Hello again, everyone! This afternoon, the First Presidency officially announced the groundbreaking ceremony for the Naga Philippines Temple, which will take place on Saturday, August 8, 2026, with Elder Steven D. Shumway of the Philippines Area Presidency presiding thereover. The groundbreaking announcement follows the temple's announcement in October 2022, and the temple's site announcement and exterior rendering release in February of this year,
This will be the second temple to have a groundbreaking in August, following the August 1 groundbreaking for the Santos Brazil Temple that was announced last Tuesday. I hope that these back-to-back groundbreaking announcements that have taken place over the last two weeks, with their ceremonies also coming on back-to-back Saturdays, will be the beginning of a potential string of week-by-week groundbreaking announcements followed by week-by-week ceremonies.
I also wouldn't be shocked if the Church announces multiple groundbreakings in the coming weeks, whether or not they have more than one announced per week. With this announcement, the Church has scheduled the ninth groundbreaking for 2026. By the second week in August of last year, the Church had 12 groundbreakings take place. So hopefully 2026 can eventually keep pace with (or surpass) 2025 in temple groundbreaking. I am grateful for today's announcement and the opportunity to share it with you all here.
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 covered today's groundbreaking news. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteOne other Church News update speaks for itself. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Newsroom and the Church News share how to get reservations for the "Inside a Temple" exhibit that is offered at the Temple Square Visitor's Center. Reservations will continue to be released every other Monday. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News has shared one more report that speaks for itself. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAfter a very busy Tuesday, I am here to share the latest Church News and temple updates: study and teaching resources for the April 2026 General Conference talk by Brother David J. Wunderli; the text of the dedicatory prayer for the Bacolod Philippines Temple; the latest edition of the Church News podcast; a Church donation saved a premature infant in Zambia; and Elder Mark A. Bragg offers counsel at a BYU-Idaho devotional following the death of his friend, Elder W. Mark Bassett.
DeleteAnd the Newsroom shared how all congregations in the United States were taught the same lesson this last Sunday through a video featuring President Christofferosn and Elder Cook talking about religious freedom. Also, a new update on the Fort Worth Texas Temple has put that temple near the top of the current construction queue, as its' status indicates that major construction is nearing completion, and that the temple is being furnished. That temple now falls under the Smithfield Utah Temple, and either or both temples might have dedications announced before that occurs for the Torreon Mexico and Pago Pago American Samoa Temple. My thanks once again to you all.
On this Wednesday, the Church News has shared the following new reports: studying and teaching resources for the April 2026 General Conference talk by Elder Gérald Caussé; Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman ministers in Puerto Rico; and Sister Amy A. Wright, the outgoing First Counselor in the Priamry General Presidency, spoke to Ensign College students about the Savior's invitations to "Behold!" My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe last two sentences above should have read "Sister Amy A. Wright, the outgoing First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, spoke to Ensign College students about the Savior's invitations to "Behold!" My thanks once again to you all."
DeleteThe Church News has also published another report that speaks for itself. Thanks again everyone!
Recent apostolic ministry updates are available for Elder Gary E. Stevensonand Elder Dale G. Renlund. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Thursday, the Church has acknowledged the acquisition of a locket that may depict Joseph Smith. The Newsroom also covered Elder Gerrit W. Gong's recent ministry in Southern Africa (which may indicate he now has apostolic oversight of that area). And GA Seventy Elder Edward B. Rowe spoke at a recent Air Force Academy Church service.
DeleteAnd from the Church News comes the following additional updates: study and teaching resources for the April 2026 General Conference talk by Elder Briam J. Holmes; Sister Tracy Y. Browning spoke at a New York City Women's Conference, teaching that "Jesus noticed women"; President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve, recently returned from a 3-country ministry in Europe, where he visited with the President of Germany and dedicated stakae centers in his native Czech Republic & in Austria (where my wife served her mission); and Elder James R. Rasband, the Commissioner of the Church Educational System, spoke at BYU Hawaii on Tuesday. My thanks once again to you all.
After a one-day hiatus on commenting here, I am back to share the latest updates from the Church News and the Newsroom. From the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square comes this update, while the Newsroom shares an additional update. Meanwhile, the Church News reported on the acquisition of the locket, Elder Gilbert provides apostolic counsel to young adults; attendance and viewing instructions were provied for Music & the Spoken Word's historic observance of America's 250th anniversary on July 5; Elder Edward Dube of the Presidency of the Seventy counseled BYU-PW students; Elder Gong's apostolic counsel to the Saints in the Africa South Area; President Camille N. Johnson's counsel for religious educators; study and teaching resources for the April 2026 talk by Elder Clement M. Matswagothata; and the latest edition of "This Week on Social, featuring content from the following General Church leaders:
DeletePresident D. Todd Christofferson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, and Elder Quentin L.Cook (who jointly posted following the fifht Sunday lesson of their comments on religious freedom; President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elders David A. Bednar, Neil L. Andersen, Dale G. Renlund, Gerrit W. Gong (from whom two posts were highlighted); Gérald Caussé (from whom two posts were highlighted), and Clark G. Gilbert of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson; Sisters Tamara W. Runia and Andrea Munoz Spannaus, the respective First and Second Counselors in the Young Women General Presidency (from the latter of whom two posts were highlighted); and outgoing Primary General President Susan H. Porter and her outgoing First Counselor, Sister Amy A. Wright. Today's updates will follow in another comment. My thanks once again to you all.
Today, the Church News provided an introduction to a 96-year-old Primary teacher; an introduction to new GA Seventy Elder Thabo Lebotha; and lessons learned from sourdough bread. No updates from the Church Newsroom thus far today. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News has additionally posted this article in advance of tomorrow's dedication of the Yorba Linda California Temple. No correjsponding article as yet for the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple, which will also be dedicated tomorrow. Church leaders and veteran Church educators share their best tips for teaching youth and young adults. The Church News also shared the text of the message that will be given tomorrow during the historic 6,047th broadcast of "Music & the Spoken Word". Additionally, although there are no official reports confirming this, the Church of Jesus Christ Temples site does note that the groundbreakings for the temples in Springfield Missouri and Missoula Montana took place as scheduled this morning. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteSorry. In relation to the Choir broadcast tomorrow, it will be the 5,047th episode, not the 6,047th episode. Still a historic milestone. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAnd the Church News has posted this reporton the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple dedication. Meanwhile, the Newsroom has shared this report</a. on today's two temple groundbreakings. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe link to the groundbreaking report above was broken. Hopefully this one works. My thanks once again to you all.
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