Calm

Then you stating he is using the language in a certain way and not in the way suggested by others is speculation, it seems.

Or we give it multiple meanings….which is fun, imo, not criticizing, just don’t think we can claim one reading is correct and others not, though trying to identify the original meaning meant by the author, the one God first inspires to convey his messages is typically the most interesting to me.

I really like Elder Snow, but he is an emeritus general authority and at 75 is ten years older than the typical upper calling to the 12 range (I think one was 67, but most low 60s and 50s).

Not necessarily imo to other verses: That which was created on the earth was also the workmanship of his hands. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/jacob/4?lang=eng https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/29?lang=eng&id=p25#p25 Also in the multiple verses, God refers to breaking the commandment of loving thy neighbor given in the garden. The time he is discussing is in mortality. So when he speaks of creation, that could be mortality as well as he does not separate the two into different time periods, one has to assume it. The floods were sent in mortality…

I don’t disagree with either of you. I wonder whether or not plains does though.

@theplains, do you believe that Jesus was tried in mortality, needed to show obedience to God and thus worthiness (for others’ benefit more than his own possibly) or something else. I am wonder if Teddy’s assumption about your belief is incorrect.

No transcripts yet, but here are summaries and photos: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/october-2025-general-conference-talks-news-announcements Feel free to discuss any talk or individual giving a talk.

One of the commenters in response to some speculation had this to say about Dubai: https://ldschurchgrowth.blogspot.com/2025/09/new-temple-predictions-september-2025.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com (added a break for easier reading) I probably should remove my speculation. Just want to make clear I am not saying it’s worse than anything that can happen anywhere else. Red tape and random delays flourish everywhere.

Church ownership…from Chat again Christian Churches and Property Ownership in Dubai 🕌 1. Legal framework The UAE Constitution guarantees freedom of religion (Article 32) as long as it doesn’t conflict with public policy or morals. Dubai follows that by formally allowing Christian worship — but under regulated, government-approved conditions. In practice: The ruler (Emir of Dubai) or the Dubai government allocates land to religious groups for places of worship. That land is usually leased or granted, not privately owned in the freehold sense. The church buildings themselves (structures) are often funded and maintained by the religious community. So, most churches don’t technically own their land outright, but they control and operate it under long-term government permission. 📜 2. How churches get land Churches typically apply through the Community Development Authority (CDA) or the Ruler’s Court for a land grant. Once approved, the church gets a plot in a designated “church compound” or interfaith area. The government often provides land at no cost, as part of its policy to support non-Muslim communities. For example: In Jebel Ali, Dubai designated a “church complex” area where multiple denominations coexist: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church Christ Church Anglican Mar Thoma Church Coptic Orthodox Church Evangelical and Pentecostal congregations Each has its own compound or shared space within government-allocated land. 🧾 3. Ownership structure Component Who owns it Typical arrangement Land Government (Dubai Ruler or Municipality) Granted or leased to the church Church building The church or diocese Built and maintained by the congregation Legal title Often in the name of the church authority, but with government oversight Subject to use restrictions (worship only, not commercial) So while churches have effective control and can build, renovate, and manage their property, they can’t freely sell or redevelop it as private property owners could.

Not official parties, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t divisions…has there ever been a royal family without a power struggle? Then there are struggles that occur between government departments. Then there’s officials who are ‘sponsored’ by business concerns. My guess is Dubai is not immune to the usual political struggles even if they might be less public. —— Chat came up with this list of steps to build If correct, could there be an issue with finding a licensed construction company that is acceptable? I would assume the Church would prefer to own the property outright as well. You need to purchase a plot in a designated freehold area. The land must be zoned for the type of building you plan (villa, residential tower, commercial, etc.). All building plans must be approved by the Dubai Municipality (DM) or, if inside a master community, the master developer (like Emaar, Nakheel, or Dubai Properties). Key approvals required: Land Title Deed (from Dubai Land Department – DLD) Building Permit (from Dubai Municipality) Environmental & Civil Defense approvals Contractor registration (only licensed contractors can build in Dubai) So, you can’t personally “build” without going through a licensed construction firm. 💸 3. Costs and practicalities Land price: among the highest in the Gulf — can start from AED 300–1000+ per square foot depending on location. Permit and approval fees: typically 1–2% of total project cost. Construction costs: roughly AED 500–1,500 per square foot for villas, depending on materials and quality. Time frame: 1–2 years for villa-level projects; 3–5 years for larger developments.

Apparently not. That surprises me even if Pres of Ric….BYUI.

Different political factions having oversight?

Wiki has him called as an area seventy in 1997. Added: I appear to be a wee bit slow today, lol.

Anyone know what the oldest announced only temple is? Russia was announced in 2018. That is my guess. Scanned through the list and looked at ones most likely to drag a bit….Dubai and Shanghai were 2020.

There are 113 announced, but not in construction yet according to the Church’s webpages. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/list?lang=eng Pure speculation…this is a difference in ‘style’ between Pres Nelson and Pres Oaks, a more methodical or perhaps deliberate approach (not sure what the right word is…cautious isn’t it). Or they just decided to hold off on ‘new business’ until there is a new President. Added: I am going to start laughing if this triggers speculation that the Second Coming is quite near, so the Church isn’t going to invest in more temples than committed to so as to conserve resources.

So I take it no new ones, just updates? Added…answered, thanks.

For those of us not watching (I concentrate much better when I speed up the pace, so watch it later)…. What happened?

Seems unlikely it will be anytime soon given he’s been a general authority for only 5 years.

We need to fill this in for the most recent years, project number for 2025 and then subtract April’s amount. (AI says 35 for 2023, 32 for 2024, and 15 in April) So on average 34 temples a year the last 3 years, so 19. Or just wait an hour or so.

But it is not inherent to Islam as demonstrated by Indonesia, which has a Muslim majority (87%), but is officially secular without Sharia law, is democratic and pluralistic. has a free press and effective religious freedom. Given the locations of the most oppressive Muslim countries, it seems more like a regional issue than a religious one.

Every time I see a “new member” post, I get hopeful Nemesis has solved the spam pandemic problem and open registrations again. Alas, even though it’s great to see unfamiliar faces, 2012 is not actually a “new member” imo.

I think there is discussion about this photo of a portrait here if you are interested in it… https://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/74683-discovery-of-photograph-of-joseph-smith/ https://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/75366-discovery-of-photograph-of-joseph-smith-part-ii/ We have had a number of threads over the years discussing possibilities, though you need to use Google or another search engine as the board’s search only goes back one year before calling it quits and doesn’t always get the ones for that year even. (Not complaining, Nemesis, 😛 just explaining, Google does fine for me.)

And it’s not like they didn’t have hair dye back then.

I had a positive view of him as President of BYU, did not seem rigid or legalistic to me at the time (nor later, but then I tend to like his style of speaking more than folksy). I was wondering what the general view of him at BYU was, not sure how accurate AI can be with this (does it rely on the first sources it finds or seek more for a broader view?, after reading wiki, it seems heavily dependent on that), but it coincides with what I remember, though I don’t remember any rumors surrounding his release. The only issues I remember during Oaks’ tenure were honor code and the gay underground rumors and some controversies with Jim McMahon. And I don’t remember any of Oaks’ involvement (wiki says he was hands off with the honor code, left it to the dean of students which would explain the lack). There was quite a bit of discussion and controversy with the honor code while I was there, including one memorable scandal. Pants were allowed for women, but more dress denim only, no jeans (not till 1981, that was a joyous moment). A woman showed up at the Testing Center wearing nice denim pants and whoever was processing students (probably an older student I think) didn’t allow her to take the exam as it didn’t pass their personal standard. So she went to the restroom, removed her pants (had a coat that came down long enough) and went and took the test with nothing on her lower half (bare legs were not allowed with skirts if you worked for BYU iirc, had to be nylons or tights—it would be the only reason I would have had a pair, don’t think I have owned any since I left BYU—but I can’t recall if required for students in ‘78). The student wrote the Daily Universe about the craziness (guys were getting in wearing jeans). https://universe.byu.edu/2019/04/15/honor-code-changes-have-followed-controversies-1/#:~:text=One of its more notable,the no-pants episode followed. There were also some occasions where male students were policing female students, making comments and putting notes in coat pockets or backpacks. In these cases these women were not breaking the dress code, but were still seen as immodest and for some reason, the male students thought it was their duty to police women’s standards. No doubt there were men getting dinged by women for hair too long, etc, but I don’t remember them. I do remember hearing a lecture from another student in one of my psych classes on how it was the duty of men to ensure women’s purity with clothing standards, but he was not considered mainstream by other students. Most of the men I knew when it was discussed thought the self appointed modesty police were jerks. Because most students I knew saw Pres Oaks as a moderate at that time, I was rather surprised to find he became seen as conservative when an apostle. I started out in physics and then switched to engineering on the advice of my dad (should have talked to a career counselor as he was out of date), so I remember the affirmative action efforts Oaks was promoting for less discrimination against women. Didn’t like engineering and switched to psych after two years. Have to say it always feels a bit disconcerting to see Pres Oaks in the last 20 years or so, his appearance when he was at BYU seems to have been imprinted on my brain, lol. https://president.byu.edu/directory/dallin-h-oaks I was not surprised when he was called as an apostle. He carried himself with a natural sense of authority, imo. Probably his confidence. Mixed with a genuine sense of caring.

Do you believe this verse?