Provo City Center Dedication

As all you Utahns (and those who care enough about the news of the LDS Church) are aware, the Provo City Center Temple was dedicated today, and I was very intrigued to see that, in addition to the temples in progress in Latter-days, Rick Satterfield, begun adding to this list those temples built in ancient times. It’s not yet a comprehensive list; he hasn’t yet included the temples found in the Book of Mormon, but I have taken the liberty of reminding him to do so, which he doesn’t seem to mind. Also, wanted to let you know that it was Elder Dallin H. Oaks who, at the invitation of the First Presidency, presided at the dedication, which was a total surprise to me. I knew he'd likely have some role in the dedicatory services, but I didn't know he'd be the presiding officer at the actual dedication. I shouldn't have been surprised. Elder Oaks' ties to the area make him the natural choice, which I should have remembered. Up until today, I hadn't really registered that he was a senior member of the Twelve now, with the deaths of all his predecessors except President Nelson. Dang, I need to get used to writing President Nelson as well. I also wanted to let you all know that I am religiously (pun intended) keeping an eye on the Church and local news for the latest reported updates. If the Church News website and lds.org do what they've done in the past with Utah dedications, they will release within a few short hours a complete list of who did what in every dedicatory session. This will be especially important to me because, due to personal illness, I was unable to be in attendance at any of the dedicatory sessions at this historic event. I will keep an eye out for that list of the participants, and you can bet that I will inform you whenever it becomes available so it can be included on this site, if you like. It always honors me to know that people of your caliber are keeping up-to-date on my blog posts. As always, best wishes to you all, and thanks so much to you all for your friendship and attention to this blog.

While we wait for further news about the particular participants at this temple dedication, the Church News has featured two articles on the cultural celebration and dedication. Also for the benefit of all my readers, here’s a link to those articles:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865650501/Beauty-for-Ashes-4500-youth-participate-in-cultural-celebration.html

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865650539/Salvaged-and-reborn-from-ashes-Provo-City-Center-Temple-is-dedicated.html

Late breaking news before this post was made: The Church News article is in error on one point, and that is that Elder Oaks presided at all three sessions. The photo gallery within the article shows that President Russell M. Nelson (written more easily this time) was in attendance at one of the later sessions and that he was the presiding authority at that session. That’s the latest on the temple news front. Stay tuned for more updates, and thanks so much for your readership and support, especially to those who have also religiously followed my newer posts while personal illness and family circumstances have necessitated my extended absence from Facebook (where the posts are usually immediately advertised once made), and especially to all those who have been kind enough to leave a comment for me with your feedback on what I have to say. Your comments are always insightful and appreciated, especially those that have been positive and particularly kind in nature. I feel it appropriate “On This Day of Joy and Gladness” to leave you for starters with the words that end each broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word (psst, don’t tell the MoTab or Lloyd Newell, who might sue me for copyright violation): “Again [I] leave you, from within the shadows of the everlasting hills. May Peace be [in and] with you this day, and always. God be with [you all] till [my next post].” From the Book of Mormon: “And thus hath the Lord commanded me [to write], and I must obey.” At the end of such a spiritually-charged post, it feels very appropriate that my last words in this post are a paraphrase from a powerful hymn that is sung at every temple dedication in this dispensation, and which, I’m sure, enshrouded the dedicatory services with the special spirit that it brings.

The Spirit of God, like a fire, is burning!

The latter-day glory begins to come forth.

The visions and blessings of old are returning,

And angels are coming to visit the earth.

The Lord is extending the Saint’s understanding,

Restoring their judges and all as at first.

The knowledge and power of God are expanding,

And angels are coming to visit the earth.

We’ll call in our solemn assemblies in spirit,

To spread forth the kingdom of heaven abroad.

That we, through our faith, may begin to inherit,

The visions, and blessings, and glories of God!

How blessed the day when the lamb and the lion

Shall lie down together without any ire.

And Ephraim be crowned with his blessing in Zion,

As Jesus descends with his chariot of fire.

We’ll sing and we’ll shout with the armies of heaven,

Hosanna, Hosanna, to God and the Lamb!

Let glory to them in the highest be given.

Henceforth and forever, Amen and Amen!

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Matthew Martinich's Predictions for the Most Likely Temples Soon to be Announced

Since I have Matthew  Martinich's predictions to share his Church Growth Blog posts whenever I feel impressed to do so, I am posting today for a very exciting reason: earlier today, Matt posted his educated guesses as to temples that may be announced this next conference. To find that post, please click on this link. For those that aren't inclined to wade through the post and the discussion that follows, Matt has predicted as many as 10 potential temples: 3 in Brazil (Belem, Belo Horizonte, or Brasilia); two n the Pacific region (Davao Philippines and (if not in Guam) Tarawa Kiribati); a United States territory (Guam, (if not in Kiribati)); two in Africa (Harare Zimbabwe and Lagos Nigeria); and two others in South America (Managua Nicaragua or Pueblo Mexico) and one in the United States (Rogers Arkansas). Only time will tell how accurate that prediction is, but I always enjoy Brother Martinich's thoughts. Enjoy!

General Conference Predictions

It's that time of year again, friends, when I post my General Conference predictions. In an effort to make my General Conference predictions more accurate, I have done research back as far as 20 years and have looked at the patterns I've observed. These predictions are the fruits of that research. I have particularly looked this time for patterns as far as how often the general authority seventies speak. The predictions for April include for the first time my educated guess as to the end of the year Church statistics for 2015. Some of the numbers, such as those for stakes and districts, and the number of temples dedicated and rededicated last year were easy to find. For the numbers of full-time missionaries, Church-service missionaries, Church members, ad wards and branches, I used a different formula than I have in years past. I won't try to explain how I arrived at these numbers, but rest assured, it's all been researched. I have also included my list of potential temple sites that President Monson may announce in April. I had a list of 30, and then did some statistical research to fine-tune that list for this prediction.

There are only a few things I am not sure of: whether I've got the correct seventies in the correct slots, how many seventies will speak (which varies based on the length of talks of all other speakers), and who exactly will represent the Presiding Bishopric in speaking at General Conference. With the changes announced shortly after the October General Conference, we have one member of the Bishopric (Bishop Waddell, the second counselor) who has not had a chance to speak in General Conference since his first talk as a general authority several years ago. So he could be the one asked to speak this time. However, in checking on the patterns of Presiding Bishopric speakers, it has typically been (at least for the last few years) in this order: Presiding Bishop, Second Counselor, First Counselor. Since Bishop Causse as the first counselor spoke in April 2015, it would make sense if he, as the Presiding Bishop, spoke this go round, as Bishop Stevenson would have been the one in October had he not been called to the apostleship. But a new bishopric may mean a new pattern. The pattern seems to be for a PB member to speak in the priesthood session every other conference, and its been more than a year since we had a PB member speak in the Priesthood Session. Bishop Causse is the one I put in this time, but we'll see what happens. Just know that if it's not Bishop Causse, it will likely be Bishop Waddell, and that it is more than likely that the PB member will speak in the priesthood session.

 I am excited about this general conference. It will mark the first time since they were called last conference that the newest apostles will be giving a full-length talk (15-20 minutes). There are likely to be several new temples, several new General Authorities, and a change in the Primary General Presidency. We will also get the chance to ratify by sustaining of the changes in the Presidency of the Seventy and the Presiding Bishopric. And while I don't know all of the Area Seventies that might be released this conference, we have quite a few that have been called to be mission presidents. So those changes are at least pretty definite.

That being said, here are my predictions for all of you that want to follow along.

April 2016 General Conference Predictions (Text in brackets indicated what actually happened.)

Session	Conducting	Speaker
General Women’s	Rosemary M. Wixom	Linda K. Burton
		Cheryl A. Esplin
		Neill F. Marriott
		President Henry B. Eyring
Saturday Morning	President Dieter F. Uchtdorf	President Henry B. Eyring
		President Russell M. Nelson
		Elder Gerrit W. Gong
		Mary R. Durham
		Elder Yoon Hwan Choi
		Elder Per G. Malm
		Elder Gary E. Stevenson
Saturday Afternoon	President  Henry B. Eyring	President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (Sustaining of Church Officers)
	Church  Auditing Department Report, 2015	Kevin R. Jergensen
	Statistical Report, 2015	Brook P. Hales
		Elder Ronald A. Rasband
		Elder M. Russell Ballard
		Elder Patrick Kearon
		Elder Mervyn B. Arnold
		Elder Neil L. Andersen
		Elder David A. Bednar
Saturday Priesthood	President Dieter F. Uchtdorf	Elder Dale G. Renlund
		Bishop Gerald Causse
		Stephen W. Owen
		President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
		President Henry B. Eyring
		President Thomas S. Monson
Sunday Morning	President Henry B. Eyring	President Thomas S. Monson
		Elder Quentin L. Cook
		Elder Donald L. Hallstrom
		Bonnie L. Oscarson
		Elder Jairo Mazzagardi
		Elder D. Todd Christofferson
		President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Sunday Afternoon	President Dieter F. Uchtdorf	Elder Robert D. Hales
		Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
		Elder Juan A. Uceda
		Elder Kent F. Richards
		Elder Benjamin De Hoyos
		Elder Steven E. Snow
		Elder Dallin H. Oaks

April 2016 Predictions for changes in General Church Leadership

Presidency of the Seventy: Elder Gerrit W. Gong sustained as a new member to replace Elder Ronald A. Rasband, who became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in October 2015. NOTE: Elder Rasband’s call to the apostleship in October 2015 left a vacancy in the Presidency of the Seventy that was not filled during General Conference but a couple of days later. Elder L. Whitney Clayton was named the new senior president of the Seventy (a position previously held by Elder Rasband), and Elder Gong was called to fill the vacancy. It makes sense that Elder Gong’s call will be ratified by sustaining vote during this conference. RESULT:

First Quorum of the Seventy: Elder W. Christopher Waddell released in view of his new calling as Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric; new members sustained from the Second Quorum of the Seventy, Area Seventies, or the Church at large. NOTE: Elder Waddell’s call as the new Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric had been announced in October 2015, shortly after General Conference. It makes sense that this change, along with any sustainings, will be ratified by sustaining vote during this conference. RESULT:

Second Quorum of the Seventy: New members sustained from Area Seventies or Church at large. NOTE: Members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy are usually sustained in April and released in October, so it makes sense that any sustainings would be presented in April. RESULT:

Presiding Bishopric: Bishop Gary E. Stevenson released as Presiding Bishop in view of his call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Bishop Gerald Causse released as First Counselor and sustained as the new Presiding Bishop; Bishop Dean M. Davies released as Second Counselor and sustained as the new First Counselor; Bishop W. Christopher Waddell sustained as the new Second Counselor. NOTE: When Bishop Stevenson was called to the Twelve in October 2015, he retained the calling of Presiding Bishop until the changes noted above took place a few days after the conference, so these changes will need to be ratified by sustaining vote during this conference. RESULT:

Area Seventies: Releases and sustainings for several Area Seventies. NOTE: It seems to be a common practice for most releases and/or sustainings of Area Seventies to happen in April, when President Dieter F. Uchtdorf leads out in the sustaining of Church officers, while only a few releases and sustainings of Area Seventies happen in October, when President Henry B. Eyring leads out in the sustaining. ADDITIONAL NOTE: We know that, at the very least, the following currently-serving Area Seventies, who have been called to be mission presidents, will be released: Kent J. Allen, Jeffrey D. Cummings, Hernán D. Ferreira, Brent J. Hillier, Alfred Kyungu, D. Zackary Smith, Wenceslao H. Svec, and Fabian I. Vallejo. RESULT:

Primary General Presidency: Rosemary M. Wixom released as President, Cheryl A. Esplin released as First Counselor, and Mary R. Durham released as Second Counselor. New Primary General Presidency sustained, perhaps with Mary R. Durham being sustained as the new Primary General President or one of the counselors. NOTE: Rosemary M. Wixom, the Primary General President, and her First Counselor Cheryl A. Esplin, have served since April 2010, a period spanning 6 years. In the earlier days of the Church, tenures of general auxiliary presidencies were not set to any specific length of time. But for at least the last 20 years, tenure lengths for general auxiliary presidencies are generally set at 5 years (with a minimum of 6 years if new presidency members are sustained without a total reorganization of the presidency). It makes sense that Sisters Wixom and Esplin would be released. It has been a relatively common practice for members of General Presidencies who have been in a year, as Mary R. Durham has, to be retained in a newly called presidency. So it would make sense if the changes above take place. RESULT:

Prediction for Church Statistics at the end of 2015

Stakes	3,174
Missions	417
Districts	580
Wards and Branches	30,061
Total Church Membership	15,683,533
Children of Record Increase	114,655
Convert Baptisms	307,541
Full-Time Missionaries	84,091
Church Service Missionaries	32,102
Temples Dedicated	5 (Cordoba Argentina, Payson Utah, Trujillo Peru, Indianapolis Indiana, Tijuana Mexico)
Temples Rededicated	2 (Mexico City Mexico, Montreal Quebec Canada)
Temples Operating	149

Temple Predictions: 3+ temples announced around the world, with the most likely candidates being American Samoa (Pago Pago); Arkansas (Bentonville); Paraguay (Ciudad del Este); Utah (Layton or Lehi); Brazil (Belo Horizonte); Venezuela (Maracaibo; temple proposed by President Hinckley); Philippines (Davao); Bolivia (La Paz); Texas (Fort Worth); Colorado (Colorado Springs); Austria (Vienna); Arizona (Chandler); Mexico (Guadalajara); Guatemala (Villa Nueva); Ecuador (Quito); New Zealand (Auckland); Texas (Katy); Idaho (Pocatello); Zimbabwe (Harare); Uganda; Kenya (Nairobi (proposed by President Hinckley); Nevada (Henderson); Peru (Iquitos);  California (Long Beach); Philippines (Quezon City); Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar) and Mexico (Cuernavaca).

Well, what do you think?