New Area Leadership Assignments go into effect

Effective yesterday, the following Area Presidency changes have gone into effect:

General Authority Seventies:

Marcus A. Aidukaitis, the former Second Counselor in the Brazil Area, is now the new First Counselor.

Ian S. Ardern has now been released as President of the Philippines Area.

W. Mark Bassett is now the new Second Counselor in the Brazil Area.

Mark A. Bragg is now the new Second Counselor in the South America South Area.

Shayne M. Bowen, the former First Counselor in the Philippines Area, is now the new President.

Craig A. Cardon is now the new Second Counselor in the Pacific Area.

Carl B. Cook is now released as President of the Africa Southeast Area.

Lawrence E. Corbridge is now the new First Counselor in the South America Northwest Area.

J. Devn Cornish has now been released as President of the Caribbean Area.

LeGrand R. Curtis Jr. has now been released as President of the Africa West Area.

Benjamin De Hoyos has now been released as President of the Mexico Area.

Timothy J. Dyches has now been released as Second Counselor in the Europe Area.

Larry J. Echo Hawk has now been released as Second Counselor in the Philippines Area.

David F. Evans is now the new Second Counselor in the Asia Area.

Carlos A. Godoy, the former First Counselor in the South America Northwest Area, is now the new President.

Walter F. Gonzalez, the former President of the South America South Area, is now the new President of the Caribbean Area.

O. Vincent Haleck, the former First Counselor in the Pacific Area, is now the new President.

Kevin S. Hamilton, the former Second Counselor in the Africa Southeast Area, is now the new President.

Allen D. Haynie, the former Second Counselor in the Philippines Area, is now the new First Counselor.

Jörg Klebingat has now been released as First Counselor in the Europe East Area.

James B. Martino is now the new First Counselor in the Europe East Area.

Jairo Mazzagardi has now been released as First Counselor in the Brazil Area.

Marcus B. Nash is now the new First Counselor in the Africa West Area.

S. Gifford Nielsen, the former Second Counselor in the Pacific Area, is now the new First Counselor.

Allan F. Packer is now the new First Counselor in the South America South Area.

S. Mark Palmer is now the new Second Counselor in the Africa Southeast Area,

Paul B. Pieper, the former First Counselor in the Mexico Area, is now the new President.

Rafael E. Pino is now the new Second Counselor in the Mexico Area.

Gary B. Sabin is now the new Second Counselor in the Europe Area.

Evan A. Schmutz is now the new Second Counselor in the Philippines Area.

Jose A. Teixeira, the former Second Counselor in the South America South Area, is now the new President.

Juan A. Uceda has now been released as President of the South America Northwest Area.

Arnulfo Valenzuela, the former Second Counselor in the Mexico Area, is now the new First Counselor.

Francisco J. Vinas has now been released as First Counselor in the South America South Area.

Terrence M. Vinson, the former First Counselor in the Africa West Area, is now the new President.

Area Seventies:

Siu Hong Pon has now been released as Second Counselor in the Asia Area.

Thanks so much for your interest and support.

Church Makes Donation to Assist Refugees/President Uchtdorf talks about his own refugee experience

Last night on KSL's 10 pm newscast, they featured a story about the LDS Church making a $3 million donation to help refugees. President Uchtdorf was the one who made the donation presentation to the World Food Programme, which ensures that refugees are well fed. President Uchtdorf also spoke of his own experience  as a refugee and how he was able to rise about that experience to become one who is sensitive to the needs of the refugees of today. President Uchtdorf also visited the Paris France and Rome Italy temple sites as part of his tour. Click here to read about and watch the interview. Thanks.

Temple Progress

Hello. Posting with another temple progress update. I won't post the full list this time; there are just one or two things I wanted to mention as happening. Site grading continues on the Durban South Africa temple, where the operators of heavy equipment have carved out a level platform for the foundation.

In the meantime, a monument sign has been placed at the Meridian Idaho temple. This is a significant milestone in temple construction.

Still no word on the completion and dedication/rededication dates for the Paris France and Idaho Falls Idaho temples.

There has also as yet not been an announcement of the official groundbreaking day for the Arequipa Peru temple, but that announcement is just a matter of time, I'm sure.

I will keep my eyes peeled for temple-related developments, and you can be sure and find that information here. Thanks for your readership and friendship.

Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple Open House Photos

The open house for the Philadelphia Pennsylvania temple will start this week, running from Wednesday August 10-Friday September 9 (though no tours will run on the Sundays of August 14, 21 and 28 or September 4). In preparation for that open house, the Church has released a roll of images from the exterior and interior of the temple. Click here to view those images. The temple will be formally dedicated on Sunday September 18, following a cultural celebration the night before. How exciting to see these images! Enjoy!

Further temple progress reported today

I was once again comparing my list of temple progress against what was reported on the LDS Church Temples site, and I realized that I had unintentionally downgraded Concepcion Chile to being completed in 2019, when in fact it is one of two scheduled for completion in 2018. I also found out today that work has begun in earnest on the Fortaleza Brazil temple, with stakes being placed in preparation for excavation. So I reordered that temple as well. The list below reflects the latest changes. Thanks for your readership and friendship, and let me know what you think.

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 8/1/16)

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

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

163. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Placing stakes in preparation for excavation; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

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

165. Durban South Africa Temple: Site grading and clearing underway; 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.