BREAKING NEWS: Elder and Sister Renlund Diagnosed with COVID-19

Hello again, everyone! A short while ago, the Newsroom provided another COVID-19 update. Elder Dale G. Renlund and his wife, Ruth L. Renlund, have tested positive for the virus. According to the statement from Church spokesman Eric Hawkins, that diagnosis came despite the fact that Elder and Sister Renlund have been taking all of the necessary precautions.  Elder Renlund reportedly has mild symptoms, and Sister Renlund is presently asymptomatic. 

The release also notes that other Church leaders are being tested as a precautionary measure. The second paragraph of that statement notes that the Church and its' leaders are following all recommended guidelines related to COVID-19, including social distancing, wearing a mask, frequent handwashing, and all other recommendations of healthcare profressionals. Although it is not incidcated in the news release, I imagine that Elder and Sister Rnelund are also actively involved in contact tracing. 

So that now makes two apostles (who happen to be seatmates in the Quorum of the Twelve) who have tested positive for the virus. We now have three apostles this year alone (from what we know) who have had significant health challenges. I hope that is another clear indicator that the Brethren are not exempt from issues that afflict and affect so many. 

I also hope that this news is enough to convince any who may have any remaining questions or qualms about following COVID-19 protocols that this is something that needs to be taken seriously. During a time when there has been a spike in cases, hospitalizations, and even deaths here in Utah, it has troubled me deeply to hear so much about people that are cavalier, casual, or downright obstinante about following COVID-19 guidelines.

The leading Brethren of the Church have set the example right off the bat in following the guidances of local health professionals and governmental leaders, and so many still seem to think there is no danger in disregarding those receommendations, or that the offering of such recommendations is a medical or governmental overreach.  

There are even some leaders of governments in certain parts of the world that flat out aren't taking any of this seriously, and the results have been the devastation of their nations and extensive losss of life and widespread devastation in the wake of the effects of the virus. Let me be as frank as I can be: I am deeply disturbed to see the fulfillment of biblical prophecy happening. 

So many seem to be saying "All is well in Zion" when that is clearly not the case. And we know from scripture what the result of that attitude will be. Elsewhere in the scriptures, the Lord outlines the clear duty that we as His children have in terms of taking care of ourselves, looking after one another, and being good and responsible citizens who take wise advice from any of our leaders seriously. 

In a day where it seems that even the very elect are being deceived, I think it's high time we look at ourselves in the mirror, reevaluate our motives and actions, make any course corrections that are necessary, and do what we can to show how much we love our neighbors. The Lord always showed respect to the laws of the land, and it behooves us to follow His example and injunction: "Go and do thou likewise."

Since I am in the vulnerable demographic for COVID-19 due to longstanding respiratory issues, my wife and I have been tested, and my wife actually recently got a second test., all of which came back negative. Even so, we have made a concientious effort to stay at home where possible, and to always wear a mask if we are ever out in public and outside of our car. We feel we cannot afford not to take those precautions.

But as the community-at-large, I feel all citizens of the world need to recognize what we owe to each other as COVID-19 conntinues to be an issue. Part of loving God and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves involves recognizing that we need to stand with and take care of each other. And so, if any of the readers of my blog have not been taking the necessary precautions in accordance with recommendations from health experts, government leaders, and leaders of the Church, the time to start doing so is now.

That being said, I'll get off my soapbox now. I hope and pray that all who read my blog may remain healthy and well during this COVID-19 pandemic. I continue to monitor all Church news and temple updates and will be sure to bring word of those to you all as I become aware of such developments.

That does it for now. 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.

BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Groundbreaking Held for Okinawa Japan Temple

 Hello again, everyone! Yesterday, I reported on the December 2 groundbreaking for the Bengaluru India Temple, which had taken place on Tuesdayy December 2. On this Saturday morning, I am pleased to report that the groundbreaking for the Okinawa Japan Temple took place a short while ago. As had been previously announced, the Asia North Area President, Elder Taksashi Wada, presided thereat. The news release covering today's event reiterated the details on the temple: "The Okinawa Japan Temple will be located on a half-acre site at 7-11, Matsumoto, Okinawa Shi, in Okinawa-ken, Japan. Plans call for a two-story, 10,000-square-foot temple. A temple-patron waiting area will also be added to an adjacent existing meetinghouse that was completed in 2013."  

Given the relatively smaller size of this planned project, I'm going to assume that, if all goes well, the temple could be completed in mid-2023 at earliest or mid-to-late 2023 at latest. Of course, that will depend on how soon full-scale construction is able to begin, and a number of factors relative to any temple project. Between COVID-19 on the one hand, all kinds of natural disasters on the other, and any factors specific to Japan being added in, it will be interesting to see how all of that works out. Having noted that, we are barely 5 days into December, and reports have aloready been provided on two of the four remaining groundbreakings for 2020 already having taken place. 

This leaves just the Harare Ziimbabwe and Mendoza Argentina Temples in the queue, and with any luck, the next week will see both of those groundbreakings occur, unless either or both are postponed into early 2021. And with respect to those two groundbreakings, I have diligently checked the Argentina and Zimbabwe Newsroom pages, and have frequented the South America South Area page for any news on the specifics of either, and have not yet heard anything solid beyond what has been previously announced for the Mendoza Argentina and Harare Zimbabwe temples. 

As previously discussed on this blog, in some mentions of temple groundbreakings that were to take place this year, the Mendoza Argentina Temple was conspicuously absent, leading me to believe that it was possible that the groundbreaking might be delayed on that temple. Given that November specifically came and went without any word on that, and that there has been no subsequent information provided to suggest otherwise, I'm now going to assume that the Mendoza groundbreaking has merely been delayed, perhaps by local COVID-19 restrictions or some other reason. 

But as soon as I have anything solid to report on either temple, you can count on my bringing word of that to you all here. I also continue to monitor any other temple updates and all Church news and will be sure to pass along those updates here as well. That does it for now. 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.

BREAKING NEWS: Additional Information Provided About the 3 Global Church Magazines

Hello again, everyone! As I mentioned in the comment thread of my last post, more information has been provided on the 3 global magazines that the Church will start using next year: the Liahona (for adults), For the Strength of Youth (for youth), and the Friend. It appears that more content will be made available digitally, and that each printed magazine will be slimmed down somewhat in terms of the number of pages. 

With the exception of the May and November editions that cover General Conference, the Ensign for the other ten months of the year has been an 80-page volume. The number of pages in most editions of the Liahona (which will now be the standard magazine for adults) will be reduced to 48 pages, with digital supplementary content available as well. Not sure what that might mean for the General Conference editions in May and November, but those editions will likely be the exception to the new standard. 

Likewise, where the New Era has had between 48-50 pages a month, For the Strength of Youth will be reduced to 32 pages. A similar reduction in pages is also anticipated for the Friend magazine. It will be interesting to see how things work with the new magazines. As I previously mentioned, it appears that the Church has expanded the number of individuals assigned as advisers to the Church magazines, which makes sense due to the upcoming changes.

I am grateful that the Church has again made an effort to correlatte, streamline, and unify Church materials on a global basis. The new magazines will surely be a blessing to all who will utilize the content therein. That does it for now. 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.