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

Hello again, everyone! After around a month has passed with significant temple developments, I figured it was time once again to post an updated version of my list of estimates for future temple events. As usual, this will be done in three parts. This first one will discvuss those events scheduled to occur this year. The second part will deal with events scheduled/anticipated to occur in 2020 & 2021, and the final part will share those events anticipated between 2022 and 2024. This year's scheduled events 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:

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.

Saturday August 17: Groundbreaking Ceremony for Belem Brazil Temple (confirmed)

Note: On June 17, 2019, new information noted that the groundbreaking ceremony for this temple had been confirmed through a letter from the Brazil Area Presidency to priesthood leaders. Although confirmation through the Church’s official Newsroom is still pending, barring anything unexpected, such confirmation is just a matter of time. Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis, President of the Brazil Area, will preside over this temple’s groundbreaking. I am estimating that this will be a smaller temple, and that construction on it could wrap up in mid-to-late 2021.

Saturday August 24-Monday September 2: President Nelson’s Latin American Ministry Tour (confirmed)

Note: During the third week in May, comments on my blog shared releases from a few country Newsroom websites of the Church noting President Nelson would visit those locations in late August and early September. Then on May 29, the Church released official details of the trip and its’ itinerary. Accompanied by his wife, Wendy W. Nelson, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Mary G. Cook, President Nelson will visit 5 nations in 9 days. With stops in Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil, it appears more likely than not that part of that tour will involve scouting for future temple locations.

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 (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. Because President Nelson will be wrapping up his aforementioned Latin American Ministry Tour this same weekend, and given the precedent set with the prior two temple dedications (in Kinshasa DR Congo and Fortaleza Brazil), it seems likely any of the three apostles fluent in French (President Eyring or Elders Andersen or Renlund) may oversee this dedication. Given that Elder Andersen is the only one of those three who has not presided over a temple event, since he broke ground for this temple, he may be asked to return to dedicate it.

Friday September 6: President Nelson’s 95^th Birthday Celebration

Note: On March 14, 2019, the Church announced this milestone celebration for President Nelson, which will occur 3 days before his actual 95^th 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 (166^th operating temple; confirmed)

Note: On March 4, 2019, the First Presidency announced the open house and dedication information for this temple. Given the recent past precedent I noted previously, any of the 15 current apostles, particularly those who have not personally presided over a temple event this year and/or who have any kind of connection to Lisbon may be asked to oversee this dedication. Who exactly that might be is anyone’s guess.

Saturday & Sunday October 5 & 6: 189^th 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, with the focus between each General Conference centered on doing all that can be done to clear the backlog of announced temples, at least for the time being.

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. It is my opinion that any of the senior apostles (up to and including Elder Christofferson) who have not presided at a temple event could preside over this rededication. But what is far less clear right now is which of those 9 most senior apostles is most likely to do so.

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 (167^th operating temple)

Note: On May 21, 2019, the First Presidency also announced the dedication of this temple.  Given the aforementioned past precedent, any apostle could preside over this temple dedication, with the only question being which of the 15 is most likely to actually do so. Insofar as I am aware, I know of no current apostle who has direct ties to Peru. So at this point, the prospect is too difficult to call.

Sunday December 29: Salt Lake Temple Renovation Closure (confirmed)

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.

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, Quito Ecuador, and Lima Peru Los Olivos Temples. Additionally, as noted above, a groundbreaking for the Belem Brazil Temple will occur in mid-August. 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.

Temple Construction Updates Noted

Hello again, everyone! Several temple construction updates have been noted, so I wanted to pass them along to you all here and now. First, at the Lisbon Portugal Temple, exterior lighting tests are underway. Next, as reported around 12 hours ago, the Durban South Africa Temple will be dedicated in mid-February of next year, when it will become the 168th operating temple of the Church. Next, an update shared for the Rio de Janeiro Temple notes that the construction barrier has been replaced by decorative fencing, that landscaping is now underway, and that scaffolding is being removed from the temple tower. Additionally, I have made the personal decision to shift my general estimate for that temple's completion to mid-2020, though most soureces available to me still list that general estimate as early 2020.

Sources available to me have shifted the estimated completion for the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple to mid-to-late 2020, which fits in better with my more specific estimate (more on that later).  Next, after the Abidjan Temple, the Yigo Guam, Praia Cabo Verde, and San Juan Puerto Rico Temples are anticipated to be completed, although full-scale construction is still pending on all of them. After that, the Quito Ecuador Temple is anticipated to be completed, followed by the Belem Brazil (for which a groundbreaking is set to occur in mid-August), Pocatello Idaho, Urdaneta Philippines, Lima Peru Los Olivos (for which full-scale construction efforts are also pending), and Bangkok Thailand Temples.

At least, that is the likely order of completion for those temples, though I anticipate others will be completed in-between the Belem and Pocatello Temples, and also likely between the Urdaneta and Los Olivos Temples and also between that of the Los Olivos and Bangkok Temples. Aside from that, the one other current temple about which I have an update is the Mesa Arizona Temple, where a retaining wall is being poured around the temple, where forms are being set for the west reflecting pool slab, and where a slab has been poured for the north reflecting pool.

But before I end this post, I wanted to pass along two updated sections from my temple construction progress report: those for the "Groundbreaking anticipated" and "Announced" sections thereof. So those follow below:

Groundbreaking anticipated:

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

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

183. Richmond Virginia Temple: Preliminary plans submitted to local government on March 22, 2019; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2019.

184. Nairobi Kenya Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site confirmation; groundbreaking could occur in mid-to-late 2019.

185. 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.

186. Saratoga Springs Utah Temple: Preliminary plans submitted to local government on May 7, 2019; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019-early 2020.

187. Bengaluru India Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019-early 2020.

188. Auckland New Zealand Temple: Planning and approval phase; site location confirmed on May 21, 2019; groundbreaking could occur in late 2019-early 2020.

189. Puebla Mexico Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could occur in early 2020.

Announced Temples (for which more information is needed before I provide a groundbreaking estimate):

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

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

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

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

194. Feather River 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.

195. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

207. San Pedro Sula Honduras 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.

I should note that, depending on what happens over the next several months between now and the weekend of the October 2019 General Conference, the two sections I shared above will likely look markedly different (hopefully because at least 2 other temples will have a groundbreaking, and because several other temples may have been announced, or will get to the point of being in a "Groundbreaking anticipated" status.

I do continue to monitor all such Church news and temple developments and will be sure to pass along word of the highlights as I become aware of them. 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 and Dedication Announced for Durban South Africa Temple

Hello again, everyone! The First Presidency has announced the open house and dedication information for the Durban South Africa Temple. The open house will take place from Wednesday January 22-Saturday February 1, 2020, except for Sunday January 26. A youth devotional will be held with senior leaders the night of Saturday February 15, with the dedication of the temple following the next day in 3 sessions, which will only be broadcast to the units in the temple district. The fact that for two days in a row, we have had breaking temple news gives me hope that more such developments are on the horizon.

I should also probably mention that the last two days' developments mean I will likely be revisiting my estimates for known temple events in the future, given the new information I have received. It is also worth mentioning that there has not been confirmation on the Newsroom as of yet on the groundbreaking information for the Belem Brazil Temple.

But I antiicipate that occurring soon, and given that there are still almost-2 full weeks left in June that the Church could confirm that groundbreaking and perhaps announce 1 or 2 others which would then occur either in August as well, or perhaps in September.  I do continue to monitor any and all Church news and temple developments and will be doing my level best to bring word of those to you all here as I become aware of them, either through brand-new posts being published for breaking news developments, or through the comments on the threads of previously-published blog posts.

That does it for now. 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: Groundbreaking Set for the Belem Brazil Temple

Hello again, everyone! An unprecedented, surprising move has been reported through the unofficial site for some official information about the temples of the Church. The Brazil Area Presidency today announced that the groundbreaking for the Belem Brazil Temple will take place on Saturday August 17, and that Brazil Area President Marcos A. Aidukaitis will preside over that ceremony. At this point, there is no indication as to where the temple will be built, what its' design will be, or how long construction might take.

And it is somewhat irregular because usually groundbreaking announcements are made by the First Presidency, but I am assuming the Brazil Area Presidency received authorization from those Brethren to make this announcement, with more official details to follow in a news release perhaps later this week. The groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Saturday August 17. I will be sure to share more details about this as they are released.

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.

BREAKING TEMPLE NEWS: Oakland California Temple Rededication Inaugurates Changes in Format for Future Temple Dedications and Rededications

Hello again, everyone! The Oakland California Temple was rededicated today in 3 sessions, under the presiding direction of President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, who was accompanied by his wife, Kristen M. Oaks, and Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who was accompanied by his wife, Susan K. Bednar. Between the Church News and the official Newsroom subpage of the Church's website, 3 articles have been published to cover these events.

The Newsroom utilized a single article to cover both the youth devotional and the rededication, while the Church News covered the youth devotional and rededication through two separate articles. The biggest takeaway I got from these articles is this: the First Presidency recently determined to tweak the format of the youth devotionals and temple dedications or rededications. For those that are public events, it has been customary for the last several decades for the focus on the former cultural celebration and current youth devotionals the night before, and the temple dedications or rededications on the scheduled Sunday to feature participation almost exclusively from the visiting Church leaders overseeing these events.

But starting with the Oakland California Temple rededication and going forward, although several General Authorities and General Officers of the Church may still be present at these events, the Brethren have opted from now on to use a "divide and conquer" strategy on Saturday night, where the senior apostle who is presiding and his wife will address the youth devotional, which will feature addresses by several local members, including those who had a role in coordinating the temple open house and dedication or rededication, the youth, and others as the Brethren are inspired to ask them to participate.

Meanwhile, earlier on that same Saturday, the accompanying junior apostle and his wife will now host a panel discussion with youth where important issues relative to the questions or issues they are grappling with will be discussed, and solutions brainstormed. In conjunction with the dedication the following day, the presiding apostles and their wives will participate in the dedicatory services, but several lay members of the Church, including temple ordinance workers, youth, those involved with coordinating the temple's crowning events, and others, will be invited at the discretion of the presiding officials to speak during the dedicatory services.

These changes seem to show that the Brethren recognize not everyone who desires to do so may be able to attend the youth devotional and/or temple dedications.rededications, and also appears to be a way to acknowledge that hearing remarks from people either involved with making arrangements for the open house and dedicatory events or for whom these events may be personally significant will now have the chance to bless their fellow Saints by sharing their thoughts, feelings, and inspired messages with all who will be impacted by the opening or reopening of a temple following its' completion.

And these changes will also make such events far more significant to all who will participate in or know someone who participates therein that much more impactful. I know I have personally previously enjoyed reports of the insights shared by general Church leaders in attendance, but as soon as I read about these changes, I felt the Spirit confirm to me that they were in line with the Lord's will. This is yet another in the series of remarkable demonstrations that revelation continues in the Lord's Church today, and I was grateful to have been able to pass these breaking news developments along to you all here as I learned of them.

I remain as committed as I ever have been, if not more so, to bringing all other major Church news and temple updates to you all as I become aware of them.  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.