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Scott Taylor
Scott Taylor

On the Deseret News staff since September 1984, Scott Taylor has been managing editor, opinion editor, sports editor, Olympic sports editor and an assistant city editor as well as a reporter/writer covering events and issues for the News, Sports, Olympics, Church News, Faith/Ethics, City and Utah County departments/sections. From 2011 to 2014, he took a leave of absence to serve as a Church mission president in Phoenix. A BYU graduate and Pulliam Fellow/intern at the Arizona Republic, he has reported from five continents with coverage from high school sports to five Olympic Games and from local city government and law enforcement agencies to relief efforts following the 2010 Haiti earthquake. He has received numerous local, state, regional and national journalism awards in news, sports, features, columns, headline writing and section supervision.


The Primary general presidency counselor’s varied examples included her teenage conversion, her son’s lost retainer and a family facing death in a school shooting.

Elder Soares will dedicate the first house of the Lord in both Kenya and all of East Africa in May.

Members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles underscored the importance of temple covenants, worship and attendance in 2024.

President Nelson announced 15 locations for new temples in April and another 17 in October for the fourth year straight of 30-plus announced.

Site maps released in 2024 included 22 for new houses of the Lord and an updated location for a temple.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released renderings for 37 new houses of the Lord in 2024, located in 13 U.S. states and 9 other countries.

Groundbreakings signaled the start of construction for 14 new houses of the Lord, with four dedicated temples undergoing renovations or reconstructions.

See how the 16 dedications of new houses of the Lord over the past year fits in with other years of temple dedications.

A recent experience in vacuuming a classroom reminded of the importance of prompt, proper cleansing in one's life.

A week after 5 renderings were released, new renderings offer a look at the Cincinnati, Des Moines, Missoula, Tacoma, Cuernavaca and Toluca temples.

President Russell M. Nelson posted on social media on Sunday, Dec. 22, his wish for “heavenly peace” and a video of him playing “Silent Night” on the piano.

Renderings offer the first look at the Harrisburg Pennsylvania, Jacksonville Florida, Mexico City Benemérito Mexico, Springfield Missouri and Winchester Virginia temples.

The First Presidency has released the location map for the Buenos Aires Argentina City Center Temple.

At a Provo MTC devotional shown to MTCs worldwide, Elder Neil L. Andersen called teaching and testimony “a gift that you give to the Savior."

Apostle met with local leaders, members, missionaries and friends during stops in Seoul, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

‘We can witness before our eyes how the work is rolling forward,” said Elder Mathias Held at Saturday, Dec. 7, groundbreaking for state’s second house of the Lord.

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a March 1, 2025, groundbreaking date for the Cali Colombia Temple, with Elder Jorge T. Becerra to preside.

The rendering was released two weeks after the First Presidency announced the temple’s Jan. 18 groundbreaking date.

Effective Aug. 1, 2025, and with headquarters in Toronto, the new Canada Area will be created from the North America Central, North America Northeast and North America West areas.

The launch at Union Station was one of several area events in which the Apostle participated in over the holiday weekend.

The day’s events included a devotional with an Apostle, a traditional Thanksgiving meal, a service project, a musical performance and a walk among the Christmas lights.

Speaking at the Provo MTC and to MTCs worldwide, the Apostle highlighted four areas of emphasis — missionary purpose; goals, plans and accountability; finding; and inviting others to sacrament meeting.

Elder Michael B. Strong of the Philippines Area presidency will preside at the Jan. 18, 2025, groundbreaking ceremony.

See the location and rendering for a proposed single-story, 10,000-square foot house of the Lord, the second in the state.

"You should go there," said Apostle of promptings to go to flood-ravaged Valencia and Catarroja, Spain.

At Provo MTC devotional, Presiding Bishopric counselor highlighted key indicators, goals and planning, and the principle of accountability — and underscored the importance of repentance.

See video, 11 photos of the ceremony signaling the start of the Hong Kong Giving Machines.

The meeting at Church headquarters was one of the week’s three visits of Church leaders with government officials.

Elder Rasband will dedicate the Abidjan temple on May 25, 2025; it will be the first house of the Lord in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in west Africa.