Hello again, everyone! The breaking news continues from General Conference. This time, in an unusually-timed announcement, as he concluded his remarks in the Women's Session of General Conference, President Nelson announced 8 new temples. The temples will be built in Freetown, Sierra Leone; Orem Utah; Bentonville Arkansas; Bacolod Philippines; Taylorsville Utah; Coban Guatemala; McAllen Texas; and Port Moresby Papua New Guinea. Additional information is available on the official release from the Newsroom.
It is good to have learned about this. I had the exact location correct for 5 of these 8 temples, but had Fort Worth instead of McAllen, and was caught off-guard by the announcement of temples for both Taylorsville and Orem, though I anticipated at least one new one for Utah this go-round. I look forward to seeing more information released on these temples as plans are developed. With that noted, unless he intends to announce other temples at some other time, I have no idea what, if any, other announcements may be made this weekend. But I will do my level best to stay on top of any other developments and will be sure to pass word of those along to you all as I receive it.
In the meantime, I also continue to monitor all Church news and temple updates and will do my level best to pass word of those along to you all as I become aware of it. 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.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
BREAKING NEWS: President Nelson Announces 8 New Temples
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
BREAKING NEWS: Adjustments Announced to Youth Programs
Hello again, everyone! During the Saturday Afternoon Session of General Conference, Church President Russell M. Nelson announced infrastructural changes to Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and young women groups. As subsequently outlined by Elder Cook, young men presidencies at the ward level will be released effective immediately. Bishops will take oversight to lead and mentor the Priests' Quorum, as specified in scripture, and his two counselors will oversee the work of the Teachers' and Deacons' Quorums respectively. To assist the ward bishopric, adult advisers to the young men will continue to be called and serve.
In the meantime, the young women president in each ward will now report directly to the bishop. And young women presidents will take a greater role in counseling with the young women with whom they serve. Young men presidencies will continue to serve on the stake and general levels, but the Stake Young Men's President will now be one of the stake high councilmen. Additionally, another member of the stake high council will now serve as the Stake Sunday School President.
The traditional Bishopric's Youth Committee will be discontinued and replaced by a Ward Youth Council. Weekly activities for young men and young women will continue, but the descriptive phrase "Mutual" will now be retired, with the activities being called "Aaronic Priesthood", "young women" or "youth" activities. The ward budget for youth will be equitably divided between young men and young women, with an additional budget allotment to be made available for Primary activities.
Additionally, at all levels, the usage of the word "auxiliary" will be replaced. Those serving on a general level in the Relief Society, Sunday School, Young Men, Young Women, and Primary General Presidencies will now be known as "General Officers", while those leading on the ward and stake level will be called ward or stake officers. The details specific to organizational changes in the young women will be outlined more completely by Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women General President, tonight during the Women's Session of General Conference.
I know that I, as recently as this week, had noted my feeling that the infrastructure of wards and stakes would not be changed as far as the Sunday School, Young Men, Young Women, or Primary was concerned, but as soon as these adjustments were announced, I received instantaneous confirmation that they were in harmony with the Lord's will for His Church at this time. Clearly President Nelson, his counselors, and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are very concerned about the youth and children of the Church, and are making these adjustments to enable the youth to reach their fullest potential, and to bring all organizations of the Church into harmony with the revelations by which they were originally governed. And that is wonderful to see occurring.
I will have further analysis on this tonight. In the meantime, 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.
(Added at 6:31 PM): Tonight during the Women's Session, Sister Bonnie H. Cordon presented changes to the Young Women theme to a more individual basis, and announced a new flexibility with the organization of the Young Women classes according to local circumstances, and at the discretion of the ward Young Women president, with the approval of the bishop. Class presidencies will continue to serve, but the names of the groups as they previously existed (Beehive, Mia Maid, and Laurel) are discontinued and retired, effective immediately.
Each young women group will have a class presidency, which will be mentored by ward and stake young women presidencies and those called as advisers. As soon as these changes were announced, I felt the Spirit testify to me that they are in harmony with the Lord's will for young women at this time. And I cannot wait to see how these changes impact the faith and strength of youth groups going forward. It is also worth noting that the originally-cited source from the Newsroom has now been updated to reflect this information as well. Aside from these developments, I anticipate that, at least, there will be new temples announced at some point tomorrow, but I don't know when that might occur or if there will be anything else announced.
But I continue to monitor all such developments, along with other Church news and temple updates, and will bring word of those to you all here as I become aware of such things. 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.
In the meantime, the young women president in each ward will now report directly to the bishop. And young women presidents will take a greater role in counseling with the young women with whom they serve. Young men presidencies will continue to serve on the stake and general levels, but the Stake Young Men's President will now be one of the stake high councilmen. Additionally, another member of the stake high council will now serve as the Stake Sunday School President.
The traditional Bishopric's Youth Committee will be discontinued and replaced by a Ward Youth Council. Weekly activities for young men and young women will continue, but the descriptive phrase "Mutual" will now be retired, with the activities being called "Aaronic Priesthood", "young women" or "youth" activities. The ward budget for youth will be equitably divided between young men and young women, with an additional budget allotment to be made available for Primary activities.
Additionally, at all levels, the usage of the word "auxiliary" will be replaced. Those serving on a general level in the Relief Society, Sunday School, Young Men, Young Women, and Primary General Presidencies will now be known as "General Officers", while those leading on the ward and stake level will be called ward or stake officers. The details specific to organizational changes in the young women will be outlined more completely by Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women General President, tonight during the Women's Session of General Conference.
I know that I, as recently as this week, had noted my feeling that the infrastructure of wards and stakes would not be changed as far as the Sunday School, Young Men, Young Women, or Primary was concerned, but as soon as these adjustments were announced, I received instantaneous confirmation that they were in harmony with the Lord's will for His Church at this time. Clearly President Nelson, his counselors, and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are very concerned about the youth and children of the Church, and are making these adjustments to enable the youth to reach their fullest potential, and to bring all organizations of the Church into harmony with the revelations by which they were originally governed. And that is wonderful to see occurring.
I will have further analysis on this tonight. In the meantime, 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.
(Added at 6:31 PM): Tonight during the Women's Session, Sister Bonnie H. Cordon presented changes to the Young Women theme to a more individual basis, and announced a new flexibility with the organization of the Young Women classes according to local circumstances, and at the discretion of the ward Young Women president, with the approval of the bishop. Class presidencies will continue to serve, but the names of the groups as they previously existed (Beehive, Mia Maid, and Laurel) are discontinued and retired, effective immediately.
Each young women group will have a class presidency, which will be mentored by ward and stake young women presidencies and those called as advisers. As soon as these changes were announced, I felt the Spirit testify to me that they are in harmony with the Lord's will for young women at this time. And I cannot wait to see how these changes impact the faith and strength of youth groups going forward. It is also worth noting that the originally-cited source from the Newsroom has now been updated to reflect this information as well. Aside from these developments, I anticipate that, at least, there will be new temples announced at some point tomorrow, but I don't know when that might occur or if there will be anything else announced.
But I continue to monitor all such developments, along with other Church news and temple updates, and will bring word of those to you all here as I become aware of such things. 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.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Slight Adjustment Made to Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women Curriculum
Hello again, everyone! In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment during the Saturday Morning Session of the October 2019 General Conference, Brother Steven W. Owen, Young Men General President, with the approval of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, announced a slight adjustmentnto the curriculum that will be used for Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women beginning next year. Although the focus of study for the youth of the Church will continue to be gospel topics, the nature and scheduling of the topics that will be studied will now align with the "Come Follow Me" curriculum that will be used.
This means that in 2020, the gopsel topics studied by the youth on the second and fourth Sundays of each month will correspond with the personal, familial, seminary, and Sunday School study of the Book of Mormon. This adjustment will mark a continuing effort on the part of the Church to unify curriculum and study across all organizations. Although this is not necessarily breaking news, it is an intriguing development that makes a lot of sense. I continue to monitor developments that will be reported during this General Conference and will do my level best to bring word of those to you all here as I become aware of them.
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.
This means that in 2020, the gopsel topics studied by the youth on the second and fourth Sundays of each month will correspond with the personal, familial, seminary, and Sunday School study of the Book of Mormon. This adjustment will mark a continuing effort on the part of the Church to unify curriculum and study across all organizations. Although this is not necessarily breaking news, it is an intriguing development that makes a lot of sense. I continue to monitor developments that will be reported during this General Conference and will do my level best to bring word of those to you all here as I become aware of them.
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.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Friday, October 4, 2019
LATE: Happy 61st Birthday to Elder Ulisses Soares
Hello again, everyone! In the hustle and bustle surrounding the announcement about witnesses, and in the run-up to General Conference, I somehow spaced the fact that Elder Ulisses Soares celebrated his 61st birthday on October 2 (2 days ago). Consequently, this post consists of a belated tribute to him in honor of that milestone. Elder Soares has a most unique life story and background, and I am grateful to share some thoughts about him with you all now. Ulisses Soares was born to Apparecido Soares and Mercedes Carecho Soares in Sao Paulo Brazil on October 2, 1958.
He has European and Amerindian ancestry. When an aunt joined the Church, that was how the Soares' family first learned of the gospel. His parents, after being taught by the missionaries, were baptized when he was five years old. Elder Soares would later reflect on how his small branch would meet in a tiny rental place that was located above a bakery. He served a full-time mission in Rio de Janeiro, Upon his return, he connected with Rosana Fernandes Morgado, who had served in the same mission at around the same time, but whom he had not met until after they both had returned. The two were married in the Sao Paulo Temple, and together they raised three children.
His academic experience involved studying at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, from which, in 1985, he would receive a bachelor's degree in economics and accounting. He then continued his studies at the National Institute of Postgraduate Study, where he earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration. He spent his professional career working for several multi-national companies (one of which was Pirelli Tire Company) as an accountant and an auditor. Donald L. Clark, who at that time was serving as director of temporal affairs for the Church in Brazil, convinced him to take a job with the Church as a senior auditor.
When Brother Clark was asked to serve as a mission president, Brother Soares took over for him as director of temporal affairs. He went on to fill a special assignment for the Church's Presiding Bishopric. Within the Church, Elder Soares has served as an elder's quorum president, counselor in a bishopric, stake high councilman, and as a regional welfare agent. When the São Paulo Brazil Cotia Stake was created in 1995, Elder Soares was called as the first president thereof. 5 years later, he served a three-year term as president of the Porto Portugal Mission. Less than two years after his return (during the April 2005 General Conference), he was called as a General Authority Seventy.
As a General Authority Seventy, he served as First Counselor in the Brazil South Area.from 2005-2007, as First Counselor in the Brazil Area from 2007-2009, and as President of that area from 2009-2011. He served from August 2011-January 2013 as First Counselor in the Africa Southeast Area Presidency, at which point he was called to serve in the Presidency of the Seventy, with responsibility for the North America Southeast Area Then, in November 2015, Elder Soares was reassigned to oversee the Idaho and North America Central Areas of the Church. He still had oversight of both of those areas in 2018.
On March 31, 2018, Elder Soares was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and he was ordained an apostle on Thursday April 5, 2018. He thus became both the first Latter-day Saint apostle from Brazil and the first one from Latin America. Elder Soares has had many opportunities to grow into his new assignment. Elder Soares has had 8 opportunities to speak in General Conference so far, with 2 addresses given as a General Authority Seventy, 3 while in the Presidency of the Seventy, and following his call to the apostleship. In order to review any of these wonderful addresses, you can find them here.
I gratefully and wholeheartedly sustain him and all the other prophets, seers, and revelators in their roles and responsibilities as special witnesses of Christ. 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.
He has European and Amerindian ancestry. When an aunt joined the Church, that was how the Soares' family first learned of the gospel. His parents, after being taught by the missionaries, were baptized when he was five years old. Elder Soares would later reflect on how his small branch would meet in a tiny rental place that was located above a bakery. He served a full-time mission in Rio de Janeiro, Upon his return, he connected with Rosana Fernandes Morgado, who had served in the same mission at around the same time, but whom he had not met until after they both had returned. The two were married in the Sao Paulo Temple, and together they raised three children.
His academic experience involved studying at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, from which, in 1985, he would receive a bachelor's degree in economics and accounting. He then continued his studies at the National Institute of Postgraduate Study, where he earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration. He spent his professional career working for several multi-national companies (one of which was Pirelli Tire Company) as an accountant and an auditor. Donald L. Clark, who at that time was serving as director of temporal affairs for the Church in Brazil, convinced him to take a job with the Church as a senior auditor.
When Brother Clark was asked to serve as a mission president, Brother Soares took over for him as director of temporal affairs. He went on to fill a special assignment for the Church's Presiding Bishopric. Within the Church, Elder Soares has served as an elder's quorum president, counselor in a bishopric, stake high councilman, and as a regional welfare agent. When the São Paulo Brazil Cotia Stake was created in 1995, Elder Soares was called as the first president thereof. 5 years later, he served a three-year term as president of the Porto Portugal Mission. Less than two years after his return (during the April 2005 General Conference), he was called as a General Authority Seventy.
As a General Authority Seventy, he served as First Counselor in the Brazil South Area.from 2005-2007, as First Counselor in the Brazil Area from 2007-2009, and as President of that area from 2009-2011. He served from August 2011-January 2013 as First Counselor in the Africa Southeast Area Presidency, at which point he was called to serve in the Presidency of the Seventy, with responsibility for the North America Southeast Area Then, in November 2015, Elder Soares was reassigned to oversee the Idaho and North America Central Areas of the Church. He still had oversight of both of those areas in 2018.
On March 31, 2018, Elder Soares was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and he was ordained an apostle on Thursday April 5, 2018. He thus became both the first Latter-day Saint apostle from Brazil and the first one from Latin America. Elder Soares has had many opportunities to grow into his new assignment. Elder Soares has had 8 opportunities to speak in General Conference so far, with 2 addresses given as a General Authority Seventy, 3 while in the Presidency of the Seventy, and following his call to the apostleship. In order to review any of these wonderful addresses, you can find them here.
I gratefully and wholeheartedly sustain him and all the other prophets, seers, and revelators in their roles and responsibilities as special witnesses of Christ. 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.
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
October 2019 General Conference Final Predictions: Part Two—Prospective Temple Locations
Hello again, everyone! I am back with the second part of the final version of my October 2019 General Conference predictions. This part will share the final version of my list of prospective locations in which a temple could be announced this weekend. That list follows below. So as not to disturb its' flow, I will end here as I always do:
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.
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.
Africa Southeast7: Antananarivo Madagascar; Second DR Congo Temple (in Mbuji-Mayi or
Lubumbashi); Maputo Mozambique; Kampala Uganda; Cape Town South Africa
Lubumbashi); Maputo Mozambique; Kampala Uganda; Cape Town South Africa
Africa West8: Bo/Freetown Sierra Leone; Kumasi Ghana; Monrovia Liberia; Benin City Nigeria;
Yamoussoukro Ivory Coast
Yamoussoukro Ivory Coast
Caribbean: Kingston Jamaica12
North America Central23: Missoula Montana; Green Bay Wisconsin; Wichita Kansas; Des Moines Iowa; Pueblo Colorado; Rapid City South Dakota
Augusta Maine
North America Southeast25: Jackson Mississippi; Knoxville Tennessee; Savannah Georgia;
Jacksonville Florida; Charlotte North Carolina Shreveport Louisiana
Jacksonville Florida; Charlotte North Carolina Shreveport Louisiana
North America Southwest26: Bentonville Arkansas; Fort Worth Texas; Las Cruces New Mexico;
Queen Creek Arizona; Elko Nevada
Utah28: Herriman Utah; Evanston Wyoming or Preston Idaho; Heber City Utah; Washington County Utah (Third Temple)Queen Creek Arizona; Elko Nevada
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
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