Some Thoughts About the Outreach Efforts of Church Leaders to Minority Groups

Hello again, everyone! Earlier today, I posted a comment to the LDS Church Growth Blog about the ongoing conversation regarding what the Church could or should do better or differently in their outreach to those various groups of individuals who may constitute somewhat of a minority in the Church. I have felt a need to duplicate that comment here as a post for the benefit of those who may read it in both places. A copy of that comment follows. That does it for this post. Any comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best, and pray that the Lord will bless you all in all that you do.

If I may, I would like to comment here about something that has been on my mind a lot lately, and which relates to some of the things that have been discussed here on this thread in recent comments. I would ask that you all bear with me as I try to say what I have felt a need to in this comment.

I know that it is easy for me to wonder at times why certain individuals have been called to certain positions, especially when something they have done or are not doing makes it harder for me to do what the Lord needs me to do. And I think that would be amplified even further regarding problems we see that appear to any of us as though they are not being properly addressed by anyone on any level of Church leadership. It may be easy for us to try and solve these problems, or to suggest that more should be done in certain ways about certain things.

But in such cases, I have found it useful to remember, where I know of it, the background of the individuals involved in such decisions. In my study of our current group of apostles, I have discovered some interesting things. For example, President Eyring was one who was not able to get married until he was 29. Because of that, he is no stranger to how YSAs, and by extension, older Single Adults in the Church, feel about the programs and practices of the Church that affect the outreach to them.

Also, among the 14 apostles, we have at least two of which I know that are fluent in more than one foreign language, and as such, have served in leadership among several minority groups of the Church. So the problem of outreach to such individuals is not a foreign issue to the general leadership of the Church.

Additionally, just recently, we have seen modern revelation at work in terms of how General Conference will be simplified, how missionary safety has been evaluated (including how the number of missions will be adjusted to enable greater missionary safety by providing greater strength in numbers for problematic area, and by cutting the number of missionaries needed in areas where the safety and security is too problematic to safely allow missionary work to continue), how the Church will be embracing modern technology on a greater scale to move the missionary program into more of an effort to find religiously-minded individuals worldwide.

So I for one do not spend time pontificating about what the Church could or should do differently in terms of areas I might otherwise consider a problem. The Brethren, like all of us, are not perfect, but because of their background and experience, to say nothing of their worldwide ministry to Church members, have a unique understanding of all such issues, including factors of which we, as individual members considering such things, may not be fully aware. I instead choose to trust that, in the Lord's way and time, He will reveal the answers needed to those who have the authority to receive such direction, and that those solutions will be what is needed at that time, if not necessarily what any one or all of us think it should be. That is one of many reasons why the Lord has directed the calls of each of these Brethren at the times those calls have come to them. And that is also why the Brethren have in turn directed and approved the calls of those serving in area presidencies, as general and area seventies, as mission, stake, and district presidencies, as bishopric and branch presidency members, and on down to the home teachers and Aaronic Priesthood leaders of each congregation. None of us are perfect, and we won't ever be during our mortal sojourn, but we don't have to be. As long as we keep trying and continue in patience until we are perfected, the Lord will compensate for whatever we (or He) feels we lack. Just wanted to share these thoughts, for what they may be worth to any of you.

Progress Made on Temples Undergoing Renovation

Hello, everyone! Just a few short moments ago, I was notified that progress has been reported on the renovation process for the Memphis and Oklahoma City temples. The new information I have indicates that these temples have started to be dismantled. It was wonderful to hear of that progress. As with everything else, I am doing my best to keep tabs on temple-related developments, and I will pass more information along as I become aware of it. That does it for this post. Any comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in all that you do.

Additional update reported on Kinshasa DR Congo Temple

Hello, everyone! I am posting again to note that, in addition to what I reported in terms of the progress on the newest Chilean temple, progress has also been noted recently on the Kinshasa DR Congo Temple. At that temple site, entrance walls are being plastered, the steeple is receiving a white paint coating, and roof eaves are being framed. Based on that update, it would appear that my estimate that this temple could be dedicated in mid-to-late September is warranted.

As always, I am keeping an eye out for any and all developments in this regard, and I will be sure to pass along any additional updates as I learn of them. That does it for this post. Any comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in all that you do.

Progress noted on the Concepcion Chile Temple

Hello again, everyone! As many of you are aware, I had announced a while ago my intention to focus a series of posts on temple site prospects for the future. While I will be getting back to that either later this week or early next week, there have been numerous developments relating to Church and temple news. Because of this, I am taking a temporary step back from that series.

My reason for this new post is that, while not much has changed in terms of reported progress on most new temples and those existing ones being renovated, reports have come in about new milestones for the Concepcion Chile Temple. It was wonderful to hear about those.

So, what has that progress entailed? The reports state that cladding has progressed along the east wall, that a water feature for the temple grounds is being installed, and that walkways are being poured. Additionally, it appears that the Church has put a temporary 2D model of the Angel Moroni Temple in their efforts to ensure that when the actual 3D version is placed, it is positioned correctly.

This progress, such as it is, would appear to lend support to the theory I shared late last night that this temple's dedication could occur in June of next year. After all, the Concepcion Chile Temple is one that has progressed very consistently. It is wonderful indeed to have heard of this progress.

That does it for this post. Any comments are welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray the Lord's blessings upon you all.

Further alterations made to estimates for future-temple related events

Hello again, everyone! I am posting in the early-morning hours of the second day in November to share my updated estimates for future temple-related events. Most of these changes have been motivated by further study on my part regarding the climates in the world areas in which these temples are being built or renovated. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on these revisions. The list follows. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord's blessings will be upon you all.

Altered estimates for temple-related events that are anticipated to take place during 2018-2020

2018:

January: Raleigh North Carolina Temple Renovation Closure (already announced; confirmation of exact date pending)

February: Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Renovation Closure (already announced; confirmation of exact date pending)

February 19: Oakland California Temple Renovation Closure (already confirmed)

March 4: Washington DC Temple Renovation Closure (already confirmed)

May: Mesa Arizona Temple Renovation Closure (already announced; confirmation of exact date pending)

May 20: Jordan River Utah Temple Rededication (already announced)

June 3 or 10: Concepcion Chile Temple Dedication (160^th operating temple)

August 12 or 19: Frankfurt Germany Temple Rededication

September 23 or 30: Kinshasa DR Congo Temple Dedication (161^st operating temple)

November 11 or 18: Barranquilla Colombia Temple Dedication (162^nd operating temple)

2019:

March 3 or 10: Rome Italy Temple Dedication (163^rd operated temple)

March 17 or 24: Memphis Tennessee Temple Rededication

April 14 or 21: Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple Rededication

April 28 or May 5: Durban South Africa Temple Dedication (164^th operating temple)

May 19 or 26: Asuncion Paraguay Temple Rededication

June 9 or 16: Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple Dedication (165^th operating temple)

August 4 or 11: Fortaleza Brazil Temple Dedication (166^th operating temple)

August 18 or 25: Raleigh North Carolina Temple Rededication

September 8 or 15: Rio de Janeiro Temple Dedication (167^th operating temple)

September 22 or 29: Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Rededication

October 20 or 27: Lisbon Portugal Temple Dedication (168^th operating temple)

November 10 or 17: Arequipa Peru Temple Dedication (169^th operating temple)

December 8 or 15: Oakland California Rededication

2020:

February 23 or March 1: Winnipeg Manitoba Temple Dedication (170^th operating temple)

May 10 or 17: Tokyo Japan Temple Rededication

September 13 or 20: Mesa Arizona Temple Rededication

November 8 or 15: Washington DC Temple Rededication

NOTE: Hopefully during 2018 and 2019, several temple groundbreakings will also occur, which will result in additional temple dedications in the years following. I am keeping my eye out for any news and will pass that along as I hear of it.