During the week of March 5-11, the Church News told of five members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles ministering around the world: Elder David A. Bednar in the Philippines, Elder D. Todd Christofferson in Liberia and Ghana, and Elder Neil L. Andersen ministered in Brazil and met the first lady.
Also, Elder Dale G. Renlund ministered to Latter-day Saints in Central America. Elder Gerrit W. Gong met with Latter-day Saints in Mexico. Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon visited people in Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of Congo.
The first Friend to Friend event of 2023 features videos, music and messages about divine identity. The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a June 17 groundbreaking date for the Montpelier Idaho Temple and identified the site for the Maceió Brazil Temple. This week’s Church News podcast featured Church history specialist Ken Adkins on Belle Harris’ prison journal and her story of faith amid persecution.
Read summaries of these stories below.
1. Elder Bednar teaches how to listen to, learn from the Holy Ghost, in ministry to the Philippines
Elder Bednar’s Feb. 18-25 ministry included devotionals and training with members, missionaries, temple ordinance workers and leaders in the Manila area on the northern Luzon island; the Southern Tagalog region, which included a stop in the Palawan islands; the Davao area on the southern Mindanao island; and concluding with a countrywide devotional, reported the Church’s Philippines Newsroom. This marked the sixth time Elder Bednar and his wife, Sister Susan K. Bednar, ministered in the Philippines.
2. What missionaries and members learned from Elder Christofferson in Liberia and Ghana
Elder Christofferson was in Liberia as part of a ministry visit to the Africa West Area, which also included meetings in Ghana, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast. He met with young single adults, missionaries, leaders and members throughout the area.
On Sunday, Feb. 19, Elder Christofferson attended sacrament meeting in the Tesano Ward in Accra, Ghana. That afternoon he presided at an areawide devotional in the Accra Ghana Christiansborg Stake Center, which was attended by over 1,000 young single adults and broadcast to countries throughout the Africa West Area.
3. ‘I felt loved and embraced by the Savior’: Recife Saints welcome Elder Andersen in his ministry to Brazil, Elder Andersen meets Brazil’s first lady
Elder Andersen was accompanied by his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen. They spoke to missionaries March 4 and then at the Sunday, March 5, special stake conference in the Recife Brazil Stake Center, which was broadcast to the Recife Brazil Imbiribeira and Camaragibe Brazil stakes. Joining them in Recife were Elder Joni L. Koch; his wife, Sister Michele Koch; and Elder Gustavo G. Rezende, an Area Seventy.
Elder and Sister Andersen also went to the Palácio do Planalto to call on first lady Rosângela Lula da Silva, wife of recently elected Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
4. Elder Renlund ministers to Latter-day Saints in Central American countries
The Christ-centered message was one of many Elder Renlund delivered to leaders, missionaries and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while ministering in five Central American countries — Honduras, Belize, Panama, Nicaragua and Guatemala — Feb. 17-26.
5. While in Mexico, Elder Gong ministers to thousands of Latter-day Saints
During an event-filled week, Elder Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, accompanied by his wife, Sister Susan Gong, visited four cities, conducted leadership training meetings, spoke at devotionals, attended a cultural celebration and met with a top Mexican government official.
6. President Johnson and President Cordon see joy among African people
President Johnson and President Cordon ministered in Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of Congo over the space of nine days. They met with Saints, government leaders and community organizations working to help the people of Africa in different ways.
7. Friend to Friend teaches ‘We Are God’s Children’
The Friend to Friend broadcast March 11 taught children about their divine identity as children of God, the steps in the plan of happiness and understanding how to receive revelation.
Primary General President Susan H. Porter and her counselors, Sister Amy A. Wright and Sister Tracy Y. Browning, introduced the broadcast — titled “We Are God’s Children” — by sharing their love for the children watching.
8. June groundbreaking date set for the Montpelier Idaho Temple, see the site location for the new Maceió Brazil Temple
The First Presidency has announced a June 17 groundbreaking date for the Montpelier Idaho Temple. In addition, the First Presidency has identified the site location for the Maceió Brazil Temple.
9. Latest Church News podcast features Church history specialist Ken Adkins on Belle Harris’ prison journal and her story of faith amid persecution
In February of this year, the Church Historian’s Press published “The Prison Journal of Belle Harris.” Just in time for Women’s History Month, this episode of the Church News podcast explores Belle Harris’ story of persecution, courage and hard-practiced faith.
Ken Adkins, the lead historian specialist who spearheaded the project, offers highlights of Harris’ experience and speaks to why her story of incarceration was included among the Church’s other scholastic works.
