Hello again, everyone! A short time ago, the Church News reported a directive for Easter Sunday meetings. As we already know, Palm Sunday will coincide with the April 2023 General Conference weekend, so Easter will be observed the following Sunday, April 9. Today's directive indicates that, except for a Sacrament Meeting in which music and talks will focus on the Savior, all other meetings are canceled to allow Church members worldwide to focus on that day.
This means that there will be no second-hour meetings, and any other ward or stake leadership meetings or interviews that might have taken place on that day are canceled for April 9. As soon as I read this update, I again experienced the instant confirmation that the decision was inspired. With all of you, I look forward to a greater focus on the Savior in my own life on that day. That may or may not include an Easter-themed post from me here. If it does, I will preset it to publish on Easter Sunday proper.
I also continue to monitor all Church news updates and temple construction developments and will be sure to pass those along to you all as I become aware thereof. 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.
The Newsroom covered this development after I published this post:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/latter-day-saints-to-celebrate-easter-with-single-christ-centered-worship-meeting-and-music
And here is one new report from the Church News:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/15/23597839/employment-services-missionary-learns-skills-to-land-dream-job
My thanks once again to you all.
And right after I posted the above comment, I got a Church News alert about the following additional update:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/history/2023/2/15/23598062/president-spencer-w-kimball-journals-online
My thanks once again to you all.
Today, changes have once again been made to the estimated completion windows for temples under construction or undergoing renovation. The Okinawa Japan Temple is now awaiting the announcement of its' dedication. The next three temples in the queue (Feather River California, Bangkok Thailand, and Lima Peru Los Olivos Temples are all nearing completion now. The completion of the Urdaneta Philippines Temple has moved down from mid-to-late 2023 (a timeframe also shared with the Layton Utah Temple) to late 2023.
DeleteBy contrast, the Grand Junction Colorado Temple has been moved up from its' former spot (between Burley Idaho and Elko Nevada) to now be between the Farmington New Mexico and Lindon Utah Temples, with the latter two estimated to be completed in early 2025.
The Pago Pago American Samoa Temple, which most recently had a completion estimate of early 2025 (after Farmington New Mexico), is now anticipated to be the first temple completed in mid-to-late 2025. The Davao Philippines Temple is now in the queue between Pago Pago American Samoa and Bahia Blanca Argentina, the latter of which is now the last one currently anticipated to be completed in mid-to-late 2025.
The Smithfield Utah, Bengaluru India, Neiafu Tonga, and Willamette Valley Oregon Temples all have a completion estimate of late 2025. And the completion of the Ephraim Utah and Bacolod Philippines Temples is now anticipated in either late 2025 or early 2026.
These adjustments are reflected in the following document showing my updated general completion estimates:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L7HBLNZZTnlI4Dk8fpr3HZCf-wqkjUBcCCYqdxP7HRk/edit?usp=sharing
My thanks once again to you all.
And here are two more reports from the Church News:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/2/15/23601225/youth-integration-program-poole-england-refugees-asylum-seekers
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/15/23601011/columbia-researcher-ronald-b-mincy-rethink-public-policy-about-nonresident-fathers
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Thursday, the Church News has shared 3 new reports, 2 of which are self-explanatory:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/16/23602337/sarah-jane-weaver-salt-lake-interfaith-council-prayers-turkey-syria-earthquake-faith
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/2/16/23601851/rootstech-2023-keynote-me-ra-koh-portrait-photographer
The final report shared since my last comment yesterday shares the biographies of 8 new temple leader couples, 5 in the United States and 3 elsewhere in the world. This week's biographies include the first leaders for the Bentonville Arkansas Temple, and, surprisingly, new leaders for the Praia Cape Verde Temple. I say "surprisingly" because, although the first president and matron for that temple were announced in 2019, they did not formally begin serving until last year when the temple was dedicated. So the current leaders were inactive for the first two years of their calls and have only served for a year. Could that mean that the current president or matron might be called to general Church leadership? Time alone may tell.
Among the 8 temple presidents announced today, 1 iis a former area seventy, mission, and MTC president; 1 is a counselor in the presidency of the same temple for which he will assume oversight; 1 is a current temple sealer who formerly served in a temple presidency; 1 is a specialist in the Pirests' Quorum who formerly served as a mission president; 1 is currently a stake president and temple ordinance woker; 1 is currenttly a sake patriarch and temple ordinarance worker; and 1 is a temple ordinance worker stake high council member, and an area mission specialist.
Here is an updated edition of my document tracking the temples for which new leaders have been or may be called this year:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZFxVX_M7JfchmzNG_7QAMP00a6jLLvfZjFIy-ka1Ut0/edit?usp=sharing
That document now reflects the 9 new temples for which new leaders may be called this year, along with a minimum of 25 currently-p[erating temples for which new leaders seem likely to be called this year, and the 23 temples which have had new leaders called thus far this year.
And the Church News and the Newsroom have shared a statement from Elder K. Brett Nattress, the current president of the Pacific Area of the Church, in the aftermath of recent storms that have had widespread impact on missionaries and Church members there:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/2/16/23602949/church-update-on-new-zealand-missionaries-cyclone-gabrielle
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/cleanup-efforts-begin-after-cyclone-gabrielle-slams-into-new-zealand
If there are any subsequent Church News or Newsroom updates, or new temple construction updates, those will be provided here as time and circumstances allow later today. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
Here is one more update from the Church News:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/16/23602594/dieter-uchtdorf-inspirational-message-daily-restoration
My thanks once again to you all.
Updates have been provided today on the construction status for the Moses Lake Washington, Lindon Utah, Burley Idaho, and Managua Nicaragua Temples:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/moses-lake-washington-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/lindon-utah-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/burley-idaho-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/managua-nicaragua-temple/
In view of the update on the latter temple, it appears that full-scale construction will soon begin there. As a quick update on the 56 temples which are considered as "Under Construction" on the Church Temples status page, 5 have dedications set, 1 is completed and awaiting the announcement of its opening arrangements, 4 others are nearing completion, and an additional 15 could have dedications occur before the April General Conference of next year. With 24 other temples now under construction, an additional 3 are likely to have full-scale efforts underway soon as well, and full-scale efforts are pending on the remaining 5 temples. My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyonne! After taking a personal day due to not feeling well, I am plesed to present more updates from the Church News. First up are the biographies of 16 new mission leader couples:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2023/2/17/23598110/new-mission-presidents-in-maryland-mexico-the-philippines
With 16 new biographies published today, of the 134 new mission leaders announced this year, there are a remaining total of 62 couples who have not yet had biographies published. Though each of the 16 couples' biographies published today reflect a wide variety of serve opportunities in the Church, among the incoming 16 mission presidents, 3 are currently mission presidency counselors (1 of whom is also a temple ordinance worker); 1 formerly served as a counselor in a mission presidency; 4 are currently stake presidents; 1 is a young men specialist who formerly served as a stake president; 1 formerly served as a counselor in the stake presidency; 1 is a ward mission leader who formerly served as a stake president; 1 is a JustServe specialist who formerly served as a stake president; 1 is an FSY and self-reliance representative who formerly served as a stake president; 1 is currently a bishop; and 1 formerly served as a bishop.
5 other Church News reports speak for themselves:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/2/17/23601854/rootstech-2023-relatives-at-rootstech-familysearch-app
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/2/17/23603460/chile-forest-fires-church-of-jesus-christ-help
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/2/17/23601859/dave-checketts-professional-sports-utah-jazz-nba-all-star-weekend
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/2/17/23604514/video-walker-lyons-college-football-recruit-missionary-trust-in-god-injury
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/17/23604892/nba-all-star-day-of-service-bishops-central-storehouse-salt-lake-city
That last Church News report shared a development that was also covered by the Newsroom:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/nba-church-jesus-christ-service-project
If there are any temple updates today, they will follow shortly. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! Roughly 13 hours ago, the Church News provided a late-night edition of "This Week on Social":
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/18/23601169/this-week-on-social-president-oaks-covenants-elder-uchtdorf-india-prayer-elder-bednar-change
The general Church leaders featured in the latest installment of that ongoing series included: President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency; Elders Dieter F. Uchtdorf (from whom 4 posts were shared), David A. Bednar, D. Todd Christofferson, and Ronald A. Rasband, all of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Society General President Sister Camille N. Johnson (from whom 2 posts were shared); Sister Michelle D. Craig, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency; Primary General President Sister Susan H. Porter; and Brother Bradley R. (Brad) Wilcox, Second Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency.
One other Church News report speaks for itself:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/18/23596030/church-news-podcast-cotopaxi-founders-davis-smith-brazil-mission-leaders
My thanks once again to you all.
Here is the text of the message that will be given by Brother Lloyd D. Newell during tomorrow's broadcast of "Music & the Spoken Word":
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/18/23603379/music-the-spoken-word-tabernacle-choir-basketball-dont-ever-give-up
My thanks once again to you all.
Also, just a general note here: From what I've been able to ascertain on my end, the Church does consider Presidents' Day here in the US as a holiday for which normal operations of Church facilities within the US are closed. Therefore, I would aniticipate that if there are any new temple construction announcements next week, they would be made any other weekday than Monday. But since the Church skipped such an announcement on the week of the last holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it's probably a safe bet that the Church will opt to not make any additional temple construction announcements until Monday February 26. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Sabbath Day, the Church News has shared the following 3 reports:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2023/2/19/23602851/24-new-stake-presidents-in-utah-mexico-bolivia-brazil-tahiti-japan
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/2/19/23601164/2-great-commandments-jesus-love-god-love-neighbor-oaks-stevenson-budge-porter
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/19/23601171/week-in-review-first-presidency-releases-easter-sunday-directive-plus-7-stories
As I previously stated, with tomorrow being Presidents' Day here in the US, I'm not anticipating any new temple construction news from the Church tomorrow, but will be sure to bring anything from the Newsroom, Church News, or Church Temples site to you all here. Thanks again, everyone!
Hello again, everyone! On this Presidents' Day, the Church News has reviewed the history of when the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square has performed either for US Presidents or at presidential inaugurations:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/2021/2/15/23216567/tabernacle-choir-performed-sang-us-presidents-john-kennedy-jimmy-carter-gerald-ford
Two other Church News reports speak for themselves:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/19/23601815/high-school-justserve-clubs-us-teenagers-service-projects
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/2/20/23602786/all-in-podcast-host-morgan-jones-pearson-life-journey
And the Church News reported on a weekend ministry trip made by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to Madagascar and other island nations detached from the rest of the African continent:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/2/20/23606700/elder-cook-invites-families-focus-savior-madagascar-reunion-mauritia
My attention was particularly drawn to the fifth paragraph from the top (the one just above the subheading “Home-centered gospel learning”. The relevant tex follows (with the important part in bold text as my emphasis: “The nearly 14,000 members who call the island nation home showed excitement to learn from Elder Cook as they prepare to break ground on a temple that was announced in the October 2021 general conference by President Russell M. Nelson.”
As we know, nothing new has been reported on that temple since its’ announcement. But if the Church members in Madagascar are, as the report indicates “prepar[ing] to break ground for” that temple, it could be another rare instance where the Church confirms the site location, releases an exterior rendering, and schedules a groundbreaking in a single announcement. And if such an announcement comes down the pike in the next two weeks or less, I’d assume that the groundbreaking will take place in April or May.
As I also previously stated, with today being Presidents’ Day in the US, I wouldn’t be shocked if there is no major temple construction announcement from the Church today. But if there is, you can count on my covering it and having full analysis when it happens. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
On this Tuesday, the Newsroom and the Church News have both reported on a settlement with the SEC as a result of a complaint against the Church. These reports detail the situation and how the Church resolved it, and also indicates that the Church considers the matter resolved:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-issues-statement-on-sec-settlement
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/2/21/23608668/church-ensign-peak-settle-matter-with-sec-have-remained-in-compliance-since-2019
And it's been announced today that Sean Astin (Samwise Gamgee from the Lord of the Rings) will be another keynote speaker at RootsTech 2023:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/2/21/23608610/rootstech-2023-actor-sean-astin-samwise-rudy-keynote-speaker-familysearch
A couple other things I failed to mention: Given a new update on the Red Cliffs Utah Temple, the Church Temples site has moved Red Cliffs up the queue. Where it was most recently between the Taylorsville Utah and Abidjan Ivory Coast Temples (and had a late 2023 completion estimate), that temple now has a completion estimate of mid-to-late 2023, and has been moved up the queue to now be between the Layton Utah and Urdaneta Philippines Temples:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/red-cliffs-utah-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/status/
Also, the Feather River California and Okinawa Japan Temples are now completed and awaiting the announcement of their opening arrangements. Based on what I've been able to ascertain, it appears likely that the Okinawa Japan Temple might be dedicated in September or October, and that the dedication of the Feather River California Temple could follow in October or November. It will be interesting to see what works out as far as the timing on that. My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has published two new reports, which speak for themselves:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/history/2023/2/21/23607721/belle-harris-prison-journal-church-historians-press-history-lds-women
https://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2023/2/21/23609217/episode-124-deseret-news-publisher-burke-olsen-why-church-newspaper-mission-light-truth
And here is one more report from the Newsroom:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-leaders-meet-new-peru-president-dina-boluarte
My thanks once again to you all.
On this snowy Wednesday in Utah, the Church News has shared two new reports:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/2/22/23609063/elder-cook-madagascar-president-discuss-future-share-testimony-savior
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2023/2/22/23608852/columbus-ohio-temple-open-house-rededication-parking-reservations
My thanks once again to you all. Stay safe out there.
Here are two more Church News reports:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/2/22/23609111/elder-gong-shares-4-doctrinal-principles-scriptures-healing-peace
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/22/23608714/texas-black-history-month-stories-of-faith
And here are a few new reports from the Newsroom:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-cook-president-of-madagascar-discuss-churchs-growth-on-island-nation
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/family-gardens--rural-clinic-renovations-and-nightly-efforts-to-feed-the-hungry--service-from-latter-day-saints-around-the-world
And here are a few new reports from the Newsroom's "Featured Stories" section:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-cook-invites-saints-in-madagascar-to-focus-on-jesus-christ
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/uchtdorf-video-how-daily-restoration-helps-with-spiritual-drifting
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-and-sister-renlund-visit-san-pedro-sula-honduras
My thanks once again to you all.
While it doesn't appear as though there are any new updates on temples currently under construction or undergoing renovations, I am excited to report to you all that a few of the US temples which have had sites confirmed may be getting closer to a groundbreaking, and that they might, in fact, be closer to a groundbreaking than their counterparts that have had sites announced and renderings released. The three in question are Montpelier and Teton River Idaho and Modesto California:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/montpelier-idaho-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/teton-river-idaho-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/modesto-california-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! On this Thursday, following a busy day for me personally, I am pleased to be able to share some new reports from the Newsroom. First is an update on the Church’s efforts to support New Zealand in the aftermath of a recent cyclone, then a report detailing Elder Uchtdorf’s recent ministry in India:
ReplyDeletehttps://news-nz.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-supports-new-zealand-cyclone-relief
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/love-of-god-distills-upon-india-in-elder-uchtdorfs-ministry
The first three reports I have from the Church News speak for themselves:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/2/23/23609781/rootstech-two-years-online-events-helped-shape-future
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/2/23/23611023/rugby-player-william-hopoate-latter-day-saint
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/2/23/23609209/compilation-of-byu-research-studies-2023
s
The Church News also shared the biographies of 8 new leaders who will serve as temple presidents and matrons in 7 temples in the United States and one temple in England. Among the 7 US temples mentioned is the Moses Lake Washington Temple, for which the first leaders have been identified:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2023/2/23/23604571/new-temple-presidents-washington-north-dakota-england-arizona
Except for the first leaders for the Moses Lake Washington Temple (who will only begin their service once that temple is dedicated), the other 7 couples will begin their service in September. Though all 8 couples have served separately and together in a wide variety of assignments in the Church, among the 8 incoming presidents are 1 current area seventy who formerly served as a stake president; 1 is a current counselor in the presidency of the temple for which he will assume oversight; 1 current assistant temple recorder; 3 temple sealers (one formerly served in a temple presidency, another serves as a stake patriarch, and the third teaches Gospel Doctrine currently); and 2 temple ordinance workers (one is a stake patriarch who previously served in a stake presidency, and the other is a counselor in his Elders’ Quorum Presidency).
Today’s 8 biographies bring the total number of temples with new leaders announced for 2023 to 31, as reflected in the following document:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZFxVX_M7JfchmzNG_7QAMP00a6jLLvfZjFIy-ka1Ut0/edit?usp=sharing
I have 18 other currently-operating temples on that document, in addition to which I believe 12 other new temples for which the first leaders identified this year. I updated that section today to include temples that could be dedicated by the spring of 2024. The Church will likely want to identify leaders for all of those before the 2023 training for incoming temple leaders. That way, even if the dedications of any of those 12 are delayed, they will be trained already to assume their responsibilities immediately once each temple is dedicated.
I continue to monitor all of these updates and will be sure to pass those along here as time and circumstances allow. That includes any new temple construction updates as well. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
Minor updates have been noted on the construction statuses for the Okinawa Japan, Moses Lake Washington, and Red Cliffs Utah Temples:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/okinawa-japan-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/moses-lake-washington-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/red-cliffs-utah-temple/
Additionally, a few updates have been noted on the general completion estimates for a few temples. Here is what has changed: The Feather River California and Bangkok Thailand Temples have joined the Okinawa Japan Temple in a "Construction completed" status; the general completion estimate for the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple has been moved down from early 2023 to early-to-mid 2023; previously, the temples anticipated to be completed in late 2023 were listed in the following order: Urdaneta Phillipines, Puebla Mexico, Orem and Taylorsvile Utah, and although those estimates have not changed, the Puebla Mexico Temple has now been placed ahead of the Urdaneta Philippines Temple; and the Managua Nicaragua Temple (which has begun full-scale construction) is anticipated to be completed in early 2026. Here is the document on which I'm tracking the changes in these general estimates:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L7HBLNZZTnlI4Dk8fpr3HZCf-wqkjUBcCCYqdxP7HRk/edit?usp=sharing
I continue to monitor all such updates and will do my best to pass those along as I receive word thereof. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
On this Friday, here are two new reports from the Newsroom:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-gong-meets-with-the-secretary-of-the-interior-of-mexico
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/winners-12th-international-art-competition
Also, 4 new Church News reports speak for themselves:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/24/23614022/12th-international-art-competition-6-visitors-choice-award-winners
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/2/24/23612336/cyclone-gabrielle-new-zealand-church-response-supplies-funds-service
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/2/24/23613092/ukraine-conflict-anniversary-church-help-donations-aid-refugees
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/24/23610957/helping-homeless-high-school-teens-houston-texas
And the Church News has shared the biographies of 13 incoming mission leaderss:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2023/2/24/23604673/new-leaders-of-missions-in-3-u-s-states-and-10-other-countries
With 134 new mission leaders set to begin serving this year, the remaining 49 couples have not yet had biographies released. Among the 13 new leaders today, while all presidents and “mission mothers” have had extensive service separately and as couples in the Church, the following information about the 13 leaders’ most recent assignments might be of interest to you all:
Of the 13 incoming presidents, 2 are currently area seventies (Elders Roberto Gonzalez and jose Hernandez) who may continue to serve as an area seventy for a time, or could be released in April or August, or could be called as a GA Seventy and simultaneously fill this assignment); 1 is a mission presidency counselor; 3 are current stake presidents; 1 is a YSA stake president who formerly served ss a stake president in a family ward; 3 are current stake presidency counselors; 1 formerly served as a counselor in the stake presidency; 1 is an Elders’ Quorum president who previously served as a stake president; 1 currently serves on the stake high council and as stake young men’s president who is also currently a temple ordinance worker; and 1 formerly served as a high councilor.
The latest edition of “This week on Social” has also been published:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/24/23610479/this-week-on-social-president-oaks-elder-bednar-finding-answers-questions
The general leaders featured in the newest installment of this series included: President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency; Elders David A. Bednar. Quentin L. Cook, Neil L. Andersen, and Gerrit W. Gong (from the latter of whom 2 posts were shared), both of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Society General President Sister Camille N, Johnson; Sister Rebecca L. (Becky) Craven, Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency; and Sister Amy A. Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency.
If there are any new temple construction updates, I will provide them later today as time and circumstances allow. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
There were a total of 16 mission president bios released today.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the correction, Scott. You are absolutely right. The title of the article threw me off in my calculations, as I wasn't accounting for more than one president in some of the 13 locations mentioned in the headline. There are now 46 couples who have not yet been featured by the Church News. Thanks.
DeleteHello again, everyone! On this Saturday, the Church News has published 4 new reports, which are each self-explanatory:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/25/23612185/40th-anniversary-oc-tanner-gift-of-music-concert-2023
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/2/25/23613570/elder-christofferson-meets-with-ghana-president
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/2/25/23614320/church-of-jesus-christ-aid-relief-turkey-syria-than-5-million
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/2/25/23613701/brazil-heavy-rains-mudslides-church-sends-emergency-aid
Also, apparently in the last 12 hours or so, the Church Temples site has moved the Red Cliffs Utah Temple back down in the queue again to its' former position (between the Taylorsville Utah and Abidjan Ivory Coast Temples) and restored the completion estimate of late 2023, leaving Layton Utah as the only temple now anticipated to be completed in mid-to-late 2023. My thanks once again to you all.
Here is the text of the message that will be delivered tommorrow by Brother Lloyd D. Newell during "Music & the Spoken Word":
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/25/23613551/music-the-spoken-word-tabernacle-choir-unity-liberty-charity
Also, the March 2022 editions of the Church magazines are now available online. The Church has apparently determined to have more General Authorities involved in the supervision of the magazines. As a result, the information about the editors and advisers for the Liahona is as follows:
March 2023 Liahona:
Editor: Randall K. Bennett
Assistant Editor: Ricardo P. Giminez
Advisers: Jan E. Newman, Michael T. Ringwood, Kristin M. Yee
Meanwhile, a slightly different group handles For the Strength of Youth:
Editor: Anthony D. Perkins
Assistant Editor: Valeri V. Cordon
Advisers: Rebecca L. Craven, Michael T. Ringwood, Bradley R. Wilcox
And for The Friend, the same editor of the Liahona is assigned, but with a different assistant editor and a slightly different list of advisers:
Editor: Randall K. Bennett
Assistant Editor: Kazuhiko Yamashita
Adivsers: Tracy Y. Browning, Michael T. Ringwood
The only common element in this is that Michael T. Ringwood, who chairs the Priesthood and Family Department, is an adviser to all three of the Church magazines. My thanks once again to you all.
And Elder Quentin L. Cook continues his ministry in Africa, where he made a stop in the nation of Zambia:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/2/25/23614237/elder-quentin-cook-zambia-4-things-the-savior-wants-you-to-do
My thanks once again to you all.
And there has actually been a major shift in the temple construction queue of temples anticipated to be completed at any point this year.. It appears that the Layton Utah Temple will no longer be completed in mid-2023. Inestead, it has switched positions in the queue with the recently-downgraded Red Clifs Utah Temple. As a result, the general completion estimates for temples in 2023 now stand as follows:
DeleteDedication Scheduled: Richmond Virginia; Helena Montana; Saratoga Springs Utah; Brasilia Brazil; Bentonville Arkansas
Completed: Okinawa Japan; Feather River California; Bangkok Thailand
Early-to-mid 2023: Lima Peru Los Olivos; Moses Lake Washington
Mid-2023: McAllen Texas; St. George Utah
Mid-to-late 2023: Red Cliffs Utah
Late 2023: Puebla Mexico; Urdaneta Philippines; Orem Utah; Taylorsville Utah; Layton Utah
Also, as I stated earlier, the Church originally indicated that the Red Cliffs Utah Temple would not be dedicated in sufficient time to help compensate for the renovation closure of the St. George Utah Temple. Incidentally, there has been a new update on the status of that temple's renovation:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/st.-george-utah-temple/
Since the Church has been spreading out temple dedications and rededications more than I had originally projected, as a result of the most recent updates available for temples under construction that are anticipated to be commpleted in 2023, I estimate that the dedication of the Feather River California Temple might be set for sometime in October 2023, following the General Conference that will be held at the beginning of that month. The rededication of the St. George Utah Temple could follow in October or November, followed shortly thereafter by the dedications of the Okinawa Japan and Bangkok Thailand Temples.
The Moses Lake Washington and McAllen Texas Temples could then be dedicated in November or December, with the Red Cliffs Utah Temple either being the last temple dedicated this year or the first one dedicated next year. The Puebla Mexico and Urdaneta Philippines Temples could then be dedicated later in January 2024, with the dedication of the Orem & Taylorsville Utah Temples following in February 2024.
These are just my updated thoughts about more specific time-frames. Until the Church makes any announcements confirming, clarifying, or correcting them, they are no more and no less than my own best guesstimates and should not be taken as gospel. My thanks once again to you all.
On this Sabbath Day, one new report has been provided by the Newsroom:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/try-faith-30-day-challenge-vlog-series-how-young-adults-built-faith-in-jesus
Meanwhile, the Church News has reported that another missionary in Colombia is in critical but stable condition following an assault:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/2/26/23615990/full-time-missionary-in-colombia-in-serious-but-stable-condition-after-assault
The latest edition of "In Case You Missed It" has been published, summarizing the top 9 developments reported this week:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/2/26/23610481/week-in-review-elder-cook-in-madagascar-elder-gong-4-principles-byu-research
And Church News editor Sister Sarrah Jane Weaver has taken a look at how President Russell M. Nelson's decades-long association with President Spencer W. Kimball has continued to bless the Church over the last 4 decades:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/2/26/23609442/sarah-jane-weaver-unique-relationship-between-two-prophets-nelson-kimball-blesses-church
And recently, Church leaders serving in South America have met with Peru's new president:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/2/26/23612276/church-leaders-meet-with-peru-president-lima
If there are any new temple construction updates, I will be sure to pass them along to you all here as time and circummstances allow. My thanks once again to you all.