Stokes Sounds Off: 09/12/22

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Monday, September 12, 2022

BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Opening Arrangements Announced for San Juan Puerto Rico Temple; Renovation Plans Announced for Stockholm Sweden Temple

Hello again, everyone! This afternoon, the First Presidency made a major announcement regarding two temples of the Church: opening arrangements for the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple, and a planned renovation for the Stockholm Sweden Temple. Let's break down the details: A media day on Monday, November 28 will be followed by invited guest tours on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 29 and 30. 

The public open house for the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple will be held from Thursday, December 1-Saturday, December 17, 2022. Although a youth devotional is not mentioned, I assume that will occur on Saturday, January 14, followed the next day by the dedication of that temple in three sessions at 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 3:00 PM Puerto Rican time, which is 7:00 AM, 10:00 AM, and 1:00 PM the same day here in Utah. 

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at the dedication. I had recently shared my theory that since August has come and gone without the announcement of temple dedications or rededications, any that were set would occur next year, and that appears to be the case. The one exception might be the Columbus Ohio Temple, which is nearing completion and could probably have an open house and rededication prior to the end of this year.

That being said, let's move on to the Stockholm Sweden Temple. That temple will close sometime next year for an extensive renovation that will nearly double the size of that temple from 16,366 square feet to approximately 31,000 square feet. That will increase the capacity of the temple, which will now have two rooms for the endowment that will include 40 seats apiece. 

A rendering of the redesign was also released in conjunction with this announcement. Due to the extensive work planned, the temple will remain closed for approximately three years, reopening sometime in 2026 or 2027. So we now have three temples that are set to close for extensive renovations next year: Kona Hawaii, Provo Utah, and Stockholm Sweden. Each of those renovations involves an overhauled exterior look and expansions.

I am grateful to have learned about this and to have passed it along to you all. I continue to monitor all such updates and will be sure to pass them along here as I become aware thereof. In the meantime, that does it for now. Thank you for the privilege of your time. 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. 

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