Additional Temple Presidents Called

Late yesterday night, the News & Events section of the Church's official website (lds.org) posted a list of newly called temple presidents. There were 33 new presidents listed, and, on my list, I had all but three of them. I have noted that on my official list and will be transferring those temples to the list of those that have been announced on the LDS Church News website when those calls are featured in the LDS Church News. In the meantime, to my surprise, I learned that, according to the list on lds.org, the new temple presidents would begin their service effective August 1. As I have mentioned when posting previous versions of my list of new temple presidents, it was my experience during my six-year service that temple presidencies generally changed in November, and that those changes usually were effective at the beginning of the first full week of the month, either on Monday or Tuesday. If it now happens that these changes become effective on August 1, that is news to me. In the meantime, the three temples that were on the lds.org list but not on my list until last night are Manila Philippines, San Salvador El Salvador, and San Antonio Texas. On that Texas temple, the news story further noted that the new president of that temple would be announced at a later date. For now, that is the update I wanted to share. More to come once more is known. Comments continue to be welcome and most appreciated.

Additional Temple Construction Progress Update

With some significant developments in temple construction having been reported within the last 18 hours or so, it has become necessary for me to post another update to my temple construction progress report.

Among the notable developments are progress on two temples currently under construction (Barranquilla Colombia and Concepcion Chile), the exact date for the renovation closure of the Memphis Tennessee Temple (originally reported as being sometime in early October, now more specifically scheduled to be closed on September 29, lending more strength to the idea that those renovations could be completed during early-to-mid 2019), additional details on the probable size and time frame for the construction of the Pocatello Idaho Temple (with an official site announcement still pending), and developments about the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple (the contractor for the Arequipa Peru Temple will be in charge of the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple complex project as well, and once a site is announced (which may happen within the next year or so), another full year will likely be needed before a subsequent groundbreaking and the construction of that temple and other buildings that will be involved in the project commences).

So let's get right to it. My updated report follows. Any suggestions, questions, comments or ideas for improvement are always welcome and appreciated. Thank you. I look forward to any and all feedback. Thanks again.

Temple Construction Progress Update (current as of 5/12/17)

NOTE: There will be a total of 182 operating temples once all of those announced, under construction, or undergoing renovation. Of those, we currently have 155 temples in operation; 1 other has construction completed and open house tours underway; 3 more have construction concluding and a dedication scheduled; 9 are under construction right now; 1 other has construction pending (groundbreaking was last year), and will commence construction ASAP; 1 of those 155 operating temples is scheduled for rededication following the completion of its renovation and currently has open house tours underway; 2 others are undergoing renovation; 6 more will close for renovations already scheduled (with all of those closures happening within the next 10 months); and the remaining 13 are announced (with either a site announcement or groundbreaking pending)

ADDITIONAL NOTE: With two groundbreakings having already taken place this year, we could see several others by this time next year. For all of the announced temples that have not yet had a groundbreaking, I offer my best-guess estimate for when that might happen. As for this year, we may or may not see any other groundbreakings, or, if we do, there will only be one or two. The next two or three years promise to be full in terms of temple-related events.

Construction completed; open house underway:

156. Paris France Temple: Public open house tours underway; accepting reservations through the end of the day tomorrow; dedication scheduled for Sunday May 21, 2017.

Dedication scheduled:

157. Tucson Arizona Temple: Landscaping nearing completion; interior finish work underway; accepting reservations for public open house beginning Monday May 15, 2017 (open house will last three weeks (between the Saturdays of June 3-24, excluding Sundays); dedication scheduled for Sunday August 13, 2017.

158. Meridian Idaho Temple: Installation adjustments being made to art glass; interior finish work underway; dedication scheduled for Sunday November 19, 2017.

159. Cedar City Utah Temple: Planting trees and flowers on grounds; interior paint and millwork installation underway; dedication scheduled for Sunday December 10, 2017.

NOTE: As previously observed, an earlier report I posted had mentioned that this temple’s exterior floodlighting was being installed. But that was only mentioned on some pages of the LDS Church Temples website and not others, so it wasn’t consistent enough to remain in this update.

Under Construction (completion anticipated next year):

160. Rome Italy Temple: Angel Moroni installed on March 25, 2017; Christus and apostle statues installed at visitor’s center; installing art glass; completion anticipated sometime during early-to-mid 2018.

161. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Steel roof trusses nearing completion; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2018.

162.  Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Stone cladding installation underway; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2018.

NOTE: For the two temples above, they seem to be interchangeable in terms of which one might potentially be completed and dedicated first. I am trying to keep an eye on any and all developments and will adjust these estimates as necessary once more is known.

163. Concepcion Chile Temple: Exterior cladding progressing on north and west walls; hanging drywall and installing moldings; completion anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2018.

164. Durban South Africa Temple: Concrete shuttering going up for upper walls; concrete support columns being poured for missionary housing; completion anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2018.

NOTE: For the two temples above, they seem to be interchangeable in terms of which one might potentially be completed and dedicated first. I am trying to keep an eye on any and all developments and will adjust these estimates as necessary once more is known.

Under construction, completion anticipated within the next 3 years or less:

165. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Erecting temple tower walls; completion anticipated sometime during early 2019.

166. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Construction barrier erected; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2019.

NOTE: In my mind, since this temple and the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple are slated for completion during the same general timeframe, the fact that work has not begun in earnest on the Canadian temple puts this Brazilian one ahead of Canada’s newest temple. But once construction begins in earnest in Winnipeg, things could change.  I will keep an eye on developments, and will try to make a better estimate when more is known.

168.  Lisbon Portugal Temple: Supporting columns poured for temple foundation; structural framing for upper level of meetinghouse continues; completion anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

169. Arequipa Peru Temple: Excavating for the foundation; completion anticipated sometime during late 2019-early 2020.

Construction pending (anticipated to start anytime):

167. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Groundbreaking held Saturday December 3, 2016; awaiting full-scale operations, which may start at any time (whenever the aftermath of the awful Canadian winter resolves itself); completion anticipated sometime during mid-2019.

NOTE: Construction on this temple is expected to begin in earnest anytime within the next two months. That construction is anticipated to last 20 months (1.67 years). As noted above in regards to this temple and the Rio temple, since both are slated for completion during the same general timeframe (mid-2019), either could be completed first. I will keep an eye on things and adjust the order if and when necessary once more is known.

Rededication Scheduled; open house underway:

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Public open house tours underway; accepting reservations through Saturday May 20 (Sundays excluded); rededication scheduled for Sunday June 4, 2017.

                                                                  

Undergoing Renovation (rededication anticipated within the next year or so):

20. Jordan River Utah Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication anticipated sometime during early-to-mid 2018.

41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; excavating for basement addition for new baptistry; rededication anticipated sometime during early-to mid-2018.

Renovations Scheduled (all of which will start within the next 10 months or less):

80. Memphis Tennessee Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on September 29, 2017; rededication may take place sometime during early-to-mid 2019.

NOTE: Renovations of US temples are usually completed more quickly than their international counterparts. With that and the fact that this temple is set to reopen in 2019, this seems to be a safe initial estimate.

95. Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in October 2017; rededication may take place sometime during mid-2019.

NOTE: As noted above, US temple renovations are completed sooner than they are elsewhere. But it is also true that temples that simultaneously close for renovation are rarely completed within the same time frame. Therefore, this seems to be a better estimate.

18. Tokyo Japan Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in October 2017; rededication may take place sometime during early-to-mid 2020.

NOTE: Renovations for temples outside the United States always take longer. With that in mind, it seems reasonable to surmise that we will not see a rededication for this temple until after the Washington DC Temple is rededicated.

112. Asuncion Paraguay Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in November 2017; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

NOTE: As this temple was the most recent among this scheduled renovation group to be dedicated, and as it is another that is projected to have a rededication during 2019, the time-frame above seems most likely for that to happen. It would not surprise me at all to see the Oakland California temple rededicated before this one. Time will tell.

13. Oakland California Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in February 2018; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

NOTE: The renovation for this temple, the oldest of those scheduled for a renovation, is anticipated to be completed in 2019 sometime. The timeframe indicated above therefore seems reasonable, as is also the assumption that this temple will be rededication before the Paraguayan one.

16. Washington D. C. Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in March 2018; rededication may take place sometime during early-to-mid 2020.

NOTE: This temple, the last one currently scheduled for renovation, is anticipated to be completed sometime during 2020. Because we know that US temple renovations are completed more quickly, it is relatively safe to assume that the rededication of this temple will happen sometime prior to that of the Tokyo Japan Temple.

NOTE: With two groundbreakings having taken place so far this year, it is hoped that we might see other announced temples reach that milestone as well before the end of this year. However, wanting to be as conservative as I am able to be in this estimate, I have only listed one for now. If anything crosses my radar, I will be happy to make another change.

Announced:

170. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Approval and construction preparation phase; official site announcement anticipated later this year; groundbreaking may follow shortly thereafter.

NOTE: While the site announcement is pending, Elder Kevin S. Hamilton, who serves as the president of the Church’s Africa Southeast Area, has said that the site will be announced later this year and that a groundbreaking would be anticipated sometime shortly thereafter. It is therefore not impossible to believe that this temple could have a groundbreaking sometime between mid-and-late 2017. That said, it has also been customary for site confirmations to precede a groundbreaking by roughly a year, so I could see this groundbreaking happening sometime next year. I am keeping an eye out for developments and will adjust my predictions as necessary.

171. Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple: Planning and approval phase; groundbreaking pending.

NOTE: On Sunday March 12, while presiding at a stake conference for the area in which the first Haitian temple will be built, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles officially confirmed that, just as members in the area had speculated, the plot of land behind an existing meetinghouse on the Route de Freres (French for “The Route of Brothers”) had been purchased as the official site for this temple. Since site confirmations generally precede groundbreakings by roughly a year, it is more than likely that a groundbreaking could be held sometime during early-to-mid 2018.

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

NOTE: With an end to the delays that prevented construction before now, it has been reported that all that hinders progress now is government approval and a site announcement. Some have speculated that a groundbreaking could happen on this temple later this year, but it seems wiser to adjust that to sometime during early-to-mid 2018.

173. Brasilia Brazil Temple: Planning phase; site confirmed.

NOTE: Since the site has been confirmed by local leaders, (located in the northern section of the city, near an arm of Paranoa Lake) that increases the likelihood that a groundbreaking for the temple could be held sooner rather than later, perhaps by mid-2018. If that happens, then it would be the first time in almost 20 years that the Church had three temples simultaneously under construction in Brazil.

174. Greater Manila Philippines Temple: Planning phase; site confirmed; awaiting official name announcement.

NOTE: The site identified by the Church’s Philippines Facebook page (on the southern side of the Manila metropolitan area in Alabang, Muntinlupa City) will more than likely be the official site. For that reason, it is very possible that we might see a groundbreaking for this temple by mid-2018. If the groundbreaking takes place during this time, then we would have two temples simultaneously under construction in the Philippines for the very first time in Church history. As an official name for the second Lima Peru temple was announced within three weeks of the announcement of that temple, an official name for this temple is anticipated at any time in the near future.

175. Pocatello Idaho: Planning phase; awaiting site confirmation.

NOTE: While many sites are reportedly under consideration for this temple, the most likely one is a 10-acre plot of land next to the Pocatello Idaho Highland Stake Center, which was annexed into Pocatello City on April 6, 2017. If a site is confirmed soon, as it will likely be, we could see a groundbreaking for this temple sometime during mid-2018. And this temple’s groundbreaking could take place well before the groundbreaking for the temple above. I am keeping an eye out on things and will adjust this estimate as necessary. The LDS Church Temples site noted on May 12, 2017 a statement by Elder Larry Y. Wilson, the Temple Department Executive Director, that this temple is anticipated to be a larger edifice in the mold of the temple that will be dedicated later this year in Meridian. Once more is known officially regarding the site, it will be easier to make an adjustment as to how soon the groundbreaking might take place and how long construction might subsequently take.

176. Saratoga Springs Utah: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

NOTE: Though an official site announcement has yet to occur, temples in Utah County always go up fast. As the Church owns several acres of land in Saratoga Springs, any one of those sites could do for the temple. Once a site is confirmed, a groundbreaking will shortly follow. We could see this groundbreaking happen during mid-to-late 2018, and it is my feeling that that event could precede the groundbreaking of the second Manila Philippines Temple, if not also the groundbreaking of the Pocatello Idaho Temple, More to come once more is known.

177. Bangkok Thailand Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

NOTE: Because local speculation is that an existing building that houses Church offices might be renovated and repurposed into a multi-purpose edifice that would house not only Church offices, but a meetinghouse and the temple as well (in similar fashion to what has been done for the Manhattan New York and Hong Kong China temples, it could very well be that we could see a groundbreaking for this temple sometime in mid-to-late 2018, if the site is confirmed through any means anytime soon. I will be keeping an eye on developments with this temple and will revise my estimate if needed once more is known.

178. Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: Planning and preliminary construction phase; awaiting official site announcement.

NOTE: The official name of this second temple for Peru’s capital city (released less than three weeks after it was announced) seems to indicate that it will be built in the Los Olivos district. Additionally, on May 12, 2017, the LDS Church Temples site noted that the contractor on the Arequipa Peru Temple is also doing some preliminary work on the second temple for Peru’s capital city. It was also noted that, once the official site was identified, that contractor would need roughly a year to prepare the site for the temple and any auxiliary buildings, and to make plans to renovate an existing building into an accommodation center. If the site is identified at any point this year, that would move this temple up further on this and all other lists, and the groundbreaking could happen earlier than anticipated. Even with this additional information, it seems safe to assume that the groundbreaking will only take place sometime around early 2019.

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

NOTE: The Church has seen substantial growth on the African continent in recent years. This is verified by the fact that, with the announcement of the 12 temples over the last three years during April General Conference, 3 (25%) of those have been in Africa. I would therefore hope that this temple, announced in 2015, would not have to wait too long for a groundbreaking, but I could see it happening sometime during early 2019, if not before.

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

NOTE: While the first temple in Ecuador had a 14-year delay between its announcement and the subsequent groundbreaking (the second-longest such period in Church history), this temple is not nearly as likely to see such delays. The Church in South America has grown at an astonishing rate, and that is evidenced by the fact that 4 of the 12 temples announced most recently (25%) have been for South America. With the temples above most likely to have a groundbreaking first, it is very possible that we could see a groundbreaking for this time sometime during mid-2019, if not before.

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

NOTE: South America, as noted above, has been very receptive to the gospel. As a result, more temples are coming to that continent. And while this temple has not yet had a site identified or confirmed, Brazilian temples typically have been built very swiftly. While I am hoping to see it sooner, and while I will be happy to adjust my estimate going forward if that is necessary, it seems wise for the moment to revise my estimate and say that we could see a groundbreaking during mid-2019, which would ensure that we will have at least two temples under construction in Brazil at least for the next couple of years. I will revise my estimate if and when I am able to do so.

182. Nairobi Kenya Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

NOTE: It is becoming increasingly more likely that this African temple might be the last of the current bunch to have a groundbreaking. That said, with the Church growth that is occurring on the African continent, and with temples having gone up fairly quickly once a site is identified, I will revise my previous estimate and say that we will likely see a groundbreaking for this temple sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

ADDITIONAL GENERAL NOTE: Temple announcements are possible at any time, but the last twelve announcements have taken place during the April General Conference. I never want to rule out the possibility of announcements at other times, but that has been the pattern for the last three years. There have also been reports of several cities that have had a site purchased for a while now, and where an announcement might happen at any time. I know of at least five that have been identified to me by name: Managua Nicaragua, Auckland New Zealand, Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, Bentonville Arkansas, and Missoula Montana. If other potential temples have had a site purchased, they have yet to be identified as such. The following temples have been publicly proposed by apostles at various and sundry times:  New Delhi India (in June 1992 by Elder Neal A. Maxwell; may not happen soon due to intense political and religious obstacles); Vilnius Lithuania (in May 1993 by Elder M. Russell Ballard, which may be more of a long-shot possibility); Maracaibo Venezuela (in August 1999 by President Hinckley, which is just waiting for the right conditions); Singapore (in January 2000 by President Hinckley, and is likely to be announced when the time is right); 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. A site is being held in reserve for that temple, and that location will be announced when membership and temple activity warrant that announcement); Managua Nicaragua (in January 2012 by then-Elder Russell M. Nelson; very likely at any time due to Nicaragua being the #1 of the top ten world countries without a temple); Missoula Montana (sometime in 2014 by Elder David A. Bednar during a stake conference in the area; 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, though perhaps not as imminent as I once believed); and for the Kasai Region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (in February 2016 by Elder Neil L. Andersen). There are likely several other sites that the Church has purchased for a potential temple, but those 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.

Uzxnderlined numbers and text denote temples whose numbers may change based on progress towards planning, approval, and groundbreaking.

Red text highlights changes from the last posted temple progress report.

Update on Construction of the Barranquilla Colombia Temple

While not a lot has changed in regards to the status of temples now under construction, one significant development has been reported. At the Barranquilla Colombia temple site, stone cladding is being installed, a significant sign that it is nearing completion. What remains unclear, however, is whether or not that second Colombian temple will be completed and dedicated before the first temple in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is completed and dedication. They seem interchangeable at the moment. For now, the sources available do indicate that Kinshasa will be first, but if things progress more speedily in Barranquilla, that dedication could happen first.

In similar fashion, the temples in Concepcion Chile and Durban South Africa can be said to be interchangeable (as both are anticipated to be completed during mid-to-late 2018), as can the temples for Rio de Janeiro Brazil and Winnipeg Manitoba (with both anticipated to be dedicated sometime during mid-2019, and the Rio temple is only currently ahead of Winnipeg because construction for Canada's newest temple is anticipated to take around 20 months once it begins in earnest within the next two or three months).

I am doing my level best to keep abreast of all temple-related developments and to pass that information on to you who read my blog ASAP. If any of you notice any such developments upon which I have not reported, please let me know. Thanks for your readership and for any feedback any of you feel impressed to provide. Your insights are always appreciated!