During the week of Jan. 12-18, President Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, completed seven years since being becoming the Prophet of the Church on Jan. 14, 2025. The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — including President Nelson and his counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring — welcomed ambassadors from Portugal and the Dominican Republic to the United States.
Sunday School General President Paul V. Johnson and his counselors, Brother Chad H Webb, first counselor, and Brother Gabriel W. Reid, second counselor, talked about scripture aids, advice for teachers and other topics related to “Come, Follow Me” 2025.
Young Men and Young Women general leaders joined nearly 2,400 volunteers for a four-day service project and shared about the project in this week’s Church News video. Sister Tracy Y. Browning, second counselor in the Primary general presidency, addressed missionaries at the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
On Monday, Jan. 13, the First Presidency announced dedication and open house dates for the Nairobi Kenya Temple. An exterior rendering of the Brussels Belgium Temple was also released. BYU President C. Shane Reese, BYU–Idaho President Alvin F. Meredith III and BYU–Hawaii President John S.K. Kauwe III spoke in Tuesday, Jan. 14 devotionals at each respective campus to ring in the new semester year.
Jenica Sedgwick, the Church’s sustainability manager who operates under the direction of the Presiding Bishopric, shared insights on caring for the earth in the newest episode of the Church News podcast. The Church released an expanded name to its addiction recovery program to reflect the Savior’s role in helping people struggling with or affected by addictions.
Read summaries and find links to these articles below.
1. Invitations and announcements in the Church since President Nelson became Prophet 7 years ago
Since being called as Prophet in 2018, numerous changes and announcements have been made in the Church under President Nelson’s direction. Also throughout his prophetic ministry, President Nelson has extended several invitations to help Latter-day Saints strengthen faith in Jesus Christ.
Read more about these announcements and changes here. Read more about the invitations President Nelson has extended here.
2. First Presidency meets with ambassadors from Portugal and Dominican Republic
The First Presidency welcomed ambassadors from both Portugal and the Dominican Republic to the United States. These meetings emphasize not only the significance of diplomatic dialogue and collaboration in tackling global challenges but also the importance of fostering mutual respect and understanding among nations.
Read more about this story here.
3. Sunday School general presidency on this year’s study of the Doctrine and Covenants
The Sunday School general presidency recently spoke to the Church News about the Doctrine and Covenants, scripture study resources, advice for teachers and other topics related to this year’s “Come, Follow Me” study.
President Johnson said: “We can see clearly, as we’re reading the Doctrine and Covenants and also studying the associated history to give us the context, what’s going on that triggers these questions and these answers from the Lord.” He added, “We can see how He deals with the prophets and with His people, and then it also becomes clear to us He deals with us in the same way and that we can hear His voice.”
Read more about this story here.
4. A thousand hands; a million meals
Young Men General President Steven J. Lund, members of the Young Men general advisory council and the Young Women general presidency — Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman and counselors Sister Tamara W. Runia and Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus — joined nearly 2,400 youth, single adults, family members and friends from around Utah who served throughout the night to package meals for individuals in the community experiencing food insecurity.
“Isn’t it fun that people come down here to do manual labor and they are having this much fun?” said President Lund. “That they are all doing this out of a place of goodness just brings a spirit that is pretty remarkable.”
Read more about this story here. Watch the Church News video “1 Million Meals” here.
5. ‘Miracles can be found everywhere in abundance,’ says Sister Browning at Provo MTC
Sister Browning shared with missionaries at the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, the reality of miracles and the importance of seeing the Lord’s hand.
“I want to testify to you that the gospel of Jesus Christ is glad tidings, it is good news,” said Sister Browning. “It’s that miracles do exist. It’s that the Lord knows who you are. It’s that He wants to show you His hand and that miracles can be found everywhere in abundance as you exercise faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ — even here in the MTC.”
Read more about this story here.
6. Temple updates: First Presidency announces dedication and open house dates for Nairobi Kenya Temple; a first look at the new Brussels Belgium Temple
The First Presidency announced that Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the Nairobi Kenya Temple on Sunday, May 18. The media day and open house dates were also announced.
The rendering of the Brussels Belgium Temple, shows a multistory temple of approximately 25,500 square feet, which will be constructed with an existing building at Avenue des Arts 52 in Brussels, Belgium.
Read more about the Nairobi Kenya Temple dedication here.
Read more about the Brussels Belgium Temple rendering here.
7. University devotionals: BYU President Reese, BYU–Idaho President Meredith and BYU–Hawaii President Kauwe
BYU’s President Reese shared his experience while applying for a doctoral program in statistics. After a humbling but successful experience, President Reese attested during the Tuesday camp devotoinal, “My ability to stand here today and string together coherent sentences is evidence that the Lord strengthens even the weakest.”
During the BYU–Idaho devotional, President Meredith testified to students that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the single most important event in the history of the world — and it lies at the very heart of all that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hold true.
BYU–Hawaii’s President Kauwe spoke of his initial struggles with the Honor Code. Although at the time, he was annoyed, confused, maybe even a little bit offended — he ultimately realized that he was the problem because of his lack of commitment. He ultimately came to receive and recognize the blessings that come from keeping those commitments.
Read more about President Reese’s devotional here.
Read more about President Meredith’s devotional here.
Read more about President Kauwe’s devotional here.
8. Episode 223: Church’s sustainability manager on the sacred responsibility to care for the earth
Jenica Sedgwick discussed in this week’s Church News podcast how the Church makes an effort to prioritize environmental sustainability in many ways around the world.
“As you think about caring for the earth, it is a global challenge and one of the biggest challenges that impacts the well-being of God’s children around the world. And it is extremely overwhelming if not looked at through the lens of faith and with a lens of creativity and a really real willingness to be humble and learn along the way,” Sedgwick said.
Listen to this podcast episode here.Read more about this story here.
9. With a new expanded name, the addiction recovery program is blessing lives through the Savior, Jesus Christ
The Church has expanded the name of the program that helps people struggling with or affected by addictions, allowing a better reflection on the role of the Savior in healing. The new name is Healing through the Savior: The Addiction Recovery Program.
The changes emphasize that healing begins as hearts are turned to the Savior, Jesus Christ. For many participants, the name and focus on Jesus Christ perfectly reflect the healing they have experienced.
