Good evening, everyone! I am pleased to share that Ecuador's third temple has been announced in Otavalo. The announcement came courtesy of South America Northwest Area President Elder Juan Pablo Villar. The announcement was made this evening in a devotional with Latter-day Saints in that city. The First Presidency announcement of that temple, read by Elder Villar, is as follows:
"We are pleased to announce the construction of a temple in Otavalo, Ecuador. The specific location and timing of the construction will be announced later. This is a reason for all of us to rejoice and express gratitude for such a significant blessing — one that will allow more frequent access to the ordinances, covenants and power that can only be found in the house of the Lord.”
Although Elder Villar read the announcement, the devotional in question was presided over by Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who may have apostolic oversight of the South America Northwest Area. Elder Renlund was joined at the devotional by his wife, along with Elder S. Mark Palmer of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife. This may have been one of Elder Palmer's final assignments before he is granted emeritus status on August 1.
I am overjoyed at this announcement. A temple for Otavalo was on my list of near-term prospects, so I am grateful that it was announced. The total number of temples now rises to 385, and this is the third temple announced under the new method instutited by Church President Dallin H. Oaks. I had thought and said when the last temple was announced last month that we might not get another announcement until August or so, and I am elated that I was wrong in that assertion.
These updates will be reflected in relevant documents, to which I will link in the comments section below. I invite you all to 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.
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 evening's announcement. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteI have updated my documents showing announced temples that do not have any official information confirmed yet, and areas of the Church in which a temple has been announced during President Oaks' prophetic administration. I am hopeful more temples will be announced in the coming months. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteI served my mission in Ecuador. This is exciting. Although Otavalo was not part of my mission, I had a companion from there. That city is mostly a Native American area and has some of the strongest stakes of the church in Ecuador. I believe it has one of the first Native American speaking language stakes of the church.
ReplyDeleteHey, Chris! I apologize for my belated reply. I appreciate what you shared and am glad to hear of your connections to Ecuador in general and Otavalo in particular. I also appreciated what you said about Otavalo potentially having one of the first Native American speaking language stakes of the Church. I likewise appreciate your longtime readership and friendship. Thanks for sharing these things. I always appreciate hearing from you.
DeleteLooking at the meetinghouse locator today it appears that there may be only one ward that speaks Quechua. (In Ecuador it is spelled Kichwa). But that community is majority indigenous. And it appears that the Otavaleños are among the most economicly successful indigenous group in Latin America. The Otavaleño men grow their hair long and unlike other missionaries they don't have to cut it missionary style. My companion had hair down to his waste. They do have to have it pulled back nicely or braided. This is due to cultural significance.
DeleteThanks for that extra context, Chris! That's fascinating. I really appreciate you sharing this as well. Do you happen to know if those groomers requirements have changed since your companion served? Thanks again.
DeleteUgh. I meant "grooming requirements" not groomers.
DeleteI'm not sure if that changes if they serve outside their country but within the country they're fine
DeleteOh, okay. That makes sense. Thanks, Chris, for dialoging here about this subject.
DeleteOn this Friday, the Newsroom has shared further insights on the Otavalo Ecaudor Temple announcement. Meanwhile, the Church News reports on Elder Gérald Caussé's recent ministry in the Asia and Asia North Areas, which may suggest he has apostolic oversight of those areas. Again, I wish the Church was more transparent on the apostolic assignments, especially pertaining to areas of the Church.
ReplyDeleteIn other news, the Church enhances water expansion in the Philippines, Sierra Leone, and Mexico. And the Tqberance Choir announced their next guest for the Taberncale Organ Virtuoso Concert Serie, and today marks the anniversary of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood.
Today is also the International Day of Families, in honor of which Church President Dallin H. Oaks took to social media to post an excerpt from his October 2025 General Conference talk "The Family-Centered Gospel of Jesus Christ". In addition to that, the latest edition of "This Week on Social" was published, featuring social media content from the following general Church leaders:
Church President Dallin H. Oaks (posting about the First Presidency's tour of the Salt Lake Temple) and his First Counselor, President Henry B. Eyring; Elders Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson (from whom two posts were featured: one via her Facebook page, and the other via Relief Society Worldwide); Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman and her Second Counselor, Sister Andrea Munoz Spannaus (both of whom posted via Young Women Worldwide); Sister Amy A. Wright, the outgoing First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency (posting via Primary Worldwide); and the Young Men General Presidency (President Timothy L. Farnes and Brothers David J. Wunderli and Sean R. Dixon, who hosted a livestream discussion on the Young Men Worldwide page).
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Saturday, with no updates from the Newsroom, we turn to Church News updates. The Church News has shared managing editor Scott Taylor's thoughts about being mindful of time, as the Church prepares to shift to a divided second hour. The Church News also provided an introduction to new GA Seventy Elder Hutch U. Fale, in addition to thoughts about the historic increase in Church membership; the text of the message that will be given by Brother Derrick Porter during tomorrow's 5,044th episode of "Music & the Spoken Word"; and the origin story of the new hymn, "The Power of the Holy Ghost". My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteConstruction status updates have been reported for the Fairview Texas and Couer d'Alene Idaho Temples. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Sabbath Day, the Newsroom and the Church News have provided an inside look at the "missionary experience" at the Provo MTC. The Church News also rereleased resources relating to teaching and learning from President Oaks' Sunday Morning Session talk, "Alive in Christ", and I'm reasonably certain that the Church News will continue to rerelease teaching and learning resources for the other General Conference talks in the coming days. The Church News also shared that 22 stake presidencies have been reorganized recently. The latest edition of "In Case You Missed It: Week in Review" shares the top 10 developments reported by the Church News within the last week. And with our "Come, Follow Me" study this week centering on Joshua 1-8 and 23-24, see what Church leaders have taught about those 10 chapters. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAnd an update has been noted on the construction status for the Tacloban City Philippines Temple. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteWith the change in calendar to now being Monday, May 18, 2026, it is Sister Andrea Munoz Spannaus' birthday today, in honor of which, the Church News has shared .9 quotes from her ministry within the past year. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News has also shared resources for studying and teaching from President Oaks' introuctory remarks to open General Conference. Also, it appears that the Newsroom posted a renovation update for the Salt Lae Temple this morning, but that it;s not currently available. At first, the entire Newsroom was down for a time, but it is back up and only that report is inaccessible. I will try to post again once that changes. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Newsroom story about the Salt Lake Temple. is up again. Now we just wait until the 2:00 PM hour to see whatever other news may be announced. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAnd the Newsroom is down again. Hopefully it comes back online in time for whatever the temple announcement might be today at 2:00 PM MDT, but we'll have to see. My thanks once again to you all,
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