During the week of Oct. 26 to Nov. 1, portraits of Church President Dallin H. Oaks and his newly called counselors were released. Also, in a worldwide devotional broadcast, President Jeffrey R. Holland, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, along with Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman and Young Men General President Timothy L. Farnes, spoke to the youth about the 2025 youth theme.
In temple news, Elder Carlos A. Godoy — a General Authority Seventy and president of the Africa South Area — presided over the Cape Town South Africa Temple groundbreaking, Temple Square updates were released, dedication and open house dates were announced for the Lindon Utah Temple and a rendering of the Piura Peru Temple was released.
Resources for the 2026 youth theme became available for young men and young women on Oct. 28, and in this week’s episode of the Church News podcast, Porter and Carlie Ellett share their story of faith, family and football.
The Church History Department of the Church recently added information about general Church leadership to the Church History Biographical Database. Plus the Church News reported anniversary celebrations all around the world, with members and friends in Uruguay rejoicing in 100 years of preaching the gospel in South America and members in Kiribati commemorating 50 years of the restored gospel on their island.
Read summaries and find links to these articles below.
1. Church releases official portrait of new First Presidency, President Oaks
A little less than two weeks after Church President Oaks named his counselors in the newly reorganized First Presidency, the Church released the group’s official portrait, as well as a portrait of President Oaks.
See more of the portraits here.
2. From Kirtland Temple, worldwide devotional with President Holland invites youth to ‘Look Unto Christ’
President Holland, President Freeman, and President Farnes spoke to the youth in an online broadcast from the Kirtland Temple on Oct. 26. They spoke on the 2025 youth theme of “Look Unto Christ.”
Read more about the devotional here.
3. Ground broken for Africa’s southernmost temple
Ground was broken for the Cape Town South Africa Temple on Oct. 25, with Elder Godoy presiding over the ceremony. The Cape Town South Africa Temple will be “a place of peace, reverence and inspiration,” said Elder Godoy.
Read more about the groundbreaking here.
4. Salt Lake Temple updates, dedication date announced for Lindon Temple, plus the rendering of the Piura Peru Temple
On Oct. 31, the Church announced that exterior renovations are underway on the Relief Society Building in Salt Lake City, and the north tower crane on Temple Square has been dismantled.
The Lindon Utah Temple will be dedicated in May 2026. This dedication will follow a public open house.
An exterior rendering has been released for the Piura Peru Temple, the eighth temple announced in Peru.
Read more about the Salt Lake Temple updates here.
Read more about the Lindon Utah Temple dedication and open house here.
See the rendering for the Piura Peru Temple here.
5. 2026 youth theme logo, music, other resources now available
The Church released the logo, theme song, additional music, sheet music and downloadable artwork related to the 2026 youth theme “Walk with Me.”
Learn more about the resources here.
6. Church News podcast, episode 264: Porter and Carlie Ellett discuss faith and football
In this week’s Church News podcast, Porter and Carlie Ellett share their unique experience of Porter Ellett working in the National Football League with the Kansas City Chiefs as an assistant coach. They talk about how communication and faithfully living the gospel of Jesus Christ have helped them develop trust and resilience with God and in family life.
Listen to the podcast here.
7. Church leadership information added to Church History Biographical Database
A new dataset from the Church History Department offers searchable information and resources about historical and present-day leaders, beginning with the first and second elders — Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery — and continuing through to the present day. Each leader’s biographical profile includes photographs, a timeline encapsulating their Church service and source documents.
Read more about this addition here.
8. The Church anniversaries all over the world: Uruguay celebrates 100 years, Kiribati commemorates 50 years
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Church’s official beginning in South America. To celebrate, members and friends from in and around Montevideo, Uruguay, gathered Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Antel Arena for a day of art, music and faith-based reflection.
Fifty years after the restored gospel of Jesus Christ first reached the Pacific island nation of Kiribati, thousands of Latter-day Saints gathered across the country to celebrate a milestone of faith, education and growth. The nine-day commemoration included a vibrant cultural celebration and a nationwide devotional.
