BREAKING NEWS: The apostle most likely to dedicate the Hartford Connecticut Temple this Sunday

While I am consistently increasing the number of people who regularly read my blog, I'm honestly not sure how many of you read any posted comments. This late breaking news post is necessary because of something a guy named Kenny said in a comment on my latest blog post.

 He said he thought he recalled hearing that either Elder M. Russell Ballard or Elder Jeffrey R. Holland had some ties to the Connecticut area. Being the naturally curious person that I am when it comes to knowing or learning as much as I can about our apostles, I did my research. I simply googled "Which LDS apostle has ties to Connecticut?"

One of the top results was the biography of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, which reported him doing some post-graduate studying in the Connecticut area, which is where he first launched his lifelong teaching career. He even served in two stake presidencies during the time he resided in the area.

Given Elder Holland's special connection to the area and the people in it, and given the fact that Elder David A. Bednar was asked to preside at the dedication of the Star Valley Wyoming temple primarily because of his wife's ties to Star Valley, I now feel safe in predicting that either Elder Holland himself will preside at the dedication of the Hartford temple this Sunday, or else he will accompany the one who presides. But of the two options, given the Star Valley precedent, I think it most likely he will be the one to preside. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. My thanks to all those who tnot only ake time to read not only my main posts, but who also wade through the few but often profound and sometimes overlooked comments on this blog.

I have often said that I began blogging as a way to personally digitize and journal the events of my life. When the blog became mainly about Church news, I know I may have lost some who, up to that point, had consistently checked it. But I very much appreciate and tip my hat off to all those who continue to come back for more, whether the focus is on Church news or us personally. I cannot overstate the significance I feel is lent to this blog and its content because of those who care enough to regularly check it, regardless of whether they see my posts advertised on Facebook or in the comments of the LDS Church Blog.

When I first started "sounding off" online, I didn't think my blog would ever be significant or far-reaching, nor could I imagine regular readers and followers who without fail read everything I post, regardless of the nature of the content. And to think there are people out there who not only read my blog but take time to read and sometimes respond to the comments here. This blog will likely never have as much traffic as blogs such as the LDS Church Growth blog, or even the Church's main blog, but it doesn't have to. It is more than enough for me to know that I have even a handful of regular readers who are paying attention to anything and everything posted here. I have even had a couple of people who got to know me through this blog with whom I am now friends on Facebook, and I never in my wildest dreams could have conceived that this blog would be the success it is. Thanks again, and may the Lord bless you all.

Winnipeg Temple Groundbreaking Ceremony Announced

Didn't find out about this until just barely when I was checking the Church websites, but on Wednesday, the Church announced that the groundbreaking for the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple would take place on Saturday December 3 at noon Winnipeg time (which is 11 am MST). I was excited and elated to hear of this news. Elder Ulisses Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy has been asked to preside at the event, and Elder Larry Y. Wilson, Executive Director of the Church's Temple Department, will also be in attendance.

With this announcement, obviously edits to my list of upcoming temple-related events and my temple construction progress report were in order. The updates are posted below. Enjoy, and let me know your thoughts.

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 11/17/16)

Current Temple Status: 154 operating; 2 scheduled for dedication; 10 under construction; 1 groundbreaking scheduled; 1 scheduled for rededication; 2 undergoing renovation; 11 announced; (NOTE: Up to 2 additional temples may soon have a groundbreaking scheduled).

Dedication scheduled:

155. Hartford Connecticut Temple: Preparing for dedication; dedication scheduled on Sunday November 20, 2016.

156. Paris France Temple: Interior work underway; open house and dedication dates announced; scheduled to be dedicated on Sunday May 21, 2017.

Under Construction:

157. Meridian Idaho Temple: Adding landscaping structures; installing fence posts and lamp posts; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.

158. Cedar City Utah Temple: Installing sprinkler systems and planting bushes; installing window frames and art glass; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.

159. Tucson Arizona Temple: Pouring concrete parking lot; adding landscaping structures; 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 installed; walls poured for guard house; paving main entrance; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

162. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Building the exterior walls; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

163. Durban South Africa Temple: Foundation columns poured; fencing the property; storm water system in place; landscaping entrance mounds; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

164. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Exterior walls rising; completion anticipated sometime between 2018 and 2019.

165. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Erecting structural framing; completion anticipated sometime in 2019.

166. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Temple site cleared; preparing to pour meetinghouse footings; completion anticipated sometime in 2019.

Groundbreaking scheduled:

167. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Plans approved September 12, 2016; groundbreaking scheduled for Saturday December 3, 2016.

Scheduled for rededication:

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; finish work underway; rededication scheduled for Sunday June 4, 2017.

Undergoing Renovation:

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:

168. Arequipa Peru Temple: General contractor selected; groundbreaking pending.

169. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Construction preparation phase; plans approved by local government; groundbreaking pending.

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.

Upcoming Temple Events (Text in parentheses indicates what the status of temples will be following the event listed):

2016

1.      Sunday November 20—Hartford Connecticut Temple Dedication (156 operating; 10 under construction; 1 groundbreaking scheduled; 3 undergoing renovation; 10 announced. (As many as 2 temples may soon have a groundbreaking announced)

NOTE: Since the health of the Brethren remains unclear, it is anyone’s guess who might be asked to preside at this dedication. Previous precedent indicates it may be any member of the First Presidency (with President Uchtdorf being the most likely candidate, as he is apparently the most functioning member of that body) or any of the apostles, as Elder Bednar presided at the last temple dedication.

2.      Saturday December 3—Winnipeg Manitoba Temple Groundbreaking (156 operating; 11 under construction; 3 undergoing renovation; 10 announced (As many as 2 temples may soon have a groundbreaking scheduled.))

NOTE: Elder Ulisses Soares, who oversees the work of the Church in the Church’s area in which this temple will be built, has been asked to preside at this groundbreaking.

2017

1.      Sunday May 21—Paris France Temple Dedication (157 operating; 10 under construction; 3 undergoing renovation; 10 announced (As many as 2 temples may soon have a groundbreaking scheduled.))

NOTE: Since the health of the Brethren remains unclear, it is anyone’s guess who might be asked to preside at this dedication. Previous precedent indicates it may be any member of the First Presidency (with President Uchtdorf being the most likely candidate, as he is apparently the most functioning member of that body) or any of the apostles.

2.      Sunday June 4—Idaho Falls Idaho Temple Rededication (156 operating; 10 under construction; 2 undergoing renovation; 10 announced (Up to 3 temples may soon have a groundbreaking scheduled.))

NOTE: Since the health of the brethren remains unclear, it is anyone’s guess who might be asked to preside at this dedication. If President Eyring, a former Ricks College president, is able to be there, he might be assigned to do so. Since Elder Bednar, a former BYU-Idaho president, has been previously assigned to preside at a temple dedication, he might be asked to return for this rededication. Another potential candidate, according to Brother Rick Satterfield, who manages the LDS Church Temples website, is Elder Neil L. Andersen, who is from that area.

NOTE: More temple dedications, rededications, and groundbreakings are anticipated to be announced and may take place early next year. We will have to see what happens there and add such events when the time is ripe.

Further Progress Made on the Concepcion Chile Temple

Late last night and again this afternoon, in checking the LDS Church Temples website, I was elated to discover that further progress has been made on the Concepcion Chile Temple beyond what I had reported yesterday.

Yesterday, I noted that the steeple framework was being installed. That installation has finished. Additionally, walls have been poured for the guardhouse and they are working on paving the main entrance.

As I noted yesterday, it is wonderful to see such stunning progress happening in temple construction. This will always be special to me not only because of my six-year service as a temple worker, but also because it was at the same temple I worked where I met and later married the woman of my dreams. I had always been fascinated by temple progress before then, but now I glory in each wonderful construction milestone.

I will never forget the statement made by George Q. Cannon (though I had always heard it attributed to Brigham Young) to the effect that every temple built and dedicated lessens the power of Satan on the earth. I

n an era of the dispensation of the fulness of times when we will shortly have 156 temples dedicated, think how much the power of Satan has been lessened since we started building temples. It is staggering to think of.

And I am of the opinion that it is more than likely that we will see 200 temples by the 200th anniversary of the restoration and reestablishment of the Lord's Church here on the earth (which will happen on April 6, 2030). Just think how much that will lessen the power of Satan. And to think of faithful saints worldwide frequently sacrificing everything just for one visit to these sacred places of worship is awesome to think about.

As I have previously mentioned, in my six years serving at one of these temples, in two shifts per week, I calculated I was helping roughly 100 patrons per week in the labor of redeeming the dead. Multiply that by millions of workers working millions of shifts and helping millions of patrons, and the number of the redeemed dead becomes staggering.

I look forward to the day when the Savior will return on the earth. Can you imagine sitting in an April General Conference of the Church presided over by Jesus Christ and hearing a statistical report detailing a Church billions of members strong? It will be wonderful.

Let us work towards such a goal with all our hearts. Let us move forward unceasingly in the labor of redeeming the dead with the knowledge that the work we do is recorded in heaven and will one day be known to all the world. That this may be our goal and our glorious end result is my humble prayer in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.