I know about pre-pandemic temple attendance in Utah. During the almost-5-years that President Nelson has been leading the Church, I've been wrong about so many things I've projected, anticipated, or discounted as unlikely. But I hope that, if nothing else, this comment provides insight into my reasoning for suggesting that at least 1 Utah temple is likely to be announced in April. If I'm proven wrong on that, well, the Lord's inpsiration always trumps my reasoning.
In the meantime, Ben H, thanks for commenting. I will be interested to see if you are right on this or not. I appreciate hearing from you.
Hello again, everyone! I will have two new blog posts published in the closing moments of this year. The first will provide a look back at temple construction throughout this year. The second will offer a look back at content covered in 2022 and an overview of known content that will be featured on this blog in some form next year. In the interim, here are some final Church News reports to round out the year:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022/12/31/23471766/how-to-understand-parables-new-testament-jesus-christ-byu-scholar-gaye-strathearn
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2022/12/31/23530017/temple-milestones-2022-series-announcements-site-locations
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022/12/31/23530054/sarah-jane-weaver-mexico-city-temples-example-lord-hastening-his-work-blessing-covenant-children
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2022/12/31/23532288/new-testament-verses-used-by-church-leaders-2022-part-2
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022/12/31/23531178/music-the-spoken-word-auld-lang-syne-new-years-robert-burns
https://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2022/12/31/23533767/revisit-2022-highlights-episodes-the-church-news-podcast-interviews-with-church-leaders-members
No new updates from the Newsroom today, but any new temple construction updates will be reflected in my year-end review of temple construction progress for 2022, which should be published in just under 7 hours, along with a look back at 2022 and a look ahead to 2023. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
As the year winds down, I am surprised and pleased to report that new updates are available on the construction status of both the Lima Peru Los Olivos and Okinawa Japan Temples:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/lima-peru-los-olivos-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/okinawa-japan-temple/
With major construction completed on the Bentonville Arkansas Temple and its' missionary couple having been released, we are likely to see opening arrangements announced for Bentonville early in 2023. And given the updates tonight from the Lima Peru Los Olivos and Okinawa Japan Temples, those two may soon join the Bangkok Thailand, Feather River California, Brasilia Brazil, and Moses Lake Washington Temples which have the status: "Construction nearing completion; finalizing the landscaping and interior.."
So that brings the total number of temples likely to have dedications announced within the first 4-8 weeks of 2023 from 5 to 7. I will be interested to see how that timing works out. Stay tuned for my two year-end reports, which will be published roughly 4.5 hours from now. In the meantime, my thanks once agian to you all.
And here is one additional report from the Church News, which will likely round out the year's coverage there:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2022/12/31/23532826/what-lds-church-leaders-taught-university-devotionals-2022-byu-idaho-hawaii-pathway-ensign-college
My thanks once again to you all.
As members of the church living in Northern Germany, we really hope and pray for a Temple in Hamburg, Germany.
ReplyDeleteYes, we already have two Temples in Germany, but the Frankfurt and Freiberg Temples both are quite far away for us. Actually, we have to drive up to six hours one way to visit these Temples. Also, the Temples in Copenhagen, Denmark and The Hague, the Netherlands are about the same distance for us.
Recently the Church is building more and more smaller Temples in remote areas. That's what we are hoping for. A small Temple in Northern Germany.
Keep up your good work.
Hello, Ruben. Thanks for taking time to comment. I apologize for my delayed acknowledgement about it. Thanks as well for the insights about Hamburg's prospects for a temple. For my predictions, I added a temple in Berlin Germany 3-4 years ago based on a rumor I heard that the Church might have land for such a prospect there. But as you've observed, there is a compelling case for the city of Hamburg, and that would certainly fit within the parameters of President Nelson's European temple announcements thus far. I will add Hamburg to my list accordingly. Thanks for the information and your insights. I hope you like what you've seen here and decide to become a regular reader. But even if you only read or comment infrequently, I appreciate you stopping by anytime you wish. Thanks again, and please stay safe out there.
DeleteHi James. I really enjoy reading your blog. I rejoice with everyone who receives the blessing of having a Temple nearby. From Berlin it's "only" a 2-3 hours drive to the nearest Temple, in Freiberg.
ReplyDeleteThis general conference is going to be exciting.
Ruben, thanks for these additional comments. In previous discussions about my list of potential locations in which new temples could be built, one thing remains clear: As the number of temples continues to increase, the parameters that would determine the next location have changed as well. The most recent reports appear to indicate that the prophet is wanting to have each member within 100 miles (or a 2-hour drive) from their temple. Whether that is 2-hours one-way or 2 hours there and back is a different question. So I think that in due course, both Hamburg and Berlin will receive temples. I have a number of nations outside the US on my list for which 2 or more temples seem equally likely. So when it comes to Germany, I believe that I heard that the Church has land in Berlin, but whether or not that is correct, there's a possibility that both Berlin and Hamburg might have temples announced in the near term. I could see both cities (and perhaps 1 or 2 others in Germany) getting temples within the next decade or sooner. I hope you're right about Hamburg, and I would be overjoyed by temples in either city announced in the near term. Sometimes, based on the criteria I work off of, it's been difficult (if not impossible) to narrow down my choices for temples outside the US. So I'm not trying to dismiss Hamburg as a prospect. After your initial comment, I put that city on my temple list. But the case for a temple in Berlin (particularly if land has been procured for such a prospect) isn't something I can ignore either. I hope that better explains where I'm coming from. You make a compelling argument for a temple in Hamburg, but since the case for a Berlin temple is also strong, I'm happy to keep both on my list, sice both cities would certainly qualify based on the parameters President Nelson has set with his announcements thus far. And based on where the goal posts of those parameters are adjusted next, we could see 2 temples announced at the same time for individual European nations, which would include Germany. I look forward to seeing what happens there. Thanks again for bringing Hamburg to my attention. I welcome the chance to put it on my list. Great to hear from you again.
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