In case you missed it: All temples open, President Oaks and President Eyring on councils, plus 7 more stories
Clockwise from top left: President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy W. Nelson, pose in front of the Bountiful Utah Temple; President Russell M. Nelson, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring attend a First Presidency meeting; the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square performs during the Pioneer Day concert at the Conference Center; and an early scene from the Hill Cumorah Pageant.
In case you missed it: All temples open, President Oaks and President Eyring on councils, plus 7 more stories
Clockwise from top left: President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy W. Nelson, pose in front of the Bountiful Utah Temple; President Russell M. Nelson, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring attend a First Presidency meeting; the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square performs during the Pioneer Day concert at the Conference Center; and an early scene from the Hill Cumorah Pageant.
During the week of July 4-10, President Russell M. Nelson posted on social media about the reopening of all temples for some level of operations. President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency spoke to the Church News about the essential role of councils in the Church, including within the First Presidency. Elder D. Todd Christofferson spoke at the devotional broadcast commemorating the final run of the Hill Cumorah Pageant.
The Tabernacle Choir will be returning to Temple Square after more than a year of pandemic-related hiatus. FamilySearch announced that RootsTech Connect 2022 will entirely virtual and free. And Elder Koichi Aoyahi, Japanese emeritus General Authority, died at age 76.
In this week’s Church News podcast, Jennie Taylor discusses patriotism, “infuriating unfairness,” and heaven’s blessings after her husband’s death in Afghanistan. Ground was broken for the first For the Strength of Youth camp in Asia. And Elder Tad R. Callister spoke at America’s Freedom Festival in Provo, Utah, on July 4.
Find links and summaries of these nine article below.
1. President Russell M. Nelson: All available temples have reopened at some level
President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church, and his wife, Wendy Nelson, stand in front of the Bountiful Utah Temple. President Nelson encouraged members in a social media post on July 5, 2021 to celebrate the reopening of all temples to some level of operations.
Matthew Reier
President Nelson kicked off the week by recognizing that all temples currently not under construction or undergoing renovations are “now reopened and resumed some level of operations!”
With the reopenings now underway for all available temples in the world, he said members should celebrate the opportunity to do redemptive work in the temples.
Read more of his message here
2. What President Oaks and President Eyring have learned about revelation in councils
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor, and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor, attend a First Presidency meeting, held daily Tuesday through Friday, at the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. The Church Administration Building was constructed between 1913 and 1917.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
In the first part of a four-part series on the essential role of councils in the Church, President Oaks and President Eyring spoke to the Church News about the revelatory process that comes through counseling in the Lord’s way.
Learn more about their insights
3. Elder Christofferson shares his experience in the Hill Cumorah Pageant
Early scene from the Hill Cumorah Pageant in 2019.
Kenneth Mays
Elder Christofferson reminisced about his participation in the Hill Cumorah Pageant as part of a devotional to commemorate the production’s final run.
Find out more about his experience
4. Tabernacle Choir returning to Temple Square following pandemic-forced hiatus
On Sept. 11, 2021, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square presented a 30-minute special commemorating the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
Colter Peterson, Deseret News
On Friday, July 9, the Tabernacle Choir organization announced the schedule for their return to Temple Square of daily organ recitals, weekly choir and Bell at Temple Square ensemble rehearsals and “Music & the Spoken Word” Sunday broadcasts.
Learn more about the phased return of the choir
5. RootsTech Connect 2022 will be entirely virtual and free
FamilySearch announced RootsTech Connect 2022 will take place on March 3–5, 2022, as a fully virtual family history event.
FamilySearch
After attracting more than 1 million visitors worldwide in its online event earlier this year, RootsTech Connect is happening again in 2022 — entirely virtual and free of charge.
Find out more about RootsTech 2022
6. Emeritus General Authority Elder Koichi Aoyagi dies
Elder Koichi and Shiroko Aoyagi --for General Authority profiles Monday, April 6, 2009, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Tom Smart, Deseret News
After a life of faithful service, Elder Koichi Aoyagi, who served as a General Authority Seventy from 2009 to 2015, died Monday, July 5, in Chiba-ken, Japan. He was 76.
Learn more about his life and service
7. Jennie Taylor discusses ‘infuriating unfairness’ and heaven’s compensatory blessings
In Episode 38 of the Church News podcast, Jennie Taylor, widow of Maj. Brent Taylor who was killed in Afghanistan, shares about revelation, patriotism and moving forward with faith despite life's trials.
After the death of her husband, Maj. Brent Taylor, in Afghanistan, Jennie has resiliently continued to carry her husband’s mantle of service and faith, for herself and for their seven children.
She joined the Church News podcast to talk about their relationship built on serving God, country and family, as well as how personal revelation has been a stalwart tool for moving forward in that spirit of faith in spite of life’s trials.
Listen to this week’s episode
8. Construction begins in the Philippines on 1st FSY camp in Asia
Tanay Mayor Rex Tanjuatco, left, Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, Philippines Area president, Sister Anita Wakolo, and Tanay Vice-Mayor Rafael Tanjuatco at the groundbreaking of the first For the Strength Youth Camp in Asia on June 30, 2021.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
With a groundbreaking in the Philippines, work begins on the Church’s first For the Strength of Youth camp in Asia. The 24.13-acre site is in Tanay, Rizal, about 40 miles, or 65 kilometers, east of Manila, according to Philippines Newsroom.
Find out more about the event
9. Elder Callister speaks during patriotic service
Elder Tad R. Callister, an Emeritus General Authority, speaks during the Patriotic Service of America's Freedom Festival held in LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, on July 4, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
America now faces a critical choice on whether to continue the legacy of the Founding Fathers or to cast it aside — “to be a nation under God or without God,” said Elder Tad R. Callister, an emeritus General Authority.
Speaking during the Patriotic Service of America’s Freedom Festival at the LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, on July 4, Elder Callister, a former lawyer, highlighted the Founding Fathers’ divinely appointed mission and the need for a moral and religious people to uphold the Constitution today.
