Church News Conglomeration

This will be a conglomeration of Church news. First of all, the Church is seeking several more nurse missionaries to serve as mission nurses. Apparently they are really desperate for individuals to help in that assignment. For more on how to apply and what the requirements are, please see this link.

FamilySearch held a worldwide indexing event from July 15-17. Many names were added to the Church's database and are being made ready for the temple work to be done. For more details, please see this link.

Three new videos have been added to the Church's "Meet the Mormons" series. To learn more about this, please click here.

The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square completed their 2016 European tour recently. For an overview of all that the tour involved, click here.

Lots going on in the Church. What an exciting time to be alive!

Temple Progress Update

Since a lot has been happening on the temple-news front, I am posting with my updated list of temple construction progress. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 7/18/16)

Current Temple Status: 150 operating, 16 under construction (5 scheduled for dedication), 11 announced (2 groundbreakings anticipated to be announced soon), 4 undergoing renovation (1 scheduled for rededication).

Dedication scheduled:

151. Sapporo Japan Temple: Public open house tours underway; dedication scheduled on Sunday August 21, 2016.

152. Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple: Accepting free reservations for public open house; dedication scheduled on Sunday September 18, 2016.

153. Fort Collins Colorado Temple: Accepting free reservations for public open house; dedication scheduled on Sunday October 16, 2016.

154. Star Valley Wyoming Temple: Laying sod and planting trees; installing art glass windows; dedication scheduled on Sunday October 30, 2016.

155. Hartford Connecticut Temple: Granite being attached to front façade; building entrance plaza and temple president’s residence; dedication scheduled on Sunday November 20, 2016.

Under Construction:

156. Paris France Temple: Planting trees, shrubs, and flowers; installing some art glass; completion estimated sometime in early 2017.

157. Meridian Idaho Temple: Stained glass windows being installed; pouring parking lot curbing and installing light poles; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

158. Cedar City Utah Temple: Pouring parking lot curbing and installing light poles; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

159. Tucson Arizona Temple: Scaffolding removed from dome; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

160. Rome Italy Temple: Interior work underway including some material replacement and rework; completion estimated sometime in 2018.

161. Concepcion Chile Temple: Exterior walls poured; completion estimated sometime during 2018.

162. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Site grading and clearing underway; completion estimated sometime in either 2018 or 2019.

163. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Site grading and clearing underway; building permit sign posted; completion estimated sometime in either 2018 or 2019.

164. Durban South Africa Temple: Site grading and clearing underway; completion estimated sometime in either 2018 or 2019.

165. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Building the substructure; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

166. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Ground broken on Saturday December 5, 2015; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

Rededication scheduled:

33. Freiberg Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication scheduled on Sunday September 4, 2016.

Undergoing Renovation:

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; installing marble trim; repainting fence; rededication estimated sometime in early 2017.

41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication estimated sometime in mid-2017.

20. Jordan River Utah Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication estimated sometime in late 2017.

Announced:

167. Arequipa Peru Temple: General contractor selected; construction anticipated to begin in October 2016.

168. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Construction preparation phase; plans approved by local government; groundbreaking may be announced soon and scheduled sometime after the summer Olympics.

169. Urdaneta Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

170. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

171. Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

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

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

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

175. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

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

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

Key:

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

Underlined numbers and text denote temples whose number may change based on the order in which their future groundbreakings are announced.

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

Health Update

Just posting to report that I saw my neurologist on Friday. She authorized the increase of my dose of the medications that I felt I needed. In the meantime, she talked about other things that might help me. So now we just wait to see the neurosurgeon and get my shunt turned up. I am also sleeping better as a result of using the CPAP machine. As a matter of fact, I have been able to wake up the last few mornings well in advance of my alarms feeling well rested. This almost blew us away. It's been a while since that last happened.

In the meantime, I may have found a new job. It is full-time with benefits. The pay would be $1.50 per hour than I was getting at ROI and might include a better insurance option for Amy. The job is with Rocky Mountain Oils, and I'd be doing the same type of thing as I did on loan to Yong Living; I would just be also doing support and orders in person and by e-mail. The headquarters is right here in Orem. I applied for the job early Saturday morning and am hoping to hear back anytime now. I will keep you posted.

Thanks to you all for your interest, readership, and support. Your continued prayers would be appreciated.

My little sister is a mommy!

Just blogging to report that my little sister gave birth to the newest addition to our family this morning. Millen Dan Atwood was born after almost 40 hours of labor. Both Elizabeth and Millen are doing well, just very tired. Much to my extreme relief, the doctors are keeping both in the hospital for a few more days. I am so proud of my little sister and so anxious to meet my newest nephew. I am so happy that she met Jon Atwood and that both are healthy and well. Well done, baby sister! I love you all and look forward to seeing you both and to meet Millen! Rest up, and take good care of yourself!

Temple developments

Further temple developments have happened.  Since I last posted, art glass is being installed in the Paris France temple, and site grading and clearing have begun for the Durban South Africa temple.  Also, a general contractor has been selected and construction is anticipated to begin in October 2016 for the Arequipa Peru temple.

I know I may have posted about some of the developments already, but I wanted to make sure that they are on the blog. Thanks to all of you for your interest, support, and readership.