Hello again, everyone! As some of you may be aware, President Donald Trump had a brief trip to Utah today to announce changes to two national monuments here in Utah. The visit, arranged by Senior Utah Senator Orrin Hatch (who is a Church member and third in the presidential line of succession), included a visit to Welfare Square and a meeting with President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, President Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Presiding Bishop Gerald Causse, and Relief Society General President Jean B. Bingham. Among the topics discussed were the importance of religious freedom, and how the Church cares for the needs of its members and their friends of other faiths. President Trump seemed very impressed and touched, both by the time these Church leaders gave him, and with the opportunity to gain a more complete understanding of all the Church does to help not only its own members, but also friends of other faiths. I attempted to write a summary of all that transpired, but found that nothing I put together does it justice, so I refer anyone who would like more details on this to the Church News article, which can be found here.
In other news, I mentioned on this blog a while ago that the January 10 and February 1 dates for the renovation closures of the Raleigh North Carolina and Baton Rouge Louisiana Temples were likely subject to change. While I am still waiting for word on the correct date for the Raleigh closure, it appears that the Church has identified Sunday January 28 as a more exact date for the Baton Rouge renovation closure. That makes sense in light of the fact that we have generally seen such closures begin between Friday and Monday. I am keeping an eye out for the exact dates of both the Raleigh North Carolina and Mesa Arizona closures and will post those as soon as I have them.
That does it for this post. Any comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
Monday, December 4, 2017
President Trump Visits With LDS Church Leaders during his Utah trip/Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Renovation Closure Corrected
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
More Information Provided on Cedar City Utah Temple Dedication; more specific information pending
Hello again, everyone! As many of you may be aware, the dedication of the Cedar City Utah Temple will be held this weekend. I have wondered periodically who all might be in attendance from the general Church leadership, and we now know a little bit more about that. While no specific leaders have been identified as of yet, this article explains that there will be 9 of the 14 current apostles (the article says 15, but does not account for Elder Hales's death) participating during the three dedicatory sessions. That brings up an interesting question: who might those 9 be?
We know that President Monson likely won't be able to attend, which leaves 13 others that could. We also know that it has been several years since any temple dedication or rededication has been attended by every member of the First Presidency, so I think it may be safe to assume that only one First Presidency member may attend, and since President Uchtdorf presided at the dedications of the Tucson Arizona and Meridian Idaho Temples, it would make sense if President Eyring presided at this one. I am not ruling out both President Eyring and President Uchtdorf being in attendance at one or two sessions each, but it seems unlikely. We also know that the Church likes to spread out attendance at temple-related events so everyone has an equal opportunity to participate.
With that in mind, we also know that Elder Neil L. Andersen accompanied President Eyring to the dedication of the Paris France temple (in view of Elder Andersen's ties to France as a former missionary and mission president there), so he may not be involved with this dedication. Likewise, Elder Ronald A. Rasband accompanied President Eyring for the rededication of the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple, so he might not be involved in the dedication of Utah's newest temple. The same might be true for Elder Gary E. Stevenson, who accompanied President Uchtdorf to the dedication of the Tucson Arizona Temple dedication, and Elder D. Todd Christofferson, who accompanied President Uchtdorf to the dedication of the Meridian Idaho Temple.
Having said all this, if I am correct, then the apostles participating in this event could be President Henry B. Eyring, President Russell M. Nelson, Elder Dalin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, and Dale G. Renlund. I also anticipate the participation of several other Church leaders, including Elder L. Whitney Clayton, Senior President of the Seventy, who presided at this temple's groundbreaking, Elder Craig C. Christensen, who oversees the three Utah areas of the Church, a representative or two from the Temple Department, and other leaders, including a representative from the Presiding Bishopric.
But these are just my thoughts. It is now your turn to "sound off" in the comments below with your thoughts. That does it for this post. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
We know that President Monson likely won't be able to attend, which leaves 13 others that could. We also know that it has been several years since any temple dedication or rededication has been attended by every member of the First Presidency, so I think it may be safe to assume that only one First Presidency member may attend, and since President Uchtdorf presided at the dedications of the Tucson Arizona and Meridian Idaho Temples, it would make sense if President Eyring presided at this one. I am not ruling out both President Eyring and President Uchtdorf being in attendance at one or two sessions each, but it seems unlikely. We also know that the Church likes to spread out attendance at temple-related events so everyone has an equal opportunity to participate.
With that in mind, we also know that Elder Neil L. Andersen accompanied President Eyring to the dedication of the Paris France temple (in view of Elder Andersen's ties to France as a former missionary and mission president there), so he may not be involved with this dedication. Likewise, Elder Ronald A. Rasband accompanied President Eyring for the rededication of the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple, so he might not be involved in the dedication of Utah's newest temple. The same might be true for Elder Gary E. Stevenson, who accompanied President Uchtdorf to the dedication of the Tucson Arizona Temple dedication, and Elder D. Todd Christofferson, who accompanied President Uchtdorf to the dedication of the Meridian Idaho Temple.
Having said all this, if I am correct, then the apostles participating in this event could be President Henry B. Eyring, President Russell M. Nelson, Elder Dalin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, and Dale G. Renlund. I also anticipate the participation of several other Church leaders, including Elder L. Whitney Clayton, Senior President of the Seventy, who presided at this temple's groundbreaking, Elder Craig C. Christensen, who oversees the three Utah areas of the Church, a representative or two from the Temple Department, and other leaders, including a representative from the Presiding Bishopric.
But these are just my thoughts. It is now your turn to "sound off" in the comments below with your thoughts. That does it for this post. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Report on the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional
Hello again, everyone! I am posting briefly tonight with a recap of the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional. President Henry B. Eyring presided at and conducted the devotional, sending season's greetings on behalf of the First Presidency. Sister Reyna I. Aburto offered the invocation. Music was provided by the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. Surprisingly, there were only three speakers at this devotional, which may be the new normal.
We heard from Sister Christina B. Franco, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency (you can find the Church news summary of her remarks here), Elder Kevin R. Duncan of the Seventy (the Church News summarized his remarks in this article), and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency (whose remarks are summarized here). The Mormon Newsroom article covering the entire devotional can be found here.
President Uchtdorf also shared an expression of President Monson's love and greetings to all Church members. At the end of the devotional, the benediction was offered by Brother Brian K. Ashton, Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency.
I always say this every year, but I absolutely loved this year's Christmas Devotional. I am so grateful that we have this opportunity each year to hear messages specifically about the Christmas season at the beginning of each December.
That does it for this post. Any comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
We heard from Sister Christina B. Franco, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency (you can find the Church news summary of her remarks here), Elder Kevin R. Duncan of the Seventy (the Church News summarized his remarks in this article), and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency (whose remarks are summarized here). The Mormon Newsroom article covering the entire devotional can be found here.
President Uchtdorf also shared an expression of President Monson's love and greetings to all Church members. At the end of the devotional, the benediction was offered by Brother Brian K. Ashton, Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency.
I always say this every year, but I absolutely loved this year's Christmas Devotional. I am so grateful that we have this opportunity each year to hear messages specifically about the Christmas season at the beginning of each December.
That does it for this post. Any comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
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