My Compiled List of Changes in Area Leadership Which Were Announced For 2019

Hello again, everyone! While I am still working on my analysis of the area leadership assignments which were announced yesterday by the First Presidency (which I hope to be able to publish here within the next two days or so), and while I am also hard at work on the apostoic statistical update which will be posted in two parts at soe point within the next 27 hours (but hopefully less than that if all goes well), for now, I wanted to post my compiled list of what has changed (which includes for the first time the names of those for whom there is not change in assignment this go-round).

Some of you may be wondering why I am posting the list now and am planning on posting my analysis of those changes later. I am doing so because I hope that will enable some thoughtful discussion here about those changes while I put togethe more thorough analysis of them. And I have also felt that the nature of some of these changes warranted some additional analysis due to their nature. When that analysis is posted, I hope it will be evident why I felt a need to do both separately.

In the meantime, the list of changes, which speaks for itself for now, follows below. In order to not disturb the flow thereof, 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.

Changes in Area Leadership (effective August 1, 2019)

North American Areas merged: Idaho and North America Central (into the North America Central Area); North America Northwest and North America West (into the North America West Area); Utah North, Utah Salt Lake City, and Utah South (into the Utah Area)

Note: For the first time this go-round, a 3-man area presidency was called to have oversight of the Middle East/Africa North Area (where previously, there were just 2, a Senior and Junior Administrator).

Marcos A. Aidukaitis continues to serve as President of the Brazil Area.

Jose L. Alonso released as First Counselor and called as President of the Caribbean Area.

Jorge M. Alvarado called as Second Counselor in the Caribbean Area.

Wilford W. Andersen released as President of the Idaho/North America Central Area and as Junior Administrator of the Middle East/Africa North Area.

Ian S. Ardern released as First Counselor and called as President of the Pacific Area.

Steven R. Bangerter called as Second Counselor in the Philippines Area.

W. Mark Bassett released as First Counselor in the Brazil Area.

Randall K. Bennett continues to serve as President of the North America Northeast Area.

Hans T. Boom called as First Counselor in the Europe East Area Presidency.

Shayne M. Bowen released as First Counselor in the North America Southeast area.

Mark A. Bragg continues to serve as First Counselor in the South America South Area,

L. Todd Budge called as Second Counselor in the Asia North Area.

Matthew L. Carpenter called as Second Counselor in the North America Central Area.

Yoon Hwan Choi continues to serve as President of the Asia North Area.

Craig C. Christensen continues to serve as President of the Utah Area.

Valeri V. Cordon released as Second Counselor in the Central America Area.

Claudio R. M. Costa released as President of the North America Southeast Area.

Joaquin E. Costa called as Second Counselor in the Brazil Area.

LeGrand R. Curtis Jr. released as First Counselor in the Utah Area.

Massimo De Feo released as Second Counselor and called as First Counselor in the Europe Area.

Benjamin De Hoyos continues to serve as President of the South America South Area.

Edward Dube continues to serve as First Counselor in the Africa West Area (as announced in mid-October 2018).

David F. Evans continues to serve as President of the Asia Area.

Enrique R. Falabella continues to serve as President of the South America Northwest Area. Randy D. Funk released as Second Counselor and called as First Counselor in the Utah Area.

Eduardo Gavarret released as Second Counselor and called as First Counselor in the Caribbean Area.

Christoffel Golden Jr. released as First Counselor and called as President of the Europe East Area.

Walter F. Gonzalez released as President of the Caribbean Area and called as Second Counselor in the Utah Area.

O. Vincent Haleck released as President of the Pacific Area.

Kevin S. Hamilton released as First Counselor in the North America Northeast Area.

Allen D. Haynie released as Second Counselor and called as First Counselor in the North America Northeast Area.

Mathias Held continues to serve as Second Counselor in the South America Northwest Area.

David P. Homer continues to serve as Second Counselor in the Asia Area.

Paul V. Johnson released as President of the Europe Area.

Larry S. Kacher called as First Counselor in the Middle East/Africa North Area.

Jörg Klebingat continues to serve as Second Counselor in the North America West Area (formerly the North America Northwest/West Area).

Joni L. Koch continues to serve as Second Counselor in the Africa Southeast Area.

Erich W. Kopischke called as Second Counselor in the Europe Area.

Hugo E. Martinez continues to serve as Second Counselor in the Africa West Area (as announced in mid-October 2018).

James B. Martino released as President of the Europe East Area and called as President of the North America Southeast Area.

Kyle S. McKay called as Second Counselor in the North America Southwest Area.

Peter F. Meurs continues to serve as First Counselor in the Asia Area.

Hugo Montoya released as First Counselor in the South America Northwest Area and called as Second Counselor in the North America Southeast Area.

Marcus B. Nash continues to serve as President of the Africa West Area.

K. Brett Nattress released as Second Counselor and called as First Counselor in the Pacific Area.

S. Gifford Nielsen released as the First Counselor in the Idaho/North America Central Area and called as President of the North America Central Area.

Adrian Ochoa released as Second Counselor and called as First Counselor in the North America Southwest Area.

S. Mark Palmer continues to serve as President of the Africa Southeast Area.

Adilson de Paula Parrella released as Second Counselor and called as First Counselor in the Brazil Area.

Kevin W. Pearson continues to serve as President of the North America West Area (formerly the North America Northwest/West Area).

Anthony D. Perkins released as Senior Administrator and called as President of the Middle East/Africa North Area.

Paul B. Pieper released as First Counselor and called as President of the North America Southwest Area.

John C. Pingree Jr. continues to serve as Second Counselor in the Mexico Area.

Rafael E. Pino continues to serve as First Counselor in the Mexico Area.

Lynn G. Robbins released as President of the North America Southwest Area.

Evan A. Schmutz continues to serve as President of the Philippines Area.

Gary B. Sabin released as First Counselor and called as President of the Europe Area.

Joseph W. Sitati continues to serve as First Counselor in the Africa Southeast Area.

Vern P. Stanfill released as Second Counselor and called as First Counselor in the North America Southeast Area.

Brian K. Taylor released as Second Counselor in the Idaho/North America Central Area and called as First Counselor in the Central America Area.

Michael John U. Teh released as First Counselor in the Philippines Area.

Juan A. Uceda continues to serve as President of the Central America Area.

Arnulfo Valenzuela continues to serve as President of the Mexico Area.

Juan Pablo Villar continues to serve as Second Counselor in the South America South Area.

Takashi Wada released as Second Counselor and called as First Counselor in the Asia North Area.

Taniela B. Wakolo released as Second Counselor and called as First Counselor in the Philippines Area.

Alan R. Walker called as Second Counselor in the Central America Area.

Scott D Whiting continues to serve as First Counselor in the North America West Area (formerly the North America Northwest/West Area).

Chi Hong (Sam) Wong called as First Counselor in the North America Central Area.

Kazuhiko Yamashita released as First Counselor in the Asia North Area and called as Second Counselor in the Pacific Area.

Jorge F. Zeballos released as First Counselor in the Central America Area and called as First Counselor in the South America Northwest Area.

Note: Two area seventies will serve in area presidencies. Alexey V. Samaykin continues to serve as Second Counselor in the Europe East Area, and Jeffrey H. Singer will serve as Second Counselor in the Middle East/Africa North Area

BREAKING NEWS: First Presidency Announces 2019 Area Leadership Assignments; Consolidation of North American Areas

Hello again, everyone! The Church News just reported that the First Presidency has announced  area leadership assignments for 2019, which will be effective August 1 of this year. The major changes this year are that the Idaho and North America Central Area will be merged to become a single North America Central Area, that the North America Northwest and North America West Areas will be merged to become the North America West Area, and the Utah North, Utah Salt Lake City, and Utah South Areas areas will become a singular Utah Area.

With that noted, I wanted to note that, since the area seventies serving in Idaho have belonged to the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy, while those serving in the North America Central Area have been assigned to the Sixth Quorum of the Seventy. Since those areas will be merged, I am not sure how the composition of those two  Area Seventies Quorums may have changed based on these adjustments. At the moment, the area seventies page on the Church's official website only lists the areas which comprised the membership of each Quorum as of earlier this year. 

For some reason, the list of the members of each Qoorum has been removed. I am asssuming that is just temporary while the list is updated following the changes which were announced earlier this month in General Conference. Having noted that, I wanted to also mention that I am in the process of analyzing the newly-announced assignments and will have that posted later today. 

That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time. 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.

Dates and Days of the Week on Which the Church Has Announced Area Leadership Assignments Within the Last Decade

Hello again, everyone! While I cannot speak for anyone else here, I know I personally look forward every year to the day on which the Church announces the changes in area leadership which will be effective in August. As I have mentioned on this blog in the recent past, the timing of the announcement each year has varied and is not consistent at all in terms of on which day of the week and date they are released each year.

The release of those assignments last year the Thursday after General Conference (which coincided with the date on which Elders Gerrit W. Gong and Ulisses Soares were ordained apostles and set apart as members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) marked the earliest that had ever happened within the last decade. With that in mind, I did some digging on the days of the week and dates on which those assignments were announced between 2009 and last year.

While some years were unpredictably early or else unpredictably late, excluding the unanticipated early release of that information last year, in 8 of the 9 remaining instances, those assignments were announced between April 29 and May 8. With that in mind, I'd anticipate that this year's assignments will be announced within the next week or two, and hopefully sooner rather than later.

Having noted that, I wanted to share the specific results of the research which led me to that conclusion. Here is that information:

Dates and Days of the Week on Which the Church Has Announced Area Leadership Assignments Within the Last Decade

Thursday April 5, 2018

Thursday May 4, 2017

Friday April 29, 2016

Friday May 8, 2015

Tuesday April 29, 2014

Wednesday May 29, 2013

Saturday May 5, 2012

Wednesday May 4, 2011

Wednesday May 5, 2010

Saturday May 2, 2009

Based on what I have heard from one or two of the sources I have available, it surely won't be long now until this year's area leadership assignments, including at least 3 area consolidations but also perhaps several additional changes, are announced. And I will carry extensive analysis on that subject ASAP after it is released by the First Presidency.

I also continue to keep my eyes open for any other major Church or temple news and will pass those updates along to you all as I learn of them. As I have also mentioned, I will be publishing my next full and complete apostolic statistical update this Sunday. And I will also be passing along my analysis of the results of my General Conference predictions and the availability and layout of the May 2019 Ensign within the next 7-10 days or so, but certainly sooner if all goes well.

In the meantime, 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.

Updated Temple Construction Progress Report: Part Four—Announced Temples

Hello again, everyone! I am back once again with the fourth and final post in which I have been sharing updated sections of my temple construction progress report. The only section left is the one for announced temples, which I share below. In order 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, 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 nelwy-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 more information is needed before I provide a groundbreaking estimate):

185. Nairobi Kenya Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site confirmation.

Note: The Church of Jesus Christ Temples site noted in mid-February 2019 that a site had been procured for this temple. But during President Nelson’s visit to Nairobi in April 2018, a public affairs representative had noted that this temple would be smaller, and that a dedication for it was anticipated to occur sometime in 2021. So it seems reasonable to assume that a groundbreaking could occur within the next 12 months, but hopefully sooner, if all goes well.

186. Salta Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; site location confirmed.

187. Mendoza Argentina Temple: Planning and approval phase; site has been confirmed.

188. Managua Nicaragua Temple: Planning and approval phase; potential site acquired; awaiting official confirmation.

189. Auckland New Zealand Temple: Planning and approval phase; potential site acquired; awaiting official confirmation.

190. Puebla Mexico Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

Note: A Church member living in Mexico reports that the area presidency is scouting that city for temple locations, and that construction could begin in the early months of 2020.

191. Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple: Planning and approval phase; potential site acquired; awaiting official confirmation.

192. Yuba City, California Temple: Planning and approval phase; potential site identified; awaiting official confirmation.

Note: A potential site has been identified (though not yet confirmed) for this temple.

193. Layton Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; some prospective site locations identified.

Note: A potential site has been identified (though not yet confirmed) for this temple.

195. Bengaluru India Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

Note: President Nelson toured potential locations for the temple on April 19, 2018.

194. Belem Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

196. Washington County Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official city (and site) announcement.

197. Salvador Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

198. Lagos Nigeria Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

199. Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

200. Davao Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

201. Pago Pago American Samoa Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

202. Okinawa City Okinawa (Japan) Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

203. Neiafu Tonga Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

204. Tooele Valley Utah Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement

205. Moses Lake Washington Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

206. San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

207. Antofagasta Chile Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

208. Budapest Hungary Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

209. Russia Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official city (and site) announcement.

Updated Temple Construction Progress Report: Part Three—Temples Undergoing or Scheduled to Undergo Renovation

Hello again, everyone! I am back with the third part of my temple construction progress update. This part will include those temples which are currently undergoing renovation or are scheduled to be renovated. The information speaks for itself and follows below. In order to not 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.

Preparing for private rededication:

80. Memphis Tennessee Temple: Preparing for private rededication, which is scheduled to occur on Sunday May 5, 2019.

Open house tours underway:

95. Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple: Open house tours underway (through Wednesday May 1); private rededication scheduled to occur on Sunday May 19, 2019.

Undergoing Renovation (rededication scheduled):

13. Oakland California Temple: Open house reservations available through Saturday June 1, 2019; rededication scheduled to occur on Sunday June 16, 2019.

41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Trees and shrubs being planted; lamp-posts being installed; new staircase being cured; rededication scheduled to occur on Sunday October 20, 2019.

Undergoing Renovation (rededication anticipated within the next several years):

68. Raleigh North Carolina Temple: Installing hard landscaping elements including planter boxes and walkways; planting trees; completion estimated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

94. Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple: Cladding of exterior walls completed; stained glass window installation underway; rededication estimated sometime during mid-to-late 2019.

112. Asuncion Paraguay Temple: Interior and exterior work underway; rededication estimated sometime during late 2019-early 2020.

18. Tokyo Japan Temple: Angel Moroni statue installed atop spire on April 17, 2019; rededication estimated sometime during early-to-mid 2020.

16. Washington D. C. Temple: Exterior wall grout and stained-glass window repair continues; working on elevators; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2020.

8. Mesa Arizona Temple: Forms set for north reflecting pool; landscaping structures being installed; tree planting progressing; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late 2020.

11. Hamilton New Zealand Temple: Scaffolding erected for exterior refurbishment; rededication may take place sometime during early-to-mid 2021.

Renovation scheduled:

48. Hong Kong China Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on Monday July 8, 2019; rededication estimated in mid-to-late 2022.

1. St. George Utah Temple: Scheduled to close for renovation on Monday November 4, 2019; completion estimated in mid-to-late 2022.

4. Salt Lake Temple: Renovation plans announced on April 19, 2019; scheduled to close for renovation on Sunday December 29, 2019; rededication estimated in early-to-mid 2024.

Updated Temple Construction Progress Report: Part Two—Temples in Various Phases of Construction. or With a Groundbreaking Scheduled or Anticipated

Hello again, everyone! Having provided an overview of changes made to my temple construction progress report, I wanted to use this post to share the adjustments I made to the sections highlighting those temples which are currently in various phases of construction, along with those that have a groundbreaking either scheduled or anticipated. That information follows below. In order 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, 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.

Open house tours underway:

164. Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Open house tours underway through May 18, excluding Sundays; dedication scheduled to occur on Sunday June 2, 2019.

Dedication scheduled:

165. Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple: Planting palm trees; laying flowerbed irrigation lines; pouring curbing and walkways; dedication scheduled to occur on Sunday September 1, 2019.

166. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Planting magnolia, pine, and palm trees around temple; dedication scheduled to occur on Sunday September 15, 2019.

Under construction; completion anticipated within the next year or two:

167. Arequipa Peru Temple: Temporary glass installed; south monument sign installed; sod laid; flowers, bushes, and trees planted; completion estimated sometime during late 2019.

168. Durban South Africa Temple: Installing cornice and pilaster millwork, marble thresholds, and flooring; mechanical and electrical finish work continues; cladding entrance retaining walls and fountain; laying more sod; completion estimated sometime during late 2019.

169. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Steeple pedestal to be clad; majority of exterior cladding completed; interior work progressing; completion estimated sometime during late 2019-early 2020.

170. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Structural steel framing underway for temple; wood framing continues for meetinghouse; completion estimated sometime during mid-2020.

171. Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Temple: Foundation nearing completion; completion estimated sometime during late 2020-early 2021.

Under construction; completion estimated within the next 2-3 years:

172. Pocatello Idaho Temple: Dewatering the excavation area; dirt continues to be hauled from the property; completion estimated sometime during late 2021-early 2022.

173. Urdaneta Philippines Temple: Footing and foundation work underway; completion estimated sometime during late 2021-early 2022.

Full-scale construction pending:

174. Bangkok Thailand Temple: Groundbreaking held on January 26, 2019; full-scale construction pending; completion estimated sometime during mid-to-late 2022.

Groundbreaking scheduled:

175. Yigo Guam Temple: Demolition of Yigo meetinghouse underway; groundbreaking scheduled for Saturday May 4, 2019; completion estimated sometime during early-to-mid 2021.

Note: I am assuming the groundbreaking ceremony for this temple will be held at 10:00 AM Yigo time on Saturday, which will be 6:00 PM on Friday in Utah.

176. Praia Cabo Verde Temple: Preparing for groundbreaking, which is scheduled for Saturday May 4, 2019; completion estimated sometime during early-to-mid-2021.

Note: I am assuming the groundbreaking ceremony for this temple will be held at 10:00 AM Praia time Saturday, which will be 5:00 AM on Saturday in Utah.

177. San Juan Puerto Rico Temple: Demolition of the Trujillo chapel completed; temple site cleared for groundbreaking, which is scheduled for Saturday May 4, 2019; completion estimated sometime during early-to-mid 2021.

Note: I am assuming the groundbreaking ceremony for this temple will be held at 10:00 AM San Juan time Saturday, which will be 8:00 AM on Saturday in Utah.

178. Quito Ecuador Temple: Clearing site with heavy equipment in preparation for groundbreaking, which is scheduled for Saturday May 11, 2019; completion estimated sometime during mid-2021.

Note: I am assuming the groundbreaking ceremony for this temple will be held at 10:00 AM Quito time on Saturday, which will be 9:00 AM on Saturday in Utah.

179. Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: Official rendering released; existing institute building and meetinghouse closed on January 27, 2019 in preparation for demolition; groundbreaking scheduled for Saturday June 8, 2019; completion estimated sometime during mid-2022.

Note: I am assuming the groundbreaking ceremony for this temple will be held at 10:00 AM Los Olivos time on Saturday, which will be 9:00 AM on Saturday in Utah.

Groundbreaking anticipated:

180. Brasilia Brazil Temple: Planning and approval phase; property fence installed around temple site; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2019.

181. Richmond Virginia Temple: Preliminary plans submitted to local government; groundbreaking could occur in mid-2019.

182. Saratoga Springs Utah Temple: Awaiting official site confirmation; temple plans not yet submitted to the city government; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2019.

183. Greater Manila Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official name announcement; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2019.

184. 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.

Updated Temple Construction Progress Report: Part One—Overview of Changes Made & Preliminary Notes Section

Hello again, everyone! After doing some additional analysis on the most effective ways to present data in my temple construction progress report, I made several tweaks to it that seemed reasonable and practical. First, I put the temples which are anticipated to be dedicated within the next year or two (5 in total currently) into one section. Temples anticipated to be completed within the next 2-3 years will also be in a separate new section

Based on my efforts to weigh what I know against all that is unknown at present, I have shrunk my list of temples which I consider to be in a "Groundbreaking anticipated" status down to the 5 for which there is enough information to enable me to confidently provide an estimate for the groundbreaking timeframe. The 10 or 11 other temples which used to be in that section have been moved instead to the top of the "Announced temples" section near the end of my report, joiining others for which more information is needed before I venture a more specific but still general estimate for their groundbreakings.

For the temples undergoing renovation, since all of them are anticipated to be rededicated within the next few years or sooner, I have combined them back into a single section. And the final changes I made were to the once-again-newly-expanded list of announced temples. I weighed what I know (among which were if official sites for them had been confirmed, whether one had reportedly been acquired, or if more information, including a probable or definite location, was needed before moving those temples back up on the list).

Because all of these changes have been made, and due to so many new developments having been reported recently on temple construction projects all over the world, I will be posting updated elements of that report over the next several minutes. But since some of you have mentioned that lengthier posts are harder to get through, I will see what I can do to provide those updates in smaller segments over several shorter posts. Having provided an overview of these changes, I wanted to share the introductory segment of that report, which follows below.

In order 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, 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 Construction Progress Report (current as of 4/28/19)

Note about future temple construction: In late April 2017, Elder Larry Y. Wilson, who serves as the Executive Director of the Church’s Temple Department noted in an interview that the Church had a list of 80 potential temple locations which were being considered for an official announcement within the next 15 years (by late April 2032). In 2018 alone, President Nelson announced 19 new temples. Recent statements from apostles (including and especially President Nelson himself) have implied that the goal is a ten-fold increase in the total number of temples.

With that in mind (as confirmed by the Church News recently), the Church is on track to have a minimum of 200 operating temples by or before Saturday April 6, 2030, which will mark the Church’s bicentennial anniversary. The Church would just need to complete 37 of the temples in various phases in the 10.94 years between now and then, which could be done if 3.38 temples are dedicated each year. And within the next year alone, the Church is anticipated to have 7 new temples dedicated, so there will be at least that many temples by that date, if not several more than that.

Current temple status: The Church has 209 temples in various phases, among which 163 are currently operating; while 1 other has open house tours underway; and 2 more have had a dedication scheduled. There are additionally 7 others in various phases of construction, as well as 1 which has construction pending following its’ groundbreaking.

The Church has scheduled the groundbreaking for 5 other temples (which are all set to occur before the end of June), and there is enough information on 5 additional temples to consider them as being in a “Groundbreaking anticipated” status.

11 previously-dedicated temples are currently closed for renovation; which include 1 which is being prepared for its’ rededication; 1 which has open house tours underway; and 2 more for which a rededication has been scheduled. The Church has also announced the renovation closure for 3 more temples (including the Salt Lake Temple).

The final 25 temples are announced, most, if not all, of which could see construction begin within the next few years, but certainly sooner if all goes well.

8 New Temple Presidents Called

Hello again, everyone! As mentined in the comment section of my last post, the Church News continues to share brief biographies of those whom the First Presidency has called to begin serving in temple presidencies later this year. Earlier today, the calls of 8 more couples were announced. Of those newest 8, 2 were formerly area seventies, 1 was formerly a counselor in a previous presidency of the same temple over which he has now been called to preside. 

There are a few other interesting facts about this latest group of announced temple presidents. Nearly all of them have also served as mission presidents, and most have previously or are currently serving as temple ordinance workers. And of those who are currently serving as temple workers, some of them currently have assignments in ward bishoprics or stake presidencies. 

It is nice to see that such men are willing to commit to serving in the temple while assigned to preside over their local congregations. The fact that they are doing both is tremendous, and I fully bbelieve that their service in the temple has helped them to be more effective in their ecclesiastical assignments. But since the assignment to preside over a temple is one of a full-time nature, all of them will be released at some point to enable them to devote their complete focus to their new callings.

Having shared this information about the newest biographies of those called to serve as temple presidents, I wanted to also note that all of the 8 temples which had a new president announced in the article I cited above were on the list I was keeping of those temples which could see a new president announced at some point this year. That brings the total number of temple presidents called thus far in 2019 to 41.

As also previously mentioned, I am anticipating the first presidents will be announced for 4 new temples that are anticipated to be dedicated within the next 12-18 months. There are 27 other temples around the world for which a new president could begin serving later this year, based on how long the current presidents have serve. But of those 27, 7 are currently closed or are scheduled to close for renovation later this year, and, as a result, new presidents for those temples may or may not be announced before they are rededicated.

Time will tell in that respect, and it is also possible that other temples which are not on my list currently could have a new president announced later this year, given that that has been the case for 5 temples which have had a new president announced and whose current presidents have only served for 1-2 years rather than 3, which has been somewhat standard in recent years.

With that said, I wanted to share my latest updated list of those temples for which a new president has been or may yet be called at some point this year. That list 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, 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.

New presidents have been called for the following temples:

1.      Copenhagen Denmark

2.      Manila Philippines (not anticipated; current president has only served for two years)

3.      Tampico Mexico

4.      Philadelphia Pennsylvania

5.      Spokane Washington

6.      Manhattan New York

7.      Columbia River Washington

8.      St. Paul Minnesota

9.      Jordan River Utah

10.  Medford Oregon

11.  Rexburg Idaho

12.  Provo Utah

13.  London England

14.  Tegucigalpa Honduras (not anticipated; current president has only served for one year)

15.  Johannesburg South Africa

16.  Fort Collins Colorado

17.  Panama City Panama

18.  Nauvoo Illinois

19.  Suva Fiji (not anticipated; current president has only served for one year)

20.  Paris France (not anticipated; current president has only served for two years)

21.  Dallas Texas

22.  Guadalajara Mexico

23.  Gilbert Arizona

24.  Detroit Michigan

25.  Anchorage Alaska

26.  Twin Falls Idaho

27.  Sapporo Japan

28.  Kyiv Ukraine

29.  Columbus Ohio

30.  Calgary Alberta (not anticipated; current president has only served for two years)

31.  Tuxtla Gutierrez Mexico

32.  Ciudad Juarez Mexico

33.  Monterrey Mexico

34.  Idaho Falls Idaho

35.  Orlando Florida

36.  Halifax Nova Scotia

37.  Mexico City Mexico

38.  Santiago Chile

39.  Nashville Tennessee

40.  Merida Mexico

41.  Star Valley Wyoming

The first presidents will likely be announced for the following new temples:

1.      Arequipa Peru

2.      Rio de Janeiro Brazil

3.      Winnipeg Manitoba

4.      Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire

List of currently-operating temples which may be getting a new president in 2019:

1.      Aba Nigeria

2.      Birmingham Alabama

3.      Campinas Brazil

4.      Chicago Illinois

5.      Cochabamba Bolivia

6.      Curitiba Brazil

7.      Fresno California

8.      Hamilton New Zealand (Note: It is possible that the Church could hold off on calling a new president for this temple until its’ rededication is held in 2021)

9.      Hartford Connecticut

10.  Hong Kong China (Note: It is possible that the Church could hold off on calling a new president for this temple until its’ rededication in 2021 or 2022)

11.  Lima Peru

12.  Melbourne Australia

13.  Memphis Tennessee (Note: Since the current president of this temple had his service interrupted by its’ renovation, the Church could hold off another year or two on replacing him.)

14.  Montreal Quebec

15.  Nuku’alofa Tonga

16.  Oklahoma City Oklahoma (Note: Since the current president of this temple had his service interrupted by its’ renovation, the Church could hold off another year or two on replacing him.)

17.  Perth Australia

18.  Portland Oregon

19.  Raleigh North Carolina (Note: Since the current president of this temple had his service interrupted by its’ renovation, the Church could hold off another year or two on replacing him.)

20.  Reno Nevada

21.  Santo Domingo Dominican Republic

22.  Seattle Washington

23.  Seoul Korea

24.  St. George Utah (Note: Since this temple is scheduled to close for renovation later this year, the Church could hold off on calling a new president until the renovation is complete)

25.  Veracruz Mexico

26.  Washington D.C. (Note: Since the current president of this temple had his service interrupted by its’ renovation, the Church could hold off another year or two on replacing him.)

27.  Winter Quarters Nebraska