Throughout the week of Nov. 27 to Dec. 3, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Singapore’s ambassador to the U.S. turned on the Christmas lights at the Washington D.C. Temple. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles ministered in Ethiopia. Also Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke to youth in Costa Rica.
Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon spoke to youth in Japan, Mongolia and Korea. Sister Rebecca L. Craven of the general Young Women presidency shared 3 lessons from the parting of the River Jordan during a devotional at Ensign College.
Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé and counselors Bishop W. Christopher Waddell and Bishop L. Todd Budge were featured in a new Church News video on temples. The groundbreaking for Nicaragua’s first temple took place and photos of the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple were released as its open house begins. A changes to leadership in young single adult wards and stakes was announced. The latest Church News podcast episode features reporter Trent Toone.
Read summaries of these nine articles below.
1. Christmas lights return to the Washington D.C. Temple grounds; Elder Cook and Singapore’s ambassador press button to turn them on
More than 400,000 lights burst into view on the temple grounds Tuesday night, Nov. 29, when Elder Cook and Singapore’s ambassador to the United States, Ashok Mirpuri, pressed a red button together.
Elder Cook said the lighting ceremony represented the commencement of the Christmas season celebration, which “commemorates the birth and life of Jesus Christ, who we revere as Savior and Redeemer of the world.”
Read about the Washington D.C. Temple Christmas lights ceremony and also lights at the Mesa Arizona Temple and the Mexico City Mexico Temple grounds
2. ‘A day never to be forgotten’ when Elder Christofferson ministers in Ethiopia
After meetings in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and before attending the unveiling of a statue of Joseph Smith in India, Elder Christofferson ministered in Ethiopia and Kenya in the Central Africa Area.
In addition to meetings with members and missionaries, Elder Christofferson also met with other faith leaders and government officials and connected electronically with members in Uganda.
Find out about Elder Christofferson’s time in Ethiopia
3. Elder Gong tells Costa Rican youth, ‘Today is the time of blessings’
During his ministry in Central America — which also included a visit to Panama and Guatemala — Elder Gong told Latter-day Saint youth in Costa Rica, “Today is the time of blessings in Central America.”
Elder Gong attended a cultural performance in San Jose on Nov. 18, which was filled with regional songs, traditional dances and artistic performances. Speaking in Spanish, he expressed his gratitude for the efforts and dedication of the performances and expressed his love for the youth.
Discover what Elder Gong said to Church youth in Costa Rica
4. President Cordon’s message for youth in Japan, Mongolia and Korea
While traveling to Asia in mid-November, PresidentCordon and her husband, Brother Derek Cordon, found themselves on a delayed flight with a group of missionaries. That played into a devotional message later during her ministry.
The Young Women general president visited the Asia North Area Nov. 12-20 and spoke at youth devotionals in Japan, Mongolia and Korea.
Read what President Cordon said to youth in Japan, Mongolia and Korea
5. Sister Craven shares 3 lessons from the parting of the River Jordan
After wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, the Israelites were finally permitted by the Lord to enter the promised land. To get there, however, they needed to cross the River Jordan, which was deep and overflowing its banks.
“Imagine the scene,” Sister Craven, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, invited Ensign College students during the weekly devotional held in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square on Tuesday, Nov. 29.
Find out what Sister Craven’s three lessons from the parting of the River Jordan are
6. Video: Why the Presiding Bishopric calls temple-building ‘a miracle’
“As a bishopric, we focus a lot on the design of temples, on their physical aspects, but that’s not the most important part. The important part is what happens inside the temple when it is dedicated — the ordinances, the covenants, the people,” said Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé.
As part of this Inside Church Headquarters series, Bishop Caussé and his counselors, Bishop W. Christopher Waddell and Bishop L. Todd Budge, describe how temples are identified, designed and constructed in a new Church News video titled “Miracle of a Temple.”
Watch the latest Church News video featuring the Church’s Presiding Bishopric, learn more about temples are identified, designed and constructed, plus see the series
7. Joy at groundbreaking for Nicaragua’s first temple and see interior, exterior photos of the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple
On Saturday, Nov. 26, Silvano Roberto García — a pioneer for the Church in his country and a member of the Managua Nicaragua Bello Horizonte Stake — shared his feelings and joy at the groundbreaking of the new Managua Nicaragua Temple.
Also, emotions of spiritual elation and comfort were elevated with the start of the open house period of San Juan Puerto Rico Temple. In conjunction with the temple’s media day and start of special-guest tours starting Monday, Nov. 28, the Church released a video and a series of photographs of the temple’s interior and exterior.
Discover more about the groundbreaking for Nicaragua’s first temple and view photos of the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple as its open house begins
8. ‘Strengthening Young Single Adults’ notice emphasizes callings, committees and ‘gathering places’
An emphasis on young single adults serving in all YSA callings except stake president and bishop is one of the several newly adjusted guidelines cited in a notice titled “Strengthening Young Single Adults.”
Other adjustments include the purpose for and participation in stake YSA committees and “gathering places.” The directives are highlighted in the Nov. 30 notice.
Learn what the announcement for young single adults emphasized
9. Episode 112: Church News reporter Trent Toone on family, faith and choosing Christ
Trent Toone recently joined the Church News as a reporter and has documented this important project. Before moving to the Church News, Toone worked as a journalist for the Deseret News faith team, focusing on coverage of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He joins this episode of the Church News podcast to talk about his faith and family, Church history, the Joseph Smith Papers projects, and his coverage of the fan-funded television series “The Chosen.”
