BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Late October Groundbreaking Set for the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple

Note: The initial version of this post was published at 10:45 AM, and updated between 5:30 and 7:00 PM with additional information and analysis

Hello again, everyone! The First Presidency has announced this morning that ground will be broken for the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple on Sunday, October 29 with Elder Valeri V. Cordon, First Counselor in the North America West Area Presidency, presiding. Further analysis on this development will be available here later today. For now, my thanks once again to you all.

Hello again, everyone! As noted above, I published an initial version of this post this morning during some downtime prior to my father-in-law's funeral. After having focused sufficient time on his funeral services and family time, I am back to provide additional commentary on the announcement. Firstly, I found the timing of the announcement slightly odd, given the fact that the groundbreaking was set for four months in the future.

Based on the fact that the Church, now has two temple groundbreakings scheduled for mid-to-late August and one now for late October, I am cautiously optimistic that the Church will be able to set at least a few other groundbreakings to occur between the August 27 groundbreaking for the Ephraim Utah Temple and the October 29 groundbreaking announced today for Oregon's third temple. 

Among the most likely potential temples for which I anticipate announcements are the Teton River and Montpelier Idaho, Miraflores Guatemala City Guatemala, Belo Horizonte Brazil, Cali Colombia, Torreon and Queretaro Mexico, and Cape Town South Africa Temples. Per information from one of my Pacific Area contacts, I also anticipate action will be taken in the second half of this year towards groundbreakings for the Tarawa Kiribati, Port Vila Vanuatu, and Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temples.

But I am also keeping my eyes open for other potential announcements. As some of you might recall, a report from December 1 of last year indicated that on November 26, Elder Larry S. Kacher presented the king of the Ashante in Kumasi Ghana a picture that appeared to show the exterior rendering for the temple in that city. If the Church confirms that that is the official rendering, and provides confirmation on the location of the temple site, a groundbreaking could soon follow. 

As we also know, Expo 2020 wrapped up a month or so ago in Dubai UAE, so the transfer of the property to the Church could occur in the coming months, enabling a groundbreaking for the temple in that city to follow shortly after the confirmation of the specific location and exterior rendering. And with sites reportedly also acquired for the Managua Nicaragua, Lagos Nigeria, and Kaoshiung Taiwan Temples, groundbreakings for each of those temples could be forthcoming soon.

In particular relation to the Managua Nicaragua Temple, the last time I heard from my Central American contact (Patzicia) here, there were issues the Church was trying to work around relating to that temple. I don't quite know whether those issues have since been resolved, but I'm hopeful we might soon see action taken on that temple. As I've also mentioned, any of the other 10 temples in the United States in October 2021 and April 2022 could potentially have announcements made as well.

And for the remaining 29 other temples announced between April 2018 and April of this year, at least 8 others (Budapest Hungary, Brussels Belgium, Vienna Austria, Beira Mozambique, Singapore Republic of Singapore, Antananarivo Madagascar, Culiacan Mexico, and Vitoria Brazil) have had at least 1 potential location identified in photographic galleries. 

If any of those locations are confirmed as the spots for those temples, the announcement of groundbreaking arrangements could occur at any time. It's also worth mentioning that, in view of the fact that there are now 6 temples with full-scale construction pending, I am hoping that at least a couple of them might soon have full-scale efforts begin. 

Having shared these notes, I also wanted to mention that, in view of today's announcement, even with no other groundbreakings currently scheduled, the announcement about the groundbreaking for Oregon's third temple means that, by the time that is held on October 29, the Church will have broken ground for as many  temples then as it had last year on December 11. 

And if the Church is able to schedule 9 or 10 more groundbreakings prior to the end of this year, the groundbreakings conducted in 2022 will match or exceed the number of temple groundbreakings held two years ago. For purposes of comparison, I'm again providing links for the side-by-side comparisons of temple groundbreakings in 2020 vs. 2021 and the now-updated 2021 vs. 2022. I will be interested to see what other temple developments might merit an announcement from the Church in the coming second half of this year.

Just by way of reminder, I will be posting my report on temple construction progress during the first half of 2022 in the early-morning hours when June 30 becomes July 1. I also continue to monitor all other Church news reports and any additional temple construction updates and will be sure to pass the word of those developments along as they cross my radar in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

In the meantime, that does it for now. All comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, as long as the offered feedback is made per the established guidelines. Thank you for the privilege of your time. I hope any of you who would like to share anything will take your opportunity to “sound off” in the comments below. 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: Opening Arrangements Announced for Two Temples in South America

Hello again, everyone! I have mentioned in the recent past that I felt that the timing on the Quito Ecuador and Belem Brazil Temple openings would be difficult to pinpoint. And that has been the case for a while now. It occurred to me to wonder if the openings for either or both would be delayed until other temples (such as the San Juan Puerto Rico, Feather River California, Saratoga Springs Utah, and Helena Montana Temples) were dedicated, or at least had opening arrangements announced.

I had also recently voiced the opinion that the Church would likely next set the rededication arrangements for the Columbus Ohio Temple and the dedication arrangements for the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple next before that happened for any other temples. Well, as He has so many times before, the Lord has proven me wrong on all of that. This morning, the First Presidency officially confirmed the opening arrangements for two South American temples, the Belem Brazil and Quito Ecuador Temples.  Let's break down the details:

Firstly, despite the time difference (Quito is 2 hours ahead of Belem), the arrangements for the Belem Brazil Temple are detailed before Quito Ecuador. Brazil's newest temple will have a two-week open house, running from Saturday October 22-Saturday November 5, excluding the Sundays of October 23 and 30. And the second Ecuadoran temple open house will be held over a 15-day period from Friday October 14-Saturday October 29, with the exception of the Sundays of October 16 and 23.

Here's the really interesting thing, though: The dedications of both temples are set to take place on Sunday November 20. The Church is sending Elder Dale G. Renlund to preside at the dedication of Brazil's newest temple, while the dedication of Quito's second will be under the direction of Elder Quentin L. Cook. Elder Renlund previously dedicated the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple in 2019, while Elder Cook rededicated the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple later that same year.

Because of the time difference between Belem Brazil and Quito Ecuador, the first dedicatory session will get underway for Ecuador's newest temple 2 hours before the first session of the Belem Brazil Temple dedication is held. So right now, the Quito Ecuador and Belem Brazil Temples are on track to become the 174th and 175th operating temples of the Church. However, there is a possibility, however remote, that if construction wraps up soon on the San Juan Puerto Rico, Feather River California, and Saratoga Springs Utah Temples, any of those could be dedicated before the November 20 dedication of these 2 temples.

It's also worth mentioning that the newest update on the Columbus Ohio Temple could also soon be announced, so it will be interesting to see what might happen there. Incidentally, I have received feedback indicating that the Church might conduct the dedication of the Helena Montana Temple sometime in December, so it will be interesting to see the timing on temple events for the back half of this year. For my part, I continue to monitor all such updates, including major Church news, and will be sure to continue to pass those updates along as time and circumstances allow.

In the meantime, that does it for now. All comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, as long as the offered feedback is made per the established guidelines. Thank you for the privilege of your time. I hope any of you who would like to share anything will take your opportunity to “sound off” in the comments below. 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: First Presidency Reiterates Church Policy on Abortion

Hello again, everyone! Another development, this one on the US judicial stage, has occurred. In a 5-4 ruling today, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark court case establishing the constitutional right to an abortion. In overturning that ruling, SCOTUS has turned the determination on abortion rights back over to individual states. 

This ruling has been anticipated for a while, thanks to previously-leaked details on the ruling. I am mentioning this on this blog because, as a result of the ruling, the Church this morning also reiterated long-standing doctrine on the sanctity of life and detailed under what circumstances the Church condones abortion, which are exceptions rather than the rule. The update leads to a topic page on the matter. 

As has been mentioned in other settings, abortion is condoned by the Church when sought by individuals, in consultation with their priesthood leaders, under the following parameters: cases of rape or incest, if the health of the mother is deemed to be in danger by a competent physician, or if a competent physician determines that a fetus will not survive beyond birth due to severe defects. 

The Church supports measures that protect the sanctity of all human life and preserve religious freedom. I am grateful that the Church has reiterated established doctrine and policy on this matter. I realize that this is a hot-button issue with some controversy attached to it, and I also acknowledge that mentioning this reiteration of policy may open up a can of worms comment-wise, but I would hope that all who weigh in in response to this post will ensure that their comments are respectful of the Church's position and of the opinions of other individuals who comment here.

I would respectfully suggest that, as a guide for commenting on this issue here, we'd all be well-served to remember the words of the second verse of the hymn, Lord, I Would Follow Thee:

Who am I to judge another
When I walk imperfectly?
In the quiet heart is hidden
Who am I to judge another?
Lord, I would follow thee.

My prayer is that that verse may be our guide for further discussion on this matter here. In the meantime, that does it for now. All comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, as long as the offered feedback is made per the established guidelines. Thank you for the privilege of your time. I hope any of you who would like to share anything will take your opportunity to “sound off” in the comments below. 

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.