Stokes Sounds Off

Search This Blog

Leaderboard

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

BREAKING NEWS: Open House and Dedication Dates Announced for Concepcion Chile and Barranquilla Colombia Temples

Hello again, everyone! Although I just barely posted updated thoughts about the time-frames for temple-related events, I knew they were subject to change. Regular readers and followers of this blog have no doubt seen the comment on the last post indicating that the open house and dedication dates have been announced for both the Concepcion Chile and Barranquilla Colombia Temples. Let's dive right into the details of that information.

First, I wanted to note that both dedications are set to occur a little later than I had been projecting. The Concepcion Chile Temple will host open house tours for exactly four weeks: between the Saturdays of September 15 and October 13, with no tours being conducted on the Sundays of September 16, 23, and 30 and October 7.

Here's the interesting thing about that: In lieu of a cultural celebration, the Church has announced that a devotional for the youth will be held on Saturday October 27. The temple will be dedicated in three sessions the following day, and will be broadcast to all congregations in Chile.

As for the Barranquilla Colombia Temple, the open house will run for three weeks: between the Saturdays of November 3-24, with no tours on the relevant Sundays, November 4, 11, and 18. Again, a youth devotional will be held in lieu of a cultural celebration, and that devotional will take place on Saturday December 8, with the dedication in three sessions following the next day, which will be broadcast to all Colombian Church members.

It is wonderful to have heard of this announcement, and I am grateful to have been able to pass this information along to you all. You can find more information about this on the official news release from Mormon Newsroom.

I did want to note one additional thing: In the estimated time-frames for future temple events that I adjusted and published earlier today, I had again referenced the news article from the Italian newspaper that featured an interview with those working on the Rome Italy Temple. That article had stated that the Church might be dedicating that temple prior to the end of this year.

So I can see two options: Either the Church is keeping November open in case the dedication could be held in the middle of that month, or else the completion of that temple will only occur in early 2019. I am keeping my eyes open for any information that would point to either option and will pass that along once I find out about it.

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 Completion Estimates for Future Temple-related Events

Hello again, everyone! I am back as promised, with the updated completion estimates I have put together for future temple events. I have based these revisions on a number of factors, but primarily on the climates of the cities in which these temples are being constructed or renovated and the progress (or lack thereof) for each of them. Those estimates follow below.

So as not to disturb the flow of that information, I will close now as I always do. 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.


Future estimates for known temple-related events

2018:
Sunday March 4: Washington DC Temple Renovation Closure (date has been confirmed)
Sunday April 22: Houston Texas Temple Rededication (private; date has been confirmed; President M. Russell Ballard will preside at this event)
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 (official closure date confirmation is pending)
Sunday September 16 or 23: Concepcion Chile Temple Dedication (160th operating temple)
Sunday October 14 or 21: Barranquilla Colombia Temple Dedication (161st operating temple)
Sunday December 9 or 16: Rome Italy Temple Dedication (162nd operating temple)
Note: An article published in an Italian newspaper featured interviews with construction workers. As part of that interview, one worker noted that the Church would likely dedicate this temple before the end of 2018. While the general consensus seems to be that this could occur in October, in view of the progress (and at times the lack thereof) in terms of this temple’s construction, it has seemed wise to be more conservative in my estimates. If I see a need to revise this estimate again, I will do so.

2019:
Mid-February: Kinshasa DR Congo Temple Dedication (163rd operating temple)
Mid-March: Memphis Tennessee Temple Rededication
Mid-to-late April: Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple Rededication
Early-to-mid May: Fortaleza Brazil Temple Dedication (164th operating temple)
Mid-to-late May: Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple Dedication (165th operating temple)
Mid-June: Frankfurt Germany Temple Rededication
Early-to-mid August: Lisbon Portugal Temple Dedication (166th operating temple)
Mid-to-late August: Raleigh North Carolina Temple Rededication
Mid-September: Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Rededication
Mid-to-late October: Asuncion Paraguay Temple Rededication
Mid-November: Durban South Africa Temple Dedication (167th operating temple)
Mid-December: Oakland California Temple Rededication
Note: This temple closed for renovation on February 19, 2018 and the renovation process was officially underway as of February 28, 2018. When its’ closure was announced by the First Presidency, the announcement indicated that this temple would be rededicated in 2019. That said, it is an older temple, and if anything delays or prolongs that process, another adjustment to this estimate would be necessary.
                       
2020:
Mid-March: Arequipa Peru Temple Dedication (168th operating temple)
Mid-to-late April: Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple Dedication (169th operating temple)
Mid-May: Tokyo Japan Temple Rededication
Early-to-mid June Winnipeg Manitoba Temple Dedication (170th operating temple)
Note: Full-scale construction efforts on this temple have been anticipated to begin since its’ groundbreaking in December 2016, and, as noted above, that could occur in April or May 2018. Once those efforts are fully underway, we will know more regarding how (if at all) the 20-month estimate originally given for this temple might be affected, and any subsequent adjustments that may be needed will be made.
Mid-August: Mesa Arizona Temple Rededicatiom
Mid-November: Washington DC Temple Rededication

2021:
Mid-to-late April: Hamilton New Zealand Temple Rededication

Final Note: I heard that 2018 and 2019 could be big years for temple groundbreakings. If that proves correct, then many other new 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 will then be added to the other estimates above.

Temple Construction Updates Provided; Additional Revision of Completion Estimates Necessary

Hello again, everyone! I am pleased to be able to report today many exciting developments in terms of temple construction around the world. Before I pass along what those details are, I wanted to note that some of these updates involve a shift in the more general completion estimates for those temples that have and have not had progress reported recently. This in turn necessitates yet another reevaluation on my part in terms of the more specific estimates I have provided, which I hope to post later today.

With that said, let's get to the updates. We start first with the Barranquilla Colombia Temple. A report has come in today that last Saturday, members offered free health services and supplies to around 550 individuals near the temple site, after which those giving and receiving such services toured the temple grounds. That was great to hear about.

And if that was not enough good news, an update has been provided on the status of that temple as well. The latest report notes that more plants and trees are being added to the grounds of the temple, that art glass installation continues, and that interior work is making progress.

Based on that update, I may be rethinking the more specific time-frame which I offered for this temple's dedication. When I last posted those estimates, I had indicated that the Rome Italy Temple might be dedicated before this one, but since both are progressing steadily, another evaluation of that is likely needed.

Regarding the Rome Italy Temple, in view of the article quoting a member of the construction team for that project, it has seemed very safe to assume that that temple will almost certainly be dedicated before the end of this year, rather than the beginning of 2019. So I will be keeping that in mind when I work on the updated estimates.

We next turn to the Lisbon Portugal Temple, where steeple walls have been poured and the scaffolding around the steeple has been removed. Because this temple has progressed so steadily lately, the general completion estimate for this temple has been changed yet again.

As those who have followed such changes might recall, this temple has moved up on the list a couple of times. As recently as around a month or so ago, it was noted that this temple could be completed in mid-2019, which was subsequently changed to mid-to-late 2019.

With the progress that has been noted, today that more general estimate has been pushed up again to mid-2019. I was grateful to learn about that.

I should also note that, since the two have been somewhat neck-and-neck in their completion estimates, the estimate for the Durban South Africa remains at mid-to-late 2019, meaning the Lisbon temple will likely be completed several months prior to Durban.

Another update has been provided for the Arequipa Peru Temple as well. While still noting that the cupola has been installed atop the tower walls, it has also been noted that interior work is underway. But the big surprise with this temple is that, while as recently as yesterday, its' general completion estimate was set during late 2019-early 2020, there is now reason to believe that it may only be dedicated in early 2020. So that is something else I will be reevaluating.

We now turn to temples undergoing renovation. Surprisingly enough, reports have come in of progress on both the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple (where the spire and the marble cladding have been removed) and on the Oakland California Temple (where a construction fence has been put up and the water fountain feature has been removed).

Because of the confirmation that both temples have their renovations underway, it makes sense that the more general estimate for the completion of the Baton Rouge renovation is mid-2019. And because the renovation efforts are officially underway for the temple in Oakland, it has felt more reasonable to me to alter my general estimate for its' rededication to sometime between late 2019 and early 2020.

I should also note that, because no progress has been reported on the Asuncion Paraguay Temple (although such progress may have been made but has just not been reported yet), it has felt wise to shift my general estimate for that temple's completion to mid-to-late 2019. But depending on the progress (or the lack thereof) on this temple, that could be pushed back further.

It is also worth noting that we are still waiting for confirmation as to whether or not the Asuncion Paraguay and Baton Rouge Louisiana Temples will have a change in their exterior looks to match other temples built and originally dedicated during the temple building boom of the late 1990s-early 2000s. It seems safe to assume that will be the case, but time will tell.

This update was slightly longer and more detailed than I intended it to be, and I apologize for that. But 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 (which will, barring anything unexpected, be published later today and will focus on more specifically updated estimates for future temple-related events), I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Concepcion Chile Temple Reaches Another Milestone Towards Its' Completion

Hello again, everyone! I am posting again today with another reported update on the Concepcion Chile Temple, which is getting ever closer to its' completion. New information of which I became aware just a short while ago indicates that the plastic sheeting has been removed from the decorative fencing which has been installed around the grounds of the temple. Landscaping and interior work also continues to make progress. And it appears preparations are also underway to finish installing the monument sign that many temples feature on their grounds.

This report is significant. As previously noted, from what I can ascertain, the dedication of this temple has been anticipated for a while to take place sometime in the latter half of this year. Since July is the typical month in which the general Church leadership takes their annual recess, it seems most likely that this temple's dedication could be set for mid-August of this year.

While no additional updates have been reported on the construction of any other new temples or those undergoing the renovation process, I did want to note that, as of today, the Church has 12.1 years in which to finish the construction of the 23 temples in various phases and to announce and complete 18 others, which would result in at leat 200 temples being in operation by the 200th anniversary of the reestablishment of the Church. Whether or not an official goal is made to do so, I think the Church may reach and very easily exceed that number in the near future.

And that is especially true in light of a few temples that may be able to have a groundbreaking set in the near future. As I have noted previously, my research  points to the idea that the next two years could be significant ones, not just for temple groundbreakings and dedications, but also particularly for temple announcements. I am keeping my eyes open for all temple updates and will bring those to you 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.

Monday, February 26, 2018

Another Update Provided on the Raleigh North Carolina Temple Renovation Process

Hello again, everyone! While I hope that discussion will continue on that updated list of potential temples I posted yesterday (and I will, as previously noted, have an open commenting period on that for the next 3 weeks or so, until I need to finalize it for General Conference), I learned earlier today of yet another update on the renovation process for the Raleigh North Carolina Temple.

According to the latest information that I have found, marble cladding has been completely removed from that temple, marking another significant milestone in its' renovation process. In the meantime, as far as I have been able to ascertain, there has been no change in the status of any new temples or any others undergoing renovation. I am hoping that is merely because no updates have been reported yet.

But I am monitoring all of that and I will be sure to continue to pass along any updates 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.