Temple Construction Progress

In spite of the fact that there were no new temples announced this conference, some outstanding developments have taken place on the temple news front since my last posted update on September 30. As always, the changes since the last posted update are highlighted in red. Enjoy!

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 10/4/16)

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: Public open house tours underway through Saturday October 8; dedication scheduled on Sunday October 30, 2016.

155. Hartford Connecticut Temple: Public open house tours underway through Saturday October 22; dedication scheduled on Sunday November 20, 2016.

Under Construction:

156. Paris France Temple: Interior work underway; open house committee assembled; completion anticipated sometime during the first half of 2017.

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

158. Cedar City Utah Temple: Pouring concrete curbing and walkways; installing fence posts; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.

159. Tucson Arizona Temple: Pouring concrete parking lot; interior work underway; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.

160. Rome Italy Temple: Interior work progressing; completion anticipated sometime in the first half of 2018.

161. Concepcion Chile Temple: Steeple framework going up; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

162. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Foundation poured and backfilled; pouring interior footings; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

163. Durban South Africa Temple: Preparing to pour foundation; laying aggregate for parking; street entrance cut; hydroseeding sloped land; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

164. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Foundation walls going up; completion anticipated sometime in 2019.

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

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

Undergoing Renovation:

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; finish work underway; resurfacing and restriping parking lot; rededication anticipated sometime during early 2017.

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

41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication anticipated 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 anticipated to begin sometime during late 2016.

168. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Permitting phase; temple fireside held September 11, 2016; groundbreaking anticipated in either late 2016 or early 2017.

169. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: No groundbreaking set. However, construction anticipated to begin in either late 2016 or 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.

Changes in General Church Leadership/The Health of the Brethren

During General Conference this weekend, many changes were announced in relation to Church leadership. Daniel L. Johnson, a General Authority Seventy since 2006, and Francisco J. Vinas, a General Authority since the time of President Benson, were released from the First Quorum of the Seventy, and Elder Kent F. Richards, a General Authority Seventy since 2009, and Jairo Mazzagardi, a General Authority Seventy since 2010, were released from the Second Quorum of the Seventy. These brethren were all granted emeritus status and received a vote of thanks. This also marked the first time in several years when an actively-serving General Authority has passed away while serving. President Eyring, who led out in the sustaining, paid tribute to Elder Per G. Malm, who died of cancer earlier this year.

As has been customary the last few conferences, when the leading brethren who hold the sacred calling of apostle were sustained, several people vocally expressed their opposition to their sustaining. Despite the constant invitation given to these people, rather than taking the matter up with their stake presidents, they continue to oppose the vote to sustain. If that weren't enough, the sustaining, which is supposed to be a silent vote of support, became the target of vituperative people who chose to verbally state their opposition. These people were hell-bent on stirring up trouble. But as has been the case during the sustaining, those opposed were treated with great respect.

It is tragic that the ritual of sustaining of our Church leaders has been marred by people who only want to stir up trouble. I take comfort in the knowledge that these people will one day stand accountable before God for failing to sustain the leaders the Lord has put into place.

We also were witness to how the Brethren are doing health-wise. President Monson looks frail. I will be amazed if he makes it to the next General Conference. And Elder Hales's talk sounded a lot like a final testimony to me. I hope I am wrong on both counts. But if these brethren are meant to pass, I take comfort in knowing that there is a system of succession in place. We never again have to ask what will happen if any of these brethren pass. And we can take comfort in the fact that if and when that happens, the Lord's plan is perfected to the point where we never again have to wonder what will happen to the Church.

By contrast, our oldest apostle, President Nelson, is looking as hale and hearty as ever. I have a feeling he will live to become the oldest living apostle/prophet in Church history. At 92, he shows no signs of slowing down. And he will live for several more years, I'm sure. I would be very much surprised if he does not become the next prophet. When that will happen remains to be seen.

Just by way of information, as of Sunday, the average age of the First Presidency members is 82.79, while the average age of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is 74.34, and the average age of the 15 apostles together is 76.03. It is interesting to note that some of the apostles are much older than the average, and some are much younger. How blessed we are to have constant, continuous access to the words of these great men. Hope you enjoyed this post.

General Conference Predictions Results

Here are the results of how my predictions for General Conference turned out.

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 [Jean B. Bingham]
		Carole M. Stephens
		Bonnie L. Oscarson
		President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Saturday Morning	President Henry B. Eyring	President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
		Elder Robert D. Hales
	[Carol F. McConkie]	Elder Craig C. Christensen
	[Elder Craig C. Christensen]	Joy D. Jones
	[Elder Juan A. Uceda]	Elder Yoon Hwan Choi
	[Elder J. Devn Cornish]	Elder Juan A. Uceda
	[Elder Neil L. Andersen]	President Russell M. Nelson
Saturday Afternoon	President Dieter F. Uchtdorf	President Henry B. Eyring (Sustaining of Church Officers)
	[Elder Quentin L. Cook]	Elder Gary E. Stevenson
	[Elder Gary E. Stevenson]	Elder Dale G. Renlund
	[Elder D. Todd Christofferson]	Elder W. Mark Bassett
	[Elder W. Mark Bassett]	Elder Mark A. Bragg
	[Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita]	Elder Weatherford T. Clayton
	[Elder Dallin H. Oaks]	Elder Quentin L. Cook
	[No one]	Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Saturday Priesthood	President Henry B. Eyring	Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
		Bishop Gerald Causse [Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr.]
		President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
		President Henry B. Eyring
		President Thomas S. Monson
Sunday Morning	President Dieter F. Uchtdorf	President Thomas S. Monson
	[President Russell M. Nelson]	Elder David A. Bednar
	[Elder Peter F. Meurs]	Elder Lynn G. Robbins
		Linda S. Reeves
	[Elder M. Russell Ballard] [Bishop Dean M. Davies] [Elder Lynn G. Robbins]	Elder Dallin H. Oaks
		President Henry B. Eyring
Sunday Afternoon	President Henry B. Eyring	Elder Ronald A. Rasband [Elder David A. Bednar]
		Elder M. Russell Ballard [Brian K. Ashton]
		Brian K. Ashton [Elder Carl B. Cook]
		Elder Valeri V. Cordon [Elder Ronald A. Rasband]
		Elder Joaquin E. Costa [Elder Evan A. Schmutz]
		Elder Massimo De Feo[Elder K. Brett Nattress]
		Elder Neil L. Andersen [Elder Dale G. Renlund]

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: Daniel L. Johnson, Jairo Mazzagardi, Kent F. Richards, and Francisco J. Vinas were released and granted emeritus status.

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: One area seventy was released and two were sustained.

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.

RESULT: No new temples were announced.

Note that I gave myself a point for the fact that, while she did not speak, Sister Joy D. Jones did participate in the Saturday Morning Session, she said the opening prayer. I also am giving myself a point for the fact that Bonnie H. Cordon gave the closing prayer in the General Women's Session, so she did have some involvement in the session,

89.75/138=65.04%

I was once again blown away by what actually transpired during General Conference vs. what I had predicted. Some things I was absolutely right about, and so many curveballs were thrown. As always, I enjoyed conference greatly. I am pleased to announce that the transcripts for the talks are up now. Click here to review those wonderful, inspiring messages. The next couple of posts I will do will deal directly with conference-related developments. Enjoy!