The Payson Utah Temple will be dedicated in 2015.

LDS Church

SALT LAKE CITY Last April, LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson opened general conference with unusual news: He would not announce any new temples that day or in the near future.

In fact, as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathers for another general conference on Saturday and Sunday, two years have passed since the last announcement of a new temple, in April 2013, when President Monson revealed plans for temples in Cedar City, Utah, and Rio de Janeiro.

A two-year lag between temple announcements is rare for what President Monson has called a temple-building people.

The last time Latter-day Saints saw more time pass without a new temple announcement was the six years between 1984 and 1990, a span that straddled the church presidencies of Spencer W. Kimball and Ezra Taft Benson.

In the 25 years since 1990, the church's membership doubled from 7.7 million members to more than 15 million.

At the same time, the number of completed temples jumped from 44 to 144.

Many more will be built. President Monson suspended announcements of new temples to allow the church's temple department to concentrate efforts on a backlog of 28 previously announced temples.

Two of those 28 opened by the end of 2014 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Phoenix.

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2 years after last new LDS temple was announced, construction rolls ahead

The Payson Utah Temple will be dedicated in 2015.

LDS Church

SALT LAKE CITY Last April, LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson opened general conference with unusual news: He would not announce any new temples that day or in the near future.

In fact, as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathers for another general conference on Saturday and Sunday, two years have passed since the last announcement of a new temple, in April 2013, when President Monson revealed plans for temples in Cedar City, Utah, and Rio de Janeiro.

A two-year lag between temple announcements is rare for what President Monson has called a temple-building people.

The last time Latter-day Saints saw more time pass without a new temple announcement was the six years between 1984 and 1990, a span that straddled the church presidencies of Spencer W. Kimball and Ezra Taft Benson.

In the 25 years since 1990, the church's membership doubled from 7.7 million members to more than 15 million.

At the same time, the number of completed temples jumped from 44 to 144.

Many more will be built. President Monson suspended announcements of new temples to allow the church's temple department to concentrate efforts on a backlog of 28 previously announced temples.

Two of those 28 opened by the end of 2014 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Phoenix.

The rest is here:
Tad Walch: 2 years after last new LDS temple was announced, construction rolls ahead

Coptic Christians pray at a symbolic funeral for the 21 Egyptian Christians who were beheaded in Libya by Islamic State last month. (Reuters)

Relatives of the Coptic Christians beheaded last month by jihadists in Libya their deaths immortalized in a gory video set against the backdrop of a Mediterranean beach are facing new extremist-Muslim violence as they seek to build a church to honor their murdered loved ones.

An angry mob in the Upper Egyptian village of Al Our the proposed site of the church because it was home to 13 of the 21 Christians murdered in the mass beachfront decapitation descended on the communitys current church after the midday Islamic prayer Friday and chanted that theyd never allow construction of the new place of worship to begin, witnesses told Egyptian activists in the U.S.

- Mina Abdelmalak, Coptic Christian

Things turned far uglier after nightfall, the witnesses said, as a smaller number of individuals threw Molotov cocktails and stones at the church, injuring several people, and setting cars ablaze, including one that belonged to a relative of one of the victims of the Libyan massacre.

The police came, but after the attack, said Mina Abdelmalak, a Coptic Christian living in Washington who is in close contact with the witnesses to the events in Al Our. There were already cars on fire. People had been bloodied. Stones and bricks had been thrown.

Some protesters also appeared at the family home of massacre victim Samuel Alham Wilson, but, in a gesture that provided some hope, were chased off by Muslim neighbors when the protesters started throwing stones.

Copts are the native Christians of Egypt, accounting for about 10 percent of the countrys 88 million people.

While they have traditionally faced varying levels of persecution in the mainly Muslim country, the Copts of Al Our -- a village on the Nile about 125 miles south of Cairo -- have additionally been in deep mourning since the Islamic State released its video Feb. 15 showing the beheading of the Christians -- 20 of them Copts, the other from Ghana.

The 13 from Al Our like their fellow Christians with whom they died had gone to Libya to seek work because their poverty-stricken home communities offered none or little that was viable.

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Muslim groups attack Egyptian Copts over church honoring Christians killed by ISIS - VIDEO: Heavy fighting resumes ...

At least seven people were wounded in an attack on a Christian church in the Egyptian province of Minya late Friday, in the latest incident of violence against the countrys Coptic Christian minority. The church had been established to commemorate the 20 Coptic Christians beheaded in Libya by the Islamic State militant group. Thirteen of the victims came from Minyas al-Our village, where the church was being built, Daily News Egypt reported Sunday.

Coptic residents of al-Our had obtained permission to build the church in the aftermath of the beheadings in Libya, which left the impoverished villages Christian community devastated. Thousands of people had mourned the victims following the release of an Islamic State video last month showing the men being executed. The beheadings prompted the Egyptian government to begin an air campaign in Libya targeting the militant group, also known as ISIS.

In the weeks since the massacre, plans to honor the victims with a church dedicated to their memory have been igniting sectarian tensions in the province, which is home to one of the largest concentrations of the countrys Coptic minority. Coptic Christians are estimated to make up 10 to 20 percent of the Egyptian population.

Some of al-Ours Muslim residents had protested the churchs construction and particularly its placement at the entrance of the village, DNE reported. Following midday prayers on Friday, scores of young Muslims gathered in front of the site where the church was being built to rally against its construction. While the crowd eventually dispersed without incident, a small group of men targeted the site with Molotov cocktails later in the evening.

Violence between Muslim and Christian communities in Minya has become more frequent since 2013, when Egypts first democratically elected president Mohammed Morsi was deposed in a coup by the military. In the immediate aftermath of the violent dispersal of Muslim Brotherhood sit-ins in Cairo in August 2013, at least 42 churches were attacked across the country, with at least three Coptic Christians and one Muslim killed in Minya, according to Human Rights Watch. Some supporters of Morsi, who was supported by the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood, believe Christians had a role in his overthrow and reprisal attacks against the minority group have become increasingly common in the southern Egyptian province.

Some attribute the root causes of the the provinces sectarian tensions to the government's neglect of southern Egypt over the past decades. [Minya] lacks the development and projects needed to sap the energy of young people and protect them from people who exploit them in this kind of strife, such as the Muslim Brotherhood or other parties with particular interests," said the provinces security chief, Maj. Gen. Osama Metwally, in a 2014 interview with Al-Monitor. We are faced with many difficulties, most important of which is that people here have highly volatile temperaments, with full-blown sectarian strife almost erupting as a result of trivial disputes that nearly become religious catastrophes.

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Egypt Anti-Christian Violence: Church Commemorating ISIS Coptic Victims Attacked

The construction of a Speedway gasoline station and convenience store at the corner of Route 51 and Quaker Church Road in Perryopolis will cause traffic restrictions for motorists and limit school bus movements between April 6 and April 19, according to Marathon Petroleum Co.

Stefanie Griffith, spokeswoman for Marathon Petroleum Co. public affairs, said the project will force some traffic changes because of the closure of the intersection as construction continues. Access to Quaker Church Road will be detoured over Tony Row Road from Route 51 for the two weeks of construction.

The southbound right lane of Route 51 will be closed from a point just before the intersection and just past the construction area for a total of about .25 miles, Griffith said. The left turning lane in the northbound lanes will be closed.

According to a news release put out by the company, roadway improvements and driveway installations will be completed during the closure.

The closure was originally scheduled to begin on April 1, but was delayed until after the Easter holiday.

The change may force the Frazier School District to modify some bus routes, said Suzanne Boni, district transportation director. She said she is setting up a meeting with the bus company to determine what changes should be made during the project.

Presently, a bus comes off of Quaker Church (Road), said Boni. It will have to go on Janet Street or another bus that uses Janet (Street) may pick up students that presently use the bus that picks up the Quaker Church Road students.

She said the determination will be made after a discussion with the bus company.

PennDOT officials referred all questions about the project to Marathon Petroleum Co., owner of the Speedway.

Karl Polacek is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at kpolacek@tribweb.com or 724-626-3538.

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Construction of Speedway in Perryopolis to affect traffic

Tony and Margaret Budell spent Monday morning the same way theyve spent their wedding anniversary for the past 60 years, making their way to the heart of Havelock to visit the church where they exchanged vows.

They werent expecting the scene they encountered this year on the corner of 61st Street and Morrill Avenue. The makeshift fence surrounding St. Patrick Catholic Church, the construction crews, the parishioners spread out on the lawn across the street, like they were waiting for a parade.

The Budells knew at some point the 107-year-old red-brick building was going to come down to make way for a new church next door.

They had no idea it would happen on their special day.

We didnt know they were going to tear it down today, said Margaret, who attended St. Patricks as a child. We came over to take pictures.

Turns out, they joined a growing crowd carrying lawn chairs and spreading out on blankets to watch a crane demolish a piece of their collective history.

Its bittersweet, said the Rev. Troy Schweiger. There are more than 100 years of important memories in that church -- baptisms, confirmations, weddings -- but we also are witnessing a step toward our new spiritual home.

The parish of about 750 families had been talking about building a new church for more than two decades, Schweiger said, but a random inspection by the churchs insurance company four years ago forced the issue.

The insurance company called for an inspection, and a structural engineer said hed certify it as safe for only another five years.

"So the decision was kind of made for us," Schweiger said.

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Out with the old at St. Patrick

EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -

A church displaced by construction at the Highway 41 and Lloyd cloverleaf work is now ready to start building its new home.

The pastor of Trinity Wesleyan Church tells 14NEWS this has been a long time coming. In fact, he says, they've known they would have to move because of the cloverleaf since the 1950s.

Now, almost 60 years later, they've broken ground where the new church will go.

The site, at the corner of Burkhardt Rd. and Old Boonville Highway, was sold to the church for below-market price by the family who owned the land.

Pastor Duane Allison says even though they haven't even built the 5,000 square foot chapel, he's already focused on how they can add on in the future.

He says talking with their new neighbors made it clear there's a great need in the area for job training and tutoring services. Allison says it's their duty as a church to provide that.

"We believe that as Jesus came into the neighborhood and began to serve people around him, that is what God has called us to do as well," Allison said. "To begin to find out how to help people who would be our neighbors and how perhaps we can join or partner with them in order to serve others."

Pastor Allison says they hope to have heavy equipment at the site within three weeks.

Their goal is to have the church open by September of this year.

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Church displaced by Lloyd & 41 cloverleaf work ready to build new home

JANESVILLE | Tombstones dot the small space, planted in the ground like bookmarks in at least 65 stories.

Some accounts proved brief, and the markers reveal few details.

Mary Parsons was born in September 1895. She died barely a year later. Hers is the only stone with the Parsons name.

Other monuments in the East Janesville United Methodist Church cemetery suggest more complete lives:

Finding the graves until a recent mowing could be difficult.Last year's bull thistles, shoulder high, choked the East Janesville burial plot, and matted grass concealed low-lying stones. Small trees grow where they should not.

"It's an absolute disgrace," says Lester Peters of Plainfield.

He has no connection to the East Janesville church, which disbanded in 2011. He is not a veteran, but believes in honoring their service. He finds old cemeteries interesting, though, investigates those he discovers on outings.

"I just happened to drive by one day and saw what a mess it was. And I wondered: 'Who dropped the ball?'"

The answer is not clear.

The congregation began when Iowa was young. The territory became a state Dec. 28, 1846, and the 1850 census counted slightly more than 192,000 residents.

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Unclear who should care for East Janesville cemetery after church folds

Sailors and sealers were common visitors

George Street United Church historian Josh Shea says because of the churchs close proximity to St. Johns harbour, it had become the place of worship for those preparing to go to sea, whether on fishing or sealing vessels.

The present building was constructed in 1872 and the first service held Dec. 14, 1873. The building was expanded in 1911.

Sea people came to worship in boots and oilskins, he said. They came from all over the province in March because they had berths, or were looking for berths, on the ships.

Historians have said that the floor and stairs of the church were awash in salt water.

Shea also noted the church was historically surrounded by businesses that made sails, barrels, ropes and planks for the fishing and sailing industry.

In the spring of the year of construction, the vessels couldnt get out of the harbour due to ice, and the captains asked their crews to help bring the stone from Southside Road to George Street for use in the churchs construction.

While Capt. Morrissey Johnson ships bell has its place in the church in honour of him, other sea captains are honoured in the building, as well.

For instance, the front entrance doors were donated in memory of Capt. Earl W. Winsor; the sanctuary lamp was donated in memory of Capt. P. Chesley Winsor; a rail was presented in memory of Capt. Eugene V. Way; and the choir microphone was donated in memory of Capt. and Mrs. Silas Halfyard and their two sons, Byron and Newton.

There are also many photos and information boards in the church related to the provinces connection with the sea.

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Church floors awash in salt water

Neighborhood support for a plan to build a high-rise on the Nyes Polonaise restaurant site has stalled amid growing concerns over its impact on nearby buildings.

Minneapolis-based developer Schafer Richardson, in partnership with Nyes owners Rob and Tony Jacobs, in December announced they would redevelop the popular restaurant and piano bar just north of downtown.

They quickly won support from the neighborhood association for its 30-story glassy residential and retail tower, including a spendy effort to salvage two of the Nyes structures. But some neighbors, including members of a landmark church, thought the group acted too quickly.

The pause button has essentially been hit, Barry Clegg, vice president of the Nicollet Island-East Bank Neighborhood Association, said Thursday.

About 85 neighborhood residents appeared at the associations board meeting Wednesday night to discuss two grievances filed against the organization.

Opponents have also petitioned the City of Minneapolis to conduct an environmental review of the site before the project moves forward. The association agreed to table its approval until that review is conducted, which could last four to five months.

Maureen Michalski, senior project manager for Schafer Richardson, said the company has a reputation of engaging with communities to work through challenges.

Its a complex project, and we want to carefully consider the stakeholder interest, she said. There are so many different groups that are involved that have opinions that we really have to work through that process to come to some consensus.

The grievances were filed in tandem with efforts by Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, which is next door to Nyes, to slow down the process and conduct more due diligence.

About 200 parishioners and neighbors gathered last week for a fundraiser and meeting at the church, which is the oldest continuously operating church in Minneapolis. Prominent parishioners of the church are seeking legal and architectural help to challenge the project.

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Neighborhood concerns become obstacle to Nye's redevelopment