Stokes Sounds Off: BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Site Location and Preliminary Information Released for Lagos and Benin City Nigeria Temples; Exterior Rendering Released for Rebuilt Kona Hawaii Temple

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Monday, September 11, 2023

BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Site Location and Preliminary Information Released for Lagos and Benin City Nigeria Temples; Exterior Rendering Released for Rebuilt Kona Hawaii Temple

Hello again, everyone! The First Presidency just released the site locations and preliminary details for both the Lagos Nigeria and Benin City Nigeria Temples, and also released a rendering of the reconstructed Kona Hawaii Temple. With a preliminary version of this post having been published a short time ago, let's get right into the details: First, as most of you are likely aware, the Lagos Nigeria Temple was originally announced in October 2018, with the Benin City Nigeria Temple following in April 2020.

The single-story temple in Lagos will be approximately 19,800 square feet and will rise on a 2.7-acre site at Rumens Road and Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. In addition to the temple proper, patron housing and an arrival center will be part of that project. The two-story 30,700-square-foot Benin City Nigeria Temple will also feature an arrival center and patron housing at 16 Commercial Ave., Benin City, Nigeria.

Before I move on to the Kona Hawaii Temple rendering, I wanted to note that, in view of these announcements about two Nigerian temples, all temples originally announced in October 2018 have, at minimum, had site locations and preliminary details announced, though a number of them are also in the construction queue, somewhere in between, or have already been dedicated. 

Only 2 temples originally announced in April 2020 have not had information released: Dubai United Arab Emirates and Shanghai China, both of which may take some time. Of the 79 currently announced temples, all but 39 (a little under half) have seen some information announced. I should also note I'm a little surprised we haven't gotten word on any other temple dedications yet. Hopefully, that's coming down the pike starting next week. 

With all of that said, let's now turn to the Kona Hawaii Temple rendering. That temple is scheduled to close for renovation on September 30, with plans to expand it from either 10,700 square feet or 9,500 square feet (the Church Temples page for that temple lists both numbers) to an even 12,000 square-foot edifice. That temple will close on September 30. That said, the rendering seems to be very much in keeping with temples designed under President Nelson's dynamic leadership. I will let others more qualified than I am comment on anything significant you see about the redesign.

I am grateful to have been able to learn about this news and to be able to pass it along to you all. Hopefully, this means that the Church may soon queue up more groundbreakings and release several more renderings in the weeks ahead. I also hope we get at least 1 or 2 temple dedication announcements before General Conference weekend, but time will tell in that regard. 

I continue to monitor all Church News, Newsroom, and Church Temples updates and will be sure to bring word of those to you all here as I receive those updates. 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.

55 comments:

  1. One note, this is an updated rendering of the Kona temple. When the renovations were announced last August there was an artists rendering what the renovated temple would look like. The biggest difference between the two is that the temple will no longer have a Moroni statue.

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    1. Great observations, Scott! I think that detail was specified in the Church News report on today's updates, but I failed to pass that along. It occurs to me to wonder if the change had anything to do with the Church being able to expedite approvals for this reconstruction. I'm hopeful that, with the many temples that have had preliminary information released for so many temples lately that a fair number of them might have groundbreakings in the next year or so. I always appreciate hearing from you, Scott! Thanks for stopping by to share your observations.

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  2. The Newsroom has provided a report on service rendered on this September 11 anniversary. My thanks once again to you all.

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    1. On this Tuesday, the Church News shared a statement from the Middle East/Africa North Area presidency about the recent earthquake in Morocco. Historians of the Church have unveiled the first volume in the Brigham Young Papers project that has been ongoing for several years. The publication of other volumes will follow. And today is the birthday of Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson, so the Church News shared 9 quotes from her during her ministry within the last year. Sister Johnson spent the weekend before her birthday on a ministry trip to Indiana, where she met with government, civic, and interfaith leaders.She was accompanied in Indiana by Elder Vaiangina (Vai) Sikahema, First Counselor in the North America Northeast Area.

      On a personal note, today is the day I will be going in for a colonoscopy/endoscopy. My check-in time is 1:30 this afternoon and the process may take up to a few hours, depending on how well and quickly I come out of the anesthesia. As a result, additional reports may have to wait until my return home, and may only be posted later this evening. I will try to check in on temple construction progress before I head out, but make no guarantees there. My thanks once again to you all.

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    2. A status update has been provided for the Antofagasta Chile Temple. And in view of the progress on the Farmington New Mexico Temple in comparison to the Auckland New Zealand Temple, the former has moved ahead of the latter in the queue, though both still have a general completion estimate of late 2024. This will likely be my last comment here until I return home from my procedure. For now, my thanks once again to you all.

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    3. The latest edition of the Church News podcast has been released. Blind individuals are getting a tactile tour of the St. George Utah Temple. And emeritus General Authority Seventy Elder E. Ray Batement has passed away at the age of 84.

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    4. Updates have been noted on the San Pedro Sula Honduras and Alabang Philippines Temples. My thanks once again to you all.

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  3. On this Wednesday, the Church News has reported on the induction of President David O. McKay to the the Hawaii Hospitality Hall of Fame. The Church News has also updated the previously-posted reports on Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson's recent ministry trip to Indiana and the obituary for emeritus GA Seventy E. Ray Bateman.

    The Church News also provided summaries of the weekly devotionals at BYU-Provo and BYU-Idaho.And on Sunday, the Brasilia Brazil, Bentonville Arkansas, and Moses Lake Washington Temples will be dedicated on Sunday over the course of several hours, marking the first time ever (but hopefully not the last) that more than two temples are dedicated on a single day.

    Also, the Newsroom has reported on Elder Andersen's recent ministry trip to Asia, and a similar trip made to 3 European nations by Elder Gary E. Stevenson. My thanks once again to you all.

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    1. Construction status updates have been noted today on the Salvador Brazil and Fort Worth Texas Temples. Additionally, wanted to be sure I mentioned this if I didn't already, but the latest update on the Tarawa Kiribati Temple suggests that a groundbreaking announcement for it could be forthcoming. My thanks once again to you all.

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  4. A temple in Mongolia just got closer to reality. The Church News article you posted the link to on Elder Anderson's Asia Ministry tour seems to show that he proposed or promised a temple "someday soon" for Mongolia

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    1. Hey, Chris! Hope it's okay. I took the liberty of removing the comment you deleted. Due to having a busy day today, I had just kind of skimmed those Newsroom/Church News reports before passing them along here. I totally missed the apostolic promise from Elder Andersen. I keep coming back to President Nelson's Asian ministry when he promised that, if Church members were faithful and prepared for it, that at some point a temple would be announced in Indonesia. Such a temple was announced in April of this year. At the time of that temple's announcement, Indonesia was in the middle of the list of nations with the strongest Church presence without a temple. In addition to Elder Andersen's apostolic promise to Saints in Mongolia, we know that Mongolia now ranks second on the current lop ten nations list. Unless you have any objections, I may reach out to Rick Satterfield on this, to see if this merits inclusion on the relevant page of his site. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Always a pleasure to hear from you, and thanks for being a longtime friend, reader, and subscriber, Chris! I appreciate you!

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  5. As some of you may recall, on Tuesday, the Newsroom published this report on flooding in Libya. On this Thursday, the Church News also covered that development. The Church News has also reported on the Ensign College devotional, the 9/11 day of service, and an update on former BYU football coach Bronco Mendenhall.

    Additionally, the Church Temples site has made further updates to the general completion estimates of several temples. Included in the latest changes today are the following adjustments:

    Mid-to-late 2023: Salta Argentina
    Late 2023: Coban Guatemala, Urdaneta Philippines, and Casper Wyoming
    Late 2023-early 2024: Abidjan Ivory Coast and Tallahassee Florida
    Early 2024: Manti Utah
    Early-to-mid 2024: Mendoza Argentina and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
    Mid-2024: Deseret Peak Utah
    Mid-to-late 2024: Salvador Brazil and Antofagasta Chile
    Late 2024: Farmington New Mexico, San Pedro Sula Honduras, Auckland New Zealand, and Alabang Philippines
    Late 2024-early 2025: Burley Idaho, Syracuse Utah, and Harare Zimbabwe

    Status updates have also been shared, at minimum, for the Puebla Mexico Temple, which now notes that the open house committee is functioning, and the Taylorsville Utah Temple, where landscaping and interior work are being finalized. I will be sure to pass along any additional Church News, Newsroom, or temple construction updates as time allows today. For now, my thanks once again to you all.

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    1. The Church News has released a new video, featuring Sister J. Anette Dennis, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, talking about how partnering with the Saviro can specifically help people suffering with mental health issues. My thanks once again to you all.

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  6. On this Friday, President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, announced that the First Presidency was commmissioning Richard E. Turley Jr., former Assistant Church Historian and Recorder, to write an official, extensive biography about Joseph Smith, that will be entitled "Joseph the Prophet". The articles reporting this update likened Turley's assignment to the assignment given to Elder James E. Talmadge of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles about 100 years ago to write what became "Jesus the Christ".

    Aside from this landmark development, a project that may take several years to complete, I wanted to note that it is significant to me that President Oaks made this announcement on behalf of the First Presidency. This demonstrates my theory that President Nelson is delegating more to his right-hand man, since, as he said, President Oaks will be the next Church President upon President Nelson's passing. I anticipate we will see President Oaks more at the forefront of what is done in the Church going forward for that very reason.

    The Newsroom also reported on the Church hosting an Interfaith Symposium in Chicago. The symposium was held at a Church chapel, with many faiths represented. And the Church News has shared thoughts about tailgating with a purpose. a new Church streaming app for gospel media and broadcasts that basically consolidates what was typically found in 2-3 separate apps, and a report on an organ festival today that will feature the five Tabernacle Choir organists, and the two organists from the Cathedral of the Madeleine. My thanks once again to you all.

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    1. About half an hour after I made my comment above, the latest edition of "This Week on Social" was published. Featured in the latest installment of the ongoing series were posts from the following general leaders of the Church: President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency; Elders David A. Bednar, Neil L. Andersen, Gary E. Stevenson, and Gerrit W.. Gong, all of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman; and Sister Amy A. Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency.

      My thanks once again to you all.

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    2. Here is one new report from the Church News. My thanks once again to you all.

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    3. Late yesterday, the Church News published another article about the Joseph Smith Papers Project. And on this Saturday, the Church News has reported the following additional developments: a special devotional originating in Mexico City and broadcast to all Latin American nations will focus on the importance of education and the opportunities for it, including BYU-PW. The devotional will include remarks from Elders D. Todd Christofferson and Ronald A. Rasband, the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who currently serve on the Church Board of Education and the Executive Committee of the Boards, in addition to Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson, who also is a member of the Church Board of Education and its' executive committee.

      The Church News has also reported on how, in the 60s, two schoolkids in Arkansas represented the growth and strength of the region that culminated in the announcement and construction, and this week's dedication of, the Bentonville Arkansas Temple. As a quick sidenote, an article published earlier this week indicated that tomorrow's dedications of the Brasilia Brazil, Bentonville Arkanss, and Moses Lake Washington Temples would each feature two sessions, at 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM local time. The first session in Brasilia will occur at 6:00 AM Utah time, with Bentonville's first session at 9:00 AM Utah time, and Moses Lake's first session at 11:00 AM Utah time.

      Donations to 5 nations in South America, Africa, and Asia will help to improve schools and education programs. The text of the message that will be given by Lloyd Newell in English and someone else in Spanish as part of tomorrow's "Music and the Spoken Word" broadcast has also been published. And Church News editor Sister Sarah Jane Weaver has shared her thoughts on how forgiveness is good for our hearts, both physically and spiriually. I was not able to complete a full check for temple updates yesterday and hope to do that today. I will be sure to pass along anything new there as soon as I can, in addition to any subsequent reports from the Church News or the Newsroom. For now, my thanks once again to you all.

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    4. With just under 5 hours remaining until the beginning of the first of 3 temple dedications that will occur on this Sunday September 17, I wanted to note that, with the dedication of these 3 temples, the total number of temples in operation will rise to 182, meaning that the Church just has 118 remaining to be dedicated between today and Saturday April 6, 2030, in order to reach 300 temples by then. Those 118 temples will just need to be dedicated in the 7.55 years between today (Sunday September 17, 2023) and that date, which is an average of 15.63 per year. We've got 3 more new temples that will be dedicated by the end of this year, and 2 dedications already lined up for next year.

      Due to an update provided on Saturday for the Tallahassee Florida Temple, we now have the Red Cliffs Utah Temple completed and awaiting the announcement of its' opening arrangements, 3 others with major construction having been completed, and now-5 temples (including Tallahassee) nearing completion. As a result of the update on Tallahassee, it has again been moved ahead of the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple. Updates were also noted on Saturday for the Salvador Brazil and Farmington New Mexico Temples.

      I am still working out what that means in terms of updates to completion orders and dedication estiamtes I have provided, which willl be included in my third-quarter 2023 temple construction progress recap. In the meantime, I will be sure to provide coverage on today's 3 temple dedications later on this Sunday as time allows. For now, my thanks once again to you all.

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  7. On this Sabbath Evening, the dedications of the Brasilia Brazil, Bentonville Arkansas, and Moses Lake Washington Temples have all taken place. Throughout today, a few additional reports have been carried by the Church News. The Church is marking the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith's first visit from Moroni. The latest edition of "In Case You Missed It: Week in Review" has hlghlighted the top 10 developments covered by the Church News this week. And Church leaders and scholars have provided context into this week's "Come Follow Me" lesson. Whenever reports of today's 3 temple dedications are available, I will be sure to share them here. For now, my thanks once again to you all.

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    1. Sadly, the Newsroom and the Church News have reported on the death of another young missionary. On a lighter note, the Church News has covered the dedications of the Bentonville Arkansas and Moses Lake Washington Temples. We are still awaiting coverage on the Brasilia Brazil Temple.

      And while the dedications of all three temples are likely to be covered by the Newsroom tomorrow, I don't think that will be the only major announcement(s) we get then. I'm hopeful arrangements could be announced for the open house and dedication of at least one or two temples, whether or not that's related to the Red Cliffs Utah Temple. But I also think we could get one or two additional groundbreakings, exterior renderings, and/or site announcements. Stay tuned for coverage on whatever the announcement is. Also, the media day for the Okinawa Japan Temple will be Thursday, so we'll get a temple update then too. My thanks once again to you all.

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    2. The Church News has also covered the dedication of the Brasilia Brazil Temple.And the Newsroom has provided coverage on all 3 dedications, so the three dedications will not need to be covered by the Newsroom tomorrow. My thanks once again to you all.

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  8. On this Monday, with the next anticipated major temple construction announcement just over an hour away, the Church News has provided several new reports: an introduction to BYU-Provo President C. Shane Reese, published prior to his inauguration this week; a report on the Pacific Area ministry of Sister Amy A. Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, and Sister Andrea Munoz Spannaus, Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency; and the text of the dedicatory praryers for the Brasilia Brazil, Bentonville Arkansas, and Moses Lake Washington Temples. My thanks once again to you all.

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    1. With no major temple construction announcement today, something could be announced tomorrow, or this week, the 3 temple dedications and Thursday's commencement of the open house for the Okinawa Japan Temple may be it. My thanks once again to you all.

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    2. Let's turn our attention to other developments. Registration has opened for RootsTech 2024. Primary General President Susan H. Porter, Sister Tamara W. Runia, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, and Kristin M. Yee, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, ministered to female leaders in San Diego. Elders D. Todd Christofferson and Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson, all of whom serve on both the Church Board of Education and the Executive Committee thereof, spoke at a devotional originating from Mexico City that focused on the importance of education. Interestingly enough, with Elder Bednar in Bentonville, Elder Cook in Moses Lake, Elders Christofferson and Rasband in Mexico and Elder Andersen in Brasilia this weekend, almost half of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were on assignment this weekend. My thanks once again to you all.

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    3. A major update has been provided on the approvals process for the Cody Wyoming Temple. My thanks once again to you all.

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    4. On this Tuesday, while I don't know if any major temple construction announcements will be made today, the Church News has shared a couple new reports. A Church member found hope to keep living after a serious car accident. And Church leaders have officially inaugurated new BYU President C. Shane Reese.

      The list of general Church leaders present included: President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency and First Vice-Chair of the Church Education System; Elders D. Todd Christofferson and Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who respectively serve as the Chair and Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the Boards; and Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Presidency of the Seventy and Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson, both of whom serve on the Board and on its' Executive Committee. My thanks once again to you all.

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    5. No major temple construction updates today either. However, the Church News shared a summary of counsel from Elder Neil L. Andersen to Brazilian youth in a special devotional held the night before the temple dedication. And Elder Kyle S. McKay, the Church Historian and Recorder, and Keith A. Erekson, director of records and outreach for the Church History Department, were the featured guests in the latest edition of the Church News podcast. Meanwhile, per a new report from the Newsroom, the Church is increasing its' efforts to help Sudanese refugees. My thanks once again to you all.

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    6. In a previous comment on this thread, I mentioned the visit of 3 female General Officers (President Susan H. Porter and Sisters Tamara W. Runia and Kristin M. Yee) to San Diego. The Church News has covered that development as well. My thanks once again to you all.

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  9. On this Thursday, the Church News has reported on a donation to help Sudanese refugees. Elder Juan Pablo Villar spoke at the BYU-Idaho deovtional, while BYU-PW President Brian K. Ashton and his wife, Sister Melinda Ashton spoke at the devotional for that institution, and Brother Jan E. Newman, Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, spoke at the BYU-Hawaii devotional. And reservations are now available for the Orem Utah Temple pulic open house. My thanks once again to you all.

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    1. Due to the time difference, it is already Thursday in Okinawa Japan, and, as a result, the Newsroom and the Church News have shared information and photographs as the VIP tours start for the Okinawa Japan Temple. They will e followed on Friday by media tours, and the open house will begin on Saturday.. My thanks once again to you all.

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    2. The Church Temples site has reported updates on the Layton and Syracuse Utah Temples. My thanks once again to you all.

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  10. On this Thursday, the Newsroom has upated its' report on the Okinawa Japan Temple opening. The Newsroom and the Church News have both covered content about the 200th anniversary of Moroni's first visit to Joseph Smith, including the release of a new Church News video. "This Is the Place" Heritage Park has erected a new statue in honor of a prominent early Latter=day Saint physician. 2 Latter-day Saint young men began a club to organize service projects in Gilbert Arizona. FamilySearch will open a new center in Logan Utah. And tickets are available for the Orchestra at Temple Square's 2023 Fall Concert. Those who attend the concert also have a chance to receive tickets for the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square's joint Christmas concert. I will post again shortly with any temple construction updates. For now, my thanks once again to you all.

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    1. Yet another update has been noted on the Deseret Peak Utah Temple. My thanks once again to you all.

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  11. Not sure how I missed this, but late afternoon yesterday, the Church News announced that young service missionaries would be integrated into proselyting missions in their areas. Here's how that will work: While service missionaries will continue to work with a designated service missionary couple, such couples will work under the keys of the mission president. Those couples will provide day-to-day supervision of young service missionaries. Service missionaries will still have bishops and stake presidents as their ecclesiastical leaders. But this will allow the mission president, in coordination with the service mission leaders, to utlize service missionaries for local proselyting opportunities.

    As a former service missionary myself, my thoughts are: why haven't they done this all along? The letter from the Missionary Department announcing this adjustment indicates more details on this change are forthcoming next month. That could mean it will be explained more fully during General Conference weekend. Insoafar as I am aware, Elders Quentin L. Cook and Gary E. Stevenson are the apostles currently assigned to the Missionary Executive Council, so either or both could address these adjustments during their remarks in General Conference.

    Aside from that, the Church News also reported on how President Nelson's prophetic prescription ("eat your vitamin pills, get your rest") is even more relevant now. The importance of weekly MTC devotionals was highlighted, and a report on Elder Stevenson's ministry to 3 European nations was also highlighted. My thanks once again to you all.

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    1. Sister J. Anette Dennis, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, and Sister Tracy Y. Browning, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, recently ministered in Brazil. And the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and the Piano Guys have teamed together to perform a traditional Latin American hymn, "Tuya Es La Gloria".

      And finally, the latest edition of "This Week on Social" has been published. The newest installment in this series featured social media content from the following general leaders: Church President Russell M. Nelson; Acting President M. Russell Ballard and Elders David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, Neil L. Andersen, and Gary E. Stevenson, all of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson; and the Young Women organization (which I assume includes the presidency and the general advisory council). My thanks once again to you all.

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    2. Given the time difference between Okinawa Japan and Utah, it is now nearing 3:00 PM Saturday in Okinawa, so public open house tours are officially underway for Japan's newest temples. My thanks once again to you all.

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    3. At some point yesterday, the Church Temples site moved the Syracuse Utah Temple ahead of the Burley Idaho Temple. Also, I was reminded of the fact that the completion order for temples doesn't always match the dedication order. As a result, it's possible that the opening arrangements for the Red Cliffs Utah Temple may not be announced until after the St. George open house wraps up in November. Therefore, it is possible we could see the opening arrangements for Puebla Mexico and Layton and Taylorsville Utah announced before we get an announcement for Red Cliffs.

      It is also possible that the first temple presidents and matrons may have already been called and that open house comittees might be functioning for the Salta Argentina and Coan Guatemala Temples, but that such information has not yet been publicly released. Additionally, while the open house committee is functioning and a president and matron have been called for the Urdaneta Philippines Temple, it is possible that, as a temple outside North and Latin America, the dedication for that temple might be further down the line than some of its' counterparts behind it.

      That is particularly true for the Casper Wyoming Temple. As I mentioned previously, the Helena Montana Temple leapfrogged ahead of several others because it was smaller, so something similar could happen with the Casper Wyoming Temple. However, with all of that being said, the timing of temple opening announcements depends on a variety of factors. So, as always, please take my thoughts with the usual grain of salt.

      With one Monday left before General Conference, I am hoping we get announcements on several temples, whether they relate to temple opening arrangements, groundbreakings, the release of exterior renderings, or site confirmations. You can depend on my covering those. I also have my end of third quarter 2023 temple construction update ready to be published late on the night of Septemer 30.

      That is just one of the 4 or 5 posts I have ready or will prepare to be published before, during, and after General Conference weekend. So stay tuned here for the latest updates. I will be leaving a new comment below with other updates from today. Thanks again, everyone!

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  12. On this Saturday, the Church News has shared 3 new reports thus far: how the Joseph Smith Papers Project has helped provide a foundation for subsequent anticipated major projects; the text of the message planned to be given tomorrow in English and Spanish during "Music & the Spoken Word", and a report on how women worldwide are staying aligned with the Savior in responding to the question of Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson from the April 2023 General Conference. My thanks once again to you all.

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    1. An update has been provided on the Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple. My thanks once again to you all.

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  13. Early this morning, Church News staff writer Scott Taylor provided a look at the status of the 133 temples announced by President Nelson thus far. A capstone report was provided for the Utah Area YSA Conference. The top 9 developments covered by the Church News this week were summarized in the latest edition of "In Case You Missed It: Week in Review". And quotes from general Church leaders and Biblical scholars provides context for this week's Come Follow Me curriculum. My thanks once again to you all.

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    1. On this Monday, with the next anticipated major temple construction announcement less than 2 hours away, the Newsroom has reported on the growth and expansion of the Church Education System, one of several developments that will be highlighted in the October 2023 edition of the World Report that will be released during General Conference weekend. My thanks once again to you all.

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    2. As was previously announced, the Church's "Come Follow Me" curriculum for 2024 is being unified into a single manual in 2024. My thanks once again to you all.

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    3. The Church Newsroom has provided an update on the page showing the 2023 temple news. The update shows todays date, but the news item at the top is the information about the Okinawa Japan Temple open house. So we may not get any new temple news on this week before General Conference. If that changes at any point today or later this week, I will share those updates in one or more new posts here. Just as a reminder, I also have big plans for this blog both before, during, and after General Conference. I have 5 scheduled posts that will be published between the end of this week and the beginning of next week. Stay tuned for those updates. My thanks once again to you all.

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    4. A new update has been provided on the Salta Argentina Temple. My thanks once again to you all.

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    5. Church historians have discussed what happened to the watch then-Elder John Taylor was wearing when the mob attacked the Carthage Jail. The Church News has also discussed how to prepare for and participate in General Conference this weekend. My thanks once again to you all.

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    6. Updates have been noted today on the Syracuse Utah, Ephraim Utah, Yorba Linda California, and Queretaro Mexico Temples.

      Additionally, new updates on the Vitoria Brazil and Charlotte North Carolina Temples may suggest they are closer to an exterior rendering and groundbreaking than I thought a short time ago. Also, the Church Temples site has previously used "site location unknown" for almost all announced temples that have not yet had any official information confirmed yet. But the Beira Mozambique and Pachuca Mexico Temples note a status that used to appertain to the Lagos Nigeria Temple before it had its' site announced. That status is "no site location announced". So it appears likely that official details could potentially be released for the Beira and Pachuca temples sooner than their other international counterparts. Stay tuned for more temple updates as they are reported. My thanks once again to you all.

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  14. On this Tuesday, no major temple construction updates were reported. So let's instead turn our attention to the newest updates from the Church News. Brother John Bytheway of the Young Men General Advisory Council provided suggestions on 3 attitudes youth should understand to implement guidelines in the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet. Church News editor Sister Sarah Jane Weaver has provided a compilation of teachings on the new "Preach My Gospel" missionary guide. Those teachings were given by general Church leaders during the 2023 Seminar for New Mission Leadership. Mary Richards shares how Latter-day Saints from children to young adults are serving their communities in Texas. And the latest edition of the Church News podcast saw Sister Weaver sit down with C. Shane Reese, the newly-inaugurated president of BYU-Provo. My thanks once again to you all.

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    1. Sorry. I didn't share the link for the story about the teachings from the 2023 Mission Leadership Seminar. My thanks once again to you all.

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  15. On this Wednesday, the Church News has shared how a national foundation recognized a Latter-day Saint woman as a pioneer of social work, and has reviewed how new initiatives of the Tabernacle Choir are blessing the world in general and the Church in particular. The Newsroom has provided information on how to participate in this weekend's General Conference.

    And a stunning update on the Urdaneta Philippines Temple now indicates that major construction has been completed, and that landscaping and interior work are being finalized. That temple now moves ahead of even the Salta Argentina Temple, which also recently had major construction wrap up. Additionally, a new update on the Casper Wyoming Temple indicates that major construction is nearing completion.

    This means that 1 temple (Red Cliffs) is confirmed to be fully completed. Major construction has been completed on 5 others (Puebla, Layton, Taylorsville, Urdaneta, and Salta), and two more (Coban and Casper) are nearing completion. Based on information I received recently from a variety of sources, it appears likely that there will be a significant and substantial uptick in major temple construction announcements for the final quarter of this year. Stay tuned for more on this as I can analyze it. The latest temple updates will be included in my end-of-third-quarter 2023 temple construction progress update, which will be published here late on Saturday night (September 30). My thanks once again to you all.

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    1. The Church News has shared information about the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the angel Moroni's first visit to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Also, the Church News has provided a home page for all General Conference news, talk summaries, and other updates. My thanks once again to you all.

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    2. The Church News reported on a ministry visit to Maui by Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman. And both the Newsroom and the Church News have both shared the latest edition of the World Report, which will air as one of several documentaries during the upcoming General Conference weekend. For my friends outside of Utah who want to catch the KSL documentaries that will air during General Conference on phones, laptops, and smart TVs, the KSL+ app will give you access to both a livestream of sessions this weekend and the documentaries that air between each session. My thanks once again to you all.

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    3. And the Newsroom provides a report on how the first female president of Hungary (and the youngest in that country's history) spoke at BYU and met with the First Presidency at Church headquarters this week. I am hopeful that, based on her comments about faith and family, the meeting with the First Presidency may help speed up the approvals for the Budapest Hungary Temple. My thanks once again to you all.

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    4. The president of the Kahului Hawaii West Stake spoke at the BYU-Hawaii Devotional. My thanks once again to you all.

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  16. On this Thursday before General Conference, I will be publishing the final version of my General Conference predictions tonight at 10:00 PM. In the interim, the Newsroom and the Church News have both shared the latest updates on the Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square. Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman ministered in Maui.The Church News also reported on how young service missionaries will be integrated into proselyting missions and provided examples of how the Church provides worldwide aid, and how those efforts enable the Church to follow the second great commandment. My thanks once again to you all.

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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.