Temple Construction Progress Update

This will be the first in a series of four posts created one after another today because Church News and Events have warranted it. This first post is to inform you of important developments in temple construction progress.

Here is my latest report. As always, any and all comments are appreciated.

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 11/28/16)

Current Temple Status: 155 operating; 1 scheduled for dedication; 10 under construction; 1 groundbreaking scheduled; 1 scheduled for rededication; 2 undergoing renovation; 11 announced; (NOTE: Up to 2 additional temples may soon have a groundbreaking announced).

Dedication scheduled:

156. Paris France Temple: Interior work underway; open house and dedication dates announced; scheduled to be dedicated on Sunday May 21, 2017.

Under Construction:

157. Meridian Idaho Temple: Installing interior and exterior light fixtures; interior work and landscaping progressing; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.

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

159. Tucson Arizona Temple: Pouring concrete parking lot; adding landscaping structures; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.

160. Rome Italy Temple: Interior work progressing; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

161. Concepcion Chile Temple: Cupola assembly attached to steeple framework; paving main entrance; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

162. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Building the exterior walls; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

163. Durban South Africa Temple: Pouring the foundations; connecting to city utilities; installing sewage lines; landscaping entrance mounds; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

164. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Exterior walls rising; completion anticipated sometime between 2018 and 2019.

165. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Concrete forms surrounding main floor exterior walls; completion anticipated sometime in 2019.

166. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Pouring meetinghouse footings; clearing temple site; completion anticipated sometime in 2019.

Groundbreaking scheduled:

167. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Plans approved September 12, 2016; groundbreaking scheduled for Saturday December 3, 2016 @ noon (11 am MST).

Scheduled for rededication:

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; finish work underway; rededication scheduled for Sunday June 4, 2017.

Undergoing Renovation:

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:

168. Arequipa Peru Temple: General contractor selected; groundbreaking pending.

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.

Significant posts by Matthew Martinich

Matthew Martinich, a well known authority on the subject of growth in the LDS Church, recently has done several posts of import on his blog dedicated to such growth milestones. I refer to some particular posts that have lately been fascinating. As always, I would prefer conversation about those posts to take place at the location of the original posts rather than here. This post will mainly serve to enlighten my readers about these posts.

This post highlights some milestones about the largest missions of the Church that may split sometime during 2017. It is well worthy of your attention.

This one highlights the creation of several new stakes. Included in the excellent comments that follow include information about some specific stake and ward creation milestones this year.

Enjoy!

Updated Temple Construction Progress Report

Given the milestones I have noted in my last several posts, and, in light of further progress in temple construction above and beyond what I shared last time, I am now posting an update to my temple construction progress report. Any and all feedback is welcome. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks for reading this.

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 11/23/16)

Current Temple Status: 155 operating; 1 scheduled for dedication; 10 under construction; 1 groundbreaking scheduled; 1 scheduled for rededication; 2 undergoing renovation; 11 announced; (NOTE: Up to 2 additional temples may soon have a groundbreaking announced).

Dedication scheduled:

156. Paris France Temple: Interior work underway; open house and dedication dates announced; scheduled to be dedicated on Sunday May 21, 2017.

Under Construction:

157. Meridian Idaho Temple: Installing interior and exterior light fixtures; interior work and landscaping progressing; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.

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

159. Tucson Arizona Temple: Pouring concrete parking lot; adding landscaping structures; completion anticipated sometime in late 2017.

160. Rome Italy Temple: Interior work progressing; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

161. Concepcion Chile Temple: Cupola assembly attached to steeple framework; paving main entrance; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

162. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Building the exterior walls; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

163. Durban South Africa Temple: Pouring the foundations; connecting to city utilities; installing sewage lines; landscaping entrance mounds; completion anticipated sometime in 2018.

164. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Exterior walls rising; completion anticipated sometime between 2018 and 2019.

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

166. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Temple site cleared; preparing to pour meetinghouse footings; completion anticipated sometime in 2019.

Groundbreaking scheduled:

167. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Plans approved September 12, 2016; groundbreaking scheduled for Saturday December 3, 2016 @ noon (11 am MST).

Scheduled for rededication:

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; finish work underway; rededication scheduled for Sunday June 4, 2017.

Undergoing Renovation:

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:

168. Arequipa Peru Temple: General contractor selected; groundbreaking pending.

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 Progress Continues/My nearest guesses for temple completion milestones

Wanted to post today with some exciting temple progress news. As noted, the Hartford Connecticut Temple was dedicated yesterday. But there have been significant developments with two temples. My reason for posting today is to share the latest news on those temples. Rick Satterfield's most excellent website consistently is updated as he hears word of the latest developments or as he receives new photographs detailing construction progress. I rely on these regular updates in my efforts to keep aware of the latest temple-related news. Visiting the website is easy. Click here to check out his awe-inspiring self-titled "labor of love." Sometimes, his website is even updated before the Church confirms these updates officially. While not officially owned or endorsed by the Church, Brother Satterfield seems to always be right on top of the latest temple-related developments.

I may not have explained that I get the temple-related information I share with my readers primarily because of what I read on that site.

That said, and with my biggest and most sincere thanks to Brother Satterfield for indirectly helping me be constantly aware of the latest temple related news, updates, and upcoming events, as well as some of the latest Church statistics (I honestly don't know how he handles being constantly abreast of all the latest). Without his labor of love, I would not be able to share these tidbits with you, my readers. I will highlight the latest progress on temples that he thinks may be scheduled for dedications that will take place in 2017 or 2018. Where I feel confident in doing so, I will suggest a timeframe for a dedication announcement, and a timeframe for the scheduled dedication of these temples. If you have any disagreement or just want to throw in your take on my doing this for the first time, feel free to comment below. I will do my best to read any submitted comments ASAP following their being posted and will try and reply as much as I feel I need to. But also feel free to give me a nudge if you feel I have not adequately responded to your comments. Your feedback on my work is always appreciated.

I was overjoyed to read the latest on the Meridian Idaho Temple (which, he  projects, will be the next temple dedicated sometime following the dedication of the Paris France Temple on May 20 and the rededication of the Idaho Falls Idaho temple two weeks later). Interior and exterior light fixtures are being installed while interior work and landscaping are progressing. In looking back on the many temple construction progress report versions I have posted over the last little while, I would venture to say that a dedication date for the Meridian Idaho Temple is likely to be announced soon, perhaps within the next 3 or 4 months, and, if I may be so bold, I will go so far as to venture early August as a potential month within which that event may be scheduled.

No notable progress has been reported recently for the Cedar City Utah Temple. But based on my gut feelings, I will say that I wouldn't be surprised to have a dedication for that temple announced within 6 months or less, and scheduled either for late August or early September.

In the meantime, I can foresee the Church finishing renovation on the Jordan River Utah temple sometime mid-2017, with a rededication announced for either late August or early September. Whether or not the Church would announce the Cedar City and Jordan River temple events around the same time, it wouldn't surprise me if their dedication ceremonies were within weeks from each other.

The Tucson Arizona temple has been another one for which no notable progress has been reported for a while. Given where it's at, I will project that we will have a dedication announced within the first 8 months of 2017, and scheduled for early November.

Given what I have read about the temples to be completed in 2018, added to what I have picked up on by closely watching how the Rome Italy temple construction has spanned such a long period of time, I believe it is safe to predict that the Concepcion Chile temple will be the next completed temple, with an open house and dedication date announced in either late 2017 or early 2018 and set for around April 2018. The rededication of the Frankfurt Germany temple could be announced around the first quarter of 2018 and scheduled for around June of that same year. Rome could have an open house and dedication announced in early 2018 and set for around August 2018.

The Kinshasa DR Congo could follow, with an announcement of opening dates during the first two-thirds of 2018, and a dedication set for October. Barranquilla would be my next pick for completion, with a dedication announced during August, and the actual dedication date in November or December. I somehow don't see any other temples, Durban included, being completed before that time.

In the meantime, I could see as many as 5 additional temples having their groundbreaking before the end of next year. I see an early announcement (perhaps within the first quarter of 2017) for the Arequipa Peru and Rio de Janeiro temples. I also will be so bold as to predict that for the Urdaneta Philippines, Port-au-Prince Haiti, and Bangkok Thailand temples, a groundbreaking may be announced within the second third of 2017, and could take place before the end of next year.

That said, I wanted to also post my list of cities for which a temple may be announced within the next two years. This is the same list that I featured with my October General Conference predictions, but no new temples were then announced. I wanted to note that, to the list, I have added one candidate that is a favorite of one of my regular readers: Missoula Miontana.

Here's the list:

Managua Nicaragua; Port Moresby Papua New Guinea; Bentonville Arkansas; Freetown Sierra Leone; Kampala Uganda; Nairobi Kenya; Lehi/Layton Utah; Budapest Hungary; Pocatello Idaho; La Paz Bolivia; El Paso Texas; Puebla Mexico; Missoula Montana; Edinburgh Scotland; Brasilia/Belo Horizonte Brazil; Neuquen Argentina.

As I stated above, please let me know what your thoughts and feedback are on this post. Whether you agree with me or not, I value your honestly expressed insights into thoughts I have in this post presented. No matter what you have to say, I am listening. Thanks for your readership.

Hartford Connecticut Temple Dedicated today/The Health of the Brethren and Apostolic Age Averages

The Church now has 155 temples. The Hartford Connecticut Temple was dedicated in three sessions today. Much to my surprise, delight, and great relief, President Henry B. Eyring, looking hale and hearty for a change from his last public appearance, presided at the dedication. He was accompanied by his "junior" apostle, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (I say junior because, with the First Presidency organized as it is, he is in that sense "senior" to Elder Holland, though he is actually below Elder Holland in overall apostolic seniority.) As I found out and revealed in an earlier post, Elder Holland has personal ties to the Hartford area, having done post-graduate work near there.

To be honest, President Eyring's apparent vitality and presence at this dedication has me confused. I know that, being the age he is, he may naturally be feeling some physical complaints typical for his time of life. But I recall all too well how gaunt, pale, and frail he looked at General Conference, or even, more recently, at the dedication of the Thomas S. Monson building on the U of U campus. It is not without precedence for an "aging" apostle to have his moments of going between hale and hearty and pale and frail. The aging of the brethren is by no means a new concept, and the ebb and flow of their health is to be expected. It goes with the territory. For the most part, it was a relief to learn that President Eyring may not be as badly ailing in health as he appeared to be.

Now I am honestly not sure what to make of the health of the brethren. Whatever may have been wrong with President Eyring previously could have been resolved. There's no way of knowing. But if he is functioning above the capacity some, including myself, have been mistakenly led to believe, perhaps there won't be a need for an additional counselor in the First Presidency for a while, if indeed there is need for one at all in the near future.

President Eyring's health aside, the two apostles that may pass next seem to be President Thomas S. Monson or Elder Robert D. Hales. But then, there have been many times when I believed an apostle to be seriously ill only to have them bounce back for a conference or two or more, then pass away. At this point, it is highly speculative, in my opinion, to conjecture which apostles might pass and when.

One thing that is absolutely sure: No matter what goes on with the health of the brethren, and no matter who passes and who moves on to lead this Church, we have the absolute conviction that there is no need to worry about the future of the Church. The principle of apostolic succession is alive and well, and, as I've said in the past, we are extraordinarily blessed to not only witness the release by death of those apostles the Lord calls home in His way and according to His due time, but also the calling of equally amazing and qualified men to fill the vacancies of such deaths. It is a perfect system for the Lord's Church.

That being said, I wanted to end this post by reporting on the latest apostolic age averages, which I configured for today just last night. FWIW, the next apostolic birthday will be marked on December 3. On that day, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland will be 76. As of today, the average age of the First Presidency is 82.91 years, while the average age of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is 74.47 (interestingly, a palindrome). The average age of all currently living apostles is 76.16.

As always, thanks for reading my musings, and, if you feel so inclined, for adding any comments you might have.