Hello again, everyone! A few minutes ago, the Church made announcements about 3 temples: 2 in North America and one in Central America. The opening arrangements have been confirmed for the Feather River California Temple; the exterior rendering has been released for the Tampa Florida Temple; and the site location and preliminary information has been confirmed for the Huehuetenango Guatemala Temple. Let's break down the relevant details:
First, we start with the Feather River California Temple. There will be a media day on Tuesday August 15, followed by VIP tours Wednesday, August 16-Friday, August 18. Public open house tours will then be conducted from Saturday, August 19-Saturday, September 9, except for the Sundays of August 20 and 27, and September 3. The temple will be dedicated on Sunday, October 8 in two sessions at 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM, with Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presiding thereat.
Over this last weekend, I had reconfigured my estimates for temple events yet again, and my updated projection for the Feather River California Temple dedication was for October 8, 15, or 22. With October 8 confirmed now for Feather River, I wouldn't be shocked if the dedications of the Bangkok Thailand and Okinawa Japan Temples were set for any of those 3 dates as well. Given the fact that the Church will dedicate 3 temples on Sunday September 17, multiple dedications on the same day in October, November, and December may be in store for the Church.
Of course, the timing of any temple event is up to the Lord, so unless and until official announcements confirm, clarify, or correct any of the estimates I offer for such events, as a disclaimer, I want to ensure my readers understand that these are no more and no less than my own best projections. Until an official Church announcement sets the actual details, no one reading those estimates of mine should take them as gospel. I am just as elated when proven wrong as I am on days like today, where an announcement verifies any of my projections.
Let's move on now to the rendering released for the Tampa Florida Temple. The site location for Florida's newest temple was announced on October 31 of last year, so to have the official rendering released today is a clear indicator of progress made towards being able to hold a groundbreaking ceremony. With that temple planned to be roughly 30,000 square feet, the rendering released today seems reminiscent of other Southwestern US temples in general, but also, more specifically, of a couple of other recently-announced Florida temples of the Church.
If anyone else has any observations about the rendering, their assessment would likely be better than mine. I don't know whether or not I've mentioned this, or how recently I last shared it if I did, but as part of my day-to-day health challenges, I do have some visual perception issues that may not prove helpful in analyzing such renderings. So if any of you have feedback on the rendering, please feel free to comment, because I love hearing from those who can see things I might miss.
That said, today's final announcement pertains to Guatemala's newest temple in Huehuetenango. The 10,787-square-foot single-story edifice will rise at 18 Avenida, Zona 4, El Terrero in Huehuetenango. That temple, originally announced in October of last year, may either use a slightly larger modular design or else have the dual-purpose ordinance rooms that can rotate between being used for temple sealings or endowment sessions as the need arises.
With today's announcement, the number of temples for which no official information has been confirmed now stands at 36. I am grateful to have been able to provide a look at this latest update, and it's good to see the Church continuing to announce such developments regularly. Today's announcement marks the second-to-last one the Church will make on a Monday before General Conference, which is now just under two weeks away.
Between now and General Conference weekend, I continue to monitor all updates from the Church News and the Newsroom and will be sure to pass those along ASAP after they cross my radar. 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.
Here are the Church News reports on today's updates:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2023/3/20/23644415/feather-river-california-temple-yuba-city-open-house-dedication-dates
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2023/3/20/23644405/huehuetenango-guatemala-temple-site-tampa-florida-temple-rendering
My thanks once again to you all.
The Newsroom has shared a few new reports today whiich are not related to the big temple news from this afternoon:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/interfaith-concert-builds-bridges-of-understanding-and-peace
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-ulisses-soares-meets-with-tongan-prime-minister
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/richmond-virginia-temple-open-house
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/richmond-virginia-temple-media-day
I gues those last two updates did relate to today's temple news. Sorry about that. My thanks once again to you all.
Also, a slight status update has been noted on the Okinawa Japan Temple:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/okinawa-japan-temple/
If there are any other temple construction updates, I will be sure to pass those along to you all here as I become aware of them. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
On this Tuesday, the Newsroom and the Church News have shared the following reports:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/c-shane-reese-byu-14th-president
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/3/21/23650351/elder-holland-announces-new-byu-president-worthen-reese
https://news-uk.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/clean-water-heralds-a-healthier-future-for-a-rising-generation
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/light-the-world-giving-machines-donations-2022-recap
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/3/21/23649980/how-many-donations-made-at-2022-light-the-world-giving-machines
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/3/21/23649505/30-day-try-faith-challenge-concludes-church-youtube
My thanks once again to you all.
This afternoon, the Church News shared the latest edition of the Church News Podcast, which featured Church music manager Ryan Eggett:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2023/3/21/23650131/episode-128-ryan-eggett-church-music-manager-mtc-choir-director-power-of-music
My attention was particularly drawn to the following exchane:
Sarah Jane Weaver: And I want to ask you the question that everybody in the Church wants to know right now, which is, when are we going to get the new hymn book?
Ryan Eggett: So I am not the music manager over the new hymn book. So I really can’t speak to that. But I will say that we’re planning it to come before the Second Coming. That, I know that kind of opens up the timeline quite a bit. But, but we can’t give any timelines at this point. But I can tell you working very diligently every single day and it’s not just one person. We have reviewers that are reviewing the new music that came in all around the world. And you know, you’ve probably heard this was printed actually, in the Church News, that we received 20,000 submissions. So going through those has been quite the process. But yeah, I really can’t speak to timelines at this point. And, but it will be before the Second Coming. If not, it will be a really great part of the Second Coming, I like to say so.
Sarah Jane Weaver: I’m glad to know that that work moves forward on that effort.
Ryan Eggett: But it’s, it’s coming along, yes. And there are many teams working on this right now around the world.
So the podcast guest, who does serve on both the hymnbook and children's songbook revision committees, indicated there that the Church is hoping to have the new music out sometime between now and the Millenium when Christ returns. That opens it up quite a bit and may suggest that process is not as far along as I assumed.
Two other Church News reports speak for themselves:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/3/21/23649907/elder-quentin-cook-provo-mtc-missionary-work-urgency
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/3/21/23650762/byu-president-worthen-tenure-notable-events
And the Newsroom shared their report on the previous update that Church President Russell M. Nelson will receive the Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize from Morehouse College:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/morehouse-college-peace-prize-president-nelson
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Wednesday, the Newsroom and the Church News have shared the 2022 annual report on Caring for Those in Need, which provided an overview of the Church's welfare contributions during that year, whether they were monetary, donated supplies and goods, aid for natural disaster and recovery, charitable givng, volunteer hours, or in-kind donations worldwide:
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/2022-annual-report-caring-for-those-in-need
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/3/22/23650876/2022-caring-for-those-in-need-annual-report-donations-volunteers-humanitarian-projects
Just in the process of skimming the report, what I read was impressive. And it appears that this year's report is longer and more in-depth to provide an accurate representation of how the Church is following the second great commandment to "love thy neighbor as thyself."
Also, I know there are some in our day, who, like the Pharisees in the New Testament, question and/or ciritize why more charitable giving is not being done by the Church or its' members. I would hope it's well understood by readers of this blog that I fully trust those who handle the Church's financial matters at the general level, which is those 18 men who serve on the Council on the Disposition of the Tithes (the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Presiding Bishopric). While anyone is welcome to discuss that report here, any undue criticism of the Church on this matter on this blog may, depending on the tone and substance thereof, be subject to deletion once I learn of it. If a productive discussion on this matter that keeps things civil can happen, that's what I hope my readers will aim for.
That being said, the Tabernacle Choir has issued a new video in preparation for Easter:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/3/22/23648869/easter-video-rise-tabernacle-choir-he-is-risen-music-messiah
And with C. Shane Reese announced yesterday as the next president of BYU-Provo, the Church News has provided an introduction to the incoming president:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/3/22/23651479/c-shane-reese-new-byu-president
As his tour in the Pacific Area continues, Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has met with the Tongan prime minister:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/3/22/23650937/elder-soares-meets-with-tongan-prime-minister-nukualofa
And one additional Church News report has highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/3/22/23648873/principle-of-preparedness-helps-family-find-peace-and-the-gospel-louisiana-hurricane
Finally, a new report on the McAllen Texas Temple now notes that major construction is completed:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/mcallen-texas-temple/news/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/mcallen-texas-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
Here is a Church News report on how the Church is providing clean water to Tajikistant:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/3/22/23634548/church-caritas-clean-water-tajikistan
And an update was noted on the Harare Zimbabwe Temple:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/harare-zimbabwe-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
Oh, I almost forgot: Although nothing has changed in terms of its' status, the Elko Nevada Temple has been moved up in the construction queue. Previously, Nevada's next temple to be dedicated was between the Burley Idaho Temple (estimated to be completed in mid-2025) and the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple (estimated to be completed in mid-to-late 2025). The completion of the Elko Nevada Temple in that position was estimated for mid-2025.
DeleteThe Elko Nevada Temple now has an estimate of late 2024.and is in the queue between the Phnom Pehn Cambodia Temple (with the same general completion estimate) and the Antofagasta Chile Temple (estimated to be completed in late 2024-early 2025). It's also worth mentioning that, with the update today on the McAllen Texas Temple (that major construction has been completed) the Church Temples site shows the St. George Utah Temple and the Urdaneta Philippines Temple both estimated to be completed in mid-2023, with the Red Cliffs Utah and Puebla Mexico Temples estimated to be completed in mid-to-late 2023.
Given the recent precedent of the Church scheduling at least 3 temples to be dedicated on the same day, I'm thinking that both the Bangkok Thailand and Okinawa Japan Temples will be dedicated on October 8, 15, or 22, and that at least the Lima Peru Los Olivos and McAllen Texas Temple dedications could follow on October 29 or November 5 or 12. It also seems more likely to me now that the St. George Utah Temple's rededication could potentially be delayed until January of next year at earliest. My thanks once again to you all.
On this Thursday, the Church has shared the next major update on the renovation of the Salt Lake Temple. An update from several months ago amended the anticipated completion year to 2025.
ReplyDeleteI heard through the proverbial grapevine that some top Church leaders and project managers were hoping to have that project wrap up next year to coincide with President Nelson's centenarian birthday, but with the Church moving that completion to 2026 today at earliest, that may not be possible.
Parenthetically, it's also with noting that, according to recent reports, President Nelson remains hale and hearty, energetic, and actively engaged in the day-to-day matters of general Church business. It appears the reports that he moves and acts with the energy and vigor of one 30-40 years younger than his almost-99 years remain accurate.
So I have no doubts on my end that he'll be around for several years after the rededication of the he Salt Lake Temple. If the completion of that temple is pushed back again in the next year or two, we could see the rededication thereof coincide with the bicentennial of the Church's reestablishment. And the current prophet may be the first apostolic and prophetic centenarian and supercentenarian. Anyways. here are the updates on the Salt Lake Temple:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/temple-square-renovation-update-march-2023
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2023/3/23/23641393/temple-square-renovation-update-salt-lake-temple-completion-date-amended-2026
More updates to follow shortly.
Here is one more Church News update:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/history/2023/3/23/23649058/president-jimmy-carter-salt-lake-tabernacle-president-kimball-family-week
Temple construction updates, if any, will follow shortly. My thanks once again to you all.
And a new Church News video featuring Elder Holland has been shared:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/3/23/23653750/video-elder-holland-early-apostles-missions-to-england-destiny-of-the-restoration
My thanks once again to you all.
There is also one additional report from the Newsroom:
Deletehttps://news-uk.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-provides-continued-help-for-those-affected-by-earthquakes-in-turkiye-and-syria
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News shared a similar report to the Newsroom:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/3/23/23653594/church-relief-assistance-turkey-syria-quake-victims-food-boxes-mobile-health-clinics
My thanks once again to you all.
Construction status updates have been noted today on the Harare Zimbabwe, Elko Nevada, and Burley Idaho Temples:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/harare-zimbabwe-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/elko-nevada-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/burley-idaho-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Saturday, the following Church News updates speak for themselves:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/3/25/23644240/april-2023-general-conference-schedule
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/3/25/23632875/90-year-old-elders-quorum-president-taylorsville-utah-temple
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/3/25/23653415/cape-verde-volunteers-hygiene-kits-inmates-central-da-praia
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/3/25/23655270/music-the-spoken-word-cultivating-happiness
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/3/25/23650562/pornography-harm-relationships-byu-study
If there are any new temple construction updates, those will be passed along shortly. My thanks once again to you all.
On this Sabbath Day, when the next major temple construction announcement is less than 24 hours away, the Church News has posted the following updates, which each speak for themselves:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/3/26/23648682/latter-day-saint-girls-lost-in-samoan-jungle-conversion-story
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/3/26/23651368/mtc-choir-director-ryan-eggett-church-music
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2023/3/26/23656564/21-new-and-reorganized-stakes-washington-dominican-republic-provo-rexburg-ysa
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/3/26/23652431/week-in-review-first-presidency-easter-message-elder-holland-new-byu-president-temples
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/3/26/23656187/the-redeemer-easter-concert-celebrates-christs-life-sacred-music-artwork-video
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/3/26/23652813/what-is-palm-sunday-latter-day-saints-easter
And here is one more update from the Newsroom:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/celebrate-easter-with-streamed-concert--new-videos
Any new temple updates will follow shortly. My thanks once again to you all.