Stokes Sounds Off: BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: President Nelson Announces 15 New Temples as the April 2023 General Conference Concludes

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Sunday, April 2, 2023

BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: President Nelson Announces 15 New Temples as the April 2023 General Conference Concludes

Hello again, everyone! In all but one of the Church's 10 previous General Conferences held since early 2018, the Sunday Afternoon Session has usually concluded with closing remarks and the announcement of new temples by our beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. Today was no different. I am pleased to report that 15 new templeshave been announced in each of the following locations

Retalhuleu Guatemala; Iquitos Peru; Teresina & Natal Brazil; Tuguegarao City & Iloilo Philippines; Jakarta Indonesia; Hamburg Germany; Lethbridge Alberta Canada; San Jose and Bakersfield California; Springfield Missouri; Charlotte North Carolina; Winchester Virginia; and Harrisburg Pennsylvania. Today's announcement brings the total number of temples in the Church to 315, 133 (42% of which President Nelson has personally announced).

I had the following 9 locations exactly correct: Iquitos Peru, Teresina and Natal Brazil, Jakarta Indonesia, Hamburg Germany, Lehtbridge Alberta Canada, San Jose and Bakersfield California, and Charlotte North Carolina. I had the right general location but the wrong specific location for the following temples: Retalhuleu Guatemala & Tuguegaro City & Iloilo Philippines, And the following temples announced were not on my radar, but perhaps they should have been: Springfield Missouri, Winchester Virginia, and Harrisburg Pennsylvania.

As a general note, unless I am mistaken, Sister Wendy Nelson is a native of Raymond Alberta, and the temple in Lethbridge will likely serve the area in which she grew up. Matthew Martinich, who maintains the Church Growth Blog, will likely have more information on this than I could provide here. With today's announcement of new temples, the Church may or may not have another major temple construction update announced at around 2:00 PM tomorrow afternoon. 

But if such an announcement is made, I will be sure to cover it here ASAP once I learn of it. 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.

32 comments:

  1. Hello again, everyone! The following additional Newsroom and Church News updates have been shared:

    https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-nelson-easter-message-2023

    https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/april-2023-general-conference-prophet-teachings

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/general-conference/2023/4/2/23666994/what-did-president-nelson-teach-april-2023-general-conference-peacemakers

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/general-conference/2023/4/2/23667155/general-conference-april-2023-sunday-afternoon-session-summary

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/3/29/23661083/general-conference-april-2023-talk-summaries-session-highlights-news-announcements

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/2023/4/2/23667152/president-russell-m-nelson-encourages-forgiveness-on-palm-sunday

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/2023/4/2/23667313/we-believe-in-christ-president-oaks-other-leaders-focus-conference-messages-on-savior-his-teachings

    My thanks once again to you all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here are the Newsroom reports about today's two General Conference Sessions:

      https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/april-2023-general-conference-sunday-morning

      https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/april-2023-general-conference-sunday-afternoon

      And here is one other report courtesy of the Church News:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/2023/4/2/23667313/april-2023-general-conference-focus-on-jesus-christ-president-oaks-elder-bednar-andersen

      My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
    2. Here is an article featuring local reaction to the 15 new temples announced today:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2023/4/2/23667334/general-conference-april-2023-church-members-react-president-nelson-announcement-15-temple-locations

      My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
    3. And a PDFsmmary of this weekend's General Conference has been provided:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/general-conference/2023/4/3/23667482/april-2023-general-conference-download-pdf-of-talk-summaries

      https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24556010/April_2023_General_Conference_PDFs_English.pdf

      My thanks one again to you all.

      Delete
  2. On this Monday, less than 2 hours away from when the Church ordinarily releases new temple construction news, while I'm unsure if that's coming today (due to the announcement of 15 new temples yesterday), if any updates do come down the pike, I will pass those along. In the meantime, here is one new Church News report:

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/3/23667432/april-2023-general-conference-prophetic-emphasis-invitations-easter-holy-week

    My thanks once again to you all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Since it is now 2:30 PM, unless the Church made a one-time adjustment for today (due to the announcement of 15 new temples at 3:50 PM yesterday), there may not be any major temple construction updates today. If there are any later on, i will pass that along. In the meantime, the Church News has passed along 2 other updates relating to General Confeerence last weekend:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/3/29/23661083/general-conference-april-2023-talk-summaries-session-highlights-news-announcements

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/general-conference/2023/4/3/23667485/general-conference-april-2023-invitations-first-presidency-apostles

      My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
    2. On this Tuesday, the Church News has shared 2 new reports:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/4/4/23655450/fsy-pfj-south-america-uruguay-paraguay-argentina-chile-all-things-through-christ

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/2021/4/1/23264989/what-is-a-general-authority-area-seventy-general-officer-area-presidency-church-organization

      I will keep my eyes open for any additional Church News, Newsroom, or temple construction developments and will pass word of those along to you all as I receive it. Thanks again, everyone!

      Delete
    3. The latest edition of the Church News podcast has been published, featuring a recap of teachings from top leadeers of the Church:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2023/4/4/23669961/episode-130-april-2023-general-conference-leaders-invite-all-to-come-unto-christ-be-peacemakers

      And a new Newsroom report shares Easter-themed posts on social media from members of the First Presidency and Quorumm of the Twelve Apostles:

      https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-leaders-celebrate-holy-week-with-messages-of-jesus-christ

      Those featured in that update included: Church President Russell M. Nelson and his respective First and Second Counselors, Presidents Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring; and Elders Jeffrey R. Holland, Quentin L. Cook, and D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

      My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
    4. The Newsroom also provided a look at the Tabernacle Choir's global participants last weekend:

      https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/tabernacle-choirs-global-participants-sing-praises-during-general-conference

      My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
    5. And a new update on the Teton River Idaho Temple suggests that the Church may be getting closer to setting a groundbreaking:

      https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/teton-river-idaho-temple/

      Thanks again, everyone!

      Delete
  3. My son is currently serving in the Charlotte NC mission. He says a rumor of the temple site may he church owned property in Statesville.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm skeptical because it is an hour or over 40 miles outside of Charlotte. But it is still on the Charlotte metro area.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey, Chris, great to hear from you, as always, I was itrigued by your son's report. I would agree with you that it seems unlikely that a temple named after a mmaor region would be built a fair distance away from it. Please keep us posted here if your son hears anything else on this, and thanks for stopping by to share thiss update.

      Delete
    2. I am pleased to report that the transcripts are available for the April 2023 General Conference:

      https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04?lang=eng

      My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
  5. I'm so grateful but at the same time so surprised that we're getting a new temple in Retalhuleu! This is going to be the closest temple for me. I am from Mazatenango stake and we're getting close to get divided (since we have 13 units) so I was expecting a new temple in Retalhuleu but within the next years. I have to say our stake has been working a lot in familysearch. I know this will be a hot take but I think Guatemala is done or at least we won't get more new temple announcements in a while... or perhaps a new one in Villa Nueva but I'm not sure. Time will tell.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A.J., thanks for taking time to comment. I apologize for my delayed acknowledgement of your comment. I've been dealing with some health-related issues that have demanded more of my focus. I took was surprised by the newest Guatemalan announcement as I'd anticipated both Villa Nueva and Mixco would get temples first. But the Lord verified yet again that His wisdom and timing is superior to mine. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here.

      Delete
    2. Thank you for your answer! I hope soon you'll get better

      Delete
    3. Thanks for your kind well-wishes. I'll do my best.

      Delete
  6. On this Wednesday, the Church News has shared the following updates:

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/5/23632833/rootstech-family-history-temple-work-ancestors

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/5/23671215/5-new-general-authority-seventies-april-2023-general-conference

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/4/5/23666906/april-2023-general-conference-oak-hill-haitian-ward-members-attend-first-time

    My thanks once again to you all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here is one more Church News update:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/5/23671315/bless-the-one-bless-the-whole-sister-yee-missionaries-provo-mtc-devotional

      My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
  7. Just a quick note here: with only a few exceptions in the last decade, the Church has announced new area leadership assignments the week after General Conference. In previous years, I have shared my thoughts regarding changes we could see. I intended to do that this week, but I've had to deal with more severe headaches this week due to recurring shifts in barometric pressure and ongoing snow storms. So I couldn't make that analysis happen this year. I'm anticipating that such an announcement will be shared tomorrow, and I will share my analysis on that if and when it comes. My thanks once again to you all.

    ReplyDelete
  8. On this Thursday, the Church has issued the following statement on the health of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:

    https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-provides-update-on-elder-hollands-health

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/6/23672743/official-church-statement-elder-holland-taking-two-months-off-to-focus-on-health-covid-19

    My thanks once again to you all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looks like I was inorrectt aout the Church announcing the 2023 area leadership assignmets today. Maybe tomorrow will be the day. In the meantime, here are soe Church News updates:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/history/2023/4/6/23671608/joseph-smith-papers-april-2023-lecture

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/6/23671256/new-young-women-general-presidency-emily-belle-freeman-tamara-runia-andrea-spannaus

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/general-conference/2023/4/3/23667482/april-2023-general-conference-download-pdf-of-talk-summaries

      https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24567255/April_2023_General_Conference_PDFs_English1.pdf

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/4/6/23671643/april-2023-general-conference-10-international-singers-tabernacle-choir

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/6/23673223/video-president-ballard-lessons-learned-walking-trent-river-missionary

      My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
    2. The Church of Jesus Christ Temples sites hss noted a change in the completion estimate for the Elko Nevada Temple:. Although recently estiated to be completed in mid-2024, new information indicates it is now only anticipated to be completed in early 2025, though that could change. Additionally, although the Salta Argentina Temple has recently been estimated to be completed in late 2023-early 2024, new evidence suggests it may be the last new temple completed by the end of this year instead.

      That being said, those are completion windows, not necessarily dedication windows. I ran convfigured estimates for the temples likely to be completed within the next year, and based on that, it now seems likely that the Red Cliffs Utah and Puebla Mexico Temples will either be the last new temples dedicated this year or the first new temples on the dedication docket for next year. Above and beyond that, status updates have been noted for the Salta Argentina, Elko Nevada, and Bahia Blanca Argentina Temples:

      https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/salta-argentina-temple/

      https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/elko-nevada-temple/

      https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/bahia-blanca-argentina-temple/

      My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
    3. On this Friday, the Newsroom has shared the following 2 updates:

      https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/world-leaders-visit-church-headquarters

      https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/ga-mantse-king-visits-church-headquarters

      The Church News has provided the following additional updates s well:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/4/7/23670719/church-georgia-legislature-black-caucus-familysearch-justserve

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/3/22/23648869/easter-video-rise-tabernacle-choir-he-is-risen-music-messiah

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/7/23671485/young-men-general-presidency-michael-nelson-new-counselor-april-2023-general-conference

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/4/7/23674141/what-is-good-friday-easter-latter-day-saints

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/4/7/23674143/brad-wilcox-byu-idaho-graduation-remember-who-you-are-lion-king

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/4/7/23674821/ensign-college-graduation-elder-mcconkie-lifelong-curriculum-discipleship

      My thanks once again t you all.

      Delete
    4. Updates have been noted today on the construction staus of the Mendoza Argentina and Yorba Linda Califoria Temples:

      https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/mendoza-argentina-temple/

      https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/yorba-linda-california-temple/

      With reference to the latter update, full-scale construction efforts are now underway, and its' completion is estimated to occur in early 2026. I am cautiously optimistic that as the southern hemisphere moves into fall, we might see full-scale construction begin on the Miraflores Guateala City Guatemala and Torreon and Queretaro Mexico Temples.

      Hopefully work will soon be underway on the Heber Valley Utah Temple as well. In the interim, I wanted to note that the Church News has not yet shared the latest edition of "This Week on Social". I assume that a special Easter edition may be shared on Sunday, entitled "This Easter on Social." Also, the groundbreaking for the Port Vila Vanuatu Temple was set to take place at some point on Saturday April 8. Since it is now nearing 4:00 PM on Saturday in Vanuatu, it may or may not have already taken place. I will be sure to provide an update on that as it is provided. My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
    5. On this Saturday, the Church News has published the following updates:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/4/8/23674008/easter-2023-music-messages-celebrating-jesus-christ-resurrection

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/4/8/23673972/music-the-spoken-word-because-of-him-easter-bonner

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/history/2023/4/8/23673451/always-more-to-learn-church-historian-joseph-smith-papers-lecture

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/4/8/23546947/church-humanitarian-efforts-caring-webiste-social-media-latter-day-saint-charities

      And the latest edition of "This Week on Social was also shared:

      https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/4/8/23670575/this-week-on-social-church-leaders-april-general-conference

      Featured in this edition were the following apostles: Church President Russell M. Nelson and his First Counselor, President Dallin H. Oaks; the following members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Acting President M. Russell Ballard and Elders David A. Bednar, Ronald A. Rasband, and Ulisses Soares.

      The General Officers featured in this update were: Relief Society General President Sister Camille N. Johnson and her First Counselor, Sister J. Annette Dennis (from the latter of whom 2 posts were shared); outgoing Young Women General President Sister Bonnie H. Cordon; Primary General President Sister Susan H. Porter and her First Counselor, Sister Amy A. Wright; and Brother Milton Camargo, First Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency.

      And since it is now Sunday in Vanuatu, I'm assuming that the groundbreaking for the Port Vila Vanuatu Temple took place as scheduled. Once there is a source to confirm that, I will be sure to provide it here. My thanks once again to you all.

      Delete
  9. I saw the live stream of the Groundbreaking and can confirm it happened.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Where did you see that, Scott? I looked for it on the mywebcast page and didn't see it? In any case, thanks for this confirmation. I always appreciate hearing from you.

      Delete
    2. It was on youtube.

      Delete
    3. Good to know. I didn't see it anywhere. I'm assuming that confirmation on the groundbreaking will be shared tomorrow with whatever other temple construction update is published. Thanks again for sharing this information, Scott. Always a pleasure to hear from you.

      Delete
  10. Hello again, everyone! On this Easter Sunday, the Newsroom and the Church News both published social media posts from every member of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, including Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:

    https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-leaders-celebrate-holy-week-with-messages-of-jesus-christ

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/9/23671258/easter-weekend-15-things-apostles-said-about-christ

    And a special Easter edition of "This Week on Social" entitled "Holy Week on Social" shared addtional Easter posts from the apostles and General Officers of the Church:

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/4/9/23674812/holy-week-social-church-leaders-easter-jesus-christ-center

    Those featured included the entire First Presidency (Church President Russell M. Nelson and his respective First and Second Counselors, Presidents Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring); and the following members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Elders Jeffrey R. Holland, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, David A. Bednar, Quuentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson (from the latter of whom 2 posts were shared), Neil L. Andeersen, Ronald A. Rasband (who also had 2 posts featured), Gary E. Stevenson, Dale G. Renlund, Gerrit W. Gong (who likewise had 2 posts featured) and Ulisses Soares and Relief Society General President Sister Camille N. Johnson.

    2 other Church News reports speak for themselves:

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/9/23673059/in-case-you-missed-it-president-nelson-easter-video-elder-holland-health-7-more-stories

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/4/8/23674008/easter-2023-music-messages-celebrating-jesus-christ-resurrection

    If there are any new temple construction updates, I will pass those along to you all here ASAP. And I will be sure to share the latest temple construction update from the Church tomorrow ASAP once it is released. My thanks once again to you all.

    The following General Officers were ffeatured as well: Relief Society General President Sister Camille N. Johnson; and her Second Counselor, Sister Kristin M. Yee;

    Elder Holland's contribution was drawn from his April 2009 General Conference address, "None Were with Him".

    ReplyDelete

In addition to my life-long love for the subjects which I cover in the posts of this blog, I have long held the belief that we can disagree without becoming disagreeable. Differences of opinion are natural, while being disagreeable in expressing those differences is not. And in that sense, I have no desire to close the door on anyone who earnestly desires to contribute to the ongoing dialogue on subjects covered in the posts on this blog.

At the same time, however, I recognize that we live in a time when incivility, discourtesy, unkindness, and even cyber-bullying has regrettably become part of online interactions. With that in mind, while anyone who wishes can comment on anything if they choose to do so, I hereby reserve the right to immediately delete any comments which are critical, unkind, lack civility, or promote prodcuts, services, and values contrary to either the Church, or to the rules of online etiquette.

I'd also like to remind all who comment here that I try to respond personally to each individual comment as I feel is appropriate. Such replies are not meant to end the conversation, but to acknowledge earnest feedback as it is submitted.

And in order to better preserve the spirit and pure intentions for which this blog was established, I also hereby request that anyone not commenting with a regular user name (particularly those whose comments appear under the "Unknown" or "Anonymous" monikers, give the rest of us a name to work with in addressing any replies. If such individuals do not wish to disclose their actual given names, a pseudonym or nickname would suffice.

Any comments made by individuals who opt to not give a name by which they can ber identified may, depending on the substance and tone of such comments, be subject to deletion as well. I would respectfully ask that all of us do all we can to keep the dialogue positive, polite, and without malice or ill-will. May the Lord bless us all in our discussion of these important matters.