Hello again, everyone! I just wanted to post right now about an interesting anomaly related to the ages of our apostles. There have been a couple of times recently when, due to the number of days involved, an apostle has reached his next full decimal year a day before his birthday. This happened most recently with Elder Gary E. Stevenson's decimal age.
As I mentioned, he will be observing his 63rd birthday on Monday. Therefore, as of tomorrow, his decimal age will be calculated as 62.997. If that is rounded to the nearest hundredth, that works out to 63.00 decimal years, although he will not be observing his birthday until Monday.
And it is also worth noting that the 3 August apostolic birthdays (which I referenced in a post on this blog on August 1 of this year) will all have been observed within the week following Elder Stevenson's birthday.
I had toyed with the idea of passing along the latest apostolic statistics tomorrow, the last report of that nature I did was on July 1. And since I have also passed the self-imposed deadline within which I had committed to posting the updated list of the most likely temple prospects which may be announced in October, that will be my priority within the next week or so, which I hope to publish sooner rather than later.
With that in mind, and with the acknowledgement that, within the next week, I will also be passing along birthday posts for the three apostles, then a report on the latest apostolic statistics will then likely be deferred until the 19th (or the week prior, if I can make that happen on the same day I do the birthday tribute post for President Oaks).
In addition, I continue to monitor all Church and temple news and will continue to do my level best to bring word of those developments to you as I receive them. Stay tuned for all of that new content in the days ahead.
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly-added content, please feel free to subscribe for e-mail updates. 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.
Saturday, August 4, 2018
An Interesting Anomaly Related to the Ages of Our Apostles
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Friday, August 3, 2018
Church News Updates
Hello again, everyone! The Church News website has provided several new articles which cover significant topics such as the ongoing ministry of our Church leaders and recount how the Church has made significant progress in several areas of the world. So let's jump right in to our discussion of those stories, all of which are well worthy of your attention.
We begin with the next article in the six-part series on the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. This article shares comments from the apostles on their divine mandate to be ministers rather than administrators, which takes them around the globe.
Just a general comment on that article. I recently shared my response to a question that was asked in advance of the September Face-to-Face Event at which Elder Quentin L. Cook and two representatives of the Church History Department will be addressing such questions. Just to recap what I said there, it is no longer practical for the apostles to serve full-time missions (though the full-time missionaries whose calls are directed by inspiration given to members of that Quorum extend the influence of the apostles).
Additionally, I noted that, while one of their many roles is to administer the affairs of the Church, their primary roles involve a worldwide ministry in which they lift and encourage members and missionaries of the Church whom they encounter in their travels. And that agrees perfectly with what the current members of the Quorum of the Twelve were quoted as saying in the latest article in that series.
They have taught us as members to never let administering a Church program become more important than a person to be loved, saved, and ministered to, and they are living examples of how to make that work. An earlier article quoted one Quorum member who, shortly after his ordination to the apostleship, was advised by a senior apostle to always add at least half an hour to everything he did, as the members of the Church are always anxious to greet and chat with the apostles when they visit any congregation.
I have had several opportunities to observe the visiting Brethren put this into practice, so I know that ministering to Church members is (as it should be) a high focus that may be second only to their mandated obligation to testify of the Savior wherever they are sent. It is wonderful to see that in action.
Moving on now, the Church News also continued its' series "This Week on Social". Among the topics covered this week were Elder Renlund's family vacation to Iceland and a Christmas thank-you in July. You can read more about that here.
The Church News additionally shared this article in their "History Revisited" series, which continued to cover Elder Holland's recent opportunity to return to his native St. George and rededicate the Tabernacle there.
In terms of news about other Church leaders, Elder Kevin W. Pearson, who serves on both the Communication Services and Strengthening Church Members Committees, became the first General Authority of the Church to speak during the recently-held FairMormon Conference. Among the many important topics covered during that conference was the fact that women have had a far greater influence on the Church than many people realize, and that the contributions of such women should rightly be talked about and considered in their proper historical context. You can read more about that here
It was great to hear that this was a major focus of that conference. So many people have voiced their discontent with the fact that women have not had a more significant role in the Church, and therefore do not seem to be aware of the breadth and extent to which the influence of such women has been felt in molding so much of Church history as we know it today. You can read more on this story here. And this article covers Elder Pearson's particular remarks, which touched on how Latter-day Saints can use outlets such as social media or Youtube to be "voices of truth."
And finally this evening, I wanted to share this article, which highlights the friendship that has existed since the 1960's between the Church and the Colombian government. That article included quotes from Elder Enrique R. Falabella, who on August 1 of this year transitioned from being the First Counselor in the South America Northwest Area to being the Area President.
It is that existing friendship between Colombia and the Church which has enabled the Church to progress so well in the country, including the dedication of the temple in Bogota during the temple-building boom of the late 1990s-early 2000s. And we have since seen a second temple announced and constructed in the city of Barranquilla within that nation.
I have recently shared my feelings that a third temple for Colombia may soon be announced, and that such a temple could potentially likely rise in either Medellin or Cali. It may be just a matter of time before that occurs, and I can see a day very soon where temples will be dedicated in both cities. Right now, the two seem to be pretty evenly matched in terms of which might potentially get a temple first, but I will continue to watch for anything that would point to one or the other being more imminently likely.
I continue to monitor all Church news and temple-related developments and will be sure to pass word of those along to you all as I receive 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. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to do so, please feel free to subscribe. 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.
We begin with the next article in the six-part series on the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. This article shares comments from the apostles on their divine mandate to be ministers rather than administrators, which takes them around the globe.
Just a general comment on that article. I recently shared my response to a question that was asked in advance of the September Face-to-Face Event at which Elder Quentin L. Cook and two representatives of the Church History Department will be addressing such questions. Just to recap what I said there, it is no longer practical for the apostles to serve full-time missions (though the full-time missionaries whose calls are directed by inspiration given to members of that Quorum extend the influence of the apostles).
Additionally, I noted that, while one of their many roles is to administer the affairs of the Church, their primary roles involve a worldwide ministry in which they lift and encourage members and missionaries of the Church whom they encounter in their travels. And that agrees perfectly with what the current members of the Quorum of the Twelve were quoted as saying in the latest article in that series.
They have taught us as members to never let administering a Church program become more important than a person to be loved, saved, and ministered to, and they are living examples of how to make that work. An earlier article quoted one Quorum member who, shortly after his ordination to the apostleship, was advised by a senior apostle to always add at least half an hour to everything he did, as the members of the Church are always anxious to greet and chat with the apostles when they visit any congregation.
I have had several opportunities to observe the visiting Brethren put this into practice, so I know that ministering to Church members is (as it should be) a high focus that may be second only to their mandated obligation to testify of the Savior wherever they are sent. It is wonderful to see that in action.
Moving on now, the Church News also continued its' series "This Week on Social". Among the topics covered this week were Elder Renlund's family vacation to Iceland and a Christmas thank-you in July. You can read more about that here.
The Church News additionally shared this article in their "History Revisited" series, which continued to cover Elder Holland's recent opportunity to return to his native St. George and rededicate the Tabernacle there.
In terms of news about other Church leaders, Elder Kevin W. Pearson, who serves on both the Communication Services and Strengthening Church Members Committees, became the first General Authority of the Church to speak during the recently-held FairMormon Conference. Among the many important topics covered during that conference was the fact that women have had a far greater influence on the Church than many people realize, and that the contributions of such women should rightly be talked about and considered in their proper historical context. You can read more about that here
It was great to hear that this was a major focus of that conference. So many people have voiced their discontent with the fact that women have not had a more significant role in the Church, and therefore do not seem to be aware of the breadth and extent to which the influence of such women has been felt in molding so much of Church history as we know it today. You can read more on this story here. And this article covers Elder Pearson's particular remarks, which touched on how Latter-day Saints can use outlets such as social media or Youtube to be "voices of truth."
And finally this evening, I wanted to share this article, which highlights the friendship that has existed since the 1960's between the Church and the Colombian government. That article included quotes from Elder Enrique R. Falabella, who on August 1 of this year transitioned from being the First Counselor in the South America Northwest Area to being the Area President.
It is that existing friendship between Colombia and the Church which has enabled the Church to progress so well in the country, including the dedication of the temple in Bogota during the temple-building boom of the late 1990s-early 2000s. And we have since seen a second temple announced and constructed in the city of Barranquilla within that nation.
I have recently shared my feelings that a third temple for Colombia may soon be announced, and that such a temple could potentially likely rise in either Medellin or Cali. It may be just a matter of time before that occurs, and I can see a day very soon where temples will be dedicated in both cities. Right now, the two seem to be pretty evenly matched in terms of which might potentially get a temple first, but I will continue to watch for anything that would point to one or the other being more imminently likely.
I continue to monitor all Church news and temple-related developments and will be sure to pass word of those along to you all as I receive 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. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to do so, please feel free to subscribe. 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.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Three Apostles to Mark Their Birthdays This Month/Some Thoughts About Changes in Area Leadership and the Presidency of the Seventy
Hello again, everyone! As longtime readers of my blog may recall, last year, at the beginning of August, I noted that 5 apostles would be celebrating their birthdays during that month. Since that time, two of those apostles with August birthdays (President Thomas S. Monson and Elder Robert D. Hales) have passed away. As neither of the two new apostles have August birthdays, that lowers the number of August apostolic birthdays to 3. So I wanted to post today to provide an overview of which 3 apostles will have a birthday later this month, and when that will happen.
Interestingly, the August apostolic birthdays are each 3 days apart, taking place over a period of six days (from August 6-12). Next Monday, the youngest of those 3, Elder Gary E. Stevenson, will mark his 63rd birthday. 3 days later (Thursday August 9), Elder Neil L. Andersen will celebrate his 67th birthday. And 3 days after that (Sunday August 12), President Dallin H. Oaks, the oldest of the 3, will be observing his 86th birthday. It will be my privilege to post tributes to these Brethren on each of those days. Stay tuned for that.
On an unrelated note, the changes in area leadership, which were announced a few days after the April General Conference, have now gone into effect. This means that the Presidency of the Seventy has now been relieved from their service overseeing the Church's 10 North America areas, which are now under the supervision of 3-man presidencies, two of which are overseeing 2 areas each, and 1 of which will oversee the 3 Utah Areas.
The changes also mean that, for the first time in Church history, the Presidency of the Seventy is comprised of 4 members born outside the United States: Elder Patrick Kearon (who was born in England), Elder Terence M. Vinson (who was born in Australia), Elder Jose A. Teixeira (who was born in Portugal), and Elder Carlos A. Godoy (who was born in Brazil).
As I previously mentioned, Elder L. Whitney Clayton, who serves as the Senior President of the Seventy, will mark his 70th birthday in 2020, which means that, unless Elder Kearon has been released from the Presidency by that time (which does not seem likely), he could become the first foreign-born Senior President of the Seventy at that time.
It is also interesting to note that, with the exception of Elder Clayton, the other 6 members of that Presidency have all come into that assignment within the last year. To have a majority of that Presidency so new to the assignment is significant anyway it's considered.
It will be interesting to see how soon the Church identifies the "other assignments" which the Presidency of the Seventy will be taking on now that they no longer are responsible for the oversight of the North American Areas. Whatever might occur in that regard, you can find more information on that through this blog as I learn of 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. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly-added content, please feel free to subscribe. 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.
Interestingly, the August apostolic birthdays are each 3 days apart, taking place over a period of six days (from August 6-12). Next Monday, the youngest of those 3, Elder Gary E. Stevenson, will mark his 63rd birthday. 3 days later (Thursday August 9), Elder Neil L. Andersen will celebrate his 67th birthday. And 3 days after that (Sunday August 12), President Dallin H. Oaks, the oldest of the 3, will be observing his 86th birthday. It will be my privilege to post tributes to these Brethren on each of those days. Stay tuned for that.
On an unrelated note, the changes in area leadership, which were announced a few days after the April General Conference, have now gone into effect. This means that the Presidency of the Seventy has now been relieved from their service overseeing the Church's 10 North America areas, which are now under the supervision of 3-man presidencies, two of which are overseeing 2 areas each, and 1 of which will oversee the 3 Utah Areas.
The changes also mean that, for the first time in Church history, the Presidency of the Seventy is comprised of 4 members born outside the United States: Elder Patrick Kearon (who was born in England), Elder Terence M. Vinson (who was born in Australia), Elder Jose A. Teixeira (who was born in Portugal), and Elder Carlos A. Godoy (who was born in Brazil).
As I previously mentioned, Elder L. Whitney Clayton, who serves as the Senior President of the Seventy, will mark his 70th birthday in 2020, which means that, unless Elder Kearon has been released from the Presidency by that time (which does not seem likely), he could become the first foreign-born Senior President of the Seventy at that time.
It is also interesting to note that, with the exception of Elder Clayton, the other 6 members of that Presidency have all come into that assignment within the last year. To have a majority of that Presidency so new to the assignment is significant anyway it's considered.
It will be interesting to see how soon the Church identifies the "other assignments" which the Presidency of the Seventy will be taking on now that they no longer are responsible for the oversight of the North American Areas. Whatever might occur in that regard, you can find more information on that through this blog as I learn of 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. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly-added content, please feel free to subscribe. 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.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
2019 Mutual Theme Announced
Hello again, everyone! In a letter from the Young Men and Young Women General Presidencies which was sent to leaders around the world, the 2019 Mutual Theme was announced. The theme comes from the words of the Savior in John 14:15, which reads: "If ye love me, keep my commandments." A simple and concise yet powerful injunction, which the leaders hope the youth will keep in mind this year as activities are planned and carried out, and as the Come, Follow Me curriculum is discussed every Sunday. You can read more about this development here.
Two additional Church News stories are significant as well. This one highlights remarks from BYU professor Lori L. Wadsworth, who highlighted 7 ways each of us can recognize the divinity of others. C. S. Lewis, in his "The Weight of Glory", was quoted as saying "It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which,if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship." It is a wonderful thought that each of us has a divine nature, heritage, and potential, and the remarks shared during this devotional exemplify these principles.
For those of us who are Church members, we either directly know someone or know someone who knows someone who has, through no fault of their own, had to come home early from their missionary service. One such individual, now a player for an NFL team, shared his experience in that regard, and some insights into how all of us can help such individuals.
I continue to monitor all Church news and temple updates and will pass those along to you all as I receive word of them. I should also note that I am still working on combining the two lists of temple locations, and once I get that done (within the next 2-3 days or so), I will publish that here, so stay tuned for that.
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed about newly-added content, please feel free to subscribe. 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.
Two additional Church News stories are significant as well. This one highlights remarks from BYU professor Lori L. Wadsworth, who highlighted 7 ways each of us can recognize the divinity of others. C. S. Lewis, in his "The Weight of Glory", was quoted as saying "It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which,if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship." It is a wonderful thought that each of us has a divine nature, heritage, and potential, and the remarks shared during this devotional exemplify these principles.
For those of us who are Church members, we either directly know someone or know someone who knows someone who has, through no fault of their own, had to come home early from their missionary service. One such individual, now a player for an NFL team, shared his experience in that regard, and some insights into how all of us can help such individuals.
I continue to monitor all Church news and temple updates and will pass those along to you all as I receive word of them. I should also note that I am still working on combining the two lists of temple locations, and once I get that done (within the next 2-3 days or so), I will publish that here, so stay tuned for that.
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed about newly-added content, please feel free to subscribe. 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.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Miscellaneous Church and Temple News
Hello again, everyone! I am posting again now to pass along miscellaneous Church and temple news. First, regarding temples, I wanted to report that the LDS Church Temples site, which had a massive data loss earlier this year, continues its' restoration process. The updated estimate for when the site might be up and running again is now listed for September. As we continue to unite our prayers in behalf of all of those working on this issue, hopefully it will again be available sooner rather than later.
Next, the updates from the Church News. This article reports on the sacrifices made by Saints in Brazil to reach the first temple in that nation (which was located in Sao Paulo), and talks about how temples have since started dotting that nation. With 6 in operation, 2 under construction, and 2 others announced, and other potential locations have become a real possibility.
I currently have 4 Brazilian candidates on my list for the near future, namely: Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Florianopolis, and a second in the Sao Paulo area). Thanks to the increase in the number of temples in that nation, hose Saints no longer have to make great sacrifices to attend the temple., and the first South American apostle, Elder Ulisses Soares, comes from Brazil.
As I have previously observed, the Lord seems to be mindful of Brazil, and of how valuable that nation has been in increasing the strength of the Church worldwide in many ways. I am sure we will certainly see many other Brazilian temples announced in the not-too-distant future, and that we might even see a day when the number of temples operating in Brazil matches or exceeds the number of temples in Utah. It will be interesting to see in what manner and how swiftly all of that unfolds.
Salt Lake City, where the Church's worldwide headquarters is located, is home to many "hidden jewels and gems" which are popular attractions for those who are visiting the city, whether for General Conference, the Lights on Temple Square during the Christmas season, or at other times. This article describes some of the most frequently-visited locations which fit that description.
And finally, the Church News again reported on "Mormon Night with the Angels", which is a Monday night each July in which members and friends of the LDS Church are given a special opportunity to attend a baseball game for the Los Angeles Angels. The team gives an invitation for the Church to have one of its' leaders throw out the ceremonial first pitch. This year, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had that honor, which you can read more about here.
I continue to monitor all temple and Church news and will do my level best to bring word of those to you ASAP after I become aware of these developments. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly-added content, please feel free to subscribe. 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.
Next, the updates from the Church News. This article reports on the sacrifices made by Saints in Brazil to reach the first temple in that nation (which was located in Sao Paulo), and talks about how temples have since started dotting that nation. With 6 in operation, 2 under construction, and 2 others announced, and other potential locations have become a real possibility.
I currently have 4 Brazilian candidates on my list for the near future, namely: Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Florianopolis, and a second in the Sao Paulo area). Thanks to the increase in the number of temples in that nation, hose Saints no longer have to make great sacrifices to attend the temple., and the first South American apostle, Elder Ulisses Soares, comes from Brazil.
As I have previously observed, the Lord seems to be mindful of Brazil, and of how valuable that nation has been in increasing the strength of the Church worldwide in many ways. I am sure we will certainly see many other Brazilian temples announced in the not-too-distant future, and that we might even see a day when the number of temples operating in Brazil matches or exceeds the number of temples in Utah. It will be interesting to see in what manner and how swiftly all of that unfolds.
Salt Lake City, where the Church's worldwide headquarters is located, is home to many "hidden jewels and gems" which are popular attractions for those who are visiting the city, whether for General Conference, the Lights on Temple Square during the Christmas season, or at other times. This article describes some of the most frequently-visited locations which fit that description.
And finally, the Church News again reported on "Mormon Night with the Angels", which is a Monday night each July in which members and friends of the LDS Church are given a special opportunity to attend a baseball game for the Los Angeles Angels. The team gives an invitation for the Church to have one of its' leaders throw out the ceremonial first pitch. This year, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had that honor, which you can read more about here.
I continue to monitor all temple and Church news and will do my level best to bring word of those to you ASAP after I become aware of these developments. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly-added content, please feel free to subscribe. 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.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Monday, July 30, 2018
Two Additional Church News Stories Reported
Hello again, everyone! I am back yet again, this time to cover two additional Church news stories which have been published within the last 10 hours or less. The Church News again continues to highlight landmark and significant addresses from Church leaders in their "From the Vault" Series. The focus of this week's article was on an address given by then-Elder Gordon B. Hinckley of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in October 1974 on the campus of BYU-Provo. Although President Hinckley's foremost legacy was his smaller temple-building program, which more than doubled the number of temples in the period of a few short years, he was also well-known as an eternal optimist.
In his aforementioned address, he spoke about how important optimism can be in our daily lives. He also talked about how being pessimistic, especially about things that are outside our ability to control, can dampen our spirits and weigh us down. By focusing on the positive (which does not necessarily mean ignoring the negative, bur rather not letting the good in our lives be outweighed by the bad, difficult, or challenging things), our lives take on a richer quality, and we are better equipped to deal with the hard times when they come. Both the summary of his address and the address itself are well worthy of your time.
The second and final new item I wanted to report on was how two "native sons of St. George", Elders Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Steven E. Snow, Church Historian and Recorder, who is a General Authority Seventy, traveled "back home" to St. George this weekend for the rededication of the St. George Tabernacle. Also in attendance was Bishop Dean M. Davies, First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, who had a supervisory role in the tabernacle's renovation process. The Church News summary can find found here, with a more complete summary provided by the Deseret News here.
I continue to monitor all Church news and temple developments and will do my level best to bring word of those to you as I receive 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. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to do so, please feel free to subscribe to stay informed of new content. 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.
In his aforementioned address, he spoke about how important optimism can be in our daily lives. He also talked about how being pessimistic, especially about things that are outside our ability to control, can dampen our spirits and weigh us down. By focusing on the positive (which does not necessarily mean ignoring the negative, bur rather not letting the good in our lives be outweighed by the bad, difficult, or challenging things), our lives take on a richer quality, and we are better equipped to deal with the hard times when they come. Both the summary of his address and the address itself are well worthy of your time.
The second and final new item I wanted to report on was how two "native sons of St. George", Elders Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Steven E. Snow, Church Historian and Recorder, who is a General Authority Seventy, traveled "back home" to St. George this weekend for the rededication of the St. George Tabernacle. Also in attendance was Bishop Dean M. Davies, First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, who had a supervisory role in the tabernacle's renovation process. The Church News summary can find found here, with a more complete summary provided by the Deseret News here.
I continue to monitor all Church news and temple developments and will do my level best to bring word of those to you as I receive 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. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to do so, please feel free to subscribe to stay informed of new content. 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.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Temple Updates Provided
Hello again, everyone! On this second-to-last day of July, I am pleased to post today to share some updates of which I have become aware in terms of temple developments. Let's get right into it. First, I have mentioned that, especially in view of President Nelson's reportedly extensive plans to expand the number of temples in a short period of time, there seems to be every likelihood that the Church will have at least 200 temples in operation by the 200th anniversary of the Church's reestablishment (which, as I have noted, will occur on Saturday April 6, 2030). With 30 temples in various phases, the Church would just need to complete each of those, and announce and complete 11 others in the 11.68 years between today and that date, which could be done if 3.51 temples were dedicated per year during that time.
As I also mentioned, although only 2 temple dedications will be held this year, there is already 1 temple dedication set for next year, and there are 5 other temples that will almost certainly be dedicated in 2019 as well. And with the 3 others under construction that are currently anticipated to be dedicated within the first 6-8 months of 2020, there will be 170 operating temples by around this time in 2020, by which time several other temples will likely have had a groundbreaking and could be close to dedication as well.
If there are a minimum of 170 temples dedicated by July 30, 2020, that would leave the Church 9 years, 8 months, and 7 days (9.68 decimal years) in which to build and dedicate those 30, which would then lower the number of temples that would need to be dedicated per year to 3.1. And if the initial word on President Nelson's temple-building plans is any indication whatsoever, that will be easy for the Church to do.
That said, let's briefly talk about the temple updates which I have found out about. We start with the Concepcion Chile Temple, where a new series of photographs have been posted on the LDS Church Temples Facebook page. It is good to see the progress on that temple, since its' open house begins in around 6.5 weeks.
We turn now to the Kinshasa DR Congo Temple, where the installation of walkways around temple grounds continues. As we are nearing the end of the typical July recess month for the apostles, I would anticipate that a dedication announcement could be made within the next 2-3 months, but perhaps sooner. It will be interesting to see how that unfolds, and whether or not that temple's dedication could be set to occur prior to the already-scheduled dedication of the Rome Italy Temple.
Next, I wanted to mention that I was able to find an update of sorts on the construction process for the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple. I am not entirely sure how reliable the information in this video is, but someone posted what appears to be an update showing progress on this temple through Youtube. If any of you have any information on whether or not the updates in this video are valid, let me know.
A new video and photograph series has been posted on the LDS Church Temples Facebook page, which you can find at the link below. We at long last have an update for the Rio de Janerio Temple, which shows that exterior cladding is underway. Additionally, an article from a local paper about that temple was shared on Facebook earlier today, all of which you can find out more about on the aforementioned Facebook page.
We have yet another update on the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple, where plies have been installed for the meetinghouse, and where preparation is underway to pour the foundation for that meetinghouse. As I mentioned previously, it is likely that the Church has more imminent need of the meetinghouse while the temple continues its' construction. I will pass along more as I learn of it.
And finally, some of you may have seen a recent comment on this blog from someone living close to the Raleigh North Carolina Temple. According to the information he provided in the comment, exterior framing and sheathing is now complete, weatherproofing has been attached to the temple's exterior, metal supports for stone attachment are being added around the exterior, and waterproofing is underway for the temple's newly-completed tower.
Before ending as I always do, I wanted to note that, while these updates are an encouraging sign, I do not see anything in the new information which would indicate a change is needed on any of the estimates I have previously offered. Stay tuned for more as I hear of it. I continue to monitor all such developments and will do my level best to pass those updates along as I learn 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. If you enjoyed what you read here, please feel free to subscribe to stay informed of newly-added content. 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.
As I also mentioned, although only 2 temple dedications will be held this year, there is already 1 temple dedication set for next year, and there are 5 other temples that will almost certainly be dedicated in 2019 as well. And with the 3 others under construction that are currently anticipated to be dedicated within the first 6-8 months of 2020, there will be 170 operating temples by around this time in 2020, by which time several other temples will likely have had a groundbreaking and could be close to dedication as well.
If there are a minimum of 170 temples dedicated by July 30, 2020, that would leave the Church 9 years, 8 months, and 7 days (9.68 decimal years) in which to build and dedicate those 30, which would then lower the number of temples that would need to be dedicated per year to 3.1. And if the initial word on President Nelson's temple-building plans is any indication whatsoever, that will be easy for the Church to do.
That said, let's briefly talk about the temple updates which I have found out about. We start with the Concepcion Chile Temple, where a new series of photographs have been posted on the LDS Church Temples Facebook page. It is good to see the progress on that temple, since its' open house begins in around 6.5 weeks.
We turn now to the Kinshasa DR Congo Temple, where the installation of walkways around temple grounds continues. As we are nearing the end of the typical July recess month for the apostles, I would anticipate that a dedication announcement could be made within the next 2-3 months, but perhaps sooner. It will be interesting to see how that unfolds, and whether or not that temple's dedication could be set to occur prior to the already-scheduled dedication of the Rome Italy Temple.
Next, I wanted to mention that I was able to find an update of sorts on the construction process for the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple. I am not entirely sure how reliable the information in this video is, but someone posted what appears to be an update showing progress on this temple through Youtube. If any of you have any information on whether or not the updates in this video are valid, let me know.
A new video and photograph series has been posted on the LDS Church Temples Facebook page, which you can find at the link below. We at long last have an update for the Rio de Janerio Temple, which shows that exterior cladding is underway. Additionally, an article from a local paper about that temple was shared on Facebook earlier today, all of which you can find out more about on the aforementioned Facebook page.
We have yet another update on the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple, where plies have been installed for the meetinghouse, and where preparation is underway to pour the foundation for that meetinghouse. As I mentioned previously, it is likely that the Church has more imminent need of the meetinghouse while the temple continues its' construction. I will pass along more as I learn of it.
And finally, some of you may have seen a recent comment on this blog from someone living close to the Raleigh North Carolina Temple. According to the information he provided in the comment, exterior framing and sheathing is now complete, weatherproofing has been attached to the temple's exterior, metal supports for stone attachment are being added around the exterior, and waterproofing is underway for the temple's newly-completed tower.
Before ending as I always do, I wanted to note that, while these updates are an encouraging sign, I do not see anything in the new information which would indicate a change is needed on any of the estimates I have previously offered. Stay tuned for more as I hear of it. I continue to monitor all such developments and will do my level best to pass those updates along as I learn 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. If you enjoyed what you read here, please feel free to subscribe to stay informed of newly-added content. 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.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Church Issues Statement on Youth Interviews
Hello again, everyone! As some of you may know, an LDS man by the name of Sam Young recently reportedly launched a "hunger strike" that was effective today to protest the ongoing problems he sees in the way the Church approaches interviews with the youth. KUTV published this story about that hunger strike.
In response to the concerns raised by Sam Young, and having been given a request for comment, Church leadership issued this statement which directly responds to the reason behind the hunger strike, and outlines how local and general Church leadership have responded to the concerns raised by Sam Young.
If I may offer a comment here, while I appreciate Brother Young's expressed concerns, and while I feel the Church's response was appropriate, I disagree that a hunger strike is the best way to go about getting ones' concerns properly resolved. The Church has taken action in recent months to tweak the procedures by which youth and children are interviewed. But this kind of protest, in my opinion, which seems to be attempting to force the Church to take it more seriously, is just as much of an inappropriate response to such concerns as was the vocal protest of the woman during the April 2018 Sustaining of Church Officers who was quoted as yelling repeatedly: "Stop protecting sexual predators."
In the midst of the increasing official statements and policy changes the Church has undertaken to deal with such concerns in the 6.5 months of President Nelson's prophetic administration thus far, it is mind-boggling to me that individuals such as Brother Young and the woman who yelled during General Conference are choosing that approach rather than giving a more careful reading to the material the Church has released on that subject.
If they had bothered to do so, then they would know that Church leaders have been increasingly more concerned about such matters, and have issued statements and materials which are meant to stop such issues before they become a problem. Among those statements that have been issued is a reiteration of the Church's zero-tolerance policy for abuse of any kind from those in a position of trust, who are promptly removed from their positions and are subject to Church disciplinary measures as soon as their conduct is discovered and proven beyond reasonable doubt.
That said, it is important to note that, if such issues are truly concerning to members of the Church anywhere in the world, there is a proper and appropriate way, including going through the correct channels, to get such concerns resolved. And in my opinion, that has not happened in this case. I am grateful to the leaders of the Church for their prompt and measured response, but getting these issues resolved in the way the Lord has prescribed is a lot more effective than taking such drastic measures as a hunger strike or as shouting about the issue in the middle of General Conference.
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of new content, please feel free to subscribe. 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.
In response to the concerns raised by Sam Young, and having been given a request for comment, Church leadership issued this statement which directly responds to the reason behind the hunger strike, and outlines how local and general Church leadership have responded to the concerns raised by Sam Young.
If I may offer a comment here, while I appreciate Brother Young's expressed concerns, and while I feel the Church's response was appropriate, I disagree that a hunger strike is the best way to go about getting ones' concerns properly resolved. The Church has taken action in recent months to tweak the procedures by which youth and children are interviewed. But this kind of protest, in my opinion, which seems to be attempting to force the Church to take it more seriously, is just as much of an inappropriate response to such concerns as was the vocal protest of the woman during the April 2018 Sustaining of Church Officers who was quoted as yelling repeatedly: "Stop protecting sexual predators."
In the midst of the increasing official statements and policy changes the Church has undertaken to deal with such concerns in the 6.5 months of President Nelson's prophetic administration thus far, it is mind-boggling to me that individuals such as Brother Young and the woman who yelled during General Conference are choosing that approach rather than giving a more careful reading to the material the Church has released on that subject.
If they had bothered to do so, then they would know that Church leaders have been increasingly more concerned about such matters, and have issued statements and materials which are meant to stop such issues before they become a problem. Among those statements that have been issued is a reiteration of the Church's zero-tolerance policy for abuse of any kind from those in a position of trust, who are promptly removed from their positions and are subject to Church disciplinary measures as soon as their conduct is discovered and proven beyond reasonable doubt.
That said, it is important to note that, if such issues are truly concerning to members of the Church anywhere in the world, there is a proper and appropriate way, including going through the correct channels, to get such concerns resolved. And in my opinion, that has not happened in this case. I am grateful to the leaders of the Church for their prompt and measured response, but getting these issues resolved in the way the Lord has prescribed is a lot more effective than taking such drastic measures as a hunger strike or as shouting about the issue in the middle of General Conference.
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of new content, please feel free to subscribe. 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.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Additional Church News Reported
Hello again, everyone! There have been several significant articles reported in the various Church news outlets, which I finally am able to pass along to you all today. So let's get right into it. First of all, as some of you may know, before Sister Wendy Nelson married then-Elder Nelson, she was a professor at BYU-Provo. As such, she had at least one opportunity to speak at a BYU Devotional. This article summarizes her remarks from a 1998 devotional about how it is always possible for any of us to change. It is a remarkable address, and the article summarizing it is well worthy of your attention.
At the BYU-Idaho commencement, Brother Douglas D. Holmes, First Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency, offered 3 suggestions regarding how graduates could put their trust in God. This summary of his remarks is well worth your attention as well.
A few days later than I hoped or planned, I am finally providing a summary of the "Days of '47" KSL Parade. The theme for this year was "Foundations for the Future". As mentioned previously, President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who has pioneer ancestry, served as Grand Marshal for the parade. You can read more about the parade here/
There was a bit of local outcry from the LGBTQ community about the application for the participation of their group being denied, but that was primarily due to the fact that the parade is meant to honor and highlight pioneer heritage, while that community seemed to be wanting to participate to advance their own agenda.
As I may have mentioned a few times previously on this blog, it has been traditional for each Pioneer Day to commence with a Sunrise Service that has featured an address from a general Church leader. This year, that address was given by Elder Mervyn B. Arnold of the Seventy, who also has pioneers in his ancestry. As I also previously mentioned, Elder Arnold, who had his 70th birthday earlier this month, is one of those I am anticipating will be released and granted emeritus status in October, so this may have been his last public address as a General Authority. You can read more about what he said here.
I will be providing only brief summaries of the next few articles. Mexico City recently held an education fair which supported Church values, and about which you can read more here. The Church News also continued (and may have finished) its' series of articles about new Church leaders with this one about Lisa L. Harkness, who was sustained last April as the new First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency.
The Church News also provided more details regarding the video series in which Sister Reyna I. Aburto, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, opened up and shared some details about hardships she has experienced that have strengthened her faith. This next article was of interest to me due to my dad's connections to St. George, and I believe some of you have mentioned your connections to that city as well. With the Tabernacle in that city having recently concluded a renovation process, Elder Holland returned to his hometown to rededicate it, and you can find more details on both the renovation and rededication here.
More news regarding Elder Holland. I reported earlier this month that he had gone to England at the invitation of Baroness Emma Nicholson to address an AMAR gathering. When the Baroness was in Salt Lake recently, she met with Elder Holland, President Nelson, and Sister Sharon Eubank, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency. You can read more about that meeting here.
In yet another report from the Seminar for New Mission Leadership, this article features highlights from the closing address given by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, who, as previously noted, chairs the Church Missionary Executive Council. In his address, the former airline pilot took his aviation references to new heights (pun intended).
After the horrific meetinghouse shooting in Fallon Nevada last week, that community has seen an increased outpouring in expressions of love and support from various outlets, which you can read more about here. In an article that is part of their "History Revisited" series, the Church News commemorated 20 years since President Hinckley dedicated the first of his inspired "smaller temples" with this article, which highlights why that plan was a game-changer. As we enter an era where an additional "game-changing" temple building plan may be initiated, it was good to be reminded of what occurred under President Hinckley's leadership.
More research from a study done at BYU found the truth of the idea that the family that prays together stays together. This article highlights the results of that study, and offers six reasons why family prayer is important.
The Church News also continued their series titled "This Week on Social" with this article sharing comments on remembering the sacrifice of pioneers, how to define real faith, and the importance of ministering. Those comments came from President M. Russell Ballard and Elders Quentin L. Cook, Neil L. Andersen, and Ulisses Soares.
Rounding out my coverage of these articles is this one about a Pakistani refugee who has undertaken an ambitious service project at an African-American cemetery in Houston, this one summarizing 7 quotes from female Church leaders on how to make better choices and decisions, and this one which shares how Catholic priests and nuns recent helped a man to find his Italian ancestors.
I continue to monitor all Church and temple news and will do my level best to bring you word of those developments 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. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to do so, please feel free to subscribe to stay informed of new content. 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.
At the BYU-Idaho commencement, Brother Douglas D. Holmes, First Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency, offered 3 suggestions regarding how graduates could put their trust in God. This summary of his remarks is well worth your attention as well.
A few days later than I hoped or planned, I am finally providing a summary of the "Days of '47" KSL Parade. The theme for this year was "Foundations for the Future". As mentioned previously, President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who has pioneer ancestry, served as Grand Marshal for the parade. You can read more about the parade here/
There was a bit of local outcry from the LGBTQ community about the application for the participation of their group being denied, but that was primarily due to the fact that the parade is meant to honor and highlight pioneer heritage, while that community seemed to be wanting to participate to advance their own agenda.
As I may have mentioned a few times previously on this blog, it has been traditional for each Pioneer Day to commence with a Sunrise Service that has featured an address from a general Church leader. This year, that address was given by Elder Mervyn B. Arnold of the Seventy, who also has pioneers in his ancestry. As I also previously mentioned, Elder Arnold, who had his 70th birthday earlier this month, is one of those I am anticipating will be released and granted emeritus status in October, so this may have been his last public address as a General Authority. You can read more about what he said here.
I will be providing only brief summaries of the next few articles. Mexico City recently held an education fair which supported Church values, and about which you can read more here. The Church News also continued (and may have finished) its' series of articles about new Church leaders with this one about Lisa L. Harkness, who was sustained last April as the new First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency.
The Church News also provided more details regarding the video series in which Sister Reyna I. Aburto, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, opened up and shared some details about hardships she has experienced that have strengthened her faith. This next article was of interest to me due to my dad's connections to St. George, and I believe some of you have mentioned your connections to that city as well. With the Tabernacle in that city having recently concluded a renovation process, Elder Holland returned to his hometown to rededicate it, and you can find more details on both the renovation and rededication here.
More news regarding Elder Holland. I reported earlier this month that he had gone to England at the invitation of Baroness Emma Nicholson to address an AMAR gathering. When the Baroness was in Salt Lake recently, she met with Elder Holland, President Nelson, and Sister Sharon Eubank, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency. You can read more about that meeting here.
In yet another report from the Seminar for New Mission Leadership, this article features highlights from the closing address given by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, who, as previously noted, chairs the Church Missionary Executive Council. In his address, the former airline pilot took his aviation references to new heights (pun intended).
After the horrific meetinghouse shooting in Fallon Nevada last week, that community has seen an increased outpouring in expressions of love and support from various outlets, which you can read more about here. In an article that is part of their "History Revisited" series, the Church News commemorated 20 years since President Hinckley dedicated the first of his inspired "smaller temples" with this article, which highlights why that plan was a game-changer. As we enter an era where an additional "game-changing" temple building plan may be initiated, it was good to be reminded of what occurred under President Hinckley's leadership.
More research from a study done at BYU found the truth of the idea that the family that prays together stays together. This article highlights the results of that study, and offers six reasons why family prayer is important.
The Church News also continued their series titled "This Week on Social" with this article sharing comments on remembering the sacrifice of pioneers, how to define real faith, and the importance of ministering. Those comments came from President M. Russell Ballard and Elders Quentin L. Cook, Neil L. Andersen, and Ulisses Soares.
Rounding out my coverage of these articles is this one about a Pakistani refugee who has undertaken an ambitious service project at an African-American cemetery in Houston, this one summarizing 7 quotes from female Church leaders on how to make better choices and decisions, and this one which shares how Catholic priests and nuns recent helped a man to find his Italian ancestors.
I continue to monitor all Church and temple news and will do my level best to bring you word of those developments 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. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to do so, please feel free to subscribe to stay informed of new content. 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.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Update Provided on the Renovation Process for the Mesa Arizona Temple
Hello again, everyone! The LDS Church Temples Facebook page has provided another update on the Mesa Arizona Temple's renovation process. As demolition on the ground continues, the parking lot on the northwest side and the west reflecting pool have been removed. The retaining wall and the entrance stairs are being removed around three sides of the temple as well, although there is no indication as to what is occurring on the fourth (east) side of the temple, since the Arizona heat prevented the individual posting that update from inspecting that .area.
It is good to see the small but still significant progress that is being made on temples everywhere. In addition to studying future temple sites, my ongoing evaluation of the timing within which each temple event might occur in the future continues. I will do my level best to keep bringing such updates 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. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to do so, please feel free to subscribe to stay informed of newly-added content. 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.
It is good to see the small but still significant progress that is being made on temples everywhere. In addition to studying future temple sites, my ongoing evaluation of the timing within which each temple event might occur in the future continues. I will do my level best to keep bringing such updates 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. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to do so, please feel free to subscribe to stay informed of newly-added content. 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.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
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