Updated Specific Estimates for Known Temple Events

Hello again, everyone! I have taken time as I promised to do in order to update the specific estimates I am tracking for known temple events. A lot has changed since I last posted this. While I don't know whether or not these estimates are anywhere close to the time periods whereby they will actually take place, I have taken what I know and analyzed that against what I don't know at present, and the results may speak for themselves in the future as to whether or not I am correct in such theories.

A disclaimer here, whether it goes without saying or not: I do not in any way, shape or form have access to the kind of special information which would enable me to state point-blank that the sequence of these events will transpire as I have suggested they will or not. My estimates are only my best-researched efforts to analyze what's available, account for anything unexpected, and adjust as more information is made available. Only a First Presidency announcement will confirm whether or not any or all of these estimates are inspired, or anywhere close.

And I should also mention that I am anticipating some more temple news being announced at any point between now and General Conference. If the information I have is correct, the renovation process on the Raleigh North Carolina Temple may be wrapping up before the end of June, which means a rededication (which I am assuming will be a private one, similar to what was announced in mid-January for the Memphis Tennessee and Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temples.

Additionally, I am likewise anticipating that the First Presidency could (and likely will) announce at least one more temple groundbreaking that will be set to occur prior to the July 2019 month-long recess for Church leadership. The main ones on which I am keeping my eyes for information in the near future are the Saratoga Springs Utah, Lima Peru Los Olivos, or Brasilia Brazil Temples. And I am not ruling out surprise groundbreaking announcements in the near future either.

After all, if anyone had told me around 4 months ago (in early November 2018) that the Church would be scheduling the groundbreaking ceremonies for 6 of the announced temples to occur before the first Sunday in May, and that 3 of those would be for temples announced during the October 2018 General Conference, I would have dismissed that as impossible. I honestly don't know at this point whether or not any other temples will have their groundbreakings occur within the roughly 16.5 weeks remaining between now and the end of June, but surely at least one or two of these three will have the announcement of the groundbreaking plans made by or before June 30.

My revised and updated specific estimates for known temple events follows below. So as not to 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, 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 (162^nd operating temple; confirmed)

Note: The First Presidency announced the amended dedication dates for this temple on November 8, 2018. When the dedication information for this temple was first announced, it was set to be held over an 8-day period. Now that that has been shortened to 3 days, I don’t know what that might mean in terms of the number of apostles participating. But I do anticipate that President Nelson may likely preside over at least the first one or two sessions, if not others, and that there may be more apostolic and general leadership participation for this event than has been typical for recent temple dedications.

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: 189^th 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 (163^rd 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, Praia Cabo Verde, 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 that temple was set to be held on May 4, with Elder Walter F. Gonzalez, President of the Church's Caribbean Area, presiding at that ceremony. Then on Febuary 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, and that Elder Yoon Hwan Choi, President of the Church's Asia Area, would preside at that event. On February 8, 2019, the artist’s rendering for the Praia Cabo Verde Temple was released, and its’ groundbreaking was set to occur on May 4 as well, under the direction of Elder Paul V. Johnson, who serves as President of the Church's Europe Area. The time in Guam is ahead of that in Cabo Verde, which is ahead of the time in Puerto Rico, so I am listing them in that order. Since the construction for each of those temples is anticipated to take 2 years, I am estimating that all of them will be dedicated in early-to-mid 2021.

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 also 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 (165^th 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 rededication for the Raleigh North Carolina Temple

Note: While I once felt certain that both this temple and the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple could take place during this time, new information received in late February led me to rethink that, and I now believe that this temple’s renovation may wrap up during early summer, with a rededication taking place sometime during the early-to-middle part of this month.

Sunday September 1: Dedication of the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple (165^th 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 delays in the construction process.

Sunday September 15: Dedication of the Lisbon Portugal Temple (166^th operating temple; confirmed)

Note: On February 22, 2019, I received new information which indicated that the Lisbon Portugal Temple, which has continued to progress ahead of schedule, would likely be dedicated sooner than anticipated. As a result, in late February-early March, I moved this temple ahead of the Durban South Africa Temple on my temple construction progress report. Then, on March 4, 2019, the First Presidency announced the open house and dedication information for this temple.

Saturday & Sunday October 5 & 6: 189^th 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.

Sunday October 20: Rededication of the Frankfurt Germany Temple (confirmed)

Note: New information received on February 22, 2019 indicated that the Frankfurt Germany Temple was anticipated to be dedicated in October. Then, on March 5, 2019, the First Presidency officially announced that this temple would be rededicated on this date. I am anticipating that the First Presidency will ask Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, the third most-senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the sixth most senior apostle overall, to represent them in rededicating this 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.

Early-to-mid November: Rededication of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

Note: On February 22, 2019, I also learned that the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple could be rededicated at some point in October. But in view of the March 5, 2019 announcement of the rededication for the Frankfurt Germany Temple, I have pushed my estimate for this temple’s rededication (which will likely be done privately) to this period of time.

Mid-to-late November: Dedication of the Arequipa Peru Temple (167^th operating temple)

Note: The Arequipa Peru Temple has been ahead of schedule for a while now, and a Church member living in Peru spotted the cornerstone engraving, which reads: “Erected 2019”. With that in mind, I feel reasonably confident that this temple will be dedicated at around this time, and that this temple could thus likely be dedicated before the Durban South Africa Temple dedication occurs.

December: Dedication of the Durban South Africa Temple (168^th operating temple)

Note: On February 22, 2019, I received information which indicated that, due to a current blackout in South Africa, depending on how long that lasts, the temple in Durban might experience a delay towards its’ completion. Until I know one way or another whether or not that is true, I have moved my estimate to this point. If I find evidence in the future that no such delays will occur, I can and will move this temple up on this list again.

                                                                                                                                                           

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. With groundbreakings held in January for both the Urdaneta Philippines and Bangkok Thailand Temples, groundbreakings have also been confirmed for the Pocatello Idaho, Yigo Guam, Praia Cabo Verde, and San Juan Puerto Rico Temples. I am also anticipating that groundbreakings may be held for the Saratoga Springs Utah, Lima Peru Los Olivos, Brasilia Brazil, the Nairobi Kenya, Harare Zimbabwe, and Greater Manila Philippines Temples, most (if not all) of which could have a groundbreaking this year. But in view of the unexpected announcement of the groundbreakings for 3 of the temples President Nelson announced last year, we could also see other temples have a groundbreaking by that time as well.

2020:

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

Mid-March: Rededication of the Asuncion Paraguay Temple

Saturday & Sunday April 4 & 5: 190^th Annual General Conference

Note: Barring anything unexpected, I would anticipate several new temples being announced during this weekend.

June: Rededication of the Tokyo Japan Temple

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

Saturday & Sunday October 3 & 4: 190^th 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-September: Rededication of the Mesa Arizona Temple

Mid-November: Dedication of the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple (171^st 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: 191^st 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-March: Dedication of the Yigo Guam Temple (172^nd operating temple

Mid-to-late April: Dedication of the Praia Cabo Verde Temple (173^rd operating temple)

Late April-early May: Dedication of the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple (174^th operating temple)

Mid-to-late May: Rededication of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple

June: Dedication of the Urdaneta Philippines Temple (175^th operating temple)

Saturday & Sunday October 2 & 3: 191^st 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: 192^nd 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 Pocatello Idaho Temple (176^th operating temple)

Saturday & Sunday October 1 & 2: 192^nd 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-November: Dedication of the Bangkok Thailand Temple (177^th 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.

Final note: As noted a few different times here, within the 3.82 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.

Request for Comment: How Well Can You Navigate This Site on Your Device?

Hello again, everyone! While I do intend to make good on my promise to post later today or tomorrow to provide the updated version of my more specific estimates for known temple events in the near future, I have continued to also try as I can to see what I can do to optimize my blog layout, look, and feel, for the purpose of making it easier for all of you to navigate around this blog successfully on whichever device any of you might be using to access it.

For that reason, and in following the example of President Russell M. Nelson, who said during the April 2018 General Conference that "good inspiration is based upon good information", I wanted to put out this post to request comments from as many of you who feel you can share anything relating to how easy/difficult it is to navigate this site on whichever device you are using. Based on my analysis of the information given to me by each of you who would be willing to so contribute your thoughts, I will then do my level best to implement improvements to the look and feel of this blog as a result.

So, I open the commenting period now. Are there any problems you see on your devices with the layout of this blog, or the accessibility of the information found herein? Is there anything any of you feel I could do to optimize your experiences as those who read and comment on this blog? Are there any general or specific recommendations any of you have on how to make this blog more user-friendly? It is your turn to "sound off" in the comments below, with anything you would like to share in this regard.

I look forward to the feedback I will be receiving from many of you. The insights shared by my readers have become one of my most favorite things on this blog, and I could not carry out the coverage I have provided here without your interest, support, and feedback. If there is anything I can do to improve your experience here, please let me know.

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. 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 CHURCH NEWS: Frankfurt Germany Temple Rededication Set; Church Websites, Tools, and Resources to Be Renamed

Hello again, everyone! I have not one, but two breaking developments to pass along to you all today. First, the First Presidency has announced the open house and dedication information for the Frankfurt Germany Temple. The open house tours will be held between Friday September 13 and Saturday September 28, with the exceptions of the relevant Sundays (September 15 & 22). A youth devotional with senior Church leaders will then be held on Saturday October 19, and the temple will be rededicated in 3 sessions on Sunday October 20. While I cannot say this for certain, it has long been my belief that the Brethren will call upon Elder Uchtdorf, our native German apostle, who has presided at temple dedications and rededications previously, to preside at this rededication. So that's the first development.

The First Presidency also announced today what will be done to rename Church resources, tools, and websites in order to re-emphasize the proper name of the Church, in accordance with President Nelson's August 2018 statement about the correct usage of the proper name of the Church, which he expanded upon in his main address to Church members from the October 2018 General Conference. More details on the changes announced today can be found in the official First Presidency letter on that subject.

I have two big takeaways from these developments. First of all, two temple-related announcements being made on two consecutive days may well become the new normal. And second, President Nelson is sincerely earnest and serious in his expressed hope to correct (not change) the way the name of the Church is used. 1 Nephi 17:3 sums up my feelings on these developments very well:

"And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness."

In ancient and modern times, unless the Lord revokes any instruction or commandment previously given, those instructions, commandments, promises, and blessings remain in force as those who love Him adhere to such guidance. With that in mind, I hope all of us will take advantage of these new opportunities to help correct the proper usage of the name of the Church. As we continue to follow the prophet, the Lord will bless us accordingly, full stop.

In the meantime, I do continue to monitor any and all Church news and temple developments, and will bring you all word of such developments here as I receive it. 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: Open House & Dedication Dates Announced for Lisbon Portugal Temple

Hello again, everyone! As some of you saw in the comment threads of another post on this blog, the open house and dedication dates have been announced for the Lisbon Portugal Temple. Public open house tours will be held from Saturday August 17 to Saturday August 31, except for the Sundays of August 18 and 25. A youth devotional will be held on Saturday September 14, and the temple will be dedicated in 3 sessions on Sunday September 15. More details on this can be found in the official release from the Church's Newsroom website.

So that temple dedication will be held two weeks after the dedication of the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple. And I am grateful that the Lord justified my feeling that the Lisbon Portugal Temple will indeed be dedicated before a dedication occurs for the Durban South Africa Temple. In the coming weeks, I anticipate the announcement of the rededication information for the Raleigh North Carolina Temple, and perhaps an announcement of groundbreaking dates being set for one or more temples within the next couple of months. I will keep my eyes open for any such information, and will be sure to pass word of such developments along to you all as I receive it.

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: Elder Wilford W. Andersen to Preside at Pocatello Idaho Temple Groundbreaking

Hello again, everyone! While running a cursory internet search for insight into who might preside at the Pocatello Idaho Temple groundbreaking, I came across this article, which notes that Elder Wilford W. Andersen of the Seventy, who serves as president of the Church's Idaho Area, will preside at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Pocatello Idaho Temple, which has, as previously noted, been scheduled to occur on Saturday March 16.

Still no word on who might preside at the dedication of the Rome Italy Temple from March 10-12, but I would anticipate that, since President Monson did not live long enough to do so, President Nelson will likely preside over at least the very first session(s) of that temple. We may not know yet whether there will be 9, 12, or some other number of dedicatory sessions, but I will keep my eyes and ears peeled for more on that within this next week.

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.

Revised Annotated List of Prospective Temple Locations

Hello again, everyone! Before I get to the actual topic of this post, I wanted to note upcoming content which will be featured on this blog in the near future. In addition to covering all new Church news and temple developments, I plan to post my next apostolic milestone updates in a two-part post series one week from today. There will also likely be some significant degree of coverage leading up to, during, and directly following the dedication of the Rome Italy Temple, which is set to occur over a three-day period beginning one week from today as well. So be on the lookout for those updates here as I receive word on such developments.

Now, to the main purpose of this post: With my thanks to ScottS, who has read and commented on my blog for a while now, I have recently completed a massive overhaul of the list of potential locations which seem to be most likely to have a temple announced in General Conference next month. That involved finding ways to limit my notes to one per area. As a result, each note is slightly more lengthy and extensive than they would otherwise be, but the number of notes needed overall has decreased by a whopping two-thirds.

Hopefully this version of the list will be easier to read and understand. And while I no longer extensively detail my rationale behind each choice, if any of you have any questions for me on any particular candidate city, I'd be more than happy to address them. The reason those notes had been so extensive previously was due to my having some issues with losing track of a thought or statement midway through (which, as my wife could tell you, proves to be exasperating at the best of times), so by being more detailed, I was able to retain my train of thought. But after analyzing what was really necessary information, I have completed a full revision of this section.

The reworked list of prospective temple locations for the April 2019 General Conference follows below. A roughly one-month commenting period will be in effect until I have to do the final tweaks to this list before the April General Conference weekend. In order to not disturb the flow of that information or the notes, 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.

Temple predictions: 3+ temples announced in any of the locations below[i]

Africa Southeast[ii]: Antananarivo Madagascar; Second DR Congo Temple (in Mbuji-Mayi or Lubumbashi; Maputo Mozambique; Kampala Uganda

Africa West[iii]: Freetown Sierra Leone; Kumasi Ghana; Monrovia Liberia; Yamoussoukro Ivory Coast; Benin City Nigeria

Asia[iv]: Ulaanbaatar Mongolia; Jakarta Indonesia; Singapore; Taichung Taiwan; Hanoi Vietnam

Asia North[v]: Osaka Japan

Brazil[vi]: Belo Horizonte; Florianopolis; João Pessoa Ribeirão Preto

Caribbean: Kingston Jamaica[vii]

Central America[viii]: Coban Guatemala; San Pedro Sula Honduras

Europe[ix]: Budapest Hungary; Edinburgh Scotland; Vienna Austria; Oslo Norway

Mexico: Queretaro Mexico[x]

Middle East/Africa North: Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates[xi]

Pacific[xii]: Port Moresby Papua New Guinea; Tarawa Kiribati; Pago Pago American Samoa; Neiafu Vava'u Tonga; Savaii Samoa

Philippines[xiii]: Bacolod/Tacloban Philippines

South America Northwest[xiv]: Santa Cruz/La Paz Bolivia; Iquitos Peru; Cali/Medellin Colombia

South America South[xv]: Antofagasta/Valparaiso Chile; Neuquen/Rosario Argentina; Ciudad del Este Paraguay

North America (including the United States and Canada) [xvi]:

Canada[xvii]: Victoria British Columbia; Lethbridge Alberta

North America Central[xviii]: Missoula Montana; Pueblo Colorado; Wichita Kansas; Green Bay Wisconsin; Des Moines Iowa; Rapid City South Dakota

North America Northeast[xix]: Cleveland Ohio; Pittsburgh Pennsylvania; East Brunswick New Jersey; Augusta Maine; Montpelier Vermont

North America Northwest: Fairbanks Alaska[xx]

North America Southeast[xxi]: Jackson Mississippi; Shreveport Louisiana; Jacksonville Florida; Knoxville Tennessee; Savannah Georgia

North America Southwest[xxii]: Bentonville Arkansas; Fort Worth Texas; Las Cruces New Mexico; Flagstaff Arizona; Elko/Ely Nevada

North America West: Bakersfield California[xxiii]

Utah[xxiv]: Herriman/Heber City/Tooele/Washington County Utah; Preston Idaho; Evanston Wyoming

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[i]Some have offered their opinion that, with 19 new temples announced last year alone (which has resulted in a current backlog of 27 temples, though 3 others have a groundbreaking scheduled to occur roughly one month after this conference), no new temples may be announced this go-round. While I understand (and appreciate) the rationale behind such comments, from what others and I myself have directly or indirectly heard, President Nelson may unveil his temple expansion plans during this conference. Whether he does or not, the locations below (grouped by area, then by likelihood within that area) represent the most likely locations in which I feel such temples may be announced during this conference.

[ii]The Africa Southeast Area has experienced significant Church growth. With 1 dedicated temple in the area currently, there are 2 under construction (1 of which will be dedicated the week after conference, with the other anticipated to follow in 4-6 months), and 2 others announced (both of which have had sites procured, and could therefore have a groundbreaking either later this year or early next year), I have found 5 other potential locations which may get a temple in the near future. Most of these candidates are based on the mileage to the current temple(s), travel rigor, or oversized temple districts. Additionally, Uganda, Madagascar, and Mozambique are fifth, seventh, and ninth respectively on the list of top ten nations with the strongest Church presence that do not have a temple in any phase. Madagascar is my top pick for this area. And in reference to a second DR Congo Temple, I have personally favored Lubumbashi, but a recent report on the Church growth blog pointed to the idea that a temple in Mbuji-Mayi might be more imminently needed, so I have prioritized that pick.

[iii]The same factors I referenced above in previously (about significant Church growth, the mileage and rigors involved, and temple district sizes) also applies to the Africa West Area, as reflected by the five candidate cities listed here. With only 2 temples currently operating, one more other construction, and one announced, the Church growth blog noted recently that West Africa could have at least 13 operating temples by 2030. There are a couple of big differences, though. Only two of the five candidates do not have a temple in any phase. The two are Sierra Leone and Liberia, which rank as the second and sixth respectively on the aforementioned top ten list.  Sierra Leone is my top pick for this area. And while it may be difficult to know how soon a second Ivory Coast temple and a third Nigerian temple may be announced, I have felt confident enough in my picks to justify their selection.

[iv]The Asian Saints, whose ability to practice their faith has been somewhat limited at times by governmental regulations, are nonetheless very faithful, as evidenced by recent temple announcements for that continent. With the Hong Kong and Taipei temples serving the Saints currently, the one in Bangkok is under construction, and two others have been announced for Bengaluru and Phnom Penh. The factors first mentioned in previously above also apply to the Asia Area, which is the largest geographically in the Church. Of the locations listed, Mongolia is my favored pick, since that nation is eighth on the aforementioned top ten list. Also, President Hinckley publicly proposed a temple in Singapore, and Vietnam is a dark-horse pick that I included based on reports of Church growth in the area.

[v]The Asia North Area of the Church has seen some stagnated growth, to the point where some have suggested that that area could be merged with the Asia Area. While I understand the thinking behind that, and while I would not be surprised if such a merge occurs in the near future, I have evaluated the area and seen at least one prospective location where a temple could be built, with the main reasoning being the factors previously mentioned in previously.

[vi]Brazil has been a Church stronghold for a while now. With six temples currently in operation, both the Fortaleza and Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temples will be dedicated within the next year, during which time the Brasilia Brazil Temple is likely to have a groundbreaking occur. With two other temples (Belem and Salvador) awaiting a site announcement and groundbreaking, some may feel that more Brazilian temples may be delayed. But my research indicates that, due to the factors mentioned in previously, these cities are the next most likely locations to have a temple announced. I personally favor Belo Horizonte, but would be happy if any or all of these cities have a temple announced this go-round.

[vii]This city is another dark-horse pick, but is on the list due to the factors mentioned in previously, but also due to someone suggesting it elsewhere. And given what President Nelson has done in terms of the 19 temples he announced last year, Kingston could be another location for a smaller temple. 

[viii]A Church member living and working in the Central America Area kindly informed me that a second temple to serve the current Guatemala City temple district is the most imminent prospect for the future in this area. As I studied that opinion, I concurred with him that Coban would likely be the next Central American city in which a temple will be announced. But I also feel (based on general consensus and according to my research) that a San Pedro Sula temple may be on the horizon sooner rather than later, so both cities are listed.

[ix]The situation of Saints living on the European continent is somewhat interesting. Where there are centers of strength, significant growth has occurred. But in many European nations, the Church has experienced some stagnated growth, which has necessitated discontinuing some congregations in order to strengthen others within the last year or two. But due to the factors I first mentioned in previously, it appears likely that most (if not all) of the candidate cities that follow in this section could get a temple, even if only a smaller one.  

[x]The relevant factors in notes 13 and 20 also apply in a way to Mexico (where centers of strength have seen excellent growth in some respects, but in others, massive congregational consolidates have also occurred within the last couple of years. Based on these facts, it may be difficult to know how soon another temple may be announced for Mexico, especially since one was announced for Puebla last October. But the city of Queretaro has been identified by a Church member living in Mexico as likely to get a temple in the near future, so that city is on this list.  

[xi]As recently as a year ago, if someone had suggested a temple for the Middle East/Africa North Area, I would have dismissed it as an impossibility. But within the last year, we have seen President Nelson announce temples to serve either a very small region or else regions that are isolated or affected by the factors mentioned in previously. And while it is true that military personnel constitute the main membership of the Church in this area (which might make staffing a temple problematic), a recent report on the Church growth blog about the UAE has me convinced a temple in Abu Dhabi may simply be a matter of time.

[xii]The Pacific area is another stronghold of Church growth. With 10 temples currently operating there (and one other announced), it seems logical to assume that other temples will be needed to serve the area. Most (if not all) of the factors I mentioned in previously apply equally to this area. Additionally, New Guinea, Kiribati, and American Samoa are ranked first, third, and fourth respectively on the aforementioned top ten list of nations. So I have no doubt the Pacific Area will see temples announced in each of these cities within the next decade, if not sooner.

[xiii]The Church has two operating temples in the Philippines (Manila and Cebu City). The temple announced in October 2010 for Urdaneta had a groundbreaking ceremony in January. And with the last 3 sets of temple announcements, the Philippines has seen temples announced for the greater Manila area (which will be located in Muntinlupa City), Cagayan de Oro, and Davao. If that is any indication of what might happen in the future, then other temples may be needed for the Philippines

[xiv]The entire South American continent has experienced massive Church growth. Having previously discussed Brazil, in reference to the South America Northwest Area, I wanted to observe that there are 7 operating temples there. 1 more is currently under construction in Arequipa Peru (for which a dedication is anticipated before the end of this year) Two others have been announced: the Lima Peru Los Olivos and Quito Ecuador Temples, both of which could have a groundbreaking within the next 2-3 years, though hopefully sooner if all goes well. And while I have personally-favored candidates here, a second temple in Bolivia may be the most imminent prospect. For Bolivia and Colombia, I have listed two potential locations each due to my inability to narrow those down to one.  

[xv]The South America South Area has likewise seen very significant and rapidly expanding growth. So again, with President Nelson’s extensive temple-building plans in mind, I have considered the most imminent prospects for future temples in this area, and the factors mentioned in previous notes hold true here as well. Currently, this area of the Church is served by 6 operating temples (1 of which is closed for renovation), and there were 2 more announced for this area last year. With that in mind, the 5 locations listed in this section seem to have the strongest case in their favor of a temple announced in the near future. And for Argentina and Chile, I list two cities each because the sets for each nation are about even in terms of their likelihood.  

[xvi]Although the North American continent (primarily in the United States) has seen somewhat of a stagnating growth situation, in light of the recent increased mentions of President Nelson’s ambitious temple-building plans, the likelihood is extremely high that the US and Canada will be included in whatever the plans are to expand the number of temples worldwide. The locations listed below represent what I believe are the most imminent prospects for each of the now-8 North American areas of the Church.

[xvii]For purposes of simplification, I have chosen to list my temple candidates for Canada in a separate section from those elsewhere in the United States. So the North American areas listed below will not include these Canadian candidate cities. Of the two, Lethbridge may be more of a long shot. But Victoria has been mentioned to me as a prospect due to the cost and arduous nature of the journey to worship at the Vancouver British Columbia Temple.  

[xviii]As mentioned in previous notes, on the one hand, it may be difficult (if not impossible) to gauge the imminent likelihood of any locations. But as also mentioned, in view of some of the relevant factors, I can see the merits of each location listed here. Particularly, I heard a report of a public proposal of a temple for Missoula Montana. Pueblo made the list due to a report I received of high attendance numbers at the Denver Colorado Temple. For Kansas, Iowa, and South Dakota, mileage is the main factor driving my choices, and a temple (if only a smaller one) seems likely for all three states in the near future. A temple in Iowa could be named for Mount Pisgah, a significant landmark in the pioneer history of the Church.

[xix]Given the steady growth of the Church in Ohio and Pennsylvania, second temples for each seem to be likely sooner rather than later. And New Jersey, Maine, and Vermont may each be eligible for a temple of their own given the distance factor, and the rigors of travel involved in getting to their currently assigned temples.

[xx]The Saints in both Fairbanks and Juneau have an arduously lengthy journey to get to their assigned temple in Anchorage. While both may have equal merits in terms of their eligibility for a temple of their own, my research shows Fairbanks may be first in line for such a prospect. But I would anticipate temples in both cities within the next 5-15 years, if not sooner.

[xxi]Since the Saints in Jackson currently have an arduous journey to get to their assigned temple, it is my opinion that a temple will be announced in that city sooner rather than later. And an arduous journey also factors in to my reasoning for temples in Shreveport, Jacksonville, Knoxville, and Savannah. If, as I anticipate, President Nelson plans to prioritize the mileage factor and also filling in the gaps that exist in temple district coverage, then any or all of these may simply be a matter of time.

[xxii]Things are a little tricky for this area of the Church. Given that the Saints assigned to the districts of temples over the Mexican border might possibly have a harder time accessing those temples in the future, some have offered very specific opinions about the merits of some of the candidate cities which are listed here. But I am basing my theories on the potential location of an Arkansas temple on information from a friend indicating that land has been held in reserve in that city for a temple for several years now. And I am basing my picks for temples in Texas and New Mexico on the opinion of someone living within the current Dallas Texas Temple district. This individual noted that Fort Worth would almost certainly be the next Texas city to get a temple. So if border issues arise, those could be ameliorated by a temple in Las Cruces, which would likely also cover El Paso for the time being. Arizona and Nevada both fall under the “Mormon corridor”, and I have heard that Flagstaff may well be the most likely Arizona city to get a temple. Both Elko and Ely have arduous journeys to their assigned temples in Utah, so It seems to be just a matter of time before one (or both) of them get a temple of their own, and I feel the next Nevada temple location is too close to call.

[xxiii]With a temple announced last October for Yuba City, a temple in Bakersfield might potentially be delayed, but however long it might take, I am reasonably confident that that city will be the next one in California to get a temple of its’ own, as I have been anticipating such a prospect for almost as long as I have been offering my thoughts on future temple locations.  

[xxiv]A temple site was publicly mentioned as being held in reserve in April 2005 for a temple in the Southwest Salt Lake Valley. Though no official confirmation has occurred, if my research is correct, the land in question has been the subject of a border dispute between Herriman and Bluffdale cities, but is currently owned by the city of Herriman. For Heber City, Tooele, Preston, and Evanston, they all seem to have an equal likelihood of having a temple announced in the near future. And Elder Steven E. Snow, who was born in Washington County, recently told the Saints there at a stake conference that someone from the Temple Department had indicated to him that a third Washington County temple would be needed in the not-too-distant future. For these reasons, I couldn’t narrow any of these selections down, at least not for the moment.

Several More Church News Stories Reported

Hello again, everyone! While I continue to welcome input on the list I posted yesterday (which shares my insights on the most likely locations for which I feel a temple may be announced during General Conference next month), there have been a dozen or more Church news stories reported between the official Newsroom, the News & Events subpage of the official Church website, and from the Church News. There's a lot to get to here, so let's dive right into it all.

Beginning, as mentioned above, with the new content on the Church's Newsroom, 6 new articles have been published there within the last 36 hours. Some of them may have already been reported in comments from others on this blog, but I want to make sure to not overlook anything. Elder Bednar acted for the Church in presenting a $2 million donation to representatives of a brand new African American museum.

Next, in a meeting held earlier today, Church members and friends of other faiths living in the area which will be served by the Pocatello Idaho Temple attended a meeting to learn more about the design and construction plans for that temple. The Church generally holds such meetings in order to address any concerns that anyone in the area of a soon-to-be constructed temple might have.

The Newsroom continued its' series, "Latter-day Saints Around the World" by highlighting important articles from the Pacific, Philippines, California, and the Dominican Republic (2). Another article highlights the recent visit of Relief Society & Primary General Presidents Sister Jean B. Bingham and Joy D. Jones to the Africa West Area. 

And the Church has created a new video series (which is in some ways a "spoof" on broadcast sports shows) to highlight missionary safety. Church leaders are recommending that a prospective missionary and their parents watch the first video together while the application process is underway. Meanwhile, I wanted to share the official Newsroom release published yesterday, which noted that the First Presidency has scheduled a one-week open house for both the Memphis Tennessee and Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temples.

Turning now to stories from the News and Events page, Church service missionaries in San Diego were honored recently with the highest volunteer award given by the state parks of California. And another article shares how inspired, member-submitted music is one clear sign of evidence that the Lord is hastening His work. LDS Charities have recently partnered with JustServe.org to launch #YouCanDoSomething.

We now conclude with the articles from the Church News website. Elder Christofferson recently returned from a visit to the Central America Area of the Church, where, among other highlights, he led out in a  Family Home Evening broadcast to members living within the nations he was visiting. Meanwhile, a star Latter-day Saint baseball player recently claimed a significant milestone. And the Church News has shared a summary of Saroo Brierly's keynote address at RootsTech, which was given earlier today. Another article covered "hot topics" which were covered at RootsTech.

And in light of the changes in full-time missionaries' ability to have more frequent contact with their family members, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Sister Bonnie H. Cordon shared some thoughts on the best ways that parents can support their missionaries. Additionally, during his recent trip to Brazil, Elder Uchtdorf paid a visit to the family of the Brazilian missionary who died recently in Portugal.

I continue to monitor any and all Church news and temple developments and will keep doing my level best to pass word of those along to you all here as I receive it. 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.