Hello again, everyone! Just a few moments ago, updates on several new temples and those undergoing renovation were brought to my attention. Before getting into specific updates, I wanted to first note an update to something I have shared before: my belief that the Church will have a minimum of 200 operating temples by or before the Church's 200th anniversary (which will be observed on Saturday April 6, 2030). As of today, that anniversary is 11.95 years away, which means that, if an average of 3.43 temples were dedicated each year, it could easily be done.
With 2 temples scheduled for dedication later this year, 2018 will be below that average. But next year, we know that 5 or 6 new temples will be dedicated, and there are 3 others that we know of so far which will be dedicated in 2020. If, as I have said before, several other announced temples have a groundbreaking within the next year and beyond, that would also increase the number of those that will be completed during 2020 and the years that follow. So it seems logical to assume that at least 200 temples will be operating by that time.
Having noted that, we now turn our attention to the updates I mentioned. We start first in Rome Italy. While the last update I posted for that temple still applies (that the visitor's information center is open and that the plaza water feature is being tested), it has additionally been noted today that asphalt has been laid for the driveway.
Turning next to the temple in Kinshasa DR Congo, it has been noted that a concrete block perimeter wall is being built, and that work has resumed on the roof of the temple. And although I noted just yesterday that interior framing was being done for the walls of the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple, I learned today that the baptismal font has also been poured.
Since that is all the updates of which I have been made aware for new temples, I now conclude by passing along an update on the status of the renovation process for the Oakland California Temple. New information on that process indicates that both water feature fountains have been removed from the grounds, and that work has begun on the process of renovating the temple's interior.
It continues to amaze me how much things can change in terms of such developments, even within the space of 12 hours or less. The Lord is hastening the work of allowing His children access to temples around the world, and it is thrilling for me to be a witness to such developments and to pass them along to you all here. I will continue to do so to the best of my ability.
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.
Monday, April 23, 2018
Several Temple Updates Noted
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 22, 2018
Update Provided for the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple; Open House for Jordan River Utah Temple Concludes This Saturday
Hello again, everyone! This post will cover two temple developments of which I became aware a short while ago. We start first with the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple. As many of you might recall my mentioning here on this blog at least a few times previously, the groundbreaking for that temple was held on October 28 of last year, with full-scale construction efforts getting underway around two weeks following that.
As you may also be aware, because the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple has been planned as a smaller edifice in comparison with others under construction, the process of building that temple was only anticipated to last between 15-18 months. If we add 18 months to mid-November 2017, that takes us to mid-May 2019, so it makes sense that this temple's general completion estimate falls in mid-2019.
The last update I shared for this temple was passed along the Friday before General Conference weekend. At that time, I noted that structural framing had gone up for the temple and its' steeple. Then today, after almost a month has passed without my hearing anything on it, I learned that the interior walls of the temple are now being framed. It was good to learn of that update.
Next, for any of my readers who are wanting to tour the Jordan River Utah Temple, the open house will run for one more week and will conclude at the end of the day this Saturday. At that point, the Temple Department will finalize any preparation for this temple's rededication, which will be held four weeks (exactly 28 days) from today.
As I also previously mentioned, since the Jordan River Utah Temple rededication is the first major event of President Nelson's administration, I have no doubts that he will preside at at least one of the three dedicatory sessions. I am also equally as certain that several other Church leaders will be participating or at least in attendance at the three dedicatory session.
The rededication of this temple will be significant for another reason: it appears to mark the last time the Church will have a cultural celebration the night before a temple's dedication or rededication. In covering the announcements of the scheduled dedications for the Concepcion Chile, Barranquilla Colombia, and Rome Italy Temple, I had noted that, instead of a cultural celebration, a devotional has been scheduled for youth in these temple districts the night before. The Church has not made it clear why this is being done, but there are surely very good reasons behind this change.
And although it is also true that, following the rededication of the Jordan River Temple, there will not be any other dedications until October 28 (when the Concepcion Chile Temple will be dedicated), I am cautiously optimistic that we will find that, by that date, not only will construction have formally begun for the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple, but we may also have seen at least two, and possibly even three or more, temples have a groundbreaking by that time.
Whatever might occur in that regard, you can depend on my monitoring these developments and passing word along to you as I hear 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.
As you may also be aware, because the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple has been planned as a smaller edifice in comparison with others under construction, the process of building that temple was only anticipated to last between 15-18 months. If we add 18 months to mid-November 2017, that takes us to mid-May 2019, so it makes sense that this temple's general completion estimate falls in mid-2019.
The last update I shared for this temple was passed along the Friday before General Conference weekend. At that time, I noted that structural framing had gone up for the temple and its' steeple. Then today, after almost a month has passed without my hearing anything on it, I learned that the interior walls of the temple are now being framed. It was good to learn of that update.
Next, for any of my readers who are wanting to tour the Jordan River Utah Temple, the open house will run for one more week and will conclude at the end of the day this Saturday. At that point, the Temple Department will finalize any preparation for this temple's rededication, which will be held four weeks (exactly 28 days) from today.
As I also previously mentioned, since the Jordan River Utah Temple rededication is the first major event of President Nelson's administration, I have no doubts that he will preside at at least one of the three dedicatory sessions. I am also equally as certain that several other Church leaders will be participating or at least in attendance at the three dedicatory session.
The rededication of this temple will be significant for another reason: it appears to mark the last time the Church will have a cultural celebration the night before a temple's dedication or rededication. In covering the announcements of the scheduled dedications for the Concepcion Chile, Barranquilla Colombia, and Rome Italy Temple, I had noted that, instead of a cultural celebration, a devotional has been scheduled for youth in these temple districts the night before. The Church has not made it clear why this is being done, but there are surely very good reasons behind this change.
And although it is also true that, following the rededication of the Jordan River Temple, there will not be any other dedications until October 28 (when the Concepcion Chile Temple will be dedicated), I am cautiously optimistic that we will find that, by that date, not only will construction have formally begun for the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple, but we may also have seen at least two, and possibly even three or more, temples have a groundbreaking by that time.
Whatever might occur in that regard, you can depend on my monitoring these developments and passing word along to you as I hear 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.
Houston Texas Temple Rededicated in a Simple Ceremony; Minor Update Noted on the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple
Hello again, everyone! Mormon Newsroom published this release regarding the rededication of the Houston Texas Temple that was held earlier today. In addition to President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the service was attended by Elders Larry Y. Wilson (who serves as Executive Director of the Temple Department, unless the recent assignments that were given have changed), Elder S. Gifford Nielsen (who, while he has no direct role in the Temple Department, was there as a resident of Houston prior to his call as a General Authority), and Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, who particularly commeted on the remarkable way in which the temple repairs were finished ahead of schedule and under budget, which, for a project of this sort, is nothing short of remarkable.
This temple will, of course, reopen to patrons on Tuesday. The one other temple development which I wanted to note in this post is that the status of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple was updated recently to show that, rather than having full-scale construction begin within the last 7 or 8 days of this month, it is likely that that process will commence at some point in the second quarter of 2018. It appears that the report from someone in Canada in this regard may have been in error. I had hoped it was not, but clearly, there is more to what's delaying this process than originally thought.
That said, I fully believe that we will be seeing this temple start the construction process sooner rather than later. One of many unknown factors that I am still waiting to hear about is whether the plan modification for this temple was sufficient to change the estimate of the length of its' construction process. As I previously noted, round about the time the Church annouonced this temple's groundbreaking, I had heard an estimate of 20 months (1 year and 8 months) mentioned for that process. If that information still applies, and if the Church gets construction underway within the next month or two, then the temple could complete the construction process either around the end of next year or the beginning of 2020, which would allow its' dedication sometime during early-to-mid 2020.
I continue to do my level best to stay on top of all such developments, and will be sure to pass such news along to you all as I receive 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.
This temple will, of course, reopen to patrons on Tuesday. The one other temple development which I wanted to note in this post is that the status of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple was updated recently to show that, rather than having full-scale construction begin within the last 7 or 8 days of this month, it is likely that that process will commence at some point in the second quarter of 2018. It appears that the report from someone in Canada in this regard may have been in error. I had hoped it was not, but clearly, there is more to what's delaying this process than originally thought.
That said, I fully believe that we will be seeing this temple start the construction process sooner rather than later. One of many unknown factors that I am still waiting to hear about is whether the plan modification for this temple was sufficient to change the estimate of the length of its' construction process. As I previously noted, round about the time the Church annouonced this temple's groundbreaking, I had heard an estimate of 20 months (1 year and 8 months) mentioned for that process. If that information still applies, and if the Church gets construction underway within the next month or two, then the temple could complete the construction process either around the end of next year or the beginning of 2020, which would allow its' dedication sometime during early-to-mid 2020.
I continue to do my level best to stay on top of all such developments, and will be sure to pass such news along to you all as I receive 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.
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Change in Advisers to the Church Magazines Noted in May 2018 Ensign
Hello again, everyone! In my previous post, I shared some information about the May 2018 Ensign. This post, in somewhat of a continuation of that theme, will highlight some changes that the Church has made to the advisers of its' magazines.
There have not been any changes noted in either the editor (Elder Hugo E. Martinez continues in that assignment) or assistant editors (Randall K. Bennett and Carol F. McConkie are still listed, though obviously Sister McConkie's release will necessitate a change, which will likely be noted in the June magazines).
And while Brian K. Ashton, LeGrand R. Curtis Jr., Edward Dube, Sharon Eubank, Donald L. Hallstrom, and Douglas D. Holmes continue as advisers to the Church magazines, Bonnie H. Cordon's call as Young Women General President means she will no longer serve as an adviser, since she now has other responsibilities, and it appears that the Church has also released Elder Erich W. Kopischke from his responsibility as an adviser. Additionally, Cristina B. Franco, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, has been added as an adviser.
No word yet on any other changes. It is likely there will be a new assistant editor, who will likely be one of Sister Cordon's counselors, and that that will be determined by the time the June magazines are published. Any other changes may not be identified until the August 2018 issue, since August 1 marks the beginning of new assignments for each General Authority Seventy.
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.
There have not been any changes noted in either the editor (Elder Hugo E. Martinez continues in that assignment) or assistant editors (Randall K. Bennett and Carol F. McConkie are still listed, though obviously Sister McConkie's release will necessitate a change, which will likely be noted in the June magazines).
And while Brian K. Ashton, LeGrand R. Curtis Jr., Edward Dube, Sharon Eubank, Donald L. Hallstrom, and Douglas D. Holmes continue as advisers to the Church magazines, Bonnie H. Cordon's call as Young Women General President means she will no longer serve as an adviser, since she now has other responsibilities, and it appears that the Church has also released Elder Erich W. Kopischke from his responsibility as an adviser. Additionally, Cristina B. Franco, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, has been added as an adviser.
No word yet on any other changes. It is likely there will be a new assistant editor, who will likely be one of Sister Cordon's counselors, and that that will be determined by the time the June magazines are published. Any other changes may not be identified until the August 2018 issue, since August 1 marks the beginning of new assignments for each General Authority Seventy.
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.
PDF Version of May 2018 Ensign is Now Available; Results of My Predictions for Its' Table of Contents
Hello again, everyone! I am pleased to report that the PDF version of the May 2018 Ensign is now available to download, which can be done here. Those who have a subscription to the Ensign should receive their paper copies within the first or second week of May.
With the PDF version now available, we now know what its' actual table of contents looks like. As many of you might recall, in a post about a week or so ago, I shared my thoughts on how it might look. You will find below another copy of that, with the differing content in parentheses. I should mention that in my version of it, I did not allow space for the statistical report, which appears on the first page following the concluding address from President Nelson, and I had also forgotten that the Church is devoting several pages at the back of the conference Ensign to the new curriculum for Elders' Quorums and Relief Societies.
In an interesting move, the layout of this Ensign will include the Church Auditing Department Report in a two-column spread on a page that is the middle of The Sustaining of Church Officers which was led by President Oaks during the Saturday Afternoon Session.
The copy of the table of contents I put together follows, with differences between my version and the actual one in parentheses. 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.
With the PDF version now available, we now know what its' actual table of contents looks like. As many of you might recall, in a post about a week or so ago, I shared my thoughts on how it might look. You will find below another copy of that, with the differing content in parentheses. I should mention that in my version of it, I did not allow space for the statistical report, which appears on the first page following the concluding address from President Nelson, and I had also forgotten that the Church is devoting several pages at the back of the conference Ensign to the new curriculum for Elders' Quorums and Relief Societies.
In an interesting move, the layout of this Ensign will include the Church Auditing Department Report in a two-column spread on a page that is the middle of The Sustaining of Church Officers which was led by President Oaks during the Saturday Afternoon Session.
The copy of the table of contents I put together follows, with differences between my version and the actual one in parentheses. 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.
Possible Table of Contents for the May 2018 Ensign
|
Session
|
Page
|
Title
|
Speaker
|
|
|
2
|
Conference Summary for the 188th Annual
General Conference
|
|
|
|
4
|
Highlights from the 188th Annual General
Conference
|
|
|
SAM
|
6
|
Solemn Assembly
|
President Henry B. Eyring
|
|
|
9
|
Precious Gifts from God
|
President M. Russell Ballard
|
|
|
13 (12)
|
Am I a Child of God?
|
Elder Brian K. Taylor
|
|
|
16 (15)
|
Even As Christ Forgives You, So Also Do Ye
|
Elder Larry J. Echo Hawk
|
|
|
19 (17)
|
The Heart of a Prophet
|
Elder Gary E. Stevenson
|
|
|
23 (21)
|
Until Seventy Times Seven
|
Elder Lynn G. Robbins
|
|
|
26 (24)
|
The Prophet of God
|
Elder Neil L. Andersen
|
|
SAA
|
30 (28)
|
The Sustaining of Church Officers
|
President Dallin H. Oaks
|
|
|
32 (29)
|
Church Auditing Department Report, 2017
|
Robert W. Cantwell
|
|
|
33 (30)
|
Meek and Lowly of Heart
|
Elder David A. Bednar
|
|
|
37 (34)
|
One More Day
|
Elder Taylor G. Godoy
|
|
|
39 (36)
|
Young Women in the Work
|
Bonnie L. Oscarson
|
|
|
42 (39)
|
Saving Ordinances Will Bring Us Marvelous Light
|
Elder Taniela B. Wakolo
|
|
|
45 (42)
|
Teaching in the Home—a Joyful and Sacred Responsibility
|
Devin G. Durrant
|
|
|
48 (46)
|
Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing
|
Elder Dale G. Renlund
|
|
SPH
|
52 (50)
|
What Every Aaronic Priesthood Holder Needs to
Understand
|
Douglas D. Holmes
|
|
|
55 (54)
|
Introductory Remarks
|
President Russell M. Nelson
|
|
|
56 (55)
|
The Elders’ Quorum
|
Elder D. Todd Christofferson
|
|
|
59 (58)
|
Behold! A Royal Army
|
Elder Ronald A. Rasband
|
|
|
62 (61)
|
Inspired Ministering
|
President Henry B. Eyring
|
|
|
65
|
The Powers of the Priesthood
|
President Dallin H. Oaks
|
|
|
68
|
Ministering with the Power and Authority of God
|
President Russell M. Nelson
|
|
SUM
|
76 (75)
|
Take the Holy Spirit As Your Guide
|
Elder Larry Y. Wilson
|
|
|
79 (78)
|
With One Accord
|
Reyna I. Aburto
|
|
|
82 (81)
|
Pure Love: the Sign of Every True Disciple
|
Elder Massimo De Feo
|
|
|
85 (83)
|
He That Shall Endure unto the End, the Same Shall Be
Saved
|
Elder Claudio D. Zivic
|
|
|
88 (86)
|
His Spirit to Be with You
|
President Henry B. Eyring
|
|
|
92 (89)
|
Small and Simple Things
|
President Dallin H. Oaks
|
|
|
96 (93)
|
Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives
|
President Russell M. Nelson
|
|
SUA
|
101 (97)
|
Christ the Lord is Risen Today
|
Elder Gerrit W. Gong
|
|
|
103 (98)
|
Prophets Speak by the Power of the Holy Spirit
|
Elder Ulisses Soares
|
|
|
105 (100)
|
Ministering
|
President Russell M. Nelson
|
|
|
106 (101)
|
“Be With and Strengthen Them”
|
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
|
|
|
110 (104)
|
Ministering as the Savior Does
|
Jean B. Bingham
|
|
|
113
|
Behold the Man!
|
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
|
|
|
117 (111)
|
It Is All about People
|
Bishop Gerald Causse
|
|
|
120 (114)
|
Prepare to Meet God
|
Elder Quentin L. Cook
|
|
|
124 (118)
|
Let Us All Press On
|
President Russell M. Nelson
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
72
|
General Authorities and General Officers of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
|
|
|
|
(119)
|
(Statistical Report)
|
|
|
|
126
|
They Spoke to Us: Making Conference Part of Our Lives
|
(Not included in this Ensign)
|
|
|
128 (120)
|
Conference Story Index
|
|
|
|
129
(121)
|
News of the Church, including new leader biographies, an
overview of the announced policy and practice changes, new temples, and any
other general Church news
|
|
|
|
(137)
|
(Come Follow Me—For Elders’ Quorum and Relief Society)
|
|
|
|
144
|
Last Page of Conference Ensign
|
|
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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