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In case you missed it: President Holland extends invitation in new video, Elder Uchtdorf urges youth to ‘look unto Christ’ in worldwide broadcast, plus 7 more stories

Here are 9 stories from the Church News the week of Jan. 5-11

During the week of Jan. 5-11, President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, invited listeners to “Stay in the Boat” amid trials, his message in a video released on Jan. 10. On Jan. 5, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was joined by Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman and Young Men General President Steven J. Lund for a youth worldwide devotional.

On Thursday, Jan. 9, it was announced that Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, will be the featured keynote speakers at RootsTech 2025 Family Discovery Day.

The newest episode of the Church News podcast featured Brother Bradley R. Wilcox, Brother Michael T. Nelson, Sister Tamara W. Runia and Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus.

Primary General President Susan H. Porter and her counselors — Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor, and Sister Tracy Y. Browning, second counselor — issued an invitation to Primaries around the world to plan annual service projects.

Elder Mark A. Bragg, General Authority Seventy and president of the North America West Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, issued a statement in response to the multiple fires burning around Los Angeles, California.

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released the 2025 mission leader assignments. Ensign College President Bruce C. Kusch began the first campus devotional of the new year on Tuesday, Jan. 7. BYU–Pathway Worldwide President Brian K. Ashton and his wife, Sister Melinda Ashton spoke to students during a devotional broadcast on Friday, Jan. 10. Learn what to expect from FamilySearch in 2025.

Read summaries and find links to these articles below.

1. Video: President Holland’s invitation for when facing life’s challenges

The Savior stands in a boat crowded with His apostles at night with the words "Stay in the Boat" and President Jeffrey R. Holland in the bottom left corner.
President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, talks about how to respond to life's challenges in the video "Stay in the Boat." | Screenshot from YouTube

In a Church News video, President Holland says that when trials arise, don’t abandon the ship; that’s the time to get the life jacket on and hold on.

“I am grateful that for my sake and yours and everybody we know and our children and our children’s children that He was able to see that through. Well, we are supposed to see through a little difficult weather,” President Holland said.

Read more about this story here.
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2. Follow Joseph Smith’s example and ‘look unto Christ,’ Elder Uchtdorf urges youth in worldwide broadcast

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stands at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, during the filming for the worldwide youth broadcast, available on Jan. 5, 2025.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stands at Temple Square in Salt Lake City during the filming for a worldwide youth broadcast, available since Jan. 5, 2025.

Along with Elder Uchtdorf’s thoughts at a Jan. 5 worldwide broadcast were messages that focused on the 2025 youth theme, “Look unto Christ,” based on Doctrine and Covenants 6:36, which reads, “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”

President Freeman and President Lund, who prerecorded a joint message from the Sacred Grove near Palmyra, New York, shared their testimonies of the Restoration of the Savior’s gospel and Church.

Read more about this story here.
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3. RootsTech 2025: Elder and Sister Andersen announced as Family Discovery Day keynote speakers

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, wave to the missionaries following the devotional at the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, wave to missionaries following a devotional at the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.

RootsTech, a global family history event, is scheduled for March 6-8. Elder Andersen and Sistere Andersen will be the featured keynote speakers on Saturday, March 8.

The gathering will have an in-person event in Salt Lake City and be available in multiple languages online at RootsTech.org.

Read more about this story here.
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4. Episode 222: The life-changing impact of FSY, with the Young Men and Young Women general presidency counselors

Sister Tamara W. Runia, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency, joins the Church News podcast on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2024, to talk about For the Strength of Youth (FSY) conferences.
Sister Tamara W. Runia, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency, joins the Church News podcast on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2024, to talk about For the Strength of Youth conferences.

In this episode of the Church News podcast, the Young Women and Young Men general presidency counselors discuss the uplifting potential and divine inspiration behind For the Strength of Youth conferences.

Read more about this story here.
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5. Primaries worldwide invited to organize service activities beginning in 2025

Children in the Marysville Washington Stake stuff pillows for hospice patients as part of a service project during the stake Primary day camp in Lake Stevens, Washington
Children in the Marysville Washington Stake stuff pillows for hospice patients as part of a service project during the stake Primary day camp in Lake Stevens, Washington, on July 8, 2024. | Andrea Wright

The Primary general presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement inviting all Primaries around the world beginning in 2025 to organize an annual service project.

“We hope this worldwide effort will help children realize they are an important part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and can contribute in meaningful ways,” said the statement. “As the children serve, they will grow in their love for the Savior and feel joy as they share His love with others.”

Read more about this story here.
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6. Church mobilizing resources; issues statement in response to Southern California fires

The devastation from the Palisades Fire is seen from the air in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. | Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press

“At this time, the Church is mobilizing its resources. Everyone is encouraged to volunteer and make themselves available to assist those in need. The Church is committed to helping during this emergency and throughout the aftermath,” wrote Elder Bragg in a statement released on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

At least five fires are still burning out of control in the Los Angeles area, covering more than 45 square miles and destroying houses and other structures.

And in a statement issued the next day, on Friday, Jan. 10, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported it is organizing emergency support on various levels. An estimated 1,000 Latter-day Saints have evacuated and are staying with relatives, friends or fellow Church members or at other lodging, according to the update. All missionaries are safe and accounted for and are continuing their service. The Los Angeles California Temple was closed on Wednesday, Jan. 8, but has since reopened and is operating on its regular schedule.

Read more about Elder Bragg’s statement here.
Read the subsequent Church statement here.
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7. 2025 new mission leadership assignments

A map of the number of missions in various areas of the world that will have new mission presidents and companions assigned, who will begin their service in July 2025.
A map of the number of missions in various areas of the world that will have new mission presidents and companions assigned, who will begin their service in July 2025. | Church News graphic

The First Presidency has called new mission leaders for 164 missions worldwide. These couples will begin their three-year service on or about July 1. Four couples are to be announced later.

Read more about this story here.
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8. University presidents speak at opening devotionals

Ensign College students gather in the multipurpose room of the Triad Center building in downtown Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, for the first campus devotional of the year with Ensign College President Bruce C. Kusch and his wife, Sister Alynda Kusch.
Ensign College students gather in the multipurpose room of the Triad Center building in downtown Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, for the first campus devotional of the year with Ensign College President Bruce C. Kusch and his wife, Sister Alynda Kusch. | Ensign College

In a devotional ringing in the new year, President Kusch invited Ensign College students to “have your very own, very personal Sacred Grove experience.”

“Just like Joseph, we can know that we are God’s beloved sons and daughters and that He has a work for each of us to perform during our time in mortality. This is essential knowledge for every one of us,” he said.

President Ashton testified to BYU–Pathway students around the globe of “the reality of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and Their love for us.” He invited listeners to “make and keep gospel covenants so that you can access God’s power and blessings in your life.”

Read more about President Kusch’s devotional here.
Read more about President Ashton’s devotional here.
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9. What to expect from FamilySearch in 2025

From artificial intelligence advancements to the upcoming RootsTech conference, FamilySearch has big plans for this year. See what to expect from the genealogy organization in 2025.
From artificial intelligence advancements to the upcoming RootsTech conference, FamilySearch has big plans for this year. See what to expect from the genealogy organization in 2025. | FamilySearch International

FamilySearch International celebrated a variety of milestones in 2024, from reaching its 130th anniversary to adding 2.5 billion searchable records and images to its databases. 2025 will bring artificial intelligence advancements to the upcoming RootsTech conference, as well as big plans for FamilySearch.

Read more about this story here.
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