Hello again, everyone! Just wanted to note that, in addition to my musings on the potential name for the temple planned for the greater Manila area, there have been several I other minor but still very significant developments in temple construction worldwide, and I wanted to share those updates with you. As noted in my last post, this version of this report will be the first one in which I list that temple for the greater Manila area as the "Alabang Manila Temple". Again, I am doing this based primarily on the way that temple was referenced in the Manila Mormon Newsroom article about the creation of the 100th stake in the Philippines area. I cannot stress this enough: any construction, completion, groundbreaking, or developmental estimates contained herein are just that, estimates, and they are subject entirely to confirmation, correction, or clarification as that becomes available. There is nothing so constant in terms of temple progress as the fact that changes are imminent. Until the Brethren or those they authorize to do so in their stead make an official announcement, this is merely my best-researched reasoning, which anyone would be perfectly justified in calling speculation. I am never disappointed if I find out I need to change things on this report, and I try not to be too cocky, vain, or prideful on those rare occasions when I turn out to be right. I am just pleased to be able to contribute to the public dialogue of such developments. In like manner, I hope that all of you who read this will be respectful, both of me and of each other. If that is not happening, then my efforts have missed the mark big time. Here is that report. Any comments are welcome and appreciated. In the meantime, thank you for the privilege of your time, and may the Lord bless you all until my next post. Until that time, I wish you all the best.
Temple Construction Progress
(current as of 9/13/17)
NOTE ABOUT FUTURE TEMPLE
CONSTRUCTION: As referenced in previous versions of this report, Elder
Larry Y. Wilson, the Temple Department Executive Director, stated in an
interview given as the open house for the newly renovated Idaho Falls Idaho
Temple got underway that the Church currently has around 80 sites under
consideration for a subsequent announcement within the next 15 years. While
some, if not at least a majority, of those 80 sites will make it to a
subsequent announcement, it is significant to think about. That would put the
number of temples in any phase at around 260 or so in 2032. It is not hard to
believe, therefore, that whether or not the Church makes an official goal to do
so, we could see a minimum of 200 operating temples by or before the
bicentennial (200th ) anniversary of the restoration of the
Church (which will take place on Saturday April 6, 2030. With the Church only
having to announce 18 additional temples and to complete the other 25
in any phase, all it would take to reach that milestone is for 3-4 temples
being dedicated in each one of the 12.56 years
between now and then, which works out to 3 or 4 temples that will need to be
dedicated each year. Since the Church will be maintaining at least that average
amount for the next 3 years at minimum, it appears to be very doable. For my
part, I will be keeping my eyes open for any developments and will pass such
news along as I hear of it.
CURRENT TEMPLE STATUS: The
Church has 182 temples in various phases (operating, undergoing renovation (which
counts as operating), under construction (new ones not yet dedicated) or
announced (with either a site announcement or groundbreaking pending).
There are 157 operating
temples, with 1 that has had
construction conclude (and is preparing for its open house) and 1 more that has construction wrapping
up prior to its already scheduled dedication later this year. There are
additionally 9 others are in various
phases of construction and 1 more
that had a groundbreaking last year, (with full-scale construction anticipated to
begin ASAP (hopefully before the end of this year). 1 other has a
groundbreaking scheduled (which will take place in just under 2 months. Of the
temples that have been, are now, and will shortly be undergoing renovations, we
have 1 that has a rededication scheduled (for the middle of next year), while 1
other is undergoing renovation (with completion anticipated sometime in either
late summer or early fall next year), and another 4 have had their closure
dates set before the end of this year, in addition to 5 others that we know
will be closing early next year (the actual dates for each of those will be set
closer to the time). The remaining 12 are announced (with either a
site announcement or groundbreaking pending).
Construction completed,
preparing for open house:
158. Meridian Idaho
Temple: Practices for youth cultural celebration beginning
today; open house reservations will start being accepted on Monday September
25, 2017, and will be available for the duration of the open house, which is
set to run for the three-week period spanning Saturday October 21 and Saturday
November 11, excluding Sundays; dedication scheduled for Sunday
November 19, 2017.
NOTE: While I have not yet confirmed that construction has concluded on
this temple, it seems to be a safe assumption. If I find that is not the case,
I will pass that along.
Construction nearing completion;
dedication scheduled:
159. Cedar City Utah
Temple: Finish work underway on the interior; cultural celebration kick-off
meeting held; open house reservations will start being
accepted on Monday October 2, 2017, and will be available for the duration of
the open house, which is set to run for the 22-day period spanning Friday October
27 and Saturday November 18, excluding Sundays; dedication
scheduled for Sunday December 10, 2017.
NOTE: I feel safe in asserting that the latest news for
this temple indicates that this temple is getting closer to completion. I am
keeping an eye on this and will pass more information along once I know more.
Under Construction (completion anticipated by the end
of next year (2018)):
160. Rome Italy Temple:
Interior and exterior work progressing; construction office trailers donated to
community organizations; office space relocated to patron housing; completion
anticipated sometime during mid-2018.
NOTE: In view of the plans
announced to rededicate the Jordan River Temple, and because this temple has
progressed more consistently than the Frankfurt Germany Temple, it is my
feeling that this temple will be dedicated at some point before the annual July
recess of the General Authorities. My revised, more specific estimate has been
set for early-to-mid June. If I receive information that changes that belief, I
will be sure to pass it along.
161. Concepcion Chile
Temple: Cladding progressing on east side of temple; west side nearly finished;
hanging doors and installing millwork inside; completion anticipated sometime
during mid-to-late 2018.
NOTE: Given what is known currently
about this temple’s progress, as well as the fact that the rededication of the
Frankfurt Germany Temple may happen prior to the dedication of this one, I am
setting a preliminary revised estimate of mid-to-late August for this dedication.
As more is known about how this temple continues to progress during the
remainder of this year, any adjustments will then be presented in subsequent
versions of this report.
162. Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Roof sheathing completed; steeple
framework installed; landscaping palm trees secured; completion anticipated
sometime during mid-to-late 2018.
NOTE: While I fervently hope that
this temple will be completed closer to the earlier side of this estimate,
information that I came across last night indicates the completion of this
temple will be closer to a year from now than any earlier. I am therefore setting
a preliminary estimate of mid-to-late September 2018 for this temple’s
potential dedication timeframe.
163. Barranquilla
Colombia Temple: Pouring concrete curbing and walkways; preparing to clad
tower; completion anticipated sometime during late 2018.
NOTE: This temple, once thought to
be among the first completed in 2018, may now turn out to be the last one
dedicated in 2018, if current trends continue. In view of additional
information I received recently, I am setting a new estimate for late
October-early November 2018.
Under construction, completion
anticipated during 2019:
164. Durban South
Africa Temple: Temple roof slab poured; brickwork continues at missionary
housing; waterproofing and backfilling entrance buildings; completion
anticipated sometime during early 2019.
NOTE: As promised in previous
version of this report, I did some more research that pointed to the notion
that, barring anything unexpected, the completion of this temple may take
around 1.5 years rather than just the 1 that I thought. It is therefore my new
feeling that the dedication of this temple will be around late February or
early March 2019. If my thinking on that changes, I will pass that along.
165. Fortaleza Brazil
Temple: Applying waterproofing membrane to temple exterior walls; meetinghouse
exterior walls rising; completion anticipated sometime during early-to-mid
2019.
NOTE: As part of my ongoing
research, I studied when this temple might be completed. And that study has led
me to conclude that the completion of this temple will likely happen in
mid-to-late May 2019. If that changes, I will pass that along.
166. Rio de Janeiro
Brazil Temple: Crews preparing to pour exterior walls; completion
anticipated sometime during mid-2019.
NOTE: As part of my efforts to
reevaluate potential completion estimates, I discovered that this temple is
more likely to be dedicated following the annual July recess of the General
Authorities, perhaps by early-to-mid August. If my thinking on that changes, I
will pass that along.
167. Lisbon Portugal
Temple: Structural framing for main floor underway; meetinghouse cladding
progressing; completion anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.
NOTE: While I hope I am wrong in
this regard, my additional research on this temple points to the notion that
this temple may only be dedicated by late October or early November of 2019. If
my thinking on that changes, I will pass that along.
Temples anticipated to be completed sometime during 2020:
168. Arequipa Peru
Temple: Setting rebar for second floor structural walls; completion anticipated
sometime during early 2020.
NOTE: As noted on other temples, I
have done more research lately on when each temple might be completed. After
considering the potential time-frame in which this temple might be completed,
and the excellent feedback I got on that point from experts in this field, the
result of my additional study on this issue is that I concur with the experts
that have suggested early 2020 as a more likely completion time-frame. In fact,
my calculations on this temple (keeping in mind the 28-month estimate that was
given at one point for this temple’s completion) have led me to believe that we
could see a dedication in late February or early March of that year, as it
would be the tail end of the summer months for that region. As always, once
this temple makes more progress, I will be sure to pass along any changes to
that thinking.
Construction pending:
169. Winnipeg Manitoba
Temple: Groundbreaking held Saturday December 3, 2016; plans being slightly
modified; full-scale operations anticipated to begin in the first or second
quarter of 2018; completion anticipated sometime between early-to-mid
2020.
NOTE: With today’s notification
that full-scale operations are anticipated to begin in the first or second
quarter of 2018, I ran the numbers. As long as work begins by the last day of
June 2018, construction could conclude by leap day 2020, which would put the
dedication sometime in mid-to-late April or so. I will continue to evaluate
this update and will provide any further changes to and clarifications of my
thinking on this. For now, it is good to have heard of that update.
Groundbreaking scheduled:
170. Port-au-Prince
Haiti Temple: Ground being cleared; preparing for groundbreaking ceremony,
which is scheduled for Saturday October 28, 2017; completion
anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2020.
NOTE: As previously noted, this
temple is anticipated to be somewhat comparable in size to the Kinshasa DR
Congo Temple. It is therefore my estimate that construction for this second
Caribbean temple will, as previously observed, take around 1.5 years less than
the time it took to build the first temple in that region. That would put the
rough estimate for this temple’s construction time-frame at around 2 years and
7 months. Assuming no delays and that full-scale construction will be able to
begin on this temple on Monday October 30, that would then put the dedication
somewhere around mid-August 2020, which would be on the earlier side of the
time-frame above. That said, I have also heard that this temple could progress
quickly enough to be the last one dedicated in 2019. I will keep an eye on all
of this information and will be sure to pass along any updates to my thinking
on this.
Scheduled for rededication:
20. Jordan River Utah
Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication scheduled for Sunday May
20, 2018.
Undergoing Renovation (rededication
anticipated within the next year or so):
41. Frankfurt Germany
Temple: Closed for renovation; roof slab poured for basement addition;
rededication anticipated sometime during mid-2018.
NOTE: This temple appears to be on
track to be dedicated sometime after both the rededication of the Jordan River
Utah Temple and the dedication of the Rome Italy Temple. I have felt it might
happen sometime after the annual July recess of the General Authorities, and
have thus set my estimate for that rededication to take place in early-to-mid
August. If I need to change that, I will pass that information along.
Renovations Scheduled (official
closure dates announced):
80. Memphis Tennessee
Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on Saturday September
30, 2017; rededication may take place sometime during early-to-mid
2019.
NOTE: As previously noted, this
temple’s adjusted completion date was confirmed by the redone Temples section
on the Church’s website. As also previously noted, this renovation will change
the interior and exterior look of the temple. Whether or not that involves an
expansion, I have felt that an 18-month estimate for that process would be
wise, which gives us an actual estimate of mid-to-late May 2019 for the
rededication. As the renovation process actually unfolds and more is known,
that will change, but it seems to be a safe estimate for the moment. I will be
sure to pass along any changes to that estimate.
18. Tokyo Japan Temple:
Scheduled to close for renovation on Monday October 2, 2017; rededication may
take place sometime during early-to-mid 2020.
NOTE: The change of this temple’s
closure date was confirmed by the same source mentioned above. With the
comparatively smaller size of this temple, and with the knowledge that no
expansion is planned, it is obvious that this temple will likely be the first
to be rededicated in 2020, and I am estimating that will happen sometime during
mid-March. As that process unfolds, I will pass along any needed adjustments.
95. Oklahoma City
Oklahoma Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on Sunday October 15, 2017;
rededication may take place sometime during early-to-mid 2019.
NOTE: While it is true that this
temple has more room for expansion than Memphis does, it does not seemly likely
that such an expansion is part of the plan. Therefore, a revised estimate of 15
months seems likely for the completion of that renovation process. Based on
that time-frame, I am also estimating a subsequent rededication during
mid-March 2019. As that process unfolds, I will pass along any changes to that
line of reasoning.
112. Asuncion Paraguay
Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on Sunday October 29, 2017;
rededication may take place sometime during early-to-mid 2019.
NOTE: As previously noted, this
temple’s official closure date was not changed when the layout of the Temples
section on the Church’s website was redone. As also noted, unless an expansion
is planned (which seems unlikely at this point), a completion time-frame of 15
months seems reasonable. That puts this temple’s potential dedication
time-frame sometime during late April or early May 2019. Any changes to that
line of thinking will be noted in the future.
68. Raleigh North
Carolina Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on Wednesday January
10, 2018; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2019.
NOTE: The date of this temple’s
anticipated closure has now been confirmed by the Church’s new beta site for
temples. In addition, as previously noted, I heard from a member contact in
North Carolina that the Saints in that area were told shortly after this
renovation was announced that it would not involve an expansion. With that in
mind, a 15-month estimate seems to be appropriate for this temple’s renovation
process. As more is known about this, I will pass it along. For now, that would
put my estimate for this rededication sometime during mid-to-late August 2019.
94. Baton Rouge
Louisiana Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on Thursday February
1, 2018; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2019.
NOTE: This temple’s closure date
was also confirmed by the Church’s beta site for temple information. As of
right now, it doesn’t look like plans are in the works for this temple to be
expanded. I am predicting, therefore, that a 15-month estimate may be wise for
this temple’s completion. As more is known, if my thinking changes, I will pass
that along. For now, I wanted to note that I am estimating this temple’s rededication
may take place sometime during mid-September 2019.
13. Oakland California
Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on Monday February 19,
2018; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late
2019.
NOTE: With the date of this
temple’s renovation closure having been confirmed by the beta site for the
Church’s temple information, and knowing that an 18-month estimate is wise for
an initial prediction, primarily because the stated purpose for this renovation
is to upgrade and replace mechanical and electrical systems. With that in mind,
and knowing that this temple is anticipated to reopen before the end of 2019,
it is not hard to believe that a rededication could thus be set to take place
during mid-December 2019. I will be sure to pass along any changes to that line
of thought and reasoning.
16. Washington D. C.
Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on Sunday March 4,
2018; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late
2020.
NOTE: Given that this temple’s
completion date has been officially confirmed by the LDS Church’s beta version
of their temple section, and given that the purpose of this temple’s renovation
is to upgrade and update electrical and mechanical systems, the completion
estimate above seems likely, especially in view of the fact that this temple is
comparatively larger. I am venturing an initial estimate that this renovation
will take around 20 months, which would put this temple’s rededication sometime
during mid-December 2019, and would mean that event would likely be the last such
temple-related event of that year. As with everything else, I will pass along
any updates and changes as I become aware of them.
Temples which have had a
renovation announced but for which an exact closure date is not yet known:
7. Mesa Arizona Temple:
Scheduled to close for renovation in May 2018 (exact date has not yet been
announced); rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late
2020.
NOTE: In the 24 hours or so in
which the adjustments of all other renovation dates became necessary as the
exact dates were clarified, this temple remained the one for which a more exact
closure date is not yet confirmed. In the meantime, as previously noted, the
stated purpose of this renovation is to upgrade and update the electrical and
mechanical systems of this temple. Even though this temple is quite a bit
larger than the Tokyo Japan Temple, it has been renovated once previously, and
this renovation is therefore not anticipated to take as long. With that in
mind, I believe it would be safe to set this temple’s potential rededication
time-frame for late May or early June 2020. I will pass along any updates to
both the closure time-frame and the rededication as I become aware of them.
NOTE ON FUTURE GROUNDBREAKINGS: Until
the prophet (or those he authorizes to do so in his behalf) announces a
groundbreaking for any or all of these temples, the timeframes listed below
reflect merely my own thoughts, theories, and conjectures, based on what is now
known about how soon any of them might happen. I continue to hope and pray for
news of other groundbreakings, but time will tell how imminent any of these
events will be, and whether or not they will unfold as presented below. I am
keeping an eye out for developments and will pass along any updates as I
receive them, including any and all changes to these estimates. Until something
more official comes out, this information should not be taken as gospel, as it
will be consistently altered as developments change these estimates. And
speaking personally, I will be just as happy if I am proven wrong on any of
this as I will be if anything in this section is proven right. For me, the
privilege has always been the opportunity to contribute to discussions in this
regard.
Announced temples that may have a
groundbrea/king sometime within the next year (whether or not they happen in
this order):
171. Lima Peru Los
Olivos Temple: Planning and preliminary construction phase; awaiting official
site announcement; groundbreaking could take place sometime during early-to-mid
2018.
NOTE: If the information I have
received about this temple and its progress is correct, the year of
preconstruction which the contractor for this temple mentioned was needed prior
to its groundbreaking began in March 2017. If that is verified
at any point within the next few months, it is not hard to believe that a
groundbreaking could follow in early-to-mid March of next year, if not sooner.
That said, I could also see the Church identifying a site and having a
groundbreaking for this temple sometime after one is held for the Urdaneta
Philippines Temple, which is currently the oldest among those announced that
have not progressed beyond that point. More to come once more is known.
172. Urdaneta
Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting government
approval and official site announcement; groundbreaking could take place
sometime during mid-2018.
NOTE: While
a specific site has not yet officially been confirmed for this this temple, a
look on September 4, 2017 at some information for this temple shows some site
pictures. If a likely site has been identified but not publicly announced, then
that opens up the possibility that this temple could potentially have a
groundbreaking sooner than many (myself included) have previously thought,
either before the end of this year or in short order after next year begins. While
I won’t change the listed order for these announced temples yet, I did want to
note that this one and that one may be interchangeable, especially since there are
site photographs for this one, while we are still waiting for a site
confirmation for that one. As always, I will pass along any changes to this
line of thought as I make it.
173. Harare Zimbabwe
Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking
could take place during mid-to-late 2018.
NOTE: Despite
the statement made by Africa Southeast Area President Elder Kevin S. Hamilton
(who stated when this year began that a site announcement and groundbreaking
would happen for this temple in short order), with 2017 being more than 2/3
over, it is getting increasingly less likely that we will see anything happen
for this temple prior to the end of this year. As differing reports have
necessitated doing so, I have moved this temple down and up again repeatedly.
But it now appears certain that this temple will be one of those that will have
a site announcement and groundbreaking during 2018, if not before. And as I
have considered my own thoughts on this, I have felt that might happen at some
point during early-to-mid August. As the time between now and then passes, that
may change, and I will pass that along as I am able to.
Announced temples that may have a
groundbreaking anytime between September 2018 and the end of 2019:
174. Saratoga Springs
Utah: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may
take place sometime during mid-to-late 2018.
NOTE: As previously noted, when I
went to reevaluate the potential sequence of temple-related events for 2018,
one thing I looked at extensively was the average time in which the other four
Utah County temples have gone from announcement to groundbreaking. And if this
temple holds to that average, then the time-frame above seems very reasonable,
especially if the site for this temple is confirmed within the next 9 months or
less. I am venturing a more specific time-frame for this event to be during
mid-September 2018. As the next year passes, we will know just how realistic
that might be, and I will pass along any adjustments I feel impressed to make.
175. Brasilia Brazil
Temple: Planning phase; site inspected by Church engineers on June 21, 2017;
groundbreaking may take place sometime during late 2018.
NOTE: As previously noted, though
this temple has already had a site confirmed and officially inspected by
general Church engineers, I have moved it down to this spot primarily because
of the others above it that are anticipated to have a groundbreaking first.
However, I would love nothing more than to see things happen sooner for this
temple. Until more is known, I am offering a preliminary estimate for that
event to take place in late October or early November. As the next year comes
and goes, I will be sure to pass along any adjustments to this line of
thinking.
176. Alabang Manila
Temple: Planning phase; site confirmed; awaiting official name
announcement; groundbreaking may take place sometime during late 2018.
NOTE: While we are waiting for an official
announcement for this temple’s name, the wording of an article written in honor
of the 100th stake being created in this nation did not refer to
this temple as being in the greater Manila or metro-Manila area, but rather as
just the Alabang temple. This made me believe that the official name of this
temple could be the Alabang Manila Temple. It would be in much the same style
as the second temple for Provo in Utah. That temple was given the name “Provo
City Center”, with no mention of the state, so I could see the Church going
with the name of the exact region followed by the name of this capital city. I
cannot overstress enough that this name idea is nothing more than my own
feeling, based on the evidence I have at present. The name will remain
italicized until I prove it is right or wrong. In the meantime, I wanted to
note that additional research I have done verifies the general consensus that
this temple’s groundbreaking is at least a year out. As previously mentioned, I
have set a preliminary estimate for mid-December 2018. In the meantime, it is
looking increasingly more likely that, whenever the two Filipino temples in
this section do have a groundbreaking, they are bound to spend at least some
time being simultaneously under construction. Just wanted to note that, for
what it’s worth.
177. Pocatello Idaho:
Planning phase; awaiting site confirmation; groundbreaking may take place
sometime during early 2019.
NOTE: While some have (quite
accurately) observed that temples in the “Mormon corridor” of Utah, Arizona,
and Idaho generally get started more quickly than temples elsewhere, it is also
true that this temple has not had a site confirmed (though two potential
prospects have been widely discussed, and one of those, the most likely one, in
my opinion, was annexed into the city of Pocatello 4 days after the temple was
announced). Having been advised to do so by a couple of good friends who are
experts on temple matters, I looked at how I should adjust the placement of
this temple. After I ran the average time-frames in which other Idaho temples
have gone from announcement to groundbreaking, I determined that it is most
likely that this temple could have that happen within the time-frame indicated
above, and I have felt bold enough to venture a more exact time-frame of
early-to-mid March 2019. As with everything else, I will pass along any updates
to this line of reasoning and estimate.
178. Nairobi Kenya
Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; media event held
June 14, 2017; groundbreaking may take place sometime during mid-2019.
NOTE: I have before referenced the
media event at which Elder Joseph W. Sitati, our first General Authority
Seventy from Kenya, shared information and answered media questions about this
temple. That aside, this temple is still in the very preliminary stages, so I
have felt certain that a groundbreaking for it may happen around two years
after the media event, as Elder Sitati indicated a 1-2 year time-frame was
typical for a temple to go from announcement to groundbreaking. My study has
led me to conclude that a more precise time-frame may be during early-to-mid
May 2019. As the next 18 months transpire, we will know just how reasonable
that estimate might be, and I will make any adjustments that are needed.
179. Bangkok Thailand
Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may
take place during mid-2019.
NOTE: If at any point Church
leaders verify member speculation about this temple (that an existing Church
office building, which has been owned and used by the Church since 2008, will
be rebuilt and renovated into a multi-purpose edifice in the mold of
already-existing similar temples in Hong Kong China and Manhattan New York. If
that is not the Church’s intent, that will, of course, change a lot of things,
including how soon a groundbreaking might take place. Until more is known, I am
confident enough to venture my prediction that such a groundbreaking may take
place around early-to-mid June 2019. If such
speculation proves accurate within the next year or so, it is easy to assume
that a groundbreaking could follow as indicated here. I will pass along any
updates in this regard as I hear of them.
180. Abidjan Ivory
Coast Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement;
groundbreaking may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2019.
NOTE: Regarding the growth of the
Church in the Ivory Coast, recent trends there have led some to believe and
assert that there may be a reason to have 1 or 2 additional temples announced
there within the next 15 or 20 years. Regarding this first temple for that
nation, I have felt that we could see a groundbreaking around early-to-mid
August of 2019, although I hope that the Ivory Coast Saints will not have to
wait that long for that to happen. In the meantime, a
closer look at this temple’s listing on a number of the sources available to me
seem to indicate that a potential site has yet to be identified. That said, we
have seen the Lord move miraculously to get other temples started, so I could
see a groundbreaking during the time-frame indicated above, as long as a site
is identified within the next 1.5 years, which seems very possible. As always,
I will be sure to pass along any updates to this line of thought and reasoning.
181. Quito Ecuador
Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may
take place during late 2019.
NOTE: As previously noted, the
Ecuadoran Saints had to wait 14 long years between the announcement of that
nation’s first temple for it to progress to a groundbreaking. This second temple,
for the Ecuadoran capital city, is not anticipated to have such a wait. With
other temples announced after this one but that have progressed more rapidly, I
hope the Saints in this city will not have to wait another two years for
progress on this temple, but until more is known, I am setting my estimate for
this groundbreaking for mid-to-late October, after General Conference. I will
continue to hope for it to happen sooner, but for now, it seems sound.
182. Belem Brazil
Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may
take place during late 2019.
NOTE: Though the Brasilia Brazil
Temple was announced a year after this one, it seems to be further ahead. And
while I hope and pray that we will not have to wait until almost 5 years after
this temple’s announcement for its subsequent groundbreaking, until more is
known, I am estimating that it will happen during early-to-mid November. As
with everything else, I will be sure to pass along any changes to that line of
thought as things develop.
ADDITIONAL GENERAL NOTE: As noted above, Elder Larry Y.
Wilson stated in an interview on the last day of April 2017 (as the Idaho Falls
Temple Open House was underway) that the Church has 80 potential sites that are
under consideration for an official announcement within the next 15 years.
While it is also true that all 12 temple sites that have been announced from
2015 to now have been made during the April General Conference, those
announcements can come any time the Church president or those authorized to do
so in his behalf feel impressed to make them. Since 80 temples in 15 years
averages out to 5 new announcements per year between now and sometime in 2032,
we could be entering an era where a few are announced in each conference and
when some will be announced in between each April and October. Future versions
of this report will feature any and all ongoing developments in this regard.
Stay tuned for that, and thank you for the privilege of your time.
Key:
Bolded numbers and text denote
temples whose numbers already exists (for renovations), or is certain due to a
scheduled dedication, as well as information that is certain, such as
dedication or groundbreaking dates.
Italicized numbers and
text denote temples whose numbers may change based on the order in
which future dedications and groundbreakings are scheduled.
Underlined numbers and text denote
temples whose numbers may change based on progress towards planning, approval,
and groundbreaking.
Red text
highlights changes from the last posted temple progress report.