Hello again, everyone! On this Monday, the First Presidency has announced the arrangements for the open house and rededication of the St. George Utah Temple. I was surprised that the announcement has been made already, and that it is apparently the only major temple news shared today. Let's get into the details: A media day will be held on Monday, September 11, with VIP tours held from Tuesday, September 12-Friday September 15, 2023.
Hello again, everyone! On this Monday, the First Presidency has announced the arrangements for the open house and rededication of the St. George Utah Temple. I was surprised that the announcement has been made already, and that it is apparently the only major temple news shared today. Let's get into the details: A media day will be held on Monday, September 11, with VIP tours held from Tuesday, September 12-Friday September 15, 2023.
A public open house will follow between Saturday, September 16-Saturday, November 11, 2023. The temple will then be rededicated in two sessions (at 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM) on Sunday, December 10, 2023. Interestingly, the release doesn't say who will rededicate that temple. I believe that is the case because the Church is waiting to see whether Elder Holland will be well enough to preside at that event.
Not only was this announcement sooner than I expected but the open house and rededication windows are both a lot shorter than I anticipated. I thought the Church would have a similar-length open house to the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple, and that this temple would only be rededicated next year. But the Lord knows what He's doing in inspiring these arrangements, so I have no doubt this was inspired.
That is the only temple announcement for today. So now we have an answer on the question of the St. George Utah Temple open house and rededication. I continue to monitor all such updates and will be sure to pass word of 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.
Here is the Church News report on today's announcement:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2023/5/8/23713290/st-george-utah-temple-open-house-rededication-dates-renovation
My thanks once again to you all.
And the Church has tragically lost another full-time missionary:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/utah-layton-mission-young-elder-dies
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/5/8/23715861/full-time-missionary-canada-dies-traumatic-head-injury-utah-accident
My thanks once again to you all.
Here is the text of the Richmond Virginia Temple dedicatory prayer:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2023/5/8/23715506/richmond-virginia-temple-dedicatory-prayer-president-oaks
My thanks once again to you all.
Also, the Church of Jesus Christ Temples site has noted construction status updates on the Lima Peru Los Olivos, Puebla Mexico, Bahia Blanca Argentina, Willamette Valley Oregon, and Bacolod Philippines Temples:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/lima-peru-los-olivos-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/puebla-mexico-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/bahia-blanca-argentina-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/willamette-valley-oregon-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/bacolod-philippines-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Tuesday, the Church News has shared 2 new reports thus far, one focusing on Iowa Religious Freedom Day, and the other focusing on BYU-Hawaii's graduation ceremony.
DeleteIn the menatime, I noticed something unusual on the Church Temples site today: For a short time this morning, the status of the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple had been updated to show that site clearing and grading were underway, but now the status shows that full-scale construction is pending and the update is only now available in one photograph.
Hopefully this means that full-scale construction can begin soon on that temple. Stay tuned for more on this as updates are provided. I will also provide other temple construction updates and all updates from the Church News and the Newsroom. Also today, I am trying something new by having actual links to the web pages of updates I share. Please let me know if that works better for any or all of you, my readers. For now, thanks again, everyone!
From the Middle East Newsroom page comes an article about ongoing relief efforts Church members and leaders are providing to the nations of Turkyie and Syria. And the main Newsroom page has provided a summary of latest news stories from around the world that highlight women's contributions to the global work of the Church in general and the Relief Society in particular.
DeleteMeanwhile, the Church News shares the latest edition of the Church News podcast, and a report on Elder Michael A. Dunn's devotional address at Church of Jesus Christ Temples site has again noted updates in the temple construction queue. This time, the temples impacted are the ones estimated to be completed by the end of this year.
For a while now, after the Red Cliffs Temple, Urdaneta Philippines and Puebla Mexico have been the next ones in the queue. With recent updates on both, the two have switched positions, with Puebla anticipated to be completed first, followed by Urdaneta. Both are still estimated to be completed in mid-2023. And the Layton Utah Temple has now moved up in the queue to between Urdaneta and Salta Argentina, with both estimated to be completed in mid-to-late 2023. As a result, the completion estimate for the Coban Guatemala Temple is now late 2024. and the same estimate applies to Orem and Taylorsville Utah and Casper Wyoming.
You can find those changes reflected in this document. I continue to monitor all developments via the Church News, Newsroom, and Church Temples site and will be sure to bring you word thereof as I receive it. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
Sorry. I made an error above. The recap of Elder Dunn's Ensign College address was not linked in my last comment. Additionally, the Church News has shared a summary of remarks given at the BYU-Hawaii devotional today by Sister Rebecca L (Becky) Craven, the outgoing Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteI have two more temple updates to pass along as well. The first is for the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple. And a new update on the Knoxville Tennessee Temple indicates that the Church is seeking approval for that temple's site plan, with a public hearing set to occur in 9 days.
DeleteAs a result of the latter update, my list of temples for which groundbreakings are anticipated now has the Teton River Idaho, Modesto California, and now Knoxville Tennessee Temples at the top, followed by the Fort Worth Texas, Cody Wyoming, Cali Colombia, Cape Town South Africa, and Tarawa Kiribati Temples. I am hopeful that at least a couple of those could have groundbreakings by the end of June.
Admittedly, I have been somewhat surprised at the slower pace and spreading out of the scheduling for temple dedications, rededications, and groundbreakings. I am hopeful we will see major announcements moving temples up in the queue through the end of June, but at this point, it's getting harder to gauge what might be announced, when those announcements will come, and what the associated opening arrangements or groundbreaking announcements might end up being.
But I will keep my eyes open in that regard and will pass along any and all such reports as they cross my radar. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
On this Wednesday, the Church News has shared two new updates. The first highlights a BYU-Idaho devotional address given by Elder Mark D. Eddy, who is preparing to start a new assignment as Second Counselor in the Brazil Area presidency. The second article highlights a new BYU study, which found that being involved in family history work can improve the psychological well-being of young adults. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAnd the Church News just shared a report on remarks given by Sister Sheri L. Dew at the BYU Women's Conference. Thanks again, everyone!
DeleteAt a recent MTC Provo Devotional, Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared how living by 3 principles in "Preach My Gospel" can inspire those missionaries and those with whom they come in contact. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAfter what has been a very eventful Thursday for me, I am pleased to report that the Newsroom and the the Church News have highlighted how Utah State University has awarded an honorary doctoral degree to Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve, who was a former student of that institution.
DeleteAdditionally, the Kenya edition of the Newsroom has featured an account of how leaders of other religions recently extended a welcome to the Church. The leaders of other faiths represented the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) in visiting a stake center, and promising collaboration with and support to the Church in its' efforts to expand in Kenya and more fully engage in missionary and chariable efforts.
Additionally other reports from the Church News highlighted how Employment Services traning recently helped a blind woman find work; counsel for young women on how to demonstrate Chrstilike-leadership; how the Church and its' members continue to minister to Ukrainian war refuguees who have fled to ice skating illustrated to one youth leader how youth could be involved in the role of salvation and exaltation, and how the Church and its' members continues to aid Ukrainian war refugees who have fled to Turkyie and Syria.
The global ministry of our apostles continues. Aside from the aforementioned updated on the honorary degree for Elder Stevenson, Elder Cook was featured in a new video highlighting how protecting religious freedom contributes to "Protections for All", And Acting President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles sent out a letter on May 1 to outline how local Church leaders can more fully support and minister to young single adults.
My thanks once again to you all.
As another Friday has rolled around, I am pleased to pass along the latest Church News updates. open house reservations are now available for the Bentonville Arkansas Temple, anf former refugees from Sudan have found peace through the dedication of the Richmond Virginia Temple.
DeleteFurther coverage of the BYU Women's Conference highlights how encouragement was provided by several presenters to those divorced, widowed, or never married women in the Church. And as a historical first for the African nation of Senegal, the inaugural youth conference has been held. The Church continues efforts to expand its' presence and reach on a global scale.
Late yesterday, I also received word of an update on the Layton Utah Temple.. I am checking for updates on other temples and will bring you word of anything on that later today as time allows. I also anticipate the latest edition of "This Week on Social" will be published soon. Stay tuned for additional updates as they cross my radar. For now, thanks again, everyone!
There has been another major reshuffling in the temple construction queue for temples anticipated to be completed by or before the end of this year. As already noted, dedications have been set for the Helena Montana, Saratoga Springs Utah, Brasilia Brazil, Bentonville Arkansas,. Moses Lake Washington, Feather River California. Bangkok Thailand, and Okinawa Japan Temples and rededications have been set for the Columbus Ohio and St. George Utah Temples.
DeleteOriginally today, the only change in the queue was that Red Cliffs Utah was placed ahead of the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple, although those two and the McAllen Texas Temples are actually completed and awaiting their dedication announcements. It's after those 3 temples that the major updates and altered order and estimates come into play. The Puebla Mexico Temple is now the only one anticipated to be completed in mid-2023. In mid-to-late 2023, the following temples are anticipated to be completed in the following order: Layton Utah, Orem Utah, Urdaneta Philippines, Salta Argentina, Taylorsville Utah, and Coban Guatemala. And, as previously noted, the Casper Wyoming Temple is the only one anticipated to be completed in late 2023 currently, while a late 2023-early 2024 estimate remains in effect for the Tallahassee Florida Temple.
Given the massive change in this queue of temples anticipated to be completed in the next 8-10 months, that in turn will necessitate future updates on my more specific estiamtes for each temple event. I will have updated thoughts posted here as I am able to put that together. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles joined a Utah Jewish congregation recently to celebrate the cooperative efforts between the Church and the Jewish faith. Also, the latest edition of "This Week on Social" has been published.
DeleteFeatured in this latest installment are the following general Church leaders: President Henry B. Eyring, Second Counselor in the First Presidency; Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Society General President Sister Camille N. Johnson; Sister Amy A. Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency; and Brother Milton Camargo, First Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency.
My thanks once again to you all.
Status updates have been noted today for the Layton Utah, Orem Utah, Coban Guatemala, and Fort Worth Texas Temples. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Saturday, the Church News introduced new GA Seventy 12 new videos about motherhood have been featured. And the Church News has also provided a final recap of their coverage of the . The Church News also recapped aid given to Vanuatu by the Church as the result of the recent cyclone. And the text for tomorrow's "Music and the Spoken Word" message which pays tribute to mothers as well. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Mother's Day, I need to apologize upfront for an error in my comment from yesterday. I made reference to the biography of another new GA Seventy Elder J. Kimo Esplin, but failed to link to it. I apologize for that oversight.
DeleteIn the meantime, in honor of Mother's Day, general Church leaders took to social media to pay tribute to mothers. Those general leaders included: Elders Dieter F. Uchtdorf, David A. Bednar, and Ulisses Soares, all of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Society General President Sister Camille N. Johnson and her First Counselor, Sister J. Anette Dennis; outgoing Young Women General President Sister Bonnie H. Cordon; and Primary General President Sister Susan H. Porter.
The Church News also noted the calls of 17 new stake presidencies, shared the story of a Latter-day Saint barrel-racing nurse, and recapped the top nine developments covered in the Church News this week.
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Monday, when we are 30-45 minutes from the next anticipated major temple construction update, the Newsroom and the Church News have noted the start of the open house for the Helena Montana Temple. I will just add that, while the main page of the Newsroom that shows the latest temple news has been updated with this report, I do not believe that this will be the big temple construction announcement we will get this week. Stay tuned for an update on that within the next hour or two.
DeleteIn the interim, in the wake of a "60 Minutes" report on CBS that cast the Church in a negative light regarding the recent SEC settlement, the Church has issued an official statement in response. Also, following the inspration to open a new area of Nigeria for missionary work in March and April, over 100 convert baptisms were performed. If I had to guess, I believe that this update will be prominently covered in some form on the the Church Growth Blogprovided one other report on how JustServe initiatives are positivley impacting communities in Arizona. An official analysis of today's other temple updates (if any) will follow within the next couple of hours once that announcement is made. For now, my thanks once again to you all.