Updated Temple Construction Progress Report

As it has been six days since I last posted a copy of my temple construction progress report, I thought I would do so now. Even though it has been less than a week, a lot has happened with temple developments, including the four announced renovations of which I spoke in the last post. So here's the updated report. Comments are always welcome and appreciated. I look forward to continuing the discussion of this tremendous progress. Thank you.

Temple Construction Progress Update (current as of 4/10/17)

Current Temple Status: 155 operating; 4 scheduled for dedication; 8 under construction; 2 more have construction pending, and both are anticipated to commence construction before (or at least by) the start of summer 2017; 1 scheduled for rededication; 2 undergoing renovation; 6 renovations scheduled; 13 announced. NOTE: With two groundbreakings having already taken place this year, we could see several others before too much longer. For all of the announced temples that have not yet had a groundbreaking, I offer my best-guess estimate for when that might happen, to which I have recently made adjustments and corrections. One correction is noting that we might only see one other groundbreaking this year, though it seems that one is not as imminent as I originally was led to believe.

Dedication scheduled:

156. Paris France Temple: VIP/media tours underway; accepting reservations for public open house (which will run from Saturday April 22-Saturday May 13 (excluding the Sundays of April 23 and 30 and May 7)); dedication scheduled for Sunday May 21, 2017.

157. Tucson Arizona Temple: Pergola added to grounds; interior finish work underway; accepting reservations for public open house beginning Monday May 15, 2017; (which will run from Saturday June 3-Saturday June 24 (excluding the Sundays of June 4, 11, and 18)); dedication scheduled for Sunday August 13, 2017.

158. Meridian Idaho Temple: Monument sign installed; architectural finishes being installed; dedication scheduled for Sunday November 19, 2017.

159. Cedar City Utah Temple: Interior paint and millwork installation underway; dedication scheduled for Sunday December 10, 2017.

Under Construction:

160. Rome Italy Temple: Angel Moroni installed on March 25, 2017; Christus and apostle statues installed at visitor’s center; installing art glass; completion anticipated sometime during early-to-mid 2018.

161. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Concrete block set in place for base of tower; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2018.

162.  Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Sheathing exterior walls with rigid foam insulation; steel framework for cupola installed; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2018.

NOTE: For the two temples above, they seem to be interchangeable in terms of which one might potentially be completed and dedicated first. I am trying to keep an eye on any and all developments and will adjust these estimates as necessary once more is known.

163. Concepcion Chile Temple: Exterior cladding progressing on north wall; planting palm trees on west side; monument sign poured; waterproofing membrane attached to east wall; completion anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2018.

164. Durban South Africa Temple: Scaffolding erected in preparation for second-level exterior walls; floor slab poured for missionary housing; completion anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2018.

NOTE: For the two temples above, they seem to be interchangeable in terms of which one might potentially be completed and dedicated first. I am trying to keep an eye on any and all developments and will adjust these estimates as necessary once more is known.

165. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Erecting structural framing for temple tower; completion anticipated sometime during early 2019.

167. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Construction barrier erected; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2019.

168.  Lisbon Portugal Temple: Excavation completed for temple foundation; structural framing going up for meetinghouse; completion anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

Construction pending:

166. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Groundbreaking held Saturday December 3, 2016; awaiting commencement of full-scale operations, which may occur in April or May 2017 (construction currently delayed by a very bad Canadian winter); completion anticipated sometime during early-to-mid 2019.

NOTE: Once construction commences, it is anticipated to last around 20 months (approximately 1.67 years.) It is a smaller edifice that is being built to at the moment serve just the one stake in Manitoba. So it might be completed sooner than that. It all depends on how soon construction will be able to start, and how quickly it progresses after that.

169. Arequipa Peru Temple: Groundbreaking held Saturday March 4, 2017; awaiting commencement of full-scale operations (which is anticipated ASAP); completion anticipated sometime during late 2019-early 2020.

NOTE: Once construction commences, it is anticipated to take roughly 28 months (2.25 years) to complete. This is because there are neighboring construction projects involved that will all be worked on simultaneously.

Rededication Scheduled:

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Accepting reservations for public open house, which will run from Saturday April 22-Saturday May 20 (excluding the Sundays of April 23 & 30 and May 7 & 14); rededication scheduled for Sunday June 4, 2017.

Undergoing Renovation:

20. Jordan River Utah Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication anticipated sometime during early-to-mid 2018.

41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; building basement addition for new baptistry; rededication anticipated sometime during early-to mid-2018.

Renovation Scheduled:

80. Memphis Tennessee Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in October 2017; rededication anticipated sometime during early-to-mid 2019.

95. Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in October 2017; rededication anticipated sometime during mid-2019.

18. Tokyo Japan Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in October 2017; rededication anticipated sometime during early-to-mid 2020.

112. Asuncion Paraguay Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in November 2017; rededication anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

13. Oakland California Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in February 2018; rededication anticipated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

16. Washington D. C. Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation in March 2018; rededication anticipated sometime during early-to-mid 2020.

                                                                  

NOTE: In view of the fact that we have already had two temple groundbreaking events so far this year, it is entirely possible that we might see site announcements and groundbreakings for other temples in the near future. That said, it is interesting to consider that, while some of those groundbreakings might be more likely than others, ultimately, it is more difficult than I originally believed to try and pinpoint how soon those groundbreakings are likely to take place. Wanting to be as conservative in my estimates as I am able to be, I have adjusted some things. As always, I would be gratified to hear of such events happening much sooner than anyone expects. But for the moment, it seems wise to make some adjustments. Thanks.

Announced:

170. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Approval and construction preparation phase; official site announcement anticipated later this year; groundbreaking may follow shortly thereafter.

NOTE: While the site announcement is pending, and while it may be a while before it happens, it does not seem to be unreasonable to anticipate that the groundbreaking might still take place sometime between mid-and-late 2017.

171. Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple: Planning and approval phase; groundbreaking pending.

NOTE: On Sunday March 12, while presiding at a stake conference for the area in which the first Haitian temple will be built, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles officially announced and confirmed that, just as members in the area had speculated, the plot of land behind an existing meetinghouse on the Route de Freres (French for “The Route of Brothers”) had been purchased as the official site for the first Haitian temple. While such site announcements generally signal that a groundbreaking might shortly follow, there is reason to believe that it will take the Church at least a year to plan and design the edifice to conform to government regulations and to be acceptable to the locals. It therefore makes sense to adjust my estimate here and to say that a groundbreaking could happen by early-to-mid 2018.

172. Bangkok Thailand Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

NOTE: There is more than sufficient reason to believe the current speculation being perpetuated to the effect that, in the mold of the already-existing multi-purpose buildings that house not only an office building but a meetinghouse and a temple as well (they are now known as the Hong Kong China and Manhattan New York Temples), a similar renovation and rebuilding might happen to a Church-owned office building in Bangkok. If it happens that way, we could see construction there commence with a groundbreaking by early-to-mid 2018 as well.

173. Brasilia Brazil Temple: Announced April 2, 2017; planning phase.

NOTE: A site has been identified by priesthood leaders as being located in the northern part of the city. This makes me believe that we might have a groundbreaking sooner than I anticipated, perhaps as soon as mid-2018. I will keep an eye out for developments on this front and report that information ASAP. In the interim, I also learned that the Church has discontinued the practice of public confirmation of temple site purchases, except to local members who have a vested interest in temples in their area. For that reason, his site identification by priesthood leaders is all we need. I also know that we will not be seeing a groundbreaking any sooner than next year, as it has generally taken a year following a site confirmation for such events to happen.

174. Greater Manila Philippines Temple: Announced April 2, 2017; planning phase.

NOTE: The Church’s Philippines Facebook page has identified the site for this temple as being located on the southern side of the Manila metropolitan area in the area known as Alabang, Muntinlupa City, which may mean a groundbreaking could happen very quickly once the site is confirmed. For that reason, it is not impossible to believe that a groundbreaking could happen as soon as mid-to-late 2018, if not indeed before. And in this case, this appears to be the way that the Church has chosen to confirm this information, so it should be taken as official.

175. Pocatello Idaho: Announced April 2, 2017; planning phase; possible temple site identified but not yet confirmed.

NOTE: While an official site confirmation has yet to occur, there is reason to believe that it might be built in any one of a few locations, one of which is a 10-acre land parcel that neighbors the meetinghouse on which the Pocatello Idaho Highland Stake Center sits. For that reason, a groundbreaking could take place as soon as mid-to-late 2018, if the site is officially confirmed.

176. Saratoga Springs Utah: Announced April 2, 2017; planning phase.

NOTE: While a specific site for this temple has yet to be confirmed, it has been reported that the Church owns several acres of land in the community, and that one of those Church-owned sites could be used for the temple. If an official site confirmation happens anytime soon, since temples in Utah are often built very easily, it could very well be that a groundbreaking could take place sometime during late 2018-early 2019. I am keeping my eye out for any developments and will refine this estimate as I am able to do so.

177. Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

NOTE: The name of this temple indicates that it will likely be built in the Los Olivos district of Lima. That puts it ahead in many respects than other temples might be. For that reason, I am refining my prediction to say that a groundbreaking might time place during early 2019.

178. Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

NOTE: Growth of the Church in Africa has really taken off, as evidenced by the fact that the last three years of temple announcements has seen one per year for that nation. For that reason, the groundbreaking might take place during early-to-mid 2019.

179. Quito Ecuador Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

NOTE: I am not in any way anticipating that the delays that prevailed between the announcement and groundbreaking of Ecuador’s first temple in Guayaquil will hinder construction commencing in its’ capital city. The temples announced during the April General Conference this year and their near-likely possibility of having a groundbreaking prior to others has delayed the process somewhat in my mind. However, I still have reason to believe that we could see a groundbreaking here during mid-2019.

180. Belem Brazil Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

NOTE: While the other temple announced for Brazil (for the capital city of Brasilia) has already had a possible site identified, and while that makes it more likely that the groundbreaking there will happen sooner than this one, there is still reason to believe that a groundbreaking for the Belem temple could take place during mid-to-late 2019.

181. Nairobi Kenya Temple: Announced April 2, 2017; planning phase.

NOTE: Temples in Africa, a nation that is growing well in Church membership, seem to go up fairly quickly once their ground is broken. That said, it generally takes around 3-5 years between a site announcement and groundbreaking, except in rare occasions. Wanting to be as careful as I can with such estimates, I would say that we might see a groundbreaking for this temple sometime during late 2019-early 2020.

182. Urdaneta Philippines Temple: Stalled in planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

NOTE: While this temple was announced almost seven years ago in October 2010, the commencement of construction there has been delayed. We have even had another Philippines temple that was announced during the April General Conference this year that has already had a site identified and is therefore much more likely to have construction commence much sooner than this one. While I personally hope that we will never again see future delays to the extent of those that prevailed between the announcements of the temples in Guayaquil Ecuador and its groundbreaking and the Los Angeles California Temple and its groundbreaking (with those 14+ year periods being the longest in Church history), the fact that construction has been delayed on the Urdaneta temple for almost half that long already makes me think that we are not likely to see a groundbreaking for this temple any sooner than early-to-mid 2020. I am hoping for it to happen before then, but want to be as realistic as possible. Again, I will post updates as I receive them.

ADDITIONAL GENERAL NOTE: Temple announcements are possible at any time, but the last twelve announcements have taken place during the April General Conference. I never want to rule out the possibility of announcements at other times, but that has been the pattern for the last three years. There have also been reports of several cities that have had a site purchased for a while now, and where an announcement might happen at any time. I know of at least five that have been identified to me by name: Managua Nicaragua, Auckland New Zealand, Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, Bentonville Arkansas, and Missoula Montana. If other potential temples have had a site purchased, they have yet to be identified as such. The following temples have been publicly proposed by apostles at various and sundry times:  New Delhi India (in June 1992 by Elder Neal A. Maxwell; may not happen soon due to intense political and religious obstacles); Vilnius Lithuania (in May 1993 by Elder M. Russell Ballard, which may be more of a long-shot possibility); Maracaibo Venezuela (in August 1999 by President Hinckley, which is just waiting for the right conditions); Singapore (in January 2000 by President Hinckley, and is likely to be announced when the time is right); for the Southwest Salt Lake Valley (in October 2005 by President Hinckley; NOTE: While some contend that this temple announcement has already happened, verifiable sources widely available prove otherwise. It will be announced at the right time); Managua Nicaragua (in January 2012 by then-Elder Russell M. Nelson; very likely at any time due to Nicaragua being the #1 of the top ten world countries without a temple); Missoula Montana (sometime in 2014 by Elder David A. Bednar during a stake conference in the area; while the report of this proposal has yet to be verified, the fact that there has been a purchase of a temple site seems to indicate that it is a most imminent possibility, though perhaps not as imminent as I once believed); and for the Kasai Region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (in February 2016 by Elder Neil L. Andersen). There are likely several other sites that the Church has purchased for a potential temple, but those have yet to be verified.

Key:

Bolded numbers and text denote temples whose numbers already exists (for renovations), or is certain due to a scheduled dedication, as well as information that is certain, such as dedication or groundbreaking dates.

Italicized numbers and text denote temples whose numbers may change based on the order in which future dedications and groundbreakings are scheduled.

Underlined numbers and text denote temples whose numbers may change based on progress towards planning, approval, and groundbreaking.

Red text denotes changes from the last posted temple progress report. 

Renovations Announced for 4 Temples starting later this year

Exciting news from the Church today. In a windfall announcement, plans to renovate 4 temples of the Church were made public. Renovations for the Memphis Tennessee, Oklahoma City Oklahoma, and Tokyo Japan Temples will all start about six months from now, in October 2017. One month later, the fourth temple, the Asuncion Paraguay Temple will close. All of these renovations are anticipated to take different lengths of time. For the Tennessee, Oklahoma and Paraguay temples, these renovations are expected to last until sometime in 2019 (though based on previous patterns, it has been fairly easy to predict when those rededications might happen). In the meantime, the renovation of the Tokyo Temple is anticipated to last until sometime in 2020.

So let's talk some specifics. All of the temples are closing for seismic and systemic upgrades. And, with the previous renovations that have been announced to start in February (for the Oakland California Temple) and for March (for the Washington DC Temple) next year, it is awesome that these other four are likewise scheduled for renovation, and that they will begin the process of renovation several months in advance of the other two.

The Memphis Tennessee Temple is the 80th operating temple of the Church. Announced in September 1998 as part of President Gordon B. Hinckley's efforts to have 100 temples by the end of 2000, it had a groundbreaking about 4 months later, and a dedication on April 23, 2000, by President James E. Faust. This will be the first renovation for this temple, and I fully anticipate that we will see it rededicated sometime during early-to-mid 2019. The Church has stated that the Nashville Tennessee Temple will be one of the neighboring temples that will accommodate the Saints from this district during the renovation process. I will keep an eye on developments with this renovation and readjust things as necessary.

The Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple is the 95th operating temple of the Church. Announced in March 1999, it had a groundbreaking 4 months later. President James E. Faust also dedicated this temple, and that dedication was held on July 30, 2000 (as one of the few exceptions for temple events that have occurred during the month of July, which has been for years the traditional recess month for our apostles). Given that it is so relatively new, this is a first renovation for this temple as well. Based on previous precedent for temple renovations, I am predicting and anticipating that the renovation will be finished and a rededication held sometime around mid-2019. In the meantime, neighboring temples will accommodate those in the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple district, including the Dallas Texas Temple.

The Tokyo Japan Temple is the oldest of those six that will have a renovation done at around this same time, and is the Church's 18th operating temple. Announced in August 1975, construction commenced without a formal groundbreaking in April 1978, and a dedication was subsequently held in October 1980, during the administration of President Spencer W. Kimball. Since this temple is anticipated to take longer to renovate, I believe that we will see this rededication held sometime around early-to-mid 2020, around the same time period in which I am predicting we will see the rededication for the the Washington DC Temple, during early-to-mid 2020. During the renovation process, the other two Japanese temples (Fukuoka, dedicated in 2000, and Sapporo, dedicated just last year) will serve the Saints that reside in the Tokyo district.

The Asuncion Paraguay Temple, which will commence the renovation process in November, a month after these other three above, is also the only one of these four that was dedicated most recently. It was announced during the April 2000 General Conference, had a groundbreaking 10 months later, and was dedicated 1.25 years after that, on May 19, 2002, becoming the 112th operating temple of the Church. In spite of this renovation being started a month after the other three, it is anticipated to last for a minimum of a year. Based on previous patterns, I have felt that we will see this rededication at some point during mid-to-late 2019. While this renovation is going on, other South American temples, which are in good supply, will serve the Saints in this temple district.

If you are curious to know more about what specifically will be involved in these renovations, please click here. More to come, including a couple of other posts that this news has made necessary, in a minute. Comments are always welcome. Thank you.

President Monson released from the hospital

If today's news does not debunk rumors about President Monson's health situation, I don't know what will. A Church spokesman indicated that President Monson was not only released from the hospital yesterday evening, but was anticipated to resume his normal workload today. How wonderful it is to consider that the Lord has once again proven beyond doubt that He is in full control of the lives and deaths of presidents of His Church. this article shares the wonderful news. Enjoy!

Sustaining the Prophets--Even and Especially in Old Age

Hello. I am back for another post, no doubt the most important one I could do right now. I intended it to be brief but it turns out that it needed to be what it now is. I was just rereading the article I posted earlier from the Deseret News about President Monson's health. That article contained a link to a masterful General Conference address given nearly three years ago by then-Elder Russell M. Nelson, who was at that time the third senior apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve. He and we could not have known then that less than a year later, he would become the man who is now merely a heartbeat away from the presidency of the Church. I have no doubts that in President Nelson's current situation, being three years senior to President Monson in age but 21 years his junior in the apostleship, and now in his capacity as the "heir-apparent" to President Monson, he is the one praying the most fervently for President Monson's life to be extended longer than his own. No one that I know of in his right mind seeks for the presidency of the Church, and the words that then-Elder Nelson spoke on that occasion are indicative of that. That said, they do sound strangely prophetic to me.

One or two particular passages struck me. He talks about his experience of operating on President Kimball, then the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, on the direction of the 11th Church President, Harold B. Lee. Following the prophetic utterance by President Lee that President Kimball should undergo the operation in question, which, at the time, had not been done before, that operation was performed, was successful, and enabled President Kimball to not only succeed the man who was four years junior to him in age but was his prophet, but also to function as the Lord's 12th Church President for nearly 12 years. And this man that performed the operation for President Kimball would not only go on to be one of those that the 12th Church President, under the Lord's direction, put his name forth for the apostleship, though the calling and ordaining of Elder Nelson was done by President Hinckley, but would also, 21 years after that call, be a heartbeat away from becoming the 17th Church President.

I am not saying that President Nelson will be our 17th prophet. That is not for me to declare. It is in the hands of the Lord, who controls the life and death of each prophet, and who knows when to release each one, and who in particular to put in his place. Those apostles that have died without ascending to the Church presidency have done so because the Lord wanted them to be special witnesses of Christ, not because every one of them was going to be His prophet. It is up to Him entirely how that succession happens. But reading Elder Nelson's remarks with this background and reasoning in mind, especially in light of what we have seen happen with every Sustaining of Church Officers in the General Conference of recent years makes his words all that much more significant and even in some ways prophetic.

Here's what struck me. Elder Nelson said: "My dear brothers and sisters, if the Restoration did anything, it shattered the age-old myth that God had stopped talking to His children. Nothing could be further from the truth. A prophet has stood at the head of God’s Church in all dispensations, from Adam to the present day. Prophets testify of Jesus Christ—of His divinity and of His earthly mission and ministry. We honor the Prophet Joseph Smith as the prophet of this last dispensation. And we honor each man who has succeeded him as President of the Church.

“When we sustain prophets and other leaders, we invoke the law of common consent, for the Lord said, ‘It shall not be given to any one to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church, except he be ordained by some one who has authority, and it is known to the church that he has authority and has been regularly ordained by the heads of the church.’

“This gives us, as members of the Lord’s Church, confidence and faith as we strive to keep the scriptural injunction to heed the Lord’s voice as it comes through the voice of His servants the prophets. All leaders in the Lord’s Church are called by proper authority. No prophet or any other leader in this Church, for that matter, has ever called himself or herself. No prophet has ever been elected. The Lord made that clear when He said, ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you. You and I do not ‘vote’ on Church leaders at any level. We do, though, have the privilege of sustaining them.”

I don't know how many of you have noticed this, but I have. In addition to the many expressions of unanimity by the apostles after each change in prophetic administration, during each Solemn Assembly, while the different groups of Church members and the Church membership at large is asked if there are any opposed to these changes, that is not asked of the new First Presidency and the other 12 apostles. This is clearly indicative of the fact that the apostles absolutely accept each transition. And our ability to do the same does not in any way hinder on what we know of each prophet personally, or whom we think and feel ought to lead the Church. The Lord picks His prophet.

And the apostles unanimously and with absolute confidence sustain each new prophetic administration, even when it means changes that are not expected nor have been sought after. Two notable examples of this come to mind. President J. Reuben Clark had served under a few prophets as Second Counselor and subsequently First Counselor. When 9th Church President David O. McKay, who was President Clark's senior apostle but who had been the junior member of the First Presidencies in which they served together, became the prophet, he felt inspired to name a more senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as his First Counselor, with President Clark has his Second Counselor. President McKay made it clear that it was not a demotion or punishment but that it had felt advisable in this case. And President Clark concurred with that feeling because he knew President McKay had been inspired to do so. He would later go on to succeed the First Counselor, and never once resented the fact that things had happened the way they did.

More recently, when President Monson became the Church President, Presidents Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf were chosen by the Lord to serve as his counselors. While President Eyring being retained in the First Presidency was no surprise (since he had served for almost four months prior to that with Presidents Hinckley and Monson), President Uchtdorf voiced his shock about being selected as the  Seccond Counselor. But since he knew that President Monson had come to the office of Church President under the direction of the Lord, he had no qualms about accepting the call. And in the 9 years since that time, President Uchtdorf has given so many masterful addresses in his capacity as the junior member of the First Presidency. He was another who was quoted in the Deseret News article I cited above about President Monson's general condition.

Sorry for that sidetrack. To get back to my point, as I said, no one acting under the right spirit seeks for or declines the Church presidency or most other callings. As another small sidetrack, I had an instance in my own life where I did have to decline a calling that came to me, but it wasn't really officially issued, as the intent was to determine if I would be physically capable of handling the responsibilities of that calling. When I asserted that I could not do so, the acknowledgment was made that this was a wise decision, and that I should not guilt myself over not being able to accept it.

That said, those who do come, under the Lord's direction, to the presidency of the Church may fervently wish and pray with all their might for the extension of the lives of their predecessors so that the heavy responsibility to preside over the Lord's Church and be the primary mouthpiece for the conveyance of the Lord's witll does not come to them. President Monson's own biography, just as those of some of his predecessors have, indicates the hours he spent alone in the temple following the death of President Hinckley, reminding the Lord of how fervently he (President Monson) had pled for the extension of his (President Hinckley's) life, but ultimately bowing to the Lord's greater wisdom and pleading for the strength to carry on the legacy of those who preceded him as the Lord's prophet.

With all that in mind, and with Elder Nelson's stated declaration on this occasion that these sustainings held once every six months are not meant to be an election, but a concurrence with the expressed will and desires of the Lord, I hope everyone understands more why I have been so upset by and so vocal in my opposition against the cries that have come of "opposed" in response to the invitation to sustain the 15 apostles during the last several conferences. It is not for any of us to oppose the Lord's will on any of this. Those who do will no doubt be held accountable for their actions at the day of judgment. And I think that the perpetrators of such that have surfaced of late are just in it for the fame. It sickens me how many sites I have come across in cursory internet searches about the Church Presidency to see the public call for groups to join the small minority in the Conference Center who so oppose these votes.

I have to wonder what they hope to gain. To the best of my knowledge (and I may be mistaken in this regard, so please correct me if I'm wrong), the last time such opposition occurred was during the tenure of President Kimball, where his loyal counselors explained prior to numerous sustainings what happens when an opposing vote is cast. During that time, it was customary for those voicing those opposing the sustaining to meet with a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (which, on those occasions, was typically then-Elder Hinckley, who would a few short years later join the First Presidency, and who just shy of a decade and a half after that succeed to the Church presidency himself) to explain their reasons for an opposing vote, leaving Elder Hinckley to then determine whether the reasons had any merit (which generally they did not) and, if so, to take it up with his 14 other colleagues. I hope with all my heart that it is obvious (as it should be to anyone who is familiar with the process) why something like that cannot be done anymore.

If every dissenting vote meant a visit with an apostle, no apostle would be able to do anything other than that. And the loud minority should not feel so free to drown out the much stronger power of the silent sustaining of the majority. As part of the process of delegating more responsibility to local leaders to enable the apostles to focus more on Churchwide issues rather than some few individual's petty problems with the leaders they declined to sustain, stake presidents have been tasked now with the responsibility to meet with the dissenting votes, and that has been clearly stated by the First Presidency member who has lately led out in those sustainings. The fact that these dissenting voters continue to loudly voice there opposition to a matter that should not be up for a vocal vote indicates that they are not taking the invitation to get their concerns resolved through the proper channels, and that their actions are indeed petty and small.

It is abundantly clear to me, as it should be to anyone who really considers the matter, that there is more of an issue with the mentality of such individuals than there is with any Church leaders to whom they are not giving their sustaining vote. This is not, never has been,  and never will be, an election. These men are called by God. I echo the sentiment expressed by Brigham Young, the Lion of the Lord, when he spoke in defense of his beloved prophet, Brother Joseph, in response to dissidents and apostates who were seeking to declare this prophet fallen and to remove him from the office to which he was called by God. One cannot remove the prophet of God from his place. Only the Lord can do that. The individuals who are so spiritually blind that they are seeking to do so can only cut the ties that bind them to the prophet, and, by so doing, can sink themselves to hell if they choose. That statement also proved prophetic in light of the apostasy that continued during that time and in light of the fact that the good brother that made that statement would go on to succeed the man whom he defended so vigorously with these sentiments.

What Brother Brigham said, as paraphrased above, may sound harsh. But it is not really so. One key principle of the Church is agency. But it is not "free" as some have termed it. The principle of the word "free" implies that it comes at no cost. But agency was so valuable and vital to the plan of our Heavenly Father that he let one-third of His children who would not, by that same principle of common consent to which we adhere today, agree to that plan, be cast out of heaven. So the idea that agency is somehow "free" is misguided.

Some have hit the nail directly on the head that we do have freedom of a sort. We have the freedom to choose how to act. But taking such actions, especially those out of harmony with the Lord's will and plan for us, leaves us without the freedom to choose the consequences of such actions. Gerald Lund demonstrated this principle very well when he used one story in his epic The Work and the Glory series to explain the principles of agency, how the atonement works, and how much the Lord must have loved us to undertake that. The example was given of a loving father whose son was playing baseball and had a hit that broke a window of a nearby store. That boy would then have to experience the consequences that resulted from that action. He himself would be unable to pay for the broken window. No one in their right mind would require that. But there would be consequences for his actions. His father, acting out of the love he had for his son, would pay for the window, but that would still leave the boy with the consequences of his actions.

As his father paid for the window, it would thus only be fair to that father if he were the one to set the conditions under which his son would repay him for paying the price of his mistake. It would not be easy, but it would be fair. In like manner, those who believe they can do what they want without consequence do not take into account that while the Savior did suffer for their sins, He, as the one who paid that price, would be the one to set the conditions under which such an arrangement would cover such actions. Sorry, I got off on yet another tangent. The point I was trying to make is that the Lord, as the one who has wrought His atonement to cover our sins, and His Father, who loved and valued agency so much to let 33% of his children go to ensure that would be preserved, and who loved us all so much that He was willing to let His Only Begotten Son in the flesh pay the price that would allow us both agency and the ability to repent of our sins, will one day call upon all of us to answer for our actions.

With all of that in mind, it is our duty to gain a testimony of the importance of agency and the atonement, and of the divine call of each prophet and apostle, to share that witness with the world, and to sustain His chosen servants as fully as we want to follow the Lord Himself.

So it is most tragic to me that some few have it in their heads that there will be no consequences for their actions, including a failure to sustain those the Lord has put into place to lead us. The choice remains ours. We can either sustain these men and follow their counsel, or face the consequences for failing to do so. The choice, when seen in this light, is clear and obvious. I would like to thank President Nelson for the words he spoke 2.5 years ago that motivated this post. President Monson is still very much our prophet and Church president until the Lord calls him home. And, just as that has been true for the other 15 men that preceded him as the Lord's mouthpiece, it will continue to be so for every other man that subsequently succeeds him, whomever they may be.

May we sustain the Lord's prophet, regardless of age or health, and remember these sacred and vitally important truths is my humble prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Updated Timeline for Future Temple-related Events

Hello again. Between the new temple announcements last weekend and the developments that are continuing to happen with temples around the world, I have revised my timeline for future temple-related events. I also felt slightly guilty about the fact that my previous timelines have not been timelines, but rather a litany of detail about the nuances of future events. So I completely redid it, changing the format. I have also taken the liberty of including the dates of each future General Conference within the timeline, which, according to past General Conference dates, do seem to be streamlined to the last Saturdays in March and September (for the General Women's Meeting) and the first weekends in April and October (for the other five sessions). And I have included President Monson's 90th birthday, which, in light of what has happened with temples since he became Church President 9 years ago (with the number of operating temples then at 124 and the number of operating temples when all in any status are completed will be 182) definitely makes me feel that the milestone birthday is very noteworthy for this timeline.

I should mention that for future temple dedications and groundbreakings, I am running on little more than my own hopes and desires that have been based on the best research I could have done, and by running some calculations of the typical time periods by which previous events have happened for other temples. As with anything else I post that is similar to this, I welcome any and all feedback. Thanks so much for your continued interest and feedback. The fact that this blog of mine ranks as one of the top Google search results for future temple-related events is so much more a credit to you who read and comment than it is an acknowledgement that my theories, such as they have been, have any merit. I cannot count the number of times when an insightful comment from so many of you has changed completely the direction of my line of reasoning previously. And I hope it will continue to be so. Thanks again.

Here's the timeline. Enjoy, and let me know what you think.

PRELIMINARY NOTE: As I pondered the newest five temples announced last weekend, and as I did further study, I realized that my estimated timeline for future temple-related events needed to be revised. I have also simplified things a lot in this version, giving the year for such events, followed by a brief description of what the event is and when it will happen, along with a brief note about such events, when applicable.

2017—Events already scheduled:
Now: Reservations being accepted for the Paris France and Idaho Falls Temple Open Houses
Anytime soon: Construction expected to begin in earnest for the Rio de Janeiro Brazil and Arequipa Peru Temples, which both had a groundbreaking ceremony on March 4.
Saturday April 22-Saturday May 13 (excluding the Sundays of April 23 & 30 and May 7): Paris France Temple Open House
Saturday April 22-Saturday May 20 (excluding the Sundays of April 23 & 30 and May 7 &14): Idaho Falls Temple Open House
Monday May 15: Reservations will begin to be accepted for the Tucson Arizona Temple Open House
Saturday May 20: Paris France Temple Cultural Celebration
Sunday May 21: Paris France Temple dedication (the Church’s 156^th operating temple)
NOTE: I am anticipating that President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, our European apostle, will preside at this event and be accompanied by Elder Neil L. Andersen, who served his mission in France, and Bishop Gerald Causse, our French Presiding Bishop.
May or June: Construction expected to begin in earnest for the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple, following the conclusion of the really bad Canadian winter.
Saturday June 3-24 (excluding the Sundays of June 4, 11 & 18): Tucson Arizona Temple Open House
Saturday June 3: Idaho Falls Idaho Temple Cultural Celebration
Sunday June 4: Idaho Falls Idaho Temple Rededication
NOTE: It is my belief that President Henry B. Eyring or Elder David A. Bednar, who have ties to Idaho, may preside at this event, and that either or both will be accompanied by Elder Neil L. Andersen, an Idaho native.
Saturday August 12: Tucson Arizona Temple Cultural Celebration
Sunday August 13: Tucson Arizona Temple Dedication (157^th operating temple)
NOTE: Since President Dieter F. Uchtdorf broke ground for this temple, it is not unreasonable to assume that he will return to dedicate it.
Monday August 21: President Monson’s 90^th birthday
NOTE: While this is not, strictly speaking, a temple-related event, it is on this list because of President Monson’s extensive contribution to the worldwide number of temples. With the 124 that were operating when he became Church President, and, noting that the total number of temples in any phase is now 182, it is fitting that the milestone birthday of this Church President, who has so well carried on the legacy of his predecessor President Hinckley, should be included on this timeline.
September 23 and 30 and October 1: 187^th Semiannual General Conference
NOTE: This event made the list since there is every possibility that new temples could potentially be announced during this time.
Saturday October 21-Saturday November 11 (excluding the Sundays of October 22 and 29 and November 5): Meridian Idaho Temple Open House
Saturday November 18: Meridian Idaho Temple Cultural Celebration
Sunday November 19: Meridian Idaho Temple Dedication (158^th operating temple)
NOTE: It would not surprise me, as I have before noted, if President Eyring, Elder Bednar, and Elder Andersen were all in attendance at this event.
Friday October 27-Saturday November 18: Cedar City Utah Temple Open House
Saturday December 9: Cedar City Utah Temple Cultural Celebration
Sunday December 10: Cedar City Utah Temple Dedication (159^th operating temple)
NOTE: With this event being the dedication of a Utah temple, it is anticipated that several general authorities will be in attendance. I have felt that the temple will be dedicated by either President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, or Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a native of St. George, a close sister of Cedar City.

Likely to be scheduled later this year:
November 2017: Groundbreaking for Harare Zimbabwe Temple

2018—Exact event timeline unknown, but I offer my best estimate
Late January or early February: Rededication of the Jordan River Utah Temple
Early February: Renovation begins on the Oakland California Temple
Late February or early March: Dedication of the Rome Italy Temple (160^th operating temple)
Early March: Renovation begins on the Washington DC Temple
March 24 and 31 and April 1: 188^th Annual General Conference
NOTE: While this is yet-to-be confirmed, it does conform to the general timeline under which previous general conferences have taken place. Temple announcements are always possible during General Conference.
Early-to-mid May: Rededication of the Freiberg Germany Temple
Late May or early June: Dedication of the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo (161^st operating temple); groundbreakings for the Port-au-Prince Haiti and Bangkok Thailand Temples
NOTE: As Winter 2018 ends in the northern hemisphere near the end of March, it is my feeling that we might see the groundbreakings for the temples in Port-au-Prince Haiti (where a site has already been confirmed) and Bangkok Thailand (where an existing building might be rebuilt and renovated into a multi-purpose edifice) during this time. That said, with so much unknown about future temples, it is only my best-effort prediction.
Early August: Dedication of the Barranquilla Colombia Temple (162^nd operating temple)
Mid-to-late August: Groundbreaking for the Brasilia Brazil Temple
NOTE: Though this temple was just announced this past weekend and the temple site has yet to be officially confirmed by the Church, local leaders have identified where it will likely be located, opening the possibility that the groundbreaking could happen at around this time, especially if that site confirmation happens soon.
September or October: Groundbreakings for the Greater Manila Philippines and Pocatello Idaho Temples
NOTE: While the official sites have yet to be confirmed, the Facebook page for the Philippines indicates that the newest Filipino temple will be built on the southern side of the Manila metropolitan area in the area known as Alabang, Muntinlupa City. And while many options are under consideration for the next Idahoan temple, one of the most likely locations is the 10-acre land parcel that neighbors the meetinghouse on which the Pocatello Idaho Highland Stake Center sits. So it is very likely that these two groundbreakings could happen around this time, as identifying a site is half the battle. It all depends on how quickly the Church is able to confirm these sites. But it wouldn’t surprise me.
September 29 and October 6 & 7: 188^th Semiannual General Conference
NOTE: While this is yet-to-be confirmed, it does conform to the general timeline under which previous general conferences have taken place. Temple announcements are always possible during General Conference.
Early-to-mid November: Dedication of the Concepcion Chile Temple (163^rd operating temple)
Late November-Early December: Groundbreaking for the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple
NOTE: As the Church reportedly owns several acres of land in this community, the temple could be built on any of those developments. It is not impossible to believe that a groundbreaking could happen by the end of 2018, but I could see the Church pushing that back perhaps to sometime early in the year following. I will keep an eye on all of that and try to make a better prediction later on when more is known.
Early December: Dedication of the Durban South Africa Temple (164^th operating temple) 

2019 (NOTE: This gets more speculative as it is two years out, but again, I offer my best estimate based on the information I have)
Late January or early February: Groundbreaking for the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple
NOTE: While the site for this temple has yet to be confirmed, the official name of it seems to indicate that it will be built within the district of the same name in the Peruvian capital city. If a site confirmation happens between now and then, I could definitely see a groundbreaking at this time. But that will largely depend on what happens between now and then. More to come once more is known.
Late March: Dedication of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple (165^th operating temple) and groundbreaking for the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple
NOTE: If construction for the Winnipeg Temple starts as anticipated in May or June of this year, with the 20-month estimated timetable for construction, the dedication could happen there. As for the groundbreaking for the Ivory Coast’s first temple, while I recognize that an official site has not yet been confirmed, temples in Africa are having construction commence in relatively short order. I have mentioned above the likelihood that the Church will break ground for the first Zimbabwean temple by the end of this year. And given that that temple was announced one year after this one, it is not hard to believe that Abidjan could have a groundbreaking by this time, especially since this projection would allow for it to happen during the final days of the summer season for Africa.
March 30 & April 6 & 7: 189^th Annual General Conference
NOTE: While this is yet-to-be confirmed, it does conform to the general timeline under which previous general conferences have taken place. Temple announcements are always possible during General Conference.
Early-to-mid May: Dedication of the Fortaleza Brazil Temple (166^th operating temple)
Late May: Groundbreaking for the Quito Ecuador Temple
NOTE: We have had two temples whose time span between the announcement and the subsequent groundbreaking have spanned 14+ years, and one of them was Ecuador’s first temple in Guayaquil. With that in mind, I don’t think such a delay will apply in any way to this temple in the capital city. If the groundbreaking happens here at this time, it would hold true for the latest patterns in that regard for South American temples.
Early-to-mid September: Rededication of the Oakland California Temple
Mid-to-late September: Dedication of the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple (167^th operating temple) and groundbreaking for the Belem Brazil Temple
NOTE: Brazil seems to be highly favored of the Lord due to the wide-spread reception of the gospel by its citizens. Temples in particular are important to the Saints there, and the many announcements of Brazilian temples in the last few years has been amazing to see. With some exceptions (the Fortaleza Brazil temple being one), it has generally be the case that Brazilian temples progress fairly swiftly from announcement to groundbreaking to construction to dedication. It is therefore not only possible but highly probable that both of these events could take place at around this time, especially in light of the fact that they would be held during the Brazilian spring.
September 28 & October 6 & 7: 189^th Semiannual General Conference
NOTE: While this is yet-to-be confirmed, it does conform to the general timeline under which previous general conferences have taken place. Temple announcements are always possible during General Conference.
Early December: Dedication of the Lisbon Portugal Temple (168^th operating temple) 

2020 (NOTE: With this being 3 years from now, with the exception of General Conference dates, which are easily predicted, it is anyone’s guess how or if the events proposed here will take place as I am estimating they will. I will make adjustments when more is known.)
March: Dedication of the Arequipa Peru Temple (169^th operating temple); Groundbreaking for the Nairobi Kenya Temple
NOTE: Temples in Africa always take a little while between announcement and groundbreaking. While I am hoping and praying that Kenya’s first temple has its construction commence sooner than this, it may not happen that way.
March 28 & April 4 & 5: 190^th Annual General Conference
NOTE: While this is yet-to-be confirmed, it does conform to the general timeline under which previous general conferences have taken place. Temple announcements are always possible during General Conference.
June: Rededication of the Washington DC Temple and groundbreaking for the Urdaneta Philippines Temple
NOTE: The renovation on the temple of the US capital is anticipated to take two years, so this is a very conservative estimate on my part. And while I certainly hope it will not take another three years to see the groundbreaking for this Philippines temple that will have had almost ten years since its announcement by this time, there are no clear signs that it will happen any sooner than this. I will monitor that situation closely and go from there.
September: Dedication for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple (170^th operating temple)
NOTE: The completion timeline for this temple will depend entirely on how soon we see a site announcement, when ground is broken, what the design entails, and how swiftly construction progresses. But it seems to be a safe initial prediction.
September 26 & October 3 & 4: 190^th Semiannual General Conference
NOTE: While this is yet-to-be confirmed, it does conform to the general timeline under which previous general conferences have taken place. Temple announcements are always possible during General Conference.
December: Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple Dedication (171^st operating temple)
NOTE: The timeline for this dedication will depend on whether or not a groundbreaking takes place at the time indicated above. And things might happen sooner than indicated here, all going well. The only other Caribbean temple was completed within a similar time frame to what I have suggested here.

2021 (NOTE: With this being 4 years from now, with the exception of General Conference dates, which are easily predicted, it is anyone’s guess how or if the events proposed here will take place as I am estimating they will. I will make adjustments when more is known.)
February: Pocatello Idaho Temple Dedication (172^nd operating temple)
NOTE: The timeline for this dedication will depend on whether or not a groundbreaking takes place at the time indicated above. And things might happen sooner than indicated here, all going well. But I have noted the general timeline in which temples in Idaho are usually completed, and will readjust my timeline as needed for the future.
March 27, April 3 & 4: 191^st Annual General Conference
NOTE: While this is yet-to-be confirmed, it does conform to the general timeline under which previous general conferences have taken place. Temple announcements are always possible during General Conference.
May: Saratoga Springs Utah Temple Dedication (173^rd operating temple)
NOTE: The timeline for this dedication will depend on whether or not a groundbreaking takes place at the time indicated above. And things might happen sooner than indicated here, all going well. But I have noted the general timeline in which Utah temples are usually completed, and will readjust my timeline as needed for the future.
August: Bangkok Thailand Temple Dedication (174^th operating temple)
NOTE: The timeline for this dedication will depend on whether or not a groundbreaking takes place at the time indicated above. And things might happen sooner than indicated here, all going well. But I have noted the general timeline in which Asian temples are usually completed, and will readjust my timeline as needed for the future.
September 25 & October 2 & 3: 191^st Semiannual General Conference
NOTE: While this is yet-to-be confirmed, it does conform to the general timeline under which previous general conferences have taken place. Temple announcements are always possible during General Conference.
November: Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple Dedication (175^th operating temple)
NOTE: The timeline for this dedication will depend on whether or not a groundbreaking takes place at the time indicated above. And things might happen sooner than indicated here, all going well. But I have noted the general timeline in which African temples are usually completed, and will readjust my timeline as needed for the future.

2022 (NOTE: With this being 5 years from now, with the exception of General Conference dates, which are easily predicted, it is anyone’s guess how or if the events proposed here will take place as I am estimating they will. I will make adjustments when more is known.)
February: Brasilia Brazil Temple Dedication (176^th operating temple)
NOTE: The timeline for this dedication will depend on whether or not a groundbreaking takes place at the time indicated above. And things might happen sooner than indicated here, all going well. But I have noted the general timeline in which Brazilian temples are usually completed, and will readjust my timeline as needed for the future.
March 26 & April 2 & 3: 192^nd Annual General Conference
NOTE: While this is yet-to-be confirmed, it does conform to the general timeline under which previous general conferences have taken place. Temple announcements are always possible during General Conference.
May: Quito Ecuador Temple Dedication (177^th operating temple)
NOTE: The timeline for this dedication will depend on whether or not a groundbreaking takes place at the time indicated above. And things might happen sooner than indicated here, all going well. But I have noted the general timeline in which Ecuadoran temples are usually completed, and will readjust my timeline as needed for the future.
August: Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple Dedication (178^th operating temple)
NOTE: The timeline for this dedication will depend on whether or not a groundbreaking takes place at the time indicated above. And things might happen sooner than indicated here, all going well. But I have noted the general timeline in which Peruvian temples are usually completed, and will readjust my timeline as needed for the future.
September 24 & October 1 & 2: 192^nd Semiannual General Conference
NOTE: While this is yet-to-be confirmed, it does conform to the general timeline under which previous general conferences have taken place. Temple announcements are always possible during General Conference.
November: Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple Dedication (179^th operating temple)
NOTE: The timeline for this dedication will depend on whether or not a groundbreaking takes place at the time indicated above. And things might happen sooner than indicated here, all going well. But I have noted the general timeline in which African temples are usually completed, and will readjust my timeline as needed for the future.

2023 (NOTE: With this being 6 years from now, with the exception of General Conference dates, which are easily predicted, it is anyone’s guess how or if the events proposed here will take place as I am estimating they will. I will make adjustments when more is known.)
February: Nairobi Kenya Temple Dedication (180^th operating temple)
NOTE: The timeline for this dedication will depend on whether or not a groundbreaking takes place at the time indicated above. And things might happen sooner than indicated here, all going well. But I have noted the general timeline in which African temples are usually completed, and will readjust my timeline as needed for the future.
March 25 & April 1 & 2: 193^rd Annual General Conference
NOTE: While this is yet-to-be confirmed, it does conform to the general timeline under which previous general conferences have taken place. Temple announcements are always possible during General Conference.
May: Belem Brazil Temple Dedication (181^st operating temple)
NOTE: The timeline for this dedication will depend on whether or not a groundbreaking takes place at the time indicated above. And things might happen sooner than indicated here, all going well. But I have noted the general timeline in which Brazilian temples are usually completed, and will readjust my timeline as needed for the future.
August: Urdaneta Philippines Temple Dedication (182^nd operating temple)
NOTE: As this temple is currently stalled in the planning and approval phase, it is anyone’s guess as to when a site announcement and groundbreaking will happen. That said, if a groundbreaking can take place according to the timeline suggested above, it is very possible that this temple will be completed within the general time frame in which other temples in the Philippines have been known to be completed.

FINAL NOTE: Any other temple-related event is too far distant to be predicted, as the dedication above will mark that of the last temple we currently have announced. While I have based the timeline above on my observations for the timelines of temples worldwide, it is by no means a perfect or infallible system. With that in mind, I hope to see events happen much sooner than indicated here. And it is sure that I will make every effort to report any changes as more information comes to light. Thanks for reading this. Any comments are welcome and most appreciated.