600th Blog Post: Church (and Beehive Clothing) announces discontinuance of some

Today, as I celebrate posting my 600th post on this blog, I have been thinking more and more about how far I've come in my blogging efforts. As I began blogging in order to keep my family and friends informed about our personal lives, I gradually shifted my focus to being more about General Conference news and developments (both past a future), apostolic age and tenure milestones (including birthday posts dedicated to our current 15 apostles during at least their birth months, of not the exact days), and especially present and future temple-related developments (including estimated time-frames for future events and many discussions of possible future temple sites).

In doing so I found somewhat of a faithful group of those who check my blog regularly for updates, have requested my friendship  on Facebook (primarily because an easy actual friendship has formed through our interactions on this blog), and who have filled a void that has arisen in my life due to the fact that I am not presently well enough to be out and about and mingling with my neighbors through our Church activity, and because we are now living so comparatively far away from our our many other friends and family members. So thanks to you all who have become regular readers, followers, and supporters in this time of our great need. I appreciate each and every one of you.

Having said that. I now move on to my main reason for posting. I was intrigued to learn earlier today that the Church and Beehive Clothing have announced changes in the availability of certain styyles of temple garments, (which enemies of the Church have sometimes referred to with the tongue-in-cheek expression "magic underwear"). For all the details, click here. Thanks again for your readership, support, and interest, and thanks especially for all the wonderful memories.

Update on Seminar for New Mission Presidents

Hello. With a few additional reports posted earlier today, it seems that the Church News has posted summary articles of all but one address given at the Annnual Seminar for New Mission Presidents (that given jointly by the female auxiliary presidents. Click here for that summary article. How wonderful it was to read and reflect on the inspiration and insights which I, as one who will likely never have any high-profile calling of any kind, gained and received from these inspired words. Hope you all have enjoyed these summary posts. Thanks.

As a PS of sorts to this post, I did want to note that I found out just yesterday from someone who had regularly posted comments on my blog that he was still having issues making any comments. It is obvious I have yet to resolve this issue. I will keep you all posted on that and will hope that I can have it resolved as quickly and correctly as possible. I have greatly missed the feedback.  Thanks again.

Temple Construction Progress Update

Here I am with another temple construction progress update. While things were fairly quiet in that regard over this last weekend (though Saturday did mark the end of the Tucson Arizona Temple Open House), two significant developments have taken place with a couple of other temples. This post will serve to pass along those developments.

First, the last time I posted my report, there had not been a change in the construction status of the Durban South Africa Temple for quite a while. But when I looked at that temple's status today, I was elated to see the progress that had been reported. The details are below.

I additionally made some changes to those listed in the renovation and announced categories. In changing some of the ways I have worded my thoughts, I have tried to make it more clear that these thoughts should not be taken as gospel or as a sure thing. The only truly consistent thing in this life is that changes happen. 

And I also want to be absolutely clear in emphasizing that only the President of the Church or those acting on his behalf in his absence and know how he would think, feel, and speak on such issues have the prerogative to deliberate, then determine and discern what the Lord would have him (or them) do. These are nothing more and nothing less than my own very imperfect observations, and, as such, they are bound to be faulty in many ways. Until more is known, they are my best guesstimates, but no more and no less than that. Whether or not these thoughts turn out to be right, I will be perfectly content with continuing to provide such updates and adjusting things as more is known. So, for now, thanks for reading this. Please comment if you would like to and are able to. Because I have not heard from anyone about whether or not the commenting issue is fixed, I am still hoping for the best. Let me know of any problems. Thanks again.

Here's that updated report:

Temple Construction Progress Update (current as of 7/5/17)

NOTE: There will be a total of 182 operating temples once all of those under construction or announced are dedicated. Of those, we currently have 156 temples in operation; 1 other will be dedicated next month (after the traditional July recess for the General Authorities); 2 more have construction concluding and a dedication scheduled for later this year; 9 are in various stages of construction; 1 other has construction pending (groundbreaking was last year), and earnest work will hopefully start on that within the next month or so); 2 are undergoing renovation (with completion anticipated next year); another 4 have a renovation closure date set for later this year, with 5 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: Elder Larry Y. Wilson, who serves as the Executive Director of the Temple Department, indicated in a recent interview that the Church has around 85 temple sites that are under active consideration for an announcement within the next 15 years or so. If that is true, then that would take the number of temples in any phase to just under 270 by 2032. And if that is true, then whether or not the Church makes it an official goal to do so, it is more than likely that there could be a minimum of 200 temples dedicated by or before the Church’s 200^th anniversary on April 6, 2030, whether or not the Church makes that an official goal. All it would take to do so is 18 more being announced, and each of them, along with the 26 either under construction or announced, to be completed within the next 12 years and 9 months, which is doable if 3 or 4 are dedicated per year between now and then. As there are 3 others scheduled for dedication before the end of this year, with 5 set for next year, and up to 5 the year following, the Church seems to be on track for that. Subsequent versions of this report will continue to share developments as they occur.

Preparing for dedication:

157. Tucson Arizona Temple: Preparing for dedication, which is scheduled for Sunday August 13, 2017.

Construction nearing completion; dedication scheduled:

158. Meridian Idaho Temple: Interior finish work underway; sod laid and trees planted; dedication scheduled for Sunday November 19, 2017.

159. Cedar City Utah Temple: Installing art glass; dedication scheduled for Sunday December 10, 2017.

                                                      

Under Construction (completion anticipated ):

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: Laying exterior brick; attaching purlins to roof rafters; completion anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2018.

162.  Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Stone cladding underway on the south wall; completion anticipated sometime during late 2018.

163. Durban South Africa Temple: Temple upper soffit walls poured; preparing for basement floor; missionary housing basement floor poured; lighting protection installed; preparing for exterior brick; completion anticipated sometime during late 2018.

164. Concepcion Chile Temple: Cladding progressing on west and south walls; palm trees planted at temple entrance; completion anticipated sometime during late 2018-early 2019.

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-to-mid 2019.

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

NOTE: In looking at the completion estimate for this temple versus that of the Winnipeg Temple, if construction begins in earnest on that temple within the next month or so (which it may), it will be finished prior to this one. That change of thinking is reflected on the revisions I have made to my estimated timeline for future temple-related events.

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

169. Arequipa Peru Temple: Setting rebar and concrete forms for foundation walls; completion anticipated sometime during late 2019-early 2020.

Construction pending (anticipated to start anytime):

166. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Groundbreaking held Saturday December 3, 2016; awaiting full-scale operations; acquiring building permits; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2019.

NOTE: In reevaluating the time-frames involved, I learned, as noted above, that the 20-month completion estimate for this comparatively smaller temple (which is being built to serve just the one stake at the moment) puts its completion before that of the Rio temple. Subsequent adjustments will be made as they are needed.

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: Though this temple’s renovation has been ongoing since its closure in February 2016, and while the rededication had been anticipated at some point during 2017, as the renovation process has continued, those estimates have been altered again and again, until this most recent revision of that time-frame. This event could happen at any point in the middle of the year, or it could be pushed back again. More information will come as more is known.

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

NOTE: This temple, closed since September of 2015, was also anticipated to be completed and rededicated at some point prior to the end of 2017. As with the Jordan River temple, that completion estimate has been pushed back repeatedly. Until more is known, it is anyone’s guess when this rededication might happen. I will pass along any updates as I receive them.

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 early-to-mid 2019.

NOTE: At present, all that is known about the renovation plans for this temple is that until this renovation begins, a completion time-frame may be hard to pin down. But we do know that this temple is the newest of those set for renovation (having been dedicated in 2002), so it would not surprise me at all if this was the first temple of this bunch to be rededicated, and a 15-18 month estimate seems probable, unless an expansion of some kind is planned (which doesn’t seem likely at this point). As that process unfolds, that might change, but for now, it seems a safe assertion.

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

NOTE: While this temple is another smaller one, I learned on July 5 that this renovation will be altering both the exterior and interior appearance of the temple. Whether or not that involves an expansion remains to be seen. More information will be provided as I find out more. In the meantime, until more is known, I will not change the possible completion time-frame until I can find out more.

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

NOTE: This temple, constructed as part of President Kimball’s smaller temple design, is anticipated to be rededicated sometime in 2020. With what is currently known now, unless an expansion is planned (and it may not be), the completion estimate feels reasonable. Adjustments will be made as the process gets underway.

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

NOTE: Another example of Hinckley-era smaller temples, this one was dedicated in 2000. Unless an expansion is planned (which seems doubtful at present), it is not unreasonable to believe that a rededication could happen at around the time indicated. Once more is known, I will make any adjustments that may be needed.

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

68. Raleigh North Carolina Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in January 2018; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

NOTE: This temple, another smaller Hinckley-era one (that was dedicated in 1999), does not have an expansion planned, as far as I know. That makes it very likely that a 15-18 month renovation process might be all that is needed. Until more is known, just wanted to note that.

94. Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in February 2018; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

NOTE: As noted on other temples that have a renovation pending, we do not yet know if part of the plan for this temple’s renovation is expanding this temple. It might be possible, but then again, it might not. Once more is known, I will adjust this estimate. Until then, the general time-frame indicated above is my best estimate.

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

NOTE: This renovation and the one below were announced in February of 2017. In the interim, the Church has scheduled 7 other renovations around those two. This temple is older, so the renovation will likely take longer. But I am not ruling out other possibilities. Once more is known, that new information will be reflected in subsequent versions of this report.

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

NOTE: As this is another older temple, completion of its renovation may take longer than indicated here. Until more is known, I prefer to be conservative in my estimate. As the process unfolds, this estimated timeframe may change.

7. Mesa Arizona Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in May 2018; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2020.

NOTE: This renovation, the third announced on June 27, 2017, is for the oldest temple of the current bunch, and will be completed at some point in 2020. That is all we know for the moment. Until more is known, the completion time-frame is approximated. As with everything else, I will pass any updates along as I receive them.

NOTE ON FUTURE GROUNDBREAKINGS: While I daily hope for news of progress on any of these announced temples, future time-frames are harder to pin down than I originally recognized, and once new information becomes available on any of these temples, I will alter these estimates. Also, with Elder Wilson’s statement, as noted above, we can anticipate that many other temples will be joining this list over the next several years, which will likewise have groundbreaking estimates as I am able to make those happen.

Announced:

170. Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple: Planning and approval phase; groundbreaking may take place sometime during early-to-mid 2018.

NOTE: As noted in earlier versions of this report, Elder Andersen confirmed the site for this temple in March of this year. It is therefore entirely likely that a groundbreaking will be sure to follow at around this time. If and when that estimate might need to be changed, you can be sure that I will do so.

171. 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: Until recently, all that was known regarding this temple is the contractor’s statement (he is the same man overseeing the Arequipa Peru Temple project) to the effect that a year of pre-planning would be needed prior to any groundbreaking ceremony being held. With the recent news that this preconstruction began in March of this year, it is not hard to believe that a groundbreaking could take place soon after 2018 begins. If my thinking on this changes (and it may once more is known), I will make any adjustments needed.

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

NOTE: As this temple’s site has been confirmed through local leaders’ communications with members (it will stand in the northern section of the city near an arm of Paranoa Lake), it is not hard to believe that a groundbreaking could follow within a year of this temple’s announcement. As more information is made available, I will pass that along, including any needed changes to this estimate.

173. Greater Manila Philippines Temple: Planning phase; site confirmed; awaiting official name announcement; groundbreaking may take place sometime during mid-2018.

NOTE: This temple’s location, which the Philippines’ Facebeook page confirms is in the region of Alabang, Muntinlupa City, will be built south of Manila proper. With the site confirmed, it is very likely that a groundbreaking could follow at around this time. And since the second Lima Peru temple had an official name announcement within three weeks of the temple’s announcement, it is not hard at all to believe that an official name will be announced for this temple in very short order.

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

NOTE: While all that is known about this temple presently is that the Church owns several acres of land in this community, we do know that generally Utah County temples do get construction started much sooner than their international counterparts. This groundbreaking could therefore happen sooner or later than this. Until more is known, it does seem to be a safe prediction.

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

NOTE: While it may still be true that several sites are under consideration for this temple, the most likely one of these sites has been annexed into Pocatello City. If at any point within the next year that site is confirmed, this groundbreaking could happen sooner or later than this. Until more is known, it seems to be a safe estimate.

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

NOTE: If, as many members have speculated, it is confirmed within the next year or so that a building housing Church offices will be reconstructed and repurposed into an edifice housing not just those offices, but also a meetinghouse and the temple as well, then formal construction efforts could begin sooner than indicated here. Until more is known, I am trying to be conservative in my estimates. I would not be surprised in the least if this temple’s groundbreaking happens sooner or later than indicated here.

177. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could take place during early-to-mid 2019.

NOTE: As noted on earlier versions of this report, Elder Kevin S. Hamilton stated last year after the announcement of this temple that a site announcement and subsequent groundbreaking for this temple would likely take place by the end of 2017. Since that time, there has been no change on this temple’s status. And it has actually been downgraded slightly from approval and construction preparation phase to planning and approval phase. That makes me think there could be a chance that this temple’s groundbreaking may not happen until the date indicated above. But the Lord has been known to surprise us in cases like this, and once I feel that there is a good enough reason to move this temple back up on this list, I will do so. More to come once more is known.

178. Urdaneta Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting government approval and official site announcement; groundbreaking could take place sometime during mid-2019.

NOTE: While many have speculated that the end of the delays that have prevented progress on this temple means that a groundbreaking could follow sometime later in 2017 or 2018, with so much unknown presently regarding how soon progress might be made in this regard, I have wanted to be more careful and conservative in my estimates. If and when the facts I have point to the notion of this groundbreaking occurring earlier than estimated here, I will be sure to pass that along.

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

NOTE: As previously noted, the Ivory Coast has experienced massive and unprecedented growth of late, to the point that many have speculated that the Ivory Coast could get one or two additional temples within the next 15-30 years. And it may very well be that a second one is in the works for the Ivory Coast among those 85+ mentioned above. In terms of this temple, however, until more is known, or until more solid developments happen, I want to be conservative in my estimates. As with everything else, as soon as I become aware of any information whatsoever on this front, I will provide any updates needed. In the meantime, this is the best prediction that I have knowing what is now known.

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

NOTE: In spite of the fact that Ecuador’s first temple had a 14+ year wait between its announcement and the subsequent groundbreaking that followed, this second Ecuadoran temple, from all I have read, is not in any way anticipated to take anywhere near as long for those things to happen. And while I hope that the groundbreaking for this temple will not have to wait another 1.25-1.5 years to happen, until more developments are reported, it seems to be a sound estimate.

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

NOTE: Since we have a site essentially confirmed for the other Brazilian temple above, even though this one was announced a year prior to that one, it is more than likely that we will not see a groundbreaking for this Belem temple until a year or so after the one for Brasilia. If and when more information is available that might change this line of thought and reasoning, I will be sure to pass that along.

182. Nairobi Kenya Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; media event held June 14, 2017; groundbreaking may take place sometime during late 2019-early 2020.

NOTE: With news this last week of the media event that was held for this temple in mid-June, that opens up the possibility that a site announcement and a groundbreaking could follow within the next year or two. That said, the article reporting that media event itself indicated that it generally takes one to two years minimum from a temple’s announcement for a groundbreaking to follow. I am doing my best to analyze how the news of this event might change my thinking on this temple, but until more is known definitively, I have felt it wiser to be cautious in my approach. As always, any updates will be provided as I become aware of new news and developments.                                                                                  

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 since 2015. Also, as noted above, Elder Larry Y. Wilson said in an interview recently that 85 or more temple sites are under consideration for an announcement within the next 15 years. So we could be entering another unprecedented era of temple announcements and construction. That is one big reason why I have expanded my list of temples that may potentially be announced. I also know that sites have been procured for future temples in Managua Nicaragua (which seems most likely, as it is the first of the top ten countries with the strongest LDS presence that does not yet have a temple, and such a temple was proposed by Elder Nelson in 2012), Auckland New Zealand, Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, Bentonville Arkansas, and Missoula Montana (which was proposed by Elder Bednar sometime in 2014). 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 there have been any other sites purchased elsewhere, they have not yet been made known. We also know that several potential temples have been proposed in several locations around the world by many of our prophets and apostles. The Lord will continue to inspire such temple announcements as they are needed, and all developments will continue to be included on subsequent versions of this report.

                                                                                                           

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.