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In case you missed it: Elder Christofferson and Elder Gilbert discuss the ‘crucial role’ of the rising generation, plus 8 more stories

Here are 9 stories from the Church News the week of Dec. 15-21

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

Two young women smile in the congregation during a youth devotional with Elder D. Todd Christofferson in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Two young women attend a youth devotional with Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, May 18, 2024. | Denzel Alpha

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.

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2. Pacific Area presidency asks for prayers, promises help for those impacted by earthquake in Vanuatu

Members of Australia's Federal Police and other rescue workers stand by a collapsed building in Port Vila, Vanuatu, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, following a magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck just off the coast of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean, Tuesday, Dec. 17.
Members of Australia's Federal Police and other rescue workers stand by a collapsed building in Port Vila, Vanuatu, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, following a magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck just off the coast of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean, Tuesday, Dec. 17. | Australian Federal Police via Associated Press

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.

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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

A combination image of the renderings of five temples.
A combination image of the renderings of five temples — Mexico City Benemérito Mexico, upper left; Springfield Missouri, upper right; Jacksonville Florida, center; Harrisburg Pennsylvania, lower left; and Winchester Virginia, lower right. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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.

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Buenos Aires City Center Argentina Temple | Church News Almanac

4. How the FamilySearch tool Ordinances Ready is hastening and simplifying temple and family history work

Members of the Weir family take a photo outside the Layton Utah Temple on Sunday, June 16, 2024.
Members of the Weir family take a photo outside the Layton Utah Temple on Sunday, June 16, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

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.

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5. Keeping the Savior at the forefront this Christmas

Joseph and Mary look at the Baby Jesus in this shot from the 2024 Light the World video from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. | Screenshot from ChurchofJesusChrist.org

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.

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6. Church service missionaries remember the 1st year of Giving Machines on Temple Square

Visitors to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City form a line at the Light the World charity vending machines on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017.
Visitors to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City form a line at the Light the World charity vending machines on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. | Scott G Winterton

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.

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7. Episode 219: How the sacred musical ‘Savior of the World’ inspires audiences and production staff each holiday season

Paul Walstad, the director of  "Savior of the World" 2024 production, joins the Church News podcast on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
Paul Walstad, the director of "Savior of the World" 2024 production, joins the Church News podcast on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. | Screenshot from YouTube

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.

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8. Video: ‘Festival of Lights’ ceremony includes ‘Silent Night’ in Mongolian

The Washington D.C. Temple at night surrounded by trees with Christmas lights.
The lone sister missionary from Mongolia serving in the area taught her fellow missionaries and a choir to sing a Christmas hymn in Mongolian. Hear them in this Church News video titled "Festival of Lights." | Screenshot from YouTube

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.

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9. Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra’s 2024 Christmas concert features stories of service, gifts of love — and a little jazz

Ruthie Ann Miles sings with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square during the Christmas Concert at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

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.

Read more about this story here.

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See past Church News week-in-review roundups here
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