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Saturday, February 2, 2019

Yet Another Revision to My List of Announced Temples

Hello again, everyone! After I published the last couple of posts on this blog earlier tonight, something wasn't sitting right with me in terms of the order in which I had placed the announced temples of the Church on my personal list. Therefore, after reevaluating the entire situation of each temple, and especially as a result of further consideration, research, and analysis on my part, I completely redid that section of my report.

Perhaps the biggest change was reunifying the two previously-separated sections for announced temples, and consolidating them back into one section. I also considered the strength of the Church in each location, whether there was any known political or religious turmoil that might delay a future groundbreaking, whether or not there had been public confirmation of the site locations, and anything else which came to mind that would help me reorganize the order in which they are listed.

Coming in at a close second was the fact I took into consideration, to the effect that, we have recently seen President Nelson's administration working on the current backlog from both ends. 2 of the 19 temples announced last year have already had an artist's rendering released and a groundbreaking scheduled. If I am correct about this, then the next 2 years and beyond will be busy ones in terms of an influx for new temples having a groundbreaking and beginning construction.

According to those latest changes, I am estimating that the last of the current group (the temple for the major city yet-to-be determined in Russia) may have its' groundbreaking in early 2021. The others will likely have a groundbreaking within the 2 years between now and then. And if that is correct, then not only will the queue be rapidly cleared out within that time, but there will also be more room for other temples to be announced during General Conference within that same period of time.

And in that regard, I feel a need to reiterate some things I have previously said: President Nelson inherited a backlog of 12 announced temples which had not gone on to have a groundbreaking prior to the time when his prophetic administration began. Having announced 19 other temples last year, that brought the total number of announced temples to 32, and only 1 of those wound up having a groundbreaking last year.

This year, 2 groundbreakings have already taken place, and we have already seen 3 others scheduled to occur between now and mid-May. Additionally, there are at least 10 others for which a groundbreaking might also be set before the end of this year. If all of those were to occur, that would leave the remaining queue at somewhere around 15, which is just slightly over the amount of temples President Nelson inherited. As already noted, there is an equally likely chance that more groundbreakings could happen this year than I think might be possible as there is that several additional new temples will be announced during both the April and October General Conferences this year.

One thing is certain: The face of the Church's temple construction program is changing, and it will surely be interesting to see how that process evolves and proceeds in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead. That said, the list of massive updates to that section of my temple construction progress reports follows below. So as not to disturb its' flow, 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, as long as such comments are made in accordance 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.

Announced Temples (for which sufficient information has me confident enough to venture a general groundbreaking estimate):
177. Saratoga Springs Utah Temple: Government approval phase; awaiting official site confirmation and release of artist’s rendering; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2019.
178. Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: Existing institute building and meetinghouse closed on January 27, 2019 in preparation for demolition; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2019.
179. Brasilia Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; property fence installed around temple site; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2019.
180. Greater Manila Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official name announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2019.
181. Nairobi Kenya Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; media event held June 14, 2017; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2019.
182. Auckland New Zealand Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2019.
183. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; President Nelson visited potential site on April 17, 2018; groundbreaking anticipated in late 2019.
184. Puebla Mexico Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019.
185. Layton Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019-early 2020.
186. Richmond Virginia Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019-early 2020.
187. Salvador Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early 2020.
188. Salta Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; groundbreaking could occur in early 2020.
189. Mendoza Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early-to-mid 2020.
190. Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
191. Yuba City, California Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early-to-mid 2020.
192. Lagos Nigeria Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.     
193. Davao Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
194. Managua Nicaragua Temple: Announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
195. Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
196. 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-to-late 2020.
197. Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2020.
198. Praia Cape Verde Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in late 2020.
199. Belem Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in late 2020.
200. Quito Ecuador Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in late 2020-early 2021.
201. Russia Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official city and site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early 2021.


Friday, February 1, 2019

Updated Specific Estimates for Known Temple Events in the Near Future

Hello again, everyone! I wanted to provide you all with an updated copy of more specific estimates I am venturing for known temple events in the near future. Although some may see my doing so as speculative, the process of compiling that information has involved extensive research which has verified enough information to venture these probable time-frames.

That noted, I am as equally ecstatic when the Lord proves my thinking and offered estimates were more than a little off as I am when the general time-frames I offer for such events prove to be close to the actual mark. Given the unexpected nature of some temple developments we have seen recently, future revisions of this list will need to be done as more is known. And I am happy to take care of those as that becomes necessary.

Those updates follow below. So as to not disturb the flow of this 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, as long as such comments are made in accordance 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.


Specific Estimates for Known Temple Events in the Near Future

2019:
Sunday March 10-Tuesday March 12: Dedication of the Rome Italy Temple (162nd operating temple; confirmed)
Note: The First Presidency announced the amended dedication dates for this temple on November 8, 2018. Given that this dedication will now be held over three days rather than the previously-announced 8-day period, there may be only 2-3 of our 15 apostles participating in this event. That said, it would not surprise me in any way if this dedication was either the start or conclusion of another leg of President Nelson’s ongoing Global Ministry Tour.
Saturday March 16: Groundbreaking for the Pocatello Idaho Temple (confirmed)
Note: On February 1, 2019, the First Presidency announced the groundbreaking information for this temple. Given that it will be similar in size to The Gila Valley Arizona temple, I am venturing a general completion estimate of mid-to-late 2022. As more is known about that process, I will make any necessary alterations to that estimate as they are needed.
Saturday & Sunday April 6 & 7: 189th General Conference
Note: Because 19 temples were announced in 2018 (which may have been President Nelson’s way of starting slowly), and because one of his major focuses during his first year as Church President has been highlighting the importance of temples, I’m sure we will see several new temples announced during this General Conference.
Sunday April 14: Dedication of the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple (163rd operating temple; confirmed)
Note: In view of the facts that the dedication of this temple will occur after the April General Conference, and that following the April 2018 General Conference, President Nelson began his Global Ministry Tour, I could see President Nelson doing another leg of his tour in conjunction with this temple’s dedication, whether that tour starts or ends with this dedication, or whether this dedication is held sometime in the mid-point of that tour.
Saturday May 4: Groundbreakings for the Yigo Guam and San Juan Puerto Rico Temples
Note: On January 12, 2019, the First Presidency released the artist’s rendering for the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple. Five days later (on January 17), the groundbreaking for this temple was announced to occur on this day in May. Elder Walter F. Gonzalez, president of the Church’s Caribbean Area, will preside at that ceremony. Then on February 1, 2019, the First Presidency released the artist’s rendering for the Yigo Guam Temple and announced that its’ groundbreaking ceremony would also occur on May 4. The time in Guam is ahead of that in Puerto Rico, so I am listing them in that order.
Sunday May 5: Private rededication of the Memphis Tennessee Temple (confirmed)
Note: On January 16, 2019, the First Presidency announced the private rededication of this temple would take place in a single session on this date, that Elder Jeffrey R. Holland would preside at the rededication, and that no open house or youth devotional would be held prior to this event.
Sunday May 19: Private rededication of the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple (confirmed)
Note: On January 16, 2019, the private rededication for the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple was announced. President Henry B. Eyring will preside at the single-session rededication, which will not be preceded by an open house or youth devotional.
Sunday June 2: Dedication of the Fortaleza Brazil Temple (165th operating temple; confirmed)
Note: On January 10, 2018, the First Presidency announced this temple’s dedication. In an unusual (but not unexpected) move, that dedication has been scheduled to occur two weeks prior to the rededication of the Oakland California Temple. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time a dedication has been set to occur prior to a rededication which has previously been announced. Usually, a temple’s rededication has been set to occur prior to a previously-announced temple dedication. As noted on other temples, President Nelson could preside at this event himself, or he could delegate one of his counselors or a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to do so.
Sunday June 16: Rededication of the Oakland California Temple (confirmed)
Note: This temple’s rededication was announced on December 18, 2018. As noted above, the dedication of the Fortaleza Brazil Temple, announced almost a month later, has been set to occur before this temple’s rededication.
Monday July 8: Hong Kong China Temple Renovation Closure
Note: On January 30, 2019, the First Presidency announced the renovation closure for this temple, with the plans to be detailed more fully at a later time. I am anticipating that that process will take between 2-4 years.
August: Private rededications for the Raleigh North Carolina and Baton Rouge Louisiana Temples
Note: Given the unexpected announcement of the private rededications for the Memphis Tennessee and Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temples (and the fact that both will be operating again before the General Authorities take their annual July recess), it is not hard to believe that both of these temples, for which their renovation processes seem to be on track, could have a rededication within the month following that recess.
Sunday September 1: Dedication of the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple (165th operating temple; confirmed)
Note: On November 14, 2018, the First Presidency announced the open house and dedication information for this temple. Then, on January 18, 2019, the dedication was pushed back to this date in view of all that still needed to be done on the construction process.
Mid-to-late September: Dedication of the Durban South Africa Temple (166th operating temple)
Note: If the construction of the Durban South Africa Temple continues on schedule, then it is not hard to believe that a dedication for it could occur before General Conference. In fact, if the construction process continues uninterrupted, then this temple’s dedication could occur sooner than suggested here.
Saturday & Sunday October 5 & 6: 189th Semiannual General Conference:
Note: Depending on what is done by this time to clear the existing backlog of announced temples, it seems more likely than not that several new temples will be announced during this weekend.
Mid-to-late October: Rededication of the Frankfurt Germany Temple
Monday November 4: St. George Utah Temple Renovation Closure (confirmed)
Note: This temple’s renovation was announced on January 25, 2019. Given the fact that seismic and systemic updates are anticipated to occur, I have set a preliminary general completion estimate of mid-to-late 2022.
Mid-November: Dedication of the Lisbon Portugal Temple (167th operating temple)
December: Dedication of the Arequipa Peru Temple (168th operating temple)
Note: The Arequipa temple has progressed swiftly. Given the earlier timing that has been announced or is anticipated for the private rededications of Hinckley-era temples this year, that fact, combined with the fact that construction may be ahead of schedule, has me confident enough to conjecture that this temple could likely be dedicated during the last month of this year. But I could also see the Church waiting to dedicate this temple until after Christmas 2019 and New Year 2020.

Final note on 2019: Given what I have heard about 2019, it seems more likely than not that several temples will have a groundbreaking at some point during that year. As noted above, the groundbreakings have been confirmed for the Pocatello Idaho, Yigo Guam, and San Juan Puerto Rico Temples. I am also anticipating that a groundbreaking for the Saratoga Springs Utah, Lima Peru Los Olivos, and Brasilia Brazil Temples will be held in mid-2019. Additionally, based on what I know at the present time, I am keeping my eyes open for information on the Nairobi Kenya, Harare Zimbabwe, and Greater Manila Philippines Temples, most (if not all) of which could have a groundbreaking by the end of 2019. But given the fact that we unexpectedly saw a groundbreaking set for the San Juan and Yigo Temples, then that opens the prospect that perhaps other temples announced by President Nelson in 2018 could also have a groundbreaking if their smaller sizes can expedite the approval process.

2020:
Mid-February: Rededication of the Asuncion Paraguay Temple
Saturday & Sunday April 4 & 5: 190th Annual General Conference
Note: Barring anything unexpected, I would anticipate several new temples being announced during this weekend.
Mid-April: Dedication of the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple (169th operating temple)
Mid-to-late May: Rededication of the Tokyo Japan Temple
June or early-to-mid August: Dedication of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple (170th operating temple)
Saturday & Sunday October 3 & 4: 190th Semiannual General Conference
Note: Temple announcements are always possible, so it is not hard to believe that a few could be announced during this General Conference.
Mid-October: Rededication of the Mesa Arizona Temple
Mid-November: Dedication of the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple (171st operating temple)
Note: At the groundbreaking for this temple (which occurred on November 8, 2018), Elder Neil L. Andersen, who presided at this event and gave his remarks in French, noted that construction of the temple was anticipated to take around two years. For that reason, I am moving my previous estimate for this temple’s dedication up to this point.
Mid-December: Rededication of the Washington DC Temple

Final note on 2020: Some of the announced temples that will have a groundbreaking between now and the end of 2019 could potentially be dedicated during this year. And several other announced temples (I currently have 7 on my radar) could have a groundbreaking during 2020 as well.

2021:
Saturday & Sunday April 3 & 4: 191st Annual General Conference
Note: Depending on what happens between now (early December 2018) and the dates for this General Conference, I could easily see several new temples announced.
Mid-to-late April: Dedication of the Urdaneta Philippines Temple (172nd operating temple)
Early-to-mid June: Rededication of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
Early-to-mid August: Dedication of the Yigo Guam Temple (173rd operating temple)
Mid-to-late August: Dedication of the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple (174th operating temple)
Saturday & Sunday October 2 & 3: 191st Semiannual General Conference
Note: I am hoping that by the time this particular General Conference weekend rolls around, the temple construction program of the Church will have progressed to the point where some temples will continue to be announced every six months.
Mid-November: Rededication of the Hong Kong China Temple
Note: This is just a projected estimate, based on what is currently known. As more information is revealed, this estimate could be pushed forward or back as needed.
Mid-December: Rededication of the St. George Utah Temple
Note: What I shared above about the probable timing of the rededication for the Hong Kong China Temple also applies here: As more information is made available, and as the renovation process proceeds, I will be sure to make any adjustments to this estimate that might be needed.

Final note on 2021: If, as anticipated, several more temples are announced in 2019 and 2020, and any which have not yet had a groundbreaking have that occur within that same time period, that in turn will multiply the number of known temple events which will likely occur in 2021 and the years beyond. As more is learned about future temple renovations, that will also have an impact on the number of future events.

2022:
Saturday & Sunday April 2 & 3: 192nd Annual General Conference
Note: Since the face of the Church’s temple construction program will likely look entirely different by this time, I would anticipate the announcement of several new temples.
Mid-August: Dedication of the Bangkok Thailand Temple (175th operating temple)
Note: Because this temple is significantly larger than temples which have been built in recent years, delays in that construction process are more likely than not. It is also worth noting that the official number for this temple is almost certain to change as other temples have a groundbreaking and construction and are potentially completed before this one is.
Saturday & Sunday October 1 & 2: 192nd Semiannual General Conference
Note:  As noted above (for the 2022 April General Conference), by this time, it is more likely than not that the face of the Church’s temple construction program will be looking entirely different. With that in mind, it seems more likely than not that other temples could be announced during this General Conference.
Mid-to-late November: Dedication of the Pocatello Idaho Temple (176th operating temple)

Final note: As noted a few different times here, within the 3.9 years or so between now and the end of 2022, the face of the Church’s temple construction program will likely look very different. We currently have a Church President who has clearly prioritized bringing the temples to the people, and the fact that he announced 19 new temples within his first year as such verifies that beyond doubt. I also am equally certain he will do all he can to clear the existing backlog of announced temples. With that in mind, there will likely be many more temple events to add to this list in the future. I am committed to bringing updates in that regard to you all as I receive them.


Temple Updates Provided

Hello again, everyone! I am back, as promised, with the temple updates I previously referenced. While there have been no updates reported on almost all of the new temples under construction and those undergoing renovation, I do have one such update relating to the Mesa Arizona Temple. The latest information I have received in that regard is that the exterior walls are being refurbished, that  sections of the roof have been removed, that temporary windows have been installed, and that concrete has been poured over the underground water storage.

Aside from that, the other updates I have are the two other sections of my temple construction progress report, the first of which features those scheduled for a groundbreaking, and the second of which contains alterations I have made to the announced temples section of that report. Those sections follow below, in that order:


Groundbreaking scheduled:
174. Pocatello Idaho Temple: Plans submitted to the city and undergoing the plan review process to secure building permit; groundbreaking scheduled for Saturday March 16, 2019; completion estimated sometime during mid-to-late 2022.
175. Yigo Guam Temple: Planning and approval phase; preparing for groundbreaking, which is scheduled for Saturday May 4, 2019; completion estimated sometime during early-to-mid 2021.
176. San Juan Puerto Rico Temple: Trujillo Alto Ward chapel closed on January 20, 2019 in preparation for demolition; groundbreaking scheduled for Saturday May 4, 2019; completion estimated sometime during early-to-mid 2021.


Just another quick note about this first section: Although some of the sources I have available to me for temple information lists the Guam and Puerto Rico Temples in the reverse order, I have chosen to list them based on the time between the two. Yigo Guam is 14 hours ahead of San Juan Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, to put that comparison in better context for me personally, Yigo Guam is 17 hours ahead of Utah time, while San Juan Puerto Rico is just 3 hours ahead of Utah time. That said, the revised sections for announced temples follow below:

Announced Temples (for which sufficient information has me confident enough to venture a general groundbreaking estimate):
177. Saratoga Springs Utah Temple: Government approval phase; awaiting official site confirmation and release of artist’s rendering; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2019.
178. Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: Existing institute building and meetinghouse closed on January 27, 2019 in preparation for demolition; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2019.
179. Brasilia Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; property fence installed around temple site; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2019.
180. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; President Nelson visited potential site on April 17, 2018; groundbreaking anticipated in late 2019.
181. Nairobi Kenya Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; media event held June 14, 2017; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019-early 2020.
182. Greater Manila Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official name announcement; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019-early 2020.
183. Salta Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; groundbreaking could occur in early 2020.
184. Mendoza Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early 2020.
185. Puebla Mexico Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early-to-mid 2020.
186. Auckland New Zealand Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early-to-mid 2020.
187. Managua Nicaragua Temple: Announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
188. Layton Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
189. Richmond Virginia Temple: Planning and approval phase; announced April 1, 2018; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2020.
190. 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-to-late 2020.
191. Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in late 2020.

Announced Temples (for which more information is needed before I provide an estimated groundbreaking time-frame):
192. Quito Ecuador Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
193. Belem Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
194. Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
195. Salvador Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
196. Yuba City, California Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.
197. Praia Cape Verde 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. Russia Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official city and site announcement.
201. Washington County Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official city and site announcement.

Just a couple more notes: I received information earlier today suggesting that the groundbreaking for the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple may not be the last one held during the first half of this year. That said, it may be a while before we find out which other temples could potentially also have a groundbreaking before the end of June, and perhaps an even longer period of time before we know how many temples total will have a groundbreaking by the end of 2019.

If that proves to be true, then 2019 will likely be a record-breaking year for the Church in terms of the number of temples which will have a groundbreaking occur and construction begin, which in turn will result in an increase in the number of temples dedicated in 2020 and the years beyond. I continue to keep my eyes open for information in this regard and will pass it along as I receive word of such developments.

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 are made in accordance 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.

Additional Church News Reported

Hello again, everyone! This post will cover recent Church news developments which have come to my attention. I had intended to also share some updated temple information but will need to do that in a separate post later tonight. So for now, let's get right into the Church news stories which have been reported recently..

First, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recently returned from an extended trip in the Europe Area, which included stops in the United Kingdom, France, and Austria.  As many of you may recall, the United Kingdom covers Great Britain, Ireland, and Scotland. And in my latest updated list of potential future temple locations, I had one listed for Scotland, and another listed for Austria.

My reason for mentioning this is that last year, apostles visited several cities before the April and October General Conferences which subsequently had temples announced during those conferences. With that in mind, it seems more likely than not that temples could be announced within the next 1-4 General Conferences for Edinburgh Scotland and Vienna Austria. I recognize that the Europe Area may have seen a certain degree of stagnant growth in recent years, but if nothing else, I could see smaller temples in both cities that could easily get quick approval and move on to the construction process.

Given the precedent we saw this month with the announcements of the Yigo Guam and San Juan Puerto Rico Temples, I think we may be seeing a greater number of smaller temples again, which would be a rapid way to increase the number of operating temples in a very short period of time, and to eliminate greater distances of travel for Saints around the world in a logical and very doable way.

The Church News also released a video entitled "Beauty for Ashes" to describe how members in the area of the Paradise Campfire have reached out to serve their needy neighbors, even in the aftermath of their own personal, familial, and congregational losses. And another article describes how the new curriculum has been helping families throughout the Church to become more unified through more extensive conversations about and study of the gospel.

In the latest edition of "This Week on Social", posts from Church President Russell M. Nelson, Elders Jeffrey R. Holland and Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Sisters Jean B. Bingham, Sharon Eubank (who serve as President and First Counselor respectively in the Relief Society General Presidency), and Michelle D. Craig, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency were highlighted. Those messages, covering several important gospel topics, are well worthy of your review.

The Church News also continued another series of articles called "My Most Influential Teacher", and this week's iteration came from someone who was able to have her questions effectively answered by her youth Sunday School teacher. A few days ago, the Church News had also reported that a Brazilian missionary has passed away after collapsing during a soccer game. The young man had been serving since July 2017, and would have returned home in six more months.

Next, from the Newsroom website, we have a couple more new articles. One highlights how JustServe has helped provide 1 million meals to hungry children in various parts of the world. The other article comprises the latest edition of the Newsroom blog series "Latter-day Saints Around the World", with stories from the Philippines (focusing on Elder Holland's recent visit there), Yemen, Peru (from which two articles were featured), Panama, and Guatemala.

With that said, those were the Church news updates I wanted to share, so 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 are made in accordance 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.

BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Groundbreakings Announced for Pocatello Idaho and Yigo Guam Temples

Hello again, everyone! I was just made aware of two more temple groundbreakings which were announced today for the Pocatello Idaho and Yigo Guam Temples. According to the news release, the Pocatello Idaho Temple will have its' groundbreaking on March 16, and the Yigo Guam Temple groundbreaking will follow on May 4, the same day as the previously-announced groundbreaking for the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple.

The Yigo groundbreaking will be presided over by Asia North Area President Yoon Hwan Choi. and while it has yet to be announced who might preside at the Pocatello groundbreaking, I would imagine that President Eyring, Elder Bednar, or Elder Andersen could do so, since each of them have ties to that state. I am not sure which of the current members of the Presidency of the Seventy have ties to Idaho, but another possibility is that any member of the Idaho Area Presidency could preside at this event. That would include Elders Wilford W. Andersen, S. Gifford Nielsen, and Brian K. Taylor.

I have no doubt whatsoever that we will see many more temples have a groundbreaking later this year. I would go into more detail on the construction plans, but wanted to get this posted right away, so 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.