Hello again, everyone! In a stunning single announcement, the First Presidency has released details for the open houses and dedication dates of the Layton Utah, Puebla Mexico, and Urdaneta Philippines Temples. That alone would be impressive enough, but they also announced a groundbreaking for the Knoxville Tennessee Temple and the site location and preliminary information for the Antananarivo Madagascar Temple. There's a lot to break down here, so let's jump right in:
We start with the open houses and dedications. I'll go by date of dedication. The open house for the Urdaneta Philippines Temple will kick off with a media day on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, followed by VIP tours Wendesday and Thursday, March 13 and 14, 2024. The public open house will run between Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 30 (excluding the Sundays of March 17 and 24). President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, will dedicate the Urdaneta Philippines Temple on Sunday, April 28, 2024 in two sessions at 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM PHT.
Moving on now to the Puebla Mexico Temple, a media day will be held on Monday, March 25, 2024, followed by VIP tours on Tuesday, March 26-Thursday, March 28, 2024. The public open house for that temple will run between Friday, March 29 and Saturday, April 20, with the exceptions of March 31 and April 6-7 and 14, 2024. The temple will be dedicated on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in two sessions at 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM CST by Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
For the Layton Utah Temple, a media day is planned for Monday, April 15, 2024, with VIP tours available Tuesday, April 16-Thursday, April 18, 2024. The public open house will follow between Friday, April 19 and Saturday, June 1, except for the Sundays of April 21 and 28 and May 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2024. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate that temple on Sunday, June 16, 2024, in two sessions that will be held at 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM MDT.
Each of these dedications will be broadcast to the stakes in their respective temple districts. I am a little surprised we didn't also get an announcement about the Taylorsville Utah Temple, but hopefully that will come down the pike next week. I am also a little surprised at the timing for each of these dedications, which are more spread out than I thought they would be. This again suggests that the second half of 2024 will see a high number of temple dedications. My gut instinct is to say that Taylorsville Utah and Casper Wyoming may be the only other temples likely to be dedicated in the first half of 2024.
We now move on to the groundbreaking for the Knoxville Tennesee Temple. It is set to occur on Saturday, January 27, 2024. Elder Shayne M. Bowen, a General Authority Seventy currently serving as First Counselor in the North America Southeast Area Presidency, will preside thereat. This more or less confirms my theory that no other temple groundbreakings will occur this year.
And that brings me to the Antananarivo Madagascar Temple. A single-story temple of approximately 10,000 square feet will rise on a 9.8-acre site at Fokontany Andranoro, Ambohibao, Antehiroka, Andranomena, Madagascar. Patron housing and arrival facilities will accompany the construction of the temple. Based on the size and on the fact that Madagascar is an isolated island, I think the Church might opt to utilize the modular components for that temple, which would be easier to bring to the island nation than building materials would be. As we know, that temple was announced by President Nelson in October 2021.
This brings the number of announced temples for which no information has offically been confirmed yet down to 50. I am grateful for this massive announcement today 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.
Here is the Church News coverage on the dedications, groundbreaking, and site announcement. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteOn this Tuesday, the Newsroom has reported on the visit of a top Muslim leader here in Utah to Church headquarters. The visit began on Sunday, Decembmer 10, when a group of Muslim leaders were led on a tour of the Orem Utah Temple. Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella, who serves as First Counselor in the Middle East/Africa North Area presidency, and Elder William K. Jackson, the Assistant Executive Director of the Missionary Department who also chairs Missionary Health Services and the Medical Advisory Committee, led that tour.
DeleteThen yesterday, the group met with President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, in the First Presidency Board Room. Obviously, President Nelson is still recovering from his back injury and was thus not present for this meeting. But the article doesn't mention President Eyring being present either. As I mentioned about a week ago, although President Eyring was present at the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional, he didn't look well. So I don't know if President Eyring was either not available for this meeting or if his health prevented his participation. Nothing official has been said about any issues he may be having, so take this with a grain of salt. I just found it interesting that President Eyring didn't participate in this meeting.
When President Oaks led that meeting, others in attendance included Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who has apostolic oversight of the Middle East/Africa North Area; Elder Matthew S. Holland, who serves as the Executive Director of the Church Communication Department (which may or may not be the same as the Church Public Affairs Department), Elder Anthony D. Perkins, the President of the Middle East/Africa North Area (who also serves on the Area, Outreach, and International Coordinating Committees), and Elder David P. Homer, who serves in a variety of undisclosed assignments at Church Headquarters.
Meanwhile, the Church News has shared the story of a blind Latter-day Saint whose condition doesn't stop him from serving and being a light to those around him. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square's Christmas 2022 concert, entitled "Season of Light", is now available to watch and purchase. And a concert series helped to launch the "#LighttheWorld" campaign in Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Africa. There may be some temple updates to pass along. If so, I will be sure to share that information with you here as time and circumstances allow this afternoon. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
Construction status updates have been noted for the Burley Idaho and Modesto California Temples. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThis week's Church News podcast featured Tabernacle Choir President Mike Leavitt and Director of Member Support Sister Karmel Newell (wife of Brother Lloyd Newell, who announced his departure as the announcer for the Choir on Sunday, due to their call as mission leaders). The podcast focused on the future of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and the power and influence of Christmas music.
DeleteIn relation to last weekend's rededication of the St. George Utah Temple, Sister Sheri Dew writes that we can ask for and expect to receive miracles. And the text of the rededicatory prayer for the St. George Utah Temple, which was written by President Holland, who delivered the prayer, was also published. My thanks once again to you all.
Another update has been noted on the Burley Idaho Temple. In addition, the Church of Jesus Christ Temples site has moved the Deseret Peak Utah Temple ahead of the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple in the queue My thanks once again to you all..
DeleteOn this Wednesday, the Church has announced its' intent to open a new MTC in Bangkok Thailand. This announcement follows the closure and consolidation of many other MTCs worldwide. The Bangkok MTC will operate out of the multipurpose building adjacent to the Bangkok Thailand Temple, and the new MTC is expected to serve the nations in Southeast Asia. It occurred to me to wonder if this is a precursor to the eventual creation of a Southeast Asia Area of the Church. Time will tell. Matthew Martinich will likely have further analysis on this on his Church Growth Blog in the next week or so.
DeleteRelief Society President Camille N. Johnson recently ministered in Korea, Japan, and Mongolia (all located in the Asia North Area).Hopefully part of her ministry involved assessing potential temple locations for the Busan Korea and Ulaanbaatar Mongolia Temples. The Church News also covered the report I shared yesterday of the Muslim leader visiting the Orem Utah Temple and Church headquarters. And the "Come Follow Me" curriculum has been streamlined from 4 manuals to 1.
My thanks once again to you all.
With just two months remarining until the Provo Utah Temple closes for reconstruction, that temple has been subjected to an act of vandalism. And Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson spoke at the Provo MTC this week. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Newsroom has reported relief efforts made by the Church in response to recent tornadoes in Tennessee. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAnd new updates have been noted on the Burley Idaho and Lindon Utah Temples. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Thursday, the Church News has provided two new reports. The first covers the results of the American Family Survey 2023, while the second talks about interfaith dinners, concerts, and events. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteLate yesterday, the Church News shared several videos, including 8 related to "#LighttheWorld" and 6 others relating to the Giving Machines. And on this Friday, the Church News has shared Elder Carlos A. Godoy's remarks to BYU-Idaho graduates. Those remarks centered on 3 "Behold, therefore" principles.
DeleteAnd the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square's 2023 concert featured stories of service and love. The first concert was last night, and two other performances are planned for tonight and tomorrow night. Also, the first chapel has been dedicated in the African nation of Angola.
Still no announcement on who will fill the vacancy in the Presidency of the Seventy, but I am assuming that will come soon, along with official confirmation that Elder Carl B. Cook has succeeded Elder Patrick Kearon as the Senior President of the Seventy. My thanks once again to you all.
The latest edition of "This Week on Social" has been published. In this latest edition, highlighted content was shared by the following general Church leaders: Presidents Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring, the respective First and Second Counselors in the First Presidency; Acting President Jeffrey R. Holland and Elders D. Todd Christofferson, Gary E. Stevenson, Dale G. Renlund, Gerrit W. Gong, and Patrick Kearon, all of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson; Sister Tamara W. Runia, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency; Sisters Amy A. Wright and Tracy Y. Browning, the respective First and Second Counselors in the Primary General Presidency; Sunday School General President Mark L. Pace and his First Counselor, Brother Milton Camargo; and Young Men General President Steven J. Lund and his First Counselor, Bradley R. (Brad) Wlicox. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteA new Desert News report shared insights from Elder Marcus B. Nash, the Executive Director of the Missionary Department, about the growth of missionary efforts. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteHello again, everyone! On this Saturday, I have taken most of the day to focus on celebrating my birthday. But I am now pleased to report on the latest updates from the Church News. Staff writer Trent Toone shares how the lives of a congregation were blessed as their Primary children sang a song in Spranish.This year's guests for the Christmas Concert of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square shared their thoughts about what performing with the Choir during the Christmas season meant to them. This week's "Music & the Spoken Word" broadcasts in English and Spanish will include a message read by Lesley Nichol about the Christmas story as found in Luke 2. And a new resource, "Topics and Questions" now replaces the Gospel Topics resource. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteI should perhaps also have mentioned that I had the privilege of attending the final day of the open house for the Orem Utah Temple this afternoon. Today was the final day for those tours. The temple is now being prepared for its' January 21 dedication. The Church has not publicly announced who will dedicate the Orem Utah Temple. I am hoping that announcement will be part of Monday's major temple construction announcement. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Sabbath Day, the Newsroom and the Church News have announced the release of the final series of the Book of Mormon videos will occur in 2024. The Church News has also noted the calls of 20 reorganized stake presidencies. Thousands recently attended a a "Night in Bethlehem" in California. The latest edition of "In Case You Missed It: Week in Review" recapped the top 9 developments reported this week. And the Church News provided insight from Church leaders about Christmas, which will be the focus of our gospel study this week. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteOn this Monday, when the next anticipated major temple construction announcement is less than an hour away, the Church News has shared one new report. And in a major update to the queue of temples anticipated to be completed in 2024, the Deseret Peak Utah, Tallahassee Florida, and Salvador Brazil Temples have all been moved ahead of the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple, though each of the 4 temples are still anticipated to be completed in early-to-mid 2024.
DeleteBased on my analysis of the potential timing for future temple events, I now believe that the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple will be either the last temple dedicated next year or the first temple dedicated in 2025. And I also believe that the 200th temple in the Church (currently the Tallahassee Florida Temple) will be dedicated in November, unless construction and dedication announcements drastically pick up. My thanks once again to you all.
I forgot to mention that with the updated estimates also comes a status update for the Deseret Peak Utah Temple, where work on the landscaping and the interior of the temple is nearing completion. A full report on any new major temple construction announcements will follow within the next hour or so. My thanks once again to you all.
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