During the week of Nov. 2-8, the Church News podcast explored the life of President Dallin H. Oaks, 18th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Also, Elder Gérald Caussé was announced Nov. 6 as the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the date for the annual Christmas devotional. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to students around the world in a BYU-Pathway Worldwide devotional on Oct. 31 and to missionaries in the Provo Missionary Training Center on Nov. 4.
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to the young adults of the Church in a broadcast devotional that aired to North and South America on Nov. 2, and Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited Kenya in October during a 10-day assignment in the Africa Central Area.
In temple news, the Burley Idaho Temple opened its doors for public tours, starting with a media day on Monday, Nov. 3.
Sister Amy A. Wright — first counselor in the Primary general presidency — emphasized the power of keeping sacred covenants during a devotional at a single adult conference in historic Nauvoo, Illinois. Elder Edward B. Rowe, a General Authority Seventy, addressed students at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, on Nov. 4.
Read summaries and find links to these articles below.
1. Church News podcast, episode 265: President Dallin H. Oaks: Man of faith, family and law
The week’s Church News podcast explores the life of President Oaks, with excerpts from interviews conducted in the days and weeks surrounding the prophetic calling. Family members, general Church leaders and the counselors in the First Presidency share lessons from their experiences and observations of the 18th Prophet of the restored Church.
Listen to the podcast here.
2. Elder Gérald Caussé called as newest Apostle
Elder Gérald Caussé was ordained an apostle by President Oaks and other members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on Nov. 6. Elder Caussé had been serving as the presiding bishop of the Church at the time of his call.
During his first interview as an apostle, Elder Caussé testified he has always known Jesus Christ to be his Savior and Redeemer.
Read more about Elder Caussé’s call here.
Read about Elder Caussé’s first interview as an apostle here.
3. How to watch the 2025 First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional
On Nov. 4, the First Presidency of the Church announced its annual Christmas devotional will be Sunday, Dec. 7. This year’s devotional will not be a live ticketed event; it will be a prerecorded broadcast from the set of the Church’s “Savior of the World” production in Salt Lake City.
Read more about the Christmas devotional here.
4. Elder David A. Bednar speaks to BYU–Pathway students and teaches missionaries in MTC devotional
On Oct. 31, Elder Bednar spoke to students in the BYU-Pathway Worldwide program through a devotional broadcast. He spoke on the joy that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings.
At the Provo MTC, he taught missionaries on the principles that set the Church apart in a devotional on Nov. 4. The devotional was broadcast to the Church’s other 10 MTC locations around the world.
Read more about Elder Bednar’s devotional to BYU–Pathway students here.
Read more about Elder Bednar’s MTC devotional here.
5. Elder Neil L. Andersen witnesses of truth, temples and President Dallin H. Oaks
Elder Andersen, with his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, hosted a young adult broadcast devotional from the grounds of the Washington D.C. Temple on Oct. 18. Elder and Sister Andersen bore witness that temples and President Dallin H. Oaks point individuals to truth. The broadcast was shared in North and South America on Nov. 2.
Learn more about the devotional here.
6. Elder Ronald A. Rasband ministers in Kenya
On a recent visit to Kenya, Elder Rasband reunited with a group of young men he first met two years earlier during another assignment. His ministry in the area highlighted themes of faith, service and unity among members of the Church.
Read more about Elder Rasband’s visit to Kenya here.
7. As the open house stage for the Burley Idaho Temple begins, many experience the ‘love and peace of the Savior’
The Burley Idaho Temple opened for public tours on Nov. 3, starting with a media day. It will be dedicated in January 2026 as the Church’s 212th operating temple. Attendees remarked on the atmosphere of peace and the temple’s purpose as a house of the Lord focused on ordinances.
Read more about the open house here.
See interior and exterior photos of the Burley temple here.
8. Sister Amy A. Wright on 2 ways to help ‘successfully navigate the challenges of our day’
Sister Wright taught single adult Latter-day Saints gathered in historic Nauvoo, Illinois, that making and keeping sacred covenants and following the counsel of the living prophet are two things that help with navigating life’s challenges.
Single adults 31 and older participated in the four-day conference aiming to socialize, serve and grow spiritually in the historic setting.
Read more about Sister Wright’s devotional here.
9. Stay anchored to Jesus Christ during life’s climb, Elder Edward B. Rowe says at BYU
Elder Rowe spoke to students in a Nov. 4 BYU devotional about how to stay strong in Jesus Christ through life’s trials. He closed his meeting by inviting students to develop unshaken trust in and love for Jesus Christ.
