During the week of Jan. 21 to Jan. 26, President Russell M. Nelson, Church President, posted an invitation to “think celestial” on social media. President Jeffery R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, met with priesthood leaders from Arizona and New Mexico about their responsibility to teach and bless in the name of Jesus Christ. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles addressed BYU in a Tuesday morning devotional.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Orem Utah Temple. Elder Christofferson also spoke at the annual training for seminary and institute teachers. Watch a video of Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recall how he gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon as a young boy.
The Church News reported on the visit of Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reflected on experiences that prepared him to be an Apostle. Charles Cranney, senior manager of Digital Media at BYU Brand & Creative, joined the Church News podcast to discuss the expansion of the BYU Speeches collection.
Read summaries and find links to these nine articles below.
1. A ‘reel’ invitation to ‘think celestial’: President Nelson posts video message on social media
In a video message posted to his social media accounts on Sunday, Jan. 21, President Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints repeated his “think celestial” invitation presented at the conclusion of the October 2023 general conference.
“When you make choices, I invite you to take the long view — an eternal view,” wrote President Nelson on the posts found on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). The accompanying 55-second video “reel” comprises audio and video clips from his conference address as well as video illustrations.
Read the full article here.
2. ‘God keeps His promises. The question in this formula is will we?’ President Holland tells leaders in Arizona
After being called as an Apostle of Jesus Christ, President Holland was determined to search the standard works and learn as much as possible about the life and mission of the Savior. Speaking to priesthood leaders, including Area Seventies, mission presidents, temple presidents and 123 stake presidents, from Arizona and New Mexico in the Church’s North America Southwest Area on Saturday, Jan. 20, President Holland said they too have been called to teach and to bless in the name of Jesus Christ.
Read more about his message here.
3. Elder Bednar explains what it means to become ‘the wondrous works of God’s work’
Students, faculty and staff filled the Marriott Center to the topmost rows on the gray midwinter morning for the Jan. 23 devotional featuring Elder Bednar and his wife, Sister Susan Bednar.
In his remarks, Elder Bednar testified that individuals ultimately become “the works of God’s work” as they strive with His help to fulfill their eternal destiny.
Read the full article here.
4. Orem Utah Temple dedication a ‘milestone in the progress’ of God’s kingdom, Elder Christofferson says
Elder Christofferson dedicated the three-story, 71,998-square-foot temple on a chilly, drizzly Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, in two sessions. He was accompanied by his wife, Sister Kathy Christofferson.
This dedication “marks a milestone in the progress of the kingdom of God on the earth, and particularly in this vital part of His vineyard,” said Elder Christofferson.
Read the full coverage of the Orem, Utah Temple dedication here.
Read the temple dedicatory prayer here.
5. Elder Christofferson to seminary and institute teachers: Be ‘purveyors of hope’ to generations plagued by depression and anxiety
In this year’s annual Seminary and Institutes of Religion Broadcast, Elder Christofferson instructs teachers across the globe, alongside Elder Clark G. Gilbert, a General Authority Seventy and Church commissioner of education, and Chad H Webb, administrator for Seminaries and Institutes of Religion.
Elder Christofferson assured teachers in their role as “purveyors of hope” and declared that understanding Heavenly Father’s plan of redemption — especially the Atonement of Jesus Christ — provides the ultimate reassurance.
Read the full article here.
6. Video: How Elder Renlund learned the Book of Mormon is true, gained testimony of the Savior
In a Church News interview, Elder Renlund recalled reading the Book of Mormon as an 11-year-old boy in Sweden. One night, he waited for his brother to go to sleep, knelt on a very cold floor and prayed to know if the book was true.
Watch the full video here.
7. Twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda receives first visit from Latter-day Saint Apostle
On Nov. 8, 2023, Elder Soares became the first member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to visit the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
“I am honored to be the first Apostle of the Quorum of the Twelve to visit Antigua and Barbuda,” Elder Soares said in a recent news release. “As I shook hands with members, including those less-active, I could see the love for the Savior in their eyes. It was deeply moving. I believe that they need to feel the love of the Savior, connect with Him, and as they experience the Spirit, they will be able to thrive.”
Read more about this historic event here.
8. The ‘beautiful’ and ‘stretching’ life experiences that prepared Elder Kearon to be an Apostle
In an interview with Church News, Elder Kearon discusses a major test of faith for himself and his wife, Sister Jennifer Kearon, that came early in their marriage when the couple’s oldest child, a son, was born with a complex congenital heart defect.
From the pain of losing their son to Sister Kearon’s battle with cancer, the couple reflects on how these experiences strengthened their faith in Jesus Christ.
Read more of their story here.
9. The ever-expanding BYU Speeches collection discussed with curator Charles Cranney on Church News podcast
This episode of the Church News podcast features Charles Cranney, senior manager of Digital Media at BYU Brand & Creative, as well as excerpts from past BYU devotionals. The episode explores the history and highlights speeches from BYU’s ever-expanding collection.
With over seven decades of devotionals from Church leaders, BYU presidents, professors, scholars and invited guests, there are thousands of speeches. And now, with the archive expanding to include Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese and French translations, the speeches team is ready to share the talks with even more listeners.
