BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Church Announces Latest Temple Reopening Adjustments

Hello again, everyone! With only one exception in recent weeks, Tuesday has been the designated day on which the Church has announced the latest temple reopening updates. Those releases have been shared in the Newsroom and through updates in the Church News (including the weekly status tracker).

I am pleased to be able to report the following updates related to the Church's efforts to reopen temples: 2 South American temples (Arequipa Peru and Bogota Colombia) will transition from phase 2-B (allowing all living ordinances and proxy baptisms) to phase 3 (which allows all living and proxy ordinances) as early as one week from today (Tuesday November 23). Meanwhile, as early as that same date, both the Barranquilla Comobia and Seoul Korea Temples will transition from phase 2 (allowing all living ordinances) to phase 2-B (allowing all living ordinances in priority order in addition to proxy baptisms).

And in an unexpected but welcome development, the Church also noted today that the Cebu City Philippines Temple, which had been downgraded to phase 1 due to local pandemic conditions and restrictions, has transitioned to phase 2-B. The Church News also noted today that, as a result of these latest changes, 161 of the Church's 170 total temples (94.7%) are now (or will soon be) offering all living and proxy ordinances by appointment. With 5 additional temples now operating (or those that will soon be operating) in phase 2-B, allowing proxy baptisms by appointment, 166 of the Church's total 170 operating temples (97.6% of all temples worldwide) will be offering some degree of proxy work in addition to living ordinances, as early as next week.

The Church News also reiterated again that the Medford Oregon Temple, originally anticipated to transition to phase 3 sometime in August, has still not been able to make that change. Since no specific reason has been given for the 3-month delay, I am not sure why that has been delayed. But as I've noted in just about every temple reopening update in the last several weeks, I am grateful for the carefully-planned cautiously-coordinated reopening of temples around the world, and for the revelatory process that drives those announcements every week. Although no temples anywhere have reached phase 4 (a return to full normal operations), it is wonderful the Church has been prudent and wise in the announcements of changes each week.

I believe I have mentioned this in the recent past as well, but with the Brethren having to restrict travel from Church headquarters to some parts of the world where they might otherwise have assignments, the apostles have been able to ascertain information about COVID-19 and any related restrictions or other factors that would play into the process of the phased reopening of temples. And the usage of technology for that purpose has also apparently led the Brethren to conclude that, in some cases, tramsacting Church business by technology rather than in-person will be more effective. It will be interesting to see how the ministry of the apostles and other leaders changes going forward with an increased use of technology vs. in-person visits.

It seems as though COVID-19 has had a major role in reshaping how top leaders see their capacities to minister worldwide to the growing Church. And it's definitely not surprising to me that an increased usage of technology has come about during the prophetic adminnistration of President Russell M. Nelson, who appears to be the most technologically savvy prophet the Church has had since the world has more fully utlized modern technology. I anticipate that will continue to be true.

Having acknowledged that, I wanted to wrap up my coverage of the latest temple reopening adjustments with a breakdown of how many temples will be in each phase of reopening. First, it's worth noting that today's announcement leaves just 4 temples for which no proxy ordinances are being scheduled. Of those 4 temples, 2 (Hong Kong China and Tokyo Japan) are closed for renovation. But by contrast to the other 7 temples closed for renovation, the two Asian temples have not been granted any phase reopening designation.

With the other 7 temples being granted phase 3 designation (which allows patrons in those districts to schedule living and proxy work at nearby temples in phase 3), 2 other temples remain "paused" in their reopenings after being transitioned to phase 3. The Church is also now down to 1 temple aach that are in phases 1 or 2, 5 others in phase 2-B, and the remaining 152 temples in phase 3.

That concludes my analysis of today's temple reopening announcements. As always, I continue to monitor all Church news and temple updates, and remain committed to bringing you all word of those updates as I become aware thereof. With just under 6.5 weeks remaining in 2021, I am not sure whether any other temple open houses and dedications or rededications might be announced before the end of the year, but am hopeful that those arrangements for the Yigo Guam, Quito Ecuador, Tokyo Japan and Hamilton New Zealand Temples will soon be announced as well.

It's also worth reiterating that, aside from the Bacolod Philippines Temple groundbreaking (which was announced on October 6 and will take place on December 11), the Church has not yet scheduled any thother temple groundbreakings. Although I have just recently offered my opinion that groundbreakings that have not yet been announced could take place, with the confirmation thereof occurring after the fact, I'm not as convinced as I previously was that the Church would conduct any temple groundbreakings without noting the plans thereof before they occur. So although it appeared likely in the relatively recent past that in 2021, the Church could exceed the 21 groundbreakings that occurred last year, it's possible that no other groundbreakings will occur prior to that of the Bacolod Philippines Temple, or throughout the remainder of the year following that December 11 groundbreaking.

Instead, it seems more likely that arrangements for the groundbreakings of up to 17 temples could be announced in the next 2 months and set to occur in the first several months of 2022.I will be closely monitoring all of that and will bring you all word thereof as I become aware of such reports.

In the meantime, 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.

UPDATED: Current Apostolic Data

Hello again, everyone! As most of you are almost certainly aware, I have provided updates on the latest apostolic data (specifically relating to tbeir lifespan or tenure length milestones) roughly every seven weeks. Having last done so on September 26, it is time to publish the newest such data. As with that last update, the first part contains updated data about the age and tenure length records for all 17 Church Presidents, along with updated information on the tenure length records for each of the 28 Presidents of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

The first document also shows information on three sets of apostolic groups: the longest-serving First Presidencies (which will not be updated with the First Presidency as presently constituted until 2024), in addition to the longest-serving groups of members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and groups of all ordained apostles (the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles).  

The latest version of that document also shows when the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as currently comprised will move up on the list of the longest-serving Quorums of the Twelve Apostles, in addition to specifics on when the current members of that Quorum, along with the current First Presidency, will reach the next milestones on that list.

Meanwhile, the second part of today's update shows the long-form and decimal ages for the members of the current First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the apostolic groups overall, in addition to the average ages of each group and apostolic nonagenarians (with 2 of the current 15 apostles being on that list, and the timing noted for when each of the other 13 apostles will join that list).

Hopefully this shared data will be of interest to you all, and again, I offer an open invitation to anyone who has any questions about those documents to ask them here. I will, of course, continue to monitor all Church news updates and temple developments, and will do my level best to bring word of those to you all as I become aware of all such reports.

It might also be of interest to some of you to know that, keeping with the same planned schedule to share these updates once every 7 weeks, today's update actually constitutes the last such update for 2021. 7 weeks from today will be Sunday January 2, 2022, so you can look for that next update on tat date.

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.

In Honor of Elder Dale G. Renlund on His 69th Birthday

Hello again, everyone! I am back with a post in tribute of Elder Dale G. Renlund, who, as noted, is marking his 69th birthday today. Let's get right into all of that. Elder Dale Gunnar Renlund was born to Mats Ake and Marianna Andersson, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on this day in 1952. His parents had emigrated from Finland (Mats) and Sweden (Marianna) respectively in order to be married in the temple. In view of that, Elder Renlund grew up primarily speaking Swedish. 

The fact that he did not speak English as a primary language gives him a certain degree of international appeal. In his teenage years, Elder Renlund lived with his family in Sweden while his father was a building missionary for the Church Several years later, Elder Renlud returned to Sweden, this time as a full-time missionary. Following his missionary service, Elder Renlund continued his scholastic endeavors at the University of Utah, where he earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry and his M. D. 

Approximately 3 or 4 years after he concluded his missionary service, he met and married his eternal companion, Ruth Lybbert, who was the daughter of another General Authority Seventy, Merlin R. Lybbert. Elder Renlund went on to do a three-year cardiology residency and a three-year fellowship in cardiology, both at Johns Hopkins University, and served as a bishop while he did so.

During that very same period of time, his wife was earning her law degree, and Ruth also gave birth to their only child, a daughter, Ashley. At some point in 1986, Elder Renlund became a professor at the University of Utah. From 1991 to the time of his call as a General Authority Seventy in 2009, he served as the medical director of the Utah Transplantation Affiliated Hospitals Cardiac Transplant Program. 

In 2000, he was also appointed the director of the Heart Failure Prevention and Treatment Program at Intermountain Health Center headquartered in Salt Lake, while his wife was working as a law partner in the firm of Dewsnup, King and Olsen. In the Church, in addition to serving as a bishop, Elder Renlund also served locally as ward Sunday School president, high councilman, and as a stake president. From 2000 to 2009, Elder Renlund served as an area seventy. 

He became a general authority seventy in April 2009, at the same conference in which Elder Neil L. Andersen was sustained as an apostle. The August after his call, Elder Renlund began serving in the Africa Southeast Area Presidency, which is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. He concluded that service as the area president from 2011 to 2014. 

Just over a year after concluding that service (during which time he served in other general capacities at Church headquarters), he was the third man to be called to fill the three vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve in the wake of the passing of President Boyd K. Packer and Elders L. Tom Perry and Richard G. Scot (with his call occurring the same day as that of Elders Ronald A. Rasband and Gary E. Stevenson). 

Some have claimed (rightfully so, in my opinion) that since Elder Scott was the last of the three to pass away, Elder Renlund, as the last of the three new apostles called, was the one filling the apostolic vacancy occurring from the death of Elder Scott. Others may disagree on that, as is their right, but I think that is a fair statement.

Elder Renlund's apostolic call was significant for a few reasons. The calls of Elders Rasband, Stevenson, and Renlund made them the 98th, 99th, and 100th members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles called in this dispensation. There have been more men ordained as apostles, but only 102 of those men have officially served in the Quorum of the Twelve. There is another significant aspect of Elder Renlund's call. 

As most of you are probably aware, at times in the past where 2 or more apostles have been called, tradition is that they will be called, sustained, and ordained according to their age, from oldest to youngest. That tradition, as has been the case a couple of times before, was slightly adjusted, as Elder Stevenson, almost three years younger than Elder Renlund, was called, sustained, and ordained as the senior apostle to Elder Renlund. That kind of thing is not in any way unprecedented, but it is a significant anomaly to note.

Given that all apostles from Elder David A. Bednar through Elder Renlund were born in the United States, some have taken issue with the Church for the perceived lack of diversity in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. But as was observed in this article, Elder Renlund's diverse background certainly qualifies him as having strong international ties and experiences. Elder Renlund has given a total of 13 addresses in General Conference, 2 of which were prior to his apostolic call (the second of which was given in the General Conference prior to the one in which he became an apostle.

I am grateful to have been able to offer this birthday tribute in his honor, and am also grateful for his service. I gladly sustain him and the other 14 apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. I do continue to monitor any and all Church news and temple developments and will keep doing my level best to bring word of those to you all as I receive it.

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.