Minor Update on Durban South Africa Temple

Hello, all! While no significant progress has been made on most of the temples now under construction or undergoing renovation, a minor update was reported on the Durban South Africa Temple. I reported previously that the basement floor walls were poured, and today I learned that the stairs of that basement floor were being installed. But I thought it was sufficiently significant to note. The study of general temple developments continues on an ongoing and frequent basis, and I hope that some few of you might find such updates interesting.  If time and circumstances allow, I will plan on hopefully posting more later this weekend. For now, I just wanted to note that update. Any comments are welcome. Thank you for the privilege of your time.

KUED offers temporary free streaming of documentary about Temple Square

KUED is offering a temporary free streaming of the documentary that it aired last year about the history of Temple Square. This is being done in conjunction with the annual Pioneer Day celebration. You can learn more about the documentary here. Enjoy!

Changes in Area Leadership Reported in the August 2017 Ensign

Hello, all! I got my copy of the August 2017 Ensign yesterday. As has been the Church's custom in the last 20-some-odd years, they released a copy of the Area Leadership Assignments that official go into effect 11 days or so from today, although some have taken effect already in view of other changes that have happened. I speak particularly of the changes hat resulted from Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong's call as a mission president.

Additionally, other assignments may have been effective for a time as well based on whenever it might have been practical to initiate that process. I also wanted to note that there are a couple of minor updates in these assignments from what was announced in the Church News in late May/early June. Minor changes, but still significant.

In the meantime, I also wanted to note that none of the August Church magazines showed any change in the editor and advisers of those magazines. That does not mean nothing has changed. Typically, the assignment of editor rotates every two or three years, while any other assignment changes (including in anticipation of a GA Seventy adviser being granted emeritus status or starting service in an area presidency outside the US) will affect that too. It is not uncommon for such changes not to be effective by the time the August Ensign is printed.

As previously noted, when there is a change in the general auxiliary presidencies, it takes one or two months for any subsequent change in advisers to be noted in the list of advisers on the magazine's information box. So it may take until the September or October magazines are published to see any change there. But I will report on that ASAP once I learn of it.

For now, here is the list of those changes, along with those corrections reported in the August 2017 Ensign. Enjoy, and thanks for your interest and support. Any comments are welcome.

Changes in Area Leadership August 2017

NOTE: Where applicable, I am also noting changes that are likely in the advisers of the Church magazines in view of these assignments, which appear in bold type.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: There is one case, noted in italics below, where the noted changes will likely take place sooner than August 1, in view of Elder Wong’s call as a mission president.

Presidency of the Seventy:

Elders Donald L. Hallstrom (who has been supervising the North America Northwest and North America West Areas) and Richard J. Maynes (who has been supervising the North America Southeast Area) will be released from the Presidency of the Seventy and, as noted, will take other assignments at Church headquarters.

Elders Juan A. Uceda and Patrick Kearon will fill the resulting vacancies in this presidency, with Elder Uceda overseeing the North America Southeast Area (succeeding Elder Maynes) and Elder Kearon overseeing the North America Northwest and North America West Areas (succeeding Elder Hallstrom).

Additionally, in view of his new assignment in the Presidency, Elder Patrick Kearon will be released as President of the Europe Area.

NOTE: In the August 2017 Ensign, other changes were noted in the assignments of the Presidency members; most notably that the previously announced assignments of Elder Lynn G. Robbins and Elder Juan A. Uceda would be reversed, with Elder Robbins overseeing the North America Southeast Area, and Elder Uceda taking Elder Robbins’ former assignment of overseeing the North America Southwest Area.

General Authority Seventies:

Marcos A. Aidukaitis released as First Counselor and called as President of the Brazil Area.

Jose L. Alonso released as Second Counselor in the Central America Area Presidency and called as Second Counselor in the Caribbean Area Presidency.

Wilford W. Andersen released as the junior administrator of the Middle East/Africa North Area, and called as the senior administrator (referred to for the first time as Area President.)

NOTE: While the Church News article on this assignment (which was published on May 3, 2017) noted this somewhat different title, no mention of that was subsequently made in the August 2017 Ensign in the article discussing this year’s changes.

Ian S. Ardern called as Second Counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency.

W. Mark Bassett released as Second Counselor and called as First Counselor in the Brazil Area Presidency.

Craig A. Cardon released as Second Counselor and called as First Counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency.

Valeri V. Cordon called as Second Counselor in the Central America Area Presidency.

Claudio R. M. Costa released as President of the Brazil Area Presidency.

Joaquin E. Costa called as Second Counselor in the Brazil Area Presidency.

Massimo De Feo called as Second Counselor in the Europe Area Presidency.

Kevin R. Duncan released as President of the Central America Area Presidency.

Stanley G. Ellis released as First Counselor in the Africa Southeast Area Presidency.

David F. Evans released as Second Counselor and called as First Counselor in the Asia Area Presidency.

NOTE: Elder Evans is succeeding Elder Wong, as noted below. It is therefore likely that we will see this change happen sooner than August, if it has not already taken place.

Robert C. Gay called as President of the Asia North Area Presidency.

Christoffel Golden called as First Counselor in the Europe East Area Presidency.

NOTE: Elder Golden’s new assignment will necessitate his release as an adviser to the Church Magazines. Follow-up note (added on 7/20/17): If such a change has been made, it is not reflected in the August 2017 Ensign.

Paul V. Johnson released as First Counselor in the Europe Area Presidency and called as the Area President.

Larry S. Kacher released as First Counselor in the Europe East Area Presidency and called as Second Counselor in the Africa West Area Presidency.

Larry R. Lawrence released as the senior administrator of the Middle East/Africa North Area.

NOTE: It is likely that Elder Lawrence will be granted emeritus status in October, which would also necessitate his release as an adviser to the Church magazines. Follow-up note (added on 7/20/17): If such a change has been made, it is not reflected in the August 2017 Ensign.

Joni L. Koch called as Second Counselor in the Africa Southeast Area Presidency.

Hugo E. Martinez released as Second Counselor in the Caribbean Area Presidency.

Peter F. Meurs called as Second Counselor in the Asia Area Presidency.

NOTE: Elder Meurs replaces Elder Evans, who is succeeding Elder Wong, as noted below. It is therefore likely that we will see this change happen sooner than August, if it has not already taken place.

S. Gifford Nielsen released as First Counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency.

Adrian Ochoa released as First Counselor and called as the President of the Central America Area

S. Mark Palmer released as Second Counselor and called as First Counselor in the Africa Southeast Area Presidency.

Anthony D. Perkins called as the junior administrator of the Middle East/Africa North Area (referred to for the first time as the First Counselor of that area).

NOTE: While the Church News article on this assignment (which was published on May 3, 2017) noted this somewhat different title, no mention of that was subsequently made in the August 2017 Ensign in the article discussing this year’s changes.

Gary B. Sabin released as Second Counselor and called as First Counselor in the Europe Area Presidency.

Vern P. Stanfill released as Second Counselor in the Africa West Area Presidency.

Scott D. Whiting released as President of the Asia North Area.

Chi Hong (Sam) Wong released as First Counselor in the Asia Area Presidency.

NOTE: Elder Wong, who has been asked to serve as president of the Canada Vancouver Mission starting in July, has likely already been released from this assignment to allow him to prepare for this new one.

Jorge F. Zeballos called as First Counselor in the Central America Area Presidency.