BREAKING NEWS: President Nelson's Latin American Ministry Announced; Preliminary Work Begins on Bangkok Thailand Temple

Hello again, everyone! Breaking news has been reported on a couple of fronts today. First, President Nelson's next Global Ministry Tour has been announced, with some of the details originally shared by Bryan D., a user who regularly comments here, having been confirmed.  The tour, which will focus on locations throughout Latin America, will see Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife Mary G. Cook, accompanying President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Wendy W. Nelson, on a 9-day tour that will entail 5 stops between Saturday August 24 and Monday September 2.

On August 24, after departing from Salt Lake, the leaders will stop first in Guatemala City Guatemala, where an evening devotional will be held for all congregations in Guatemala. The following day, the leaders will travel to Bogota Colombia, where a devotional will be broadcast to all Colombian congregations. A stop in Quito Ecuador one day later will allow leaders to speak to all congregations in that city. They will then have one day to rest before visiting Buenos Aires Argentina on Wednesday August 28. After a 3-4 day respite, the leaders will then wrap up their tour by stopping in Sao Paulo Brazil, where they will speak at a Sunday afternoon devotional before returning home on Monday September 2.

I imagine the extensive layovers will enable them not just to rest, but also to take care of unspecified business, which may, as Bryan D. noted in his comment earlier this week, involve scouting for future temple locations in Argetina and Brazil, especially if the current level of activity at the Buenos Aires Argentina and Sao Paulo Brazil Temples requires a second temple to be built within the boundaries of both current temple districts. The Newsroom will provide full and complete coverage of these stops, as will I, either through new posts here, or in comments on existing posts.

If that were the only news I had to share in this breaking news update, that would be reason enough to rejoice, but a new report of which I became aware a short while ago indicates that heavy equipment is arriving at the Bangkok Thailand temple site.  This is good news, as it is a key indicator that preliminary work will begin soon on the temple site, putting it out of the "full-scale construction pending" status. But I also wanted to issue a reminder: due to the preliminary work that will need to be done to prepare the site prior to the construction of the temple proper, it may be 6-9 months or so before that temple's footings and foundation are poured. While that does not and should not lessen our excitement about this development, it needed to be noted.

Still no word on how long it might take before full-scale work begins on the Yigo Guam, Praia Cabo Verde, San Juan Puerto Rico, or Quito Ecuador Temples, but hopefully work will at least have begun on the latter well in advance of President Nelson's August 26 visit to that city. In the interim, it is now definitively verified that whomever may actually preside at the September 1 dedication for the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple, it will not be President Nelson or Elder Cook.

In the interim, I will be posting a birthday tribute to President Eyring honoring his 86th birthday two days from now, and will also have coverage this weekend on the dedication of the Fortaleza Brazil Temple by Elder Soares. I likewise continue to monitor any and all Church news and temple developments and will do my level best to pass word of the significant developments along to you all as I receive word thereof.

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.

Updated Estimates for Future Temple Events: Part Three—All Other Known Events

Hello again, everyone! I am back with the third and final post in this installment of my updated estimates for known temple events in the future. This post will cover my estimates for all other known events (particularly those anticipated to occur between 2022 and 2024). Those estimates follow below. In order 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, 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.

2022:

Saturday & Sunday April 2 & 3: 192^nd Annual General Conference

Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.

Mid-to-late April: Dedication of the Urdaneta Philippines Temple (177^th operating temple)

Mid-May: Rededication of the Hong Kong China Temple

Note: This is just a projected estimate, based on what is currently known. As more information is revealed, this estimate could be pushed forward or back as needed.

Mid-September: Dedication of the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple (178^th operating temple)

Saturday & Sunday October 1 & 2: 192^nd Semiannual General Conference

Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.

Mid-December: Dedication of the Bangkok Thailand Temple (179^th operating temple)

Note: Because this temple is significantly larger than temples which have been built in recent years, delays in that construction process are more likely than not. It is also worth noting that the official number for this temple is almost certain to change as other temples have a groundbreaking and construction and are potentially completed before this one is.

Final note on 2022: Between now and the end of 2022, the face of the Church’s temple construction program will likely look very different. We currently have a Church President who has clearly prioritized bringing the temples to the people, and the fact that he announced 19 new temples within his first year as such verifies that beyond doubt. I also am equally certain he will do all he can to clear the existing backlog of announced temples. With that in mind, there will likely be many more temple events to add to this list in the future. I am committed to bringing updates in that regard to you all as I receive them.

2023:

February: Rededication of the St. George Utah Temple

Saturday & Sunday April 1 & 2: 193^rd Annual General Conference

Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.

Saturday September 30 & Sunday October 1: 193^rd Semiannual General Conference

Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.

Final note on 2023: Any temple events which may occur during 2023 will be determined by whatever temple announcements are made within the next couple of years. I will be sure to add such events as I learn about their likelihood.

2024:

Saturday & Sunday April 6 & 7: 194^th Annual General Conference

Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.

May or June: Rededication of the Salt Lake Temple

Saturday & Sunday October 5 & 6: 194^th Semiannual General Conference

Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.

Final note: Any other temple events which may occur during 2024 will be determined by whatever temple announcements are made within the next couple of years. I will be sure to add such events as I learn about their likelihood.

Updated Estimates for Future Temple Events: Part Two—Events Anticipated in 2020 & 2021

Hello again, everyone! Having prefaced this mini-series of posts previously, I am back to share my more specific estimates for known temple events in 2020 and 2021. The estimates speak for themselves and follow below. In order 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, 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 everythig you do.

2020:

Mid-March: Dedication of the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple (169^th operating temple)

Note: Although information about the progress on this temple’s renovation is scarce, given the need to adjust my estimate for the Durban South Africa Temple, I have moved this temple’s rededication to this point. If I find out anything that leads me to alter my thoughts in that respect, I will adjust this estimate again.

Saturday & Sunday April 4 & 5: 190^th Annual General Conference

Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.

June: Rededication of the Tokyo Japan Temple

Mid-August: Dedication of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple (170^th operating temple)

Saturday & Sunday October 3 & 4: 190^th Semiannual General Conference

Note: Temple announcements are always possible, so it is not hard to believe that a few could be announced during this General Conference.

Mid-to-late October: Rededication of the Washington DC Temple

December: Dedication of the Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Temple (171^st operating temple)

Note: At the groundbreaking for this temple (which occurred on November 8, 2018), Elder Neil L. Andersen, who presided at this event and gave his remarks in French, noted that construction of the temple was anticipated to take around two years. For that reason, I am moving my previous estimate for this temple’s dedication to this point.

Final note on 2020: Based on what I have heard, 2020 seems as though it will be another big year for temple groundbreakings. I am specifically keeping my eyes open for information on the following temples: Puebla Mexico (in view of a tip from a member of the Church in Mexico, who noted the groundbreaking for that temple is anticipated in early 2020), Salta and Mendoza Argentina, Managua Nicaragua, Phnom Penh Cambodia, Yuba City California, Layton Utah, and Belem Brazil Temples.

2021:

Mid-March: Rededication of the Mesa Arizona Temple

Saturday & Sunday April 3 & 4: 191^st Annual General Conference

Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.

Late April-early May: Dedication of the Yigo Guam Temple (172^nd operating temple

Mid-to-late May: Dedication of the Praia Cabo Verde Temple (173^rd operating temple)

Early-to-mid June: Dedication of the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple (174^th operating temple)

Mid-August: Rededication of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple

Saturday & Sunday October 2 & 3: 191^st Semiannual General Conference

Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.

Mid-to-late October: Dedication of the Pocatello Idaho Temple (175^th operating temple)

December: Dedication of the Quito Ecuador Temple (176^th operating temple)

Final note on 2021: If, as anticipated, several more temples are announced in 2019 and 2020, and any which have not yet had a groundbreaking have that occur within that same time period, that in turn will multiply the number of known temple events which will likely occur in 2021 and the years beyond. As more is learned about future temple renovations, that will also have an impact on the number of future events.