Hello again, everyone! The first major temple construction announcement in months that has not been related to a temple open house has just been released. As stated in the post title, the Manhattan New York Temple will close for renovations, and sites have been announced for the San Jose California, Natal and Teresina Brazil, and La Paz Bolivia Temples. Having posted preliminary coverage of this announcement, let's now dive into the details:
We start with the Manhattan New York Temple. The 119th dedicated temple of the Church will close for extensive renovations sometime next year, and those renovations are anticipated to wrap up sometime in 2027. The renovation will include an upgrade to the meetinghouse spaces, so while renovations are underway, the congregations that meet in the chapel spaces will be hosted in neighboring meetinghouses. Members in the Manhattan New York Temple district are encouraged to worship at the Hartford Connecticut or Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temples. An updated rendering of the temple has been provided.
The La Paz Bolivia Temple, planned to be a 18,850-square-foot edifice will rise on a 3.8-acre site near the intersection of Avenida Los Sauces and Calle 8 de Calacoto in Calacoto, La Paz, Bolivia. The temple was first announced in October 2021. The Natal and Teresina Brazil Temples were just announced in April by President Nelson. The Natal Brazil Temple will be a The La Paz Bolivia Temple, planned to be a 18,850-square-foot edifice will rise on a 3.8-acre site near the intersection of Avenida Los Sauces and Calle 8 de Calacoto in Calacoto, La Paz, Bolivia. The temple was first announced in October 2021.
The Natal and Teresina Brazil Temples were just announced in April by President Nelson. The Natal Brazil Temple, a single-story edifice of approximately 19,800 square feet, will be built on a 5.53-acre site at Av. Senador Salgado Filho (BR-101), Nova Parnamirim, Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. And the Teresina Brazil Temple will be a 25,420-square-foot edifice (no indication whether it will be a single- double- or triple-story temple) at Av. Cajuína and Rua Pedro Conde, Noivos, Teresina, Piaui on a 3.6-acre site.
In view of today's significant update, the number of temples with sites announced now rises to 35. And with a total number of 79 temples, 2 have groundbreakings scheduled, leaving the number of temples with no official information announced yet down at 42. With the time between now and General Conference weekend, if several more temples have initial details announced, that will lower the numbers further. I am also cautiously optimistic that groundbreaking announcements might be coming more regularly, and that site announcements and exterior renderings might be more frequent in the weeks between now and the October 2023 General Conference weekend.
With that said, that concludes my report on the temple news today. However, I wanted to provide a preview of what I've got coming between now and the weekend of the October 2023 General Conference. Elder Quentin L. Cook will be observing his 83rd birthday on September 8. The next day, President Nelson will become the first prophet/apostle to observe his 98th birthday.
My next apostolic milestone update and the third-quarter-2023 review of temple construction progress will both be published on October 1, along with any coverage on new temples that are announced on that date, which will be the Sunday of General Conference weekend. The Monday after General Conference, I will provide a birthday tribute to Elder Ulisses Soareas, who will observe his 65th birthday on October 2, followed by an October 8 post honoring President M. Russell Ballard on his 95th birthday.
So lots of good things planned ahead for this blog. Please stay tuned for further coverage on all Church News and Newsroom reports, temple construction updates, apostolic ministry, age, and tenure reports, and of course, extensive coverage on General Conference weekend (including new temples). In the meantime, that does it for now.
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Until my next post, I wish you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
I am excited for the Manhattan Temple Renovation. I like the new Architectural rendering. Looks like it has more windows or at least prettier windows. And it appears to keep the statue unlike other recent new and renovated temples. That spire is more prominent and stands out beautifully.
ReplyDeleteChris, thanks for these observations. Sorry that commenting on this post was unavaiable for a little while there. I was honestly not expecting another temple renovation to be announced this soon. I will just add that I'm hoping something might be said about the plans to renovate the Logan Utah Temple in the near term. The Church referenced that renovation in 2018 and hasn't said anything about it since. With St. George's renovation completed and its' rededication set, and in view of the progress being made on Manti and Salt Lake, I have wondered how long it might be before we see that temple renovation. Thanks for your observations about more windows, the retention of the statue, and the spire. I hadn't noticed those details. As always, Chris, I appreciate hearing from you. Thanks for your longtime readership and friendship.
DeleteHello again, everyone! The Church News has covered today's temple updates as well. Additionally, the next batch of daily videos highlighting the recent changes to "Preach My Gospel". Continuing their coverage on mental health issues, the Church News also shared strategies for dealing with situations when your mind goes to a negative place, as outlined in BYU Education Week. And Elder Quentin L. Cook has shared counsel with the faculty and staff at BYU-Provo. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteOn this Tuesday, the Newsroom shared a report that indicates that, prior to the VIP/Media tours of the Bangkok Thailand Temple (which began yesterday), by special invitation from Elder Gerrit W. Gong, a group of young single adults got the first look at that temple. Additionally, the Church News reports on Arizona Young Single Adults who recently served the homeless, and an Eisenhower Global Scholar explains how his knowledge of the gospel shapes his current public policy career. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News just provided its' own coverage on the Young Single Adults invited by Elder Gong to be the first to tour the Bangkok Thailand Temple. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteA new report from the Middle East Newsroom page also received coverage in the newest report from the Church News. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAnd the latest batch of daily videos highlighting changes to "Preach My Gospel" have been featured in the Church News. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteMore info on the building that would become the Manhattan New York Temple and neighboring apartment tower. I found a New York Times article from 1973. You can read the digital version without paying for it. It includes a picture of the newspaper page rendering but it is small very small. https://www.nytimes.com/1973/04/22/archives/tower-for-the-mormon-church-is-being-erected-at-lincoln-sq-two.html
ReplyDeleteThat was a fascinating article, Chris! Thanks for taking time to share it,
DeleteOn this Wednesday, the Church News has shared a few new reports. Incldued among them are coverage on the All-Africa Service Day; a report on the Church's donation of 18 open water boreholes to provide fresh, clean water sources in Gambia, with area and local Church leaders also meeting with the President and First Lday of that nation; a wrap-up report on the Brasilia Brazil Temple as the open house will conclude at the end of the day on Saturday; and the latest edition of the Church News podcast has been released.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, I am pleased to be able to report new updates on the Red Cliffs Utah, Urdaneta Philippines and Taylorsville Utah Temples, each of which indicates that open house coordinators have been called. Since no similar updates have been noted for either Layton Utah or Puebla Mexico, I assume that the next temple to have opening arrangements set will be Red Cliffs, with Layton and Puebla following sometime after the open house coordinators are called. For the Salta Argentina and Coban Guatemala Temples, the first leaders have not yet been named, nor has any open house comittee been formed. All of that will play into the timing of each temple's future opening arrangements. I will be revising my thoughts on that and will share anything I figure out ASAP. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
I failed to mention that the Taylorsville Utah Temple's update indicates that its' construction is nearing completion. So we now have Red Cliffs, Layton, and Puebla completed and awaiting the announcement of their opening arrangements, and Urdaneta, Salta, Coban, and Taylorsville nearing completion. As a result of that shift in the queue, I have now opted to put the Tallahassee Florida and Abidjan Ivory Coast Temples directly under the Casper Wyoming Temple, as those 3 may be considered as "approaching completion". It is additionally worth noting that Labor Day will be observed on Monday here in the United States, as a result of which any temple announcement that week would be made on Tuesday at earliest. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe latest batch of daily videos highlighting changes to "Preach My Gospel" have been released. Hawaiian Saints are banding together to uplift one another and their communities in the wake of the recent Hawaiian fires. And the Church is making progress, albeit small, with ongoing missionary efforts in Cuba. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Newsroom reports that more than 700 distinguished guests have toured the Bangkok Thailand Temple during VIP/Media tours. Public tours will get underway on September 1 and will run through September 16. Also, earlier today, the Church Temples site moved the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple directly underneath the Queretaro Mexico Temple, and put a completion estimate of mid-to-late 2026 on its' status. The photograph gallery for that temple has been updated to show a construction trailer has moved on-site and that signage is up, suggesting that full-scale construction will be underway soon. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Thursday, the Newsroom and the Church News have reported on the generous donation by Church President Russell M. Nelson of his medical journals to the University of Utah. The Newsroom and the Church News also highlighted the latest changes to the General Church Handbook. The Newsroom also updated the article I shared last night, while the Church News explained how migrants and refugees are receiving help in Arizona and how football has impacted the lives of Bronco Mendenhall and his wife, Holly. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteThe Church News has subsequently provided the latest batch of daily videos highlighting changes to Preach My Gospel, as discussed in last month's Seminar for New Mission Leadership. And in the midst of ongoing dialysis, a Kentucky Church member continues to find unique ways to serve. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Newsroom has provided an update on relief efforts in Florida in the continued aftermath of Hurricane Idalia. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAnd updates have been noted on the Casper Wyoming and Lindon Utah Temples. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteLate yesterday, the Newsroom gave an update on the number of special guests who toured the Bangkok Thailand Temple during VIP/Media tours. Today marks both the first day of September and the first day of the public open house for that temple. There was also a new update on Church-sponsored relief efforts for Florida residents impacted by Hurricane Idalia. The Church News shared their update on those efforts as well. And the Newsroom and the Church News have shared that a partnership between BYU-Idaho and Ensign College has made an option available to BYU-PW students in which they can earn a bachelor's degree in just 3 years (in comparison to the traditional 4-year period). This is being facilitated through the elimination of elective credit requirements and placing greater emphasis and expanding availability of required courses.
ReplyDeleteThe Church News also shared how to watch the upcoming September 2 Friend-to-Friend broadcast, details on a Cougar-Ćosić reconnection, and the latest batch of daily videos highlighting recent changes to "Preach My Gospel" have been released.
Finally, the latest installment of "https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/9/1/23855710/this-week-on-social-helping-others-understand-jesus-christs-divine-mission-president-oaks" >"This Week on Social" has also been published. The general leaders who had content featured in this edition include: President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency; Elders David A. Bednar, Neil L. Andersen, and Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and her Second Counselor, Sister Kristin M. Yee; the entire Primary General Presidency (President Susan H. Porter and Sisters Amy A. Wright and Tracy Y. Browning,, with an additional post from President Porter that was unrelated to that joint one), My thanks once again to you all.
And this just in from the Church News: The First Presidency has officially confirmed the details for the October 2023 General Conference, which will consist of 5 unique 2-hour sessions, including a Saturday Evening Session for all members and friends of the Church. Although it says that the Saturday Evening Session will also be 2 hours, since the last several Saturday Evening Sesions have been 1.5 hours and consisted of addresses from four General Authorities or General Officers and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, I assume that will be the case again next month. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteConstruction status updates have been noted for the Davao Philippines and Yorba Linda California Temples.
DeleteI apologize. My last comment from last night ended more abruptly than I meant it to. In the meantime, on this Saturday, renderings have been provided for a new complex of buildings planned for the BYU-Hawaii complex; today's Friend-to-Friend event (featuring the Primary General Presidency) talks about the blessings coming from making and keeping sacred covenants; the text of the message for tomorrow's Music & the Spoken Word (set to air in both English and Spanish) has been provided; and additional videos highlighting the changes to "Preach My Gospel" have been released. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteStatus updates have been noted for the Davao Philippines, Pago Pago American Samoa, and Bacolod Philippines Temples. Additionally, a new update on the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple indicates that "earthworks are getting underway and a tower crane with an exceptionally long jib has been installed. A construction barrier has been erected around the hillside property, and signage has been posted."
DeleteWhile the current status of that temple still shows that "full scale construction [is] pending", hopefully the information shared on the news page will lead to a status update for that temple, and hopefully full-scale construction on that temple will begin next week. Aside from these updates, the Church Temples site has also moved the Managua Nicaragua Temple up in the queue. The Managua Nicaragua Temple had been between the Bacolod Philippines and Montpelier Idaho Temples, with a general completion estimate of mid-2026. But in view of recent progress on that temple, it has been moved up between the Ephraim Utah Temple (with a general completion estimate of late 2025-early 2026) and the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple (with a general completion estimate of early 2026). The Managua Nicaragua Temple is now, as a result, expected to be the first temple completed in early 2026. After several days earlier this week passed with no temple construction status updates, I am grateful multiple developments have been reported on each of the last few days. Hopefully that continues.
I have also made a decision to consolidate my temple construction progress report. Now, rather than having temples listed as "Nearing Completion" or "Approaching Completion", I have chosen to resection that document to show other temples (aside from the Lima Peru Los Olivos and Orem Utah Temples) that are anticipated to be dedicated in 2024 in one section (with 15 temples now in that category), and the 29 others anticipated to be completed in 2025 and 2026. I also wanted to reiterate that, with Labor Day being observed in the United States on Monday, any major temple announcement would likely be delayed until Tuesday. It seems likely that we could get an announcement of the opening arrangemnts for the Red Cliffs Utah Temple, since an open house committee has been functioning for that for a while, but I wouldn't be shocked to also see other temples have groundbreakings set, renderings released and/or sites announced. Stay tuned for coverage on all of that as I find out about it. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
On this Sabbath Day, the Church News continues its' series on President Nelson's recent invitation about forgiveness, with an emphasis on how that attribute can affect marriage and family relationships. 22 stakes have been reorganized recently. In the lead-up to President Nelson's 99th birthday (which he will observe on Saturday of this week) the Church News is doing a series of articles in his honor. First up is a list of quotes from each General Conference talk he has given. The article identifies 115 addresses in its' heading, but unless I have miscounted, President Nelson has only given 110 General Conference talks. The latest edition of "In Case You Missed It: Week in Review" recaps the top 10 updates published by the Church News this week. Church leaders and scholars provide context for this week's "Come Follow Me" study. Boyd Matheson describes how being "wholly present" can qualify individuals for a holy presence.And the latest barch of daily videos highlight changes made to "Preach My Gospel" for its' second edition. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteThe Newsroom shares a report on an interfaith gathering hosted by Pope Francis in Mongolia recently, which included a few Latter-day Saint speakers. The Newsroom also shares an update on how Church members are on hand in Florida to help in the aftermath of the recent hurricane. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAnd a new update has been noted on the Mendoza Argentina Temple today. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Monday, with Labor Day being observed here in the United States, there was no temple announcement today. As previously noted, I expect such an announcement to be released tomorrow at around 2:00 PM here in Utah. In the interim, the Church News has provided the following updates: the Church conintues to grow in Angola,, where the first chapel is currently under construction, and the only stake in Angola may soon split; staff writer Trent Toone talks about lessons he learned from the Smith family while covering the dedication of the Joseph and Emma Smith home in Kirtland; and the next batch of videos from the Mission Leadership Seminar, highlighting changes to "Preach My Gospel", have been released. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News shared its' own coverage of the Newsroom update I mentioned in a previous comment above. My thanks once again to you all.
Delete