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Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Review of Temple Construction Progress During the Third Quarter of 2020

Hello again, everyone! As the final minutes of September 2020 move ever closer towards their conclusion here in Utah, I am pleased to provide a look back at temple construction progress which has occurred during this third quarter of this year (spanning from June 1 until today). During that time, the opening of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple, and its' subsequent dedication, which had been announced at the end of April, has been postponed. During the third quarter of this year, groundbreakings have been held for seven temples (Alabang Philippines, Auckland New Zealand, Feather River California, Orem Utah, San Pedro Sula Honduras, and Brasilia Brazil).

During this quarter, groundbreakings have been announced for the Brasilia Brazil, Taylorsville Utah, Moses Lake Washington, Red Cliffs Utah, Bentonville Arkansas, McAllen Texas, Coban Guatemala, and Okinawa City Japan Temples. Meanwhile, the arrangements for the groundbreaking of the Salta Argentina Temple were originally announced (with that event first scheduled to be held on Saturday August 15), but twice postponed due to COVID-19 conditions, being pushed back first to Friday October 9, then to an unspecified date in November. And this quarter saw all groundbreakings following that of the Brasilia Brazil Temple scheduled to occur during a general month, rather than a specific and exact date, which will result in us not knowing the specifics of when each of those will take place until the Newsroom reports that each has been conducted.

In addition, sites have been  confirmed for 6 more temples during this third quarter, 5 of which have also had a rendering released. As I've previously noted, in last April's General Conference, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles noted that the Church was planning to break ground on 18 temples this year, and with those scheduled thus far, there will have been 16 temple groundbreakings when each of those have taken place.  At this point in time, it's just about impossible to know how feasible it would be for the Church to plan 1 of the other 2 groundbreakings for sometime in October, or if subsequent groundbreakings could take place in November above and beyond the 5 already scheduled. 

It is similarly hard to know for sure whether one or both of the remaining 2 could take place in December, since the Church would need to make arrangements for those around Christmas and New Year's festitivities. But I have also previously cited the example of how President Hinckley's goal to have 100 operating temples dedication prior to the end of the year 2000 was able to not only be met, but also exceeded by 2. Due to that past precedent related to temple construction, I have perhaps wondered whether the Lord, seeing how diligent His servants have been in working towards that goal despite the complications caused by both the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters and calamities throughout the world, will open the way for more than 18 temples to have a groundbreaking.

Whatever might occur in that regard, given the fact that Elder Bednar, who chairs the Temple and Family History Executive Council, publicly (and for what I believe was the first time it had ever happened) announced a specific number of temples would have a gorundbreaking this year, it wouldn't shock me if, whenever he speaks during General Conference next weekend, he was to give a progress update on this year's efforts and outline any preliminary plans the Church has for any number of groundbreakings next year. It could also be possible that either President Nelson, or Elder Bednar with the prophet's approval, could make an announcement about any other groundbreakings that will take place before the end of this year, and/or that revised dates for the open houses and dedications/rededications of temples could be noted as well.

And of course, with General Conference set to get underway in less than 72 hours, there will almost certainly be more new temples announced. It will be interesting to see all of that unfold, and to the best of my ability, I will continue to document those events as they happen. With those preliminary comments in mind, I'd like to remind you all where the Church stood in terms of temple developments as 2020 began and where things stood by the end of the first quarter of 2020, just 3 days prior to the April 2020 General Conference, where things stood at the end of the second quarter (also first half) of 2020, and how things look today as 2020's third quarter concludes.

With the sheer number of breaking news developments relating to temples that have been shared by the Church since June 1 of this year (which marked the start of the most recent quarter) it will be interesting to see what announcements come down the pike through the remainder of this year. Whether or not any other temple groundbreakings take place beyond what has already been announced, I personally hope that for some of the smaller temples nearing completion (Winnipeg Manitoba, Yigo Guam, and Praia Cabo Verde) could have some carefully-controlled openings of some kind announced, even if that meant strict regulations on the number of people attending at one time, which could be achieved by having more extensive open houses.

But in any case, in addition to those 3, it will be interesting to see if, when, and how soon the Church is also able to reopen the Washington DC, Tokyo Japan, Mesa Arizona, and Hamilton New Zealand Temples. The leading Brethren of the Church, and all who continue to assist them in the work, have become very experienced at rolling with the punches as far as working through COVID-19 circumstances as that has become necessary, and I'm sure that will continue to be the case going forward. Either way, with what we know so far, 2021 is shaping up to be a big year for temple dedications, rededications, and groundbreakings.

You can depend on my monitoring all such developments, along with any updates in any respect related to general Church news, and that I will provide those updates ASAP as I hear about them. In the meantime, that does it for now. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, as long as such comments are made in accordance with the established guidelines. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly added content, please feel free to subscribe. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Groundbreakings Announced for Coban Guatemala and Okinawa Japan Temples

Hello again, everyone! In these early-morning hours, I am pleased to share that the First Presidency has announced the groundbreakings for two more temples: Coban Guatemala and Okinawa Japan. Elder Brian K. Taylor, Central American Area President, will oversee the former in November 2020, with Elder Takashi Wada, Asia North Area President, presiding over the latter in December. Both will take place on unspecified dates.

This news marks the groundbreakings for two more temples originally announced in 2019 (in October and April of last year respectively) and means that the Church has scheduled 16 of the 18 temple groundbreakings to which Elder David A. Bednar made reference last April. Whether or not the Church is able to meet that goal, it's wonderful that such developments are bringing that goal closer. Given that there are now five temples set to break ground in November, it seems extremely likely that one or more thereof could occur on the same date.

I continue to monitor all such developments and other Church news, and will be sure to bring word of all such updates here as I learn about them. That does it for now. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, as long as such comments are made in accordance with the established guidelines. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly added content, please feel free to subscribe. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you allin everything you do.


Monday, September 21, 2020

UPDATED: October 2020 General Conference Predictions

Hello again, everyone! As I have recently mentioned, I found a few minor errors and oversights in my predictions for the October 2020 General Conference. After reconfiguring a few things, I have updated my predictions for the poteential speaking ordeer, the most likely changes in general Church leadership, and the list of locations in which a temple might be announced. The updates largely speak for themselves, but I am happy to field any questions any of you might have about them. 

In the meantime, if there is anything I may have overlooked, underestimated, or failed to consider, please let me know that as well As previously noted, the open commenting period on these predictions remains in effect until 10:00 PM MDT on Thursday October 1, which will allow me roughly 36 hours to finalize my predictions before General Conference commences on Saturday October 3 at 10:00 AM MDT. I look forward to any input any of you have to offer.

That does it for now. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, as long as such comments are made in accordance with the established guidelines. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly added content, please feel free to subscribe. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.



Thursday, September 17, 2020

BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Church Postpones Salta Argentina Temple Groundbreaking Yet Agaimn

Hello again, everyone! As many of you will no doubt recall, the Church had originally planned to hold the groundbreaking for the Salta Argentina Temple on Saturday August 15, subsequently moving that back to Friday October 9.

Fast forward again to today. As confirmed by both the Church News and the Newsroom, COVID-19 conditions in Argentina have necessitated that the groundbreaking arrangements for that temple be pushed back once again

That event will now take place on an unspecified date in November, whenever local conditions allow that and the appropriate arrangements can be made. The Newsroom will provide an acknowledgement and coverage of that once it has occurred.

This brings the total number of temple groundbreakings set to occur in November to a grand total of 4. It will be interesting to see what happens in that respect. I am grateful to have learned about this so I could pass it along to you all here.

I continue to monitor all Church news updates and temple developments, and will be sure to bring word on those to you all as I become aware of any such reports

That does it for now. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, as long as such comments are made in accordance with the established guidelines. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly added content, please feel free to subscribe. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.


Monday, September 14, 2020

BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Church Confirms Location, Releases Rendering for Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple

Hello again, everyone! Echoing recent trends, late this Monday night (which is mid-day Tuesday in the Pacific), the Church has confirmed preliminary details for yet another announced temple, namely the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple. 

The confirmed details for yet another temple originally announced in October of last year includes confirmation of the site location (Muniogo Crescent, Badili, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea), and an exterior rendering (another without the angel Moroni statue).

The temple is anticipated to be a single-story edifice of roughly 9,550 square feet. A meetinghouse currently on-site will be demolished to make way for missionary and patron apartments, a residence for the temple president, and a Church distribution center.

Although a groundbreaking date has not been set, project leaders will begin working with government and community leaders through the approvals process. As I've previously mentioned, the Church appears to be laying the groundwork for temple groundbreakings that will take place at some point within the next year What a wonderful season this has been for so many temple developments. I continue to monitor all such things and will bring word thereof to you ASAP after I learn about them. 

That does it for now. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, as long as such comments are made in accordance with the established guidelines. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly-added content, please feel free to subscribe. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.