Church officials debunk rumor: No renovation closure is being planned for the St. George Temple

As my father grew up in St. George, and as one of his own father's young home teaching companions was young Jeff Holland, who has long been one of my favorite apostles, I have felt a strong connection to the St. George area.

Though I had not been aware of this until today, there has apparently been quite a bit of speculation that with the upcoming dedication of the Cedar City Utah Temple, the St. George Utah Temple would be closing for extensive renovation. Church officials and those who have a role in working on Church-related projects in St. George took steps earlier today to debunk that rumor.

As reported by both spokesmen for the Church in the Utah South Area and by the current president of the St. George Utah Temple, there are currently no plans whatsoever for such a renovation, and nothing is even being considered at all in that regard.

If you would like to read more about that rumor and its debunking, along with a description of Church projects that are actually underway and in the works in St. George, click here. As always, I am doing my level best to keep an eye out for any actual temple developments, and I will make every effort within my ability to pass along any updates as I learn of them.

If any of you have any comments on this, I would appreciate hearing from you. If, for whatever reason, you are unable to comment, I would appreciate knowing that as well. Thank you for the privilege of your time.

Updated List of Most Likely Future Temple Sites

In thinking about new temple possibilities, I have revised my list of those possibilities. I wanted to share those with you all right now. If you can, let me know what you think. If not, I can be reached via my blogger profile, and I would appreciate knowing whether or not I fixed the problems people reported relating to their ability to comment. I look forward to the feedback.

Temple Predictions:

3+ temples announced in any of the following locations:

NOTE: Since it is difficult at best to know where the Lord feels a need for a temple and temple locations are not as cut-and-dried as I have originally believed them to be, I am doing a preliminary list, which I will refine as the time for General Conference draws closer. I will look forward to seeing what happens with those possibilities, if any are announced at all. So far between 2015 and this year, the 12 newest temples were announced during the April General Conference. If any temples are announced, there will only be a few.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: After thinking further about those temples I feel are most likely in the near future, I have felt to narrow my choices down considerably. I am now listing them by nation and then by likelihood within that nation.

Africa: Lagos Nigeria; Kumasi Ghana; Freetown Sierra Leone

!Central & South America (including Brazil and Mexico): Managua Nicaragua; Puebla Mexico;  Valparaiso Chile; Belo Horizonte/Salvador Brazil; Neuquen Argentina

Pacific: Auckland New Zealand; Port Moresby Papua New Guinea

United States: Bentonville Arkansas Missoula Montana; Layton Utah; Tooele Utah

Notes about potential temple sites:

1.      Africa has seen one temple announced per year for the last three years, and the Church is growing rapidly wherever it is established. While those I listed above seem most likely, I am not ruling out other possibilities from happening first. These three just seem most likely based on the information I now have available.

2.      Within the wide region of Central & South America (including Brazil and Mexico), unprecedented growth continues. Those possibilities mentioned above seem most likely for that region. Managua has had a temple proposed and a site awaiting for quite a while now. While growth may not be happening as swiftly in Mexico, Puebla has long been considered as the city that will be home to Mexico’s next temple. And while the next temples for Chile, Brazil, and Argentina may not be announced for a while, the sites noted above do seem to be most likely.

3.      While European temples are always possible, and while I have heard that Hungary and Austria might be the next European nations to get a temple, and while those cities make sense in terms of President Monson’s expressed desire to ensure that every member is within 200 miles of a temple, the Church may be waiting to see how the dedication of the Paris France (last May) and Rome Italy temples (set to open sometime during 2018) and the rededication of the Frankfurt Germany Temple (which may take place around that same time) might affect the European saints prior to any new announcements. If these temples are kept busy enough, then the Church might announce other temples there. Until more is known, that seems to be a fair assessment.

4.      In the Pacific area of the Church, I have heard that sites have been purchased in both Auckland New Zealand and Port Moresby Papua New Guinea and have been held in reserve until they are needed. Of the two, Auckland seems to be the most likely possibility.

5.      In previous versions of this list, I had also had several more possibilities listed for potential temples within the United States, but since growth has been stagnating of late, I don’t think it likely that we will see all that many new temples announced announced unless and until regular growth resumes on a larger scale. That said, I have received reports of sites having been procured for both Arkansas’s first temple and for Montana’s second in the cities listed above, and that those temples will be announced whenever unit growth and attendance at other temples within those areas warrant that happening.

6.      Within Utah, temple attendance has always been high. Layton and Tooele are two cities I have heard mentioned extensively as potential sites for Utah’s 19^th temple I also know that President Hinckley indicated in 2005 that a temple site had been procured in the southwestern part of the Salt Lake Valley, and that a subsequent announcement would follow once membership and Church growth in the valley required it. Some have tried to assert that this temple has already been announced, but every source I have found indicates that that notion is incorrect. Until that site announcement is made, Layton and Tooele appear to be the best candidates for Utah’s next temples.

Final note: As with everything else I put together, these are no more than my own thoughts, feelings, and observations based on the research I have done and the reports I have received. I hope that is absolutely understood and accepted. No one can know the mind of the Lord relating to His Church except those authorized to receive revelation regarding their own spheres of responsibility. While I am always gratified when my predictions turn out to be correct, I am even more appreciative of the many times developments do not take place as I project they will. At the end of the day, the Lord is the only one who can determine best how to further His work, and He manifests His will to those authorized to lead the Church and make decisions. Just wanted to end on that note.

Temple Construction Progress Update

In view of some excellent feedback I received late tonight, I have completely reworked the section of my temple construction report that covers announced temples. I am happy to share those updates with you all right now. If you can, let me know what you think. If I have not yet fixed the issues that have prevented comments from being posted, I need to know that as well. You can find my contact information through my blogger profile. Thanks, and enjoy!

Temple Construction Progress Update (current as of 6/16/17)

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 156 temples in operation; 1 has an open house ongoing (with a dedication set for August); 2 more have construction concluding and a dedication scheduled for later this year; 9 are under construction right now; 1 other has construction pending (groundbreaking was last year), and will commence construction ASAP; 2 others are undergoing renovation; another 4 have a renovation closure date set, with 2 others set to close early next year (the actual dates will be set closer to the time); the remaining 13 are announced (with either a site announcement or groundbreaking pending).

NOTE: I learned over the weekend of May 12-15 that there is a possibility we could see more groundbreakings later this year. I will be keeping my eyes open for any temple-related news and will post those as I hear of them. For now, this is a correction from what I had previously reported.

Construction completed; open house tours underway:

157. Tucson Arizona Temple: Public open house tours underway (will run until June 24, Sundays excluded); dedication scheduled for Sunday August 13, 2017.

Construction nearing completion; dedication scheduled:

158. Meridian Idaho Temple: Interior finish work underway; laying sod and planting trees in parking area; dedication scheduled for Sunday November 19, 2017.

159. Cedar City Utah Temple: Exterior lighting tests underway; dedication scheduled for Sunday December 10, 2017.

                                                      

Under Construction (completion anticipated next year):

160. Rome Italy Temple: Interior and exterior work progressing; installing art glass windows; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2018.

161. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Attaching insulating block and laying brick over south and west walls; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2018.

162.  Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Stone cladding underway on north and east walls; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2018.

NOTE: For the three 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: Scaffolding removed from north wall; cladding progressing on west and south walls; completion anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2018.

164. Durban South Africa Temple: Preparing to pour upper façade walls of temple; scaffolding going up around upper level of missionary housing; completion anticipated sometime during late 2018.

NOTE: I originally was thinking and had stated that the Concepcion and Durban temples might be interchangeable in terms of when they might be completed and subsequently dedicated. But in rechecking the LDS Church Temples site during the later hours of June 14, it had changed the estimate for Durban to sometime late next year, instead of during the middle or latter part of that same year, as previously thought. It shouldn’t affect my estimate for the time-frame of this completion, as I had predicted that this event would take place in December. But I am doing my best to analyze all of these developments and will provide updated information as I receive it.

Under construction, completion anticipated within the next 2-3 years:            

165. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Tower base walls poured; scaffolding removed; completion anticipated sometime during early 2019.

166. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Preparing to pour footings for foundation; surrounding property being cleared and graded; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2019.

NOTE: As I have previously observed, this temple and the temple in Winnipeg appeared to be interchangeable until just recently. With no progress having been reported on Canada’s newest temple, unless things change drastically, this Rio temple will no doubt be completed first. More to come once more is known.

168.  Lisbon Portugal Temple: Pouring temple foundation walls; meetinghouse exterior walls nearly finished; completion anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

169. Arequipa Peru Temple: Footings poured; setting concrete forms for foundation walls; 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; acquiring building permits; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2019.

NOTE: As full-scale construction commencement is still pending on this temple, all that we know at the moment is that construction will take roughly 20 months (1.67 years) once it commences in full, and that this temple is being built to serve just the one stake in Winnipeg for the moment. Until construction starts in earnest, the completion date is hard to pin down. That full-scale construction may have already started, but that is difficult to ascertain. With the information known right now, mid-2019 is a very rough estimate for this temple’s completion. It would not surprise me in the least if this temple is not dedicated until 2020. Adjustments will be made once more is known. For now, this is an update from what I had previously reported.

           

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

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

NOTE: On June 14, the LDS Church Temples site changed the completion estimation for this renovation to mid-2018. Since we know that temples in the US, particularly renovations, are usually finished more quickly than their international counterparts or new temples, it is unclear for the moment which temple-related event is most likely to happen first. I am doing my best to analyze these developments and will pass along any updates as soon as I can.

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

NOTE: On June 14, the LDS Church Temples site changed the completion estimation for this renovation to mid-2018. Since we know that renovations are generally completed more quickly than new temples, whether within the US or elsewhere, it is hard at the moment to try and figure out what the actual sequence of events may be for next year. I am analyzing these developments as quickly as possible and will be sure to post with any updates ASAP.

Renovations Scheduled (official closure dates announced):

112. Asuncion Paraguay Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on September 29, 2017; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

NOTE: As I was recently reminded, a completion estimate for renovations is hard to pin down and may change daily. So until this renovation is underway in 3.5 months, it is anyone’s guess when it might actually be finished. We do know that the closure for this temple comes just over a month before it was anticipated to take place. As previously noted as well, this temple is at the top of the list of planned renovations only because it comes first alphabetically. Based on the knowledge that US temples are renovated much more quickly than their counterparts in other parts of the world, I still feel confident that this temple’s rededication will not take place until after that of the Oakland Temple, which is set for closure sometime in February next year.

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

NOTE: As mentioned above, until this renovation gets underway in 3.5 months, a completion time-frame will be hard to pin down. Since we do know that US renovations are usually completed well in advance of their international counterparts, there is no doubt in my mind that this rededication will take place during the spring of 2019. That assertion may change once the renovation process starts, but for now, it seems to be a safe prediction to make.

18. Tokyo Japan Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on September 29, 2017; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2020.

NOTE: Despite the fact that this temple is the last alphabetically that will close on the second-to-last day in September, because Tokyo time is ahead of both Asuncion and US time, this temple may be the first to close for renovation. Also, I have noted before that a rededication for this temple, which is set to happen sometime during 2020, will likely not happen until after that of the Washington DC Temple, which is set to close in 8 months.

95. Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on October 14, 2017; rededication may take place sometime during mid-2019.

NOTE: This temple, the last of those set to close for renovation later this year, is nonetheless a US temple, so it seems safe to assume and to assert that this rededication will happen sometime after that of the Memphis Tennessee Temple, but sometime prior to the rededications of the Oakland California and Asuncion Paraguay Temples. Obviously, that may change once the renovation process commences, but for now, it seems to be a safe assertion.

                                                                                            

Temples that have a renovation closure announced, but no official date made known yet:

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

NOTE: With this closure set to take place next year, until it is underway, it is difficult to pin down even a general time-frame for its completion. But it seems more than likely that the rededication for this temple will transpire well before that of the Asuncion Paraguay temple simply by virtue of it being a temple within the US. Adjustments will be made once more is known.

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

NOTE: As already noted in relation to the other renovations, until this temple begins the renovation process, a probable completion timeframe is very difficult to pin down. But given that US temple renovations are almost always completed prior to their international counterparts, it is not impossible to believe that the rededication for this temple will likely precede that of the Tokyo Japan Temple.

NOTE: While I learned during mid-May that we could have as many as four groundbreakings before the end of this year, very few developments have taken place relating to the announced temples below. And while I always prefer to think and speak optimistically, any thoughts of mine on when these events might happen are always subject to what the Lord and the Brethren feel is best, to say nothing of local attitudes and politics that may also come into play. So while I offer my best guess estimate for such events, they should not be taken as fact unless and until they are verified by subsequent announcements. I hope that is abundantly and clearly understood in the way I have reworded things.

Announced:

170. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Approval and construction preparation phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2017.

NOTE: Elder Kevin S. Hamilton, who presides over the Africa Southeast Area, indicated last year that Zimbabwe’s first temple would likely have a site announcement sometime during 2017, with the groundbreaking possibly taking place shortly thereafter. However, nothing has changed since that time. While there is always a chance things could move quickly, as they have for so many other temples, until more is known, I want to be as conservative as possible. So I am adjusting my previous estimate, and will say that we might see a groundbreaking in either late August or early September. I will keep an eye out for any developments and provide updates as I am able to do so.

171. Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple: Planning and approval phase; groundbreaking may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2017.

NOTE: With Elder Andersen having confirmed the site purchase for this temple, it is very likely that a groundbreaking could happen before the end of this year. Wanting to be as conservative as possible in my estimates, I will adjust my previous prediction and say that a groundbreaking could happen sometime during either September or October. Once more is known, I will try to provide a better estimate.

172. Urdaneta Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting government approval and official site announcement; groundbreaking could happen sometime during mid-to-late 2017.

NOTE: With the elimination of the delays that hindered the progress of this temple for so long, there is an equally likely chance that we could see a groundbreaking happen for this temple either late this year or early next year. Until more is known, I will venture a guess that a groundbreaking might happen sometime between mid-November and December. I will update these estimates as I become aware of developments.

173. Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: Planning and preliminary construction phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could take place sometime during early-to-mid 2018.

NOTE: I learned in the late hours of June 16 that the contractor for the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple indicated that the preconstruction process for this temple began in March 2017. While there has not been any signs that this preconstruction is ongoing, if the contractor is correct, then that would mean construction might not begin until 2018 at earliest. Until more is known, that is an update from what I had previously reported.

174. Pocatello Idaho: Planning phase; awaiting site confirmation; groundbreaking may take place sometime during early-to-mid 2018.

NOTE: Elder Larry Y. Wilson, who serves as the Executive Director of the Temple Department, has indicated this Idahoan temple will be larger, somewhat akin to the size of the Meridian Idaho Temple. Because this temple is being built within the “Mormon corridor”, I have felt that the groundbreaking for this temple might take place sometime next year. If no substantial progress is made in the next little while, I will be bumping this temple again.

175. Saratoga Springs Utah: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may take place sometime during mid-2018.

NOTE: This temple, which is being built within the “Mormon corridor”, has yet to have a site confirmed. All we know at the moment is that the Church owns several acres of land within that community. But it is not impossible to believe that a site could be confirmed within the next little while and a groundbreaking could follow shortly thereafter. Until more is known, this seems to be a safe adjustment.

176. Brasilia Brazil Temple: Planning phase; site confirmed; groundbreaking may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2018.

NOTE: Unless plans change, the site that local leaders identified for this temple (on an arm of Paranoa Lake) has been confirmed locally, which may be all that is needed. As site confirmations usually precede groundbreakings by about a year, a groundbreaking could happen at around the time indicated above. There is an equally likely chance that this temple will not have a groundbreaking until 2019 or later. Until more is known, that’s an update from what I had previously stated.

177. Greater Manila Philippines Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official name announcement; groundbreaking may take place during late 2018-early 2019.

NOTE: A site has been somewhat confirmed for this temple (the Facebook page for the Philippines Area of the Church says it will be built in the region of Alabang, Muntinlupa City). Until more is known, and until we know if and when a more official name might be announced, it seems wise to revise my estimate for this temple’s groundbreaking. As with everything else, I am keeping an eye out for any developments and will provide updates as I am able to.

178. Bangkok Thailand Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may take place during early-to-mid 2019.

NOTE: While there has been some speculation that an existing Church office building could be rebuilt and renovated into a multipurpose edifice that will house Church offices, a meetinghouse, and the temple, unless and until that is confirmed, it is difficult to determine when future progress might happen on this temple. While I would hope we will not have to wait another two years for progress on this temple, until more is known, this seems to be a better estimate.

179. Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may take place sometime during early-to-mid 2019.

NOTE: If a site is confirmed at any point within the next year or so for this temple, a groundbreaking could happen sooner. Since the Church has really taken off in the Ivory Coast, it seems hard to believe that there would be a four-year wait between the announcement and the groundbreaking. Until more is known, this seems to be a safer estimate.

180. Quito Ecuador Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may take place during mid-2019.

NOTE: Ecuador’s first temple had a 14-year waiting period between its announcement and its groundbreaking. While I would hope that a delay that long will not happen for this temple, it has not progressed beyond being announced. Wanting to be as conservative as possible in my thinking, I still think it is safe to assume that we could see this groundbreaking happen at around this time. I will keep an eye out for any developments and will be sure to pass that along.

181. Belem Brazil Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may take place during mid-to-late 2019.

NOTE: Unless something changes drastically, the temple announced for Brazil’s capital city will likely have a groundbreaking well before this temple, which was announced a year earlier. Until more is known, this seems to be a safer prediction.

182. Nairobi Kenya Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may take place sometime during late 2019-early 2020.

NOTE: Until more is known about Kenya’s first temple, a groundbreaking may be harder to predict than I thought. It seems safe to assert that this temple will be the last of the current bunch to have such a groundbreaking. Unless developments happen sooner than expected for this temple, that is an update from what I have previously stated.

                                                                                                          

ADDITIONAL GENERAL NOTE: Temple announcements within the last three years have come during the April General Conference. They may happen at any time the First Presidency feels inspired to make them, but that has been the pattern. I also know that sites have been purchased for future temples in Managua Nicaragua, Auckland New Zealand, Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, Bentonville Arkansas, and Missoula Montana, and I have been told by many that an official announcement will happen once unit growth and activity in temples within such areas warrants those announcements. If other potential temples have had a site purchased, they have yet to be identified as such. There have also been many temples proposed elsewhere by several apostles. Time will tell just how likely any of those sites might be. Until more is known about temples worldwide, that is the latest information I have.

                                                                                                           

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 highlights changes from the last posted temple progress report.