Updated Completion Estimates for Future Temple-related Events

Hello again, everyone! I am back as promised, with the updated completion estimates I have put together for future temple events. I have based these revisions on a number of factors, but primarily on the climates of the cities in which these temples are being constructed or renovated and the progress (or lack thereof) for each of them. Those estimates follow below.

So as not to disturb the flow of that information, I will close now as I always do. 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.

Future estimates for known temple-related events

2018:

Sunday March 4: Washington DC Temple Renovation Closure (date has been confirmed)

Sunday April 22: Houston Texas Temple Rededication (private; date has been confirmed; President M. Russell Ballard will preside at this event)

April or May: Full-scale construction anticipated to begin on the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple

Sunday May 20: Jordan River Utah Temple Rededication/Mesa Arizona Temple Renovation Closure (both have been confirmed)

July: Hamilton New Zealand Temple Renovation Closure (official closure date confirmation is pending)

Sunday September 16 or 23: Concepcion Chile Temple Dedication (160^th operating temple)

Sunday October 14 or 21: Barranquilla Colombia Temple Dedication (161^st operating temple)

Sunday December 9 or 16: Rome Italy Temple Dedication (162^nd operating temple)

Note: An article published in an Italian newspaper featured interviews with construction workers. As part of that interview, one worker noted that the Church would likely dedicate this temple before the end of 2018. While the general consensus seems to be that this could occur in October, in view of the progress (and at times the lack thereof) in terms of this temple’s construction, it has seemed wise to be more conservative in my estimates. If I see a need to revise this estimate again, I will do so.

2019:

Mid-February: Kinshasa DR Congo Temple Dedication (163^rd operating temple)

Mid-March: Memphis Tennessee Temple Rededication

Mid-to-late April: Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple Rededication

Early-to-mid May: Fortaleza Brazil Temple Dedication (164^th operating temple)

Mid-to-late May: Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple Dedication (165^th operating temple)

Mid-June: Frankfurt Germany Temple Rededication

Early-to-mid August: Lisbon Portugal Temple Dedication (166^th operating temple)

Mid-to-late August: Raleigh North Carolina Temple Rededication

Mid-September: Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Rededication

Mid-to-late October: Asuncion Paraguay Temple Rededication

Mid-November: Durban South Africa Temple Dedication (167^th operating temple)

Mid-December: Oakland California Temple Rededication

Note: This temple closed for renovation on February 19, 2018 and the renovation process was officially underway as of February 28, 2018. When its’ closure was announced by the First Presidency, the announcement indicated that this temple would be rededicated in 2019. That said, it is an older temple, and if anything delays or prolongs that process, another adjustment to this estimate would be necessary.

                       

2020:

Mid-March: Arequipa Peru Temple Dedication (168^th operating temple)

Mid-to-late April: Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple Dedication (169^th operating temple)

Mid-May: Tokyo Japan Temple Rededication

Early-to-mid June Winnipeg Manitoba Temple Dedication (170^th operating temple)

Note: Full-scale construction efforts on this temple have been anticipated to begin since its’ groundbreaking in December 2016, and, as noted above, that could occur in April or May 2018. Once those efforts are fully underway, we will know more regarding how (if at all) the 20-month estimate originally given for this temple might be affected, and any subsequent adjustments that may be needed will be made.

Mid-August: Mesa Arizona Temple Rededicatiom

Mid-November: Washington DC Temple Rededication

2021:

Mid-to-late April: Hamilton New Zealand Temple Rededication

Final Note: I heard that 2018 and 2019 could be big years for temple groundbreakings. If that proves correct, then many other new temples could also be dedicated during 2020 and 2021. It also seems safe to assume that other temple renovations will be announced, which will in turn necessitate subsequent rededications. As the next two years unfold, I will have a better idea of when such events may occur, and they will then be added to the other estimates above.

Temple Construction Updates Provided; Additional Revision of Completion Estimates Necessary

Hello again, everyone! I am pleased to be able to report today many exciting developments in terms of temple construction around the world. Before I pass along what those details are, I wanted to note that some of these updates involve a shift in the more general completion estimates for those temples that have and have not had progress reported recently. This in turn necessitates yet another reevaluation on my part in terms of the more specific estimates I have provided, which I hope to post later today.

With that said, let's get to the updates. We start first with the Barranquilla Colombia Temple. A report has come in today that last Saturday, members offered free health services and supplies to around 550 individuals near the temple site, after which those giving and receiving such services toured the temple grounds. That was great to hear about.

And if that was not enough good news, an update has been provided on the status of that temple as well. The latest report notes that more plants and trees are being added to the grounds of the temple, that art glass installation continues, and that interior work is making progress.

Based on that update, I may be rethinking the more specific time-frame which I offered for this temple's dedication. When I last posted those estimates, I had indicated that the Rome Italy Temple might be dedicated before this one, but since both are progressing steadily, another evaluation of that is likely needed.

Regarding the Rome Italy Temple, in view of the article quoting a member of the construction team for that project, it has seemed very safe to assume that that temple will almost certainly be dedicated before the end of this year, rather than the beginning of 2019. So I will be keeping that in mind when I work on the updated estimates.

We next turn to the Lisbon Portugal Temple, where steeple walls have been poured and the scaffolding around the steeple has been removed. Because this temple has progressed so steadily lately, the general completion estimate for this temple has been changed yet again.

As those who have followed such changes might recall, this temple has moved up on the list a couple of times. As recently as around a month or so ago, it was noted that this temple could be completed in mid-2019, which was subsequently changed to mid-to-late 2019.

With the progress that has been noted, today that more general estimate has been pushed up again to mid-2019. I was grateful to learn about that.

I should also note that, since the two have been somewhat neck-and-neck in their completion estimates, the estimate for the Durban South Africa remains at mid-to-late 2019, meaning the Lisbon temple will likely be completed several months prior to Durban.

Another update has been provided for the Arequipa Peru Temple as well. While still noting that the cupola has been installed atop the tower walls, it has also been noted that interior work is underway. But the big surprise with this temple is that, while as recently as yesterday, its' general completion estimate was set during late 2019-early 2020, there is now reason to believe that it may only be dedicated in early 2020. So that is something else I will be reevaluating.

We now turn to temples undergoing renovation. Surprisingly enough, reports have come in of progress on both the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple (where the spire and the marble cladding have been removed) and on the Oakland California Temple (where a construction fence has been put up and the water fountain feature has been removed).

Because of the confirmation that both temples have their renovations underway, it makes sense that the more general estimate for the completion of the Baton Rouge renovation is mid-2019. And because the renovation efforts are officially underway for the temple in Oakland, it has felt more reasonable to me to alter my general estimate for its' rededication to sometime between late 2019 and early 2020.

I should also note that, because no progress has been reported on the Asuncion Paraguay Temple (although such progress may have been made but has just not been reported yet), it has felt wise to shift my general estimate for that temple's completion to mid-to-late 2019. But depending on the progress (or the lack thereof) on this temple, that could be pushed back further.

It is also worth noting that we are still waiting for confirmation as to whether or not the Asuncion Paraguay and Baton Rouge Louisiana Temples will have a change in their exterior looks to match other temples built and originally dedicated during the temple building boom of the late 1990s-early 2000s. It seems safe to assume that will be the case, but time will tell.

This update was slightly longer and more detailed than I intended it to be, and I apologize for that. But 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 will, barring anything unexpected, be published later today and will focus on more specifically updated estimates for future temple-related events), I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.

Concepcion Chile Temple Reaches Another Milestone Towards Its' Completion

Hello again, everyone! I am posting again today with another reported update on the Concepcion Chile Temple, which is getting ever closer to its' completion. New information of which I became aware just a short while ago indicates that the plastic sheeting has been removed from the decorative fencing which has been installed around the grounds of the temple. Landscaping and interior work also continues to make progress. And it appears preparations are also underway to finish installing the monument sign that many temples feature on their grounds.

This report is significant. As previously noted, from what I can ascertain, the dedication of this temple has been anticipated for a while to take place sometime in the latter half of this year. Since July is the typical month in which the general Church leadership takes their annual recess, it seems most likely that this temple's dedication could be set for mid-August of this year.

While no additional updates have been reported on the construction of any other new temples or those undergoing the renovation process, I did want to note that, as of today, the Church has 12.1 years in which to finish the construction of the 23 temples in various phases and to announce and complete 18 others, which would result in at leat 200 temples being in operation by the 200th anniversary of the reestablishment of the Church. Whether or not an official goal is made to do so, I think the Church may reach and very easily exceed that number in the near future.

And that is especially true in light of a few temples that may be able to have a groundbreaking set in the near future. As I have noted previously, my research  points to the idea that the next two years could be significant ones, not just for temple groundbreakings and dedications, but also particularly for temple announcements. I am keeping my eyes open for all temple updates and will bring those to you as I become aware of them.

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.