During the week of Aug. 14-20, President Russell M. Nelson rededicated the Washington D.C. Temple. This week marked a century of BYU Education Week, and Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke at the devotional on Tuesday, Aug. 16. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles narrated a video about welcoming all in the Savior’s inn.
The First Presidency announced the names of two temples in Idaho and England. The Church News reported on the First Presidency and other Church leaders meeting with the ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the United States, Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, and also later with Gambian first lady Fatoumatta Bah Barrow during their visits to Salt Lake City.
This week’s Church News podcast featured the Summers family as they found healing comfort in serving others and trusting in God’s plan amid personal trials and debilitating illness. The Church and UNICEF are helping refugee children from South Sudan through Learning for Life. Plus, see how Canadian children commemorated the Church reaching 200,000 members in that country.
Find summaries and links to these nine articles below.
1. Calling every temple ‘a symbol of Jesus Christ,’ President Nelson rededicates the Washington D.C. Temple
Walking the grounds of the renovated Washington D.C. Temple, President Nelson looked to the iconic edifice and spoke of the “magnificence of the work done” to beautify and renew the sacred site. The leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rededicated the temple Sunday, Aug. 14, as a place where all who enter will “feel of Thy presence and to know of Thy love.”
Learn more about the rededication, read the prayer, see a photo gallery and watch a video with President Nelson
2. Elder Cook at BYU Education Week: Give heed to the words of the Prophets
This year’s BYU Education Week marked a century since it began in 1922 as Leadership Week. Elder Cook encouraged attendees to give heed to words of the Prophets. The Sunday School, Young Men and Primary general presidencies also presented. Elder Clark G. Gilbert, Church commissioner of education, spoke at BYU Education Week about why there are so many BYUs.
Other Church News coverage of the more than 1,000 classes includes how the Church is helping members with disabilities, how to build emotional resilience and be happy, youth classes, dating tips for young single adults, tools for family history, when loved ones question gospel truths, and seeking truth and developing unshakable faith — plus what was the favorite treat during the weeklong event.
Discover more about Elder Cook’s remarks, look back on a century of Education Week and more of the Church News’ coverage
3. Elder Gong narrates video about welcoming all in the Savior’s inn
One afternoon several years ago, Elder Gong and his father visited the great cathedral at Chartres near Paris, France. An expert on the cathedral pointed out three sets of Chartres stained-glass windows of Adam and Eve leaving the Garden of Eden, the parable of the good Samaritan and the Lord’s Second Coming, and explained that they tell a story.
“Taken together, these stained-glass windows can describe our eternal journey. They invite us to welcome all with room in His inn,” said Elder Gong in a new Church Inspirational Message video released Aug. 18 titled “Room in the Inn.”
Find out more about the experience and watch the video
4. First Presidency names 2 temples: Teton River Idaho and Birmingham England
Two temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced during the past year now have official names given by the First Presidency.
The second temple in Rexburg, Idaho, will be known as the Teton River Idaho Temple, while the temple announced for Birmingham, United Kingdom, will be called the Birmingham England Temple, according to the Monday, Aug. 15, announcement.
Read more about the temples
5. Princess Reema of Saudi Arabia meets with Church’s First Presidency, women leaders
The ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the United States, Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, recently met with top leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her second such visit to Church headquarters in Salt Lake City. Welcoming the ambassador was the First Presidency as well as Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Anthony D. Perkins, a General Authority Seventy and president of the Church’s Middle East/Africa North Area.
She also spoke with the Church’s top female leaders — Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson, Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon and Primary General President Susan H. Porter — on topics including the need to strengthen the faith of teenagers and children as well as the role of women in faith groups.
Discover more about Princess Reema’s visit
6. Church leaders welcome first lady of Gambia, who also visits educational, humanitarian sites
Following a February visit to Gambia by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles with national leaders there, first lady Fatoumatta Bah Barrow met during the week with senior leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City.
Her visit also included tours of Church education and humanitarian sites beyond Church headquarters. Members of the general presidencies of the Church’s Relief Society, Young Women and Primary organizations hosted a luncheon for Bah Barrow and her delegation.
See more about first lady Fatoumatta Bah Barrow’s experience
7. Church News podcast, episode 97: The Summers family on finding healing comfort by trusting God’s plan amid continuing medical trials
This episode of the Church News podcast features a Latter-day Saint family from Box Elder County, Utah, who have found healing comfort in serving others and trusting in God’s plan amid personal trials and debilitating illness.
Stan and Jennifer Summers’ lives have been altered by their son Talan’s illness, Jennifer Summers’ recent medical issues and other sorrows. The Summerses have found joy by serving in the Church and their community and by sharing their testimonies of the restored gospel of Christ.
Listen to the podcast and see the transcript
8. Church and UNICEF helping refugee children from South Sudan
The United Nations Children’s Fund, known as UNICEF, with funding and support from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been building early childhood development classrooms and training teachers in several countries on how to help refugee children.
UNICEF’s Learning for Life program emphasizes psychosocial care, conflict management and facilitating the reintegration of traumatized children into schools.
Explore more about one boy’s experience
9. Virtual Canadian children’s choir commemorates Church’s 200K membership in that country
A recent video of a virtual Canadian children’s choir singing “I Love To See the Temple” is helping The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints commemorate reaching 200,000 members in Canada. At 183 voices strong, the choir is reflective of the Church in Canada, with all 53 stakes across the country represented by singers.
The video also represents a variety of the North American nation’s cultures and languages, with children singing in American Sign Language, Cantonese, English, French, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog and Michif, the indigenous language of the Métis people in Canada.
