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Monday, July 17, 2023

BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Groundbreaking Ceremonies Set for Modesto California and Fort Worth Texas Temples

Hello again, everyone! Although I previously stated that I didn't foresee the Church making any major temple construction announcements in the month of July, the First Presidency proved me wrong again. Just a few minutes ago, groundbreaking arrangements were announced for the Modesto California and Fort Worth Texas temples. Let's get right into the details: 

The groundbreaking for the Modesto California Temple will occur on Saturday, October 7 (the week after General Conference), with Elder Gary B. Sabin, the current Second Counselor in the North America West Area presidency (who will serve as First Counselor effective August 1), presiding. Ground will be broken for the Fort Worth Texas Temple on Saturday, October 28, with Elder Jose L. Alonso, First Counselor in the North America Southwest Area, presiding.

While I welcome the announcements of these upcoming groundbreakings, I was surprised they are spread out so far into the future. My hope is that the Church may be trying to get approvals for other temple groundbreakings that could occur between August 1 and these two October groundbreakings. I continue to monitor any and all temple construction updates, in addition to Church News and Newsroom reports and will be sure to pass those along to you all here 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. I hope any of you who would like to share anything will take your opportunity to “sound off” in the comments below. Please subscribe if you liked what you read here and would like to be informed of newly-added posts and comments. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.

Friday, June 30, 2023

UPDATE: Overview of Temple Construction Prgoress During the Second Quarter (and First Half) of 2023

Hello again, everyone! As the final minutes of the second quarter (and first half) of 2023 move toward their inevitable conclusion, I wanted to provide an overview of temple construction progress throughout the last six months. We begin with the document showing where temple construction stood as 2023 began, on the first day of the April 2023 General Conference, and where things stand at this mid-point of 2023.

The data largely speaks for itself. While I am not surprised at the high number of temples that have already been dedicated this year, I have been surprised by the slower pace the Church has taken in announcing subsequent dedications. Again, that seems to simply be the result of supply chain issues, which will not last forever. And the temples currently in the construction queue have moved a lot both forward and backward in terms of their completion orders and estimates.

Quite frankly, I was also surprised that the St. George Utah Temple will be rededicated before the end of this year. With Elder Holland having started to return to his apostolic duties, I believe he will either preside over or accompany whomever presides over both the rededication of the St. George Utah Temple and the dedication of the Red Cliffs Utah Temple.

And I'm cautiously optimistic that once the Saratoga Springs, Orem, Red Cliffs, Layton, and Taylorsville Utah Temples are dedicated, additional Utah temples could be announced.

I was similarly stunned that this first half of 2023 only had 4 temple groundbreakings. I'm cautiously optimistic that we could see over a dozen temple groundbreakings in this second half of 2023. And I'm sure we've got other site confirmations and exterior renderings coming down the pike in the near term, especially if the Church continues its' custom of sharing major temple construction news once a week. So I think we are in for a very busy second half of 2023.

To the best of my ability, I will be sure to track those developments, in addition to all updates from the Church News and the Newsroom, and will be sure to pass word thereof to you all here as they cross my radar. 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. 

I hope any of you who would like to share anything will take your opportunity to “sound off” in the comments below. Please subscribe if you liked what you read here and would like to be informed of newly-added posts and comments. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.

Monday, June 26, 2023

BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Opening Arrangements Announced for the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple

 Hello again, everyone! Since today is not a state or federal holiday, the Church has resumed major temple announcements on Monday. Today, we have confirmation on the opening arrangements for the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple. Let's get right into the details: A media day will occur on Monday, November 6, 2023. VIP tours will follow between Tuesday, November 7-Thursday, November 9, and the public open house will be held from Friday, November 10-Saturday, December 9, 2023.

The temple will be dedicated on Sunday, January 14, in two sessions (at 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM PET) by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Interestingly enough, I mentioned over the weekend that I was recalculating my estimates for anticipated temple events, and I had just projected yesterday that the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple would be dedicated on either January 14, 21, or 28. Now that this temple has had a dedication scheduled, the next one up will be the Red Cliffs Utah Temple.

It is possible that the Church could opt to make another temple announcement tomorrow at 2:00 PM (groundbreaking, exterior rendering, and/or site confirmation). Whatever might occur in that regard, I'll do my level best to cover it here. I continue to monitor all other Church News and Newsroom reports and other temple construction progress updates and will be sure to bring word of those to you all as I receive it.

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. I hope any of you who would like to share anything will take your opportunity to “sound off” in the comments below. 

Please subscribe if you liked what you read here and would like to be informed of newly-added posts and comments. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.