Thousands Pay Respects to President Monson During His Public Viewing

Hello again, everyone! I am posting at this hour to provide a look at the stories that have been published regarding the turnout so far for the public viewing of Church President Thomas S. Monson. In that regard, I wanted to pass along this article (from the Church News website), this report (from Mormon Newsroom) and this summary (from KSL's website). As always, it appears that the viewing has been well attended, and that many Church members are willing to do whatever it takes to pay their personal tributes to this wonderful man and prophet of God.

In that regard, I hope that while my wife and I are stuck at home with illness, my coverage of this event here on this blog will serve as an adequate tribute to the memory of our dear prophet. The viewing continues for the next six hours or so Utah time, and then tomorrow, of course, is the scheduled funeral service for President Monson. You can count on my bringing a report of that day's events to you tomorrow as they occur. So stay tuned for that.

That does it for this post. Any and all 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.

Significant Updates Reported on All Temples Likely to Be Completed Before the End of This Year

Hello again, everyone! I am back as promised with some significant updates on the status of all three temples that are likely to be completed before the end of this year. Notice that I said "completed" and not "dedicated." While the first two (Concepcion Chile and Barranquilla Colombia) will definitively be dedicated prior to the end of 2018, work may be completed on the Rome Italy Temple as well before this year ends, but there is a more than likely possibility that the actual dedication of this temple will not occur until the early months of 2019. That said, as I have previously noted, I have tentatively offered my optimistic view that, all going well, the Rome temple could be dedicated in mid-December of this year. But if the finishing touches on that temple are delayed in their completion, that would push it back.

That said, let's move on to specifics about the updates that have been reported for each of these temples. While the installation of lamp posts continues for the Concepcion Chile Temple, in addition to the planting of trees on temple grounds, the process of interior finish work is entering its' final stages.

Meanwhile, for the Barranquilla Colombia Temple, the decorative fencing has been completely installed, and the attention has turned to pouring concrete walkways while cladding is underway on patron housing.

And for the Rome Italy Temple, landscaping and interior work has continued. I also wanted to note that this temple seems to be having progress reported consistently enough that it gives me hope the Church could dedicate it before the end of this year, but that will largely depend on if and how consistently it continues to progress.

These are the updates, which I have been pleased to bring to you tonight. That does it for this post. Any and all 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.

Political & Religious Leaders Worldwide Pay Tribute to President Monson & His Legacy of Cooperation With Those of Other Faiths

Hello again, everyone! There are some late-breaking temple developments which I will focus on in another post, as they are well worthy of mentioning, but I wanted first to mention that Mormon Newsroom has published this article today to pass along statements made by leaders of other faiths, leaders of nations (including LDS members of the US Senate and House of Representatives).

These tributes provide moving expressions of solidarity, well-wishes, and reminiscences about how many of those releasing such statements were personally impacted by President Monson's ministry. One thing I did want to mention regarding one of the statements: While I do not want to stir up political controversy, it has been my observation that our current US President, Donald Trump, does not have the smallest portion of a grasp of the English language that we have seen in so many of his predecessors. As one reading "his statement", I can say it was more likely than not crafted by someone else and submitted with his approval.

At any rate, it was wonderful to read those statements, and I think many of you will find that to be the case as you read them yourselves. What wonderful tributes to the legacy of this remarkable man, who truly wore out his life in the service of the Lord.

That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post (which should be up in the next few minutes and will focus on the temple updates I mentioned at the start of this one), I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.