Important and Significant Temple Construction Progress Update

Hello. I am posting today for a very exciting reason. When I made my first check of the LDS Church Temples website, I was initially very disappointed to see that no progress has been noted on temples now under construction. But those disappointed feelings faded away very quickly when I looked at the information about announced temples.

Just between the last time I checked the site and now, there has been sufficient reason enough to warrant noting that a groundbreaking announcement is anticipated soon for the Arequipa Peru Temple. That was great to hear.

The one question in my mind, which I am trying to get resolved in the best possible way, is whether the site announcement and groundbreaking ceremony for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple may take place before the groundbreaking in Arequipa. Since it is difficult to tell, I would welcome any thoughts in that direction. For the moment, my line of thinking is that since the Arequipa groundbreaking appears to be more imminent than the unfolding of events in Harare. it is Arequipa that should be listed first. I will change that in the posted report below. Feel free to let me know your thoughts and feelings on this matter. If it comes to a point where I need to change it again, I am more than willing to do that. Just let me know what you think, if you feel inclined to do so.

Here's my updated report:

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 1/5/17)

Current Temple Status: 155 operating; 1 scheduled for dedication; 11 under construction; 1 scheduled for rededication; 2 undergoing renovation; 10 announced. NOTE: There is a more than likely possibility for several announced temples to have a groundbreaking announced during 2017. Two are very close to that so far this year, and there may be many more before too much longer.

Dedication scheduled:

156. Paris France Temple: Exterior lighting system operating; interior work underway; scheduled to be dedicated on Sunday May 21, 2017.

Under Construction:

157. Meridian Idaho Temple: Light fixtures hung; interior trim underway; completion anticipated sometime during late 2017.

158. Cedar City Utah Temple: Fencing progressing; entrance plaza created; landscaping areas defined; hanging drywall; completion anticipated sometime during late 2017.

159. Tucson Arizona Temple: Pouring walkways; erecting fencing; installing art glass windows; hanging drywall; completion anticipated sometime during late 2017.

160. Rome Italy Temple: Interior work progressing; completion anticipated sometime between early and mid-2018.

161. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Building the exterior walls; completion anticipated sometime between early and mid-2018.

162. Concepcion Chile Temple: Attaching building wrap to exterior walls; adding landscaping structures; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2018.

163. Durban South Africa Temple: Pouring temple foundation; setting rebar for missionary housing walls; palm trees planted along entrance road; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2018.

164. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Pouring walls for steeple base; completion anticipated sometime between late 2018 and early 2019.

165. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Groundbreaking held Saturday December 3, 2016; completion anticipated sometime between late 2018 and early 2019.

166. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Second floor exterior walls poured; completion anticipated sometime during 2019.

167. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Excavation underway for temple and utility building; structural framing going up for meetinghouse; completion anticipated sometime during 2019.

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 between late 2017 and early 2018.

41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; some exterior stone removed; foundation exposed; old meetinghouse razed; rededication anticipated sometime between early and mid-2018.

Announced:

168. Arequipa Peru Temple: Construction preparation phase; awaiting groundbreaking announcement.

169. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Approval and construction preparation phase; official site announcement anticipated in early 2017, with the groundbreaking anticipated to take place shortly following the site announcement.

170.  Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Governmental approval phase; preliminary environmental license issued in November 2016; groundbreaking pending.

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. Urdaneta Philippines Temple: Stalled in planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

174. Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

175. Quito Ecuador 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 report. 

Journalist's gripe against the Church's Public Affairs Department Is Not Justified

On the LDS Church Growth blog, some discussion was had regarding a gripe made recently by a journalist regarding how the LDS Church Public Affairs Department responded to some questions he had about the Tabernacle Choir's agreement to perform at the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump. One comment made on the LDS Church Growth blog was to the effect that the Public Affairs Department should be more transparent regarding the information they share about the public actions of the Church and its associated entities.

Since I had before offered my opinion on the Choir's decision (which I believe is fully justified), I was sickened by reading the journalist's rant about the unjust way his concerns had been dealt with. In his rant, he cited James 1:5-6 as being the reason Joseph Smith sought wisdom at the hands of the Lord, saying that while the Lord is willing to give wisdom to those that ask for it, his concerns and questions had not been dealt with in the same spirit.

I couldn't disagree more on that point, and I will explain my reasoning for saying that in a minute. First, if you haven't seen the rant in question yet, you can find it here. When I read his rant, the first thought that came to my mind is this: While it is absolutely true that Joseph was given wisdom when he lacked it primarily because he asked, there was another side to that. He additionally had studied the matter out in his mind before he asked, and he had done research enough to give him doubt as to the truthfulness of any Church then in existence. A big part of obtaining wisdom when one asks for it is doing the research to know what questions to ask. Had the journalist bothered to do so, his questions would have been addressed without him having to ask the Church public affairs department to do his research for him.

Now that you understand more about my line of reasoning in my approach to all of this, I wanted to share my personal response to the journalist's questions. This response was posted on the same comment thread as the link to this rant. And I am only in a position to venture any answer to these questions because I have made the subjects of the Church's political neutrality and the Choir's past experiences singing for presidents and presidents-elect a matter of extensive study, prayer, and observation. That said, for what it may be worth, these are the answers I felt to provide on the LDS Church Growth blog in response to the questions posed by the journalist.

1. The Choir is a volunteer unpaid organization, and as such, any events at which they appear are entirely voluntary and no participant receives any compensation of any kind for their participation.
2. The Choir has accepted any and all invitations extended to participate in any event that involves a current or future US President. By nature of the Church's devotion to political neutrality, no candidate receivesspecial support, consideration or rejection of such invitations for any reason. If that were not the case, the Church could not maintain its professed political neutrality. Their actions would clearly set the lie to their words, and that's the last thing the Church wants or needs.
3. The only opportunities the Choir ever seeks or books as an entity is their appearances at special venues, such as during tours or for special events. They would never presume to seek an opportunity to perform forany government leader (especially one who clearly sees the Church and its members and practices through a very darkened lens) but willingly respond when invited to do so. That being said, the Church and Choir may have taken this opportunity as a way to see if the Church's image could be improved in the eyes of the President-elect.
4. Again, in the Church in general and with the Choir in particular, except where noted above for special events at particular venues, opportunities are never sought after nor declined. If it is true that the Choir has not for a while performed at an event for a Democratic President, it is because such an opportunity was never extended.
Anyways, that's how I chose to respond to the attempts of this journalist to take issue with the answers provided him by the Church Public Affairs Department. I welcome any comments, whether in agreement or contention with what I have said here. However, I would encourage us all to be respectful of other people's right to their own opinion. Even if that opinion is not shared, any uncivil, rude, or contentious comments will be promptly deleted after they are made. Thanks for letting me weigh in on this.

Minor Update to Temple Construction Progress Report--posted mostly for my personal benefit

Hello, all! I have a very good reason for this additional post today. I am posting a minor update to my temple construction progress report. I make a disclaimer right here and now at the outset: This update is mainly for my own personal benefit. While there have been no major developments in temple construction since the first such report I posted this year (was that just yesterday? Don't really remember), I felt it appropriate to reword slightly the way I have termed potential completion dates. I wanted to post a copy of this to my blog while I am at home so that if and when I next have reason to update this report at work, the rewording will be readily available in my blog post history. That said, while this post is primarily for that reason, comments on the way I've reworked this will always be welcome and appreciated. If you have any input of any kind, don't hesitate to let me know.

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 1/4/17)

Current Temple Status: 155 operating; 1 scheduled for dedication; 11 under construction; 1 scheduled for rededication; 2 undergoing renovation; 10 announced; (NOTE: Up to 3 additional temples may soon have a groundbreaking announced).

Dedication scheduled:

156. Paris France Temple: Exterior lighting system operating; interior work underway; scheduled to be dedicated on Sunday May 21, 2017.

Under Construction:

157. Meridian Idaho Temple: Light fixtures hung; interior trim underway; completion anticipated sometime during late 2017.

158. Cedar City Utah Temple: Fencing progressing; entrance plaza created; landscaping areas defined; hanging drywall; completion anticipated sometime during late 2017.

159. Tucson Arizona Temple: Pouring walkways; erecting fencing; installing art glass windows; hanging drywall; completion anticipated sometime during late 2017.

160. Rome Italy Temple: Interior work progressing; completion anticipated sometime between early and mid-2018.

161. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Building the exterior walls; completion anticipated sometime between early and mid-2018.

162. Concepcion Chile Temple: Attaching building wrap to exterior walls; adding landscaping structures; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2018.

163. Durban South Africa Temple: Pouring temple foundation; setting rebar for missionary housing walls; palm trees planted along entrance road; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2018.

164. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Pouring walls for steeple base; completion anticipated sometime between late 2018 and early 2019.

165. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Groundbreaking held Saturday December 3, 2016; completion anticipated sometime between late 2018 and early 2019.

166. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Second floor exterior walls poured; completion anticipated sometime during 2019.

167. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Excavation underway for temple and utility building; structural framing going up for meetinghouse; completion anticipated sometime during 2019.

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 between late 2017 and early 2018.

41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; some exterior stone removed; foundation exposed; old meetinghouse razed; rededication anticipated sometime between early and mid-2018.

Announced:

168. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Approval and construction preparation phase; official site announcement anticipated in early 2017, with the groundbreaking anticipated to take place shortly following the site announcement.

169.  Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Governmental approval phase; preliminary environmental license issued in November 2016; groundbreaking pending.

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

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. Urdaneta Philippines Temple: Stalled in planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

174. Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

175. Quito Ecuador 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 report. 

Face-to-face event with President Eyring and Elder Holland

As I have mentioned before, 2017 is already shaping up to be a most historic year in terms of Church news, and we are only 4 days into this new year. In an announcement made on the Church's website just within the last several hours, the Church notified youth of a scheduled Face-to-Face event with President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

This event is historic for two reasons: it marks the very first such event to involve the participation of a member of the First Presidency. Also, more significant than that is the coincidence that before President Eyring began serving in the First Presidency 10 years ago in October (can it really have been that long? Crazy and wonderful to think about!), he and Elder Holland were seatmates in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with Elder Holland being the more senior of the two.

Elder Holland was the only apostle called during President Howard W. Hunter's short tenure of less than 9 months. And President Eyring was the first apostle called by President Hinckley, who succeeded President Hunter. In responding to this assignment, these former apostolic seatmates focused on what they hoped the event would do in terms of inspiring the youth of the Church to live by the Mutual Theme for this year, which comes from James 1:5-6, the scripture that led Joseph Smith to have his First Vision.

Elder Holland also commented on how much he appreciated sharing this event with President Eyring and noted how much he (President Eyring) cares about and prays for the youth of the Church. This was very inspiring to read about. Click here for all the wonderful details.

Enjoy! Any comments are always welcome and appreciated.

Church News Report on the funeral services for Elder Glen L. Rudd

Well, as I said in posting just yesterday, funeral services were held today for Elder Glen L. Rudd, emeritus general authority. Much to my surprise and delight, in the report of the funeral services, there was a rather long list of those who attended and spoke at that service today. The biggest surprise in terms of those speakers was that President Monson was the keynote speaker. He gave an extensive address reflecting on his long association with Elder Rudd and reflected on the influence Elder Rudd's service had on him personally. Also speaking at the services was President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Russell M. Nelson, Bishop Keith B. McMullin, emeritus General Authority who served for years as a member of the Presiding Bishopric; and Elder Rudd's son, Charles, representing the family at the services.

Also in attendance were Elders M. Russell Ballard, David A. Bednar, and Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Elders L. Whitney Clayton and Donald L. Hallstrom, the two most senior members of the Presidency of the Seventy; and the entire Presiding Bishopric (Gerald Causse, Dean M. Davies, and W. Christopher Waddell).

Click here for more on the funeral services, including the tributes that were given of this spiritual giant.

As I said, the biggest surprise for me personally in reading about funeral proceedings was that President Monson not only attended but also gave a keynote address that sounds like it was of a considerable length. Not sure what to make of this. I am hoping it means that President Monson has to some degree sufficiently recovered from the health difficulties he has been experiencing for the last several years. But time will tell. I will do my level best to keep an eye on the situation and make a further report if and when more is known in that regard.

If he is doing better, it's a very good sign for the Church. We have had prophets many times in the past who have suffered due to age and health later in life. President Monson will be 90 years old this year. Any improvement, no matter how small, has to be a good thing. It will be interesting to see how he is doing round about conference time and to see if he will be able to speak on his regular schedule for longer than he recently has been able to. More to come as soon as I hear anything.

Sounds like Elder Rudd's funeral services today served as a wonderful tribute to the life of a very great man. For what it's worth, that's the latest in Church news and developments.