Massive Church News update

I am behind. There have been several important Church News items. This post shares some of the highlights.

Tonga celebrated the centennial anniversary of its first mission recently. For an article detailing that celebration, please click here.

The Church News recently featured the story of a Brazilian youth who gained national fame by wearing her Young Women medallion on a national vocal competition. Click here to read that inspiring story.

At the annual FAIR Mormon conference, several important presentations were done. Scholars presented their findings on Book of Mormon research; Council of Fifty minutes were discussed; a professor focused on why he can't disbelieve the Book of Mormon; and a scholar discussed the conflict of gospel and secular understanding of the concepts of charity and love.

Elder Craig C. Christensen of the Presidency of the Seventy spoke to BYU graduates on the subject of putting their trust in God.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke during BYU's Campus Education Week of how we are bound by loving ties.

The Church News wrote an article about how the fires in California and the flooding in Louisiana are prompting a church response.

Another article spoke of how buses are bringing people to Music & the Spoken Word.

Yet another article spoke of how LDS women have won gold medals in Rio.

And in still another article from the Church News was one way for Elder Douglas L. Callister, an emeritus seventy, to pay tribute to his father.

In the meantime, on the Church's website, the First Presidency announced the dates for many significant Church-wide events in 2017. Worldwide devotionals will be held for Young Adults on January 8, May 7, and September 10. General Conferences are scheduled for March 25, April 1-2, September 23 and 30, and October 1. Face-to-Face events will be held for Youth in February, March and October, with the First Presidency Christmas Devotional scheduled for December 3, In February, the RootsTech Family Discovery Day will be held, as will the annual Evening with a General Authority for Seminary and Institute Personnel. Finally, the Pioneer Day Concert will be held on June 15.

That, in its entirety, is the latest in Church News and Events. Thanks for your interest and support.

President Monson prepares to celebrate 89th birthday/Sapporo Japan temple to be dedicated

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.

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.

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 (2^nd and possibly 3^rd 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

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.

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

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.

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)

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.)

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.

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: