Hello again, everyone! As I mentioned at the tail end of my previous post, the Newsroom officially confirmed the dedication of the Okinawa Japan temple would occur, as specified in the Japanese Newsroom release. It also specified that Elder Gary E. Stevenson will preside at that temple's dedication. That is fitting and proper since Elder Stevenson served his mission in Japan, later served as a mission president in that same nation, and came back again to Japan following his 2008 call as a General Authority Seventy when he served in the Asia North Area presidency and later as the president thereof.
But in addition to that, the Church's Newsroom release also indicated that renovations are coming to the San Diego California Temple, which will close in July 2023. That temple was originally dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley, then First Counselor in the First Presidency to President Ezra Taft Benson. The dedication occurred on April 25-30, 1992.
Though no other details of this renovation are available, I wouldn't be surprised if electrical, mechanical, and ancillary systems are updated, and it's possible that some of the furnishings and fixtures will be replaced, that rooms could be reconfigured or that parts of the temple could be altered for greater efficiency and durability. An estimated completion and open house and rededication arrangements will be provided at a later time.
I am grateful for this unexpected announcement. I continue to monitor all Church News, Newsroom, and temple construction updates and will pass those along to you all here 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.
With this announcement, 2023 will be the first year with at least 10 dedications since 2000.
ReplyDeleteYour observation is on point, Noah. That is correct. As I theorized in my report on the Okinawa announcement, I believe we will see the Lima Peru Los Olivos and McAllen Texas Temples dedicated in November as well, with the Red Cliffs Utah and Puebla Mexico Temples (if not also the Urdaneta Philippines Temple) in December. That would put the total dedication count for 2023 at a respectable 14 or 15. Then starting next year, I think we will see a minimum of 20 dedications, and that could continue for the years following 2024. Interesting to think about. President Nelson definitely knew what he was saying when he said that "This work is moving forward at an unprecedented pace." Thanks agian, Noah. I always appreciate hearing from you.
DeleteThe Church News shared coverage on the upcoming San Diego renovation that is more extensive than my cursory analysis above:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2023/4/17/23681828/san-diego-california-temple-to-close-in-july-2023-for-extensive-renovations
My thanks once agian to you all.
On this Tuesday, the Church News has shared 2 new reports:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/4/18/23687401/byu-wheatley-institute-faith-in-the-workplace
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/18/23687700/elder-rasband-german-missionaries-service-project-turkey-syria-earthquake
And here is one more update from the Newsroom:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-porter-sister-yee-share-gods-love-with-saints-asia-north-area
My thanks once again to you all.
Here are 2 additional reports from the Church News:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/18/23687323/ensign-college-devotional-rsvp-invitation-come-unto-jesus-christ
https://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2023/4/18/23688745/episode-132-church-news-spanish-translation-coordinator-nadia-gavarret-blessings-gospel-jesus-christ
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Thursday, new leaders have been announced for the California Oakland/San Francisco Mission, effective immediately:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/2023/4/20/23688462/learn-about-the-new-california-oakland-san-francisco-mission-leaders
And a new Church News video features Elder David A. Bednar describing how temple work can change hearts:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/20/23691523/video-elder-bednar-washington-dc-temples-change-inside-out
My thanks once again to you all.
Also, at some point either late yesterday or early today, the Church of Jesus Christ Temples site did a massive overhaul to the temple construction queue based on updates (or the lack thereof) on several temples in the queue:
Deletehttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1L7HBLNZZTnlI4Dk8fpr3HZCf-wqkjUBcCCYqdxP7HRk/edit?usp=sharing
A total of 33 changes have been noted. Most of the changes pertain to the timing and order in which temples will be completed between the late months of this year and the end of the first half of 2026. As more temples have dedications and groundbreakings set, and as new temples join the construction queue, we will likely see even more shifts. I am still evaluating how those changes and updates might impact the general and more specific estimates I have shared in the past.
In the meantime, it's also worth noting that we have an unusual situation coming up. The Church has not yet publicly announced the first president and matron for the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple. Unless that happens either tomorrow, over the weekend, or early next week, I could see a scenario where the dedication for the McAllen Texas Temple is announced before the dedication of the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple. If I am correct in that assessment, then it seems likely that the dedication of the McAllen Texas Temple might be set to occur between the October 22 dedication for the Bangkok Thailand Temple and the November 12 dedication for the Okinawa Japan Temple.
Having noted that, I continue to monitor all Church News, Newsroom, and temple construction updates and will be sure to pass word of those along to you all as I become aware of those developments. My thanks once again to you all.
On this Friday, the Newsroom and the Church News have shared a social media post by Elder David A. Bednar, sent by way of greeting and tribute to those Muslims who are faithfuly observing Ramadan:
ReplyDeletehttps://news-middleeast.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/latter-day-saints-extend-eid-greetings-to-muslim-friends
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/21/23692121/elder-bednar-acknowledges-common-beliefs-ramadan-close-eid-mubarak
And here is one other Church News report:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/4/21/23691977/helping-homeless-navigate-opportunities-in-san-francisco-silicon-valley-service
I will return with temple construction updates, if any, and any additional Church News or Newsroom updates, later today as they cross my radar. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
Updates have been noted on the Heber Valley Utah and Modesto California Temples:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/heber-valley-utah-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/modesto-california-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
Here are 2 more Church News reports:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/21/23691989/elder-rasband-armenia-message-of-hope-in-jesus-christ-members-missionaries
https://www.thechurchnews.com/history/2023/4/21/23691796/church-history-armenia-rebuilding
My thanks once again to you all.
The Newsroom also covered Elder Rasband's ministry in Armenia:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-rasband-first-visit-armenia-as-apostle
My thanks once again to you all.
I am pleased to be able to confirm that the groundbreaking for the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple just wrapped up. A report on that will be shared here once that is available. In the interim, 58 temples are now under construction, with 81 announced. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAt around 6:00 PM, (about the same time the groundbreaking for the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple was taking place) the Church News published the latest edition of "This Week on Social":
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/4/21/23688969/this-week-on-social-elder-sister-uchtdorf-visit-sites-from-the-saviors-life-rasband-france-armenia
The general leaders featured in this week's edition included: Elders Dieter F. Uchtdorf (from whom 2 posts were shared), David A. Bednar, Ronald A. Rasband (from whom 3 posts were shared), and Gerrit W. Gong, all of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; outgoing Young Women General President Sister Bonnie H. Cordon and her outgoing First Counselor, Sister Michelle D. Craig; Sister Amy A. Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency; Sunday School General President Brother Mark L. Pace and his respective First and Second Counselors, Brothers Milton Camargo and Jan E. Newman; and Brother Bradley R. (Brad) Wilcox, First Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency.
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Saturday, the Church Temples site has shared photographic evidence, courtesy of a local Church member, that verifies that the groundbreaking took place yesterday evening at 6:00 PM here in Utah (which was 10:00 AM Saturday morning Port Moresby Papua New Guinea time:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/port-moresby-papua-new-guinea-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/port-moresby-papua-new-guinea-temple/photographs/
I am assuming an official report on that groundbreaking, courtesy of the Pacific Newsroom, will be published on Monday here in Utah (Tuesday in Papua New Guinea). But I am also certain that, unless the Church chooses to set a dedication for the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple before a temple president and matron are identified, that the big news Monday could be the opening arrangements for the McAllen Texas Temple and/or groundbreakings for the Teton River Idaho Modesto California, and perhaps Cody Wyoming and Fort Worth Texas Temples, and/or the release of exterior renderings for the Montpelier and Teton River Idaho Temples, and/or renderings, groundbreakings, or site announcements for any other temples currently in the queue.
Aside from that, 5 new Church News reports speak for themselves:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/4/22/23691001/sarah-jane-weaver-world-contention-thick-skin-does-not-exist-sheri-dew-abby-cox
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/4/22/23691375/earth-day-2023-5-ways-the-church-is-being-a-good-steward-of-the-earth
https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2023/4/22/23688681/cambodia-humanitarian-work-church-rebuild-hospital-train-doctors-surgery
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/4/22/23691720/music-the-spoken-word-remember-sabbath-day
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/22/23694012/elder-uchtdorf-ministry-jerusalem-center-meetings-i-am-a-disciple-of-jesus-christ
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Sabbath Day, the Church News has provided the following updates:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2023/4/23/23691328/8-new-stake-presidencies-from-sacramento-to-south-africa
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/4/23/23691925/byu-hawaii-culture-night-students-a-taste-of-home
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/23/23690480/in-case-you-missed-it-elder-uchtdorf-egypt-jerusalem-bednar-temples-video-rasband-europe
And in a news release dated on Sunday (it is now Monday in Papua New Guinea), the groundbreaking for the temple on that island nation is confirmed:
https://news-pacific.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/papua-new-guinean-saints-rejoice-as-ground-is-broken-for-new-temple
My thanks once again to you all.
As the Church continues its' partnership efforts with the NAACP, it appears they have put Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt right to work in that key area. He and Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recently reprenseted the Church in meeting with leaders of the NAACP and Black community leaders in San Francisco:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/naacp-the-church-host-black-leaders-san-francisco
And the Church has also provided information about the open house for the Columbus Ohio Temple, which begins this week. Media and VIP tours will be offered from today through Friday, followed by public tours between Saturday April 29 and Saturday May 13. On hand to host the Media/VIP tours were Elders Allen D. Haynie and Vaiangina Sikahema, who serve in the North America Norheast Area Presdency, and Elder Kevin R. Duncan, the Executive Director of the Temple Department:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/open-house-underway-renovated-columbus-ohio-temple
The temple will be rededicated on Sunday, June 4, with Acting President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presiding oveer three sessions at 9:00 AM, noon, and 3:00 PM EDT. I will just note here that I do not expect that this is the sum and total temple news we will get today.
I anticipate at least one other dedication to be set (either for Lima Peru Los Olivos, McAllen Texas, or maybe both), but there is also the possibility of additional groundbreakings, exterior renderings being released, or site locations and initial details being announced. It's also always possile that a single announcement could confirm a site location, share an exterior rendering, and set a groundbreaking. Whatever happens on that roughly 2 hours from now, you can count on my covering that and relaying it here. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has also covered the open house for the Columbus Ohio Temple:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2023/4/24/23695587/columbus-ohio-temple-see-inside-photos-recently-renovated-open-house-begins
My thanks once again to you all.
Here is one more Church News report:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/2023/4/24/23695674/president-ballard-returns-ontario-heart-intertwined-toronto
My thanks once again to you all.
So far, the Church has updated their general information page about temple news in 2023 with updates on the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea groundbreaking and the open house for the Columbus Ohio Temple:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/temple-news-house-of-the-lord-2023
Again, I do not believe this will be the sum and total temple news today. Stay tuned for updates if/when other news is announced. My thanks once again to you all.
Well, the 2:00 PM hour is almost up, and nothing new has been announced. My assumption therefore is that the Church will hold off on anything else until next Monday. Stay tuned for that update if/when it happens. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAnd the Church News has shared coverage of Saturday's groundbreaking for the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple as well:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2023/4/24/23696240/temple-groundbreaking-in-port-moresby-beautiful-occasion-papua-new-guinea
My thanks once again to you all.