During the week of June 25-July 1, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles offered an update on his health and thanked Latter-day Saints for their prayers. Youth, single adults and others volunteered at a stake day camp for Primary kids modeled after For the Strength of Youth programs. Church leaders and historians gathered in the Church History Library to celebrate the release of the final Joseph Smith Papers volume.
Leaders of the Sandy Utah Willow Creek Stake joined the Church News podcast to talk about efforts to serve “in the world, but not of the world.” A Church News video showed singer Adassa, singer Alex Melecio and radio host Mariano Osorio sharing their reactions to performing with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in interviews the day after the first concert.
With help from a $2 million donation from the Church to the International African American Museum, the museum opened a Center for Family History, which is supported by FamilySearch International. The Family Memories Preservation Center — also called “Memory Lane” — opened its doors to the general public after its grand opening.
Eirin Cecilie Gjedrem shared how she was “reborn” when she joined the Church 21 years to the day after a diving accident left her paralyzed. The Church continued its worldwide humanitarian efforts by donating medical equipment, educating expectant mothers and hosting blood drives, among other initiatives.
Read summaries and find links to these nine articles below.
1. Elder Holland shares how he is blessed by the ‘Prayers of the Saints’
This Church News video, titled “Prayers of the Saints,” was recorded during the 2023 Seminar for New Mission Leaders in Provo, Utah, on June 24.
In the video, Elder Holland offered an update on his health and thanked Latter-day Saints for their prayers. “I’m staggering toward the finish line,” Elder Holland said. “I refuse to get off the track. I’m still in the race. And I’m grateful to the Saints for that, for those prayers.”
2. Children feel joy and the Spirit at Primary Day Camp modeled after FSY
Youth, single adults and others volunteered at a stake day camp for Primary kids to model how other wards and stakes could use For the Strength of Youth and Children and Youth programs to create their own day camps.
Whitney Laycock, the Lehi Utah Pheasant Pointe Stake Primary president, felt that the stake Primary Day Camp could be a model for the wards to plan activities and day camps without feeling like things were getting too complicated or without needing a large budget.
3. After two decades, Church celebrates final volume of the Joseph Smith Papers project
After more than 20 years of work and 27 volumes, Church leaders and historians gathered in the Church History Library on the morning of Tuesday, June 27, to celebrate the release of the final Joseph Smith Papers volume.
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles spoke at the celebration, saying, “What will now be possible, given the lessons learned and all the work that has been done to prepare these documents, will only make us more effective in telling you a story of the ongoing restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in all the world as we move into the future.”
This last print volume of the Joseph Smith Papers covers the turbulent final six weeks of the Prophet’s life, illuminating the key events that led to his death.
4. Sandy Utah Willow Creek Stake leaders on serving ‘in the world, but not of the world’
This episode of the Church News podcast features leaders of the Sandy Utah Willow Creek Stake talking about efforts to serve “in the world, but not of the world.”
Stake President Joseph A. Staples, Stake Relief Society President Terri DeJohn and former Stake Young Women President Lisa Nielsen share how connecting to their neighbors through friendship, love, service and events has strengthened their neighborhoods and community, as well as their commitment to emulating the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
5. Adassa, Alex Melecio and Mariano Osorio share about performing with the Tabernacle Choir in Mexico City
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and Orchestra at Temple Square’s first stop on their multiyear world tour was in Mexico City, Mexico, and it included concerts on June 17-18 in the National Auditorium, which seats nearly 10,000 people.
Guest artists — singer Adassa, singer Alex Melecio and radio host Mariano Osorio — shared their reactions to performing with the choir and orchestra in interviews the day after the first concert. This video shares some of their thoughts.
6. Church supports opening of International African American Museum in South Carolina
With help from a $2 million donation from the Church to the International African American Museum, the museum opened a Center for Family History, which is supported by FamilySearch International.
The center will be a new resource for the study and advancement of African American genealogy, with connections to Africa and the African diaspora. Elder Bednar called the effort “a perfect partnership.”
7. How to make the most of Memory Lane, FamilySearch’s new, free-to-use digitization tools
The Family Memories Preservation Center — also called “Memory Lane” — opened its doors to the general public after its grand opening. The new space is located on the FamilySearch Library’s second floor in Salt Lake City.
The facility provides patrons with free access to self-serve equipment for converting family documents, photos, home movies and other media to digital formats.
8. How this Norwegian woman joined the Church exactly 21 years after becoming paralyzed
Eirin Cecilie Gjedrem shared how she was “reborn” when she joined the Church 21 years to the day after a diving accident left her paralyzed.
“I was reborn on the [date] that sort of took my life away from me,” Gjedrem said through tears. “... I knew that it was meant to be. It was a time when I understood what the baptism covenant is all about. I understood what the sacrament was about. And I was just ready. I wasn’t before, but I was then.”
9. The Church donates medical equipment, supports mothers and babies, and continues humanitarian efforts worldwide
The Church continued its worldwide humanitarian efforts by donating medical equipment, educating expectant mothers and hosting blood drives, among other initiatives.
