Another Temple Progress Report Update

Based on the wonderful new information available today on the LDS Church temples website, I am posting with an updated list of temple progress. Enjoy!

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 7/21/16)

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; temple president’s residence progressing; dedication scheduled on Sunday November 20, 2016.

Under Construction:

156. Paris France Temple: Exterior cladding of visitor's center nearing completion; stained glass installation underway; courtyard pavers laid; completion estimated sometime in mid-2017.

157. Meridian Idaho Temple: Angel Moroni placed on July 20, 2016; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

158. Cedar City Utah Temple: Pouring parking lot curbing; installing temporary glass on window openings; 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 the first half of 2018.

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

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

163. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Site grading and clearing underway; 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.

Conglomoration of Church news

The Church News this weekend ran an article about Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, newly called in April as the Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency. It was very good to read that article. Click here to read that article. I was especially anxious to read about her because she is the daughter of Elder Harold G. Hillam, who at one time served as a General Authority Seventy.

Another reason I had for wanting to get to know a bit more than I do about Sister Cordon is that, if my calculations are correct, she will be the featured speaking representative of the new Primary General Presidency at the General Women's Session of October General Conference. I suppose there is a possibility that they might just have the three female auxiliary presidents speak at the Women's Session because they haven't spoken together in that meeting since the first one was held in April 2014.

Of the two scenarios, though, I think I will stick with my prediction that Sister Cordon will be the only representative of the Primary to speak at the General Women's Meeting, since it is more than likely that the new Primary General President, Joy D. Jones, will be asked to give her first talk during General Conference during either the Saturday or Sunday Morning Sessions of the October General Conference.

In other news, Francis M. Gibbons, who served for 16 years as secretary to the First Presidency during the tenures of the presidencies of Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball and (for a few months) Ezra Taft Benson, and then served as a general authority seventy for , died in his sleep at the age of 95.

One interesting thing I learned from reading Brother Gibbons' obituary was that after his release as a general authority (he was only released during his lifetime, though the article now describes him as an emeritus General Authority Seventy), he served as patriarch at large to the Church, and in this capacity, he particularly gave patriarchal blessings at Church headquarters to those individuals who lived outside the boundaries of any stakes.

To read an overview of this remarkable man's life, please click here.

In the meantime, Francis M. Gibbons, who served for 16 years as secretary to the First Presidency during the tenures of the presidencies of Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball and (for a few months) Ezra Taft Benson, and then served as a general authority seventy for , died in his sleep at the age of 95.

One interesting thing I learned from reading Brother Gibbons' obituary was that after his release as a general authority (he was only released during his lifetime, though the article now describes him as an emeritus General Authority Seventy), he served as patriarch at large to the Church, and in this capacity, he particularly gave patriarchal blessings at Church headquarters to those individuals who lived outside the boundaries of any stakes.

To read an overview of this remarkable man's life, please click here.

In the meantime, during their recent tour of Europe, the Tabernacle Choir recreated the 1955 photo of a tour the choir took in Europe. It was great to read about that experience. For the full story, click here.

Steven W. Owen, Young Men General President, recently spoke to Boy Scouts and their leaders at a yearly retreat. For an account of what transpired there, please click here.

Elder Patrick Kearon, who serves as president of the Church's Europe Area, issued a statement recently expressing condolences and support to and urged others to pray for all those affected by the French cargo truck tragedy. To read what he said, click here.

The Church recently  updated the Spanish version of the scriptures to fix translation errors and to implement changes made to English scriptures and incorporate them into the Spanish standard works. To read about what was done with that translation, please click here. Thanks to you all for your interest and support.

And finally, Devin G. Durrant, First Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, spoke to BYU graduates and their families this week on the importance of listening to the right voice. For a full account of his remarks, click here.

Thanks to you all for your readership and interest.

List of temples that may be announced soon increases to 30, with alternates suggested

Based on feedback on the excellent LDS Church Growth blog, I have added the following locations to my list: Tooele and Sandy Utah, Cody Wyoming, and Richmond Virginia. This brings to 25 the total of temples that I feel are most likely to be announced in October. The complete list follows. Thanks for your interest and support!
Nicaragua (Managua); Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby); Arkansas (Bentonville); Puerto Rico (San Juan); Kiribati (Tarawa); Sierra Leone (Freetown); Uganda (Kampala); Kenya (Nairobi); Montana (Missoula); Utah (Tooele/Layton/Lehi/Sandy); Hungary (Budapest); Nigeria (Lagos); Bolivia (La Paz); South Dakota (Rapid City); Mexico (Puebla); Chile (Valparaiso); Idaho (Pocatello); New Zealand (Auckland); Philippines (Davao); Scotland (Edinburgh); Virginia (Richmond); Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar) ; Spain (Barcelona); Wyoming (Cody); Brazil (Brasilia); Argentina (Neuquen); Ghana (Kumasi).

Alternative locations: Ivory Coast (2nd and possibly 3rd temples; may be needed due to extreme growth in the area); Kasai or other DR Congo region (Kasai proposed in 2016 by Neil L. Andersen; may be needed due to extreme growth in the area); Vilnius Lithuania (proposed in 1993 by M. Russell Ballard); Maracaibo Venezuela (proposed in 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley); Singapore (proposed in 2000 by Gordon B. Hinckley); 2nd Southwest Salt Lake Valley temple (proposed in 2005 by Gordon B. Hinckley; more than likely because land has already been purchased for it); as dark horse choices, Oslo Norway and Sandy Utah. NOTE that the Nairobi Kenya temple was proposed in 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley and that the Managua Nicaragua temple was proposed by Russell M. Nelson in 2012.

Updated temple progress report

Because so much is happening on the temple news front I am once again posting an updated temple progress report. Enjoy! Feedback is, as always, appreciated.

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 7/20/16)

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; temple president’s residence progressing; 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 mid-2017.

157. Meridian Idaho Temple: Angel Moroni placed on July 20, 2016; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

158. Cedar City Utah Temple: Pouring parking lot curbing; installing temporary glass on window openings; 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. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Site grading and clearing underway; building permit sign posted; completion estimated sometime in either 2018 or 2019.

163. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Site grading and clearing underway; 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.

My meeting with Kelly Services/How Great Shall Be Your Joy

As arranged, I went to ROI Solutions today to meet with the Kelly Services representative. When I got there, I was told I needed to wait. While I was waiting, I happened to notice a jacket on a hanger at the front desk. The jacket looked very familiar to me. Then I realized why: it was my jacket. I had left it behind at work during the fall and never got it back. I was glad to see that it was still intact. I wasted no time in informing the front desk that it was mine and taking it back into my possession. It was a delayed but welcome answer to the prayers we had said about it. I was able to take it out to the car to Amy.

When I got back in, Kayla informed me that Matt (the Kelly Services rep) was tied up with a client in Provo and that she would call me to come back and meet with him as soon as he got there. So, we went home. I kid you not: We had no sooner pulled into the driveway of the trailer when the phone rang. It was Kayla, reporting that Matt was back at ROI and waiting to meet with me. So, we went back.

Matt and I had a lovely and upfront chat. He asked about how I had liked that job (which I did, very much), what kind of new job I was looking for (he asked about sales and thanked me for honestly telling him I wouldn't like or do well with a sales job), what my pay was (he mentioned he would try to find me a better-paying opportunity) and my preferred work shift (I indicated to him that I preferred to work in the evenings so I had my mornings and afternoons free to see the doctor).

He also asked me if I had any restrictions or limitations as far as my health went. I candidly told him that I was struggling with a few things and that this might at times make my attendance at work spotty. I told him in the same breath, though, that I had been told that when I was there, I was one of the most on-task people ever. He thanked me for my candor, said he didn't see my health as a roadblock to finding a good fit for me and that he'd work to quickly do so. He was pleased when I told him I would also be doing some looking on my own and that I had in fact applied for one position already. He promised to e-mail me later today to update my resume and my record with Kelly Services, including my new address. So I am just waiting to hear from him.

In the meantime, I was checking into a few things online, and I came across a Facebook message from an old friend I made in my parent's ward. He spoke of the fact that he had been divorced and for a while had turned bitter against the Church as a result of the way the divorce went down. Then one day, he heard a voice in his head, telling him that I had so much more reason to be bitter against the Lord than he himself did, and I was faithfully living the gospel. The thought came to his mind: "What's your excuse?" While he was sorting all of this out, he's kept an eye out for my Facebook posts about my posts here on this blog. He said it touched him how focused I was on all the good things that are going on with the Church. This led him to embrace fully once again the gospel he had turned his back on for a while. He closed by thanking me for my example.

This was great to hear about. I sometimes wonder if my blog is making a difference for anyone, and, though I've been told by many people that they appreciate my example of living the gospel in the midst of deep trials, I never have felt very profoundly that anything I'm doing is having a positive effect on anyone. It made me feel good to hear from my friend that I at least made a difference in his life.

As I pondered over the message from my friend, the words of a couple of scriptures combined into one thought came powerfully to the forefront of my mind. "And if it so be that ye should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that ye have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!"

I feel like Alma and the sons of Ammon to glory in my God, not because I am anything unique or special, but because others have been positively impacted by my example. I greatly treasure my association with all of my brethren and sisters in the Lord's kingdom. And I feel that I better understand now what it means to have a "fulness of joy."

That each of us may live in such a way as to enable us to be blessings for and make differences in the lives of the people we are surrounded by daily is my humble prayer as I close this blog post in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!