During the week of Feb. 19 to Feb. 25, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles ministered to Church members in Africa. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited the president of Ghana at the Presidential Palace in Accra. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles posted 4 doctrinal principles from the scriptures for healing and peace.
As the conflict in Ukraine reached a one-year mark, the Church News looked at how the Church and members have provided humanitarian aid. Recent research out of BYU shows its scholarship is both “wide and deep.” Elder Kevin S. Hamilton, a General Authority Seventy, and Steve Rockwood, FamilySearch CEO, discussed RootsTech in 2023.
The latest Church News podcast featured the new Deseret News publisher. Teenagers forming high school JustServe clubs are reaping the blessings of service. The Church Historian’s Press published 1883 prison journal of Belle Harris.
Read summaries and find links to these nine articles below.
1. In Madagascar, Elder Cook invites Latter-day Saints and their families to focus on the Savior, Elder Cook and Madagascar’s president discuss country’s future
Elder Cook testified over two days in Madagascar that the Savior should be the focus of the home to help bring personal peace.
Joined by his wife, Sister Mary Cook, the member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited with members of the Church with the president of the Africa South Area, Elder Edward Dube, who is a General Authority Seventy. Elder Dube and his wife, Sister Naume Dube, are both from Zimbabwe and have served all across the African continent. He also met with the country’s leader, President Andry Rajoelina, to discuss the island nation, its people and the Church’s growth.
2. Elder Christofferson meets with Ghana’s president
During a ministry visit in the Church’s Africa West Area, Elder Christofferson visited the president of Ghana at the Presidential Palace in Accra.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was first elected Ghana’s president in 2017, and Elder Christofferson visited with him previously in 2019. He congratulated him on his election to a second term.
3. Elder Gong shares 4 doctrinal principles from the scriptures for healing and peace
In January, at the beginning of a new year with many facing new opportunities and new obstacles, Elder Gong wrote on his Facebook and Instagram accounts that he would be sharing doctrinal principles over the following couple of months from the scriptures — principles “that we can personally relate to as we seek healing and peace from life’s trials,” he explained.
From Jan. 1 to Feb. 19, Elder Gong posted four videos with those doctrinal principles. “I pray these scriptural teachings will bless your life as you continue throughout this new year,” he said.
4. Aid to Ukrainians in a year of conflict: How the Church and its members worldwide have helped
In the year since the armed conflict began in Ukraine, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members around the world have poured out support, love and prayers for those affected.
The Church has sent aid in the form of millions of dollars, in addition to thousands of pounds of food and supplies. Church programs have supported refugees and Ukrainians remaining in or returning to the country. And Church members have opened their homes and hearts to refugees, gathered needed items, and found many ways to serve both online and in-person.
5. How recent research out of BYU shows its scholarship is both ‘wide and deep’
From exercise to icebergs and leopards to social media, recent research from BYU shows how the school is providing “wide and deep engagement with the world” and ways in which students and faculty are making a “profound impact.” Here’s a look at some of the published studies within just the last few months.
6. How 2 years of online events have helped shape the future of RootsTech
The massive growth and success of the last two years have helped to create a new vision for the future of RootsTech.
Reaching millions in more than 240 countries and territories with a virtual-only model in 2021 and 2022 means RootsTech will continue to be, at its core, an online global event, said Rockwood.
7. Church News podcast episode features new Deseret News publisher
Founded in 1850 by pioneer members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the publications began with the motto of “Truth and Liberty.” In January, Burke Olsen was named publisher of the Deseret News.
He joins this episode of the Church News podcast to explain why the Church owns a newspaper and to talk about the history of the publication and the Deseret News’ mission to be a voice “of light and truth.”
8. High schoolers form JustServe clubs and reap the blessings of service
After learning more about service in their ward one Sunday in August 2022, Dallas Jones and Tiernan Nash received individual promptings they should do something to promote service at their high school in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The 17-year-old high school seniors felt JustServe.org could be beneficial for others at Air Academy High School.
9. From ‘footnote’ to ‘foreground’: Church publishes 1883 prison journal of Belle Harris
A transcript of the Harris prison journal has been published online and is now available to view, The Church Historian’s Press announced Tuesday, Feb. 21.
“The Prison Journal of Belle Harris” is the only known record of a woman who was imprisoned on charges related to polygamy. While a handful of others served time in the penitentiary, Harris was there the longest and was the only woman to document her experience, said Kenneth Adkins, a Church history specialist for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
