Hello again, everyone! On September 7, I reported an update on the Church's plans for a consolidated hymnbook/children's songbook, based on a Newsroom report which was subsequently removed. That report has been published again, with corroboration provided by the Church News. So I assume the Septtemer news release was just prematurely released before it was supposed to be.
Because I provided rather extensive analysis on the release in my September post, the only thing I will add to that today is that it's good to have this finally confirmed. Stay tuned for further coverage of General Conference weekend as those reports and updates are shared.
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.
Hello again, everyone! Aside from the above update about the hymnbook, the Church News has shared several new reports. Valerie Walton takes a look at what has happened in the Church since the April 2023 General Conference (she mentions the Montpelier Idaho Temple groundbreaking in September but not the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple groundbreaking, which occurred on the same date). The Church News staff has provided General Conference games for children, and a repository page for all General Conference announcements. And a new chart showing the General Authorities and General Officers of the Church has also been published. The chart excludes the three GA Seventies granted emeritus status on August 1, includes the new Young Women General Presidency who began serving on August 1, and also includes Elder Alexander Dushku, who was called in August and will be sustained this weekend. Scott Shipley, I know you've wondered in the past if Elder Dushku wouldn't begin serving until sustained, but the wording in the chart suggests otherwise. I assume that the fact that he won't be sustained until tomorrow explains why he's not showing up in the CDOL. But as the article confirms, Elder Dushku was called in August, which is when he began serving. I assume once he appears on the CDOL after this weekend, his call date will show as the August date the call was reported. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteNew directors have been called for the Joseph Smith Birthplace historic site. Scott Taylor confirms that Elder Holland will also participate virtually in General Conference. And the Church's 315 temples are shown in context on 6 maps. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThis weekend, with the Tabernacle Choir set to perform in three of the five General Conference sessions (Saturday Morning and Sunday Morning and Afternoon), their global initiative continues with international participants. This go-round, the guests have come from 8 locations: Ecuador, Hong Kong China, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Africa, and South Korea. 9 people have shared their experiences about responding to the prophetic invitation from President Nelson's address last April, "Peacemakers Needed". My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAnd the latest edition of "This Week on Social" has also been published. The newest installment in that ongoing series featured posts from the following general leaders: Church President Russell M. Nelson; Elders Dieter F. Uchtdorf (who reported recording his remarks in his native German so German Saints could hear his own translation of his remarks in real time), Quentin L. Cook, and Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and her respective First and Second Counselors, Sisters J. Anette Dennis and Kristin M. Yee.
DeleteMy thanks once again to you all.
Also, a new update on the Deseret Peak Utah Temple indicates its' completion estimate has been bumped up to early 2024, and it has been shifted up on the queue between the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple (with an estimated completion of late 2023-early 2024) and the Mendoza Argentina Temple (with the estimates for both the Mendoza Argentina and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temples now early-to-mid 2024). These updates have been reflected on my document showing the updated general completion estimates for temples under construction and undergoing renovation. And the latest adjusted estimates that are more specific will be included in my end-of-third-quarter temple construction update. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOne new report has been shared by the Church News. You can count on full coverage of any news and updates from General Conference. Stay tuned for that. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteHello again, everyone, on this General Conference morming! The Church News has shared a report on several ministry visits made by all current members of the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary General Presidencies during last month alone. Stay tuned for more coverage this weekend of any major announcements. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteBy way of reminder, the Newsroom and the Church News have created repository pages for news and updates from this weekend's General Conference. So far, that includes summaries of major updates and the talks given in the recently-concluded Saturday Morning Session. Those pages will continue to be updated with coverage throughout the weekend. Also, a new update on the Knoxville Tennessee Temple indicates site clearing and preparation is underway, which more or less confirms my theory that a groundbreaking may soon be announced for that temple, which tops my list of those for which a groundbreaking is anticipated soon. That information will be reflected in my end--of-third-quarter 2023 temple construction progress review. Stay tuned for that tonight as well. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAlso, since it is now September 30, unless we hear otherwise, I assume that the Kona Hawaii Temple has officially closed for its' renovation. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteA late update has been provided for the Smithfield Utah Temple. That and all the latest updates, including changes to the queue and the general and more specific estimates for temple completions/dedications will be reflected in my third-quarter 2023 temple construction progress update, which will be published here in the next hour or so.
DeleteWith that noted, I want to provide a personal update, if I may. My younger sister recently had a baby. They were expecting a certain diagnosis but got a more devastating one. My newest niece has been in the hospital since her birth, has had a bad infection, and has been hooked up to lots of machinery. My sister and her husband have made the difficult decision to take her off of everything she's hooked up to. That will happen on Monday, and they anticipate she won't live long after that. My family will all be going to the hospital to meet the newest member of our family before that happens.
That will happen tomorrow, at some point between the end of the morning session and when the afternoon session begins. While I anticipate the visit to meet my niece will be a brief one, I am not sure how (if at all) that might impact my availability to find out and report here about the new temples that are expected to be announced tomorrow. So I have an initial draft of that post ready to publish on Sunday at about the time the announcement may be made. My analysis may be delayed to Sunday evening night, but I will get to that ASAP. upon my return.
Just wanted to let you all know that, so if that report is delayed, you'll understand why. It has been a stressful time for my entire family dealing with this, and the coming days may be difficult as well. But to the best of my ability, I remain committed to covering the latest updates as time and circumstances allow. I appreciate you, my readers, for your continued interest and ongoing support, and offer my thanks once again to you all.
My condolences to your sister and family at this time. May the Savior provide the comfort and, in due time, the peace that only He can bring. Take all the time you need this week. I appreciate all the time you put in to update on this blog and your testimony.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eric. It's been difficult to see my sister's family going through this. It hasn't really impacted my wife or myself yet, but that might change when we see the baby tomorrow. As I noted, I don't know how long the visit will be tomorrow. So I won't know until then if/how it may impact that report. It could be that it won't at all. We'll play things by ear. If you would like to do so, I now have an option for my readers to subscribe to this blog for the latest updates. Thanks again.
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