Important temple strides

Hello, all! Hope you are well. I wanted to post today with news that the Philadelpha Pennsylvania Temple was dedicated today, one day after the most recent anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. As I expected, President Eyring presided at that event. He was accompanied by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Presidency of the Seventy, who has supervisory responsibilities for the North America Northeast Area and Elders Larry Y. Wilson of the Seventy (who serves as the temple department executive director) and Anthony D. Perkins (who may be an assistant executive director for the temple department).

Additionally, trees and bushes are being placed on the grounds of the Meridian Idaho temple.

Here is an updated list of Church temple progress:

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 9/18/16)

Current Temple Status: 152 operating; 

3 scheduled for dedication; 11 under construction; 3 undergoing renovation; 11 announced (As many as 3 groundbreaking announcements may be made soon).

Dedication scheduled:

153. Fort Collins Colorado Temple: Preparing for dedication, scheduled on Sunday October 16, 2016.

154. Star Valley Wyoming Temple: Accepting reservations for public open house, scheduled September 23-October 8; dedication scheduled on Sunday October 30, 2016.

155. Hartford Connecticut Temple: Accepting reservations for public open house scheduled September 30-October 22; dedication scheduled on Sunday November 20, 2016.

Under Construction:

156. Paris France Temple: Stained glass installation underway; entrance landscaping progressing; completion estimated sometime in early-to-mid 2017.

157. Meridian Idaho Temple: Concrete slab in place for monument sign; planting trees and bushes; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

158. Cedar City Utah Temple: Angel Moroni placed on September 15, 2016; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

159. Tucson Arizona Temple: Retaining walls in place; pouring concrete parking lot; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

160. Rome Italy Temple: Interior work underway including some material replacement and rework; completion estimated sometime in the first half of 2018.

161. Concepcion Chile Temple: Pouring walls for base of tower; preparing to attach exterior panels; completion estimated sometime in late 2018.

162. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Foundation poured and backfilled; completion estimated sometime between late 2018 and early 2019.

163. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Foundation walls going up; Elder Renlund visits temple site in August; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

164.  Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Forms and rebar set in anticipation of pouring foundation walls; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

165. Durban South Africa Temple: Sinking piles for foundation and terracing soil; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

166. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Site clearing underway; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

Undergoing Renovation:

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; finish work underway; resurfacing and restriping parking lot; rededication estimated sometime during the first quarter of 2017.

20. Jordan River Utah Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication estimated sometime in late 2017.

41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication estimated sometime in 2018.

Announced:

167. Arequipa Peru Temple: No groundbreaking date set, however, construction is pending, and, according to the contractor for the project, that construction may begin later this year.

168. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: No groundbreaking set. However, construction anticipated to begin late this year or early next year.

169. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Approval and permitting phase; temple fireside held September 11, 2016; groundbreaking anticipated for early 2017.

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

171. Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

172. Bangkok Thailand Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

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

174. Quito Ecuador Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

175. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

176. Belem Brazil Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

177. Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

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 denotes changes from the last posted temple progress update/

Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple Will Be Dedicated This Sunday/Temple Strides/Updated Temple Progress Report

The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple will be dedicated this Sunday. It will be the 152nd operating temple in the Church. This leaves us with the question of who will preside at this dedication. The most likely candidate in my mind is President Henry B. Eyring, who broke ground for the temple. The only way he won't be there is if his wife's health makes it impossible. As to who might accompany him apostle-wise, that's anyone's guess.

In the meantime, there have been some major strides in temple construction progress. Among the highlights are the fact that we now have two temples preparing for dedication, and two more having their open house. Also, the Cedar City temple received its Angel Moroni yesterday. There was a great turnout for that event, even though it had not been formally scheduled. Additionally, work has finally begun on the Lisbon Portugal temple, with the report coming in that site clearing is underway.

With these important strides, I have felt it appropriate to repost my temple construction progress list. Since it has been a week since I have done so, the report contains a lot of red text, indicating changes from the previous report. One change I wanted to note is that I have put the temples under construction higher on the list than those being renovated, as no rededications have been announced. Please enjoy the list and let me know what you think.

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 9/16/16)

Current Temple Status: 151 operating4 scheduled for dedication; 11 under construction; 3 undergoing renovation; 11 announced (As many as 3 groundbreaking announcements may be made soon).

152. Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple: Preparing for dedication, scheduled on Sunday September 18, 2016.

153. Fort Collins Colorado Temple: Preparing for dedication, scheduled on Sunday October 16, 2016.

154. Star Valley Wyoming Temple: Accepting reservations for public open house, scheduled September 23-October 8; dedication scheduled on Sunday October 30, 2016.

155. Hartford Connecticut Temple: Accepting reservations for public open house scheduled September 30-October 22; dedication scheduled on Sunday November 20, 2016.

Under Construction:

156. Paris France Temple: Stained glass installation underway; entrance landscaping progressing; completion estimated sometime in early-to-mid 2017.

157. Meridian Idaho Temple: Concrete slab in place for monument sign; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

158. Cedar City Utah Temple: Angel Moroni placed on September 15, 2016; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

159. Tucson Arizona Temple: Retaining walls in place; pouring concrete parking lot; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

160. Rome Italy Temple: Interior work underway including some material replacement and rework; completion estimated sometime in the first half of 2018.

161. Concepcion Chile Temple: Pouring walls for base of tower; preparing to attach exterior panels; completion estimated sometime in late 2018.

162. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Foundation poured and backfilled; completion estimated sometime between late 2018 and early 2019.

163. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Foundation walls going up; Elder Renlund visits temple site in August; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

164.  Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Forms and rebar set in anticipation of pouring foundation walls; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

165. Durban South Africa Temple: Sinking piles for foundation and terracing soil; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

166. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Site clearing underway; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

Undergoing Renovation:

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; finish work underway; resurfacing and restriping parking lot; rededication estimated sometime during the first quarter of 2017.

20. Jordan River Utah Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication estimated sometime in late 2017.

41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication estimated sometime in 2018.

Announced:

167. Arequipa Peru Temple: No groundbreaking date set, however, construction is pending, and, according to the contractor for the project, that construction may begin later this year.

168. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: No groundbreaking set. However, construction anticipated to begin late this year or early next year.

169. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Approval and permitting phase; temple fireside held September 11, 2016; groundbreaking anticipated for early 2017.

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

171. Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

172. Bangkok Thailand Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

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

174. Quito Ecuador Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

175. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

176. Belem Brazil Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

177. Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

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 denotes changes from the last posted temple progress update.

General Conference Predictions--Final Version

I am posting a list of all of my predictions for General Conference next month. Please note that I have trimmed down my list of temples that may be announced soon to the final 15 or 16. Let me know what you think/ Thanks for your readership and interest.

October 2016 General Conference Predictions

Speaking Order (Text in brackets indicated what actually happened.)

Session	Conducting	Speaker
General Women’s	Linda K. Burton	Bonnie H. Cordon
		Carole M. Stephens
		Bonnie L. Oscarson
		President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Saturday Morning	President Henry B. Eyring	President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
		Elder Robert D. Hales
		Elder Craig C. Christensen
		Joy D. Jones
		Elder Yoon Hwan Choi
		Elder Juan A. Uceda
		President Russell M. Nelson
Saturday Afternoon	President Dieter F. Uchtdorf	President Henry B. Eyring (Sustaining of Church Officers)
		Elder Gary E. Stevenson
		Elder Dale G. Renlund
		Elder W. Mark Bassett
		Elder Mark A. Bragg
		Elder Weatherford T. Clayton
		Elder Quentin L. Cook
		Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Saturday Priesthood	President Henry B. Eyring	Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
		Bishop Gerald Causse
		President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
		President Henry B. Eyring
		President Thomas S. Monson
Sunday Morning	President Dieter F. Uchtdorf	President Thomas S. Monson
		Elder David A. Bednar
		Elder Lynn G. Robbins
		Linda S. Reeves
		Elder Dallin H. Oaks
		President Henry B. Eyring
Sunday Afternoon	President Henry B. Eyring	Elder Ronald A. Rasband
		Elder M. Russell Ballard
		Brian K. Ashton
		Elder Valeri V. Cordon
		Elder Joaquin E. Costa
		Elder Massimo De Feo
		Elder Neil L. Andersen

 Changes in General Church Leadership

General Authority Seventies: Elders Daniel L. Johnson and Francisco J. Vinas released from the First Quorum of the Seventy and Elder Kent F. Richards released from the Second Quorum of the Seventy and granted emeritus status. NOTE: Since the First and Second Quorum members are referred to as General Authority Seventies, any releases and emeritus statuses will be mentioned in a group. ADDITIONAL NOTE: Only Elder Richards is 70 currently, but the Church has been known to release and grant emeritus status to brethren that turn 70 within a given year. In this case, that means that those born in 1946 who will be 70 by the end of the year are most likely to be granted emeritus status. There may be more releases, as last October, one general authority seventy was granted emeritus status for a reason not specified, and that particular GA Seventy was under 70 and had been in the Second Quorum for six years. The following additional brethren who have served in the Second Quorum for seven years may therefore also be granted emeritus status: Bradley D. Foster and Gregory A. Schwitzer. If I had to fine-tune this prediction, I would say that only Elders Johnson, Richards and Vinas will be granted emeritus status. RESULT:

Area Seventies: Releases and sustainings. NOTE: It has generally been a rule that most changes in Area Seventies happen during April General Conference, when President Dieter F. Uchtdorf leads out in the sustaining of Church officers. It also has generally been a rule that only a few changes in Area Seventies happen during October General Conference, when President Henry B. Eyring leads out in the sustaining. RESULT:

Temple Predictions:

3+ temples announced in any of the following cities and states:

Managua Nicaragua, Port Moresby Papua New Guinea; Bentonville Arkansas; Freetown Sierra Leone; Kampala Uganda; Nairobi Kenya; Lehi/Layton Utah; Budapest Hungary; Pocatello Idaho; La Paz Bolivia; El Paso Texas; Puebla Mexico; Edinburgh Scotland; Brasilia/Belo Horizonte Brazil; Neuquen Argentina.

RESU;LT: The following (# of temples announced goes here) were announced, much to my great delight: