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In case you missed it: New photo of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Rasband ministers in Maui ministry, plus 7 more stories

Here are 9 stories from the Church News the week of Feb. 11-17.

During the week of Feb. 11-17, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released the first photo of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles with Elder Patrick Kearon. Church President Russell M. Nelson shared a post on social media about the two great commandments, in honor of Valentine’s Day. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to missionaries about the infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Bringing with him a message of love and ministering, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Melanie Rasband, ministered to Latter-day Saints of Maui, Hawaii. In a Sunday, Feb. 11, devotional, Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles invited BYU–Idaho students to “live with trust, faith, joy and gratitude.” Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles fulfilled a promise made in 2019 that he would one day visit all three islands of the “ABC” islands in the Caribbean — Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.

The First Presidency announced the upcoming rededication of the Manti Utah Temple will be done in just one late-afternoon session. Kristin Chenoweth, an award-winning actress and singer, was announced as a RootsTech keynote speaker. In a new episode of the Church News podcast, Church News reporter Christine Rappleye joined Sarah Jane Weaver to discuss the Tabernacle Choir and temple dedications, being a single adult and serving in the Church.

Read summaries and find links to these nine articles below.

1. Church publishes 1st photo of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles with new member Elder Kearon

Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are pictured.
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on Feb. 6, 2024. Front row, left to right: President Jeffrey R. Holland, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Elder David A. Bednar, Elder Quentin L. Cook and Elder D. Todd Christofferson. Back row, left to right: Elder Neil L. Andersen, Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Elder Dale G. Renlund, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, Elder Ulisses Soares and Elder Patrick Kearon. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published a new photo of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on Wednesday, Feb. 14. The photo is the first to include Elder Kearon following his call to serve in the quorum.

Elder Kearon was set apart as a member of the quorum on Dec. 7, 2023, by President Nelson. This call to serve came following the death of then-acting president of the quorum, President M. Russell Ballard in November.

Read the full article here.

2. President Nelson’s Valentine’s Day message about the 2 great commandments

President Russell M. Nelson shakes hands with children in wheelchairs in a social media post about the two great commandments on Valentine’s Day.
President Russell M. Nelson posts about the two great commandments in a Valentine’s Day social media post on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. | Screenshot from Instagram

In a social media message posted Wednesday, Feb. 14, President Nelson invited all to use Valentine’s Day as a reminder to recommit to loving their neighbor.

President Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said the day is one where people all over the world celebrate love. While love can at times be about flowers, chocolate and gifts, “the second great commandment teaches of a different kind of love — that of actively loving our neighbor.”

Read more about his message here.
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3. How an Apostle of the Lord taught repentance and the Atonement of Jesus Christ to training missionaries

Elder D. Todd Christofferson waves goodbye after a Provo Missionary Training Center devotional.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints waves goodbye to the missionaries after the Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, devotional at the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. | Adam Fondren, for the Deseret News

As the video displays flashed a cartoonish illustration of a long-haired and bearded ancient prophet holding a single-word sign of “Repent,” Elder Christofferson’s devotional topic was never in doubt.

He and his wife, Sister Kathy Christofferson, spoke in the Tuesday, Feb. 13, Provo Missionary Training Center devotional broadcast to the Church’s other nine MTCs worldwide.

Read more about his address here.
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4. The message of ministering and love that Elder Rasband shared in Maui

Elder Ronald A. Rasband puts his hands on the shoulders of Lahaina 2nd Ward Bishop Matavaimo’ui Ma with burned neighborhoods behind them.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints takes a few moments to talk to Bishop Matavaimo’ui Ma of the Lahaina 2nd Ward (Tongan) near a burned section of Lahaina, on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. Bishop Ma and his family also lost their home in the fire. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Looking out at the burned neighborhoods surrounding the Lahaina 2nd Ward meetinghouse, Elder Rasband said he and his wife, Sister Rasband, felt “very tender … thinking and feeling the emotions of these dear Latter-day Saints.”

Elder Rasband said he sees a miracle happening in Maui because the Latter-day Saints are living the two great commandments. 

Read the full article here.
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6 months after the Maui fires, survivors share how they have seen God’s hand, felt His love

5. Elder Gong invites listeners to ‘live with trust, faith, joy and gratitude in the spirit of the lilies of the field’

Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Sister Susan Gong speak with BYU–Idaho students prior to giving a devotional address.
Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, speak with BYU–Idaho students prior to giving a devotional address in the I–Center in Rexburg, Idaho, on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. | Lydia Rumsey, BYU–Idaho

In a devotional address at BYU–Idaho on Sunday, Feb. 11, Elder Gong provided insights and counsel, inviting listeners to “live with trust, faith, joy and gratitude in the spirit of the lilies of the field.” He was accompanied to Rexburg, Idaho, by his wife, Sister Susan Gong, who also spoke. BYU–Idaho President Alvin F. Meredith III conducted the devotional. He was accompanied by his wife, Sister Jennifer Meredith.

Read the full article here.

6. Elder Ulisses Soares ministers to Latter-day Saints in the Caribbean’s ‘ABC’ islands

Elder Ulisses Soares shakes hands with Latter-day Saints during a ministry visit to the ABC District of the Caribbean — Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles greets Latter-day Saints during a January 2024 ministry visit to the ABC District of the Caribbean — Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

A few months after he was the first Apostle to visit the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, Elder Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve became the first Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to visit the small Caribbean island of Bonaire on Jan. 28.

“It is a wonderful blessing for me to have this privilege,” Elder Soares said in a video interview. “I loved meeting the people of Aruba and Bonaire and seeing how they are close to each other through the gospel.”

Read more about it here.

7. Manti Utah Temple rededication to be done in single, late-afternoon session

The Manti Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints is pictured in Manti on Saturday, May 1, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

The First Presidency announced the upcoming rededication of the Manti Utah Temple will be done in just one late-afternoon session, with no adjustments to regular Sunday worship services for the wards and branches in the temple district.

The single rededication session is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday, April 21.

Other temple announcements this week include that Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the Casper Wyoming Temple on Oct. 13, with an open house from Aug. 29 to Sept. 14; the Orlando Florida Temple will close in July 2024 for an extensive renovation; and the exterior renderings for the Natal Brazil and Teresina Brazil temples were released.

Read more about the Manti Utah Temple dedication here.
Find out about the dedication and open house dates for the Casper Wyoming Temple here.
Learn about the Orlando Florida Temple renovation here.
See the exterior renderings for two temples in Brazil.

8. Kristin Chenoweth, award-winning actress and singer, announced as RootsTech keynote speaker

Kristin Chenoweth sings with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
Kristin Chenoweth sings with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square during its opening Christmas concert in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. The actress and singer will be a keynote speaker at RootsTech 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Kristin Chenoweth, an Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actress and singer known for her work in musical theater, television and film, is coming to RootsTech 2024.

Chenoweth will share her family story and showcase her famous soprano voice with a few musical performances as a keynote speaker on Saturday, March 2, FamilySearch announced on Rootstech.org.

Read the full article here.
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9. Episode 175: Church News reporter Christine Rappleye on continual service and the covenant path

Church News reporter Christine Rappleye joins the Church News podcast.
Church News reporter Christine Rappleye joins the Church News podcast on Feb. 13, 2024. | Screenshot from YouTube

Church News reporter Christine Rappleye joined the Church News three years ago, after serving as editor of the Deseret News features department.

As a returned missionary; a Brigham Young University graduate; a talented writer; a Relief Society, Primary and Young Women leader; and aunt and sister, she has shown how continual service can help individuals along the covenant path.

She joins this episode of the Church News podcast to share her experiences reporting stories from around the globe and the insights she has gained along the way. 

Listen to the Church News podcast here.
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