During the week of June 11-17, President Russell M. Nelson, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made two social media posts in which he invited individuals to become peacemakers and then asked them to share with him examples of peacemakers in their lives. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan K. Bednar, who lived in Northwest Arkansas for nearly 20 years during the 1980s and 1990s, took many tour groups through the new Bentonville Arkansas Temple.
During his recent 11-day ministry to Chile, Uruguay and Argentina, Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that people need to have God in their hearts. The Primary general presidency explained how children contribute in and minister to one another in Primary. While ministering in Central America, Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, and Sister Michelle D. Craig, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency, provided encouragement and training — and shared the joy of serving in the work of the Lord.
At the 10th Religious Freedom Annual Review, in the BYU Conference Center in Provo, Utah, the launch of a new religious freedom website was announced, and Elder Clark G. Gilbert, a General Authority Seventy, encouraged individuals to be “effective stewards” of religious liberty. The Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square arrived in Mexico City to begin the first part of a multiyear tour centered on hope. The Porterville California Stake was named a state district’s nonprofit of the year for its flooding response through JustServe. Rachel Sterzer Gibson joined the Church News podcast and shared how magnifying others’ stories of faith has helped her see the Lord’s ever-present hand in her life.
Read summaries and find links to these nine articles below.
1. President Nelson asks for examples of peacemakers
In two social media posts last week, President Nelson invited individuals to become peacemakers and then asked them to share with him examples of peacemakers in their lives.
The posts emphasized and expounded upon his remarks from his April 2023 general conference talk, “Peacemakers Needed.”
2. Elder and Sister Bednar give tours of new Bentonville temple during open house
With a release of interior and exterior photographs timed to a news conference and media tour on Monday, June 12, the Bentonville Arkansas Temple began its formal opening to special guests and the public prior to its Sept. 17 dedication.
Elder and Sister Bednar, who lived in Northwest Arkansas for nearly 20 years during the 1980s and 1990s, took many tour groups through the new Bentonville temple.
3. Thousands gather in Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Mendoza to hear Elder Soares testify of the Savior
During his recent 11-day ministry to Chile, Uruguay and Argentina, Elder Soares taught that people need to have God in their hearts.
Speaking to Church members in Mendoza, Argentina, on June 11, he said: “Without question, honoring our covenants with the Lord can change our relationship with Him forever. The Lord is always present in the lives of those who keep their covenants.”
4. Primary general presidency explains how children contribute in and minister to one another in Primary
“As we consider children being gathered in Primaries around the world each week, we have a sacred opportunity to follow the Savior’s pattern that invites Jesus Christ’s youngest disciples to ‘see,’ ‘feel’ and ‘know’ Him for themselves,” wrote the Primary general presidency.
5. Sister Craig and Sister Wright provide encouragement and training to children and youth in Central America
In devotionals and training in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, Sister Craig and Sister Wright spoke of the need to strengthen testimonies in Jesus Christ.
6. Be ‘effective stewards’ of religious liberty, Elder Gilbert urges at BYU conference
At the 10th Religious Freedom Annual Review, in the BYU Conference Center in Provo, Utah, the launch of a new religious freedom website was announced by Brett Scharffs. Elder Gilbert, who also serves as the Church commissioner of education, gave remarks at the conference about “the stewardship of our first freedom.”
7. Tabernacle Choir begins new tour in Mexico City
The Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square arrived in Mexico City to begin the first part of its multiyear tour centered on hope. They also filmed a music video that will be part of the choir and orchestra’s concerts in the National Auditorium on June 17 and 18, and held their first concert at Toluca Cathedral.
8. Church stake in California wins award for efforts after flooding
The Porterville California Stake was named a state district’s nonprofit of the year for Springville flooding response through JustServe.
9. Reporter Rachel Sterzer Gibson shares how her experience at the Church News has helped her see the Lord’s hand in her life
Church News reporter Rachel Sterzer Gibson joined the Church News podcast and shared how magnifying others’ stories of faith has helped her see the Lord’s ever-present hand in her life.
