Hello again, everyone! Today, the First Presidency officially confirmed the site location and details for the Tacoma Washington Temple. Let's break down this announcement. A multi-story temple of 45,000 square feet will rise on an 11.6-acre site at approximately 1405 South 364th Way, Federal Way, Washington. An accompanying utility building will also be included in that project.
The temple, originally announced in October 2022, will be the fifth such edifice in Washington state. As a result of today's announcement, there are now 45 announced temples for which no official information has yet been announced. I am grateful for this announcement. Stay tuned here for updates from the Church News, Newsroom, and Church of Jesus Christ Temples sites.
I’ll be sure to pass word of those along to you all as soon as I learn about them. 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 all such feedback is made per the established guidelines.
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If you would like to support the work done on this blog, donations in any amount are always welcome and appreciated but never required. 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 Church News also covered today's update. The Church News also shared the text of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple dedicatiory prayer. Dates have been announced for this year's Luz de Las Naciones celebration. The Church News also shared photographs of watch parties for the recent concerts done by the Tabernacle Choir during their recent tour of Florida and Georgia. And the Church News additionally covered a Christmas in July event in Arizona. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Newsroom has shared one additional report. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Young Men and Young Women General Presidencies have released the 2025 theme for youth. The Church News published an update on the All-Africa Service Day. In the inaugural devotional for BYU-Idaho, President and GA Seventy Alvin F. Meredith provided counsel to students.And the latest edition of the Church News podcast provided a look back at tributes to Church President Russell M. Nelson on his 100th birthday. Temple construction updates will follow. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteToday, the Church Temples site updated the general completion estimate for the Ephraim Utah Temple, which has gone back from being the second of three temples estimated to be completed in late 2025 to being the second of three temples estimated to be completed in early 2026, although the status of the Ephraim Utah Temple remains unchanged.
DeleteBut status updates have been reported in the last 24 hours for the Burley Idaho, Syracuse Utah, Grand Junction Colorado, Yorba Linda California, Modesto California, Fort Worth Texas, Knoxville Tennessee, Austin Texas, Teton River Idaho, Santa Cruz Bolivia, Cody Wyoming and Grand Rapids Michigan Temples. My thanks once again to you all.
Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was the featured speaker at today's BYU-Provo Devotional. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Wednesday, the Newsroom provideed reporlits on Elder Quentin L. Cook's ministry to South Korea and Japan in the Asia North Area, with the Church News also covering that development. The Church News also provided a summary of Elder Patrick Kearon's remarks at BYU-Provo and another look at Latter-day Saints in the Olympics. The Church News also promoted an upcoming Organ Virtuoso Concert coming up on Septtember 20, Another article explains the Church's role in helping treat migrant's mental health. This week's Ensign College devotional focused on President Nelson's teachings about the covenant path. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Thursday, the Newsroom has published one new report, with two others courtesy of the Church News. Additionally, in the last two days (so far), updates have been provided for the Burley Idaho and Grand Junction Colorado Temples. Any additional updates will follow shortly. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteAn update has also been reported on the Syracuse Utah Temple. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAnd the status of the Montpelier Idaho Temple has been updated as well. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteLikewise, an update has been reported on the Cleveland Ohio Temple. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News has shared this update. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteHello again, everyone! I took a one-day hiatus on sharing reports here as my recovery from surgery continues. So let's play catch-up.Yesterday, President Nelson released a new video on his social media channels. Young Men General President Steven J. Lund ministered in Mesico. The latest edition of "This Week on Social" was published, featuring social media content from the following general Church leaders:
ReplyDeleteChurch President Russell M. Nelson; the following members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Acting President Jeffrey R. Holland and Elders Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Ulisses Soares; Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson (who did a joint post with Tracy Y. Browning, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency) and her First Counselor, J. Anette Dennis.
10 new MTC leaders have been called, including one or two former area seventies, a former member of the Sunday School General Presidency (Milton Camargo), and a former Young Men General President (Steven W. Owen). As reported by both the Newsroom and the Church News, a youth devotional in October will feature Elder Ulisses Soares, Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman and Young Men General President Steven J. Lund.
Read how the temples in Argentina, including the Mendoza Argentina Temple, set to be dedicated tomorrow, reflect Church growth. President and Sister Ashton spoke at the BYU-PW devotional.Kaitlyn Bancroft shared what she learned from the inspiriing story of an 83 year-old college graduate. September 21-22 marks the anniversary of the first appearance of the angel Moroni to Joseph Smith.
DeleteTomorrow's spoken word message for "Music & the Spoken Word" is another message originally delivered by Lloyd Newell. Yesterday, the Newsroom shared this update, while two additional updates were shared by the Newsroom, with the Church News sharing corresponding updates on the Salt Lake Temple renovation. My thanks once again to you all.
With the Mendoza Argentina Temple scheduled to be dedicated tomorrow, the inspiring story of the couple who headed up the open house committee is something I hope all of you, my readers, will appreciate. That temple will be the 197th operating temple of the Church when it is dedicated in 6.5 hours.
DeleteI have repeatedly mentioned my theory that the Church will easily have 300 operating temples by the 200th anniversary of the Church's reestablishment (which will be observed on Saturday, April 6, 2030). As of today (Sunday September 22, 2024) there are 5.54 years in which the Church would need to dedicate the remaining 103 temples, which could be done if the Church dedicates an average of 18.59 temples per year. And the Church could very well exceed that number in coming years, especially if the building of smaller temples continues. My thanks once again to you all.
And wow! Just like that, another Church News report continues the series on the dedicated temples of the Church, with the sixth article covering temples 101-120. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteSo it looks as though there are no temple construction status updates to report, but there has been a change noted for the completion estimate of the Cleveland Ohio Temple, which has shifted up from early 2027 to mid-2026. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Argentina Newsroom and the Church News have reported on Sunday's dedication of the Mendoza Argentina Temple. The Church News additionally reported on the latest BYU-Idaho devotional.The "Come Follow Me" study this week will center on 3 Nephi 8-11. Read what Church leaders have taught about these chapters. The latest edition of "In Case You Missed It: Week in Review" recapped the top 9 developments reported by the Church News within the last week. 16 new stake presidencies have been called for existing stakes recently.
ReplyDeleteThe Church Temples site has provided major updates to the temple construction queue. And the newest photographs for the Wichita Kansas Temple may suggest that full-scale construction will shortly begin for that temple. My thanks once again to you all.
This document shows the changes and updates to the construction queue in question. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Deseret Peak Utah Temple's media day kicked off as scheduled this morning. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News also covered the media day for the Deseret Peak Utah Temple, but I don't believe that the media day and yesterday's dedication of the Mendoza Argentina Temple is the only temple construction announcement for today. Stay tuned at 2:00 PM MDT to see if I'm right about that. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteI was clearly wrong. Aside from the Deseret Peak Utah Temple's open house, the only other update was Sunday's dedication of the Mendoza Argentina Temple. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAfter a roughly 1.5 day hiatus, I am back to share more Church News reports. Today, the Newsroom and the Church News reported a new update. Additionally today, the latest edition of the Church News podcast featured Latter0day Saint political commentator Boyd Matheson. Church historian and Recorder Elder Kyle S. McKay, will dedicate the Kanesville Memorial Historical Site. That is where several key Church history events occurred, including, most notably, the sustaining of the first new First Presidency since the 1844 martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
DeleteAnother article has been provided ahead of the open house for the Deseret Peak Utah Temple. Another emeritus GA Seventy, Elder H. Ross Workman, has passed away.
Yesterday, after my last comment was posted, the Church News provided the text of the prayer written by Elder Ronald A. Rasband to dedicate the Mendoza Argentina Temple. Two updates were provided about the ministries of female General Officers of the Church: Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and Sister Tracy Y. Browning, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, spoke to young adults at Utah State University. That concludes my summary of the reports that were shared since my last comment. My thanks once again to you all.
I wanted to post a new comment here to share a new theory posited in the threads of the Church Growth Blog. Elder Gary E. Stevenson was originally assigned to dedicate the Mendoza Argentina Temple and to speak at BY last Tuesday, but Elder Ronald A. Rasband dedicated the Mendoza temple, and Elder Patrick Kearon was sent to speak at BYU, with both assignments made at the last minute. The theory shared on the Church Growth Blog is that, since both assignments were changed last minute, it is possible that Elder Gary E. Stevenson is being prepared to be sustained as an additional counselor in the First Presidency.
ReplyDeleteThere is precedent for such a move. The last time it happened was the July 1981 call of then-Elder Gordon B. Hinckley to the First Presidency to aid an infirm octagenarian First Presidency of Presidents Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, and Marion G. Romney. President Tanner in turn had been called to the First Presidency as an additional counselor to President David O. McKay in 1963, just one year after he had been called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Our current First Presidency is the oldest one ever in Church history, consisting of the first centenarian apostle and prophet President Russell M. Nelson and his Nonagenarian counselors, Presidents Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring. Particularly with President Tanner's call to the First Presidency in the early 1960s, we see a junior apostle joining the top tier of Church leadership when that was needed. So if Elder Stevenson were to be called to the First Presidency, there are two past precedents from the last fifty years alone.
Could it happen? It's entirely possible. Not sure why an impending change of assignment for Elder Stevenson would lead to others filling his assignments with the temple dedication and the BYU devotional, but I will say this: calling Elder Stevenson to the First Presidency would lower the average age thereof from 94.5 to 88.1, and then-President Stevenson could be sent out on assignments the other three may be unable to fill. Could it happen? I have made allowances for that in my October 2024 Predictions for Changes in General Church Leadership. In the interim, I would welcome any thoughts any of you have on that theory. My thanks once again to you all.
Because I want to leave room for a potential subthread above regarding the idea of Elder Sevenson potentially being called as an additional counselor in the First Presidency (individuials interested in commenting on that theory should click the reply button on my above comment rather that posting subsequent comments on that below this comment), I am starting this new thread of comments for discussing temple construction updates. Updates have been noted today on the status of the Pago Pago American Samoa, Cleveland Ohio, and Modesto California Temples.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, a new news item on the Wichita Kansas Temple was also featured on the main News page for the Church Temples site. That update appears to indicate that full-scale construction has begun on that temple. But on the main page for that temple, it still shows the status as "full-scale construction pending". I am not sure why that is. My thanks once again to you all.
New today in temple construction updates: a status change for the Kona Hawaii Temple. Also, the status of the Maracaibo Venezuela Temple has been updated to "no site location announced", which indicates that a prospective site has been identified. That prospective site is available to view in the photograph gallery. That means I have moved the Maracaibo Venezuela Temple to the "Official Confirmation Pending" category on my temple construction progress report. That is just one of many changes you can expect to see reflected in that report when I provide my end-of-third-quarter 2024 temple construction update late on the night of September 30. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Wednesday, the Newsroom and the Church News have reported that registration is open for RootsTech 2025. The Church News also reported on the results of the 9/11 Day of Service. And a new Church initiative will strive to reduce infant mortality rates in vulnerable United States communities, and a call for service missionaries to help in that effort has been issued. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteMorning James! I'm wondering what info you have, if any, on who will dedicate the Deseret Peak Temple. I imagine President Nelson or President Oaks will do it, as it is the 200th temple and close to church headquarters. But I haven't seen anything confirming this plan. The lack of confirmation does make sense in light of Pres. Nelson's fragile health while still having continued vibrant involvement in the work.
ReplyDeleteHello, Michael! Thanks for the inquiry, and sorry for my delayed response. On the Church Growth Blog, someone with connections to Church headquarters noted that the plan is for President Nelson to dedicate the Deseret Peak Utah Temple, health permitting. On a separate note, I wouldn't personally describe President Nelson's health as "fragile", per se. To my knowledge, his only health issue is his back injury. And in a social media post a few months ago, President Nelson announced that, thanks to the faith and prayers of the Saints and his doctors, he was headed towards a full return to his duties at Church headquarters. In subsequent social media posts, he has been consistently pictured behind his desk in his Church headquarters office. He may still of necessity prerecord messages for General Conference and social media, but I think we will see him in person at a majority of the sessions in the upcoming General Conference.
DeleteI would, however, appropriately describe the current health situation of President Henry B. Eyring as "fragile". In settings where members of the First Presidency have recently met with dignitaries and leaders of nations who have paid courtesy visits to Church headquarters, there have been at least two recent occasions where President Eyring has been conspicuously absent. And while pictures he has been in recently have shown him as slightly improving.
But the reality is, the First Presidency is the oldest it ever has been in Church history. Of the three members, President Oaks appears to be in the best health, but there have been moments where even he has looked unwell or at least very tired. That is because, on a few occasions for major Church headquarters functions, there have been times where he has been the only First Presidency member present.
Also on the Church Growth Blog, it has been noted recently that Elder Gary E. Stevenson was abruptly pulled from two assignments at the last minute, and those assignments were unexpectedly given to his fellow Quorum members on short notice. The prevailing theory is that the First Presidency may be considering calling an additional counselor to fill assignments that the current 3 may not be able to fill, and that Elder Stevenson was pulled from those assignments because he may be the choice for an additional First Presidency counselor, which would also necessitate a new member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles being called.
As to the Deseret Peak Utah Temple dedication, President Nelson is planning on dedicating the 200th operating temple of the Church, if his recovery permits. And I currently don't see why it wouldn't be so. But again, a potential additional member of the First Presidency would potentially enable that individual to fill assignments that the current First Presidency cannot. It's very possible the dedication could be assigned to President Oaks if President Nelson is unable to do it himself. But if that dedication rolls around and they need someone to pinch-hit for that assignment, an additional counselor in the First Presidency could step in.
By way of disclaimer, everything I've laid out here is nothing more than theory at this point, though the individual with connections to Church headquarters appears to have "inside information". So take any of this with a grain of salt. I have personally read the social media post from President Nelson about his getting closer to a full return to activity at Church headquarters, but I cannot personally vouch for the rest of the information. Anyways, I've droned on long enough. Feel free to post any follow-up questions you may have, and I will try my best to answer them. Thanks for stopping by to share your question and thoughts, Michael. I always appreciate hearing from you.
Thanks James! I was surprised that Pres. Nelson didn't attend the Mission Presidents' seminar in person, and I know he still uses a wheelchair and (as you note) prerecords his addresses. While his vibrancy on his birthday was wonderful, I'm keeping an eye on his health whether or not it is fragile.
DeleteWell, at the time of the Seminar, he was still reportedly in recovery and only in-person at Church Headquarters as his back injury and recovery therefrom would allow. His social media post stating he was closer to making a full return to his duties was something that was shared after the Mission Leadership Seminar. That's why I say he's now closer to that full return. He may have made a full return already, but that is just my own theory, based on social media posts that have consistently showed him at his desk at Church headquarters in the past 4-6 weeks.
DeleteIt sounds fair to keep an eye on the health of the Prophet. I know I am keeping my eyes open for health information on all of our apostles. For example, I haven't seen anything from either Elder Stevenson or any of his Brethren that would indicate that the last minute shifts to different apostles of two of his original assignments is anything sinister or concerning in terms of his health or anything else, which lends some credence to the idea that Elder Stevenson could potentially be called to the First Presidency. So I think it is wise for all of us to keep an eye on the social media pages of the Brethren, because generally, if there are outstanding health problems, those are publicly disclosed by either themselves or the Newsroom.
I haven't seen anything other than personal observation to back my theory that President Eyring is not doing well health-wise, but the fact that he's been conspicuously absent from some high-profile Church headquarters meetings at least suggests that he may not be doing well. I was one of a few people who shared their opinions after the last conference that President Eyring might be on his way out. For the time being, we have been proven wrong about that, but he is clearly struggling and has had a reduced role in Church headquarters functions of late.
So President Eyring is another apostle we will likely want to keep our eyes on. And with 3 of the 5 sessions last April conducted by members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (one of whom was Elder Stevenson) that is probably another trend that will continue for all subsequent conferences under President Nelson, unless one or two apostles are called to the First Presidency to take greater roles in assisting the work of that top Church Quorum.
Just some additional thoughts to chew on, for whatever they might be worth to you.
Elder Kearon came to our Stake Conference in Gallup NM earlier this month, he was substituting for Elder Stevenson, who had originally been assigned. He asked us to pray for Elder Stevenson who was experiencing some health issues that prevented him from coming.
ReplyDeleteHm, interesting. Odd that Elder Rasband and Elder Kearon didn't feel at liberty to share that information when subbing for him in earlier assignments, and that Elder Kearon would feel at liberty to be more specific at a stake conference assignment just a week or so later. Thanks for sharing that. To whom may I offer thanks for the information?
DeleteHello again, everyone! Although I have shared a new post (above this one) to cover the unexpected news of the Cody Wyoming Temple groundbreaking, due to some familial and personal obligations, I have missed passing along the latest from the Newsroom and the Church News that were reported yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday). So let's play catch-up. From the Newsroom, Acting President Jeffrey R. Holland and Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles met with the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the IOC Director General, and the Olympic Games Executive Director. Emeritus GA Seventy Elder Donald L. Hallstrom was also present. And yesterday, a new report from the Mexico Newsroom shared how Interfaith leaders in Mexico united for peace at Mexico's ministry of the interior.
ReplyDeleteTo catch up on Church News, we start with Thursday's updates: Elder D. Todd Christofferson spoke at the 2024 National Encampment of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers. Coincidentally, Elder Christofferson's brother, Greg Christofferson, is the president of the Mormon Battalion Association, and the two brothers attended this event together. JustServe has rallied volunteers to aid those affected by the Jasper Wildfires in Canada. The Church has also supported recent child nutrition issues in Mexico.
In today's Church News updates: Two new YSA gathering places have been established in Mexico. Former Relief Society General President Jean B. Bingham is now a European Union representative, and the panel on which she serves recently heard about the importance of parental roles in education.And the latest edition of "This Week on Social". The latest installment in that ongoing series featured social media content from the following general Church leaders:
President Henry B. Eyring, Second Counselor in the First Presidency; Elders Quentin L. Cook and Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson; Sister Amy A. Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency; and Brother Bradley R. (Brad) Wilcox, First Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency.
My thanks once again to you all.