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Sunday, July 31, 2016

Major Temple Progress Report Update

Hello, all! I was just checking out the Church websites I daily check, and I got a HUGE surprise when I went onto the LDS Church Temples website. Those temples slated for completion in either 2018 or 2019 have been reordered to reflect the progress on these new temples and have been downgraded to be completed in 2019. Here's a look at what changed:

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 7/31/16)
Current Temple Status: 150 operating, 16 under construction (scheduled for dedication), 11 announced (groundbreakings anticipated to be announced soon), 4 undergoing renovation (scheduled for rededication).

Dedication scheduled:
151. Sapporo Japan Temple: Open house concluded; preparing for dedication, which is on Sunday August 21, 2016.
152. Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple: By-invitation tours underway; public open house scheduled August 10-September 9; dedication scheduled on Sunday September 18, 2016.
153. Fort Collins Colorado Temple: Accepting reservations for public open house, which is scheduled August 19-September 10; dedication scheduled on Sunday October 16, 2016.
154. Star Valley Wyoming Temple: Open house tickets available beginning Wednesday August 17, 2016 at 10:00 am; 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 wing 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. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Building the substructure; completion estimated sometime in 2019.
162. Concepcion Chile Temple: Exterior walls poured; completion estimated sometime in 2019.
163. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Site grading and clearing underway; completion estimated sometime in 2019.
164. Durban South Africa Temple: Site grading and clearing underway; completion estimated sometime in 2019.
165. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Site grading and clearing underway; building permit sign posted; 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; announcement of groundbreaking pending and not likely to take place until 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.

Thoughts?


Wednesday, July 27, 2016

The Church's statement on the political unrest in Turkey

The Church has issued a formal statement based on what has happened in Turkey and how this will effect Turkish missionary work going forward. To read that statement, click here, Enjoy!

Slight revamp and expansion of list of soon-to-be announced temples

Based on the most excellent feedback I am getting on all these lists, I have made changes, corrections, and additions. Hope you enjoy reading this list as much as I enjoyed making it. Let me know what you think. Before posting the list, I notice that a lot of people were suggesting temples that were already on the list, either as an official choice or an alternative location. Please remember to look in both places to ensure your idea has not already been covered. As always, feedback is most gratefully appreciated and will be most warmly welcomed. Here's the list:

Temple Predictions:
3+ temples announced in any of the following cities and states:
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/Kaysville); 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/Belo Horizonte); 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); alternate dark-horse locations: Orem/Heber/Price Utah; Maputo Mozambique, Oslo Norway; Antananarivo Madagascar . 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.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Planned Parenthood in Utah steals a beloved trademarked symbol of the Church

In a recent line of condoms, the Utah division of Planned Parenthood has received complaints from the LDS Church for the illegal and unauthorized use of the CTR symbol. This action is drawing fire from the Church because the symbol is trademarked. Legal action is no doubt pending. To read more about this, click here. Thanks.

Church's First Swedish General Authority, Per G. Malm, passes away

Sad news tonight from the Church. Elder Per G. Malm, the Church's first Swedish General Authority, passed away from complications of cancer. To read more about this remarkable man's life, as well as details of his passing, please click here. Thanks.