Hello again, everyone! True to form, on this Monday at this 2:00 PM hour in Utah, the First Presidency has made the first major temple announcement of 2023. The location and preliminary details have been provided for the Barcelona Spain Temple, which, as we know, was originally announced in April of last year. Here are the details:
A 5.4-acre site at the intersection of Avinguda de la Vía Augusta and Avinguda de la Clota, Sant Cugat del Vallès in Barcelona will serve as the location of the two-story 27,500 square foot temple, along with a 13,600 square foot ancillary building, which will include arrival and distribution centers and patron housing.
This now brings the total number of temples with sites announced to 25, most (if not all) of which will likely have groundbreakings this year. To be perfectly honest, I was hoping we might get an announcement on opening arrangements for either the Bentonville Arkansas or Okinawa Japan Temples, if not for both of them. But I'm not in any way disappointed by this news.
With 2 temples originally announced in April 2018, 1 each the following October and April, 3 from April 2020, 5 and 8 from April and October of 2021, respectively, and 6 and 14 respectively from April and October of last year (still weird to say that at this point), the Church has not yet announced any information on 40 of the 68 announced temples.
What does that mean for the future? Well, bearing in mind that there are 8 temples in the queue that might have opening arrangements announced in the next 4-6 months or so, and 25 temples with sites announced (with exterior renderings released for 11 of those), we are unlikely to be short on temple announcements.
I seem to recall that, during the pandemic, since the Church could not hold General Conference leadership meetings as usual in 2020, over the course of two days, two significant announcements were made relating to temple construction instead.
So I have a theory that, while Monday could be a day for some major updates like site announcements or exterior renderings, maybe Thursday, which has been a standard day for other major Church announcements, or another day of the week could be used to announce other major temple news.
Since President Nelson said a couple of years ago that things were going to move forward at an accelerated pace, it would make sense that, to keep up with a rapidly-progressing queue, some weeks going forward may include 2 temple-related announcements.For my part, I will continue to monitor all such updates and will do my best to bring you word of those (along with any Church news updates) to the best of my ability.
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! The Church News also covered the announcemet of the location for the Barcelona Spain Temple:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2023/1/9/23546044/barcelona-spain-temple-site-location
And the Church News and the Newsroom also both provided coverage of Saturday's groundbreaking ceremony for the Queretaro Mexico Temple. Those reports underscored something significant: Elder Adrian Ochoa, though born in the US to Mexican parents, spent most of his growing-up years in that nation. He is the current First Counselor in the Mexico Area Presidency and was joined on-site by two other Mexican General Authorities who had each previously served as the president of the Mexico Area in the past, Elders Arnulfo Valenzuela and Benjamin De Hoyos:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2023/1/9/23546369/3-general-authority-seventies-groundbreaking-queretaro-mexico-temple-lds-construction-begins
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/construction-begins-on-the-queretaro-mexico-temple
The Newsroom has also provided a "home page" where major temple announcements throughout this year can be found by date:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/temple-news-house-of-the-lord-2023
The Newsroom and the Church News have also shared summaries of last night's talks given by Elder Jeffrey R. and Sister Patricia T. Hollad at the first 2023 Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-sister-holland-new-year-message-hope-christ
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/1/6/23542415/worldwide-devotional-with-elder-and-sister-holland-for-young-adults-2023
Two more Church News reports speak for themselves:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/1/9/23539140/st-george-service-banquet-mothers-grandmothers-young-single-adults
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/1/9/23532352/how-to-subscribe-to-the-lds-church-news-in-print-online-social-media
And, in continuing coverage of the upcoming 5th anniversary of President Nelson's prophetic tenure, the Church News has provided yet another report:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/9/23536313/experiences-people-follow-president-nelson-invitations-temple-testimony
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Tuesday, I am posting my first comment later than anticipated. The Newsroom and the Church News have both covered the renaming of Family History Centers and Family History Specialists for the global Church. The centers will now be FamilySearch Centers, and Family History Specialists will be renamed FamilySearch Specialists:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/familysearch-library-familysearch-centers
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/1/10/23547874/familysearch-announces-new-name-for-family-history-library
Brother Bradley R. (Brad) Wilcox, Second Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency, shared advice for parents and leaders of youth as they teach about the theme for this year: "Peace in Christ":
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/10/23519774/brad-wilcox-2023-youth-theme-all-things-through-christ-byu-religious-education-teachers
In this week's Church News podcast, Church News editor Sister Sarah Jane Weaver sat down with 3 of President Nelson's 8 surviving children, to talk about the connections between his role as a husband and father, his prestigious medical career as a heart surgeon, and as an apostle of the Lord and now the prophet and President of the Church:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2023/1/10/23548519/episode-118-president-russell-m-nelson-children-celebrate-5-years-prophet-glimpse-into-role-father
And President Kevin J Worthen and his wife, Sister Peggy Worthen, spoke at the first BYU-Provo Devotional of Winter Semester 2023:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/10/23548678/byu-devotional-president-sister-worthen-prophets-promises-logokophosis
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Wednesday, the following Church News reports each speak for themselves:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/11/23547343/byu-hawaii-remember-divine-covenants-and-spiritual-identity-devotional
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/11/23549237/byu-pathway-devotional-president-and-sister-ashton-ask-god-who-you-are
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/11/23549419/byu-idaho-henry-j-eyring-devotional-primary-song-helped-teach-the-benefits-of-nurturing
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/11/23546830/vietnam-veteran-dog-tag-marine-latter-day-saint
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/11/23548477/ensign-college-devotional-president-kusch-divine-identity
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/11/23550982/church-school-presidents-opening-devotionals-2023-byu-ensign
And as the Church News coverage of President Nelson's fifth anniversary as prophet and President of the Church continues, another aticle highlights 99 of the major announcements and/or changes instituted under the prophet's direction:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/2020/12/30/23217862/president-nelson-announcements-changes-church-prophet
And finally, due to delays resulting from COVID-19 and associated travel restrictions, the Church has not been able to hold regular training at Church headquarters for the new leaders of the MTCs aroud the world. As a result, this year marks the first time that all 10 incoming MTC leaders were able to meet together to be trained at Church headquarters:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/1/11/23549267/2023-seminar-new-missionary-training-center-leaders-mtc
The initial training was conducted by Elder Marcus B. Nash, the Exectuvie Director of the Missionary Department, and several other GA Seventies who serve as Assistant Executive Directors of the Church's Missionary Department. Church members serving in various capacities within the Missionary Department were also present:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/1/11/23549267/2023-seminar-new-missionary-training-center-leaders-mtc
Later this week, the incoming MTC leaders will be hosted at Church headquarters, where they will receive additional training and counsel from the First Presidency and the members of the Missionary Executive Council. Top Church leaders serving on that council include: Elders Dieter F. Uchtdorf (who chairs the Council) and Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Presidency of the Seventy; Bishop L. Todd Budge, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric; Young Women General President Sister Bonnie H. Cordon; and Sister Amy A. Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency.
It appears from that report that the Church is spreading out council and committee assignments among the apostles, and that, as a result, fewer members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be serving on each Council and Committee.
Meanwhile, the Newsroom has shared one additional new report:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-donates-mammography-digitizer-to-fight-cancer-uruguay
If there are any temple updates to pass along, those will follow later this evening as time and circumstances allow.
Hello again, everyone! After undergoing a minor procedure this morning, I am back to share the latest Church News updates. First up, a change to the parameters of missionaries training at home prior to entering 5 of the Church's 10 MTCs has been announced:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/1/12/23551104/mtc-schedule-adjustment-2023-may-1-week-online-at-home
One other report speaks for itself:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/1/12/23547823/first-portuguese-branch-charlotte-north-carolina-matthews
And the Church News continues their coverage of President Nelson's 5th prophetic administration with a video:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/1/12/23552275/video-favorite-moments-from-church-president-nelson-five-year-ministry-peru-pope-eat-your-vitamins
My thanks once again to you all.
As the workweek nears its' onclusion, the Church News has provided a look at how ukrainian citizens, including refugees who have relocated to safer nations,are receiving needed help and emotional support through the Church's videoconference system, Refugee members can thus connect with the members who remain in Ukraine to keep up on how things are going, and emotional ad temporal support resources have been made available to refugees and citizens alike:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/1/13/23549074/ukraine-emotional-wellness-health-coping-resilience-weekly-seminars
Another report shows how the New Zealad MTC is resuming regular functions post-pandemic, and also details how the Auckland New Zealand Temple will help missionaries in their training to have closer access to temple worship while they are training:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/1/13/23547440/new-year-for-new-zealand-missionary-training-center-mtc
And the Church News has begun publishing the biographies for incoming new ission leaders:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2023/1/13/23548990/8-new-mission-presidents-guatemala-japan-philippines:
With 134 new mission leaders set to begin serving this year, a remaining 126 couples have not yet had biographies released. My thanks once again to you all.
And pparently while I was posting the above comment, the Church News created a "home page" for content relting to President Nelson's 5th anniversary as prophet and President of the Church:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/1/13/23553841/president-russell-m-nelsons-5-year-ministry-as-church-president
While I still hope to acknowledge that anniversary in some form when it happens tomorrow, in view of my oongoing recovery from the minor procedure I had yesterday, I might only be able to do that through a new commet here tomorrow. I am playing my recovery by ear, and it's slow-going but steady. So stay tuned for whatever I can do to acknowledge that tomorrow. In the meantime, the US observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday may delay the announcement of new temple news to later next week, unless the Church jjust skips a temple announcement in the upcoming week. Stay tuned for more on all of this as iit happens. My thanks once again to you all.
The latest edition of "This Week on Social" has been published:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/1/13/23551053/this-week-on-social-elder-holland-encourages-all-have-hope-sister-browning-says-christ-always-there
The following general Church leaders has content featured in this week's edition: Elders Jeffrey R. Holland (from whom 2 posts were featured) and Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Society General President Sister Camille N. Johnson; Young Women General President Sister Bonne H. Cordon and her First Counselor, Sister Michelle D. Craig; and Sister Tracy Y. Browning, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency.
My thanks once again to you all.
And I have found new status updates on the Puebla Mexico, Deseret Peak Utah, Willamette Valley Oregon, and Montpelier Idaho Temples:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/puebla-mexico-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/deseret-peak-utah-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/willamette-valley-oregon-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/montpelier-idaho-temple/
Based on the update about the Montpelier Idaho Temple, I think we could see a groundbreaking announced for that temple soon. And if that announcement is made before the end of January, a mid-to-late February or early March window may be set. It remains to be seen when the next major temple construction announcement is made, or what that announcement will entail. My thanks once again to you all.