A lot going on this weekend. President Thomas S. Monson will celebrate his 89th birthday on Sunday. In preparation for that celebration, Gerry Avant, Church News editor, wrote an article about her 45-year association with President Monson. To read that article, click here.
Additionally, the Sapporo Japan temple will be dedicated Sunday as well. Since President Uchtdorf will likely officiate at the rededication of the Freiberg Germany Temple on September 4, I am anticipating that President Eyring will preside in Sapporo, accompanied by Elder Gary E. Stevenson, who presided at the groundbreaking when he was president of the Church's Asia Area,
More posts to follow with some important Church news updates.
On this blog, I, James Stokes, share insights and analysis covering the latest news and developments reported about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My specific emphasis and focus is on the ministry of our current apostles, General Conference, and up-to-date temple information. This site is neither officially owned, operated, or endorsed by the Church, and I, as the autthor thereof, am solely responsible for this content.
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Friday, August 19, 2016
President Monson prepares to celebrate 89th birthday/Sapporo Japan temple to be dedicated
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Further temple progress
Here's a look at what's new with temple progress.
Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 8/1816)
Current Temple Status: 150 operating, 16 under
construction (5 scheduled for dedication), 11 announced
(2 groundbreaking announcements anticipated
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: Public open house
tours underway through September 9; dedication scheduled on Sunday September 18, 2016.
153. Fort Collins Colorado Temple: Accepting reservations for public open house, scheduled
to take place between tomorrow and September 10; dedication
scheduled on Sunday October 16, 2016.
154. Star
Valley Wyoming Temple: Accepting reservations for public open house; dedication scheduled on Sunday October 30, 2016.
155. Hartford
Connecticut Temple: Roofing nearing
completion; more scaffolding coming down; landscaping continues; 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: Monument sign
installed; 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. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Foundation
poured; waterproofing applied to basement walls;
completion estimated sometime between 2018 and 2019.
163. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Subgrade work underway;
completion estimated sometime in 2019.
164. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Excavation for
foundation 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; open
house tours underway; rededication scheduled on Sunday
September 4, 2016.
Undergoing Renovation:
8. Idaho
Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication estimated sometime the first quarter of 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 theorder in
which their future groundbreakings are announced.
Red text denotes changes from the last posted temple progress update.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Yet another update to the list of temples that may be announced soon.
After receiving some more feedback, I have come upon my newest edition of cities that may get a temple soon. I have included 40 that are more certain and 10 dark horse candidates. Any feedback would be welcome and appreciated.
1. Managua Nicaragua: Proposed in 2012 by
Elder Russell M. Nelson; land has already been purchased for it and an
announcement is imminent there when membership warrants it. Please also note
that it is the #1 city in terms of church presence that does not have a temple
in some phase.
2. Port Moresby Papua New Guinea: Land has been
purchased for it and an announcement is imminent there when membership warrants
it. Please also note that it is the #2 city in terms of church presence that
doesn’t have a temple in some phase.
3. Bentonville Arkansas: Land has been
purchased for it and an announcement is imminent there when membership warrants
it; please also note it is the strongest contender for a temple in the United
States. I favor this location because a good friend served his mission there.
4. 2nd Southwest Salt Lake Valley Utah:
Proposed in 2005 by Gordon B. Hinckley; more than likely because land has
already been purchased for it.
5. San Juan Puerto Rico: Please note that
this is the #3 world city in terms of church presence that doesn’t have a
temple in some phase.
6. Tarawa Kiribati: Please note that this
is the #5 world city in terms of Church presence that doesn’t have a temple in
some phase.
7. Freetown Sierra Leone: Please note that
this is the #6 world city in terms of Church presence that doesn’t have a
temple in some phase. May be needed due to extensive growth in Africa
8. Kampala Uganda: Please note that this
is the #7 world city in terms of Church presence that doesn’t have a temple in
some phase. May be needed due to extensive growth in Africa.
9. Nairobi Kenya: Publicly proposed by
President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1999; please note that this is the #10 world
city in terms of Church presence that does not have a temple in any phase. May
be needed due to extensive growth in Africa.
10. Phnom Penh Cambodia: Please note that this is the
#9 world city in terms of Church presence that doesn’t have a temple in any
phase; I favor this location because my brother-in-law served a mission there.
11. Missoula Montana: Publicly proposed in 2016 by
Elder David A. Bednar.
12. Lehi Utah: I favor this location because it is my
wife's hometown.
13. Layton Utah
14. Budapest Hungary
15. Pocatello Idaho
16. Auckland New Zealand
17. La Paz Bolivia: I favor this location because
my favorite bishop and good friend served a mission there.
18. Rapid City South Dakota: I favor this location
because my dad served his mission there.
19. Richmond Virginia
20. Lagos Nigeria (may be needed due to extensive
Church growth in Africa)
21. Pago Pago American Samoa: Please note that this is the
#9 city in the world in terms of Church presence that doesn’t have a temple in
some stage.
22. Tacoma Washington
23. El Paso Texas
24. Ulaanbaatar Mongolia: I favor this location
because a good friend served his mission there.
25. Barcelona Spain
26. Puebla Mexico
27. Valparaiso Chile
28. Davao
Philippines
29. Maracaibo
Venezuela: Publicly proposed in 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley.
30. Singapore:
Publicly proposed in 2000 by Gordon B. Hinckley,
31. Edinburgh
Scotland
32. Cody
Wyoming
33. Jacksonville Florida
34. Brasilia/Belo
Horizonte Brazil
35. Ghana
(Kumasi).
36. Neuquen
Argentina
37. Ivory Coast (2nd
and possibly 3rd temples; may be needed due to extreme growth in the
area
38. Kasai DR Congo (temple proposed in 2016 by Neil L.
Andersen, may be needed due to extensive growth in the area.
39. Fairbanks/Juneau Alaska
40. Ipswich Australia
Dark
horse candidates:
1. Kaysville Utah
2. Sandy Utah
3. Orem Utah (I
favor this location because it’s where I’m living now, and when I worked at
then Mount Timpanogos Temple for six
years, a majority of my colleagues were from Orem. The LDS presence is strong
here.
5. Heber Utah
6. Pago Pago American Samoa: Please note
that this is the #9 world city in terms of Church presence that does not have a
temple in any phase.
7. Singapore
(proposed in 2000 by President Gordon B. Hinckley).
8. Maputo Mozambique
9. Oslo
Norway
10. Antananarivo Madagascar
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Temple Progress Update
Here is a temple progress update. I am pleased to see temples progressing throughout the world. As has been my custom, my changes from the last posted report are in red. Enjoy!
Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 8/16/16)
Current Temple Status: 150 operating, 16 under
construction (5 scheduled for dedication), 11 announced
(2 groundbreaking announcements anticipated
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: Public open house
tours underway through September 9; dedication scheduled on Sunday September 18, 2016.
153. Fort Collins Colorado Temple: Accepting reservations for public open house, scheduled
to take place between August 19 and September 10; dedication
scheduled on Sunday October 16, 2016.
154. Star
Valley Wyoming Temple: Open house tickets
available starting tomorrow at 10:00 am; open house scheduled to take place between September 23 and
October 8; dedication scheduled on Sunday
October 30, 2016.
155. Hartford
Connecticut Temple: Roofing nearing
completion; more scaffolding coming down; landscaping continues; 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: Monument sign
installed; 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. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Foundation
poured; waterproofing applied to basement walls;
completion estimated sometime between 2018 and 2019.
163. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Subgrade work underway;
completion estimated sometime in 2019.
164. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Excavation for
foundation 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; open
house tours underway; rededication scheduled on Sunday
September 4, 2016.
Undergoing Renovation:
8. Idaho
Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; 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 theorder in
which their future groundbreakings are announced.
Red text denotes changes from the last posted temple progress update.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Slightly altered list of temples that may be announced soon
I have once again taken another look at my temple list and have made some changes. The altered list appears below. Enjoy!
1.
Managua Nicaragua:
Proposed in 2012 by Elder Russell M. Nelson; land has already been purchased
for it and an announcement is imminent there when membership warrants it.
Please also note that it is the #1 city in terms of church presence that does
not have a temple in some phase.
2.
Port Moresby Papua New
Guinea: Land has been purchased for it and an announcement is imminent there
when membership warrants it. Please also note that it is the #2 city in terms
of church presence that doesn’t have a temple in some phase.
3.
Bentonville Arkansas:
Land has been purchased for it and an announcement is imminent there when
membership warrants it; please also note it is the strongest contender for a
temple in the United States. I favor this location because a good friend served
his mission there.
4.
2nd Southwest Salt
Lake Valley Utah: Proposed in 2005 by Gordon B. Hinckley; more than likely
because land has already been purchased for it.
5.
San Juan Puerto Rico:
Please note that this is the #3 world city in terms of church presence that
doesn’t have a temple in some phase.
6.
Tarawa Kiribati:
Please note that this is the #5 world city in terms of Church presence that
doesn’t have a temple in some phase.
7.
Freetown Sierra Leone:
Please note that this is the #6 world city in terms of Church presence that
doesn’t have a temple in some phase. May be needed due to extensive growth in
Africa
8.
Kampala Uganda: Please
note that this is the #7 world city in terms of Church presence that doesn’t
have a temple in some phase. May be needed due to extensive growth in Africa.
9.
Nairobi Kenya:
Publicly proposed by President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1999; please note that
this is the #10 world city in terms of Church presence that does not have a temple
in any phase. May be needed due to extensive growth in Africa.
10.
Phnom Penh Cambodia:
Please note that this is the #9 world city in terms of Church presence that
doesn’t have a temple in any phase; I favor this location because my
brother-in-law served a mission there.
11.
Missoula Montana:
Publicly proposed in 2016 by Elder David A. Bednar.
12.
Lehi Utah: I favor
this location because it is my wife's hometown.
13.
Layton Utah
14.
Budapest Hungary
15.
Pocatello Idaho
16.
Auckland New
Zealand
17.
La Paz Bolivia: I
favor this location because my favorite bishop and good friend served a mission
there.
18.
Rapid City South
Dakota: I favor this location because my dad served his mission there.
19.
Richmond Virginia
20.
Lagos Nigeria (may be
needed due to extensive Church growth in Africa)
21.
Tacoma Washington
22.
El Paso Texas
23.
Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia: I favor this location because a good friend served his mission there.
24.
Barcelona Spain
25.
Puebla Mexico
26.
Valparaiso Chile
27.
Davao
Philippines
28.
Maracaibo
Venezuela: Publicly proposed in 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley.
29.
Singapore: Publicly
proposed in 2000 by Gordon B. Hinckley/
30.
Edinburgh Scotland
31.
Cody Wyoming
32.
Jacksonville/Miami
Florida
33.
Brasilia/Belo
Horizonte Brazil
34.
Ghana (Kumasi).
35.
Neuquen
Argentina
Alternative
locations:
1.
Ivory Coast (2nd and
possibly 3rd temples; may be needed due to extreme growth in the area)
2.
Kasai or other DR
Congo region (Kasai proposed in 2016 by Neil L. Andersen; may be needed due to
extreme growth in the area);
Dark
horse candidates:
1.
Vilnius Lithuania
(proposed in 1993 by M. Russell Ballard)
2.
Ipswich Australia
3.
Farbanks/Juneau Alaska
4.
Kaysville Utah
5.
Sandy Utah
6.
Orem Utah (I favor
this location because it's where I'm living now, and when I worked at the Mount
Timpanogos Temple for six years, a majority of my colleagues were from Orem, so
the LDS presence is strong here.)
7.
Heber Utah
8.
Pago Pago American
Samoa: Please note that this is the #9 world city in terms of Church presence
that does not have a temple in any phase.
9.
Maputo Mozambique
10.
Oslo Norway
11.
Antananarivo
Madagascar
12.
Jakarta Indonesia (I
favor this location because a good friend served his mission there)
13.
Nunavut Canada
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Friday, August 12, 2016
Apostolic news
Major apostolic news has come in the last few days; I just haven't had a chance to post about it before now.
Elder Quentin L. Cook is in Philadelphia to help conduct tours of the temple there, which will be dedicated on President Monson's birthday, August 21. Click here to read the Church News article about that.
Elder Dallin H. and Sister Kristen M. Oaks addressed the 2016 Mid-Singles' Conference in Salt Lake. Their message was simple, "You are loved." Click here to read more about what they said.
Elder M. Russell Ballard, representing the LDS Church as a descendant of Hyrum Smith, and Elder Lachlan A. Smith of the Community of Christ, a descendant of Joseph Smith, spoke at the Smith family reunion of those things that unite the two religious groups. Click here to read what they said.
As you can see, the apostles are as busy as ever. I will keep an eye out for more apostolic news and post it when I can. Thanks for your interest and support.
Elder Quentin L. Cook is in Philadelphia to help conduct tours of the temple there, which will be dedicated on President Monson's birthday, August 21. Click here to read the Church News article about that.
Elder Dallin H. and Sister Kristen M. Oaks addressed the 2016 Mid-Singles' Conference in Salt Lake. Their message was simple, "You are loved." Click here to read more about what they said.
Elder M. Russell Ballard, representing the LDS Church as a descendant of Hyrum Smith, and Elder Lachlan A. Smith of the Community of Christ, a descendant of Joseph Smith, spoke at the Smith family reunion of those things that unite the two religious groups. Click here to read what they said.
As you can see, the apostles are as busy as ever. I will keep an eye out for more apostolic news and post it when I can. Thanks for your interest and support.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Major revamp and priority changes to list of temples that may be announced soon
I haven't been satisfied with my list of temples that may be announced soon. So I took a long look at my list and reordered some things. I now have the list split into three categories: Temples that may be announced soon (35); alternate locations (2); and dark horse candidates (13), for a grand total of 50. Let me know what you think of this new list. Here it is:
Temple Predictions:
3+ temples announced in any of the following cities and
states:
1.
Managua Nicaragua: Proposed
in 2012 by Elder Russell M. Nelson; land has already been purchased for it and
an announcement is imminent there when membership warrants it. Please also note
that it is the #1 city in terms of church presence that does not have a temple
in some phase.
2.
Port Moresby Papua New
Guinea: Land has been purchased for it and an announcement is imminent there
when membership warrants it. Please also note that it is the #2 city in terms
of church presence that doesn’t have a temple in some phase.
3.
Bentonville Arkansas:
Land has been purchased for it and an announcement is imminent there when
membership warrants it; please also note it is the strongest contender for a
temple in the United States. I favor this location because a good friend served
his mission there.
4.
2nd Southwest Salt
Lake Valley Utah: Proposed in 2005 by Gordon B. Hinckley; more than likely
because land has already been purchased for it.
5.
San Juan Puerto Rico: Please
note that this is the #3 world city in terms of church presence that doesn’t
have a temple in some phase.
6.
Tarawa Kiribati: Please
note that this is the #5 world city in terms of Church presence that doesn’t
have a temple in some phase.
7.
Freetown Sierra Leone:
Please note that this is the #6 world city in terms of Church presence that
doesn’t have a temple in some phase. May be needed due to extensive growth in
Africa
8.
Kampala Uganda: Please
note that this is the #7 world city in terms of Church presence that doesn’t
have a temple in some phase. May be needed due to extensive growth in Africa.
9.
Nairobi Kenya: Publicly
proposed by President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1999; please note that this is the
#10 world city in terms of Church presence that does not have a temple in any
phase. May be needed due to extensive growth in Africa.
10.
Phnom Penh Cambodia:
Please note that this is the #9 world city in terms of Church presence that
doesn’t have a temple in any phase; I favor this location because my
brother-in-law served a mission there.
11.
Missoula Montana:
Publicly proposed in 2016 by Elder David A. Bednar.
12.
Lehi Utah: I favor this location because it is my wife's hometown.
13.
Layton Utah
14.
Budapest Hungary
15.
Pocatello Idaho
16.
Auckland New Zealand
17.
La Paz Bolivia: I
favor this location because my favorite bishop and good friend served a mission
there.
18.
Rapid City South
Dakota: I favor this location because my dad served his mission there.
19.
Richmond Virginia
20. Lagos Nigeria (may be needed due to extensive Church growth in Africa)
20. Lagos Nigeria (may be needed due to extensive Church growth in Africa)
21.
Tacoma Washington
22.
El Paso Texas
23.
Ulaanbaatar Mongolia:
I favor this location because a good friend served his mission there.
24.
Barcelona Spain
25. Puebla Mexico
26.
Valparaiso Chile
27.
Davao Philippines
28.
Maracaibo Venezuela:
Publicly proposed in 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley.
29.
Singapore: Publicly proposed
in 2000 by Gordon B. Hinckley/
30.
Edinburgh Scotland
31.
Cody Wyoming
32.
Jacksonville/Miami
Florida
33.
Brasilia/Belo
Horizonte Brazil
34.
Ghana (Kumasi).
35.
Neuquen Argentina
Alternative
locations:
1.
Ivory Coast (2nd and
possibly 3rd temples; may be needed due to extreme growth in the area)
2.
Kasai or other DR
Congo region (Kasai proposed in 2016 by Neil L. Andersen; may be needed due to
extreme growth in the area);
Dark
horse candidates:
1.
Vilnius Lithuania
(proposed in 1993 by M. Russell Ballard)
2.
Ipswich Australia
3.
Farbanks/Juneau Alaska
4.
Kaysville Utah
5.
Sandy Utah
6.
Orem Utah (I favor this location because it's where I'm living now, and when I worked at the Mount Timpanogos Temple for six years, a majority of my colleagues were from Orem, so the LDS presence is strong here.)
7.
Heber Utah
8.
Pago Pago American
Samoa: Please note that this is the #9 world city in terms of Church presence
that does not have a temple in any phase.
9.
Maputo Mozambique
10.
Oslo Norway
11.
Antananarivo
Madagascar
12.
Neuquen Argentina
13. Jakarta Indonesia (I favor this location because a good friend served his mission there.)
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Freiberg Germany Temple Open House
The Freiberg Germany temple is opening for open house tours. Unlike most other temples, no tickets are needed to tour the temple. Scheduled to be rededicated on Sunday September 4, I am anticipating that President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a native German, will be officiating at this temple dedication. Thanks to you all for your interest and support.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Preliminary Conference Predictions Part 2--Changes in General Church Leadership
I am predicting the following changes in Church leadership for the reasons indicated. I would welcome any and all feedback.
Changes in General Church Leadership
General Authority Seventies: Elders Daniel L. Johnson
and Francisco J. Vinas released from the First Quorum of the Seventy and
Elder Kent F. Richards released from the Second Quorum of the Seventy and
granted emeritus status.
NOTE: Since the First and Second Quorum members are
referred to as General Authority Seventies, any releases and emeritus
statuses will be mentioned in a group.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: Only Elder Richards is 70 currently, but
the Church has been known to release and grant emeritus status to brethren
that turn 70 within a given year. In this case, that means that those born in
1946, who will be 70 by the end of the year, are most likely to be granted
emeritus status. There may be more releases, as last October, one general
authority seventy was granted emeritus status for a reason not specified, and
that particular GA Seventy was under 70 and had been in the Second Quorum for
six years. The following additional brethren who have served in the Second
Quorum for seven years may therefore also be granted emeritus status: Bradley
D. Foster and Gregory A. Schwitzer. If I had to fine-tune this prediction, I
would say that only Elders Johnson, Richards and Vinas will be granted
emeritus status.
RESULT:
|
Area Seventies: Releases and sustainings.
NOTE: It has generally been a rule that most changes in
Area Seventies happen during April General Conference, when President Dieter
F. Uchtdorf leads out in the sustaining of Church officers. It also has
generally been a rule that only a few changes in Area Seventies happen during
October General Conference, when President Henry B. Eyring leads out in the
sustaining.
RESULT:
|
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Preliminary Conference Predictions Part 1--Speaking Order
Hello. I am doing something a little different with my conference predictions this go round. I am posting them in advance and would welcome feedback on them. Based on what is discussed here, I may alter and tweak some things. Though my temple predictions will be part of these predictions, I am not posting them here, as another post is already discussing my temple predictions. I will break up the predictions into a couple of different categories. This post will discuss speaker order. I'll post the predictions, then comment on them.
A couple of comments on the predictions, session by session.
1. General Women's Meeting: Seeing as how there's been a change in the Primary General Presidency, there is a chance the First Presidency will ask all the female auxiliary presidents to speak in this one because the Primary General President, Joy D. Jones, has not had a chance to speak in a general women's meeting. I can see the appeal of doing it that way. It would be highly irregular for a counselor in a new auxiliary presidency to speak before the new president. But I think the current order is more likely because it's been a few conferences since the 2nd Counselor in the Primary General Presidency spoke in a General Women's Session. So of the two, I favor the current one. And, barring a miracle allowing President Monson to speak in this session, President Uchtdorf is the most likely First Presidency member to speak.
2. Saturday Morning Session: I do not anticipate that President Monson will open the conference, as he has not done so since 2014. Instead, I anticipate that President Uchtdorf, whose turn it is to speak in the Saturday Morning Session, will speak to us first. Elder Hales will be the first apostolic speaker because of his health. I've been pretty good at selecting the Presidency of the Seventy speakers lately, and I think that since Elder Christensen spoke in the Priesthood Session last time, he will speak in the Saturday Morning Session this time. I am predicting that Joy D. Jones, new Primary General President, will give her inaugural address in the Saturday Morning Session. Both Yoon Hwan Choi and Juan A. Uceda have not had their second opportunity to speak since becoming general authorities, and both of them spoke later in the conference for their first addresses, so it would make sense to have them speak before the new GA Seventies called in April get their chance. I am predicting the session will end with an address by President Russell M. Nelson because he has not had a chance to speak in the Saturday Morning Session since 2012. You may ask why I have him speaking last. With Elder Hales's ill health, it would make sense if Elder Hales spoke first.
3. Saturday Afternoon Session: Since President Uchtdorf presented the sustaining of Church officers last time, I am predicting President Eyring will do it this time. I will go into what I think will happen during that sustaining in a later blog post. I have put Elder Stevenson and Elder Renlund as being the first to speak because they haven't had a chance to speak in that session since their calls to the apostleship. Then I predict the first three new seventies will speak. That gets tricky because last time new seventies were called, they didn't speak in alphabetical order. So there could be a curveball there. I am then predicting that Elder Cook and Elder Christofferson will speak, and in that order, because they both (and Elder Renlund) spoke in April 2015. When that happened, Elder Christofferson spoke first, which is why I have reversed the order there..
4. Saturday Priesthood: With others speaking in other sessions, the most likely Priesthood Session apostolic speaker is Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. Since Bishop Causse has not spoken since his call as the Presiding Bishop, I am predicting he will follow Elder Holland. There will be no third speaker after these two, as they seem to have lowered the number of speakers in the Priesthood Session from six to five. Then we will have the First Presidency speak, as they always do. However, as seems to be the trend lately, I doubt President Monson will speak very long and am predicting the meeting will end 15-30 minutes earlier than its standard 2 hours.
5. Sunday Morning Session: I am predicting that President Monson will open the session with a short talk of just a few minutes. Of the apostles left, the two most likely apostolic speakers are Elders Dallin H. Oaks and David A. Bednar. As Elder Bednar was the second apostolic speaker last time he spoke in the Sunday Morning Session, I am predicting he will be the first this time. And since Elder Oaks was the first apostolic speaker last time he spoke in the Sunday Morning Session, I am predicting he will speak last. It is President Eyring's turn to speak in the Sunday Morning Session. Since Elder Robbins spoke in the Saturday Morning Session last time he spoke, I am predicting the Sunday Morning Session for him this time.
6. Sunday Afternoon Session: Elder Rasband hasn't spoken in the Sunday Afternoon Session since his call to the apostleship, so I am predicting he will be the first apostle to speak in that session this time. Elder Ballard spoke first last time he spoke in the Sunday Afternoon Session 2 years ago, so I am predicting he will be second. Then, since Elder Andersen is the only apostle left and since he spoke second last time he spoke in the Sunday Afternoon Session, and since he is the one of the three who has spoken most recently, I am predicting that he will be the last speaker. I am predicting that Brian K. Ashton will represent the Sunday School Presidency, as the Young Men and Sunday School Presidencies are taking it in turn to speak every other conference and as he is the only member of the Sunday School General Presidency that has not spoken yet. The remaining slots will be filled by newly called seventies, in alphabetical order.
Thoughts?
Session
|
Conducting
|
Speaker
|
General Women’s
|
Linda K. Burton
|
Bonnie H. Cordon
|
Carole M. Stephens
|
||
Bonnie L. Oscarson
|
||
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
|
||
Saturday Morning
|
President Henry B. Eyring
|
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
|
Elder Robert D. Hales
|
||
Elder Craig C. Christensen
|
||
Joy D. Jones
|
||
Elder Yoon Hwan Choi
|
||
Elder Juan A. Uceda
|
||
President Russell M. Nelson
|
||
Saturday Afternoon
|
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
|
President Henry B. Eyring (Sustaining of Church
Officers)
|
Elder Gary E. Stevenson
|
||
Elder Dale G. Renlund
|
||
Elder W. Mark Bassett
|
||
Elder Mark A. Bragg
|
||
Elder Weatherford T. Clayton
|
||
Elder Quentin L. Cook
|
||
Elder D. Todd Christofferson
|
||
Saturday Priesthood
|
President Henry B. Eyring
|
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
|
Bishop Gerald Causse
|
||
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
|
||
President Henry B. Eyring
|
||
President Thomas S. Monson
|
||
Sunday Morning
|
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
|
President Thomas S. Monson
|
Elder David A. Bednar
|
||
Elder Lynn G. Robbins
|
||
Linda S. Reeves
|
||
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
|
||
President Henry B. Eyring
|
||
Sunday Afternoon
|
President Henry B. Eyring
|
Elder Ronald A. Rasband
|
Elder M. Russell Ballard
|
||
Brian K. Ashton
|
||
Elder Valeri V. Cordon
|
||
Elder Joaquin E. Costa
|
||
Elder Massimo De Feo
|
||
Elder Neil L. Andersen
|
A couple of comments on the predictions, session by session.
1. General Women's Meeting: Seeing as how there's been a change in the Primary General Presidency, there is a chance the First Presidency will ask all the female auxiliary presidents to speak in this one because the Primary General President, Joy D. Jones, has not had a chance to speak in a general women's meeting. I can see the appeal of doing it that way. It would be highly irregular for a counselor in a new auxiliary presidency to speak before the new president. But I think the current order is more likely because it's been a few conferences since the 2nd Counselor in the Primary General Presidency spoke in a General Women's Session. So of the two, I favor the current one. And, barring a miracle allowing President Monson to speak in this session, President Uchtdorf is the most likely First Presidency member to speak.
2. Saturday Morning Session: I do not anticipate that President Monson will open the conference, as he has not done so since 2014. Instead, I anticipate that President Uchtdorf, whose turn it is to speak in the Saturday Morning Session, will speak to us first. Elder Hales will be the first apostolic speaker because of his health. I've been pretty good at selecting the Presidency of the Seventy speakers lately, and I think that since Elder Christensen spoke in the Priesthood Session last time, he will speak in the Saturday Morning Session this time. I am predicting that Joy D. Jones, new Primary General President, will give her inaugural address in the Saturday Morning Session. Both Yoon Hwan Choi and Juan A. Uceda have not had their second opportunity to speak since becoming general authorities, and both of them spoke later in the conference for their first addresses, so it would make sense to have them speak before the new GA Seventies called in April get their chance. I am predicting the session will end with an address by President Russell M. Nelson because he has not had a chance to speak in the Saturday Morning Session since 2012. You may ask why I have him speaking last. With Elder Hales's ill health, it would make sense if Elder Hales spoke first.
3. Saturday Afternoon Session: Since President Uchtdorf presented the sustaining of Church officers last time, I am predicting President Eyring will do it this time. I will go into what I think will happen during that sustaining in a later blog post. I have put Elder Stevenson and Elder Renlund as being the first to speak because they haven't had a chance to speak in that session since their calls to the apostleship. Then I predict the first three new seventies will speak. That gets tricky because last time new seventies were called, they didn't speak in alphabetical order. So there could be a curveball there. I am then predicting that Elder Cook and Elder Christofferson will speak, and in that order, because they both (and Elder Renlund) spoke in April 2015. When that happened, Elder Christofferson spoke first, which is why I have reversed the order there..
4. Saturday Priesthood: With others speaking in other sessions, the most likely Priesthood Session apostolic speaker is Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. Since Bishop Causse has not spoken since his call as the Presiding Bishop, I am predicting he will follow Elder Holland. There will be no third speaker after these two, as they seem to have lowered the number of speakers in the Priesthood Session from six to five. Then we will have the First Presidency speak, as they always do. However, as seems to be the trend lately, I doubt President Monson will speak very long and am predicting the meeting will end 15-30 minutes earlier than its standard 2 hours.
5. Sunday Morning Session: I am predicting that President Monson will open the session with a short talk of just a few minutes. Of the apostles left, the two most likely apostolic speakers are Elders Dallin H. Oaks and David A. Bednar. As Elder Bednar was the second apostolic speaker last time he spoke in the Sunday Morning Session, I am predicting he will be the first this time. And since Elder Oaks was the first apostolic speaker last time he spoke in the Sunday Morning Session, I am predicting he will speak last. It is President Eyring's turn to speak in the Sunday Morning Session. Since Elder Robbins spoke in the Saturday Morning Session last time he spoke, I am predicting the Sunday Morning Session for him this time.
6. Sunday Afternoon Session: Elder Rasband hasn't spoken in the Sunday Afternoon Session since his call to the apostleship, so I am predicting he will be the first apostle to speak in that session this time. Elder Ballard spoke first last time he spoke in the Sunday Afternoon Session 2 years ago, so I am predicting he will be second. Then, since Elder Andersen is the only apostle left and since he spoke second last time he spoke in the Sunday Afternoon Session, and since he is the one of the three who has spoken most recently, I am predicting that he will be the last speaker. I am predicting that Brian K. Ashton will represent the Sunday School Presidency, as the Young Men and Sunday School Presidencies are taking it in turn to speak every other conference and as he is the only member of the Sunday School General Presidency that has not spoken yet. The remaining slots will be filled by newly called seventies, in alphabetical order.
Thoughts?
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
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