Big news

As all of you who have been following my blog know, I lost my job in the middle of July. With my health not improving, and with Amy's health not being good as well, I have been praying about what to do to make money. The Lord has indicated to me that the time has come for me to turn my full energy to my writing. He has promised me that if I apply myself, I will finish my book in no time. In the meantime, I will be working on some minor writing projects to submit to the Church once they are accepting manuscripts again. I have one or two such articles already written. I am glad I will be able to focus on my writing. I know that the Lord will help me support my family through this, because I was promised in a pre-wedding father's blessing that I would be able to find a job to support my family. Now that I know what I need to do, it's just a matter of doing it. Because I will be focusing on my writing, I can't promise how consistent I will be in posting on this blog. But I believe everything will come together as I take this leap of faith and do as the Lord has instructed. Thanks to you all for your faith, prayers, and support at this time.

Important posts by Matthew Martinich

Matthew Martinich, who does many blogs, including one for LDS Church Growth, has done several important posts lately. Among the highlights have been the creation of stakes in Arizona (2), Florida, and Idaho, a new district in Brazil, a second stake in the Marshall Islands, and many more milestones. To review these posts, please click here. Thanks.

Church News Conglomeration

It has been a while since my last Church news update, so here goes!

Latter-day Saints have responded en masse to the Church's request for help following severe storms in the US and Caribbean. Click here for a report on the relief efforts.

The Church in South Korea recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. Click here to read about that.

In scriptural news, the Church announced the translation of  the triple combination into Croatian. The new Croatian tripe combination will be available at the end of March 2017. Also, the triple combination is now available for purchase in Russian and Icelandic. For more details, click here.

The Church announced recently that Rolando Villazon, one of the leading tenors in the world, will join the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square for their annual Christmas concert. Click here to read more.

Five apostles and two general women leaders spoke recently in a video on the subjects of diversity, love, inclusion, hope, and personal responsibility. To read what they said and to watch the accompanying video clips of their remarks, click here.

It is almost time for the PDF versions of the General Conference magazines to be available. In preparation for that, I have prepared a document showing what I think the table of contents for that magazine will look like. I will post that on this blog as soon as the PDF version of the magazine is available in full.

In the meantime, I will keep my eyes peeled for more Church news and let you know about all the good stuff as I can. Thanks.

Temple Construction Progress

Much has happened on the temple news front since Monday, so I thought I'd post my updated progress report. Let me know what you think.

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 10/22/16)

Current Temple Status: 153 operating; 2 scheduled for dedication; 11 under construction; 3 undergoing renovation; 11 announced (As many as 3 groundbreaking announcements may be made soon).

Dedication scheduled:

154. Star Valley Wyoming Temple: Preparing for dedication; scheduled on Sunday October 30, 2016.

155. Hartford Connecticut Temple: Preparing for dedication; dedication scheduled on Sunday November 20, 2016.

Under Construction:

156. Paris France Temple: Interior work underway; open house committee assembled; completion anticipated sometime during the first half of 2017.

157. Meridian Idaho Temple: Adding landscaping structures; installing fence posts and lamp posts; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.

158. Cedar City Utah Temple: Installing sprinkler systems and planting bushes; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.

159. Tucson Arizona Temple: Pouring concrete parking lot; interior work underway; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.

160. Rome Italy Temple: Interior work progressing; completion anticipated sometime in the first half of 2018.

161. Concepcion Chile Temple: Steeple framework going up; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

162. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Main level floors poured; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

163. Durban South Africa Temple: Preparing to pour foundation; laying aggregate for parking; street entrance cut; hydroseeding sloped land; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

164. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Foundation walls going up; completion anticipated sometime in 2019.

165.  Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Erecting structural framing; completion anticipated sometime in 2019.

166. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Site clearing phase; construction fence erected; concrete bleachers removed; completion anticipated sometime in 2019.

Undergoing Renovation:

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; finish work underway; resurfacing and restriping parking lot; rededication anticipated sometime during early 2017.

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

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

Announced:

167. Arequipa Peru Temple: General contractor selected; construction anticipated to begin late 2016 or early 2017.

168. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Permitting phase; temple fireside held September 11, 2016; groundbreaking anticipated in either late 2016 or early 2017.

169. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Construction preparation phase; plans approved by local government; groundbreaking pending.

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.

Temple Construction Progress Update

As the Fort Collins Colorado Temple was dedicated yesterday, and in light of the progress made in temple construction within the last few days, I am posting my updated list of construction milestones. Just wanted to note that we should hear shortly about the opening dates for the Paris France temple. Also, I am considering changing the listed order of temples whose groundbreaking may be announced soon. To me, it seems like Winnipeg may be ahead of the Arequipa Peru temple. Let me know what you think.

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 10/17/16)

Current Temple Status: 153 operating; 2 scheduled for dedication; 11 under construction; 3 undergoing renovation; 11 announced (As many as 3 groundbreaking announcements may be made soon).

Dedication scheduled:

154. Star Valley Wyoming Temple: Preparing for dedication; scheduled on Sunday October 30, 2016.

155. Hartford Connecticut Temple: Public open house tours underway through Saturday October 22; dedication scheduled on Sunday November 20, 2016.

Under Construction:

156. Paris France Temple: Interior work underway; open house committee assembled; completion anticipated sometime during the first half of 2017.

157. Meridian Idaho Temple: Adding landscaping structures; installing fence posts and lamp posts; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.

158. Cedar City Utah Temple: Installing art glass; dropping posts for decorative fencing; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.

159. Tucson Arizona Temple: Pouring concrete parking lot; interior work underway; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.

160. Rome Italy Temple: Interior work progressing; completion anticipated sometime in the first half of 2018.

161. Concepcion Chile Temple: Steeple framework going up; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

162. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Main level floors poured; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

163. Durban South Africa Temple: Preparing to pour foundation; laying aggregate for parking; street entrance cut; hydroseeding sloped land; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

164. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Foundation walls going up; completion anticipated sometime in 2019.

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

166. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Site clearing phase; construction fence erected; concrete bleachers removed; completion anticipated sometime in 2019.

Undergoing Renovation:

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; finish work underway; resurfacing and restriping parking lot; rededication anticipated sometime during early 2017.

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

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

Announced:

167. Arequipa Peru Temple: General contractor selected; construction anticipated to begin late 2016 or early 2017.

168. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Permitting phase; temple fireside held September 11, 2016; groundbreaking anticipated in either late 2016 or early 2017.

169. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Construction preparation phase; plans approved by local government; groundbreaking pending.

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.