The Church is on track to have 200 temples in operation by the 200th anniversary of the Church

I tried just barely to post this comment on the LDS Church Growth Blog, but apparently it was too wordy for one comment. I reproduce it here in its entirety to announce that I believe the Church is well on track to have 200 temples in operation by the 200th anniversary of the Church.

According to Rick Satterfield's LDS Church Temples website (which, as I have previously said, I follow religiously), the original intention was the that groundbreaking for the Rio  de Janeiro Brazil temple would not take place nor even be scheduled until after this year's Olympics so as not to steal the thunder of that world-famous event. Over time, the website's estimated groundbreaking date shifted to late 2016, then was further adjusted to either late 2016 or early 2017. It has been just recently that the site's estimated groundbreaking date has been completely removed. It is still noted, as it was well before the Olympics even started, that the plans have been approved by the local government, and that it is in the construction preparation phase. But beyond that, no date, actual or estimated, is indicated.

The specific listing for that temple on his site simply notes that nothing has been officially announced. Obviously, with the inside information at his fingertips, he has seemed to feel less confident in firming up an estimated groundbreaking date. In point of fact, according to what I have been able to surmise from following his website so closely and from looking into specific listings for other temples, it appears that the Arequipa Peru temple has now taken the top spot in terms of how soon a groundbreaking might be announced. Without knowing for sure how dated the above-mentioned link is, I don't feel confident in making a guess at a potential groundbreaking date for either temple.

But I never would have guessed that the Winnipeg Manitoba temple would be the next one to have a groundbreaking scheduled. To me, this demonstrates the fact that estimating the readiness of announced temples for future groundbreakings is next to impossible and perhaps even highly speculative. That said, I felt fairly certain that the dedication of the Hartford Connecticut temple this Sunday would likely serve as the last temple-related event this year. I was blindsided by how fast things progressed and were scheduled in Winnipeg.

That said, from what I have been able to surmise, it appears most likely that the Arequipa Peru temple will be next, followed by Rio de Janeiro Brazil, Urdaneta Philippines, Port-au-Prince Haiti, Bangkok Thailand, (All of which are in the planning and approval phase and, depending factors of local approval and support, the availability of people to construct them, and how committed the construction process and those involved are, the order thereof may be altered.) and finally Abidjan Ivory Coast and the four temples announced this year. There is obviously a chance that this could change, but that seems to be the order in which these temples will commence construction. As to a specific date for any of these, as we have seen, even in the commencement of construction, there may be delays spanning several years.

For example, I know that though a groundbreaking was held in 2011 for the Fortaleza Brazil temple, due to government-imposed delays, construction on that temple did not begin in earnest until this year. Ground was broken for the Rome Italy temple in 2010. It has yet to be completed, though it is estimated that construction will only conclude in 2018. On the other hand, the Star Valley Wyoming temple construction spanned about a year and a half. Cedar City is expected to be completed in 2017, following two years of construction.

In following temple progress, I have noticed that Utah temples seem to go up the fastest, with construction ranging from 1-2 years. In the United States, the average seems to be 1-3 years. Construction of international temples can range from 1 to as many as 15 years. And I can never forget the 40 years it took to complete the construction of the Salt Lake Temple. Regardless of how long construction takes or when future groundbreakings may occur, one constant has been the massive and swift expansion of the number of operating temples.

It took the Church over 167 years to have its first 50 temples. About one year later, President Hinckley introduced his revelation to build smaller temples (with that fact alone completely debunking the false claim that there are no modern-day revelations), along with the goal of having 100 temples by the year 2000, doubling the number of those in operation. This goal was met and exceeded by two. Once we had 100 operating temples, it only took the Church 16 years to get the next 50, and, I can unequivocally state, because I've done the research and followed temple progress so closely, whether or not the Church makes it an official goal, we are well on track to have 200 temples by or before the 200th anniversary of the Church.

Six more temples will have been dedicated by the end of this year alone. In doing the math, which I have, we discover that if the Church only completes three or four temples during each of the following 13 years, whether an official goal is made to do so or not, we could have as many as 200 temples or more by or before the 200th anniversary of the Church. As any of you who regularly follow this blog know, I recently did a blog post on my feelings regarding temple progress. In fact, it seems that one of my main focuses on this blog has been keeping my readers updated on temple progress. In view of the responsibility which I feel to so report, you can depend on finding all the latest temple news and developments here. In this, I hope it has or will become one of many excellent resources for the latest temple-related developments. I hope in saying this that I'm not coming across as being too vain. Thanks, as always, for reading this post.

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.