During the week of Dec. 15-21, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Clark G. Gilbert, a General Authority Seventy and the Church’s commissioner of education, discussed the ‘crucial role’ of the rising generation. The Pacific Area presidency — General Authority Seventies Elder Peter F. Meurs, Elder Tanielo B. Wakolo and Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi — asked for Latter-day Saints around the world to pray for the people in Vanuatu after a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Pacific nation.
The First Presidency released renderings for five temples, as well as the site location of the Buenos Aires City Center Argentina Temple, on Monday, Dec. 16. Elder Kevin S. Hamilton, a General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Family History Department, and Elder Jorge M. Alvarado, a General Authority Seventy and assistant executive director of the Family History Department, discussed Ordinances Ready in a recent Church News interview.
A complication of quotes from members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are available that teach about the birth of Jesus Christ and the importance of remembering Him beyond Christmas. Church service missionaries remembered the first year of Giving Machines on Temple Square in 2017 after the Church announced the Light the World Giving Machines would be in 107 cities in 13 countries on five continents on Nov. 14.
Members of the 2024 Savior of the World production shared their experiences while crafting performances in the newest Church News podcast episode.A video released on Dec. 19, 2024, shows missionaries from the Washington D.C. area singing a Christmas hymn in Mongolian, taught by a sister from Mongolia. The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square’s 2024 Christmas concert began on Thursday, Dec. 19.
1. How Church education is part of preparing the world for the Savior’s Second Coming

In a recent interview with the Church News, Elder Christofferson and Elder Gilbert spoke of the Prophet’s call and said that the Church’s rising generation is essential to that work.
“The Lord is doing something powerful,” testified Elder Gilbert, “He’s hastening the work, and one of the ways He’s doing it is through the future of this Church, which are youth and young adults, and it’s inspiring to see what’s happening in their lives.”
Read more about this story here.
2. Pacific Area presidency asks for prayers, promises help for those impacted by earthquake in Vanuatu

After a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Pacific nation of Vanuatu on Tuesday, Dec. 17, the Pacific Area presidency released a statement.
As part, they urged, “Latter-day Saints throughout the world, and all people, to pray for the people of Vanuatu, seeking God’s comfort and blessing to be upon the people.”
Read more about this story here.
3. Temple News: First Presidency releases renderings for 5 temples — 4 in U.S., 1 in Mexico; also, site set for 2nd temple in Buenos Aires

Renderings of the Harrisburg Pennsylvania, Jacksonville Florida, Mexico City Benemérito Mexico, Springfield Missouri and Winchester Virginia temples, offer a first looks after being announced in 2022-2023.
The site location has been released for the Buenos Aires City Center Argentina Temple — the second in the capital city and one of seven total houses of the Lord in the southern South America country.
Read more about the 5 temple renderings released by the First Presidency here.
Read more about the site for the 2nd temple in Buenos Aires here.
4. How the FamilySearch tool Ordinances Ready is hastening and simplifying temple and family history work
A new tool on the FamilySearch Family Tree app called Ordinances Ready allos users to search a member’s family tree to find an ancestor for whom ordinance work can be performed.
“Many people have expectations that this is more labor-intensive and time-consuming than it actually is,” he said. “In this season of the dispensation, to have this kind of miraculous tool to accomplish this work is a tremendous blessing,” shared Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in the 2023 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction.
Read more about this story here.
5. Keeping the Savior at the forefront this Christmas

Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — including those of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — have taught about the Savior around Christmastime this year and in years past.
Their personal stories, teachings from the scriptures and examples from the lives of those they have met all help give ways to maintain focus on the Savior and His miraculous birth as the baby Jesus more than 2,000 years ago.
Read more about this story here.
6. Church service missionaries remember the 1st year of Giving Machines on Temple Square
On Nov. 30, 2017, the Church introduced the concept of the Light the World Giving Machines. Just seven years after, the Church announced that Light the World Giving Machines would be in 107 cities in 13 countries on five continents on Nov. 14, 2024.
A group of Church service missionaries, who served when the first Light the World Giving Machines in Salt Lake in 2017, shared their experiences being part of the initial process.
Read more about this story here.
7. Episode 219: How the sacred musical ‘Savior of the World’ inspires audiences and production staff each holiday season

Cast members of the 2024 production of Savior of the World, share their experiences during their performances.
Director Paul Walstad, on his experience directing the show, said: “The reason for the production is to do this work; it’s to cause questions. It’s to have people come and have an experience with the Spirit and to think about their own relationship with the Lord, and then start asking questions, and then the cast members become more than performers.”
Read more about this podcast episode here.
8. Video: ‘Festival of Lights’ ceremony includes ‘Silent Night’ in Mongolian

At this year’s Festival of Lights on the grounds around the Washington D.C. Temple, Mongolia’s ambassador to the U.S. spoke at the event.
A sister missionary serving in the area taught fellow missionaries and a choir of Church members the words to the Christmas hymn “Silent Night” in Mongolian to be sung at the event.
Read more about this video here.
9. Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra’s 2024 Christmas concert features stories of service, gifts of love — and a little jazz
The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square’s Christmas concert celebrated the Savior’s birth with stories and songs about service and gifts.
Broadway’s Ruthie Ann Miles’ voice filled the Conference Center, and actor Dennis Haysbert narrated the story of a surprise guest during Christmas concert.