During the week of Jan. 29 to Feb. 4, five members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to young adults at U.S. college settings — Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke at the Weber Institute of Religion; Elder David A. Bednar spoke at Ensign College; Elder Gary E. Stevenson spoke at the Utah Valley Institute of Religion; Elder Dale G. Renlund spoke at the Tempe Arizona Institute of Religion; and Elder Ulisses Soares spoke at BYU–Hawaii.

Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles participated in a worldwide devotional for youth with Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon and Young Men General President Steven J. Lund.

A new Church News podcast episode features the Young Women general presidency talking about the 2023 youth theme. The groundbreaking for the Port Vila Vanuatu Temple was announced. Latter-day Saints in Europe donated to food banks to help others through the difficult winter months.

Read summaries and find links to these nine articles below.

1. ‘Jesus Christ will be with you,’ Elder Uchtdorf promises young adults at Weber Institute

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks at the Weber State Institute in Ogden, Utah, on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023. He was accompanied by his wife, Sister Harriet Uchtdorf.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Speaking to thousands of young adults Sunday, Jan. 29, at the Weber Institute of Religion, Elder Uchtdorf championed the value of setting and pursuing goals, overcoming failures and learning from mistakes, and finding hope and strength in Jesus Christ.

2. In Ensign College Q&A, Elder Bednar turns focus to role of the Holy Ghost

Elder David A. Bednar, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, participates in a question-and-answer devotional with Ensign College President Bruce C. Kusch and Sister Alynda Kusch at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Speaking at a weekly devotional at Ensign College, Elder Bednar answered questions about change, personal revelation, covenants and balance — and encouraged the students to focus on the promptings and impressions they were receiving from the Holy Ghost instead of on his message.

3. Elder Stevenson teaches how to build on the 2 great commandments

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks during a devotional at the Utah Valley Institute of Religion in Orem, Utah, on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

During a devotional at the Utah Valley Institute of Religion, Elder Stevenson shared how the two great commandments can help people design, refine and plan with a firm foundation.

As God’s children keep His commandments, they receive gifts, said Elder Stevenson. Jesus Christ promised His disciples that they would receive another comforter — the gift of the Holy Ghost.

4. Elder Renlund warns against ‘spiritual hyperopia’ and ‘looking beyond the mark’

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks during a devotional at the Tempe Arizona Institute of Religion on Jan. 29, 2023, in Tempe, Arizona.

Kary Ann Hoopes

To emphasize the importance of not overlooking easily accessible and seemingly routine blessings of a living prophet, the ordinance of the sacrament, the scriptures and the commandments of God, Elder Renlund cautioned against “looking beyond the mark” and falling victim to spiritual hyperopia, or farsightedness.

5. Elder Gong encourages youth to look for spiritual trail markers that lead to Christ

Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles hikes to Ensign Peak with youth as part of a worldwide devotional broadcast Jan. 29, 2023.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

At the close of a worldwide devotional broadcast on Sunday, Jan. 29, Elder Gong assured youth that wherever they are, the Lord gives them spiritual trail markers to manifest His love and guide their path. 

6. Elder Soares speaks of ‘compassionate pattern’ set by the Savior

Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Rosana Soares, participate in a BYU–Hawaii devotional in the Cannon Activities Center in Laie, Hawaii, on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023.

Monique Saenz, BYU–Hawaii

Speaking to BYU–Hawaii students gathered in the Cannon Activities Center on the Laie, Hawaii, campus on Sunday, Jan. 29, Elder Soares spoke of the “compassionate pattern” set by the Savior in these verses that allows individuals to access information directly from heaven.

7. Church News podcast: Young Women general presidency on how youth are proving they ‘can do all things through Christ’

Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon and counselors Sister Michelle D. Craig and Sister Rebecca L. Craven join episode 121 of the Church News podcast.

Screenshot from YouTube

This episode of the Church News podcast features the Church’s Young Women general presidency, President Bonnie H. Cordon, Sister Michelle D. Craig and Sister Rebecca L. Craven. They talk about the strength of Latter-day Saint youth, the recent worldwide devotional with Elder Gong, the 2023 youth theme “I Can Do All Things Through Christ” and the lessons learned during their nearly five years of service in the Young Women general presidency.

8. Groundbreaking announced for temple in Vanuatu, an archipelago of 80-plus South Pacific islands

Exterior rending of the Port Vila Vanuatu Temple.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced a groundbreaking date for the Port Vila Vanuatu Temple, which will serve Church members in the nation comprised of 80 islands in the South Pacific Ocean.

9. Latter-day Saints in Europe donate to food banks to help through difficult winter months

Members of the Bradford Ward in the Leeds England Stake show some of the food collected for JustServe Harvest Appeal donation drive on Oct. 22, 2022.

Provided by Jane and Paul Elvidge

Food banks have faced what they call the “hardest winter yet” amid increasing costs in Europe. Because of this, JustServe  in the Church’s Europe North Area has been encouraging volunteers to support food-related charities.