During the of Dec. 17 to Dec. 23, with Elder Patrick Kearon being called as the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Church News reviewed the history of current apostles being called. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints updated the Topics and Questions in the Gospel Library app and on the Church’s website. The Church released information on the impact of Giving Machines so far this year.
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released sites for two new temples. The Tabernacle Choir performed during the 2023 Christmas concert and released information about the guest artist for the second stop in the multiyear world tour of “Hope.” The Church has finished filming the last series of the Book of Mormon Videos and has plans to release the videos this year.
The Church News podcast featured Dan Call, FamilySearch.org manager of Discovery Experiences and Centers. The Church and ShelterBox are supporting people displaced by conflict. See how parents say kids use social media versus how kids say they use it.
1. How Apostles are called — and a look back at the calls of the current 15 Apostles
The Friday, Dec. 8, announcement that Elder Patrick Kearon had been called and ordained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles the previous day may have caught some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a little off-guard.
President M. Russell Ballard, the late acting president of the quorum , had died less than month before, on Nov. 12. And the next general conference — when new apostles are most often announced and sustained — was still some four months away, in April 2024.
But no set timetables and no balloting are used in filling a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Rather, a call to the apostleship comes by revelation to the Prophet and President of the Church
Read about the history of current apostles being called here.
2. Guiding principles to help answer gospel questions
Resources found in the updated Topics and Questions in the Gospel Library app and in the Gospel Library on the Church’s website are designed to help answer an individual’s gospel questions and to help others find answers to theirs.
Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “We owe it to our members and seekers of truth to provide reliable, trusted and faithful sources. Topics and Questions is a wonderful place to start. The associated guiding principles are like a ‘user’s manual’ for approaching the material in Topics and Questions.”
Read the full article here.
3. 2023 Giving Machines
A couple makes a purchase at a Giving Machine in Huntington Beach, California, Nov. 28, 2023.
With Giving Machines operating in 61 locations during this Christmas season, more people than ever have had the opportunity to donate at the machines and therefore help someone in need.
As of Dec. 18, approximately 350,000 people have visited the Giving Machines, contributing to 75,000 separate transactions.
Church News contributor Sydney Walker volunteered at the Atlanta Giving Machine and shared her experience.
Read the full article about what is happening with the 2023 Giving Machines here.
Read the full article from Sydney Walker here.
4. Sites released for 2 new temples — 1 in England, 1 in the Philippines
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released sites for two new houses of the Lord — the Birmingham England Temple and the Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple.
Read the full article here.
5. The Tabernacle Choir performs at Christmas concert and other announcements
Broadway singer and actor Michael Maliakel and British actress Lesley Nicol joined the Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra and Bells at Temple Square and Gabriel’s Trumpets as the featured guest artists during the 2023 Christmas concerts Dec. 14-16 and “Music & the Spoken Word” on Dec. 17. The Church News video, “Christmas Concert 2023,” shares about the concert and what Maliakel and Nicol said about performing with the choir and orchestra.
The choir also announced the 2022 Christmas concert “Season of Light,” will air on Dec. 24, at 8 p.m. Philippine Time in the Philippines for the first time. This comes in advance of the choir going to the Philippines in February as the second stop on the choir and orchestra’s multiyear world tour of “Hope.” Broadway singer and actress Lea Salonga will be accompanying the choir as they tour in her home country.
Read the full article about the 2023 Christmas concert here.
Watch the video about the 2023 Christmas concert here.
Read the full article about the airing of the 2022 Christmas concert here.
Read the full article about the 2024 “Hope” tour here.
6. Church announces release of final series of Book of Mormon videos coming in 2024
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has finished filming the last series of Book of Mormon Videos, with plans to release them in time for the 2024 “Come, Follow Me” study of the Book of Mormon.
Read the full article here.
7. Podcast episode 167: FamilySearch’s Dan Call on honoring family history and traditions in the Christmas season
This episode of the Church News podcast features Dan Call, FamilySearch.manager of Discovery Experiences and Centers. He explores how Latter-day Saints can learn about and honor their unique family history during the sacred Christmas season.
Listen to the podcast here.
8. How iron nets and tents are giving shelter, peace and security to displaced people
The Church prioritizes offering refuge and worldwide aid in its humanitarian efforts. ShelterBox is a nonprofit organization that provides shelters, essential items and technical assistance to help people recover and rebuild after a disaster.
Read the full article here.
9. How parents say kids use social media versus how kids say they use it
The American Family Survey 2023 asked parents about their kids’ social media habits, while the Pew Research Center asked teens directly. The differences are shown in this Church News article.
