8 Changes I Think Could Come During April General Conference.
As I watch the Lord continue to refine church policies and practices as we are prepared to live them I have noticed that almost every change has the same goal: To aid us in living the covenant-pathway. With everyone talking about potential changes I wanted to chime in with my two cents. Now, these are not outlandish changes to doctrines or things that violate the spirit of the law, but instead, policy changes/announcements that I honestly see happening, if not during the April session of General Conference, then sometime shortly.
1st. Changes to temple sealing policy.
In the United States and some other nations if you are married civilly then you must wait one year before you can be sealed. That is not the case everywhere. In fact, there are many nations where they require a civil marriage first, and in those nations the church allows you to be sealed the next day, without a year delay.
I see two changes coming to standardize the church and temple policies: First, removal of the one year waiting time. Second, sealings requiring a prior civil marriage. Thereby avoiding any legal issues with the refusal of performing gay marriages.
2nd. Five to ten new temples.
I think we will see many new temples anywhere from 5-10. I think we will see two more in the USA. Including one more in Utah (Heber or Grantsville are my guesses). I also think we will see one in another European capital, even if the membership does not yet support it, I think either Warsaw, Bucharest, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, or Athens.
And then I think one to two more in Caribbean or Central/South America (I think Jamacia), two more in Africa (I think Madagascar will get one and maybe Zimbabwe), and one to two more in Asia/Pacific (I think Papa New Guinea/Vanuatu and maybe the South Island of New Zeland).
3rd. A ten-day social media and video game fast for the men.
Everyone except the men have been challenged to hold a ten-day social media fast. I think during the Priesthood session the men will be challenged to conduct a ten-day social media fast, but more than social media, I believe that the Prophet will also challenge us to go on a video game fast. I think we will be challenged to refocus on what matters: our wives and kids.
4th. Changes to the missionary program.
I think there could be a lot of missionary changes. A few of the options are.
- Variable length missions (6, 12, 18, 24, or 32-month missions like with Sr couples)
- Sister missionaries are now able to go at 18.
- Younger couples getting called as missionaries (I know of mission presidents who have kids under the age of 12!) I think this will likely happen with the opening of China, with as many members who know Chinese being called ASAP.
- Efforts to get more Sr Missionaries by encouraging those who financially can, but physically can't serve to finance the missions of others who can physically but lack the funds.
5th The official canonization of The Family: A Proclamation to the World.
I can see Official Declaration #3 being The Family: A Proclamation to the World. It would cement the doctrines proclaimed as official church doctrine and remove all doubt that some members still hold going forward.
6th. Lowering the age for temple recommends.
I think they will lower the age for a limited use recommend to 8 years old. Two weeks ago I was doing baptisms for the dead in the Jordan River temple when the matron came in and talked to the youth; she talked about getting baptized at 8 and then getting a temple recommend at 8; she explained that back then you did not need to wait till 12 to do baptisms for the dead. She said one of her favorite memories was going to the Cardston temple at the age of 8. With all the efforts to help us be in the temple, I see the age being reduced back to 8.
7th. Complete overhaul of CES (Seminary and Institute).
With the recent announcement that Seminary curriculum is aligning with Come Follow Me, I see further restructuring bringing all of CES in alignment with Come Follow Me. Maybe changing to have pathways style Seminary and Institute?
8th. A new global youth program.
With the phasing out of the BSA for the young men at the end of 2019, I see the church introducing a new global youth program. A program that focuses on preparing young men and women for missions and temple covenants. With more activities combined with Young Men and Young Women, and more freedom to adapt to local situations. If not in April, I see this coming later this year.
What changes do you think could happen during General Conference?
Post in the comments!
It would be great if they would standardize the costs for senior missionaries. It's ridiculous to have to spend $3-5,000 a month so I can "work in an office" like the vast majority of senior missionaries get stuck doing.
Two changes that I think will happen:
1) They will finally stamp out "missionary farwells" and "homecomings". After having attempted to do so for several years. If wards wish to have a missionary speak, that is fine, but it will be discouraged for members to have family travel to attend. Instead missionaries can have a fireside where friends and family can come.
2) Baby blessings no longer done in sacrament meeting. They are currently allowed to be done outside of sacrament meeting if a member of the bishopric is present. I see that becoming the standard.
You can already bless a child in home with local leadership permission.
I could see that. Makes sense to me
I would Love to see the temples open for at least a half day Monday. Sunday would be cool too.
Me, too. That would be lovely. Especially with our hectic schedules and insane traffic. Maybe late Sunday afternoon (what could be more appropriate than temple attendance on the Sabbath?) and Monday morning. But staffing is already an issue with the larger temples.
I’m glad you said that you feel that no changes to doctrine will take place considering you can’t change doctrine.
I would personally like to see females fulfill auxiliary roles, Sunday School Presidents etc.
Possibly stake auxiliary presidencies made redundant too. The bishop holds the keys for them and any stake activities for youth can be organised by a committee.
I think your spot on with mission changes
How much expenses should a single senior missionary needed monthly ?
I would like to see a widowed woman be able to be sealed to a new husband regardless if she was sealed to the late husband. My situation is I brought my new husband into the church at age 65 and he will not be able to be sealed to first wife being divorced until she dies. So he has no chance of being sealed to me until I die.
Ginny, see my comments below. I agree with you.
The changes I hope for are within myself. Understanding more, making firmer commitments to follow the Lord, changing my attitude about certain things I have been struggling with and changing my heart to be open more fully to the gospel. There may be changes to how our service, meetings, and other procedures are done, but they are not the reason for or the focus on what conference can bring to our lives.
"I see two changes coming to standardize the church and temple policies: First, removal of the one year waiting time. Second, sealings requiring a prior civil marriage. Thereby avoiding any legal issues with the refusal of performing gay marriages." I don't see how requiring a prior civil marriage will avoid any legal issues in the refusal of performing gay marriages. my own stupid state allows, celebrates, gay marriage, thanks to our governor.
What about the chance that Belo Horizonte or Salvador having a new Temple ??????
I have been a member of the church for over 43 yrs. And u have lived in Indiana the whole time.
I have always felt left out Here in Indiana . Utah gets and gets and gets. Stuff is always happening there.
We did get a TEMPEL, but the hours are weird. You can only do this this and this only on certain days, certain time.
I remember when we use to have to go to the DC Temple. You could do what ever, when ever. No appointments,
It is discouraging.
We east if the Mississippi River do not have the advantage that the saints in West have.
Us sister's had TOFW for about 10 yrs. And now that's been taken from us . Very hurt over this.
Feel like giving up ...
Feel like we are Forsaken..
Feel like we don't count .
Feel less than 2nd place
Just wish there were more for us on the east side
What does TOFW mean?
Im so sorry that you feel like this! It really would be hard. I am from Utah and I cant emagine. But this does break my heart you feel like this. Let this feeling you have empower you- not discourage you. Get your ward and stakes in the temple- so they have no choice but to open more sessions! I know it is easier said than done, but the last time my kids went to do baptisms, they were turned away because there were 50 other kids there waiting. Do your very best to get others to see the importance of going to the temple! You could be a change for good!! I wish you the best of luck!!❤
TOFW stands for time out for women if I am not mistaken.
June--
It's been a while, but back in the day "where" to put a temple was influenced by:
1. Number of active Saints in the area who did not have access to a temple within two hours.
2. The number of temple work submissions from an area, over time, for example, an area which was submitting 10,000 names a month for a year or two straight, might see a temple in their area sooner than say, an area which submitted one a year. Granted this was before the preference to build smaller temples in more locations.
3. Whether the area could 'afford' a temple. We (in the Newport Beach temple area) had to raise all of the funds for our temple. Ditto for the temple in Hong Kong (or at least, a vast majority of it.) Not saying there's a direct correlation, but the point was made to us that we (NBeach) could and should raise funds to construct our temple as there were many areas which would be unable to raise those funds.
4. Active temple attendance. Nowadays, perhaps IMO this more than anything else influences temple location.
Assuming some of these factors are still a factor, why not do those things you can to influence another temple in your area? Submit temple work, organize regular temple trips. I currently do both in the hope that it may influence a temple closer to me.
Currently the closest to me is 2 hours away, and the next closest is 3 hours away. Yes, it makes for a long day, but I am grateful my daughter created a situation so that I "have to" go to the temple every Saturday with her. She influenced two others to go too, and a third comes about twice a month. I have been amazed at how many of our ancestor's have received their saving ordinances just from a weekly temple trip.
Bless you for your efforts.
Kathryn
1) It's coming - at some point ... The end of all Young Adult and Single Adult Wards. The Church has been working towards this for a long time. All singles would move back into family Wards.
Student Wards at colleges/universities would still exist.
On my wishlist - An overhaul of the Welfare program. The Church should not be paying someone's mortgage for 3 years, but it happens.
I disagree. Young adults are one of the most at-risk age groups in the Church. The best way to find a spouse and have the fellowship they need to stay active will not come through attending their home ward. They changed singles awards away from home wards for a reason.
In regards to your guess of a temple possibly being in Grantsville, UT. I would agree with you but I would guess the temple would be located in Tooele, UT only 9 miles from Grantsville. Many years ago a member of the church here in Tooele donated land to the church for the purpose of building a temple. It would surely serve Grantsville, Wendover, UT, Rush Valley, Stockton, Vernon, Tooele, Stansbury, and other oinj g areas. Tooele is a large county! But again, my pure speculation.
I agree in the greater area.
A temple in Grantsville? Really. What basis are these rumor grounded on.
It is not a rumor, just a hunch. I think that area could use a temple. Either Grantsville or Tooele area.
Tooele is the 7th fast growing county in the U.S. right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if they put a temple there sometime soon!
I did not know that! My old boss is a non-member from Tooele, I hope that if they build a temple there to visit him and go through the open house.
of course it all depends on the Lord don't forget it's his Church
I think the first three are definites! Or at least in my mind they make complete sense. There are other good ideas in here. It will be fun to see what happens!
I totally agree with Joseph Fischer! We only need one Prophet - - the Lord's choice - - President Russell M. Nelson.
No one is questioning that Lynda.
Just one comment. There already is a temple announced for Zimbabwe, a few years back. They are looking at ground at the moment. I am with you on Madagascar.
Regards
Kevin
South Africa
Awesome, I don't know how I missed that.
Was announced 3 April 2016, so it's been a while.
Gotcha not sure how I missed it.
I’ve been praying for years for a total reorganization of YSA/SA wards and programs. More and more members aren’t getting married or are getting married later and around the time they age out of YSA wards, it’s very common for them to go inactive. The mid-single’s age group is majorly overlooked, yet could be such a force for good within the church. More programs and talks that are inclusive of single members so that identity and value isn’t tied to marriage or parenthood.
I'm not sure about #1. Wouldnt requiring a civil marriage before temple sealing cause more legal drama with the LGBQ community? At least in America? Since gay marriage is legal in the states, I could see the minority gay community to overtly demand and push Church leaders to perform gay marriages. I think that would be a nightmare
If they require prior civil marriage then temple sealings would just be a 'religious sacrament' (legal term) not a marriage. Therefore it would be protected.
These are common sense predictions in line with my own thoughts. A temple in Christchurch, NZ would be stunning. I am from there originally and I know the church has land on a hill suburb above the city as my old Bishop drove Pres Hinckley in a taxi all around looking at sites. An announcement would be a Balm of Gilead to the city after the horrendous mosque massacre.
I've considered the Family Proclamation as near scriptural for a while - it makes sense for it to be Official Declaration 3.
The length of mission also makes sense. I feel the church will tailor the length for proselyting missionaries based on personal choice, family circumstance and medical/mental health issues given the amounts of early returns for depression and anxiety. An amalgam of the procedures and policies already in use for couples (where they get to choose the type and length of mission and increasingly even the location) and the service mission options recently announced (a formalization of prior informal procedures).
One member bore his testimony last Sunday and thought Fast and Testimony meetings may go away. I’m thinking they move them to 5th Sunday’s. I see the value of sharing Testimonies, and having reduced times to allow more Sunday’s for teachings from the pulpit.
re: If they require prior civil marriage then temple sealings would just be a ‘religious sacrament’ (legal term) not a marriage. Therefore it would be protected.
Yeah, the problem with this is, civil marriage is already a step away from the marriage covenant that God offers His obedient children. I make a covenant with God. My spouse makes a covenant with God. Because we BOTH make an individual covenant with God, God blesses us, jointly and individually with the blessings outlined in D&C 132:19.
A civil marriage offers only a covenant with each spouse/other. It is a counterfeit of the true covenant God desires for us in order to fully return to His presence. So while accommodations may be made within a temple district due to legal restrictions, for the Lord to go out of His way to REQUIRE a counterfeit covenant 'just to create a legal excuse' I think would not happen, regardless of whiners.
re: If they require prior civil marriage then temple sealings would just be a ‘religious sacrament’ (legal term) not a marriage. Therefore it would be protected.
This would allow The Church to continue to protect Tempe ceremonies.
I wish thy would allow people on probation to get baptized.
Interesting that you mentioned Heber area, along with Grantsville as possible Utah Temple sites. The Heber Valley has been on the possible Temple list for some time. The only thing that might delay it further is the fact that vast numbers of our Heber area members are a currently serving in the Provo Temple. They would be missed there, but they have received great experience as Temple Ordinance workers
I think that strengthens Hebers case.
Ginny, I agree with you. It makes no sense that a widow who was sealed to her late husband can't currently be sealed for time and eternity to a second husband while they are both alive.(At least not without jumping through hoops to hope for a cancellation of the first sealing. These are not always granted, and even when they are, she doesn't know if the first husband might have repented of any earthly abusive or other unworthy behavior or not. She won't know until she gets to the Celestial Kingdom herself.)
Sealings to second husbands are performed all the time in Family History work. Some widows are sealed to three or four husbands after they're all deceased, and the widow will make her choice in Heaven. So why can't she be sealed in life to a second husband, and make her choice in Heaven if necessary? (If her first husband didn't keep his covenants, then their sealing is broken anyway without any earthly action on her part.)
The current policy causes so much emotional suffering, even more so when children are born to the second marriage also. I don't see where we need ancient Israeli law in our day, where a man might marry his brother's widow, yet their children would belong to the deceased man. Even though the children supposedly "go with the mother," the end result would be the same when she is only sealed to the first husband. The children should be able to choose the father they know and love, and maybe Mom would have liberal visitation rights??!! But even without children, it is an unkind policy.
Also, a sealed widow can't even be "sealed for time only" to her second husband unless he is also already sealed to someone else for time and eternity. I've heard that "time only" marriages performed in the temple are not ever converted to "time and eternity" marriages but I can't say if that's true or not. I haven't come across that situation in my own family history work or among friends. I love our Savior's Church with all my heart but sometimes, the policies need adjustment.
Would love to recieve this news letter
Thank you
What many do not remember is that we are only looking at this though earthly eyes, we need to see it though eternal eyes, and remember that the Lord will not with hold ANY blessings that we may earn though our obedience, He will take care of offering us the sealing we need to gain exaltation. I have never had the blessing of having a celestial marriage but I know that I will be offered it, and it will be my choice who it is, I trust that the Lord will do as he has promised,
Your faith is wonderful and I'm sure you'll be richly rewarded, Ja Neen. May I only suggest that since you haven't yet been sealed, it's likely not possible for you to understand the pain of unilateral broken temple covenants, or the uncertainty ahead. Was there sufficient repentance or was there not any?
If any of us is to be offered someone worthy, that would likely be acceptable, of course, but simply "given to another" might be uncomfortable. I've seen it written somewhere like that, but couldn't place my finger on it this weekend. Even so, Father knows us and what's ahead. I'm hoping my blessings will yet include some happiness on this earth with a second husband of my choice, that I don't simply have to wait for the eternal realms for it to be all sorted out. "Rewards" along the way are what keep mortals upbeat and out of deep depression. But I'm not in control of my life, so I have to wait and see.
Thank you Shirley, you expressed exactly what has been going through my mind regarding 2nd sealings. We can only hope and pray that some changes come about soon.
Yes, our Prophet has said there is much more to come. So we'll just have to wait and see what is revealed.
Let us not forget whose church this is! The Lord has allowed us here to follow His counsel, not to be counseled by us! I wouldn't even try to do that in my prayers, much less in a public forum! Heresy? Presumption at the very least! Christ said it best, at His worst moment when He asked that the cup He was having to drink might pass from Him, but not as I wilt, but Father, only as thou wilt!
Not entirely sure what you consider to be "counseling the Lord" in this blog. Civil discourse in the Church is permitted. Even rampant speculation is discouraged but not crushed. Our Lord and Savior is well aware of the pain that some ramrod-straight members inflict upon others, and will respond appropriately in his own due time. If we are not humble and kind by choice, he will introduce ways to remedy that. If we choose not to understand pain when it is expressed, he will make sure we get a good dose of our own.
Since this is our Savior's church, he also knows policies can sometimes be interpretations of doctrine that need to change with the growth of individuals, the maturity of the Church, and outside political and social issues. Not to mention that his Second Coming is literally on our doorstep!
Our Savior knows when the Saints are hurting, and he does answer our prayers, either directly or through His Prophet, currently Russell M. Nelson. Otherwise, there would never have been any policy changes whatsoever since the early days. As it is, changes often come when membership is ready for them, but also many times when we are not ready! That is when we choose to follow or to disobey.