A Temple Renovation Confirmed/Another Renovation Announced

The Church today confirmed that the renovation of the Oakland California Temple would start in February 2019 and would be expected to last roughly a year. This had been originally mentioned on the Facebook page for that temple. In the same news release, the Church also announced that the Washington D. C. Temple would close next year as well. Renovations there are expected to last roughly two years. This is exciting to hear about. And the most amazing thing to me is that the Church might be scheduling as many as two dedications (for the Rome Italy and Kinshasa DR Congo Temples) and two rededications (for the Jordan River Utah and Frankfurt Germany Temples) to take place around the same time as these two renovations begin. It will be interesting to see how that unfolds. And, I can assure you that I will, to the very best of my ability, be reporting on all such developments as I hear of them.

That said, it seems I am a little slow in reporting Church news lately. Given some personal things going on in my life, recently I have not been as on top of sharing these developments as I have previously been. Usually when I have been able to read about such things, by the time I get around to sharing them, they are old news. That said, I am very grateful to those thoughtful people who take time to share such things in comments on previous posts. It shows that this blog, though not as busy as others, has become a place where Church news can be easily reported, even if I am not always the one doing that. I am grateful for the enthusiasm that has attended these comments. Thanks to you all for helping to keep everyone aware of what is going on in Church news. I hope this blog will continue to be a place where those who comment feel safe in expressing their excitement about such things.

I do apologize that I have not been as quick lately in reporting such things as I once was when I started doing so. I have been battling some kind of virus the last couple of weeks, and we recently found out that one of my medications was causing me more harm than good, so I have not been in very good shape. I am dealing with a wide variety of physical symptoms that are making me miserable right now. I have been told that in time, hopefully sooner rather than later, I can expect a full recovery. But for now, it is severely impacting and limiting my ability to get as much done as I usually do. Prayers in my behalf would be appreciated. But do not worry. I am doing everything I can to recover. I have been getting lots of rest and keeping myself well hydrated. And I am grateful that the Lord is still giving me the strength and enthusiasm to blog as I am able to, even if my usual reports on Church news and developments are not as timely as they used to be. In no time, I fully anticipate being back to normal.

But I didn't start this blog post to bring up my personal health issues. My purpose in posting today is to share important updates I have made to my temple construction progress report and list of upcoming temple-related events. Comments and feedback of any kind are most welcome and appreciated. That said, the reports follow.

Temple Construction Progress Update (current as of 2/23/17)
Current Temple Status: 155 operating; 4 scheduled for dedication; 8 under construction; 2 groundbreakings scheduled; 1 scheduled for rededication; 2 undergoing renovation; 2 renovations scheduled; 8 announced. NOTE: In addition to the two groundbreakings already scheduled this year, the chances are very good that we will see several others also have a groundbreaking in 2017.

Dedication scheduled:
156. Paris France Temple: Open house tickets available beginning Monday February 27, 2017; dedication scheduled for Sunday May 21, 2017.
157. Tucson Arizona Temple: Desert landscaping progressing; exterior architectural details gilded; installing interior art glass and millwork; dedication scheduled for Sunday August 13, 2017.
158. Meridian Idaho Temple: Interior painting and millwork underway; dedication scheduled for Sunday November 19, 2017.
159. Cedar City Utah Temple: Installing glass; hanging drywall on interior; dedication scheduled for Sunday December 10, 2017.

Under Construction:
160. Rome Italy Temple: Interior work progressing; completion anticipated sometime between early and mid-2018.
161. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Applying waterproofing membrane to exterior walls; setting rebar; roughing in plumbing; completion anticipated sometime between early and mid-2018.
162.  Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Concrete walls poured for steeple; attaching waterproofing membrane to exterior walls; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2018.
163. Concepcion Chile Temple: Exterior cladding going up on north wall; framing the interior walls; completion anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2018.
164. Durban South Africa Temple: Laying rebar for temple floor slab; installing utility conduits; walls rising for missionary house facility; aloe plants added at entrance; completion anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2018.
165. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Parapet poured; some scaffolding coming down; preparing to pour tower base; completion anticipated sometime during early 2019.
166.  Lisbon Portugal Temple: Excavation underway for temple; structural framing going up for meetinghouse; completion anticipated sometime during early 2019.

Construction pending:

167. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Groundbreaking held Saturday December 3, 2016; awaiting commencement of full-scale operations; construction might commence in April or May; if so, completion anticipated sometime during early 2019.

Groundbreaking Scheduled:
168. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Preparing for groundbreaking; environmental license issued in November 2016; groundbreaking scheduled for Saturday March 4, 2017; barring any delays, completion anticipated sometime during late 2019.
169. Arequipa Peru Temple: Preparing for groundbreaking; erecting construction barrier; clearing and leveling site; groundbreaking scheduled for Saturday March 4, 2017; completion anticipated sometime during late 2019.

Rededication Scheduled:
8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; open house tickets available beginning Monday April 3, 2017; rededication scheduled for Sunday June 4, 2017.

Undergoing Renovation:
20. Jordan River Utah Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication anticipated sometime between early-and-mid 2018.
41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; some exterior stone removed; foundation exposed; old meetinghouse razed; rededication anticipated sometime between early-and mid-2018.

Renovation Scheduled:

13. Oakland California Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in February 2018; rededication anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.
16. Washington D. C. Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in March 2018; rededication anticipated sometime during early-to-mid 2020.

Announced:
170. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Approval and construction preparation phase; site announcement and groundbreaking anticipated sometime during 2017 (more likely sooner than later).
171. Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple: Planning and design phase; awaiting official site announcement. NOTE: According to member reports, a potential site has been identified but has yet to be confirmed.
172. Bangkok Thailand Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement. NOTE: Some reports have indicated that a Church office building may be redesigned and renovated as a multi-purpose building that will not only continue to house Church offices but also a meetinghouse in addition to a temple.
173. Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement. NOTE: Even though this was the last of the four temples that was announced most recently, and in spite of the fact that an official site has not yet been announced, the announced name for this second temple in Lima seems to indicate that it will be constructed somewhere in the Los Olivos District. For that reason, it seems appropriate to put this temple ahead of the others.
174. Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.
175. Quito Ecuador Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.
176. Belem Brazil Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.
177. Urdaneta Philippines Temple: Stalled in planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement. NOTE: Even though this temple is technically ahead of the temples listed above in terms of its status, because it is unclear why progress has been stalled or how long those delays might last, we could see any or all of the temples above have their constructions commence before anything gets resolved with this one.
NOTE: Given how much progress we have seen with temples recently, it is not hard to believe that we will see many more temples announced in the near future. There have been reports of several cities that have already had a site purchased already: Managua Nicaragua, Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, Bentonville Arkansas, and Missoula Montana. As the apostles travel, they sometimes have felt impressed to propose a temple for the areas they visit. Such temples have been proposed in New Delhi India (in June 1992 by Elder Neal A. Maxwell); Vilnius Lithuania (in May 1993 by Elder M. Russell Ballard); Nairobi Kenya (in February 1998 by President Gordon B. Hinckley); Maracaibo Venezuela (in August 1999 by President Hinckley); Singapore (in January 2000 by President Hinckley); for the Southwest Salt Lake Valley (in October 2005 by President Hinckley; NOTE: While some contend that this temple announcement has already happened, verifiable sources widely available prove otherwise); Managua Nicaragua (in January 2012 by then-Elder Russell M. Nelson; the fact that it has not only been publicly proposed but has had a site purchased for it makes it very likely); Missoula Montana (someone in 2014 by Elder David A. Bednar; while the report of this proposal has yet to be verified, the fact that there has been a purchase of a temple site seems to indicate that it is a most imminent possibility); and for the Kasai Region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (in February 2016 by Elder Neil L. Andersen). I have heard many reports of several more temple sites being procured, but the nature of those reports are such that they have yet to be verified.

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 report.

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

2017

1.   Saturday March 4—Rio de Janeiro Brazil and Arequipa Peru Temple Groundbreakings (155 operating; 4 scheduled for dedication; 10 under construction; 1 rededication scheduled; 2 undergoing renovation; 2 renovations scheduled; 8 announced. NOTE: Several additional groundbreakings may take place soon.)

NOTE: According to the LDS Church Temples website, Elder Claudio R. M. Costa, who serves as President of the Brazil Area of the Church, has been asked to preside at the groundbreaking in Rio. It is a pretty safe bet that his counselors in the area presidency, Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis and Elder W. Mark Bassett, will also be in attendance along with a representative from the Church’s Temple Department. However, assignments to preside at groundbreakings have been known to change as needed. For what it’s worth, when the 10:00 am groundbreaking takes place in Rio, it will be 5:00 am MST. The groundbreaking in Arequipa will be presided over by Elder Carlos A. Godoy, President of the South America Northwest Area, and it is more than likely that his counselors in the area presidency, Elder Enrique R. Falabella and Elder Hugo Montoya will also be in attendance. While no specific time has been announced for that groundbreaking, it might be that the groundbreaking in Peru will be held at 10:00 am Peruvian time, which would be 8:00 am MST. What is not so likely, however, is that the same Temple Department representative will be in attendance at both events. It makes more sense, logically and logistically speaking, to have two different brethren in attendance at these two events.

2.   Sunday May 21—Paris France Temple Dedication (156 operating; 3 scheduled for dedication; 9 under construction; 1 rededication scheduled; 2 undergoing renovation; 2 renovations scheduled; 8 announced. NOTE: Several other groundbreakings may be scheduled soon.)

NOTE: As to 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 choice, as he is of European nationality) or any of the apostles.

3.   Sunday June 4—Idaho Falls Idaho Temple Rededication (156 operating; 3 scheduled for dedication; 9 under construction; 2 rededications scheduled; 2 undergoing renovation;  1 renovation scheduled; 8 announced. NOTE: Several groundbreakings may be scheduled soon.)

NOTE: Since the health of the brethren remains unclear, it is anyone’s guess who might be asked to preside at this dedication. I could see three possibilities at this point: President Henry B. Eyring, a former Ricks College president; Elder David A. Bednar, a former BYU-Idaho president; or Elder Neil L. Andersen, who is an Idaho native that has personal ties to the area.

4.   Sunday August 13—Tucson Arizona Temple Dedication (157 operating; 2 scheduled for dedication; 8 under construction; 2 undergoing renovation; 2 renovations scheduled; 8 announced. NOTE: Several groundbreakings may be scheduled soon.)

      NOTE: The question of who might preside at this dedication may not be easy to resolve. Both Presidents Eyring and Uchtdorf have accompanied President Monson to previous dedications in Arizona, with the question of who may have actually presided at the most recent one in Gilbert still being largely unresolved. President Monson is listed as the presiding authority because the dedication was under his direction, and he attended at least one of the sessions. But at President Monson’s request, President Eyring read the prayer during the first session, and generally the person who reads the prayer at the first session of any dedication has been listed as presiding. This is similar to what happened with the Provo City Center Temple dedication last year. While Elder Dallin H. Oaks was listed as presiding and did preside at two of the sessions, President Russell M. Nelson attended the last one and was therefore the one to preside there. That said, it seems most likely that President Uchtdorf will preside at this one, since President Eyring might preside at the previously listed rededication in Idaho Falls and might be asked to return to Idaho to preside at the next dedication in Meridian. Additionally, since President Uchtdorf presided at the groundbreaking for this temple in 2015, it strengthens my opinion that he will return to preside at the dedication. It is also not imscheduled to believe that Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Presidency of the Seventy, who oversees the North America Southwest Area of the Church, under which Arizona falls, might be in attendance as well.

5.   Sunday November 19—Meridian Idaho Temple Dedication (158 operating; 1 scheduled for dedication; 8 under construction; 2 undergoing renovation; 2 renovations scheduled; 9 announced. NOTE: Several groundbreakings may be scheduled soon.)

      NOTE: If President Uchtdorf is asked to preside at the previous dedication, and given the fact that President Eyring has ties to Idaho, it would make sense if he (President Eyring) is asked to preside at this one. Another choice could be Elder David A. Bednar, who presided at the groundbreaking for the temple and was asked to preside at the dedication of the Star Valley Wyoming Temple, due to his wife’s personal connection to the area. Yet another option would be Elder Neil L. Andersen, who is an Idaho native. But the Church has never tapped such a junior apostle to preside at a temple dedication. It is not out of the question, however. It is also reasonable to believe that Elder Ulisses Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy, who oversees the Church’s Idaho Area, will be in attendance as well.

6.   Sunday December 10—Cedar City Utah Temple Dedication (159 operating; 8 under construction; 2 undergoing renovation; 2 renovations scheduled; 8 announced. NOTE: Several groundbreakings may be scheduled soon.)

      NOTE: If President Eyring is asked to preside at the previous dedication, it would make sense if President Uchtdorf is asked to preside at this one. That said, it would not surprise me either in any way if Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a St. George native, is assigned to officiate at this dedication. After all, for all intents and purposes, the two are essentially neighboring cities, and it is not at all unprecedented for a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve to officiate at a temple dedication. Whoever does preside, it is a near certainty that multiple apostles may be in attendance, as has been the usual custom for temple dedications in Utah. It is not unreasonable to also believe that Elder L. Whitney Clayton, who is the Senior President of the Seventy and who presided at the groundbreaking, will be in attendance, along with Elder Craig C. Christensen, another member of the Presidency of the Seventy, who currently has supervisory responsibilities for the Utah South Area, within which the temple has been built.

NOTE: A site announcement is anticipated at some point during the early part of this year for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple, with a groundbreaking to follow at the temple site within 4-6 weeks afterward. Additionally, there is a possibility that we may have any number of additional temple groundbreakings sometime during 2017.  I will keep my eye out for such developments and share those as I learn of them.

2018

1.      February 1—Oakland California Temple Renovation (159 operating; 8 under construction; 3 undergoing renovation; 1 renovation scheduled; 8 announced. NOTE: Several groundbreakings may be scheduled soon.)

NOTE: The Church confirmed the scheduled renovation in late February 2017. It is anticipated to last at least a year. For that reason, I anticipate that we might see a rededication in mid-to-late 2019.

2.      March 1—Washington D. C. Temple Renovation (159 operating; 8 under construction; 4 undergoing renovation; 8 announced. NOTE: Several other groundbreakings may be scheduled soon.)

NOTE: At the same time the Church confirmed the Oakland renovation, they also announced this renovation. It is anticipated to take around two years, so I anticipate that we might see this rededication in early-to-mid 2020.

NOTE: Depending on the progress made with other temples during 2017, it is entirely possible that we might see four temple-related events announced to take place within the first few months of 2018: two dedications (in Rome Italy and Kinshasa DR Congo) and two rededications (Jordan River and Frankfurt Germany). It is also possible that several other temples might be announced by then and that any temples already announced that do not have a groundbreaking in 2017 could have one in 2018. I am keeping a very close and careful eye on all of these developments and will report on them as soon as I can after hearing about them.

Updated Projections for When Future Temple-related Events Might Be Announced and Scheduled to Take Place

Given some things I have learned within just the last 8 hours or so regarding temple developments, I have felt it necessary to once again revisit my best-guess estimates for the timetable by which future temple-related events might be announced and take place. I don’t want to be long-winded, so I will try to move as quickly as possible. As with other recent updates of this sort that I have done, please bear in mind that I will not be restating what has developed in terms of temple construction progress milestones. Those have been explored in other posts I have done today.

That said, as you are all aware, the next temple-related events will be the already scheduled groundbreakings in Rio de Janeiro Brazil and Arequipa Peru on March 4. The Rio groundbreaking, over which Elder Claudio R. M. Costa (Brazil Area President) will preside, is scheduled for 10:00 AM Brazilian time, which is 5:00 AM MST. Elder Carlos A. Godoy, who presides over the South America Northwest Area of the Church, will preside at the groundbreaking in Arequipa.

As before mentioned, the last time two groundbreaking were held on the same day was October 17, 2015, when we had those events in Concepcion Chile and Tucson Arizona. It is interesting to note that the Tucson temple will be dedicated this year, and Concepcion next year. It is also interesting to contemplate how different temples in different parts of the world take different lengths of time to complete for a variety of reasons. It is wonderful to consider that there has not even been a year and a half since the last time two temples had a groundbreaking on the same day. And we might see several more instances like that in the future.

I could also see the Church making a site announcement and subsequently holding a groundbreaking for the temple in Harare Zimbabwe sometime before the dedication of the Paris France temple on May 21. In addition to that dedication, we also have the rededication on June 4 for the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple. It will be amazing to see those events happen. As I have previously stated, I am especially excited to see the dedication of France’s first temple.

And in speaking in terms of future temple-related events, we cannot forget the other already scheduled dedications in Tucson Arizona on August 13, in Meridian Idaho on Sunday November 19, and in Cedar City Utah on December 10.

That brings us to temples that might be dedicated next year. Jordan River, Rome, Kinshasa, and Freiberg are the first four we will likely see in 2018. When might those happen? I am more convinced than ever that we could see an official announcement for these milestones within the latter part of this year. The Jordan River Utah Temple will likely be rededicated in late January or early February. Kinshasa could be next, in late February or early March. We could see the rededication in Freiberg taking place in late March or within the first two weeks following General Conference weekend in April. And I could see the Rome dedication taking place in either late April or early May. I would love to be proven wrong in this regard, and to find out that the Rome dedication will precede any of the others. It does seem to be on track to be the first one dedicated, but I have seen enough delays there to convince me that the Rome Temple might not be dedicated any sooner than I have suggested here.

Between all of these things, we will have at least one temple commence the renovation process. The Oakland California Temple will be closed in February 2018 (I believe as of the very beginning of the month) for a complete overhaul. The renovation is expected to last at least a year. I will speak more about my estimate for when that will be completed later on.

In the meantime, the Barranquilla Colombia Temple, the next one that might be completed, could have a dedication announcement by sometime in March or April, with the dedication itself perhaps taking place in June. If that is not possible, it is very likely that the open house will finish in June and that the actual dedication might take place in early August, after the General Authorities have their traditional July recess. This is especially likely given the precedent that was set in this regard with the Tucson Arizona Temple open house and dedication that was announced last month.

I could see the temples in Concepcion and Durban being finished by the time fall starts in 2018. The dedications themselves could take place in early-to-mid November (Concepcion) and early December (for Durban).

I could see the Winnipeg temple (which will likely have its construction commence in earnest in April or May of this year; the only thing delaying progress now is a really bad Canadian winter) having a dedication announced late next year, with the actual event taking place in late March 2019.

We could also see the Fortaleza Brazil and Lisbon Portugal temples both having their construction completed by early spring of 2019, with their dedications to follow in May (Fortaleza) and June (Lisbon).

In the meantime, depending on what develops in terms of the construction of the construction in Rio, we could see that announcement in late spring of 2019, with the dedication to follow in early August. Given what happened with the three temple dedications announced for later this year, we could see simultaneous announcements for late August or early September (for both the dedication Arequipa and Oakland) and late November or early December (for Harare). Unless there is a drastic change, this seems to be a pretty safe timetable.

What these changes mean, as I have stated before, is that the Church will add 4 new operating temples and have one rededication by the end of 2017, and five other dedications and the remaining two renovations completed in 2018. In 2019, we could see 5 dedications and at least 1 rededication. I am not going to rule out the possibility of more renovations being announced this year and being completed by 2019 as well. That is not so cut and dried as it originally seemed. I welcome any thoughts about other potentially good candidates for renovations.

The so-called backlog that once existed has long-since been done away with, raising the likelihood of more temples being announced in the next year or so. And I have given my thoughts and feelings about the most likely candidates for such announcements. I may repost my list of near-future possibilities soon if there is enough demand for it.

As for future groundbreakings, they may be more unpredictable to anticipate than I originally thought. I look at the groundbreaking in Winnipeg, and it happened much faster than usual. And with the way things unfolded in Rio and Arequipa, things happened very quickly there. As I have before observed as well, if construction begins in Harare anytime soon, it would make that temple historically significant in so very many ways.

The next groundbreaking that is most likely to take place, in my opinion, will be for the first Haitian temple in Port-au-Prince, and that might happen by fall of this year. I have no reason to back this up. The same could hold true for the temple in Bangkok Thailand.

We might see Lima Peru’s second temple and the first temple in the Ivory Coast have groundbreakings next year. The same might be true for the temples in Quito Ecuador and Belem Brazil.

Without knowing how long the currently reported delays in Urdaneta might last, but they might be cleared up sufficiently by 2019, by which time several other temples could be announced in General Conference, sites identified, and groundbreakings held as well.

In these projections, I am always open to suggestion, clarification, and correction. Thanks for taking time to read this post. I look forward to hearing of all future temple-related developments, and I will do my level best to report on such things as I hear of them. Thank you!

Update to List of Upcoming Temple-related Events

Hello. In light of the previous post, in which I reported the upcoming renovation of the Oakland California temple, it has become necessary to also post an update to my list of upcoming temple-related events. Enjoy, and let me know what you think. Thanks.

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

2017

1.   Saturday March 4—Rio de Janeiro Brazil and Arequipa Peru Temple Groundbreakings (155 operating; 4 scheduled for dedication; 10 under construction; 1 rededication scheduled; 2 undergoing renovation; 1 renovation scheduled; 8 announced. NOTE: Several other groundbreakings may take place soon.)

NOTE: According to the LDS Church Temples website, Elder Claudio R. M. Costa, who serves as President of the Brazil Area of the Church, has been asked to preside at the groundbreaking in Rio. It is a pretty safe bet that his counselors in the area presidency, Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis and Elder W. Mark Bassett, will also be in attendance along with a representative from the Church’s Temple Department. However, assignments to preside at groundbreakings have been known to change as needed. For what it’s worth, when the 10:00 am groundbreaking takes place in Rio, it will be 5:00 am MST. The groundbreaking in Arequipa will be presided over by Elder Carlos A. Godoy, President of the South America Northwest Area, and it is more than likely that his counselors in the area presidency, Elder Enrique R. Falabella and Elder Hugo Montoya will also be in attendance. While no specific time has been announced for that groundbreaking, it might be that the groundbreaking in Peru will be held at 10:00 am Peruvian time, which would be 8:00 am MST. What is not so likely, however, is that the same Temple Department representative will be in attendance at both events. It makes more sense, logically and logistically speaking, to have two different brethren in attendance at these two events.

2.   Sunday May 21—Paris France Temple Dedication (156 operating; 3 scheduled for dedication; 9 under construction; 1 rededication scheduled; 2 undergoing renovation; 1 renovation scheduled; 8 announced. NOTE: Several other groundbreakings may take place soon.)

NOTE: As to who might be asked to preside at this dedication, previous precedent indicates it may be any member of the First Presidency (with my vote going to President Uchtdorf, as he is a European native) or any of the apostles.

3.   Sunday June 4—Idaho Falls Idaho Temple Rededication (156 operating; 3 scheduled for dedication; 9 under construction; 1 rededication scheduled; 2 undergoing renovation;  1 renovation scheduled; 8 announced. NOTE: Several other groundbreakings may take place soon.)

NOTE: Since the health of the brethren remains unclear, it is anyone’s guess who might be asked to preside at this dedication. I could see three possibilities at this point: President Henry B. Eyring, a former Ricks College president; Elder David A. Bednar, a former BYU-Idaho president; or Elder Neil L. Andersen, who is an Idaho native that has personal ties to the area.

4.   Sunday August 13—Tucson Arizona Temple Dedication (157 operating; 2 scheduled for dedication; 8 under construction; 2 undergoing renovation; 1 renovation scheduled; 8 announced. NOTE: Several other groundbreakings may be possible soon.)

      NOTE: The question of who might preside at this dedication may not be easy to resolve. Both President Henry B. Eyring and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf have accompanied President Monson to previous dedications in Arizona, with the question of who may have actually presided at the most recent one in Gilbert still being largely unresolved. Technically, since President Monson was present for at least one of the sessions, and since all three were under his direction, he presided there. However, with that said, it appears that President Eyring was the one who read the dedicatory prayer in the first session, opening the argument that he was the one to preside. For a similar anomalous situation, I cite the dedication of the Provo City Center Temple, where Elder Dallin H. Oaks was listed as presiding even though President Russell M. Nelson was present at the final session, which made him the presiding authority for that session. If President Eyring does preside at the previous dedication, it is not unlikely that President Uchtdorf will be asked to represent the Church at this dedication, especially considering that President Eyring, an Idaho native, will most likely be the one to preside at the next dedication in Meridian. Also, the choice of President Uchtdorf makes even more sense when remembering that he was the one who presided at the groundbreaking in 2015. It is also not impossible to believe that Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Presidency of the Seventy, who oversees the North America Southwest Area of the Church, under which Arizona falls, might be in attendance as well.

5.   Sunday November 19—Meridian Idaho Temple Dedication (158 operating; 1 scheduled for dedication; 8 under construction; 2 undergoing renovation; 1 renovation scheduled; 9 announced. NOTE: Several other groundbreakings may be possible soon.)

      NOTE: If President Uchtdorf is asked to preside at the previous dedication, and given the fact that President Eyring is an Idaho native, it would make sense if he (President Eyring) is asked to preside at this one. Another choice could be Elder David A. Bednar, who presided at the groundbreaking for the temple and was asked to preside at the dedication of the Star Valley Wyoming Temple, due to his wife’s personal connection to the area. Yet another option would be Elder Neil L. Andersen, who is an Idaho native. But the Church has never tapped such a junior apostle to preside at a temple dedication. It is not out of the question, however. It is also reasonable to believe that Elder Ulisses Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy, who oversees the Church’s Idaho Area, will be in attendance as well.

6.   Sunday December 10—Cedar City Utah Temple Dedication (159 operating; 8 under construction; 2 undergoing renovation; 1 renovation scheduled; 8 announced. NOTE: Several other groundbreakings may be possible soon.)

      NOTE: If President Eyring is asked to preside at the previous dedication, it would make sense if President Uchtdorf is asked to preside at this one. That said, it would not surprise me either in any way if Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a St. George native, is assigned to officiate at this dedication. After all, for all intents and purposes, the two are essentially neighboring cities, and it is not at all unprecedented for a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve to officiate at a temple dedication. Whoever does preside, it is a near certainty that multiple apostles may be in attendance, as has been the usual custom for temple dedications in Utah. It is not unreasonable to also believe that Elder L. Whitney Clayton, who is the Senior President of the Seventy and who presided at the groundbreaking, will be in attendance, along with Elder Craig C. Christensen, another member of the Presidency of the Seventy, who currently has supervisory responsibilities for the Utah South Area, within which the temple has been built.

NOTE: A site announcement is anticipated at some point during the early part of this year for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple, with a groundbreaking to follow at the temple site within 4-6 weeks afterward. Additionally, there is a possibility that we may have any number of additional temple groundbreakings sometime during 2017.  I will keep my eye out for such developments and share those as I learn of them.

2018

1.      February 1—Oakland California Temple Renovation (159 operating; 8 under construction; 3 undergoing renovation; 8 announced. NOTE: Several other temple groundbreakings may be scheduled soon.)

NOTE: The closure of this temple for extensive renovation was mentioned on the temple’s Facebook page, though the fact of the scheduled renovation has yet to be confirmed by the Church. The renovation is anticipated to last at least a year. For that reason, I anticipate that the renovation might last until mid- or late-2019.