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Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Revised Predictions for October 2019 General Conference: Part One—Speaking Order Alterations

Hello again, everyone! I wanted to post again now because I have taken more time today to revise my projections for the speaking order for the October 2019 General Conference. I realized that my previous version contained a few flaws, while I had also failed to consider some of the relevant factors. So this latest edition has hopefully fixed thosse prior errors. The revisions speak for themselves, but if any of you have any questions about my thought process on these, please feel free to let me know. The revised speaking order predictions follow 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.

October 2019 General Conference Predictions (Text in brackets denote differences)
Sess.
Conducting
Speaker
SAM
President Henry B. Eyring
President Russell M. Nelson


Elder Jeffrey R. Holland


Douglas D. Holmes


Elder Gerrit W. Gong


Elder Ruben V. Alliaud


Elder Scott D. Whiting


Elder Dale G. Renlund


President Dallin H. Oaks
SAA
President Dallin H. Oaks
President Henry B. Eyring (Sustaining of Church Officers)


Elder Quentin L. Cook


Elder Terence M. Vinson


Elder Ronald A. Rasband


Elder Jorge M. Alvarado


Elder Walter F. Gonzalez
           

Elder David A. Bednar
GW
Joy D. Jones
Jean B. Bingham


Lisa L. Harkness


Bonnie H. Cordon


President Henry B. Eyring


President Dallin H. Oaks


President Russell M. Nelson
SUM
President Henry B. Eyring
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Elder David S. Baxter
Cristina B. Franco

Elder Scott D. Whiting
Elder Ulisses Soares


Elder Gary E. Stevenson


Bishop Gerald Causse


President Russell M. Nelson
SUA
President Dallin H. Oaks
President Henry B. Eyring


President M. Russell Ballard


Mark L. Pace


Elder D. Todd Christofferson


Elder David S. Baxter


Elder Hans T. Boom


Elder Neil L. Andersen


President Russell M. Nelson

BREAKING NEWS: President Nelson's Latin American Ministry Announced; Preliminary Work Begins on Bangkok Thailand Temple

Hello again, everyone! Breaking news has been reported on a couple of fronts today. First, President Nelson's next Global Ministry Tour has been announced, with some of the details originally shared by Bryan D., a user who regularly comments here, having been confirmed.  The tour, which will focus on locations throughout Latin America, will see Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife Mary G. Cook, accompanying President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Wendy W. Nelson, on a 9-day tour that will entail 5 stops between Saturday August 24 and Monday September 2.

On August 24, after departing from Salt Lake, the leaders will stop first in Guatemala City Guatemala, where an evening devotional will be held for all congregations in Guatemala. The following day, the leaders will travel to Bogota Colombia, where a devotional will be broadcast to all Colombian congregations. A stop in Quito Ecuador one day later will allow leaders to speak to all congregations in that city. They will then have one day to rest before visiting Buenos Aires Argentina on Wednesday August 28. After a 3-4 day respite, the leaders will then wrap up their tour by stopping in Sao Paulo Brazil, where they will speak at a Sunday afternoon devotional before returning home on Monday September 2.

I imagine the extensive layovers will enable them not just to rest, but also to take care of unspecified business, which may, as Bryan D. noted in his comment earlier this week, involve scouting for future temple locations in Argetina and Brazil, especially if the current level of activity at the Buenos Aires Argentina and Sao Paulo Brazil Temples requires a second temple to be built within the boundaries of both current temple districts. The Newsroom will provide full and complete coverage of these stops, as will I, either through new posts here, or in comments on existing posts.

If that were the only news I had to share in this breaking news update, that would be reason enough to rejoice, but a new report of which I became aware a short while ago indicates that heavy equipment is arriving at the Bangkok Thailand temple site.  This is good news, as it is a key indicator that preliminary work will begin soon on the temple site, putting it out of the "full-scale construction pending" status. But I also wanted to issue a reminder: due to the preliminary work that will need to be done to prepare the site prior to the construction of the temple proper, it may be 6-9 months or so before that temple's footings and foundation are poured. While that does not and should not lessen our excitement about this development, it needed to be noted.

Still no word on how long it might take before full-scale work begins on the Yigo Guam, Praia Cabo Verde, San Juan Puerto Rico, or Quito Ecuador Temples, but hopefully work will at least have begun on the latter well in advance of President Nelson's August 26 visit to that city. In the interim, it is now definitively verified that whomever may actually preside at the September 1 dedication for the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple, it will not be President Nelson or Elder Cook.

In the interim, I will be posting a birthday tribute to President Eyring honoring his 86th birthday two days from now, and will also have coverage this weekend on the dedication of the Fortaleza Brazil Temple by Elder Soares. I likewise continue to monitor any and all Church news and temple developments and will do my level best to pass word of the significant developments along to you all as I receive word thereof.

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.

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Updated Estimates for Future Temple Events: Part Three—All Other Known Events

Hello again, everyone! I am back with the third and final post in this installment of my updated estimates for known temple events in the future. This post will cover my estimates for all other known events (particularly those anticipated to occur between 2022 and 2024). Those estimates follow 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.


2022:
Saturday & Sunday April 2 & 3: 192nd Annual General Conference
Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.
Mid-to-late April: Dedication of the Urdaneta Philippines Temple (177th operating temple)
Mid-May: 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-September: Dedication of the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple (178th operating temple)
Saturday & Sunday October 1 & 2: 192nd Semiannual General Conference
Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.
Mid-December: Dedication of the Bangkok Thailand Temple (179th 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 on 2022: 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.



2023:
February: Rededication of the St. George Utah Temple
Saturday & Sunday April 1 & 2: 193rd Annual General Conference
Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.
Saturday September 30 & Sunday October 1: 193rd Semiannual General Conference
Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.

Final note on 2023: Any temple events which may occur during 2023 will be determined by whatever temple announcements are made within the next couple of years. I will be sure to add such events as I learn about their likelihood.

2024:
Saturday & Sunday April 6 & 7: 194th Annual General Conference
Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.
May or June: Rededication of the Salt Lake Temple
Saturday & Sunday October 5 & 6: 194th Semiannual General Conference
Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.

Final note: Any other temple events which may occur during 2024 will be determined by whatever temple announcements are made within the next couple of years. I will be sure to add such events as I learn about their likelihood.

Updated Estimates for Future Temple Events: Part Two—Events Anticipated in 2020 & 2021

Hello again, everyone! Having prefaced this mini-series of posts previously, I am back to share my more specific estimates for known temple events in 2020 and 2021. The estimates speak for themselves and follow 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 everythig you do.


2020:
Mid-March: Dedication of the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple (169th operating temple)
Note: Although information about the progress on this temple’s renovation is scarce, given the need to adjust my estimate for the Durban South Africa Temple, I have moved this temple’s rededication to this point. If I find out anything that leads me to alter my thoughts in that respect, I will adjust this estimate again.
Saturday & Sunday April 4 & 5: 190th Annual General Conference
Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.
June: Rededication of the Tokyo Japan Temple
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-to-late October: Rededication of the Washington DC Temple
December: Dedication of the Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire 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 to this point.

Final note on 2020: Based on what I have heard, 2020 seems as though it will be another big year for temple groundbreakings. I am specifically keeping my eyes open for information on the following temples: Puebla Mexico (in view of a tip from a member of the Church in Mexico, who noted the groundbreaking for that temple is anticipated in early 2020), Salta and Mendoza Argentina, Managua Nicaragua, Phnom Penh Cambodia, Yuba City California, Layton Utah, and Belem Brazil Temples.


2021:
Mid-March: Rededication of the Mesa Arizona Temple
Saturday & Sunday April 3 & 4: 191st Annual General Conference
Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.
Late April-early May: Dedication of the Yigo Guam Temple (172nd operating temple
Mid-to-late May: Dedication of the Praia Cabo Verde Temple (173rd operating temple)
Early-to-mid June: Dedication of the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple (174th operating temple)
Mid-August: Rededication of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
Saturday & Sunday October 2 & 3: 191st Semiannual General Conference
Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.
Mid-to-late October: Dedication of the Pocatello Idaho Temple (175th operating temple)
December: Dedication of the Quito Ecuador Temple (176th operating temple)


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.

Updated Estimates for Future Temple Events: Part One—Overview and Scheduled/Anticipated Events in 2019

Hello again, everyone! In view of the mass number of temple developments which have occurred within the last 3 weeks or so since I posted my estimates for known temple events, I thought it was high time I again revisited them. So this will be the first in a multiple-post series. This post will share those events which have been or may yet be scheduled to occur this year, while the next post will share the events anticipated to occur in 2020 and 2021, and the final post will cover those known events which are anticipated to occur between 2022 and 2024. So let's get right into those updates.

The scheduled or estimated events for this year follow 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.

2019:
Thursday May 16-Saturday May 25: President Nelson’s Pacific Ministry Tour
Note: On April 10, 2019, the Church announced that this tour would take place on these dates. That gave me hope that some temple news would be announced during the tour. While making the scheduled stop in Auckland New Zealand, President Nelson confirmed the site for the temple in that city on May 21, 2019. This gives me hope that a groundbreaking for that temple could take place within the next year or less.
Sunday June 2: Dedication of the Fortaleza Brazil Temple (165th operating temple; confirmed)
Note: On January 10, 2019, the First Presidency announced this temple’s dedication. Then, on May 14, 2019, a Brazilian newspaper indicated that the temple would be dedicated by our native Brazilian apostle, Elder Ulisses Soares.
Saturday June 8: Groundbreaking for the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple
Note: On March 7, 2019, the groundbreaking for this temple was announced. Since this temple is being built within the South America Northwest Area, the president of that area, Elder Enrique R. Falabella will preside over it. And based on the fact that the design of this temple reminds me of the Mesa Arizona Temple, I am anticipating a 3-4 year construction period for that process.
Sunday June 16: Rededication of the Oakland California Temple (confirmed)
Note: This temple’s rededication was announced on December 18, 2018. Since senior apostles have presided at temple rededications lately, Elder David A. Bednar, who was born in Oakland, could be asked to preside, as could Elder Quentin L. Cook, who has connections to this area.




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 around 3 years, so I have set a preliminary estimate of mid-to-late 2022.

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 (with the latter originally set for mid-May). Then, on January 18, 2019, the dedication was pushed back to this date in view of delays in the construction process. It is possible that President Nelson could preside at this temple’s dedication, and that perhaps that would be done as part of a Global Ministry Tour, but time will tell whether he dedicates this temple, or delegates that task to either of his counselors, or any of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Given that Elder Neil L. Andersen broke ground for this temple and is fluent in French, it wouldn’t shock me if he were sent back to rededicate this temple.
Friday September 6: President Nelson’s 95th Birthday Celebration
Note: On March 14, 2019, the Church announced this milestone celebration for President Nelson, which will occur 3 days before his actual 95th birthday. In view of the fact that President Nelson has announced 27 temples since his prophetic administration began, it seems appropriate to mention this milestone birthday among other events on this timeline.
Sunday September 15: Dedication of the Lisbon Portugal Temple (166th operating temple; confirmed)
Note: On March 4, 2019, the First Presidency announced the open house and dedication information for this temple. What I noted above in terms of who might preside at this event (and under what circumstances that might occur) applies to this event as well.
Saturday & Sunday October 5 & 6: 189th Semiannual General Conference:
Note: Given that there have been 27 new temples announced during the first 3 General Conferences of President Nelson’s prophetic administration, I believe he will continue to announce temples every six months in General Conference, and may also announce some in between each April, October, and subsequent April.


Sunday October 13: Private rededication for the Raleigh North Carolina Temple (confirmed)
Note: On May 3, 2019, the First Presidency announced that a one-session private rededication for this temple would take place on this date (following a one-week public open house), with President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, presiding.
Sunday October 20: Rededication of the Frankfurt Germany Temple (confirmed)
Note: On March 5, 2019, the First Presidency announced that this temple would be rededicated on this date. I am anticipating that Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, our native German apostle will be asked to rededicate this temple.
Sunday November 3: Private rededication of the Asuncion Paraguay Temple (confirmed)
Note: On May 21, 2019, the First Presidency announced the one-week open house and one-session private rededication for this temple. Since Paraguay is a neighbor nation to Argentina, and since Elder D. Todd Christofferson is a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who has a connection to Argentina, I could see the Brethren asking him to oversee this temple’s dedication.
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.
Sunday November 17: Private rededication of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple (confirmed)
Note: On May 3, 2019, the First Presidency also announced the one-week public open house for this temple, which will be privately rededicated on this date by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
December 15: Dedication of the Arequipa Peru Temple (167th operating temple)
Note: On May 21, 2019, the First Presidency also announced the dedication of this temple.  Since Peru is a neighboring nation to Chile, and since Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spent two years presiding over what was then the Chile Area of the Church, it is possible the First Presidency could assign him to dedicate this temple.
Sunday December 29: Salt Lake Temple Renovation Closure (confirmed); Dedication of the Durban South Africa Temple (168th operating temple)
Note: On April 19, 2019, President Nelson announced renovation plans for the Salt Lake Temple, identifying this date for its’ closure. I will offer an estimate for its’ completion (which is anticipated in early-to-mid 2024) later in this document. Subsequently, in May 2019, I received new information which indicated that the completion of this temple could occur in either late 2019 or early 2020. I am going to be optimistic and say that the dedication of that temple could also occur on this date, but will update my thoughts on that as I find out more.


Final note on 2019: Groundbreakings have been held so far this year for the Urdaneta Philippines, Bangkok Thailand, Pocatello Idaho, Yigo Guam, Praia Cabo Verde, San Juan Puerto Rico, and Quito Ecuador Temples, with the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple groundbreaking scheduled to occur in roughly 2 weeks. Given what I have heard about 2019, it seems more likely than not that several other temples will have a groundbreaking at some point during that year. In particular, I am watching for information on the Brasilia Brazil, Greater Manila Philippines, Richmond Virginia, Nairobi Kenya, Harare Zimbabwe, Saratoga Springs Utah, Bengaluru India, Auckland New Zealand and Puebla Mexico Temples. Even if not all of them have a groundbreaking occur in 2019, many of them will likely have a groundbreaking scheduled before the end of this year.