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Sunday, December 2, 2018

A Christmas Message for My Readers

Hello again, everyone! Although I do plan to provide coverage of the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional and to also post a birthday tribute to Elder Holland within the next 40 hours (but hopefully less, if all goes well), and will continue to do my best to provide ongoing coverage of all major Church news and significant temple developments as they occur, I feel I would be very remiss in my ongoing efforts to encourage, uplift, and inspire you, my readers, if I did not pause at the beginning of this month to share a Christmas message on this blog.

As we know, the mission of the Savior neither began with His birth as a baby in Bethlehem, nor concluded as He wrought the price of our atonement with His perfect blood in the Garden of Gethsemane and as He hung on Calvary's cross. In the great council in Heaven before any of us came to earth, our Father presented a plan whereby a Savior would be provided to atone for the sins and feel all the pain, illness and sorrow any of us would ever fill in this life.

Our brother, Lucifer, presented an alternate version of that plan, whereby he would eliminate our agency and force us to live good enough lives to return home to Heaven, for which efforts he wanted all the glory. Jesus Christ, as the oldest of all of our Father's offspring, said He would work out our salvation with a process of atonement, so that all who laid hold on that promise would be able to repent and learn from their mistakes, and would have the effects of that atonement come into play when (rather than if) we ever transgressed the laws or commandments of our Father.

There followed a war between two sides: those who accepted the Father's plan (including the recognition of a need for a Savior) and those who wanted Lucifer's plan to be utilized. The idea of agency and free will was so precious to our Father that He allowed Lucifer and his followers (which comprised roughly 1/3 of all of our Father's children) to be cast out.

For a period of roughly the next 4,000 years or so (as a result of the fall of Adam), prophets and those who heeded their words looked forward with great anticipation to the future birth of the Savior. The heavens then manifested the sign that the Savior had been born of a virgin, and shepherds (and later wise men) hastened to come and see for themselves that the prophecies of His coming had been fulfilled.

Even from a very early age, He knew exactly what He had been sent here to do. Aside from His experience at age 12 talking with the rabbis in the temple and answering their questions, pretty much everything we know about His life until His mortal ministry began is summed up in a single sentence: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature: in favor with God and man."

He began His mortal ministry when He was around the age of 30. The next three years or so were spent healing the sick, raising the dead, and bringing many miracles to pass. But as His ministry progressed, many people either did not see Him for who He was or took issue with the reports of what He had been doing. Although He was overwhelmed by the weight of our sins, sorrows, and suffering through His atonement, He was determined to see it through. He was then betrayed by one of His own disciples, after which He was subjected to inquiries by the governmental leaders of His day. Although they could "find now fault in this man", they gave in to the demands of an angry crowd, who were insistent as they said: "Crucify Him!"

After the excruciating pain of hanging on His cross (with thieves on either side of Him), He commended His spirit unto the care of His Father. While His body lay entombed for three days, His spirit preached the gospel of repentance unto those who had passed away before that time. He was then resurrected, breaking the bands of death with the eternal promise that all who came unto Him would be saved from the effects of sin and death.

Roughly 1800 years or so following His ascension back to His Father, the two presented themselves to Joseph Smith, ushering in the last and the greatest of all dispensations. Among one of many tidbits the Lord has revealed as this dispensation has continued to unfold, it was made known that the Savior's birth occurred in April. But since much of the secular and religious leaders of the world mark the milestone of His birth near the end of each year (on December 25), that day has long been accepted as Christmas. And without Christ and His mission, there would be neither a Chrstimas or an Easter.

As recorded in scripture, we have the additional promise that He will come again. But as time has worn on, the Christmas season has become more commercialized, while the true reason for the season has in many ways been completely forgotten. While Christmas each year gives us the opportunity to gather with family and friends and exchange gifts, the greatest gift any of us ever have or ever will receive is that of a Savior.

It would be beneficial for all of us, in the midst of our celebrations of the season, to remember the true meaning of Christmas. The tragic reality of our modern age is that, over time, so many of us are so wrapped up in other things which have taken our focus away from the actual reason for the season, The promise of Christmas is not merely the hope for better things or the idea that we can and will be saved from our sins as we lay hold on the gift of His salvation , but also the covenant that He can and will come again.

So as this Christmas season continues to be celebrated, I hope none of us will forget the gifts of His birth, His ministry, and His atonement. I also hope and pray that we will likewise retain in remembrance the promise that He will come again. It is up to each of us to prepare ourselves for that future event. Will we be ready when that day arrives? I certainly hope so.

I have previously shared on this blog a copy of a poem which appeared in the ward newsletter one December while I was a young Aaronic Priesthood holder. The poem conveys the high importance of our being prepared for the day when He will come again. Here once again is a copy of that poem:

‘Twas the Night Before the Savior Came        

‘Twas the night before Our Savior came and all through the house,
Not a person was praying, not one in the house.
Their scriptures were lain on the shelf without care,
Thinking Our Savior would not come there.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the late show, while I took a nap.
Where out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But angels proclaiming that our Savior was here!
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray,
I knew in a moment it must be the day!
The beauty of His face made me cover my head,
It was Our Savior returning just like he said....
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His hand,
Was written the names of every saved man.
He spoke not a word, as He searched for my name.
Then He said, “It’s not here.” My head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love,
He gathered to take to His father above.
With those who were read, He rose without a sound,
While all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late.
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and cried as they rose out of sight,
“Oh, if only I’d been ready tonight.”
In the words of this poem, the meaning is clear,
The coming of Our Savior is drawing near.
There is only one life and when comes the last call,
We will find that the scriptures were true, after all.

It is my hope and prayer that all of us may keep the spirit and the true meaning of Christmas with us not just through this season when we celebrate that, but also all year round, and that we and our families may be able to make room in our hearts for Him. I likewise hope that each of us will take time away from the hustle and bustle of this season to make resolutions regarding how we will retain Him and His incomparable sacrifice ever in our memories. As we make the effort to put Christ back into Christmas, may His blessings continue to attend us all. I offer my witness that He lived and died and lives again for all of us, that He will come again, and that we need Him in our lives now more than ever before. Each of us has the choice as to whether or not we will let Him in. May each of us do so is my humble prayer for this Christmas season and all year round, which I gratefully offer in the name of Him who is the reason for the season, even Jesus Christ, Amen.


Saturday, December 1, 2018

Some Preliminary Thoughts on the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional

Hello again, everyone! With the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional now less than 24 hours away, I wanted to offer some thoughts leading up to it. From its' commencement up through 2012, when this devotional was held annually, the members of the First Presidency each spoke, interspersed with music from the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. Then in 2013, the First Presidency announced that other Church leaders would speak during that same devotional, which would still feature the members of the First Presidency, but on rotation.

So the 2013 devotional featured remarks from Church President Thomas S. Monson, then-Primary General President Rosemary M. Wixom, Elder Ronald A. Rasband, then a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, and then-Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The following year, the featured speakers were Elder Richard J. Maynes, then of the Presidency of the Seventy, Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, who was then Young Women General President, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and President Henry B. Eyring, then-First Counselor in the First Presidency.

By 2015, as most of you are probably aware from previous content posted here, President Monson had begun to scale back his role in public Church events. The devotional that year consisted of talks from Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy, Sister Linda K. Burton, who was serving as Relief Society General President at the time, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, who was serving as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.

In view of President Monson taking a reduced role the previous year, 2016's devotional featured remarks from then-Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Craig C. Christensen, then of the Presidency of the Seventy, Brother Douglas D. Holmes, First Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency, and President Eyring again.

You can see that the devotionals between 2013 and 2016 followed a typical pattern of featuring one member each from the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Presidency of the Seventy, and from one of the general auxiliary presidencies of the Church. It seemed that pattern would continue to be the standard, until the devotional aired last year. The 2017 Devotional consisted of only 3 addresses: we heard from Sister Cristina B. Franco, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, Elder Kevin R. Duncan, a General Authority Seventy, and then-President Uchtdorf again.

So what does that mean for this year's devotional? As I mentioned earlier, President Nelson has showed his willingness to approach standard patterns of the past with a willingness to vary them. That said, there have been a couple of groups among general Church leadership which have not been tapped as of yet to participate in the Christmas Devotional since the format changed: the Presiding Bishopric and the Sunday School General Presidency. So this year could see one or both groups asked to participate. We might also hear from a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with my theory being that either President Ballard,  Elders Holland or Uchtdorf (the latter of whom has done so in previous years), Elders Cook, Andersen, Stevenson or Renlund.

I honestly do not know if the First Presidency would ask either Elders Gong or Soares to speak this year, but could potentially see that happening for one of them. And although all three current members of the First Presidency have spoken at this event in recent years, if we assume only one member will speak, my vote goes to our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. And if that turns out to be the case, he may ask either President Oaks or President Eyring to conduct (but likely the latter, since he has done so before).

Again, these are just some observations I wanted to pass along to you all as we prepare for the devotional tomorrow evening. Whether I am correct or absolutely dead-wrong about the likely speakers for this devotional, I will greatly enjoy the devotional either way, and I will be carrying a full report of that event here either tomorrow night or ASAP on Monday. The Lord has always inspired this event and the featured speakers thereof, and that will continue to be the case.

That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, as long as they conform to the established guidelines which I have set up here. 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.

Additional Church News and Temple Developments Reported

Hello again, everyone! Within the 24 hours since my last post on this blog, a few more Church news updates and temple developments have been reported. Let's get right into all of those. First, the Church news updates. In light of the report late last night that former US President George H. W. Bush had passed away, the First Presidency issued an official statement earlier today expressing gratitude for his legacy of service to the United States, condolences and love to his family, and an invocation of God's peace to attend them at this time.

Also, two leaders of the Church (Sister Sharon Eubank, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, who also serves as chair of LDS Charities; and Elder Anthony D. Perkins of the Seventy, who is serving in a few different Church headquarters assignments), responded to an invitation from Baroness Emma Nicholson, who spearheaded the creation of AMAR, in speaking on the subject of religious intolerance at a conference in Baghdad.

That city, located in the Middle Eastern countries, happens to fall under Elder Perkins' responsibility, as he is the Senior Administrator for the Church in the Middle East/Africa North Area. You can read more about that in this article from the Newsroom.

In the meantime, we turn now to the additional temple updates of which I spoke earlier. Other developments have been noted on the construction process for the Durban South Africa Temple. While work continues on painting, millwork, plumbing, and electrical systems, tiling has begun to be installed inside that temple as well. Meanwhile, on the grounds of that temple, the exterior planter boxes are being plastered, and installation is underway on the water feature which will be part of the temple grounds.

It has also been reported that the angel Moroni statue was installed atop the Arequipa Peru Temple yesterday (November 30). Having said that, I need to offer a disclaimer here: While this milestone is significant, there is nothing currently which indicates that the dedication of that temple will occur any sooner than early 2020, and I don't see that changing in the future, unless the Lord knows something that I don't (which He does, by the way).

In the meantime, with the process of setting piles for the construction barrier on the  Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Temple nearing completion, work has now turned to setting up the poles within the construction barrier that will mark the areas where the footings of the temple foundation are to be poured.

It is most wonderful to see the day-to-day Church news updates and temple developments which are being reported on a consistent basis, and I was happy to bring you word of the latest here on this blog. I continue to monitor all such updates and will bring you word of the major ones as I receive them. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, so long as such comments align with the established guidelines.

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.

Friday, November 30, 2018

Temple Construction Updates/Further Adjustments to Specific Estimates Now Necessary

Hello again, everyone! During the time I was stuck at the hospital, a whole new set of temple developments were reported. I have taken time over the last 16 hours or so as my health has allowed to update my temple construction progress report with the latest updates and changes. Due to the extensive nature of the reported developments, I will need to post my entire report this time, for which I apologize profusely. And in view of the changes noted in red text, it looks like another revision will be needed for my more specific estimates for future temple events. Look for that within the next 7-10 days as time, circumstances, and my health allows that to be put together.

I do continue to monitor all major Church news and temple developments and will do my level best to bring word of those to you all here as I receive such information. In the meantime, the updated report follows below. So as to not disturb the flow of that information, I will end here and now as I always do. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, so long as those comments follow the established parameters and guidelines. 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.


Temple Construction Progress (current as of 11/30/18)

Note about future temple construction: I have previously referenced the statement made by Elder Larry Y. Wilson, who serves as the Temple Department Executive Director, to the effect that 80 temples were on a list of locations that would be considered for an official announcement within the 15 years following that statement. And although we may not know whether or not those 80 locations have been announced by late April 2032, it seems reasonable to believe that the Church could (and likely will) have at least 200 operating temples by or before Saturday April 6, 2030 (which will mark the Church’s bicentennial anniversary).

With the 12 temples announced during the October 2018 General Conference, the Church now has a total of 201 temples in any phase. With that and plans to accelerate the temple construction process in mind, it is more likely than not that there will be 200 operating temples by or before Saturday April 6, 2030 (which will mark the Church’s bicentennial anniversary), whether or not an official goal is made to do so. The Church would just need to complete 40 of the temples in various phases in the 11.35 years between now and then, which could be done if 3.52 temples are dedicated each year. Since 6 or 7 more temples will be dedicated within the next year, I can easily see the Church having 200 temples in operation by that date, and would anticipate there being more than that. Time will tell, but it seems to be a safe bet.

Current temple status: The Church has 201 temples in various phases. There are 160 in operation; 1 of which is preparing for its’ dedication; 3 more for which a dedication has been scheduled; 7 others which are currently in various phases of construction; and 2 additional temples for which a groundbreaking has been scheduled. Also, 11 temples are currently closed for renovation (6 or 7 of which are anticipated to be rededicated next year). The remaining 28 are announced, several of which are likely to have a groundbreaking in 2019 and the years following that.

During the October General Conference, President Nelson also announced that many more operating temples will be renovated in the near future, including several pioneer-era temples (most significantly the Salt Lake Temple), and that more information will be released in the coming months about which temples are closing, and what the renovations will involve and entail.

Preparing for dedication:
161.  Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Preparing for dedication, which is scheduled for Sunday December 9, 2018.

Dedication Scheduled:                                                                                       
162. Rome Italy Temple: Interior finish work underway; volunteers being sought for public open house; dedication scheduled for Sunday March 10-Tuesday March 12, 2019.
163. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Landscaping nearing completion; interior finish work underway; dedication scheduled for Sunday April 14, 2019.
164. Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple: Stone cladding continues on exterior walls; open house and dedication dates announced on November 14, 2018; dedication scheduled for Sunday May 19, 2019.

Under construction, completion anticipated during 2019:
165. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Interior finish work underway; completion estimated sometime during mid-2019.
166. Durban South Africa Temple: Painting, millwork, plumbing, and electrical progressing; information technology equipment delivered; completion estimated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.
167. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Angel Moroni installed; stone cladding nearing completion; installation of stained glass windows underway; meetinghouse gardens being planted; completion estimated sometime during late 2019.

Temples anticipated to be completed sometime during 2020:
168. Arequipa Peru Temple: Stone cladding the cupola; completion estimated sometime during early 2020.
169. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Scaffolding placed around tower; stone cladding of exterior walls continues; installation of stained glass windows underway; completion estimated sometime during early 2020.
170. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Pouring footings for temple foundation; new rendering released; completion estimated sometime during mid-2020.

Temples anticipated to be completed sometime during 2020 or 2021:
171. Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Temple: Setting piles for construction barrier; completion estimated sometime during late 2020-early 2021.

Groundbreaking scheduled:
172. Urdaneta Philippines Temple: Official rendering released; preparing for groundbreaking, which is scheduled for Wednesday January 16, 2019; completion estimated sometime during early-to-mid 2021.
173. Bangkok Thailand Temple: Site cleared; scaffolding and debris netting placed around old Church office building; preparing for groundbreaking, which is scheduled for Saturday January 26, 2019; completion estimated sometime during mid-2022.


Undergoing Renovation (rededication estimated sometime during 2019):
13. Oakland California Temple: Closed for renovation; Christmas lights on display as work progresses on interior; rededication estimated sometime during mid-2019.
95. Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple: Closed for renovation; baptismal font oxen in place; laying tile; installing millwork; adding hard landscaping elements; rededication estimated sometime during mid-2019.
80. Memphis Tennessee Temple: Closed for renovation; angel Moroni installed on November 29, 2018; rededication estimated sometime during mid-2019.
68. Raleigh North Carolina Temple: Closed for renovation; stone cladding front exterior walls and tower; rededication estimated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.
94. Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple: Closed for renovation; process of stone cladding the exterior walls has begun; rededication estimated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.
41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; laying pavers for expanded parking lot; renovating exterior walls of villa; completion estimated sometime during 2019.
112. Asuncion Paraguay Temple: Closed for renovation; interior and exterior work underway; rededication estimated sometime during late 2019-early 2020.

Undergoing Renovation (rededication estimated sometime during 2020):
18. Tokyo Japan Temple: Closed for renovation; exterior and interior renovations underway; rededication estimated sometime during early-to-mid 2020.
16. Washington D. C. Temple: Closed for renovation; interior completely dismantled; exterior renovations progressing; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2020.
8. Mesa Arizona Temple: Closed for renovation; removing windows; grading the grounds; clearing visitors’ center site; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2020.

Undergoing Renovation (rededication estimated sometime during 2021):
11. Hamilton New Zealand Temple: Closed for renovation; dismantling interior; rededication may take place sometime during early-to-mid 2021.

Note on announced temples: On October 30, 2018, I reviewed the information I had available, and I accordingly reordered the temples in this section splitting them into two sub-categories. The first contains those for which there is sufficient information, based on which I have provided a rough groundbreaking estimate, which will, of course, be subject to alteration in the future as more information is available. The second section contains those temples which are ordered based on the information currently available, but for which more information will be needed before they can join the first list. And for that second list, I do not feel comfortable offering any groundbreaking estimate until more information is available.

Announced Temples (for which sufficient information has me confident enough to venture a general groundbreaking estimate):
174. Pocatello Idaho Temple: Government approval process; streets around temple site opened; groundbreaking anticipated in early 2019.
175. Saratoga Springs Utah Temple: Government approval phase; probable site identified; awaiting official confirmation and artist’s rendering; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2019.
176. Nairobi Kenya Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; media event held June 14, 2017; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2019.
177. Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: Planning and preliminary construction phase; awaiting official site announcement; President Nelson visited probable site on October 20, 2018; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2019.
178. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; President Nelson visited potential site on April 17, 2018; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019-early 2020.
179. Brasilia Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; site inspected by Church engineers on June 21, 2017; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2019.
180. Greater Manila Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official name announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2019.
181. Layton Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early 2020.
182. Richmond Virginia Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early-to-mid 2020.
183. Managua Nicaragua Temple: Announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early-to-mid 2020.
184. Salta Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
185. Bengaluru India Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; President Nelson toured potential locations on April 19, 2018; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
186. Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in ­mid-2020.
187. Auckland New Zealand Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2020.

Announced Temples (for which more information is needed before I provide an estimated groundbreaking time-frame):
188. Quito Ecuador Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
189. Belem Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
190. Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
191. Russia Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official location and site announcement.
192. Mendoza Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
193. Salvador Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
194. Yuba City, California Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
195. Praia Cape Verde Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
196. Yigo Guam Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
197. Puebla Mexico Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
198. Lagos Nigeria Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
199. Davao Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
200. San Juan Puerto Rico Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
201. Washington County Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official city and site announcement.

Key:
Bolded numbers and text denote temples whose numbers already exists (for renovations), or is certain due to a scheduled dedication, as well as information that is certain, such as dedication or groundbreaking dates.
Italicized numbers and text denote temples whose numbers may change based on the order in which future dedications and groundbreakings are scheduled.
Underlined numbers and text denote temples whose numbers may change based on progress towards planning, approval, and groundbreaking.
Changes since last report are highlighted in red.




Thursday, November 29, 2018

Personal Update/Upcoming Projects For This Blog & Church Events

Hello again, everyone! It has been 12 days since my last post, and I feel I owe all of you an explanation. In the late night hours when Saturday November 18 became Sunday November 19, I became violently ill. For a while, I resisted my wife's insistence that we take me to the emergency room, but after reevaluating my symptoms and motivations, I agreed with her assessment, and we headed out.

A few hours later, while at the ER, we discovered I had a couple of kidney stones. After some very rapid investigations and doctor consultations, we were able to get the worst of that problem dealt with, though I will have to go back in at some point to finalize that process. Over the following 8-9 days, I initially was in recuperation, but then became ill again. After some additional tests, we learned that my appendix had become enlarged, and were told that, while there was no imminent danger of additional problems from that condition, getting it removed would likely be beneficial.

And so my wife and I discussed what was to be done. At first, I remained a little stubborn and didn't want to go through with it. But after the two of us had a prayer together, my wife ran home to take care of some errands. Left alone with my thoughts, I received a very strong and direct rebuke from the Lord, which was so clear it could not be mistaken as anything else: I needed to have the procedure done. First thing  yesterday morning, I was wheeled into the OR where we got that taken care of. My progress was steady enough that the doctors arranged for my release to go home in the mid-to-latter part of the evening. I have been recuperating at home ever since.

With that explanation given, I wanted to apologize for a few things, whether or not anyone else feels I need to do so. First, with my condition being what it was, I did not have the health or physical capacity to track/report on Church news and temple developments within this period of time. Second, while I did see the latest comments added to this blog, I was unable to reply to them before now (though I did try repeatedly to do so while my in-hospital recuperation continued).

Third, since i couldn't get replies posted to the comments recently added to this blog, I was likewise unable to post this personal update within the last week or so. And finally, with my having spent the last 10 days in the hospital, I have lots of updates to make to some of the personal files I keep (most notably those related to apostolic milestones and temple construction. What that means for this blog over the next little while is that it may be a minimum week or two (but possibly longer) before I will be able to get back to the meticulous, minute reports on day-to-day Church news and temple developments which have been typically found on this blog throughout the last year.

That said, I will be sure to bring all major developments to you (including any and all breaking Church news and major temple developments, in addition to the latest apostolic milestones). Among those specific projects I have in mind for the immediate and near future will be the birthday tributes for Elders Jeffrey R. Holland (who is set to observe his 78th birthday on December 3) and Gerrit W. Gong (who will celebrate his 65th birthday on December 23).

The week before Elder Gong's birthday (December 16, which will coincide with my own birthday), it is my hope to bring you the final apostolic statistical update for this year. But my top priority after updating the files I referenced earlier will be fulfilling my promise to finalize and publish my April 2019 General Conference predictions. The main hold-up on those is the work that remains in annotating the important information supporting the candidates on my list of locations which could have a temple announced next April.

But hopefully ax I continue to heal from my most recent health adventure, those things will quickly be able to be put together and published here on my blog, and, as noted, if all goes well, I would anticipate being able to resume the more complete reports of Church news and temple developments sometime within the next month or two. In the meantime, for those who want to track the developments which I won't be able to report on during this time, you can find them via the Church News website, the Church of Jesus Christ Temples page, the News & Events page on the Church's official website, and, of course, the Church's official Newsroom.

Also upcoming this weekend will be the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional, which is anticipate to include 3-4 speakers, one each from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and one or two others from among the other general authorities and general officers of the Church. President Nelson has shown a willingness to deviate from typical patterns when the Lord prompts him to do so, so something similar may occur this Sunday. Then, a week after that, Church leaders are set to dedicate the Barranquilla Colombia Temple.

I mentioned earlier that Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Ruth L. Renlund would be the featured speakers for the first Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults next year (which will be held on Sunday January 13). But the Church has also since noted that Elder Ronald A. Rasband, also of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, will be the featured speaker at the annual "Evening with a General Authority", which, as some of you may be aware, is the broadcast for seminary and institute instructors and their spouses. Less than one month later, on March 2, RootsTech, which is a Church-sponsored organization supporting family history, will hold their annual Discovery Day.

April General Conference will be held over the weekend of Saturday April 6-Sunday April 7. Then on May 2-3, BYU will hold its' annual Women's Conference, which will feature speakers from among the general leadership of the Church. The following Sunday, on May 5, Elder Carl B. Cook of the Presidency of the Seventy will be the featured speaker for the Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults. The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square will present their annual Pioneer Day Concert on July 20.

The final Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults in 2019 is set for September 8, with the speaker to be announced within the next few months. October General Conference will occur during the weekend of October 5-6. And the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional for 2019 will be held on Sunday December 8. This list of upcoming events does not include scheduled temple events, which will be detailed in full on the next version of my temple construction progress report which I also hope to post at some point within the next week (if not sooner).

Thank you all for bearing with me through my recent ordeal, and even moreso as I continue to recover therefrom. I do continue to monitor any and all major Church news and temple developments as I can, and will bring word of the most significant updates to you ASAP. That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, as long as such comments align with the purposes and goals of this blog.

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.