Temple Construction Progress--Major milestones reached

There have been some major milestones in temple construction of late. To share just what has happened in the last few days, I will be posting my progress report. Enjoy!

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 9/9/16)

Current Temple Status: 151 operating; 4 scheduled for dedication; 3 undergoing renovation; 11 under construction; 11 announced (As many as 3 groundbreaking announcements may be made soon).

Dedication scheduled:

152. Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple: Open house ends today; preparing for dedication, scheduled on Sunday September 18, 2016.

153. Fort Collins Colorado Temple: Open house ends tomorrow; preparing for dedication, scheduled on Sunday October 16, 2016.

154. Star Valley Wyoming Temple: Accepting reservations for public open house, scheduled September 23-October 8; dedication scheduled on Sunday October 30, 2016.

155. Hartford Connecticut Temple: Accepting reservations for public open house scheduled September 30-October 22; dedication scheduled on Sunday November 20, 2016.

Undergoing Renovation:

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; finish work underway; resurfacing and restriping parking lot; rededication estimated sometime during the first quarter of 2017.

20. Jordan River Utah Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication estimated sometime in late 2017.

41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication estimated sometime in 2018.

Under Construction:

156. Paris France Temple: Stained glass installation underway; entrance landscaping progressing; completion estimated sometime in early-to-mid 2017.

157. Meridian Idaho Temple: Concrete slab in place for monument sign; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

158. Cedar City Utah Temple: Laying zinc shingles on cupola; paving parking lot; light posts installed; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

159. Tucson Arizona Temple: Retaining walls in place; pouring concrete parking lot; 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: Pouring walls for base of tower; preparing to attach exterior panels; completion estimated sometime in late 2018.

162. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Foundation poured and backfilled; completion estimated sometime between late 2018 and early 2019.

163. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Foundation walls going up; Elder Renlund visits temple site in August; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

164.  Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Forms and rebar set in anticipation of pouring foundation walls; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

165. Durban South Africa Temple: Sinking piles for foundation and terracing soil; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

166. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Ground broken on Saturday December 5, 2015; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

Announced:

167. Arequipa Peru Temple: No groundbreaking date set, however, construction is pending, and, according to the contractor for the project, that construction may begin later this year.

168. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: No groundbreaking set. However, construction anticipated to begin late this year or early next year.

169. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Approval and permitting phase; community open house held August 25, 2016; groundbreaking anticipated for early 2017.

170. Urdaneta Philippines 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 numbers 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 numbers may change based on the order in which future dedications and groundbreakings are scheduled.

Underlined numbers and text denote temples whose numbers may change based on progress towards planning, approval, and groundbreaking.

Red text denotes changes from the last posted temple progress update.

Updated list of temple progress and upcoming events

Here is an updated list of temple progress and a list of upcoming temple-related events, followed by an updated temple progress report. Enjoy, and let me know what you think.

Upcoming Temple Events:

1.      Sunday September 18—Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple Dedication (152 operating, 14 under construction, 11 announced, 3 undergoing renovation)

NOTE: If President Uchtdorf presides at the previous rededication, and since President Eyring was the one who broke ground for this temple, it would make sense if he (President Eyring) presides at this dedication.

2.      Sunday October 16—Fort Collins Colorado Temple Dedication (153 operating, 13 under construction, 11 announced, 3 undergoing renovation)

NOTE: If President Eyring presides at the previous dedication, it would make sense if President Uchtdorf is asked to preside at this dedication. It is also not unreasonable to believe that Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will accompany whoever the presiding authority is, as Elder Rasband originally presided over the groundbreaking for this temple.

3.      Sunday October 30—Star Valley Wyoming Temple Dedication (154 operating, 12 under construction, 11 announced, 3 undergoing renovation)

NOTE: If President Uchtdorf presides at the previous dedication, it would make sense if President Eyring is asked to preside at this dedication. It would also not surprise me if Elder Craig C. Christensen of the Presidency of the Seventy was one of the participants in the dedication. When this temple was originally announced, President Monson joked that he thought he’d dedicate that one because there’s good fishing up there, but as he hasn’t presided over a temple dedication since 2014 and as he may not be in the best of health, it is more likely that President Eyring will preside.

4.      Sunday November 20—Hartford Connecticut Temple Dedication (155 operating, 11 under construction, 11 announced, 3 undergoing renovation)

NOTE: If President Eyring presides at the previous temple dedication, the odds are very good that President Uchtdorf will preside at this temple dedication. President Monson was the one who presided at the groundbreaking, but as he is reportedly not in very good health, President Uchtdorf will likely be asked to preside.

NOTE: More temple dedications, rededications, and groundbreakings are anticipated to be announced and may take place before the end of the year. We will have to see what happens there and add such events when the time is ripe.

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 9/7/16)

Current Temple Status: 151 operating; 4 scheduled for dedication; 3 undergoing renovation; 11 under construction; 11 announced (As many as 3 groundbreaking announcements may be made soon).

Dedication scheduled:

152. Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple: Public open house tours underway through September 9; dedication scheduled on Sunday September 18, 2016.

153. Fort Collins Colorado Temple: Public open house tours underway through September 10; dedication scheduled on Sunday October 16, 2016.

154. Star Valley Wyoming Temple: Accepting reservations for public open house, scheduled September 23-October 8; dedication scheduled on Sunday October 30, 2016.

155. Hartford Connecticut Temple: Accepting free reservations for public open house scheduled September 30-October 22; dedication scheduled on Sunday November 20, 2016.

Undergoing Renovation:

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; finish work underway; resurfacing and restriping parking lot; rededication estimated sometime during the first quarter of 2017.

20. Jordan River Utah Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication estimated sometime in late 2017.

41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication estimated sometime in 2018.

Under Construction:

156. Paris France Temple: Landscaping has progressed to building front; sidewalks being poured; flowers filling planter boxes; lamppost being installed at entrance; art glass installed around entry door; completion estimated sometime in early-to-mid 2017.

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

158. Cedar City Utah Temple: Laying zinc shingles on cupola; paving parking lot; light poles installed; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

159. Tucson Arizona Temple: Retaining walls in place; pouring parking lot curbing; 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: Pouring walls for base of tower; preparing to attach exterior panels; completion estimated sometime in late 2018.

162. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Foundation poured; waterproofing applied to basement walls; completion estimated sometime between late 2018 and early 2019.

163. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Foundation walls going up; Elder Renlund visits temple site in August; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

164.  Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Forms and rebar set in anticipation of pouring foundation walls; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

165. Durban South Africa Temple: Sinking piles for foundation and terracing soil; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

166. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Ground broken on Saturday December 5, 2015; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

Announced:

167. Arequipa Peru Temple: No groundbreaking date set, however, construction is pending, and, according to the contractor for the project, that construction may begin later this year.

168. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: No groundbreaking set. However, construction anticipated to begin late this year or early next year.

169. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Approval and permitting phase; community open house held August 25, 2016; groundbreaking anticipated for early 2017.

170. Urdaneta Philippines 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 numbers 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 numbers may change based on the order in which future dedications and groundbreakings are scheduled.

Underlined numbers and text denote temples whose numbers may change based on progress towards planning, approval, and groundbreaking.

Red text denotes changes from the last posted temple progress update.

Freiberg Germany temple rededicated/Church news conglomeration

The Church News ran several excellent articles about the Freiberg Germany temple rededication. I thought I would use this post to share those articles in addition to pertinent Church news, and there have been several items of import. Here we go!

First, the Freiberg Germany temple was rededicated on Sunday. President Uchtdorf did indeed preside over that event, and he was accompanied by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I didn't recall hearing this, but I found out from the articles that the Church News ran that Elder Bednar actually served his mission there. So it makes sense that he was accompanying President Uchtdorf and that it was President Uchtdof, a native German, who represented President Monson in the former's native Germany.

Click here for a report of the Cultural celebration. Click here to read about what made being at this event so special for President Uchtdorf. This news story discusses how iconic the temple is, and what makes it historically significant.

In other Church news, please see this article to read about how President Russell M. Nelson and Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Presidency of the Seventy and Bishop Dean M. Davies (first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric) and Sister Neill F. Marriott (Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency and a Louisiana resident) administered relief to those impacted by recent flooding.

For a report on the new stakes created and stakes reorganized during August 2016, click here. Click here to read about the dedication of a new bishop's storehouse in Twin Falls Idaho. For a report on the Auxiliary training that will be about teaching in the Savior's way, including a list of those invited, click here. The Church has also given an update on the reassignment of some volunteers in Russia. To read about that, click here.

I will be posting later with an update on temple news and events.

The current area assignments of the apostles

It took me a while to get this information, but I have found data on which apostles are overseeing which areas outside the United States. The information about which apostles are overseeing the areas within the US and Canada could not be found. But I am excited to know this much. Here's the list:

President Russell M. Nelson—supervises the Philippines Area

Elder Dallin H. Oaks--assignment not known. They may be holding him in reserve because he is a senior member of the Twelve and young for being the third most senior apostle. Plus, with President Nelson periodically being absent from overseeing the quorum with his many assignments, the First Presidency may have wanted to have at least one member of the Twelve free from worldwide responsibilities.

Elder M. Russell Ballard—supervises the Europe and Europe East Areas

Elder Robert D. Hales—in view of his health being what it is, he may not be able to travel abroad. It is an unusual situation that needs flexibility.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland—supervises the Brazil, South America North and Middle East/Africa North Areas

Elder David A. Bednar—supervises the South America South Area

Elder Quentin L. Cook—supervises the Asia North and Central America Areas

Elder Neil L. Andersen—supervises the Africa Southeast and Pacific Areas

Elder Ronald A. Rasband—supervises the Africa West Area

Elder Gary E. Stevenson—supervises the Asia Area

Elder Dale G. Renlund—supervises the Caribbean and Mexico Areas

Let me know what you think.

Freiberg Germany Temple scheduled for rededication tomorrow

The Freiberg Germany temple will be dedicated tomorrow. What is unclear is who has been sent to preside at the event. There has not yet been a report of the cultural celebration. There are a couple of possibilities. Either President Uchtdorf has returned to his native Germany to rededicate the temple, or, if he has not been able to in view of the ill health of President Monson and Sister Eyring which may have made it impossible for President Uchtdorf to do it, and since Elder Ballard is a senior member of the Twelve with responsibility for the Europe Areas of the Church, he might have been sent. I will keep my eyes and ears peeled for news. Will post tomorrow with a link to the information about the dedication.