In this milestone post, I wanted to note updates (minor though they may be) which I have made to my temple construction progress report. I hope that these changes may interest some of you. I did want to note that no major temple news has been reported since the last time I posted this report, with the possible exception of the fact that the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple renovation plans will involve (at very least) a change in the exterior look of the temple. I hope you enjoy these updates. As always, I am keeping my eyes open for temple-related developments and will be passing those along as soon as I can make them. For now, any comments on the updates made to this report are as welcome and appreciated as they always are. Thank you for the privilege of your time, and may the Lord bless you all in all that you do.
Temple Construction Progress
(current as of 10/8/17)
NOTE ABOUT FUTURE TEMPLE
CONSTRUCTION: As referenced in previous versions 1of 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 temples dedicated 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 12.49 years
between now and then. 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. There are 157 operating
temples, with 2 that have had
construction conclude (reservations are currently being
accepted for the open houses of both temples, and both open houses will be
underway by the end of this month). There are additionally 9 others are in various phases of construction
and 1 more which had a groundbreaking before the end of last year and
for which construction is anticipated to begin within the first or second
quarter of next year, and 1 other
has a groundbreaking scheduled near the end of this month. In terms of temples
undergoing renovations, 1 has a
rededication scheduled during the middle of next year; 1 other is anticipated to have its rededication in the middle or
latter part of next year; 2 others
have closed recently, and 2 others
will also have closed by the end of this month. There are also 5 other temples scheduled to close
sometime next year, and closure dates have been announced for all but 1 of those. Additionally, there
is 1 temple that has closed for
restoration as a result of damage incurred by a natural disaster. The remaining
12 are announced (with
either a site announcement or groundbreaking pending).
Construction completed,
preparing for open house:
158. Meridian Idaho
Temple: Accepting open house reservations (tours set to run for the three weeks
between Saturday October 21 and Saturday November 11, except for the relevant
Sundays); dedication scheduled for Sunday
November 19, 2017.
NOTE: With construction having been completed on this temple, there is
less than two weeks (13 days) until the open house starts. In terms of who
might preside at this dedication, it could be either of the two counselors in
the First Presidency, or one of the six senior members of the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles. If past tradition holds true for this temple, I could see
Elder David A. Bednar, who broke ground for this temple in 2014, being asked to
preside at the dedication or to accompany whomever does preside. It will be
interesting to see what happens there.
159. Cedar City Utah
Temple: Accepting open house reservations (tours set to run for the 22-day
period spanning Friday October 27-Saturday November 18, except for the relevant
Sundays); dedication scheduled for Sunday December 10, 2017.
NOTE: It appears that placing the furnishings may be all that is left in
regards to the construction process on this temple. Since the open house begins
in 19 days (just under three weeks), it is not hard to believe that
construction will conclude very shortly. I have also offered my prediction that
this temple will be dedicated by either one of the counselors in the First
Presidency or a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I have
before shared my thoughts that, of those six senior members of the Twelve, the
two most likely to be involved in this dedication are either Elder Ballard
(because he seems to have some role in the work of the Utah South Area, of
which this temple will be a part), or Elder Holland, who was born in St.
George, which some consider a sister-city of Cedar City (not according to
proximity, but by virtue of being the nearest major city to St. George). Since
this is a Utah temple, I also fully anticipate seeing many Church leaders
participate in this dedication.
Under Construction (completion anticipated by the end
of next year (2018)):
160. Rome Italy Temple:
Installing art glass; scaffolding coming down from east tower; planting trees
and shrubs; completion anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2018.
NOTE: Given the changed completion
time-frame for this temple, I have changed my estimate for the dedication
window to Sunday August 12 or 19. Time will tell how likely that is, and I can
then alter this estimate further as needed.
161. Concepcion Chile
Temple: Angel Moroni on site awaiting installation; cladding progressing on
east side of temple; installing exterior lighting; completion anticipated
sometime during mid-to-late 2018.
NOTE: Since this temple has been on
track in terms of its construction, even with the altered completion
time-frame, I have still felt confident that this temple’s dedication could
take place on Sunday September 9 or 16. As the next 7-10 months come and go,
that can be altered as needed.
162. Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Roof felt underlayment in place;
shingles being laid; preparing to clad steeple; completion anticipated
sometime during mid-to-late 2018.
NOTE: In rethinking this temple’s
probable dedication date, I have felt we could see that happen on Sunday
November 11 or 18. As the next year comes and goes, we will know how likely
that is to happen, and any further adjustments that may be needed can be made.
163. Barranquilla
Colombia Temple: Interior work underway; completion anticipated sometime
during late 2018.
NOTE: In view of having to adjust
the dedication dates for the other temples that will be completed during 2018,
I have adjusted my estimate for this temple’s dedication to Sunday December 9
or 16. As the next year or so passes, we will know how likely that is, and any
updates can be made that are needed.
Under construction, completion
anticipated during 2019:
164. Durban South
Africa Temple: More concrete poured for baptismal font; backfilling temple
foundation; polyurethane insulation applied to housing exterior walls;
completion anticipated sometime during early 2019.
NOTE: Unless this temple’s construction is delayed, I could see a
dedication happen in late April or early May. If something happens to change
that dramatically, I will be sure to pass that information along.
165. Fortaleza Brazil
Temple: Stone cladding underway; completion anticipated
sometime during mid-2019.
NOTE: Even with the reported
progress on this temple (noted above on October 4),
I don’t see this temple’s dedication any sooner than early-to-mid June 2019. As
without everything else, I will be sure to pass along any changes to this
estimate.
166. Rio de Janeiro
Brazil Temple: Foundation in place; font work underway; preparing to pour
exterior walls; completion anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.
NOTE: If this temple stays on
track, I see no reason why it could not be completed in mid-August 2019. That
will depend on how much it progresses between now and then. I will be keeping
an eye open for developments in this regard and will pass those along.
167. Lisbon Portugal
Temple: Pouring main floor walls; meetinghouse cladding progressing; completion
anticipated sometime during late 2019.
NOTE: With what is known about the
progress (and the lack thereof) that has been reported on this temple, I feel
confident that a dedication will not happen any sooner than late October-early
November 2019. As with everything else, I will be sure to pass along any
changes to this estimate as I make them.
168. Arequipa Peru
Temple: Second level walls poured; preparing for roof slab; completion
anticipated sometime during late 2019-early
2020.
NOTE: Wanting to be as optimistic
as I can, I am still not convinced that this temple will be completed before
the end of 2019. Until more is known, I have felt to alter this temple’s
completion time-frame to sometime in late April-early May 2020. I will be sure
to pass along anything that changes my thinking on this.
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: Once full-scale construction
begins on this temple, we will know more about what to expect in terms of a
completion estimate. But I don’t see this temple being dedicated any sooner
than early-to-mid June 2020. I will pass along any changes to that once more is
known.
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: Assuming full-scale
construction will be able to start on this temple the Monday after its
groundbreaking, and assuming no delays, it is my estimate that this temple
could be dedicated in late October-early November 2020. As this process gets
underway, I will pass along any changes to that estimate.
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-to-late 2018.
NOTE: As promised, I reevaluated my
estimate for this temple’s rededication. Having done so, I am of the opinion
that we could see that happen after the first two new temples are dedicated in
2018, and before the final two new ones are dedicated. That puts my revised
estimate for that event on either Sunday October 21 or 28. I will be sure to
pass along any changes I make to that estimate within the next 9-12 months.
Undergoing Renovation (rededication
anticipated sometime during 2019:
80. Memphis Tennessee
Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication may take place sometime
during early-to-mid 2019.
NOTE: This temple closed on the
last Saturday of September 2017 (General Conference Saturday). While we do not
yet know if any kind of expansion is planned for this temple, we do know that
part of the process will be to change the interior and exterior appearance of
it. With that in mind, as previously noted, a rough 18-month estimate seems
appropriate, which would put this temple’s subsequent completion sometime
during late April-early May 2019. As this process unfolds, I will be sure to
pass along any changes to this estimate as this renovation continues.
Undergoing Renovation (completion anticipated sometime during 2020):
18. Tokyo Japan Temple:
Closed for renovation; rededication may take place sometime during early-to-mid
2020.
NOTE: As previously noted, this
temple closed for renovation today. And the stated purpose for this renovation
is to upgrade electrical and mechanical systems. With that knowledge, added to
the fact that this temple is a much smaller one from the Kimball era, it is
easy to assume and to assert that a rededication could follow more towards the
earlier part of 2020 than later on. As this process unfolds, I will pass along
any changes to this line of thought and reasoning.
Renovations Scheduled (official
closure dates announced):
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. That said,
a few sources available to me have mentioned within this last week that the
main purpose of this temple’s renovation will be to change its exterior look.
The interior could be changed as well, but it is too early to tell at present.
Until more is known, I am, as previously noted, offering a revised estimate of
15 months for this 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: The interesting thing about
this temple’s renovation plans is that any mention of it closing on the date
specified (or even at all in 2017) has been removed. Probably just a technical
glitch. In the meantime, unless an expansion of this temple is planned (which
is unlikely at this point), a 15-month estimate seems reasonable for this
temple’s completion, which would put the dedication sometime during mid-to-late
April 2019 (sometime after General Conference). That will likely change as this
process continues, but for now, it seems safe.
68. Raleigh North
Carolina Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on Wednesday January
10, 2018; rededication may take place sometime during mid-2019.
NOTE: If the member contacts I
found in North Carolina are correct, the renovation of that state’s only temple
will not involve or include an expansion of any kind. With that in mind, a 17-month
estimate seems appropriate for this temple, which allows for anything
unexpected. And based on that estimate, it would make sense if this temple had
a rededication scheduled for sometime during early-to-mid August 2019. I will
pass along any updates to that estimate that may be needed within the next year
as this process will be well underway by that time.
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: Unless an expansion is
planned for this temple (which, as noted previously, seems doubtful), then it
is more than likely that the renovation will only take around 17 months or so.
With that in mind, it is not hard to believe that we could see the rededication
of this temple at some point during mid-September 2019. As with everything
else, I will be sure to pass along any updates to this line of reasoning.
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: As previously noted, the
stated purpose for this temple’s renovation is to upgrade and update electrical
and mechanical systems. Therefore, an expansion is likely not part of those
plans. Bearing in mind that this temple is anticipated to be rededicated prior
to the end of 2019, I have felt that a 17-month estimate for this process would
be appropriate. In running the resulting calculation, that would put this
temple’s rededication happening sometime during mid-December
2019. Obviously, as this renovation gets underway in five months and makes
progress, we will know more about how reasonable that estimate might be, and I
will make any adjustments that may be needed.
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: With what is currently known
about this temple’s renovation (having confirmed the exact date, and also
knowing that it is mainly to upgrade and update the mechanical and electrical
system), in taking the larger size of this temple into account (which will
extend the process), a 32-month estimate seems appropriate. That would put this
temple’s rededication sometime during mid-November 2020. As the next year
unfolds, more will be known, and any adjustments will be provided.
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: As of
October 8, 2017, no date has been made known for the beginning of this
renovation. But because it has been renovated once before, and because the
purpose of this renovation is to bring electrical and mechanical systems
up-to-date, this temple will likely be rededicated prior to the rededication of
the Washington DC temple, which is comparatively bigger and is closing for its
first renovation two months before this closure. I am sticking with my initial estimate of 26 months for this process, which would
put its rededication at some point in early-to-mid September 2020. Within the
next year, this process will be well underway, and more will be known about any
adjustments that may need to be made. Until then, it seems to be a sound
adjustment to what I have previously stated.
Temple undergoing restoration (in view of damage incurred by a natural
disaster):
97. Houston Texas Temple: Closed for restoration (following damage
incurred by flooding); may take some time to fix everything, but it is not anticipated
to be a lengthy process; rededication will not be needed, but a reopening is
anticipated ASAP.
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
groundbreaking anytime during 2018:
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 proves to be the case, then a
groundbreaking could easily take place in mid-March, which would allow that to
happen prior to winter’s arrival in April. I am estimating more specifically
that the exact date may be Saturday March 10 or 17. As with everything else, I
will pass along any updates to this line of thought and reasoning as I make
them.
172. Urdaneta
Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting government
approval and official site announcement; groundbreaking could take place
sometime during mid-2018.
NOTE: With a potential site having
been identified for this temple, if that is confirmed at any point prior to the
end of this year, the groundbreaking for this temple will likely happen sooner
rather than later, especially now that the delays that once prevented this
temple’s construction progress are over. It is my revised estimate that this
temple’s groundbreaking could take place in mid-to-late May, and, more
specifically, on or around May 19 or 26. I have checked into weather conditions
during that time, and it would work well then. As with everything else I post,
I will be sure to pass along any updates to this estimate as I make them.
173. Harare Zimbabwe
Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking
could take place during mid-2018.
NOTE: Despite the statement made by
Africa Southeast Area President Kevin S. Hamilton (who said that this temple
would likely have a site announcement and groundbreaking in relatively short
order once 2017 began), the year is almost finished, and we are no closer to a
change in this temple’s status than we were at the beginning of this year.
Wanting to be as optimistic as possible but also to allow for anything
unexpected, I am setting a revised estimate for this temple’s groundbreaking to
take place in mid-June, and, more specifically, on either June 9 or 16. I will
be sure to pass along any updates to this estimate that might be needed.
174. Bangkok Thailand
Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may
take place during mid-2018.
NOTE: As part of my ongoing efforts
to research the potential order in which announced temples may have a
groundbreaking, I took a look at this temple particularly. While it is true
that we only have member speculation that an existing building will be
reconstructed and repurposed (in the style of the Manhattan New York and Hong
Kong China Temples), until we can be sure that this will not be the case, I
have to go with what is known. The
Manhattan New York and Hong Kong China Temples both had a groundbreaking in a
comparatively shorter amount of time than most other temples. So if the
existing building will be repurposed, it seems safe to surmise that a
groundbreaking could take place during early-to-mid August. I have set a more
specific estimate for Saturday August 4 or 11. As with everything else, I will
pass along any updates to this line of thought.
175. Abidjan Ivory
Coast Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement;
groundbreaking may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2018.
NOTE: I know that this temple has
not yet had a site confirmed, but as I felt a need to reevaluate the likely
order in which announced temples might have a groundbreaking, I have run the
numbers to recalculate my estimate. I hope with all my heart that we will have
a site confirmed for this temple within the next 9 months or so. If we do, I
could see the Church setting the groundbreaking for this temple to take place
sometime during mid-September, which would be either Saturday September 8 or 15.
If nothing happens for this temple by the early months of next year, I will
reevaluate things at that point.
176. Saratoga Springs
Utah: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may
take place sometime during late 2018.
NOTE: As previously noted, while a
site announcement is pending on this temple, if one is confirmed within the
next 6-8 months, and if this temple conforms to the average time within which
other Utah County temples have gone from announcement to groundbreaking, then I
could see this temple having a groundbreaking sometime during late October or
early November, or, more precisely, on either Saturday October 27 or November 3.
I will be keeping an eye out for any developments and will be sure to pass
those along.
177. Alabang Manila Temple: Planning phase;
site confirmed; awaiting official name announcement; groundbreaking may take
place sometime during late 2018.
NOTE: As with other temples in this section, I did more research on
issues that would affect progress on this temple, primarily climate &
temperature. Climate-wise, Manila has the same weather pretty much year-round.
Therefore, it is my new estimate that the groundbreaking for this temple could
take place in mid-December (which would be on Saturday December 9 or 16). If
the groundbreakings for both of the Philippines temples are held during 2018,
this would be the first time in Church history that two temples would
simultaneously be under construction on that island nation. As always, I will
be sure to pass along any updates to this line of thought and reasoning as I
become aware of them.
Announced temples that may have a groundbreaking sometime during 2019:
178. Brasilia Brazil
Temple: Planning phase; site inspected by Church engineers on June 21, 2017;
groundbreaking may take place sometime during early 2019.
NOTE: As part of my massive ongoing
efforts to revise my thoughts on the potential timeframe for future
temple-related events, I took another look at this temple. What I found that
led me to move other temples around today also led me to give this temple
another look. And in that regard, I found out that, in terms of climate, the
period from January to March is the best time to visit Brasilia. Bearing in
mind that it would take a miracle to have this groundbreaking take place in six
months, I have felt it wiser to adjust this temple’s groundbreaking estimate to
early 2019, and have felt that a more specific time-frame may be mid-February.
As with everything else, I will pass along any updates as I make them.
179. Quito Ecuador
Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may
take place during early-to-mid 2019.
NOTE: As I have felt a need to
revisit the order in which announced temples may have a groundbreaking, for a
revised determination on this temple, I took a look at temples in the region of
Western South America (where this temple will rise). In that area (with the
exception of the first Ecuadoran temple, which took over 14 years), the average
time in which temples in that area went from site announcement to
groundbreaking has been 2 years, 6 months. That said, this temple has not yet
had a site confirmed. So I am setting a revised estimate for 3 years. I will
therefore place my estimate for this groundbreaking as sometime during late
April or early May 2019. As with everything else, I will be sure to post any
changes to this theory.
180. Pocatello Idaho:
Planning phase; awaiting site confirmation; groundbreaking may take place
sometime during mid-2019.
NOTE: As I have done with other
temples, I calculated the average time within which Idaho’s other temples have
gone from announcement to groundbreaking. Based on that estimate, I have
adjusted my thinking that this temple will have a groundbreaking at some point
in mid-June 2019. That said, I recognize that temples within the “Mormon
corridor” of Utah, Arizona, and Idaho have typically been able to get started
faster than temples elsewhere within the US or any other nations. I will keep
my eyes open for anything that convinces me to change this again, and will
continue to pass that information along.
181. Nairobi Kenya
Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; media event held
June 14, 2017; groundbreaking may take place sometime during mid-to-late
2019.
NOTE: As mentioned earlier, I took
a look at the average time within which temples in Africa have gone from
announcement to groundbreaking. And as a result of that double-check, I have revised
my estimate for this groundbreaking as well. I can now see it happening in
early-to-mid August. As with everything else, I will pass along any updates as
I am made aware of them.
182. Belem Brazil
Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may
take place during late 2019.
NOTE: Since there has been no
change on this temple’s status since its announcement 1.5 years ago, unless
something changes, we may find that this temple is the last one of the current
bunch to have a groundbreaking. I sincerely hope that is not the case, but want
to play it safe. For that reason, I am estimating this temple will have a
groundbreaking sometime during either late October or early November. I will
keep my eye on things and let you all know if my thinking on this changes.
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. As
previously noted, all of the last 12 temples that have been announced from
January 2015 to now have seen that happen during April General Conference. So
that may continue. But it is also true that such 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.