Update Provided on Raleigh North Carolina Temple

Hello again, everyone! Although I somehow managed to overlook reporting this when I originally became aware of it a few days ago, I wanted to post again now and pass along an update on the renovation process for the Raleigh North Carolina Temple.

The update shows that that temple has had its steeple and entrance canopy removed, and that the temple's exterior marble cladding is coming down. It is good to have found out about this, and I am grateful I can now pass that along to you.

That does it for this post. Any and all 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 everything you do.

Updates Provided on First Two Temples Anticipated to be Dedicated This Year

Hello again, everyone! I am back, this time with an update on the status of the first two new temples anticipated to be dedicated next year. For the first, the nature of the update is a slight tweak in the wording of its' status. For the second, it has made somewhat significant progress. So let's get right into that.

I had reported over the weekend that, with the exterior stone cladding completed and with interior work progressing, bushes and flowers were being planted in the perimeter gardens of the Concepcion Chile Temple. Today when I looked at the sources I had available for temple-related information, the specific reference to the bushes and flowers going in was taken out an replaced by a simple statement that the planting of the perimeter gardens continues. As I noted above, it is just a minor wording adjustment, but seemed significant enough to report.

Meanwhile, reports have come in that indicate that the Barranquilla Colombia Temple is progressing as well, with the installation of art glass, an irrigation system, and driveway pavers well underway. Additionally, as with the Concepcion Chile Temple, it has been reported that perimeter gardens are being planted on the temple grounds.

Since the updated status of these two temples share certain elements, I am more convinced than ever that their dedications will likely take place fairly close together. As of yesterday, I advanced the idea that the Concepcion Chile Temple could be dedicated in mid-August, and that the Barranquilla Colombia Temple might only be dedicated in mid-October, with the rededication of the temple in Frankfurt Germany occurring between the two, in September.

Based on how similar the status of these two new temples happen to be, it could be that the Church may opt to have the two dedicated a few weeks apart, rather than letting a couple of months pass between the two.

Regarding the future time-frame for temple-related events, I took the time to refresh my memory on the particulars, and tomorrow will mark one year to the day when the Church announced the details of the last three temples dedicated last year (Tucson Arizona in August, Meridian Idaho in November, and Cedar City Utah in December).

With that in mind, and recognizing that there may be more to scheduling such events for temples outside the US, it would not surprise me at all if we were to hear within the next couple of months (perhaps sooner rather than later) the announcement of temple dedications that will be held before the end of this year.

On that subject, it appears that the new First Presidency has hit the ground running, since the first temple-related news released by them (the renovation of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple) was announced three days after their introduction to the media, and five days after the reorganization occurred.

So it seems safe to assume that there will likely not be a very long wait in terms of when we can expect the next temple news from our new leadership. And while it may be a while after that before we hear of the timing for the final temple events of this year, it will be interesting to see how soon any such news actually is announced.

Whatever might occur in that regard, you can depend on my bringing news of it to you all as soon as I am able to do so after learning of it. So stay tuned for that in the near future. That does it for this post. Any and all 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 everything you do.

Updated Future Estimates for Known Temple-related Events

Hello again, everyone! Though I am returning to do so a little later than I anticipated, I am posting right now to note that I have updated the estimates I have previously provided for known temple-related events based on the new information I shared early this morning regarding how both the Rome Italy and Kinshasa DR Congo Temples may be dedicate before the end of this year. Those updates follow below.

That does it for this post. Any and all 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 everything you do.

2018:

Monday February 19: Oakland California temple Renovation Closure (date has been confirmed)

Sunday March 4: Washington DC Temple Renovation Closure (date has been confirmed)

Sunday April 15 or 22: Houston Texas Temple Rededication (private)

April or May: Full-scale construction anticipated to begin on the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple

Sunday May 20: Jordan River Utah Temple Rededication/Mesa Arizona Temple Renovation Closure (both have been confirmed)

July: Hamilton New Zealand Temple Renovation Closure (confirmation of official closure date is pending)

Sunday August 12 or 19: Concepcion Chile Temple Dedication (160^th operating temple)

Sunday September 16 or 23: Frankfurt Germany Temple Rededication

Sunday October 14 or 21: Barranquilla Colombia Temple Dedication (161^st operating temple)

Sunday November 11 or 18: Rome Italy Temple Dedication (162^nd operating temple)

Sunday December 9 or 16: Kinshasa DR Congo Temple Dedication (163^rd operating temple)

NOTE: In view of new information received in the early morning hours of January 28, 2018, there is reason to believe that both the Rome and Kinshasa temples will be dedicated prior to the end of 2018. Based on that new information, I am optimistic enough to venture the estimated time-frames above. But if either temple has its progress delayed further for any reason, that could push the dedication of one (or both) of them back into early 2019. I am keeping my eyes open for information and updates and will make adjustments as they are needed.

2019:

Mid-February: Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple Dedication (164^th operating temple)

Mid-to-late March: Memphis Tennessee Temple Rededication

Mid-to-late April: Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple Rededication

Mid-May: Lisbon Portugal Temple Dedication (165^th operating temple)

Early-to-mid June: Raleigh North Carolina Temple Rededication

Early-to-mid August: Durban South Africa Temple Dedication (166^th operating temple)

Mid-to-late August: Asuncion Paraguay Temple Rededication

Mid-September: Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Rededication

Mid-to-late October: Fortaleza Brazil Temple Dedication (167^th operating temple)

Mid-November: Arequipa Peru Temple Dedication (168^th operating temple)

Mid-December: Oakland California Temple Rededication

NOTE: While the Church has indicated that this temple’s rededication is anticipated during 2019, it is one of the older ones, and, as such, if the renovation process is delayed for any reason whatsoever, its rededication could be pushed back into 2020.

                       

2020:

Mid-February: Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple Dedication (169^th operating temple)

Mid-to-late April: Tokyo Japan Temple Rededication

Early-to-mid June: Winnipeg Manitoba Temple Dedication (170^th operating temple)

Early-to-mid September: Mesa Arizona Temple Rededication         

Mid-November: Washington DC Temple Rededication

2021:

Mid-May: Hamilton New Zealand Temple Rededication

NOTE: I heard that 2018 and 2019 could be big years for temple groundbreakings. If that proves correct, then many other temples could also be dedicated during 2020 and 2021. It also seems safe to assume that other temple renovations will be announced, which will in turn necessitate subsequent rededications. As the next two years unfold, I will have a better idea of when such events may occur, and they can then be added to the other estimates above.

Further Temple Updates Provided

Hello again, everyone! I am back with an early-morning post to share some updates I have received on temples. Most significantly, in addition to what I posted yesterday, it would appear that the process of cladding the exterior of the Concepcion Chile Temple with stone has been completed.

Additionally, an article published by a newspaper in Italy has pointed to the idea that the Rome temple could be dedicated prior to the end of this year, and with the steady progress made in Kinshasa, the odds are that it may also likely be dedicated prior to the end of this year.

This information came to my attention recently enough that I am still evaluating it, and with everything I have been working on, I have been up for almost the last 18 hours, so I will be reevaluating things later on today (likely this afternoon or evening) and post those results when I have them. Just wanted to pass all of this along, for what it may be worth to any of you.

That does it for this post. Any and all 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 everything you do.

Yet Another Update on the Concepcion Chile Temple

Hello again, everyone! It has been a big few days in terms of Church and temple-related news & developments, and I am pleased at this time to bring you yet another update on the status of the Concepcion Chile Temple. The latest reports I have been able to obtain indicate that, while the interior finish work continues, bushes and flowers are being planted in the perimeter gardens on the temple grounds. As I noted earlier today, it is good to see the significant progress that occurs at times even moment to moment in temple construction. You can be sure I will be keeping my eyes open for developments in this regard as they occur, and will pass those along ASAP after learning of them. That does it for this post. Any and all 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 everything you do.

Update Provided for the Kinshasa DR Congo Temple

Hello again, everyone! With the research I did to verify the closure of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple, it slipped my mind until now that I had found another update on the construction process for the Kinshasa DR Congo Temple. Let's talk about what has changed.

I last provided an update on that temple just four days ago. At that time, I noted that hard landscaping was making progress and that the paint being applied to the exterior of the temple was nearing its completion.

While the process of painting the exterior white has not yet fully completed, it has made progress. Roof shingles are also being laid, while the hard landscaping continues to progress as well. The final update to this temple's status is that the ceiling ductwork is being installed. It was wonderful to learn of those updates.

As with everything else related to Church and temple news, I continue to keep my eyes open for developments on any front and I will continue to do my level best to bring those to you all as I become aware of them.

That does it for this post. Any and all 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 everything you do.

Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Closes For Renovation

Hello again, everyone! I wanted to post here again to confirm that the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple has (or shortly will be) closed for its' renovation process. Its' last endowment session was scheduled for 1:00 PM today Louisiana time, and since that was almost 3 hours ago. it seems safe to assume it has since closed.

After consulting the many sources to which I look for temple-related information, it would appear that that temple is anticipated to be rededicated in mid-2019, rather than mid-to-late 2019 as I originally projected.

What that means is that the revised estimate for that rededication which I recently provided (mid-September) may or may not need to be changed based on how quickly this process moves along. It will be interesting to see what happens in that regard.

I am grateful to have been able to share this news with you all. You can depend on my continuing to monitor all temple-related developments and on my bringing those to you here as soon as I can after learning of them.

That does it for this post. Any and all 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 everything you do.

Elder Christofferson Provides Counsel About Truth to Seminary and Institute Instructors Worldwide

Hello again, everyone! This crossed my radar several hours ago, but I had to delay posting about it for several hours. Yesterday (Friday January 26), Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles provided counsel about truth to seminary and institute instructors in a broadcast that was carried worldwide. You can find a summary of his address here, and it is well worth the read, so I definitely recommend it to you all.

That does it for this post. Any and all 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 everything you do.

BREAKING NEWS: Elder Von G. Keetch Passes Away at age 57

Hello again, everyone! I am saddened by some late breaking news of which I just became aware. Elder Von G. Keetch, who was called as a General Authority Seventy in April 2015, has passed away as the result of a brief and sudden illness at the relatively young age of 57. Since his call as a General Authority, Elder Keetch has served with the Church Public Affairs Department, and, at the time of his passing, was serving as the executive director of the same

Since the flu season has been particularly bad here in Utah (especially throughout the Salt Lake and Utah Valleys), that could have been the cause, but that has yet to be either confirmed or denied. . Funeral arrangements are pending, and the First Presidency has sent out their condolences to his family. I will share more about this as that becomes available.

It seems to be the season for actively-serving general authorities to pass away. Elder Bruce D. Porter did so in December 2016, and his death was preceded by that of Per G. Malm in July of that same year. And we have also, of course, seen the recent passing of two beloved apostles, Elder Robert D. Hales in October of last year, and President Thomas S. Monson at the beginning of this month.

It is always sad to hear of these beloved leaders passing away. But the one consolation we have is our knowledge that their work continues beyond the veil, unhindered by those factors that led to the deaths of their physical bodies.

Though they may never read this personally, I take this opportunity to extend my condolences to the families of these deceased Church leaders, and especially in this case to the family of Elder Keetch, and to thank them for letting the rest of the Church share him for a time. Elder Keetch's legacy will live on as all of us live as he taught. In reference to that subject, since his call as a general authority came less than 3 years ago. he only had one opportunity to speak in general conference, and you can read that powerful sermon here.

As one who has read some things that have been written of Elder Keetch's ministry, I can say without hesitation (or fear of contradiction) that he practiced what he preached. May God bless his memory, and his family as they mourn his passing at this tender time, that they may be comforted by the knowledge of a future reunion with him.

That does it for this post. Any and all 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 everything you do.

Ensign Supplement Pays Tribute to President Monson

Hello again, everyone! This is just a brief post to inform all who are interested that the Church has released this supplement to pay tribute to President Monson, including the text of the addresses given at his funeral by Ann M. Dibb, then-President Uchtdorf, and Presidents Eyring and Nelson. I hope all of you enjoy reading it as much as I did. That does it for this post. Any and all 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 everything you do.