Hello again, everyone! This is the second of the two posts I mentioned previously, and will cover some updates on the ministry of our apostles. Those updates have been reported on Mormon Newsroom. So let's get right into those.
As some of you may be aware, although Elder Dale G. Renlund was born in the United States, his parents emigrated here. His mother is Swedish and his father comes from Finland. He grew up speaking Swedish, and he later served his full-time mission in Sweden. The reason I mention all of this is that Elder Renlund return to his mother's homeland on April 28 & 29, accompanied by his wife, Ruth. They had a meeting with Church leaders, missionaries, and members that was simulcast over the web to other congregations in the area. You can find more details on that visit here.
In the meantime, Elder D. Todd Christofferson spoke yesterday in London to the All-Party Parliamentary Group at one of their meetings. Mormon Newsroom shares this story highlighting the remarks he made during that time.
As always, I continue to monitor all Church and temple developments and will pass those along to you all as I receive word of them. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Apostolic Ministry Updates
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Construction Updates Provided for Two Temples Currently Undergoing Renovation
Hello again, everyone! This will be one of two posts I will be publishing within the next half hour or so. I wanted to note in this post that, while no updates of which I am aware have been reported on new temples under construction, there have been developments and updates reported on the status of two of the temples currently undergoing renovation.
We start first with the Raleigh North Carolina Temple. The last time I posted an update on that temple appears to have been exactly one month ago today, at which time I noted that plywood panels were being attached to the temple's exterior. The latest information I have is that sheathing has been completed on the temple's exterior walls, and that new architectural elements are currently being framed.
The other temple for which I have an update is the one in Tokyo Japan. It was just over one month ago (on March 28) that I passed along news that the renovation process had formally begun. The commencement of that process had seen the annex building razed and surface parking removed. While that part of the status of this temple is still noted by many sources available to me, it has additionally been noted that interior renovations are now underway.
It was great to learn of these updates, and I am grateful to have been able to pass them along to you all here. I continue to monitor all such developments and will pass them along as I become aware of them in the future.
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
We start first with the Raleigh North Carolina Temple. The last time I posted an update on that temple appears to have been exactly one month ago today, at which time I noted that plywood panels were being attached to the temple's exterior. The latest information I have is that sheathing has been completed on the temple's exterior walls, and that new architectural elements are currently being framed.
The other temple for which I have an update is the one in Tokyo Japan. It was just over one month ago (on March 28) that I passed along news that the renovation process had formally begun. The commencement of that process had seen the annex building razed and surface parking removed. While that part of the status of this temple is still noted by many sources available to me, it has additionally been noted that interior renovations are now underway.
It was great to learn of these updates, and I am grateful to have been able to pass them along to you all here. I continue to monitor all such developments and will pass them along as I become aware of them in the future.
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
BREAKING NEWS: Social Media Sites Will No Longer Be Accessible In Church Meetinghouses Starting This Month
Hello again, everyone! Breaking news from the Church today. In an effort to encourage members to place appropriate focus on Sabbath Day observance and to encourage greater attention to what is said in Church meetings, the Church has announced that, beginning in this month, many social media sites will be blocked on the Church's internet networks.
In my humble opinion, this is a move that is long overdue. I was brought up on the notion that, even as technology evolved, it was not right to use social media at Church, as that would distract both myself and those around me from the appropriate focus that should be placed on learning of the Savior, worshiping Him, and renewing the covenants made at baptism.
This is yet another example of how the Church continues to simplify things, in the hopes of allowing all members to focus on what is most important about the gospel. And I welcome and embrace this news with all my heart.
At the same time, however, it grieves me to realize that the Church would not have needed to take this step if more of the Church members had had common sense enough to put aside their participation on such social media sites.
If we really stop and think about it, the Lord requires relatively little of us. 3 hours a day for most of the 52 or 53 Sundays that are in a year is not a lot of time for which the Lord and the leaders of His Church are asking us to focus on Him and the principles of the gospel. That some people have failed to allow themselves to focus on that for such a short period of time during any given week makes me wonder if social media use and addiction thereunto may be more detrimental to the efforts the people of this Church should be making in their worship of the Savior than any other aspect.
At some point in the last few years, I made the determination that I was spending far too much time on social media. So I determined to gradually decrease the time I spent there. At this time, I am only really on social media once or twice every month or two, and I have not felt as though that is any great loss.
If anything, reducing that time, in my personal opinion, has allowed me to focus on more important things, not the least of which has been the ongoing Church and temple developments that I have read about and passed along to you all.
That is not to say that social media is not an important way to keep in touch with people. But in the "age of information", any one of us, myself included, may be in danger of over-utilizing any one of the many technological advances of this modern age.
So on that level, this is a development that, in my mind, truly is long overdue, and I welcome the opportunity we all, especially those who have been focused more on social media than on the spirit of worship that should attend what has traditionally been called "the most important three hours of the week".
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
In my humble opinion, this is a move that is long overdue. I was brought up on the notion that, even as technology evolved, it was not right to use social media at Church, as that would distract both myself and those around me from the appropriate focus that should be placed on learning of the Savior, worshiping Him, and renewing the covenants made at baptism.
This is yet another example of how the Church continues to simplify things, in the hopes of allowing all members to focus on what is most important about the gospel. And I welcome and embrace this news with all my heart.
At the same time, however, it grieves me to realize that the Church would not have needed to take this step if more of the Church members had had common sense enough to put aside their participation on such social media sites.
If we really stop and think about it, the Lord requires relatively little of us. 3 hours a day for most of the 52 or 53 Sundays that are in a year is not a lot of time for which the Lord and the leaders of His Church are asking us to focus on Him and the principles of the gospel. That some people have failed to allow themselves to focus on that for such a short period of time during any given week makes me wonder if social media use and addiction thereunto may be more detrimental to the efforts the people of this Church should be making in their worship of the Savior than any other aspect.
At some point in the last few years, I made the determination that I was spending far too much time on social media. So I determined to gradually decrease the time I spent there. At this time, I am only really on social media once or twice every month or two, and I have not felt as though that is any great loss.
If anything, reducing that time, in my personal opinion, has allowed me to focus on more important things, not the least of which has been the ongoing Church and temple developments that I have read about and passed along to you all.
That is not to say that social media is not an important way to keep in touch with people. But in the "age of information", any one of us, myself included, may be in danger of over-utilizing any one of the many technological advances of this modern age.
So on that level, this is a development that, in my mind, truly is long overdue, and I welcome the opportunity we all, especially those who have been focused more on social media than on the spirit of worship that should attend what has traditionally been called "the most important three hours of the week".
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Monday, April 30, 2018
Update Noted for the Kinshasa DR Congo Temple; Church Provides Additional Details Regarding Planned Celebration of Priesthood Revelation
Hello again, everyone! I became aware earlier today of an update on the construction process that is currently ongoing for the Kinshasa DR Comgo Temple. Additionally, the Church has provided more information on the celebration planned for June 1 of this year, which will, as previously mentioned, mark the 40-year anniversary of the revelation which extended the priesthood to all worthy males, regardless of race or skin color. So let's get into all of that.
First, the temple update. I received word a short while ago that building efforts continue for the temple's perimeter wall, while the final roof shingles are being laid, staircases are being poured from the chapel to the temple, and that interior work is continuing to progress. This is wonderful news. In looking back into the history, the last time this temple's status was updated was exactly one week ago today.
So what can we infer from that? It may be a while before I can make a determination, but there is a possibility that I may have to rethink my estimates for future temple events yet again. If this temple continues to progress as anticipated, it may indeed be the second new one dedicated next year, rather than the Fortaleza Brazil Temple, as I have suggested. It will be interesting to see what happens in that regard.
That said, we shift our focus to the details that have been provided for the priesthood celebration event. Mormon Newsroom's official release on that subject indicates that it will be an evening of music and spoken word (which will come in the form of a message from the First Presidency; what is not so clear is if all three members will be speaking, or if just one of the three will represent the others).
As I mentioned, it is fitting and proper that the anniversary of this remarkable revelation should be celebrated. In covering our recent General Conference, I commented on the fact that it took the right group of apostles at the right time to bring about the changes we saw in the structure of Melchizedek Priesthood quorums and the retirement of home and visiting teaching in favor of ministering. And if you think about it, that applies as much if not more to the fact that our two new apostles are the first Asian American and Latin American brethren to be called, and also to the fact that temples in India and Russia will now likely be a reality so much sooner than many, myself included, believe.
In a similar manner, the records we have available for perusal talk about how the prospect of extending the priesthood to all worthy males was under consideration for years before the June 1978 announcement, and I am convinced that it took the group of apostles that we had at that time being ready to humbly ascertain and accept the will of the Lord on the subject.
All of these changes fall under the principles of common consent. The revelation on the priesthood would never have been announced, nor would any of the events that occurred during the April 2018 General Conference been possible if the current group of apostles had not been willing to study such things and determine the Lord's will.
If all of these occurrences are not sufficient evidence to the world that modern revelation has been received, is being received, and will continue to be sought and received, I have no idea what might be needed to further convince anyone on that point.
As always, I continue to monitor all developments and updates related to Church news in general, and temple developments in particular, and I will continue to do so to the best of my ability going forward. Stay tuned for more as I become aware of it.
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
First, the temple update. I received word a short while ago that building efforts continue for the temple's perimeter wall, while the final roof shingles are being laid, staircases are being poured from the chapel to the temple, and that interior work is continuing to progress. This is wonderful news. In looking back into the history, the last time this temple's status was updated was exactly one week ago today.
So what can we infer from that? It may be a while before I can make a determination, but there is a possibility that I may have to rethink my estimates for future temple events yet again. If this temple continues to progress as anticipated, it may indeed be the second new one dedicated next year, rather than the Fortaleza Brazil Temple, as I have suggested. It will be interesting to see what happens in that regard.
That said, we shift our focus to the details that have been provided for the priesthood celebration event. Mormon Newsroom's official release on that subject indicates that it will be an evening of music and spoken word (which will come in the form of a message from the First Presidency; what is not so clear is if all three members will be speaking, or if just one of the three will represent the others).
As I mentioned, it is fitting and proper that the anniversary of this remarkable revelation should be celebrated. In covering our recent General Conference, I commented on the fact that it took the right group of apostles at the right time to bring about the changes we saw in the structure of Melchizedek Priesthood quorums and the retirement of home and visiting teaching in favor of ministering. And if you think about it, that applies as much if not more to the fact that our two new apostles are the first Asian American and Latin American brethren to be called, and also to the fact that temples in India and Russia will now likely be a reality so much sooner than many, myself included, believe.
In a similar manner, the records we have available for perusal talk about how the prospect of extending the priesthood to all worthy males was under consideration for years before the June 1978 announcement, and I am convinced that it took the group of apostles that we had at that time being ready to humbly ascertain and accept the will of the Lord on the subject.
All of these changes fall under the principles of common consent. The revelation on the priesthood would never have been announced, nor would any of the events that occurred during the April 2018 General Conference been possible if the current group of apostles had not been willing to study such things and determine the Lord's will.
If all of these occurrences are not sufficient evidence to the world that modern revelation has been received, is being received, and will continue to be sought and received, I have no idea what might be needed to further convince anyone on that point.
As always, I continue to monitor all developments and updates related to Church news in general, and temple developments in particular, and I will continue to do so to the best of my ability going forward. Stay tuned for more as I become aware of it.
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Church Releases Official Statement Regarding Volunteers in Turkey
Hello again, everyone! Earlier today, Mormon Newsroom posted this official statement regarding volunteers in Turkey (where, due to governmental regulations, they cannot be called missionaries). This statement also goes into specifics in terms of how one of the 19 mission consolidations the Church announced will go into effect. There will most likely be a more thorough analysis on this news in the coming days on the LDS Church Growth Blog.
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Miscellaneous Church News Items
Hello again, everyone! I had started my previous post with the intention of including a summary of recent Church news stories that have crossed my radar recently, but because I felt a need to share extensive thoughts on temple developments, it became necessary to defer my discussion of those Church news items for this post. There is a lot to get to, so let's get going.
First, as I may have mentioned earlier, the Church announced prior to President Nelson's world tour that his apostolic traveling companion (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland), would be the featured speaker at the April 26 graduation ceremony for BYU-Provo. As I observed when sharing that announcement, this is the first time a former president of BYU returned to speak at commencement exercises. The Church News published this summary of that event, which I found to be very inspiring.
Continuing their series of articles about newly-called Church leaders, the Church News provided this introduction to Elder Matthew L. Carpenter. Former LDS Church News editor Gerry Avant also continued her article series sharing highlights of her long and distinguished career covering Church news with this article about Sister Belle S. Spafford, who had one of the longest (if not the very longest) service tenures as Relief Society General President.
For any of my readers who are parents of young children or who teach Primary-aged individuals, the Primary General Presidency and Board offered these suggestions about how to help the children of the Church gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon.
Shifting our focus from the LDS Church News website to Mormon Newsroom, a number of new articles have been published there. I have previously remarked on the fact that the Church has sometimes published more than one article in a short period of time highlighting the ministry of one or two apostles.
This proved to be the case again recently with Elder Rasband. In this article from the United Kingdom's Mormon Newsroom, his recent visit to Germany, Cape Verde, and the Netherlands was highlighted. The second story about Elder Rasband's ministry relates to his participation on the task force established by Utah Governor Gary Herbert for the purpose of discussing measures to prevent teen suicide. In addition to his participation on the panel, Elder Rasband also represented the Church in passing along a donation from the Church to aid those efforts. You can find the Mormon Newsroom summary of that article here.
Continuing the summary of the ministry of Church leaders, recently one member from each of the three female-led auxiliaries of the Church traveled to Alaska to minister to and train leaders there. This article summarizes those efforts. In light of Earth Day having been observed last Sunday, Mormon Newsroom provided this commentary article that provides a gospel-centered perspective on the importance of honoring creation, and how, by doing so, we honor the Creator.
And finally, the blog section of Mormon Newsroom again passed along these summaries of some wonderful articles that have been published on the various versions of Mormon Newsroom for several nations around the world. It was wonderful to read that report of those articles.
All of these news items are well worthy of your attention, and I can endorse their content wholeheartedly. I hope many of you will enjoy them as well. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
First, as I may have mentioned earlier, the Church announced prior to President Nelson's world tour that his apostolic traveling companion (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland), would be the featured speaker at the April 26 graduation ceremony for BYU-Provo. As I observed when sharing that announcement, this is the first time a former president of BYU returned to speak at commencement exercises. The Church News published this summary of that event, which I found to be very inspiring.
Continuing their series of articles about newly-called Church leaders, the Church News provided this introduction to Elder Matthew L. Carpenter. Former LDS Church News editor Gerry Avant also continued her article series sharing highlights of her long and distinguished career covering Church news with this article about Sister Belle S. Spafford, who had one of the longest (if not the very longest) service tenures as Relief Society General President.
For any of my readers who are parents of young children or who teach Primary-aged individuals, the Primary General Presidency and Board offered these suggestions about how to help the children of the Church gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon.
Shifting our focus from the LDS Church News website to Mormon Newsroom, a number of new articles have been published there. I have previously remarked on the fact that the Church has sometimes published more than one article in a short period of time highlighting the ministry of one or two apostles.
This proved to be the case again recently with Elder Rasband. In this article from the United Kingdom's Mormon Newsroom, his recent visit to Germany, Cape Verde, and the Netherlands was highlighted. The second story about Elder Rasband's ministry relates to his participation on the task force established by Utah Governor Gary Herbert for the purpose of discussing measures to prevent teen suicide. In addition to his participation on the panel, Elder Rasband also represented the Church in passing along a donation from the Church to aid those efforts. You can find the Mormon Newsroom summary of that article here.
Continuing the summary of the ministry of Church leaders, recently one member from each of the three female-led auxiliaries of the Church traveled to Alaska to minister to and train leaders there. This article summarizes those efforts. In light of Earth Day having been observed last Sunday, Mormon Newsroom provided this commentary article that provides a gospel-centered perspective on the importance of honoring creation, and how, by doing so, we honor the Creator.
And finally, the blog section of Mormon Newsroom again passed along these summaries of some wonderful articles that have been published on the various versions of Mormon Newsroom for several nations around the world. It was wonderful to read that report of those articles.
All of these news items are well worthy of your attention, and I can endorse their content wholeheartedly. I hope many of you will enjoy them as well. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Jordan River Utah Temple Open House Will Conclude Today; Some Observations Regarding Temple Developments
Hello again, everyone! I wanted to post right now to pass along one temple development and also to share some observations regarding temples. There is a lot to discuss, so let's get right into all of that.
I would like to start first with the temple news. While no major new developments have been reported on temples around the world since my last report on that subject, I did want to note that the Jordan River Utah Temple open house will be concluding today. Therefore, at the end of the day, the temple will begin a three-week preparation process for its' rededication, which, as noted earlier, will occur on May 20, following a cultural celebration that will be held the night before.
As I have also noted, I would anticipate that President Nelson will preside over at least the first one or two of the three dedicatory sessions. For this temple in the Salt Lake Valley, I am also certain that several General Authorities will likely be in attendance.
Next, if I may, I wanted to post some general observations about the progress of temples. As some of you might recall, by this time last year, we were just under a month away from the time when the first new temple of 2017 would be dedicated (the Paris France Temple, which was dedicated in mid-May). As you may also be aware, by this time last year, we had seen groundbreakings occur for two additional new temples.
We also know that the first new temple which will be dedicated this year (the Concepcion Chile Temple) will occur exactly six months from today. By that time, I would certainly hope that we will have seen at least a few temple groundbreakings.
But it is interesting to consider how the number and timing of temple events in one year differ from that of similar events in another. There are, of course, no set traditions in terms of how many such events are held per year. And we have seen the Lord's hand at work in all of those aspects.
By way of review, in 2016, 4 new temples were announced, 4 announced temples had a groundbreaking, 2 were rededicated, and 6 new temples were also dedicated. Last year, 5 new temples were announced, while the Church dedicated 4 others and rededicated 1.
This year so far, the Church has set 2 temple rededications (1 of which has already occurred) and the dedication of 2 new temples. We have also had 1 other dedication announced, which is set to occur next year. We have also seen 7 new temples announced as well.
With the Lord in control of the timing of such events (although some factors are dependent upon the agency and diligence of others), I stand by my previously-offered opinion that we will likely see at least a few temple groundbreakings at some point this year. I have noted the most likely prospects I see in that regard.
I continue to monitor all such developments and will bring you updates on all of that as I become aware of them. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
I would like to start first with the temple news. While no major new developments have been reported on temples around the world since my last report on that subject, I did want to note that the Jordan River Utah Temple open house will be concluding today. Therefore, at the end of the day, the temple will begin a three-week preparation process for its' rededication, which, as noted earlier, will occur on May 20, following a cultural celebration that will be held the night before.
As I have also noted, I would anticipate that President Nelson will preside over at least the first one or two of the three dedicatory sessions. For this temple in the Salt Lake Valley, I am also certain that several General Authorities will likely be in attendance.
Next, if I may, I wanted to post some general observations about the progress of temples. As some of you might recall, by this time last year, we were just under a month away from the time when the first new temple of 2017 would be dedicated (the Paris France Temple, which was dedicated in mid-May). As you may also be aware, by this time last year, we had seen groundbreakings occur for two additional new temples.
We also know that the first new temple which will be dedicated this year (the Concepcion Chile Temple) will occur exactly six months from today. By that time, I would certainly hope that we will have seen at least a few temple groundbreakings.
But it is interesting to consider how the number and timing of temple events in one year differ from that of similar events in another. There are, of course, no set traditions in terms of how many such events are held per year. And we have seen the Lord's hand at work in all of those aspects.
By way of review, in 2016, 4 new temples were announced, 4 announced temples had a groundbreaking, 2 were rededicated, and 6 new temples were also dedicated. Last year, 5 new temples were announced, while the Church dedicated 4 others and rededicated 1.
This year so far, the Church has set 2 temple rededications (1 of which has already occurred) and the dedication of 2 new temples. We have also had 1 other dedication announced, which is set to occur next year. We have also seen 7 new temples announced as well.
With the Lord in control of the timing of such events (although some factors are dependent upon the agency and diligence of others), I stand by my previously-offered opinion that we will likely see at least a few temple groundbreakings at some point this year. I have noted the most likely prospects I see in that regard.
I continue to monitor all such developments and will bring you updates on all of that as I become aware of them. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Friday, April 27, 2018
Updated Estimates for Known Temple Events
Hello again, everyone! Based on the progress (or the lack thereof) which I have observed for temples worldwide in recent days, I have taken another look at my estimates for known temple events and have made those adjustment that I have felt would be appropriate. Those updated estimates follow below.
So as not to disturb the flow of the information, I will end my post here as I always do. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
So as not to disturb the flow of the information, I will end my post here as I always do. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
Future estimates
for known temple events
2018:
Anytime between now and the end of June: Full-scale construction anticipated to begin for the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple
Note: According to a Church member living in Canada, full-scale construction was anticipated to begin on this temple (which had a groundbreaking in early December 2016) at some point during April 2018. With the month almost being over, a few sources I have available have noted that full-scale efforts are likely to begin within the next two months, but hopefully sooner rather than later.
Anytime in the near future: Full-scale renovation anticipated to begin for the Asuncion Paraguay Temple
Note: This temple closed for renovation on October 29, 2017. Within the six months that have followed, the process was delayed while building permits were being acquired. In mid-to-late April 2018, many sources which I consult for temple information removed any completion estimate. While I hope that the Church’s announced intention to rededicate this temple next year will be able to occur, only time will tell if that will be possible.
Sunday May 20: Jordan River Utah Temple Rededication/Mesa Arizona Temple Renovation Closure (both have been confirmed)
Note: Since the rededication Jordan River Utah Temple is the first public temple event of President Nelson’s administration, it seems to be a given conclusion that he will preside at this event, if only the first one or two sessions. Since this temple is in the Salt Lake Valley, it seems entirely likely that several Church leaders will be in attendance at this event as well. This rededication will also mark the last time (for now) that the Church will have a cultural celebration the night before, as it seems to be the new tradition to have a devotional for youth at that time instead. And although the closure for the Mesa Arizona Temple will likely go into effect at the end of the day on the Friday or Saturday prior to this, this is the official date given by the Church for that closure.
Monday July 23: Hamilton New Zealand Temple Renovation Closure (confirmed)
Sunday October 28: Concepcion Chile Temple Dedication (160th operating temple; confirmed)
Sunday December 9: Barranquilla Colombia Temple Dedication (161st operating temple; confirmed)
Final note on 2018: I have heard that we will likely see many groundbreakings for temples that have currently not progressed beyond their announcements. The main ones I am watching in that regard are the Bangkok Thailand, Urdaneta Philippines, Lima Peru Los Olivos, Saratoga Springs Utah, and Harare Zimbabwe Temples. Each of those temples could have a groundbreaking by the end of 2018, and I am not ruling out any of the 14 other announced temples, although the 7 announced in General Conference at the beginning of this month will likely have a bit more of a wait. The Lord could also surprise us by moving ahead any other announced temples. I will be anxious to see what occurs in that regard.
Preliminary note for 2019: The Church has already announced that the dedication of the Rome Italy Temple will occur in mid-March. So the big question in my mind, which I attempt to answer below, is whether any of the two new temples next in line (Kinshasa DR Congo or Fortaleza Brazil) or any of the first three temples undergoing renovation (Frankfurt Germany, Oklahoma City Oklahoma, and Memphis Tennessee) might have a rededication prior to the already-scheduled dedication of the Rome Italy Temple. I will not be surprised whether that does or does not occur.
2019:
Mid-February: Frankfurt Germany Temple Rededication
Note: While this has yet-to-be confirmed, it would make sense if this temple was rededicated at this time. And, since the Church has periodically assigned senior members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to preside at such events, the First Presidency may opt to ask Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a native German who has presided at previous dedications and rededications as a member of the First Presidency from 2008-2018, to preside at this event in his homeland.
Sunday March 10-Sunday March 17: Rome Italy Temple Dedication (162nd operating temple; confirmed)
Note: While the Church officially announced that this temple’s dedication will be held over an 8-day period (one of the longest, if not the very longest, in recent years), the exact number of dedicatory sessions that will be held has not yet been made public. I am assuming that the Church could potentially have 3-6 per day, with one every 2-3 hours, but time will tell. Since the dedicatory sessions will be held for longer than a week, it would make sense if the Church rotates attendance among several different Church leaders, which will likely include all members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve.
Mid-April: Fortaleza Brazil Temple Dedication (163rd operating temple)
Note: Some elements of this temple’s status (as of April 26, 2018) are similar, if not identical, to some elements of the three temples scheduled for dedication before April 2019, so I have no qualms about suggesting that we could see the dedication for this temple within the next year, and that it will likely occur prior to the dedication of the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple, which, by comparison, has progressed slightly less consistently.
Mid-to-late April: Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple Rededication
Note: This temple has progressed very consistently, making it likely that a rededication could occur within the year or so between now and then. If anything occurs to delay that process, an adjustment would need to be made.
Mid-May: Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple Dedication (164th operating temple)
Note: Although this temple is currently anticipated to be the next one that will have a dedication scheduled, as I noted above, the Fortaleza Brazil Temple has comparatively progressed more consistently. For that reason, it feels to me like it will be at least a year from now before its dedication. Depending on what happens within the next 6-12 months, it is possible that this estimate could change. For now, I stand by it.
Late May-early June: Memphis Tennessee Temple Rededication
Note: Although this temple was the first one to close for renovation in 2017, it has progressed slightly behind the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple. With that in mind, it seems reasonable to estimate that it could have a rededication at around this time. If something happens to change my mind on that, I will be more than happy to alter it.
Mid-June: Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple Dedication (165th operating temple)
Note: The Port-au-Prince temple, which is going to be on the smaller side, is only anticipated to take 15-18 months for construction. Based on that, it seems more than likely that it will be dedicated before the annual July recess for the General Authorities. If anything occurs to change my feelings on this estimate, I will revise it.
Mid-August: Raleigh North Carolina Temple Rededication
Note: This temple’s renovation will only likely be completed by this time if it continues its’ current rate of progress. If anything delays that process for any reason, an adjustment to that estimate will likely be necessary.
Early-to-mid September: Lisbon Portugal Temple Dedication (166th operating temple)
Note: Since I last posted these estimates, this temple has made some encouraging progress, which leads me to believe that moving my estimate for its’ completion up is warranted. Depending on what happens within the next year, any adjustments will be made as they are needed.
Mid-to-late September: Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Rededication
Note: This temple, which closed for renovation on January 28, 2018, has not had much progress reported since that time. It therefore feels wise to be more conservative in my estimate for its’ future rededication.
Mid-to-late October: Durban South Africa Temple Dedication (167th operating temple)
Note: This temple will only be dedicated at around this time if its’ construction progresses at a steady rate. Depending on whether or not that occurs, this estimate may need to be pushed back further, if not completely readjusted.
Mid-November: Oakland California Temple Rededication
Note: Although this temple is comparatively older than many currently undergoing renovation, about 1.5 weeks after its’ closure went into effect, the renovation process had begun. With that in mind, and because US temples (whether new or undergoing renovation) generally are completed more speedily than their international counterparts, it seems safe to assume that this temple will be reopening before the end of 2019, as anticipated. But if anything delays that renovation process, the completion estimate could change.
Mid-December: Asuncion Paraguay Temple Rededication
Note: This temple, which closed on October 2, 2017, has not seen its’ renovation process formally begin, although nearly 5 months have passed since that time. Although I hope for the best for this temple, depending on whether or not the Church can resolve the issues that may be hindering this process, then either this temple’s rededication will be the last event in 2019, or one of the first in 2020.
Final note on 2019: As with 2018, I have heard that 2019 could potentially be another big year for temple groundbreakings. If that proves to be the case, there will be other temple-related events to add to this list for subsequent years. A lot could change within the next year that will also change the likely prospects for temple groundbreakings in 2019. Closer to the time, I may venture some thoughts for temples likely to have a groundbreaking during 2019.
2020:
Mid-March: Arequipa Peru Temple Dedication (168th operating temple)
Note: This temple had originally been estimated to have its’ dedication occur in 2019, but new information indicates that it will likely happen in 2020, and that it may be the first new temple dedicated during that year. If anything happens to change that, its’ future dedication might either be delayed or pushed up.
Mid-to-late April: Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple Dedication (169th operating temple)
Note: The main reason this temple’s completion estimate was pushed back to early 2020 is because many sources available to me noted that it is going to be bigger than originally believed. With that in mind, it is not hard to believe that a dedication could (and likely will) occur for this temple at around this time, before winter season hits the southern hemisphere.
Mid-May: Winnipeg Manitoba Temple Dedication (170th operating temple)
Note: This estimate will only prove accurate if construction gets underway on this temple by the end of the first half of 2018, and also if this temple’s slight redesign does not alter the 20-month estimate which was originally given for that process. Depending on what does or does not happen in the next couple of months, an alteration of this estimate may be necessary.
Early-to-mid June: Tokyo Japan Temple Rededication
Note: This temple closed for renovation as October 2017 began. Since it is a smaller albeit older temple, this estimate seems to be reasonable. If anything happens to hinder that renovation process, then that would necessitate an adjustment to that estimate.
Mid-September: Mesa Arizona Temple Rededication
Note: This temple is older, but has been renovated previously, so the renovation process will likely be completed at around this time. If anything happens to delay that process, this estimate would need to be subsequently adjusted as a result.
Mid-December: Washington DC Temple Rededication
Note: This temple has, as of today (April 27, 2018), been closed for almost two months, but has not had any progress reported on that process as of yet. When we add to that the fact that this is an older temple having its’ first renovation, mid-December is a very conservative estimate. If anything delays that process, I would not be surprised to see this temple’s completion pushed back into 2021.
2021:
Mid-to-late April: Hamilton New Zealand Temple Rededication
Note: This temple’s July 2018 renovation closure was the first temple announcement of President Nelson’s prophetic administration. If, as is widely believed, that process involves an expansion of any kind for this temple, depending on how quickly or slowly progress is made, this estimate may need to be adjusted.
Final Note: As noted above, if several temples have a groundbreaking in 2018 and the years that follow, their completion estimates will need to be added to the list above. I continue to monitor all temple-related developments and will pass news of them along as I become aware of them.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Church Announces 8 New Temple Presidents
Hello again, everyone! In an article posted earlier today, the Church News noted that 8 new temple presidents had been called to begin their service later this year. This brings the number of currently-operating temples getting a new president in 2018 to 24, and it slims down my list of those that might to 32 additional temples that are currently operating, and the 6 that may be dedicated within the next 15 months or so. An updated version of that list follows below.
So as not to disturb the flow of that list, I will end now as I always do. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
So as not to disturb the flow of that list, I will end now as I always do. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
New presidents have been called for the following
temples:
1.
Manaus Brazil
2.
Boise Idaho
3.
Denver Colorado
4.
The Hague Netherlands
5.
Oquirrh Mountain Utah
6.
Helsinki Finland
7.
The Gila Valley Arizona
8.
Brigham City Utah
9.
Stockholm Sweden
10. Palmyra
New York
11. Accra
Ghana
12. Papeete
Tahiti
13. Sao
Paulo Brazil
14. San
Jose Costa Rica
15. Albuquerque
New Mexico
16. Provo
City Center
17. Recife
Brazil
18. Cardston
Alberta
19. Payson
Utah
20. Porto
Alegre Brazil
21. Brisbane
Australia
22. Kansas
City Missouri
23. Oaxaca
Mexico
24. Regina
Saskatchewan
The first presidents will likely be announced for the
following new temples:
1.
Concepcion Chile
2.
Barranquilla Colombia
3.
Rome Italy
4.
Kinshasa DR Congo
5.
Fortaleza Brazil
6.
Port-au-Prince Haiti
New presidents may also be announced for the following
temples:
1.
Atlanta Georgia
2.
Billings Montana
3.
Boston Massachusetts
4.
Bountiful Utah
5.
Buenos Aires Argentina
6.
Cebu City Philippines
7.
Colonia Juarez Chihuahua Mexico
8.
Cordoba Argentina
9.
Draper Utah
10. Fukuoka
Japan
11. Guatemala
City Guatemala
12. Helsinki
Finland
13. Hermosillo
Sonora Mexico
14. Houston
Texas
15. Indianapolis
Indiana
16. Laie
Hawaii
17. Las
Vegas Nevada
18. Manti
Utah
19. Montevideo
Uruguay
20. Monticello
Utah
21. Redlands
California
22. Sacramento
California
23. St.
Louis Missouri
24. Sydney
Australia
25. Taipei
Taiwan
26. Tegucigalpa
Honduras
27. Tijuana
Mexico
28. Trujillo
Peru
29. Vancouver
British Columbia
30. Veracruz
Mexico
31. Villahermosa
Mexico
32. Washington
D. C. Temple (Note: The Church may opt to wait on calling a new president for
this temple until 2020 when it is rededicated)
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Additional Temple Updates Reported
Hello again, everyone! Earlier today, I became aware of some updates that had been reported on two of the three temples that have a dedication scheduled, and one of the operating temples currently undergoing renovation, but for a variety of reasons, I was not able to pass those along before now. Let's get right to all of that.
We start first with the Concepcion Chile Temple, which has a dedication set to occur just over six months from today (on Sunday October 28 of this year). The latest information of which I have become aware is that the construction crew is busy finishing the work on the temple's tower, while art glass installation is underway. It has additionally been noted that work on the grounds of the temple is nearing completion.
The other temple set for dedication for which I have an update is the Rome Italy Temple. The dedication of that temple is set for around 10.5 months or so from now, and dedicatory services will last an 8-day period, occurring between Sunday March 10 and Sunday March 17, 2019. The latest update I have for that temple is that the concrete slab for the monument sign (which will feature the name of both the Church and this temple) is now in place, and that the gardens which will surround the monument sign are being planted. In the meantime, many sources available to me continue to list the note that driveway asphalt has been laid.
We conclude with a note on the renovation process for the Memphis Tennessee Temple. As I previously mentioned, since the renovation that is underway on the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple has progressed slightly ahead of that process for the Memphis temple, we will likely see temples rededicated in early-to-mid 2019 in the following order: Frankfurt Germany, Oklahoma City Oklahoma, and Memphis Tennessee. How they will fit in around the dedications of the Rome Italy, Kinshasa DR Congo, and Fortaleza Brazil Temples is still unknown, although I have felt bold enough to offer some thoughts at least in that regard.
That said, the latest update on the renovation process for the Memphis Tennessee Temple of which I have become aware is that the steeple and exterior walls are currently being sheathed. This is a great indicator that this temple is making good progress.
Ongoing temple developments continue to be inspiring and amazing to me, and I was grateful to have been able to bring you this update. I will do my best to keep track of future developments and bring those to you all ASAP.
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
We start first with the Concepcion Chile Temple, which has a dedication set to occur just over six months from today (on Sunday October 28 of this year). The latest information of which I have become aware is that the construction crew is busy finishing the work on the temple's tower, while art glass installation is underway. It has additionally been noted that work on the grounds of the temple is nearing completion.
The other temple set for dedication for which I have an update is the Rome Italy Temple. The dedication of that temple is set for around 10.5 months or so from now, and dedicatory services will last an 8-day period, occurring between Sunday March 10 and Sunday March 17, 2019. The latest update I have for that temple is that the concrete slab for the monument sign (which will feature the name of both the Church and this temple) is now in place, and that the gardens which will surround the monument sign are being planted. In the meantime, many sources available to me continue to list the note that driveway asphalt has been laid.
We conclude with a note on the renovation process for the Memphis Tennessee Temple. As I previously mentioned, since the renovation that is underway on the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple has progressed slightly ahead of that process for the Memphis temple, we will likely see temples rededicated in early-to-mid 2019 in the following order: Frankfurt Germany, Oklahoma City Oklahoma, and Memphis Tennessee. How they will fit in around the dedications of the Rome Italy, Kinshasa DR Congo, and Fortaleza Brazil Temples is still unknown, although I have felt bold enough to offer some thoughts at least in that regard.
That said, the latest update on the renovation process for the Memphis Tennessee Temple of which I have become aware is that the steeple and exterior walls are currently being sheathed. This is a great indicator that this temple is making good progress.
Ongoing temple developments continue to be inspiring and amazing to me, and I was grateful to have been able to bring you this update. I will do my best to keep track of future developments and bring those to you all ASAP.
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
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