BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Kyiv Ukraine Temple Closes Until Further Notice

Hello again, everyone! Late-breaking temple news was reported a short time ago. In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Kyiv Ukraine Temple has been closed, effective immediately, until further notice. While it is generally safer for Church members to be in the temple during a natural disaster or upheaval,  with the current ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the Church is acting out of an abundance of caution.

All missionaries of the Church serving in Ukraine were relocated last month. In noting this development, the page for that temple was updated with the following note: "On Tuesday, the presidency of the Eastern Europe Area reassured members that the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were fully aware of the unfolding events in Ukraine and that the situation is being closely monitored on an hourly and daily basis."

The situation that necessitated the closure of this temple is in flux at the present time. While we don't exactly know when the dust will settle, or when that temple will be able to reopen, the Lord is aware of what needs to happen here. My prayer is that we will all petition the Lord for His blessings to be upon all those affected by this current crisis. As we unite in prayer at this time, the Lord will bless that region with whatever is needed at this time. For now, my thanks once again to you all.

UPDATED: Lists of Temples Which Will Have an Extended Closure Period in 2022 and Temples for Which New Leaders May Be (or Have Been) Called in 2022

Hello again, everyone! Towards the beginning of the last two years, I have been able to provide updated documents showing which temples will have extended closure periods each year, and temples for which new leaders may be (or have been) called any given year. My hope was to provide completed versions of both before the Church began announcing temple leadership changes this year. But in view of ongoing health challenges (nothing serious, thankfully, just a lot to figure out), I am somewhat behind the times.

I have not yet completed either document for this year but wanted to share what I have compiled thus far. The documents will be updated as I am able to make those updates happen. So here they are: the list of temples that will have an extended closure this year, and the list showing which temples have had or may have new leaders announced this year.

I am committed to continuing to work on these lists as I can, but don't know how soon they might be fully completed. In the meantime, it's also worth noting that the Church News has shared biographies for new temple leaders on the following dates thus far: February 3; February 10; February 17; and today (February 24). The biographies speak for themselves and are well worthy of your time and attention.

I just wanted to share a couple of notes. There have been a few surprises in the announcements that are being made. The first leaders have already been identified for the Helena Montana and Feather River California Temples, which could both have construction concluded and dedications held in the next 4-8 months. 

But those callings were announced in advance of the announcement about the first president for the Quito Ecuador and Belem Brazil Temples, which may point to the Church focusing on getting US temples up and running as soon as possible after completion since COVID-19 is less of an issue in the nation now. In the meantime, taking that approach with US temples would allow them to open temples outside the US when that can safely occur.

Of course, the timing of any temple event, particularly with COVID-19 as the major variable, will be up to the Lord as revealed to His prophet, President Nelson. But it wouldn't shock me to see temples outside the US dedicated after some of their US counterparts, which may be further behind in the construction queue currently, but for which temple dedications can be more easily and safely held.

Whatever might happen in terms of major developments in temple construction or Church News, you can depend on my bringing word of those updates to you all here as I become aware thereof. For now, hope you enjoy the documents I shared above. I will continue to work on them as I can, and you can track my progress therewith via the placeholder note I have at the top of each document.

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. 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.