Hello again, everyone! The First Presidency announced the groundbreaking arrangements for the Winchester Virginia Temple this afternoon. That announcement caught me off guard, as I was only personally expecting that temple's groundbreaking sometime next year. Let's get right into the details:
Ground will be broken for Virginia's newest temple on Saturday, August 9, 2025, under the direction of Elder Robert M. Daines, Second Counselor in the North America Northeast Area Presidency. The groundbreaking for this temple follows that temple's April 2023 announcement, the location confirmation six months later, and the release of its exterior rendering in December of last year.
The Winchester Virginia Temple groundbreaking will be the eleventh this year, knocking the previously announced Vanoucver Washington Temple groundbreaking to the twelfth spot this year. By the time that temple's groundbreaking occurs (two weeks after Winchester's), we will be 10 weeks ahead of where we were in terms of groundbreakings in 2024.
I am grateful to have been able to learn of this news and pass it along to all of you in this post. Stay tuned here for my coverage of the latest 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. I hope any of you who would like to share anything will take your opportunity to “sound off” in the comments below. If you liked what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly added posts and comments, please subscribe to receive the applicable updates. 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 has also reported on this groundbreaking. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteIn this comment on the threads of the previous post, I shared some updates from the Church News that were reported prior to today's temple announcement. Above and beyond those updates, the text of the prayer offered by Elder Gary E. Stevenson to dedicate the Antofagasta Chile Temple has been released. If there are any other temple construction updates, those will be provided here later today. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
DeleteHere is my updated side-by-side comparison of temple groundbreakings this year vs. last year. In terms of groundbreakings this year, we are now 10 weeks ahead of where we were last year. I will have the latest news updates and temple construction status reports posted here later today. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Tuesday, the Church News has shared a total of 5 new reports. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteNo new reports from the Newsroom today. Amy temple construction status updates will be shared here later tonight. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church Growth Blog published this new report, indicating the creation of a new mission, based on the above article about new mission leaders. Ordinarily such a development would be covered here as breaking news, but Matthew Martinich adequately addresses that development today. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Wednesday, the Newsroom has published apostolic ministry reports highlighting Elder Patrick Kearon's ministry in the Philippines, and Elder Gary E. Stevenson's to Chile, which coincided with the celebratory events in that nation to honor the Church's centenary anniversary in South America.
DeleteAside from the Church News article about that anniversary, the Church News additionally reported on the following updates: there was a Religious Educator's Conference held recently at BYU; study helps are now available for the April 2025 General Conference talk by Elder Christopher H. Kim; tickets are now available for the concerts that will be performed by the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square during their upcoming August tour in Argentina; in view of President Nelson's recently-renewed call for peacemakers, see what other Church leaders have said about peacemaking; and Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson ministered in Asia.
My thanks once again to you all.
Construction status updates have been noted for the following temples: Queretaro Mexico, Freetown Sierra Leone, Singapore, and Winchester Virginia. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteHere is yet another apostolic ministry report. Elder Neil L. Andersen has begun a ministry visit in the South America Northwest Area. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteHello again, everyone! Apparently I didn't read that last report from the Church News carefully enough. Elder Andersen's ministry in the South America Northwest Area began at the end of May and was only just reported on by the Church News now, in mid-June. I apologize for that oversight. As for today's reports from the Church News, study resources have been provided for the April 2025 General Conference talk by Elder Patrick Kearon, which was given during the Sunday Afternoon Session.
DeleteMeanwhile, today is Juneteenth, which is now a federal holiday. Read about the significance of the day to Church members and friends. And mid-June also marks the time for the annual Seminar for New Mission Leadership. So far, the opening day of that Seminar has seen counsel offered to incoming mission leader couples from President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his fellow Quorum members Elders Quentin L. Cook (who chairs the Misssionary Executive Council) and Dale G. Renlund.
Above and beyond those reports, more changes have been noted to the general completion estimates of temples now under construction. To highlight those changes, I offer copies of the document on which I'm tracking those. This one shows where they stood yesterday, while this one reflects today's changes. Additionally, construction status updates have been shared for the temples in Riberao Preto Brazil and Cali Colombia. The latter temple (reportedly another modular one) is making rapid progress, hence, its altered and updated estimate and position in the current construction queue. My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News also just summarized counsel to incoming mission leader couples from another member of the Missionary Executive Council, Sister Amy A. Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News has provided a homepage for its coverage of the 2025 Seminar for New Mission Leadership. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Friday l, the Church News has shared study resources for the April 2025 General Conference talk by Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai. There is only one other talk for the Church News to cover: the one by Elder I. Raymond Egbo, which I assume will happen tomorrow. Additionally, yesterday, incoming mission leaders were given counsel yesterday by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, also of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeletePresident Henry B. Eyring, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, opened today's seminar in pre-recorded remarks. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church of Jesus Christ Temples site has noted a new change in the construction status of the Smithfield Utah Temple. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe latest edition of "This Week on Social" has been published. The newest installment in that weekly series includes posts from the following general Church leaders:
DeleteElders David A. Bednar, Neil L. Andersen, Gary E. Stevenson, and Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman and her respective First and Second Counselors, Sisters Tamara W. Runia and Andrea Munoz Spannaus (the first two of whom posted via Young Women Worldwide); Sisters Amy A. Wright and Tracy Y. Browning, the respective First and Second Counselors in the Primary General Presidency; the outgoing Young Men General Presidency (President Steven J. Lund and his respective First and Second Counselors, Bradley R. (Brad) Wilcox, and Michael T. Nelson via a joint post on the Young Men Worldwide page).
My thanks once again to you all.
The Newsroom provided another report on Elder Stevenson's ministry in South America last month, in addition to providing updates from the Seminar for New Mission Leadership. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News has summarized counsel given by Elder David A. Bednar during the Seminar for New Mission Leadership, in addition to one other report. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteElders Neil L. Andersen and Ronald A. Rasband also provided their counsel to incoming mission leaders today.
DeleteSo far, the Apostles' who have not yet given counsel during this seminar are Presidents Russell M. Nelson and Dallin H. Oaks (President Oaks' remarks will probably be given tomorrow, and President Nelson's on Sunday as the seminar concludes) and Elders Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Gary E. Stevenson, Gerrit W. Gong, Ulisses Soares, and Patrick Kearon, although it is possible that additional reports could be forthcoming this evening. My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has shared the inspiring story of how President Eyring was able to make special arrangements to meet with his granddaughter, who is currently in the Provo MTC. The article's photo gallery shows President Eyring standing next to his granddaughter, who he invited to watch him speak. I hope that photo is indicative of better health for President Eyring. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Hungarian Newsroom has confirmed that the groundbreaking for the Budapest Hungary Templ took place this morning as scheduled )about 7 hours ago Hungarian time). Meanwhile, the Church News introduced Elder Michael Cziela and <a href='"https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2025/06/21/jonryanjensen-aware-of-all-his-children-women-donation-camille-johnson/" >an opinion piece</a> bu Church News editor Jon Ryan Jensen. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThat last link was broken. Let me try that again. You can find that opinion piece here. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe first link also appears to be broken. You can find the report on the Budapest Hungary Temple groundbreaking here. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAdditionally, the Church News has provided the text of the message that will be given by Brother Derrick Proter during tomorrow's episode of "Music & the Spoken Word". The Church News also provided additional reports on the Seminar for New Mission Leadership.
DeleteThose summaries highlight counsel given yesterday by Elder Gerrit W. Gong and today by President Dallin H. Oaks, Elder Patrick Kearon, Sister Emily Belle Freeman, Young Women General President, who also serves on the Missionary Executive Council, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf.and Elder Gary E. Stevenson. My thanks once again to you all.
And as further evidence of what I stated yesterday, that President Eyring may be doing better health-wise, he and President Oaks recently met with His Holiness Brahmavihari Swamijihead of BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi and international relations for BAPS on Wednesday, the day before the Seminar for New Mission Leadership.
DeleteAlso present for that meeting were Elders David A. Bednar (who oversees the Middle East/Africa North Area) and Patrick Kearon, both of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and GA Seventies Elders Anthony D. Perkins (President of the Middle East/Africa North Area) and Matthew S. Holland, the Executive Director of the Communications Department.
My thanks once again to you all.
And the African Newsroom has reported a tragic accident. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News also covered that tragic accident. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News has also summarized remarks from Elder Ulisses Soares during today's Seminar for New Mission Leaders, in a devotional setting that included the missionaries from the Provo MTC. It was also broadcast to all MTCs of the Church. With that report shared, the only apostle who hasn't participated in this year's Seminar is Church President Russell M. Nelson, who will likely speak tomorrow during a special Sacrament Meeting for the incoming mission leaders. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteHere's some information about the folk art museum that is in the same building as the Manhattan New York Temple. https://folkartmuseum.org/news/afam-temporary-closure-and-renovations/
DeleteHey, Chris! Thanks for sharing that information. It was a very interesting read. I always appreciate hearing from you.
DeleteOn this Sabbath Day, the Church News has highlighted 28 recently named stake presidencies for 2 new stakes and 26 stake presidency reorganizations. Among those noted today is for my "home stake", the American Fork Utah East Stake. And while I don't know the stake president by name or face, I have connections to both of his two new counselors. I wish them well as they begin their service.
ReplyDeleteThe latest edition of "In Case You Missed It: Week in Review" recapped the top 9 developments reported by the Church News within the last 7 days. In a previous comment, I had incorrectly stated that, in providing resources for each of the addresses given during the April 2025 General Conference, there was only one talk left to highlight: Elder I. Raymond Egbo's talk. But I forgot that talk was given in October of last year, not during the most recent General Conference, so the Church News has indeed featured them all at this point. I apologize for the unintentional misdirect on my part there. The "Come, Follow Me" lesson this week will center on D&C 67-70. See what Church leaders have said about those sections.
Nothing new today from the Seminar for New Mission Leadership. If that changes, I will pass that (and any additional reports) along here as I learn of them, in addition to any temple construction updates. With the Mission Leadership Seminar set to wrap up today, I have no doubt that a major temple construction announcement will be made at or around the 2:00 PM MDT hour tomorrow. Stay tuned here for that report tomorrow when it is published. My thanks once again to you all.
I am pleased to report that the construction status of the Fort Worth Texas Temple has been updated. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteAs expected, President Nelson delivered his counsel to the incoming new mission leaders, via a prerecorded message. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News just covered the groundbreaking for the Budapest Hungary Temple that took place on Saturday. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News has shared one more report. We are just about 45 minutes away from the next major temple construction announcement. Stay tuned here on this blog for my coverage of that whenever it happens. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
Delete