Hello again, everyone! According to a new First Presidency announcement, the site location and preliminary information have been released for the Viña del Mar Chile Temple, while an exterior rendering has been released for the Grand Rapids Michigan Temple. Here are the details:
The Viña del Mar Chile Temple was just announced last month in General Conference by President Nelson. Chile's newest temple will be built between 3rd North Street and 4th North Street near 4 ½ West in Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, Chile. A 1.87-acre site will serve as the home for a single-story temple of approximately 30,000 square feet.
Meanwhile, the site for the Grand Rapids Michigan Temple was released one year ago. It is a 20,000 square foot edifice, so not as small as the modular temples (with their 10,000 square foot plan), but not as big as the standard 30,000 square foot design being utilized for other temples in the United States.
With this announcement, the Grand Rapids Michigan Temple joins a list of temples for which a groundbreaking announcement is pending (that total now rises to 14), while the Viña del Mar Chile Temple joins a list of temples for which the release of an exterior rendering and a groundbreaking announcement are pending (that total stand pat at 28 temples, in view of today's announcements).
Also, as a result of today's announcement, of the 97 announced temples, 1 (Kaohsiung Taiwan) has a groundbreaking scheduled, 14 have a groundbreaking announcement pending, another 28 have site locations and preliminary information confirmed, and we are awaiting official details on the remaining 54.
Once again, I was surprised that no temple opening arrangements were announced and that no other groundbreakings have been scheduled. However, with the Puebla Mexico Temple, I haven't been able to ascertain that it's been furnished, and that's the next temple most likely to have a dedication announced. So I may be rethinking my estimates for temple events in 2024 yet again.
I am grateful to have learned of this report and to be able to pass it along to you all here. I continue to monitor any and all Church News, Newsroom, and Church of Jesus Christ Temples updates and will be sure to pass word of those along to you all as they cross my radar. 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.
The Newsroom finally provided an English version of the release for the open house of the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple, while the Church News covered the two major announcements today. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteThe Church provided a statement on ongoing humanitarian aid that is being supplied to the Middle East in the midst of the current conflict. And 4 members of the Missionary Executive Council (Chairman Elder Quentin L. Cook, Vice Chairman Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Elder Marcus B. Nash, Executive Director, and Sister Amy A. Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency) addressed the growth of the missionary program in context with the recent announcement of 36 new missions. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThank you for your insights! I noticed that they didn't specified if the Viña del Mar Temple will be one or two story. It could be a like the Miraflores, Salvador and Montpelier floor-plan or it could be the standard 30,000 square feet; I went to google earth and the temple site is kind of narrow so I think it'll be a two story temple but I'm not sure. I was also looking forward for an open house announcement, because I want to visit the Cobán Temple.
DeleteA. J. Merlos, thanks for taking time to comment. I apologize for my delayed acknowledgement of your feedback. You are correct. The number of stories wasn't specified. Generally, when that happens, the temple has been a single-story edifice, but as you observed, if the site is narrow, it may be easier to build up, in which case it may not just be two stories. It would make more sense, with the site acreage in mind, if it was a multi-story temple.
DeleteAs far as future temple timeframes, I think we may see temple dedications set every week for perhaps the rest of the year. Based on my calculations, if the next temple opening is announced next week, the earliest the dedication of that temple could occur is after the April General Conference. I say that because if any other temple dedications were to be set to occur before the April 2024 General Conference, they would have had to be announced already. As for the Coban Guatemala Temple dedication, that may not be announced for the next 4-6 weeks.
That's because the Puebla Mexico, Layton and Taylorsville Utah, Urdaneta Philippines, and Salta Argentina Temples are all ahead of Coban. Also, Layton and Taylorsville are fully furnished and just awaiting an opening announcement. I don't know where Puebla, Urdaneta, or Salta stand as far as that goes. But another thing that may delay an announcement on Coban is that, insofar as I am aware, the first temple leaders for it have not been publicly identified, nor have open house coordinators been called. Both of those factors are also true for the Salta Argentina Temple.
So based on my current projections, Puebla's dedication could occur after General Conference in April. Layton and Taylorsville could follow in April or May, and Urdaneta could be dedicated in June. June or August could be the window for Salta, which would then put the dedication of the Coban Guatemala Temple in August at the very earliest. Of course, if the Church winds up setting more than one temple dedication at once, and if the dedications are closer together than I currently project, it's possible that Coban could be dedicated in June as well.
But right now, based on what is known vs. what is not, these are the rough specific windows I anticipate for temple dedications. Since we don't have any more temple open houses kicking off before the end of this year, it seems likely that the next few Mondays will see several temple dedications set, the final groundbreakings for 2023 and the first groundbreakings for 2024 set, and more site announcements and exterior renderings.
I also received feedback pointing to an acceleration of temple events (dedications and groundbreakings), so I'm sure we have no idea of what's actually ahead. I look forward to all such announcements and am grateful to pass my analysis of those along here. Hope this information is helpful to you, A. J. Merlos. Thanks for taking time to comment, and if you'd like to do so, feel free to subscribe to this blog for updates (the link to do so is in the sidebar underneath "Labels" and "For More Information Like This". Thanks again.
On this Tuesday, the Newsroom and the Church News have shared reports on Elder Bednar's currently-ongoing ministry trip to Mexico. The Church and government of Kiribati (pronounced keer-e-bus) have teamed up to help bring clean water to several outer islands of that nation. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteThe Newsroom also reported on a ministry trip made to Tennessee by Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson, Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, and Sister Tracy Y. Browning, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThis week's Church News podcast was part 2 of a conversation with the Reverend Dr. Andrew Teal, who was joined for this second part by David W. and Deb Checketts, who served as mission leaders near the school where Reverend Teal serves as chaplain. Elder Gary B. Sabin spoke at this week's BYU-Provo devotional. And BYU-Provo professor Jenet Erickson was the featured speaker for the BYU-PW devotional. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteFamilySearch has made changes to its' North American website. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Wednesday, the Church News has shared a few new reports. First up is an introduction to each of the 36 new missions that will go into operation in July. As previously noted, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited Mongolia in September. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, also of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke at the Provo MTC devotional. And the Sunday School General Presidency has provided context into teacher council meetings for parents. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteThe Church News has shared a report on the Newsroom development to which I linked in my comment from November 7 at 3:03 PM above. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAnd a new update has been noted on the Grand Junction Colorado Temple. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteA new report has been provided on the Heber Valley Utah Temple. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Thursday, I somehow failed to notice this new report from the Newsroom yesterday. And two new reports were shared by the Newsroom today. Apparently, with the latter report, it's mentioned that only Presidents Oaks and Eyring met with the Ivory Coast Ambassador. So that indicates that President Nelson is still not back to full function after his recent fall. Hopefully he gets better soon.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, the Church News has shared several new reports, including new leaders for the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple, a new Church News video, and the conversion story of a BYU-Provo football player.
With reference to the new leaders for the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple, that was not anticipated, as the current temple leaders have only served for one year. So the list of the class of 2023 new temple leaders includes 5 whose biographies were shared late last year (meaning that the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple leaders will probably be listed with the class of 2024), 52 new or current temples getting new leaders this year, 1 other temple included with the "class of 2023" that has not had its' new leaders featured in the Church News, and up to 5 other new temples anticipated to be dedicated by this time next year. New temple leaders appeared likely to be called for up to 7 others that are undergoing or have recently undergone renovation, but that didn't happen. These updates are reflected in the latest version of my list tracking these changes. My thanks once again to you all.
There have been some additional changes noted in the completion order and time-frames for a few more temples. For the last little while, the San Pedro Honduras Temple has been the second of 4 temples anticipated to be completed in late 2024 (the others were Farmington New Mexico, then San Pedro Sula Honduras, then Auckland New Zealand and Alabang Philippines). Though the status of Honduras's second temple has not changed, that temple's estimate has been bumped up to mid-to-late 2024, and now it joins the Antofagasta Chile Temple with that estimate.
DeleteNext, the Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple has been the third and final temple anticipated to be completed in mid-to-late 2026 (the other two being Modesto California and Belo Horizonte Brazil). The Lubumbashi DR Congo Temple's estimate has now been shifted down to late 2026, and it is now the only temple that has that estimate. And in view of the update I shared yesterday about the Heber Valley Utah Temple, that temple's status has been updated, and it has been assigned a general completion estimate of late 2026-early 2027.
As I may or may not have mentioned in conjunction with yesterday's update on that temple, the Church can begin obtaining the necessary permits to build the temple 15 days from the approval date. That date will be Thursday, November 24, 2023, which coincides with Thanksgiving Day. So the soonest those permits could be granted is probably Monday, November 27, 2023, which means it might be early December before full-scale construction efforts actually begin.
I am monitoring all of these development and will be sure to pass along any updates. My thanks once again to you all.
On this Friday the Newsroom and the Church News have shared an encouraging update from President Nelson about his health. And the Church News has also shared how the Church is helping to bring clean water sources to Rwanda. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteHere is one new report from the Church News highlighting more of Elder Bednar's ministry in Mexico. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteElder Ulisses Soares is ministering in the Caribbean Area this week. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church has donated $1 million to hurricane relief in Acapulco. And the Church has announced the locations of the Giving Machines for this year's #LighttheWorld Christmas campaign. This year, they will be in a total of 61 locations in 7 nations around the world. 4 in Australia, 2 in Canada, 3 in Guatemala, 6 in Mexico, 1 in New Zealand, 2 in the Philippines, and the remainder in various locations in the United States.
DeleteSeveral new global nonprofits, along with returning nonprofits from previous years, will participate. For those not near a Giving Machine, they can donate online. The Church News also highlighted this year's music festival, which will focus on worldwide music and particularly new hymn selections. My thanks once again to you all.
The latest edition of "This Week on Social" has been published. This week's installment featured posts from the following general Church leaders:
DeleteChurch President Russell M. Nelson and his First Counselor, President Dallin H. Oaks; Elders Dieter F. Uchtdorf, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, Neil L. Andersen, Gerrit W. Gong, and Ulisses Soares, all of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Sister Kristin M. Yee, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency; Sister Tamara W. Runia, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency (the latter of whom did a joint post with Sister Scharman Grimmer of the Young Women General Advisory Council); and Sister Amy A. Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency.
And another article has been published in advance of this Sunday's dedication of the Okinawa Japan Temple. My thanks once again to you all.
On this Saturday, a Latter-day Saint who fought in WWII's Battle of the Bulge is celebrating his 100th birthday. Church News staff writer Mary Richards wrote about capacity, potential, and revelation. The text of the message that will be given in English and Spanish during tomorrow's "Music & the Spoken Word" broadcast has been shared. And the Newsroom and the Church News have highlighted how the Church is encouraging its' members to be emotionally resilient.
ReplyDeleteI would just add here that it is now almost 10:30 AM in Okinawa Japan, so I assume that the first dedicatory session for the temple in that city is officially underway. So here's an update on the Church's progress towards a potential goal of having 200 temples operating by April 6, 2030 (the bicentennial of the Church's reestablishment): The Okinawa Japan Temple has become the 186th operating temple. With 114 temples to dedicate in the 6.39 years between today and that date, a rough average of 17.84 temples will need to be dedicated per year.
As I previously mentioned, I see a huge uptick in temple dedications in the coming years, so I have no doubt that we will have at least 200 temples operating by that bicentennial date, and we may even have more than that. As I mentioned previously, some have reported that the goal could actually be 300 operating temples by that date. We'll have to see what happens. But I still see 200 as definitely happening by that date. My thanks once again to you all.
Sorry. What I meant to say above was that it is now around 11:00 AM in Okinawa. It took longer to compose the above comment than I thought. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAnd the Church News has shared one new report. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News has shared a photograph gallery from the recent Church Music Festival, which featured new music from the new hymnbook. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAnother update has been noted on the status of the Mendoza Argentina Temple. This one notes that grass sod has been laid on the ground. Aside from that, I have not yet found a report on the Okinawa Japan Temple dedication. I assume that will be available at some point tomorrow on either the main Newsroom and/or the Japan Newsroom, and that coverage will also be provided by the Church News. Additionally, I wanted to note that I've got a birthday tribute to Elder Dale G. Renlund (who marks his 71st birthday on Monday) ready to post Monday morning.
DeleteBecause no other temples have an open house until after the New Year, I think that any annoouncement Monday afternoon at around 2:00 PM MST will bring 1 or 2 temple dedications, the final groundbreakings (if any) for 2023 and/or the first groundbreakings for 2024, exterior renderings, and/or site confirmations. With the recent ministry trips of our apostles, hopefully those involved some degree of scouting for potential temple location recommendations.
Among the most likely announcements I specifically anticipate are the confirmation of opening arrangements for the Puebla Mexico and/or Layton and/or Taylorsville Utah Temples, potential groundbreakings for the Knoxville Tennessee and/or Tampa Florida and/or Charlotte North Carolina, exterior renderings may be released for the Vitoria Brazil and/or Teton River Idaho Temples and/or any of the 28 other temples for which sites have been announced but no exterior rendering has been released. As for site announcements, I see Dubai UAE, Beira Mozambique, and Pachuca Mexico Temples in the near term. But the Church is also trying to clear the queue of announced temples as expeditiously as possible, so a few of the temples announced in the last 5 years could also get site announcements in the near term. Others we might expect soon could be Brussels Belgium, Culiacan Mexico, Birmingham England, and Cusco Peru, among others.
Stay tuned for ful coverage on whatever the announcements are. By way of reminder, I try to prepare an initial draft to publish early in the 2:00 PM hour, then to update that draft as expeditiously as possible with analysis. As a result, there may be some accessibility issues preventing you from adding your comments while the post is being edited and updated. My thanks once again to you all for your continued interest, ongoing support, and understanding natures.
The Church News has provided a late-night report highlightingfour temples (Idaho Falls Idaho, Mesa Arizona, Oakland California and St. George Utah) each of which made a list of the top 20 peaceful tourist spots in the United States. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Sabbath Day, the Church News has shared 18 new stake presidencies and the top ten developments from the last week in the latest edition of "In Case You Missed It: Week in Review". My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteThe Church News has also shared what Church leaders and Bible scholars have said about the Epistle of James, which is the prescribed material for "Come Follow Me" study for this week. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteChurch News editor Sister Sarah Jane Weaver has published two new reports on the dedication of the Okinawa Japan Temple this afternoon. The first covers the dedication of the temple, while the second shares photographs from the day of dedication. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteThe Newsroom has also covered today's dedication of the Okinawa Japan Temple. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAn update provided today on the Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple appears to suggest that we might see official information released for that temple in the near term. My thanks once again to you all.
Delete