Major temple news/Temple-related progress report/Edits in Tracking Temple Progress

Hello, all. Posting very early on this Sunday morning to let you know that the Church has announced the open house and dedication dates for the Star Valley Wyoming and Hartford Connecticut temples. That announcement came from the Church on Friday, but this is the first chance I've had to post about it.

The Star Valley Wyoming temple, which was originally expected to be completed early next year, has made rapid progress. It's far enough along that the First Presidency has announced the open house, cultural celebration, and dedication. The public open house will run from Friday September 23-Saturday October 8, though tours will end early on Saturday September 24 in view of the General Women's Meeting that evening. Tours will also not take place on any Sunday or during the October General Conference weekend. The cultural celebration for the temple will take place on the evening of Saturday September 29, with the dedication to take place the next day in three sessions at 9 AM, 12 PM, and 3 PM. The dedication will be broadcast to all stake centers within the temple district and the entire state of Wyoming, with the exception of those stakes in the Fort Collins Colorado Temple District (which, as previously announced, will be dedicated just two weeks prior to the Star Valley dedication. As to the question of who might preside at that dedication, when he announced that temple, President Monson joked that he thought he'd dedicate that one, as there's good fishing up there. Due to his health issues, I would be very much surprised if President Monson could preside at that one. My guess is President Henry B. Eyring will dedicate the temple, especially if President Uchtdorf presides at the Fort Collins Colorado Temple Dedication on October 16. I also believe Elder Craig C. Christensen of the Presidency of the Seventy will be in attendance, at that dedication, because he was the one who broke ground for this temple.

The Hartford Connecticut Temple Open House will take place between Friday September 30 and Saturday October 22, excluding Sundays and General Conference weekend. The cultural celebration will take place on Saturday November 19, and the temple will be dedicated in 3 sessions on Sunday November 20, which will be held at 9 AM, 12 PM, and 3 PM, President Thomas S. Monson was the one who broke ground for this temple, but, again, his health is not good, so, if President Eyring dedicates the Star Valley Wyoming Temple, President Uchtdorf will likely preside at the Hartford Connecticut Temple Dedication.

With these additional announcements, the temple backlog has been reduced substantially. By the time the remaining five temples with a dedication date set are dedicated, it will reduce the under construction backlog to 10, one of which may still have a dedication by the end of the year. 3 more temples may, by that time, have a groundbreaking announced or done, briging the announced temple backlog down to 5. Of those 5, 2 have a site identified, The other three we are waiting on do not yet have a site announced, though that could change any day.

In light of these events, I don't think I would be out of line in saying that I am very certain about the fact that more temples will be announced next weekend. I'm anticipating 3 or more to be so announced. Now, a brief review of the timing involved. By the end of this year, we could have as many as 156 temples by the end of the year. I'm hoping enough progress will be made on temple construction for those anticipated to be dedicated next year that the dedications will be spread out rather than all happening in late 2017, as the LDS Church Temples site predicts. Still, if all of those 4 temples that might be completed in 2017 are completed, that would definitely be keeping with the average of 3 per year. Then there are 5 more slated for completion in 2018. One temple is already slated for completion in 2019, and with one more groundbreaking scheduled and two or three pending, it's not unreasonable to guess that there will be at least 3 dedications in 2019. If we add to that 3 or more announced per year, that would slate others for completion in 2019 and 2020. I still believe the Church may soon set a goal to have 200 temples by the 200th anniversary of the restoration of the Church. And, as we can see, that is very much in reach. So exciting!

To help my readers make sense of all that's going on with temples, I include my updated list of upcoming temple-related events, followed by my personal record of temple progress. Please note that on this list, for this time, I have switched the numbering of some temples. I have assigned the Durban South Africa temple (groundbreaking scheduled) and the Rio de Janeiro Brazil and Arequipa Peru temples (which two I have switched on my list based on their reportedly progressing towards having a groundbreaking date announced) earlier numbers than the Fortaleza Brazil temple, which, though it had its groundbreaking in 2011, has not made much progress. I have a feeling that ground will be broken in Durban, Rio de Janeiro, and Arequipa before any further progress is made on the Fortaleza Brazil temple, I have even wondered if the Fortaleza Brazil temple plans will be scrapped or a new site found and groundbreaking scheduled. Time will tell. Anyways, here are the lists. Enjoy, and I will try to write again later today to report on the General Women's Meeting and how my predictions for that panned out.

Temple Construction Progress (current as of 3/25/16)

Current Temple Status: 150 operating, 15 under construction (5 scheduled for dedication), 8 announced (1 groundbreaking scheduled and 2 groundbreakings anticipated to be announced soon), 4 undergoing renovation (1 scheduled for rededication).

Dedication scheduled:

151. Sapporo Japan Temple: Exterior floodlighting operational; work progressing on interior; scheduled to be dedicated Sunday August 21, 2016.

152. Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple: Inscription stones attached; exterior completed; grounds work underway; scheduled to be dedicated Sunday September 18, 2016.

153. Fort Collins Colorado Temple: Lampposts installed on the grounds; interior work underway; scheduled to be dedicated Sunday October 16, 2016.

154. Star Valley Wyoming Temple: Art glass installed on steeple; laying shingles on steeple; scheduled to be dedicated Sunday October 30, 2016.

155. Hartford Connecticut Temple: Attachment of exterior stone cladding nearing completion; scheduled to be dedicated Sunday November 20, 2016.

Under Construction:

156. Paris France Temple: Attachment of exterior stone cladding nearing completion; completion anticipated sometime between late 2016 and early 2017.

157. Rome Italy Temple: Spire framework attached to both towers; interior work progressing; completion anticipated sometime during late 2017.

158. Meridian Idaho Temple: Installing windows; work progressing on interior; completion anticipated sometime during late 2017.

159. Cedar City Utah Temple: Structural framing completed; attachment of exterior panels underway; completion anticipated sometime during late 2017.

160. Tucson Arizona Temple: Exterior panels being attached; completion anticipated sometime between late 2017 and early 2018.

161. Concepcion Chile Temple: Rebar rising for main level shear walls; completion anticipated sometime during late 2018.

162. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Ground broken on Saturday December 5, 2015; completion anticipated sometime during late 2018.

163. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Ground broken on Friday, February 12, 2016; completion anticipated sometime during late 2018.

164. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Ground broken on Saturday February 20, 2016; completion anticipated sometime between early-and-mid 2019.

168. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Full-scale construction pending; completion date TBD (To be determined).

Groundbreaking scheduled:

165. Durban South Africa Temple: Preparing for groundbreaking ceremony; groundbreaking scheduled for Saturday April 9, 2016.

Rededication scheduled:

33. Freiberg Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; adding extension; steeple covered; scheduled to be rededicated Sunday September 4, 2016.

Undergoing Renovation:

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; interior remodeling underway; rededication anticipated sometime between late 2016 and early 2017.

41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication anticipated sometime during mid-2017.

20. Jordan River Utah Temple: Closed for renovation; construction trailers on site; rededication anticipated sometime during late 2017.

Announced:

166. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Construction preparation phase; plans approved by local government; groundbreaking date anticipated to be announced soon.

167. Arequipa Peru Temple: Construction preparation phase; temple site rezoned; acquiring building permits; groundbreaking date anticipated to be announced soon.

169. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Planning and approval phase; groundbreaking pending.

170. Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple: Planning phase.

171. Bangkok Thailand Temple: Planning phase.

172. Urdaneta Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

173. Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

Key:

Bolded numbers and text denote temples whose number 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 number may change based on the order in which future dedications and groundbreakings are scheduled.

Underlined numbers and text denote temples whose number may change based on the order in which their future groundbreakings are announced.

Upcoming Temple Events:

1.      Saturday April 9—Durban South Africa Temple Groundbreaking (150 operating, 16 under construction, 7 announced, 4 undergoing renovation)

NOTE: The question of who will preside at this groundbreaking has not been addressed. It could be any member of the First Presidency (with the most likely candidate being President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, who hasn’t presided at a temple-related event yet this year) or Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (with the most likely candidates being either Elder David A. Bednar or Neil L. Andersen, who seem to have some role in overseeing the progress of the Church in Africa), a member of the Presidency of the Seventy or one of the General Authority Seventies, with the most likely candidates being one of the members of the Africa Southeast Area Presidency: either Elder Carl B. Cook, Elder Stanley G. Ellis, or Elder Kevin S. Hamilton.

2.      Sunday August 21—Sapporo Japan Temple Dedication (151 operating, 15 under construction, 7 announced, 4 undergoing renovation)

NOTE: If President Uchtdorf presides at the previous dedication, President Eyring will likely preside at this dedication. It would also not surprise me if Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles accompanied whoever is presiding, since he as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy was serving as president of the Asia North Area, presided at the groundbreaking.

3.      Sunday September 4—Freiberg Germany Temple Rededication (151 operating, 15 under construction, 7 announced, 3 undergoing renovation)

NOTE: Since President Uchtdorf is a native German, and since President Eyring may preside at the previous dedication, it would make sense if he (President Uchtdorf) presides at this rededication.

4.      Sunday September 18—Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple Dedication (152 operating, 14 under construction, 7 announced, 3 undergoing renovation)

NOTE: If President Uchtdorf presides at the previous rededication, and since President Eyring was the one who broke ground for this temple, it would make sense if he (President Eyring) presides at this dedication.

5.      Sunday October 16—Fort Collins Colorado Temple Dedication (153 operating, 13 under construction, 7 announced, 3 undergoing renovation)

NOTE: If President Eyring presides at the previous dedication, it would make sense if President Uchtdorf is asked to preside at this dedication. It is also not unreasonable to believe that Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will accompany whoever the presiding authority is, as Elder Rasband originally presided over the groundbreaking for this temple.

6.      Sunday October 30—Star Valley Wyoming Temple Dedication (154 operating, 12 under construction, 7 announced, 3 undergoing renovation)

NOTE: If President Uchtdorf presides at the previous dedication, it would make sense if President Eyring is asked to preside at this dedication. It would also not surprise me if Elder Craig C. Christensen of the Presidency of the Seventy was one of the participants in the dedication. When this temple was originally announced, President Monson joked that he thought he’d dedicate that one because there’s good fishing up there, but as he hasn’t presided over a temple dedication in two years and as he may not be in the best of health, it is more likely that President Eyring will preside.

7.      Sunday November 20—Hartford Connecticut Temple Dedication (155 operating, 11 under construction, 7 announced, 3 undergoing renovation)

NOTE: If President Eyring presides at the previous temple dedication, the odds are very good that President Uchtdorf will preside at this temple dedication. President Monson was the one who presided at the groundbreaking, but as he is reportedly not in very good health, President Uchtdorf is more than likely the one who will be asked to preside.

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!