During the week of Dec. 29 to Jan. 4, the Church News looked back on 2024 milestones for President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with those for temples and family history.
On Jan. 1, 2025, the Church News highlighted the 25th year since “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” was published. President Nelson also reflected on its 25th anniversary in his first social post of the year. Six new chapters of “Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Russell M. Nelson” were released this week.
President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, both also testified of the Savior in New Year’s social posts. In this week’s Church News podcast, Young Men General President Steven J. Lund and Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman discussed how the 2025 youth theme.
The Church News reported on Sunday School General President Paul V. Johnson‘s ministry in the Philippines. A renovation project update for the Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square was released. In a new Church News video, Broadway’s Ruthie Ann Miles and actor Dennis Haysbert talk about performing with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.
Read summaries and find links to these articles below.
1. How 2024 proved to be a year to ‘marvel and rejoice’ for President Nelson
On the first day of 2024 — his 100th New Year’s Day — President Nelson posted a message on social media that set the tone for his remarkable and historic year — a year to truly “marvel and rejoice.”
Reflect back on the highlights from President Nelson’s remarkable 100th year, which include Church’s 200th house of the Lord, rededicating a pioneer-era temple, speaking at a worldwide Relief Society broadcast, delivering two general conference addresses and announcing 32 new temple locations — not to mention commemorating his 100th birthday.
Also, read about temple milestones — which include 16 dedications, 14 groundbreakings, 33 renderings released, 23 released sites and 32 announced locations for houses of the Lord — and FamilySearch’s 2024 highlights.
Read more about this story here.
2. President Nelson celebrates 25 years of ‘The Living Christ’ in a New Year’s Day social media post
On the first day of 2025, President Nelson reflected on the 25th anniversary of the publication of “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles”
“Over the last quarter century this testimony has been read, studied and even memorized by countless disciples of Jesus Christ. My study of this testimony increases my desire, every day, to be more like Him,” he wrote. “As I celebrate my 101st New Year’s Day, I continue to love the opportunity it provides for fresh starts, new perspectives, and new and renewed resolutions.”
He also extended an invitation “to come to the temple as often as your circumstances allow.”
Read more about his social post here.
3. ‘The Living Christ’: 25 years of apostolic testimony
On Jan. 1, 2000, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” on the morning of one of the most anticipated dates in history.
Twenty-five years later, President Nelson explained how it has continued to be help increase the testimonies of disciples of Christ. “My study of this testimony increases my desire, every day, to be more like Him,” he wrote.
Read more about this story here.
4. 6 new chapters of ‘Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Russell M. Nelson’ released
After releasing four chapters of the “Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Russell M. Nelson” manual in 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released an additional six chapters to study on ChurchofJesusChrist.org and on the Gospel Library app.
Read more about this story here.
5. President Oaks emphasizes ‘the most glorious of all messages to mankind’ in social media post
In his first social post of 2025, President Oaks noted that all who worship Jesus Christ honor His birth — Christmas — and His Resurrection — Easter.
“The prophets and teachings of the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affirm that Jesus Christ came forth out of the grave and lives today as a resurrected Being,” he wrote.
Read more about this story.
6. In social media post, President Eyring invites focus on the Savior through trials
In his Jan. 3 social media post, President Eyring testified that: “Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. The Book of Mormon is a true and sure witness that He lives — that He is our resurrected and living Savior. I bear testimony that the assurance the Savior gave His disciples is sure for us, ‘I will not leave you comfortless’ (John 14:18).”
Read more about this story here.
7. Episode 221: The 2025 youth theme ‘Look unto Christ’ with President Steven J. Lund and President Emily Belle Freeman
The youth theme for 2025 is “Look unto Christ.” This comes from Doctrine and Covenants 6:36, which says, “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” All year, youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will plan activities, listen to music, and attend For the Strength of Youth conferences and worldwide events all based around this theme.
President Lund shared that, “This is a really important theme because this is such an important issue. What we’re about as a Young Men’s presidency and Young Women’s presidency, and as a First Presidency of the Church and of the Quorum of the Twelve, everyone is focused on this one thing, and that is building a foundation for lifelong discipleship. And discipleship means following Him. And to follow Him, we need to know Him and look unto Him.”
Listen to the podcast here.
8. Sunday School President Paul V. Johnson visits Philippines, announces opening of BYU–Pathway resource center in Cebu City
While ministering in the Philippines, President Johnson announced on Nov. 16, 2024, that BYU–Pathway Worldwide will open a community resource center in Cebu City in early 2025.
Volunteers will facilitate the community center, which will provide free resources and services to students, including access to high-speed internet, over 100 computers, equipment to practice skills students are learning online, and classes to improve English-speaking and writing skills.
Read more about this story here.
9. Most extensive single activity on Salt Lake Temple renovation project now complete
The recent Salt Lake Temple renovation update released on Jan. 3 announced the completion of vertical coring, a meticulous three-year process and the most extensive single activity on site to date. It involved drilling 46 holes through the quartz monzonite walls of the historic house of the Lord, from the tops of each corner of its six towers to the new upper foundations over which the sacred structure now rests.
Read more about this story here.
10. Video: Broadway’s Ruthie Ann Miles and actor Dennis Haysbert talk about performing with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
This weeks Church News video features response of the guests participating in 2024 Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert.
Actor Dennis Haysbert, who was the narrator for the concert, said being in The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square’s 2024 Christmas concerts was “a no-brainer for me — and especially when I started to read the script.”
