This afternoon, President Russell M. Nelson announced plans to construction 15 new temples in the following locations:
- Reynosa, Mexico
- Chorrillos, Peru
- Rivera, Uruguay
- Campo Grande, Brazil
- Porto, Portugal
- Uyo, Nigeria
- San Jose del Monte, Philippines
- Nouméa, New Caledonia
- Liverpool, Australia
- Caldwell, Idaho
- Flagstaff, Arizona
- Rapid City, South Dakota
- Greenville, South Carolina
- Norfolk, Virginia
- Spanish Fork, Utah
With today's announcement, there are now 382 dedicated or planned temples worldwide. I will provide an analysis of today's announcement in the coming days.
54 comments:
I’m surprised they didn’t announce a temple in the salt lake area since there are a lot of stake that go to that temple
Here is my ptediction list:
. Santa Maria, Brazil
2. Sorocaba, Brazil
3. Resistencia, Argentina
4. 3rd temple for Lima, Peru
5. Chimbote, Peru
6. Olongapo. Philippines
7. Cardiff, Wales
8. Concord, New Hampshire
9. Otavalo, Ecuador
10. Poza Rica, Mexico
12. Thousand Oaks, California
13. Spanish Fork, Utah
14. Hattiesburg, Mississippi
15. Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
The only one I clearly got right was Spanish Fork. However Chorillos is metro Lima, so it might count as that. So 2 out of 15.
I believe this puts us to 200 temples announced by President Nelson.
Some considerations here:
It seems that the prophet wanted to fill some gaps in terms of space, rather than privileging older areas.
The announcement in Rivera decreases the chances of Santa Maria and Tacuarembó and increases them for Passo Fundo.
The announcement in Campo Grande does not necessarily decrease the chances of Cuiabá given the distance, but it may decrease them for Araçatuba, SP.
Flagstaff will be the ninth temple in Arizona. Potentially could include the following stakes: Flagstaff, Flagstaff East, Page AZ, Tuba City AZ, Winslow AZ, Cottonwood AZ, Prescott AZ, Prescott Valley AZ. These stakes are presently assigned to Red Cliffs, Monticello, Farmington, Snowflake, and Phoenix Temples. This temple could also accelerate the spiritual growth of Native American tribes in Northern Arizona - western Navajo, Hopi, Paiute, Hualapai, Havasupai, Yavapai-Apache, and Prescott Yavapai. Driving times for Page Prescott, and Prescott Valley would only be slightly reduced.
Absolutely thrilled and grateful with these temple announcements! The Chorrillos temple will be the third in the Lima area. The San Jose del Monte temple will be the third in the greater Manila area. The Liverpool temple will be the second in the Sydney area.
I was floored by the announcement of the Norfolk temple. I served in Norfolk twice on my mission just over a decade ago so that one was real special for me. At that time there was not even one announced in Virginia yet. Now there will be four! I'll be very curious to see where exactly it will be built, but I think it will be a good central city for the three stakes in coastal VA. It will also serve wards and branches in northeastern North Carolina.
I was thinking as he announced them today that makes 4 temples he has announced for the state of Virginia. It is also interesting that there is no new temples for Georgia. Since Atlanta has been built, Florida has 5, Alabama has 2, Tennessee has 2, Kentucky has 1, Virginia has now 4, North Carolina has 2 South Carolina has now 2, Further west Mississippi still does not, Louisiana has 1. All that back in the early 80's was covered by Atlanta and still nothing for Augusta or, Macon or even Columbus.
The Salt Lake Temple is already a very large temple and it is going to be much larger with increased capacity after its renovation is complete. Its open house is scheduled to begin in about two years. I wonder if they might be holding out to see how things go after the renovation is completed. A few of the stakes in its current temple district will be going to the Elko Nevada Temple and at least two or three stakes will be assigned to the Heber Valley Temple when construction is approved and completed. Depending upon how temple districts in the Salt Lake valley are divided up, is it possible that some of its stakes could go to the West Valley Temple temple completed? In addition several stakes from the Salt Lake Temple District were transferred to the Deseret Peak Temple in Tooele when it was dedicated late last year.
I'll let Chorillos count as a 3rd Lima Peru metro/area temple.
4th temple for Virginia. We haven't even started construction on Winchester and Roanoke.
I heard how the prophet made these announcements today. Weren't his words "We Have Been Instructed" ...to build temples in the following locations." I have to go back and read or listen the exact verbage but I recall that he
use the words "we have been instructed" to announce or build In these locations.
When the prophet use the words we have been instructed as far as locations for a temples point to the idea for many location announcements is the result of revelation not just growth and accommodating the needs and distance for members.
I am mistaken 3 in Tennessee but its still alot
West Jordan Utah Temple is an additional planned Salt Lake County Temple.
I could see another Salt Lake County temple or 2 over the next few years.
I am slightly surprised only 1 additional temple was announced on the African continent, but the need exists in lots of places.
The 6 announced in the US are 2 in North America Central, which now has I think 35 temples in some stage. Utah area gorges to 31, since Monticello is in North America Southwest. North America Southwest has 24. North America Southeast has 1 more going to 18.
North America Northeast has 1 more, which I believe is the furthest douth in the area. Virginia which had no temple even announced when President Monson died now has 4.
Pacific Area and North America Central were the only areas to have 2 additional temples announced.
My preliminary impression is Chirrillos is essentially a 3rd Lima metro temple, San Jose del Monte is mainly a 3rd greater Manilla Temple., and Liverpool Australia is a 2nd metro Sydney.
Porto I think surprises me the most.
With Rapid City, South Dakota we are now down to 7 states with no announced temples. Mississippi, West Virginia, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Delaware. When President Monson died I believe 14 states had no temples announced, so President Nelson has haved that number.
When I was born in 1970 8 states had a temples that was at least announced.
I'm in Prescott Valley and depending on where in Flagstaff the temple is built, Phoenix will still be closer for us. The same is true for most of our stake and the Prescott Stake. But we are guessing they'll switch us to Flagstaff since we are in that mission.
It's so exciting to see that the Sydney area is getting a new temple in Liverpool. Was definitely not expecting it especially it being a year after a second temple in Brisbane was announced. I used to live in Liverpool so I curious to where it might be built.
Was anyone wondering where New Caledonia was?
Greenville, SC is close to the GA border.
So happy for Reynosa! The McAllen Temple is right across the border, but inaccessible to many. What an incredible blessing to have 2 temples blessing this region!
Its like other boarder temples they have done in El Paso and San Diego, while governments put up walls, the church finds a way to grow around it
I was actually a bit surprised New Caledonia is getting a temple, considering its somewhat close proximity to Vanuatu, however it's a bit more distant than I thought. The distance between Port Vila and Noumea is slightly shorter than Suva was from Nuku'alofa. I guess that just leaves the Cook and Solomon Islands as stand outs for distance is the south Pacific, aside from New Zealand, Australia, and Papua New Guinea.
I've also heard New Caledonia has a somewhat contentious relationship with France, given their bid for independence happened during COVID and France's seeming unwillingness for another referendum.
I re-listened to the temple announcement. After expressing gratitude for the Lord for the acceleration of temple building. The prophet actually said "Under his direction" today we announce plans to construct a temple....."
Monticello has no Arizona Stakes assigned to it. The only Arizona Stake I can see Farmington gaining is Chinle, however if it doesn't, I imagine Snowflake is a closer drive from Chinle than Flagstaff. Page looks like it can go either way between St George or Flagstaff, however, I also imagine it going to Flagstaff regardless.
I actually am not convinced Rivera precludes Santa Maria. If Orem and London could be announced 6 months apart I am not ruling out Santa Maria in October.
Sao Luis, Sorocaba and probably a few other locations in Brazil are also contenders.
Does anyone know, what mission would have had Campo Grande in 1978-1980 time frame?
Greenville, South Carolina a little surprises me, I think of it as somewhat close to Charlotte, North Carolina but the distance is probably bigger than I realize.
One think is the Atlanta Temple is at 34,000 square feet 3 times the size of Nashville, Birmingham, Colombia and most other temples built in the 1998-2001 time frame.
The Talahassee Temple president was a resident of Georgia when called, so some of Georgia is in that temple district. Some will be in Jacksonville district also.
I think Columbus, Georgia is the most likely next Temple in Georgia, with a metro Atlanta south Temple also being possible. However a Savannah Georgia Temple might also occur.
When 2018 started Virginia was the state with the most members without a temple, by a long margin. Now it has 4 announced, so things can change in a relatively short time.
On the issue on New Caledonia getting a temple. Distance is not the only factor when considering international trips especially across ocrmeans. You have to consider travel costs, costs to get approved to cross borders etc.
The cost to go from Luputa to Kinshsa is not low. However the temple patron fund does not cover the cost of getting international travel documents. So if you have a temple is the country the first trip to the temple goes to almost free, although there is still lost working hour opportunity cost. The cost and potential document getting delays can make international travel take years to get authorized.
It is certainly the Lord's decision. I have never said otherwise... we do our own analysis here but we always recognize His hand in everything, no matter how surprising it may seem to us.
Campo Grande is 13 hours from Brasiloa Temple. It is 10 hours from Goiania. So this is still very much a help.
Greenville, South Carolina is 1 hour 50 minutes from Charlotte North Carolina Temple. Too far to do a weekday unless you take off work.
Reynosa is 51 minutes from McAllen Temple according to map quest, although depending on where exactly the temple is they might be a little more of a drive apart. This is almost the sane as the 54 minutes drive it gives me from San Diego Temple to Tijuana Temple. The distance is greater in the San Diego to Tijuana drive.
My son just returned home a few months ago from the Charlotte North Carolina mission. And he sounded excited for the Greenville South Carolina Temple as it was relatively close to his mission.
Google maps says Prescott is 8 minutes closer to the Phoenix Temple than to Flagstaff. Without a temple location I cannot say more than that.
Page is 2 hours 34 minutes from St. George Temple, and 2 hours 7 minutes to Flagstaff. It is 3 hours 27 minutes to Monticello Temple. Winslow Arizona looks to be about 10 minutes closer to Flagstaff than Snowflake Temple.
I am thinking the 6 stakes, Cottonwood, Tuba City, the 2 Flagstaff stakes, Page and Windslow would all make sense for Flagstaff. Prescott and Prescott Vslley not really, and maybe not all those stakes.
There are 3 stakes (Toledo Ohio, Holland Michigan and London Ontario) that are only partially assigned to Deteoit Temple. We have workers from Hollsnd Stake but the new Chicago Temple president also lives in Holland Atake. In the past that would actually not have clearly shown it was assigned to Chicago. But now calling Temple presidents who reside in the temple district is the norm. All called this year resided in their temple district. The previous 2 years the only exception that did not involve a new temple was Guayaquil having a temple president called from Quito.
Paraguay is now the only Spanish-speaking country in South America without a 2nd temple announced.
Not very many temples were announced in General Conference before President Hinckley administration. Even then I think he only announced a few temples his administration in conference.
All but a handful of temples were announced during Thomas S.Monsons administration. Ephraim Utah was the only temple announced between conferences in Russel M.Nelson’s administration.
There were some cheers when he announced temples and he asked people not to make audible bursts during the announcements.
Was there any gasps during previous presidents announcements? Maybe Provo City Center temple as it was made from burnt tabernacle. Rome as we’re getting temple in Catholic country.
But when else prior was there audible cheering when temples were announced. Some of that happened today as well.
I seem to remember a pretty excited reaction in the Conference Center when the Cedar City Temple was announced. That's the only one that immediately comes to mind.
I wonder if some large stakes (geographically) can be split between temples. Some wards in the Prescott stokes could be a lot closer to Flagsraff than Phoenix. Depending upon the location of the temple site relative to their meetinghouse or what side of town they live in. Are there more examples where a stake may be split between two temple districts?
Depending upon how busy a border crossing is, it can take much longer to get to the temple than Google maps says. It looks like we are getting more and more close to each other temples on both sides of the border.
By way of reporting, Flagstaff Arizona, Uyo Nigeria, Reynosa Mexico, and Spanish Fork Utah were all in my top 30 locations.
I also had Nampa Idaho and Quezon City Philippines in my top 30 list, but I'm not giving myself credit for Caldwell and San Jose del Monte because 1) they're pretty distinct communities and 2) I still think both Nampa and the Quezon City metro area could see additional temples in the not-too-distant future, so I've downgraded both locations but kept them on my list.
Campo Grande Brazil and Porto Portugal were both in my 'Next 50' category. I had listed Greenville South Carolina as 'less likely'; also included on my 'less likely' list were a third temple in the greater Lima Peru area, a temple in the Chesapeake Bay metro area, and a temple in Northern Uraguay, so I'm counting Chorrillos, Norfolk, and Rivera for those.
The locations I didn't even have as 'less likely' were Liverpool Australia (didn't expect the Sydney area to be up for another temple so soon), Rapid City South Dakota (I had Sioux Falls), and Nouméa New Caledonia.
I didn't make a predictions list this time around, so these are just my thoughts.
-Reynosa was one I had expected for Mexico, though I had Poza Rica higher on my list.
-Chorrillos wasn't high, but I figured geographically Chorrillos is about as far from the Lima Temple as that temple is from Los Olivos. If there was going to be a third temple announced in the Lima area, that would have been it.
-Rivera was unexpected as I had anticipated Tacuarembo as the pick for Uruguay's 2nd temple.
-Campo Grande seemed to be an inevitable pick mostly due to distance.
-Porto isn't a surprise to me since it can easily take in the 3 stakes in northern Portugal as the one in Spain just above it. I think it was said somewhere that Portugal had either the highest or 2nd highest percentage of LDS in Europe.
-Uyo, another inevitable pick, just surprised it got announced before Port Harcourt, whereas Uyo might have spent a bit of time as part of the Eket temple district. Also surprised it was the only temple announced in Africa, but if there's a large backlog of temples, it's there. However, not too many locations currently remain I would confidently say "warrants" a temple. I would say Bo, Daloa, Ibadan, Enugu, Lusaka, Lilongwe, Dar es Salaam, Bulawayo, and somewhere in central South Africa.
-San Jose del Monte I didn't have on my radar necessarily. I know a lot of people picked Angeles, but I feel Olongapo was a more fitting location. This announcement I don't really think would lower an announcement for Angeles, but I still feel Olongapo is more likely.
-Nouméa was another one not high up, but looking at the map it's nearly as far from Port Vila as Suva was from Nuku'alofa.
-Liverpool was unexpected. I figured the next announcement that would have taken from Sydney was Canberra.
-Caldwell was very much expected, I actually had it over Nampa. I still feel strongly that there will at some point be a temple in Ontario, Oregon that would take in roughly 4 stakes (Le Grande is slightly closer to Ontario than Kennewick), and 5 if a Fruitland Idaho Stake is made.
-Flagstaff was highest on my list for Arizona, just surprised it was announced after Yuma.
-Rapid City would be a good location because of its remoteness. Although it just barely became a stake within 200 miles of a temple when Casper was dedicated, there's unfortunately not a strong enough central location in South Dakota. Pierre would have absolutely been an odd pick considering how few congregations are in the area. It would have been in the same situation as Freiberg (and perhaps a couple of other temples) where there is a temple, but no stake based where the temple is (Freiberg is part of the Dresden Stake). Only other location I can think of right now is Fort Lauderdale now that that stake is gone. Detroit I don't really think counts, because while there is no Detroit Stake, there is the Bloomfield Hills stake where the temple is located.
-Greenville is another one that's not that surprising. It appears to be just as far from Columbia as it would have Charlotte.
-Norfolk wasn't high on my radar, but if I had updated my list, it might have gone higher after the announcement of Winchester and Roanoke. Oddly enough, it would only be the 5th coastal temple on the Atlantic coast, the others being Boston, Manhattan, Jacksonville, and Fort Lauderdale. Wilmington I feel will be the next coastal one, as I'm unsure Savannah is too far inland to be a coastal city or "close enough" to be one.
-Spanish Fork was was a given. I would have been surprised if Springville was announced before it, but would not have been surprised if they were announced at the same time.
Looking again at the map, if I consider Jacksonville as a "coastal" temple, then Savannah absolutely should if I'm being consistent.
With the temple announced in San Jose del Monte, and with Manila being 40-years old, do you all think that there is a possibility of Manila be closed for renovations? When I was there a couple of weeks ago, there were a reasonable number of facilities that could be updated.
This was one of the worst prediction maps I've made. 4 of my top 10 was announced but that's about it on positive states. In October more than 75% of announcements were from my upper two lists. This conference, it was only 40%. I nailed it for announcements in the Western US and The Philippines, but that's it. I've never had so many announcements come from my lesser list.
US: The three temples announced within the US east of the Rockies each had three or less stakes. The three temples announced in the Rocky Mountain states were on my top 20 list.
North America: Reynosa is just across the border from its temple. Although it's getting harder to cross.
South America: Metros with existing temples are hard for me to predict. However, the southern Lima metro (where Chorrillos is) did make it on my lesser list. Riviera Uruguay is in some proximity to Santa Maria (on my top 20 list), but just too far out to be on my list. Had I known this was an open border, it would have had more consideration. I thought other areas in Brazil would have been announced before Campo Grande.
Europe: Portugal has the highest membership per capita in Europe, and one of the faster growing areas of the church there. However, Southern Spain and western France seemed more ideal. Beyond that, Europe is quite saturated with temples other than a few isolated stakes.
Africa: This is the fastest-growing continent in the church and had one announcement. I expected another announcement for Nigeria, but I expected it in one of the other areas with more stakes an no temple.
Asia: San Jose del Monte is located between my Angeles/Metro Manila prediction.
Oceania: These are probably my biggest surprises. Sydney is a midsize temple with 11 stakes and two districts, but I do admit I don't do well with predicting metros. Nouméa New Caledonia has 6 wards and 3 branches across a few islands. I do predict one-stake temple district announcements becoming the norm among larger lists of announcements. However, Nouméa isn't quite as isolated and is a bit smaller than some the others in remote locations.
Here is the link to my predictions:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1G7hdBBWl07qNmfixCPEyCf7dAOKzzjw&usp=sharing
L. Chris,
It is common for those near the edge of a temple district to go to attend a temple and sometimes even work at a temple they're not assigned to.
Did I say (as Anonymous, from my phone) Rapid City, South Dakota? You betcha!
When I think of possibilities along the Wasatch front, I see the Sandy-Cottonwood area being underserved. However, where's the land? It seems easier to place a temple in the western part of the valley suburbs where there's property and growth.
The Manila Temple is actually in Quezon City, though if demand is high enough a second temple in the same city's limits is not out of the question.
Everywhere is getting a temple. Everywhere.
Eric, the thing about the Manila Temple is that it's *tiny*, way too small for even its current district, never mind future growth. It will either have to be drastically expanded (like, tripled square footage) or a new temple built. Lima seems to be evidence that the Church is going the latter route.
In general you can only be a temple worker in your assigned temple district. Which is why some stakes are split between multiple temples. The only exception I know of is sealers performing sealing for direct descendants but even that needs authorization.
The Manilla Temple that currently operates is in Quezon City. While the day may come when Quezon City gets a 2nd temple. I suspect before that we will see a temple announced for Manilla itself and the existing Manilla Temple would be renamed to Quezon City.
Manilla and Alabang Temples are in the Metro Manilla region. San Jose del Monte is north of the metro Manilla region but still basically in the contiguous urbanized area from what I can see.
I'm from that area. I really don't see it as underserved. There are multiple temples (Jordan River, Draper, Taylorsville, even SLC) within 15-30 minutes of driving. The entire Salt Lake Valley, and particularly areas like Cottonwood Heights, is seeing the percentage of members as compared to the total population decline. Cottonwood Heights has been especially hard hit. Wards and stakes have been closing quite a bit in that area over the past 10-15 years.
Looks like the Church Newsroom has updated the country profiles for 2024, with updated information on total wards and branches and total membership for each country. Notably, it appears church membership increased by about 61,000 in the United States, and by 18,000 and 19,000 in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, respectively. That would make those three nations responsible for about 40% of all membership growth last year. Based on these US growth numbers, I would somewhat lean away from the idea that membership self-removals were the main reason for higher than normal member records removed, and would lean more towards record clean-ups, especially in Latin America, whose numbers didn't seem to improve as much as one might expect.
I have no direct knowledge on the matter, but I'm guessing an extended maintenance closing within a year of Alabang's dedication and a renovation at around the 50-60 yr mark.
Of those 15, I correctly predicted the following 6, down to the exact location: Campo Grande Brazil, Porto Portugal, Uyo Nigeria, Flagstaff Arizona, Rapid City South Dakota, & Spanish Fork Utah. I had the right general location but the wrong specific city for the following 5 temples: Reynoso Mexico, Chorillos Peru, San Jose Del Monte Philippines, Liverpool Australia, & Caldwell Idaho,
And I wasn't anticipating the following 4 temples at all: Rivera Uruguay, Noumea New Caledonia, Greenville South Carolina, & Norfolk Virginia.
We do see President Nelson filling in the gaps. I also correctly projected that 15 new temples would be announced. I believe we will see 18 more announced in October, brining the overall count to 400. I am looking forward to Matt's future posts sharing his thoughtful analysis. I think that we all will need to broaden our vision in terms of prospective temple locations, as there are always a few surprises.
We still are awaiting the announcement of the temple for the land that is in Herriman, which was publicly proposed by President Hinckley. I think that will be one of the next temples announced in Salt Lake County, but I could also see temples in the other cities mentioned here.
It is tempting to do a comparison of the new general authorities to the new temples, especially since we have 16 of one and 15 of the other. People are much more mobile than temples, so the comparison is hard. We do not ever lo9se old temples, we sadly loose old general authorities, so the comparison does not really work. Lastly we should really compare either the whole year, or at least a set of 2 conferences since general authorities are not called in October.
I have not yet in my mind fully figured out how best to place the American general authorities other than Elder Amos. He I understand enough to say he is a Louisianan to the core who now lives in Florida.
Temples are very obvious where they are. People it is complex.
My thought was 6 of 15 temples in the US seemed heavy for the UD. Yet my thought was 9 of 16 general authorities born outside the US was a good balance.
The complicating thing is that of those 9 born outside the US, 4 are US residents currently. 2 though are mission presidents do we can ignore. Elder Brown has been in the US less time than he has been an area seventy and works for seminaries and institutes. He was promoted to central administration. I think it is good they have non-Americans at the highest levels of seminary and institutes administration.
Elder Barcellos I am not at all clear how long he has lived in the US. He was living in Florida before he was called as mission president in Apain.
By birth we have 4 general authorities from South America, and 4 general authorities born there. However this is where things get complicated. We have 5 essentially South American general authorities called, although there is no one rubric that easily gives us this. Elder Wu was born in Taiwan, but his great-gransfsther founded a store in Buenos Aires in 1899, a store that at one point Elder Wu operated. Sister Wu's maiden name is Capelli, and she is basically quintessentially Aregentine. I am still not sure all the issues involved but Elder Wu seems to be South American
This gives us 1 new European general authority, 1 new temple there. 1 new Canadian but no new temples there. 7 Americans and 6 temples, 5 from South America and 3 new temples, 1 new temple and 1 new general authority in Africa. Mexico, Oceania, Australia and the Philippines or even Asia have new temples but no new general authorities. The Caribbean gets a new general authority but no new temples.
This view probably over emphasizes the importance of place for general authorities but gives ilus the general balance.
James I'm mostly a lurker here but I'm glad I'm not the only one who still wonders about that temple. I was in the Provo MTC in 2005 when President Hinckley talked about it.
I’d imagine that the announcement of the Kansas City Missouri Temple or of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple reconstruction might have elicited an audience reaction, but I’d have to go back and listen to them.
My top list had Springville/Mapleton/Spanish Fork and Caldwell on it. I had Port Harcourt instead of Uyo. I had a third for the Lima metro and a third for the Manila metro, and I technically got those. I had a list of “strong possibilities” that included Virginia (I think I was 50/50 on whether it would be Virginia Beach or Alexandria, since I’m starting to think that a second DC area temple is probably somewhat likely) and one for either Mato Grosso or Mato Grosso do Sul.
My larger list (of nearly every site that seemed possible, though I notice I didn’t list every West Africa potential temple) had Noumea, either a second for Sydney (which I felt was a stronger possibility) or a temple for Canberra, Flagstaff or Prescott (at about an even chance or an outside chance of Sedona to split the difference), Rapid City or Sioux Falls (about even odds, Rapid City being more distant from its assigned temple with poorer roads, and Sioux Falls being bigger and being a growing metro area, I also had the possibility of a Gillette Wyoming Temple that would impact the possibility of Rapid City), and Greenville.
Reynosa completely caught me off guard, it wasn’t on my radar even as a site I’d considered. I have considered northern Uruguay before, but it wasn’t on my large list. And I’ve heard people suggest Porto before, but I didn’t think it was especially likely.
Listening to President Nelson’s remarks made me realize that he must be feeling a major sense of urgency to remove as many barriers as possible between willing and worthy members of the church and temple attendance. Some of those barriers are the distance to travel, some are cost of travel, some are international borders that may be difficult (or time consuming) to cross, and some are difficulty in reserving appointments because of temple capacity. I would assume that, if Manhattan didn’t already have a temple, for instance, limitations such as the difficulty for members who lack a car to get to Harrison would result the church considering a temple for NYC city limits (with Manhattan being the obvious choice considering how the subway lines all route through Manhattan). Likewise, difficulty of travel to Manhattan via car (not to mention tolls and parking fees at the nearest parking garage) probably was a contributing factor to the Summit New Jersey Temple. This urgency of removing barriers was probably also a contributing factor to the endowment changes we’ve seen over the past few years. For instance, Philadelphia was able to increase from offering three Saturday morning endowment sessions to four last year thanks to the most recent change. Currently, though, the twice a month Saturday afternoon shift (mostly using former Manhattan temple workers) only offers one session. Still, that means that Philadelphia increased from being able to run 12 endowment sessions a month on Saturdays to 16 (18 with the Saturday afternoon session). I haven’t yet had the chance to really internalize what this means for my temple prediction list, but it does open up the potential for more locations. I think it means that more border locations will be more likely to get two second temples and that some metro areas will be more likely to get a second or third temple, and I think some rather distant stakes are more likely to get their own temple. (I could see the Bismarck North Dakota Temple district being split up so that every stake in the temple district eventually has its own temple, for instance. Certainly Glendive and Fargo, if not Minot.)
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