Throughout the week of Dec. 4 to Dec. 10, First Presidency first counselor President Dallin H. Oaks, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder José A. Teixeira of the Presidency of the Seventy and Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon spoke at the annual First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional. President Russell M. Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles addressed missionaries at the Mexico Missionary Training Center. And Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Twelve spoke at BYU–Hawaii’s graduation ceremony.
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke at a BYU devotional as well as to Spanish-speaking Latter-day Saints in a special devotional. The Presiding Bishopric was featured in the latest Church New video. And a new Church News podcast episode was released focusing on the Light the World initiative.
The Miraflores Guatemala City Guatemala Temple groundbreaking took place. The Church announced a $10 million donation to help with maternal and childhood immunizations. And pictures of the Oakland California Temple Christmas lights were released.
Read summaries of these nine articles below.
1. First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional 2022: Read talk summaries
Sparkling Christmas trees and lights adorned the Conference Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the annual First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional on Sunday evening — ushering in the sacred season with holiday music and messages.
President Oaks, Elder Andersen, Elder Teixeira and President Cordon spoke at the devotional.
See photos and read coverage of the First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional
2. President Ballard and Elder Stevenson address missionaries at Mexico MTC
Surrounded by sparkling Christmas lights and gold and red holiday decorations at the Church’s Mexico City Missionary Training Center, President M. Russell Ballard testified of the “privilege of declaring to the world that Jesus Christ is the Savior and the redeemer of all mankind.”
Accompanied by Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, President Ballard was also scheduled to participate in leadership training and member meetings in Mexico City — the largest city in North America.
Learn more about President Ballard’s and Elder Stevenson’s visit to the Mexico MTC
3. Elder Cook’s counsel to BYU–Hawaii graduates
Elder Cook offered counsel and direction to graduates of BYU Hawaii on Friday, Dec. 7 — directing them to be beacons of light, strengthen their personal testimonies, prayerfully consider significant choices and protect themselves spiritually and physically.
“My overall feelings about your generation — and particularly you wonderful graduates — is highly optimistic,” the Apostle told the 221 fall semester graduates and their loved ones gathered in the Cannon Activities Center on the Laie, Hawaii, campus for commencement exercises.
Read Elder Cook’s 4 points of counsel to BYU—Hawaii graduates
4. Elder Soares offers 3 strategies to ‘walk in the light and discern the truth’
Speaking to a packed arena in the last devotional at BYU before Christmas break on Dec. 6, Elder Soares discussed the search for light and truth and how it can help individuals learn to walk with Jesus Christ.
He also addressed Spanish-speakers in their native language during a live broadcast from Denver, Colorado, to the Church’s North America Central Area on Dec. 5.
Find out what Elder Soares said at this week’s BYU Devotional and to Spanish-speaking Latter-day Saints during the devotional in Colorado
5. Video: Presiding Bishopric explains how helping those in need is at ‘the heart of the gospel’
This new Church News video titled “The Heart of the Gospel” features Bishop Gérald Caussé and his counselors, Bishop W. Christopher Waddell and Bishop L. Todd Budge, explaining the difference between welfare and humanitarian aid and the Church’s efforts to build self-reliance.
Watch the Presiding Bishopric in the latest Church News video
6. Episode 113: Light the World 2022 — A reminder that ‘The World Needs Your Light’ all year
This episode of the Church News podcast focuses on sharing the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Light the World initiative this Christmas season — and throughout the year. Joining the podcast is Elder W. Mark Bassett, a General Authority Seventy and assistant executive director of the Missionary Department, and Aaron Hall, director of finding for the Missionary Department.
Listen to the new Church News podcast episode
7. Ground broken for Guatemala’s fourth temple — second for the capital city
On Saturday, Dec. 3, in Guatemala City, Elder Patricio M. Giuffra, a General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the Church’s Central America Area presidency, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony and offered a prayer dedicating both the temple site and the temple’s construction process.
Read about the Miraflores Guatemala City Guatemala Temple groundbreaking
8. Church donates $10 million to fight polio and tetanus in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Africa
Areas of the world that had made progress against polio are now seeing outbreaks again. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the delivery and use of immunization services, and multiple countries lost ground where the disease was once eradicated.
Under-immunizations for tetanus also affect women and children in many countries as well.
To raise immunization efforts, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Friday $10 million in donations to organizations working in Afghanistan, Pakistan and several African countries.
Find out more about the organizations involved
9. See photos of the Oakland California Temple Christmas lights
Beginning Nov. 25, the lights are on every evening from dusk until 9 p.m. Free guided tours are also available from dusk to 8:30 pm, ending at 9:00 pm. In the morning, the lights turn back on when the property opens and are turned off at sunrise. More views can be seen of the bay and the grounds from the rooftop gardens, which are open from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The display lasts until Dec. 31st.
Free performances and events are available throughout the Christmas season, with specific details found at templehill.org.
