Miscellaneous Church News Reported; Angel Moroni Installed Atop Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple

Hello again, everyone! I wanted to post again now to share some additional Church news stories and the one temple development which have been reported in recent days. So let's get right into all of that. First, while I was working on writing this post, the latest edition of "This Week on Social" was published on the Church News website. That article focuses on posts which were mostly directed to young adults (both single and married), but also some directed to those going through severe trials in their lives. That latest edition featured posts from President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the following other members of that Quorum: Elders Dieter F. Uchtdorf, David A. Bednar, Gary E. Stevenson, and Ulisses Soares, and also Sisters Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President and her Second Counselor, Reyna I. Aburto.
 
Next, a couple of articles have been published relating to missionary work. One of the new mission presidents who has been called to serve is Scott Featherstone, who will preside over the Washington Vancouver Mission, alongside his wife Lori. He is the son of Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone, a General Authority Seventy who passed away last May. Three of soon-to-be President Featherstone's sons are deaf, and three others are not. Their inspiring family story is highlighted in this article.

And in view of the change announced last week by the First Presidency (that full-time missionaries can call or text their families weekly on preparation day as inspired to do so), the Church News requested reactions from those who had been able to communicate with their missionaries, then shared 17 of the best responses. It sounds as though some missionaries have determined that a weekly call might be too distracting, so many of those responding are letting their missionaries set the frequency of their direct contact. There was even one respondent who noted that their missionary was close enough to finishing that they determined a call would be too distracting.

Meanwhile, missionaries in Mexico heard about the First Presidency announcement directly from Elder Quentin L. Cook during his recent visit to the Church's Mexico Area. That was one of many highlights during his recent visit to the Mexico Area, which also saw him conducting the annual review of that area, and included visits with the Saints in Mexico City, Merida, and Cancun. He also met with youth and young adults, and spoke at a gathering of religious, political, and educational leaders on the subject of religious freedom.

Elder Cook was accompanied by his wife, Mary; Elder L. Whitney Clayton, Senior President of the Seventy, and his wife Kathy; Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric and his wife, Carol; and the members of the Mexico Area Presidency and their spouses: Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela and his wife, Silvia; Elder Rafael E. Pino and his wife, Patricia; and Elder John C. Pingree Jr. and his wife, Anne.

Turning now to other Church news, another former General Authority has passed away. Elder V. Dallas Merrell, who served from 1992-1997, died yesterday at age 83. The Church News provided this artcile in tribute to his life. He had one opportunity to speak during General Conference and bore powerful witness of the Savior.

And the Church News provided a look at two developments relating to the sisters of the Church. In the March 2019 Ensign, an article written by a BYU-Provo Professor of Church History and Doctrine (who taught one of the religious classes I took during my brief time at BYU) highlights the essential connection between the women of the Church and the priesthood. You can also read that article. Meanwhile, some adjustments have been made to the available garment styles for the women of the Church as well.

At BYU-Hawaii on Tuesday, Elder Erich W. Kopischke gave 3 suggestions for how Latter-day Saints can stay cheerful amidst trials. Additional missionary news includes the earlier reported death of a missionary serving in the Dominican Republic, and 29 experiences shared by members of the Church relating to learning a language for their missionary service.

There may be other Church News stories which have not been focused on here, and you can review any others I missed on the Church News website  In the meantime, I wanted to pass along one other article, this one from the official Church website. After retiring from his position as a full-time organist for the Tabernacle Choir last April, Brother Clay Christiansen recently reflected on the highlights of his 35-year career in that position. He had long been a favorite of mine, and the article in question was published as his friends and colleagues prepare to honor his prestigious career.

With that said, I will end this post by sharing the latest temple update I have. It was reported earlier that the angel Moroni statue was installed atop the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple today, and that the work of cladding the temple's exterior in stone has been completed. It may be a few more months or so before we know how likely it is that this temple will be dedicated prior to the end of this year, but I will keep my eyes open for word on that.

In a similar manner, I will be sure to continue to monitor any and all other Church news and temple updates and bring you all word of those here as I become aware of it. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, as long as such comments are made in accordance with the established guidelines. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly-added content, please feel free to subscribe. 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.

President M. Russell Ballard Marks His First 2019 Nonagenarian Milestone

Hello again, everyone! I wanted to post again now to pass along word of another apostolic milestone that is occurring today. President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is observing his first 2019 nonagenarian milestone. With today being February 20, President Ballard has now lived as long as President Thomas S. Monson did (90 years, 4 months, and 12 days). And barring anything unexpected, President Ballard will still be alive tomorrow.

Therefore, President Monson has now become the 18th oldest apostle, and President Ballard now ranks as the 17th oldest apostle. Just by way of a general note, my next major apostolic update will be the complete two-part report detailing the latest age & tenure statistics, and that will be posted on March 10, 18 days from now. I also continue to monitor any and all Church news and temple developments, and will bring word of those to you all here as I receive it.

In the meantime, that does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, as long as such comments are made in accordance with the established guidelines. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly-added content, please feel free to subscribe. 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.

Yet Another Revision to My Thoughts About Announced Temples

Hello again, everyone! Roughly 50 hours ago, I had posted on this blog another update to my thoughts about announced temples, which were highlighted in the two sections of my temple construction progress report which focused on announced temples. The two relevant sections of that report are "Groundbreaking pending" (where sufficient information exists to enable me to venture a general groundbreaking estimate) and "Announced temples" (for which I felt more information was needed before I ventured such an estimate).

As I analyzed those developments and molded my thoughts around them, I began with 16 temples in the "Groundbreaking anticipated" section, along with 8 others for which I needed more information. From there, based on what is known and what is not, I made appropriate adjustments. The two adjusted sections of my report follow below. So as to not disturb the flow of that information, I will end here and 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. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly-added content, please feel free to subscribe. 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.

Groundbreaking anticipated:

178. Saratoga Springs Utah Temple: Government approval phase; awaiting official site confirmation and release of artist’s rendering; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2019.

179. Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: Existing institute building and meetinghouse closed on January 27, 2019 in preparation for demolition; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2019.

180. Brasilia Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; property fence installed around temple site; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2019.

181. Greater Manila Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official name announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2019.

182. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; President Nelson visited potential site on April 17, 2018; groundbreaking anticipated in late 2019.

Note: Although the site visited by President Nelson in April 2018 has not been confirmed as the official location for the temple, Elder Andersen, in a November meeting with Zimbabwe’s Vice President, noted that the Church hoped to break ground for that temple in the late months of 2019. So I have no doubt that will be able to occur.

183. Nairobi Kenya Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site confirmation; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019.

Note: The Church of Jesus Christ Temples site noted in mid-February 2019 that a site had been procured for this temple. But during President Nelson’s visit to Nairobi in April 2018, a public affairs representative had noted that this temple would be smaller, and that a dedication for it was anticipated to occur sometime in 2021. So it seems reasonable to assume that a groundbreaking could occur within the next 12 months, but hopefully sooner, if all goes well.

184. Salta Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019-early 2020.

Note: The site has already been confirmed for this temple.

185. Quito Ecuador Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site confirmation; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019-early 2020.

Note: The Church of Jesus Christ Temples site noted in mid-February 2019 that a site had been procured for this temple.

186. Mendoza Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; groundbreaking could occur in early 2020.

Note: The site has already been confirmed for this temple.

187. Puebla Mexico Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early 2020.

Note: A Church member living in Mexico reports that the area presidency is scouting that city for temple locations, and that construction could begin in the early months of 2020.

Announced Temples (for which more information is needed before I provide a groundbreaking estimate):

188. Layton Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

Note: A potential site has already been identified (though not yet confirmed) for this temple.

189. Richmond Virginia Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

Note: A potential site has already been identified (though not yet confirmed).

190. Managua Nicaragua Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

Note: I found out several years ago that the Church had held land in reserve for a temple in this city for a while now, so I hope that means a site confirmation will occur sooner rather than later.

191. Auckland New Zealand Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

Note: I found out several years ago that the Church had held land in reserve for a temple in this city for a while now (with that fact confirmed by a Church member living in that area), so I hope that means a site confirmation will occur sooner rather than later.

192. Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.

Note: A potential site has already been identified (though not yet confirmed) for this temple.

193. Bengaluru India Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; President Nelson toured potential locations on April 19, 2018.

194. Belem Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

195. Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

196. Salvador Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

197. Yuba City, California Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

198. Lagos Nigeria Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

199. Davao Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

200. Washington County Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official city (and site) announcement.

201. Russia Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official city (and site) announcement.