This week on social media, President Russell M. Nelson gave Latter-day Saints an apostolic invitation to visit temples nearest to them in preparation for a very special event in 2027.
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — also highlighting the importance of temples — invited members to refer to temples as “the house of the Lord,” and Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged BYU–Hawaii students to “measure to [their] duties and our opportunities,” just as their ancestors did.
Friday, Feb. 14, marks exactly 172 years after the groundbreaking ceremony of the Salt Lake Temple. In a post on social media, President Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints commemorated the anniversary with a very special announcement, one that many Latter-day Saints have been anxiously anticipating for years:
“I am delighted to announce that the temple will reopen for tours during a public open house from April to October 2027,” he wrote in his post.
The Salt Lake Temple’s renovation was announced nearly six years ago. Since then, it has undergone a lengthy process to be made stronger and sturdier.
Leaving readers with an invitation and a promise, the Prophet said: “We warmly invite our friends to come and learn about God’s plan for His children and rejoice in the love of Jesus Christ. ... As houses of the Lord now dot the earth, I invite you to cherish your time and service at the temples closest to you as we prepare for the reopening of the Salt Lake Temple in 2027.”
Speaking with local Church members, Elder Bendar extended the invitation to refer to temples as “the house of the Lord,” in a social media video Sunday, Feb. 9.
“There’s nothing wrong with the word ‘temple’; it’s just better to talk about the house of the Lord because it focuses on Him,” Elder Bednar explained in the video.
“This is a remarkable season in the dispensation of the fullness of times. Please do not be casual. Please do not take it for granted. If you need to repent, repent now,” he urged listeners.
“One of the reasons that the Savior’s Atonement is not appreciated in the world at large is because much of society takes the position that a loving Father in Heaven should exact no consequences for conduct that is contrary to His commandments,” wrote Elder Quentin L. Cook, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in a social media post Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Elder Cook taught readers the importance of God’s commandments and the joy of repentance.
“Seen in their true light, the glorious blessings of repentance and adherence to the Savior’s teachings are monumentally important,” he wrote.
President Emily Belle Freeman, Young Women general president, posted together with the Young Women Worldwide social media page, including a picture of her smiling while holding three of her newborn grandchildren Tuesday, Feb. 11.
President Freeman wrote about a scripture that she whispered to those babies, hoping they will carry it with them through their lives: “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, … he that formed thee, … Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine,” found in Isaiah 43:1.
“He has called you by name. You are precious in His sight. He loves you. You are His. Remember that this week,” she reminded readers.
Speaking to BYU–Hawaii students in a devotional on Jan. 28, Elder Christofferson echoed the teachings of Jesus Christ in 3 Nephi 25:6.
“We build our lives and successes on the foundation and sacrifices of our predecessors,” said Elder Christofferson on Sunday, Feb. 9, in a video clip from the devotional on social media. “It is a serious, even sacred thing to build upon the work and the achievements of those who have been diligent in their time.”
Leaving listeners with an invitation, the Apostle said: “May we be resolved to measure to our duties and our opportunities in our time and season, as those who have gone before measured up to theirs.”
Sister J. Anette Dennis, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, shared her excitement for the upcoming Friend to Friend broadcast on Saturday, Feb. 15.
“What a blessing it will be to hear from Elder and Sister Bednar and my friends in the Primary general presidency. Please share it with the children you love,” she said in in a video posted on social media on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a screenshot of a message from his 4-year-old granddaughter recently sent to his wife, Sister Lesa Stevenson, in a social media post Thursday, Feb. 13.
The message, full of emojis — mainly heart emojis — sent well wishes to Sister Stevenson.
“This demonstrates a great attribute of your generation, which is very different from that of mine. You are very comfortable; it is almost natural for you to show love to others with a symbol. You even count how many hearts you accumulate,” he wrote.
Sister Tamara W. Runia, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency, shared her experience rereading the last few texts between herself and her son before his passing in 2013 and urged readers to frequently tell those in their life “I love you,” in a social media post Feb. 5.
“I want you to stop right now and check your texts. Sometimes we get so busy telling each other the urgent things that we forget to say the most important thing: I love you,” she wrote in the post.
“I invite you to text or tell the people you love and live with just how much you care about them. Let’s not wait another second to let them know how much they mean to us. Text them. Tell them. I promise you won’t regret it.”
Speaking at the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 3, Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles urged listeners not to allow their differences in opinion, political stance or religious affiliation affect their kindness to others.
On Wednesday, Feb. 12, Elder Soares posted a video clip to social media highlighting those principles, echoing the words of President Nelson when he invited the world to be peacemakers.
“Though disagreements in life are inevitable and healthy conflict resolution can lead to positive outcomes, we must ensure that differences in perspectives do not lead to harshness, unkindness or disrespect toward others,” he said in the video.
Standing next to her good friend Sister Costa, Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, testified of each Latter-day Saint’s capacity for good in a social media post Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Sister Costa shared a story of her 4-year-old grandson, who had the profound realization that donating blood at a Church activity, as many wards do, is similar to the blood Jesus Christ donated for all humankind.
“I testify that you have the capacity of being powerful instruments in the hands of the Lord as we prepare together for His Second Coming,” Sister Wright said in the video.
Sister Kristin M. Yee, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, spoke to students in a Jan. 28 BYU–Idaho devotional and wrote about her experience in a social media post Tuesday, Feb. 11, together with the Relief Society Worldwide page.
Speaking of the BYU–Idaho campus, she wrote, “It was a sweet gift to walk where I walked as a student and see the growth of this university and to see the potential and light in these faithful students. ...
“I know our Savior lives and that He loves you,” she continued. “He has experienced what you have experienced — every sorrow, sadness and fear, so He could carry your burdens, comfort your heart and heal your soul. He will walk with us as we do our best to live our covenants and trust all aspects of our lives to His tender care.”
Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, together with her ministering sister, Chloe, made treats and cards for their ministering sisters in honor of Valentine’s Day in a social media post Wednesday, Feb. 12.
The two sisters baked sweets, wrote cards and delivered them to sisters they minister to.
