Members of the presidencies presented daily from Wednesday through Friday, Aug. 21-23, about using the principles in the guide to teach lifelong discipleship.

Young Men General President Steven J. Lund said everything in the guide is intentional to teach youth how to hear the Holy Ghost as they face all the questions of mortality — from the big decisions to the daily choices.

“The guide describes a higher and holier set of habits and perspectives than before, because we live in a different world than before,” he said.

Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman said the book has three things in each chapter: eternal truths, invitations and promised blessings. And the book has critical core doctrines “that will help us to know how to live out these eternal truths, how to accept these invitations to act and then how to prepare to receive the promised blessings.”

She said conversations about the Word of Wisdom, the garment, the Sabbath day, tithing and more can be framed around God’s expectations as part of a covenant relationship with Him — as well as the sacrifice and the promised blessings from keeping those covenants.

“One of the promised blessings in this guide is that our relationship with God will deepen,” she explained.

See more of Church News' coverage of BYU Education Week

President Lund reminded the audience about the sacrament — as people are willing to keep the commandments and take the name of Christ upon them, the promise is that His Spirit will always be with them. “My prayer is that your family and mine will build better lives together turning to the power of our covenants,” he said.

President Lund also invited youth and youth leaders to learn the Aaronic Priesthood quorum theme and Young Women theme and say them often: “There is power in hearing our own voices speak truth and then feeling it resonate as the Holy Ghost confirms our identity,” he said.

President Freeman said she knows that Jesus Christ is the strength of youth.

“If we can lead them to know who He is, He can heal them, He can strengthen them, He can increase their capacity for good. He can help them to live up to their greatest purpose and potential — that which they came to earth to perform,” she said. “That is what happens when we become lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.”

Creating lifelong disciples of Christ

On Thursday, Aug. 22,, Sister Tamara W. Runia, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency, acknowledged that the new “For the Strength of Youth” handbook might feel unfamiliar due to its shift from rules to eternal truths. However, the goal remains the same: “To create lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.”

Brother Bradley R. Wilcox, first counselor in the Young Men general presidency, explained that these guidelines are a higher law inviting youth to walk in God’s light. “If we teach principles, then they will obey out of covenant for life,” he taught. “That’s what we’re stepping up to, the principles that when internalized will allow them to govern themselves for a lifetime.”

Discussing the “For the Strength of Youth” section “Walk in God’s light,” Brother Wilcox encouraged reframing covenants as a “warm relationship” rather than a “cold contract.” Learning the principles from the guide helps youth understand that the Spirit is more often a quiet furnace than an overwhelming fire. “Let’s please teach young people to have a realistic expectation and to know that when they feel comfortable when they feel peace, that is the Spirit, and that Spirit can help them make good choices.”

Sister Runia urged the audience to listen to the Spirit’s “special acoustics” guiding them. The “For the Strength of Youth” guide teaches: “Learning to be aware of the Spirit takes time, practice and patience. He speaks to different people in different ways. Don’t overlook simple things.”

Another guideline Sister Runia offered was understanding that “how you treat a body affects the spirit.” She explained that spiritual health is influenced by what people read, watch and listen to, because they are beings of light. Before engaging with any media, she advised asking, “Do I see any light in this?”

Brother Wilcox discussed another section of the “For the Strength of Youth” guide, “Your body is sacred,” pointing out that modesty issues can be addressed by understanding that “Heavenly Father wants us to see each other for who we really are, not just physical bodies but His beloved children with a divine destiny.”

The “For the Strength of Youth” guide teaches, “If you find that situations or activities make temptations stronger, avoid them. You know what those situations and activities are.” Sister Runia emphasized that the body is a gift, not a punishment, and it requires patience and care to manage natural appetites. She counseled, “Be good, and be smart.”

Finding freedom and joy through Jesus Christ

On Friday, Aug. 23, Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, invited the assembled listeners to review the last two sections of the “For the Strength of Youth” guide after listening to her remarks. She spoke to parents and youth leaders about ways to teach children and youth under their care how to live the fifth section of the “For the Strength of Youth” handbook, “Truth will make you free.”

Sister Spannaus began by singing the first few lines of the song “Keep the Commandments,” a Primary song found in the Church’s hymnal that she would often sing as she biked from lesson to lesson while serving as a full-time missionary. The simple principles contained in the song helped her focus on what really matters. “When we put the word of God in action,” said Sister Spannaus, “we become followers of Jesus Christ, or doers.”

Sister Spannaus invited her husband Brother Alin Spannaus and Brother Michael T. Nelson, second counselor in the Young Men general presidency, to the stage to play a game she called “Unfortunately/Fortunately.” She started off by sharing an “unfortunate” situation that a child or youth could find themselves in. Brother Spannaus and Brother Nelson then responded by finding things about the situation that were “fortunate,” reframing the difficult situation into one with a solution. “This is an excellent way to practice having a positive mindset in a bad situation,” said Sister Spannaus.

Brother Nelson recounted the story of Ammon from the Book of Mormon following the dramatic conversion experience he shared with Alma the Younger. Following their conversion, they traveled around the land teaching about Jesus Christ and encouraging “everyone to taste the joy that flowed from the Savior to fill their souls.” Using Ammon’s example, he taught his listeners how to encourage their youth to find joy in following the commandments.

Brother Nelson concluded his remarks by explaining that the best way to find joy is to stay connected to the true vine of Jesus Christ. “When we stay connected to Christ and focused on glorifying our Heavenly Father,” said Brother Nelson, “our relationship with God becomes more dear to us.” He also pointed out the natural progression of the first and last chapters of the “For the Strength of Youth” guidebook. “The guide begins with ‘Jesus Christ will help you’ and concludes that we can ‘find joy in Jesus.’”

2023 BYU Education Week: Young Men and Young Women general presidencies share how to strengthen ‘Zion’s youth in latter days’

Church releases revised ‘For the Strength of Youth’ guide based on principles, agency

How the new ‘For the Strength of Youth’ guide focuses on Jesus Christ, personal revelation

‘Parents, we need to be all in,’ Young Women general presidency says of new ‘For the Strength of Youth’ guide

Young Women general presidency: Using the ‘For the Strength of Youth’ guide to increase discipleship

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles held an Instagram Live Q&A session with youth and young adult Church members, encouraging them to focus on trusting God. During his ministry in the Church Pacific Area, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified to four different groups of missionaries about the love that Church members and the Lord had for them. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke on the Church News podcast about the upcoming dedication of the Salta Argentina Temple and his experiences as a young missionary in Argentina.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Lesa Stevenson, spoke to a group of youth at a cultural celebration in Manilla, Philippines, inviting them to become disciples of Jesus Christ. Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recently traveled to French Polynesia to commemorate 180 years of Church activity in the region. Primary General President Susan H. Porter shared her thoughts on how recent updates in the Church’s General Handbook clarify how Primary-aged children can participate in sacrament meetings.

There were two temple groundbreakings last weekend — for the Cleveland Ohio Temple and the Teton River Idaho Temple in Rexburg, Idaho.

Read summaries and find links to these nine stories below.

1. President Nelson invites all to reach out to ‘the one’

President Nelson posted a message on his social media accounts in preparation for his 100th birthday. He explained that at 100 years old, he no longer had need of any physical gifts; instead, he encouraged readers to reach out to those who may be feeling lost or alone. President Nelson also invited readers to prayerfully consider who they should reach out to, promising them that God would inspire them to know who to reach out to and how they could help them.

Read more about President Nelson’s invitation here.

Church leaders echo President Nelson’s invitation to reach out to ‘the one’ for his 100th birthday

2. Elder Gong dedicates Taylorsville Utah Temple: ‘Come to the Lord in the house of the Lord’

Elder Gong dedicated the Taylorsville Utah Temple on Sunday, June 2. He invited members to enjoy the blessings of making sacred covenants as they “come to the Lord in the house of the Lord.” Elder Gong told the Church News the way he describes for himself temple worship and service is changing. “I used to describe what I was doing as going to the temple. Now I think less in terms of going to a place and more in terms of coming to the Lord through sacred covenants with Him in the house of the Lord,” Elder Gong said.

Read more about the Taylorsville Utah Temple dedication and see photos from the dedication.

Read Elder Gerrit W. Gong’s dedicatory prayer for the Taylorsville Utah Temple

3. Elder Bednar tells young adults in Instagram live Q&A to ‘trust in God’ as they strive to follow promptings

Elder Bednar held his sixth live question-and-answer on Instagram on Tuesday, June 4, where he answered questions submitted by young adult social-media followers, counseling them to trust God as they strive to follow promptings from the Holy Ghost and make important decisions in their lives.

Read the full article here.

4. Missionaries hear promises, strong testimony from Elder Cook across Pacific Area

Over the course of his 10-day ministry in the Pacific Area, Elder Cook visited with missionaries in Sydney, Australia; Suva, Fiji; Tarawa, Kiribati; and Majuro, Marshall Islands. He was accompanied at each mission meeting by his wife, Sister Mary Cook.

Read the full article here.

Grow up to be ‘goodly parents,’ Elder Cook tells youth in Fiji and Kiribati

As the tiny island nation of Kiribati prepares for a temple, Elder Cook teaches principles of peace and unity

Worship God the Father and Jesus Christ, Elder Cook encourages members in Australia

5. Elder Christofferson reflects on his own mission to Argentina and on returning to South America to dedicate the Salta Argentina Temple

Elder Christofferson will dedicate the Salta Argentina Temple on Sunday, June 16. Having served as a full-time missionary in northern Argentina in the mid-1960s, his return is a joyous opportunity to reflect on his own service as well as the growth of the Church in South America. He joins this episode of the Church News podcast to reflect on his mission and Argentina.

Also, in this week’s Church News video titled “Wonderful Association,” he shares about how the late Elder Richard G. Scott was his mission president and they later served together as Apostles.

Listen to this week’s Church News podcast here and watch the video here.

Church of Jesus Christ opens Salta Argentina Temple to media, public tours

6. Elder and Sister Stevenson invite Filipino youth to become disciples of Jesus Christ

Elder Stevenson was on an 11-day ministry to the Philippines, accompanied by his wife, Sister Lesa Stevenson. During his ministry, he presided over a country-wide devotional and cultural celebration for youth and young single adults in the activity center of the Philippines Missionary Training Center. The in-person event and online broadcast were viewed live by over 12,000 Filipino youth and young single adults at local meetinghouses and during watch parties throughout the Philippines. Elder Stevenson invited the rising generation to become disciples of Jesus Christ.

Read the full article here.

2024 youth theme: What being a disciple of Christ means to Young Women and Young Men general presidents

7. Celebrating 180 years: The deep, vibrant history of the Church in French Polynesia

Elder Soares traveled to French Polynesia to participate in the celebrations surrounding the 180th anniversary of missionaries from the Church landing on the island and teaching people about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. In reflecting on his visit, Elder Soares told the Church’s Pacific Newsroom, “The Lord loves the people of French Polynesia and the South Pacific. He sent His missionaries to share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and brought His blessings to this region. We should share that love, joy and blessings with everyone.”

Read the full article here.

Portuguese-speaking devotional for Utah Area scheduled for Sunday, June 9

8. Primary general president discusses recent General Handbook updates

President Porter said the Primary general presidency has thought and pondered on how to help children know what it means to be a covenant child of God, as taught by President Nelson. “We have looked at the meetings that we attend — starting with sacrament meetings and stake conferences — and we have asked ourselves the question, ‘What are we doing in this meeting to nourish everyone?’” President Porter said.

Her concern is that children may feel that their job in sacrament meeting and stake conference is to be quiet so that adults can listen. But children have been invited to those meetings, where they can learn the gospel of Jesus Christ and partake of the sacrament. Updates to the General Handbook of the Church allow and invite baptized primary children to speak in sacrament meetings.

Read the full article here, plus more about the recent General Handbook updates

9. Ground broken for two temples in Idaho, Ohio

The ground breaking for two North American temples occurred on the first Saturday of June. Elder Ricardo P. Giménez, General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the North America Central Area presidency, presided over the groundbreaking of the Teton River Idaho Temple, while Elder Vaiangina Sikahema, General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the Church’s North America Northeast Area presidency, spoke at the groundbreaking for the Cleveland Ohio Temple, near Lake Erie. The Teton River Idaho Temple will be the second temple in Rexburg, while the Cleveland Ohio Temple will be located just 20 miles from the first temple built by members of the Church.

Read more about ground breaking ceremonies for the Teton River Idaho Temple and the Cleveland Ohio Temple.

What the 1836 Kirtland Temple dedication teaches about God’s love and power

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presented the Visionary Leadership Award to the Rev. A.R. Bernard of the Christian Cultural Center megachurch. Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles ministered to members of the Church in Mongolia and Japan and spoke at a devotional in Utah. The Relief Society general presidency announced a new combined donation of $55.8 million to help improve maternal and child health worldwide.

Members of the Young Women general presidency and Primary general presidency ministered to Church members in Asia about the importance of believing in Jesus Christ. Updates were announced regarding the Londrina Brazil Temple and the Santa Cruz Bolivia Temple. Lloyd and Karmel Newell spoke about their experiences with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square as they prepare for their service as mission leaders.

Read summaries and find links to these nine stories below.

1. Updated: Invitations President Nelson has given since he became President of the Church

Throughout his ministry as 17th President of the Church, President Nelson has used general conference, social media and other means to extend similar invitations to Latter-day Saints worldwide — invitations to act in faith and come closer to Jesus Christ.

One hundred days before his 100th birthday on Sept. 9, President Nelson posted an invitation on social media for Latter-day Saints to participate in his birthday celebration by reaching out to someone in need.

Read the full list of invitations here.

2. President Holland and Elder Bednar speak in California

President Holland spoke to Church leaders in multiple California stakes about working with urgency when it comes to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

President Holland invited listeners to lean on their Heavenly Father for help whenever they feel the odds are against them. “Your little challenge is nothing compared to keeping the planets in their orbits,” he said with a smile. “I promise you He is up to it. He can do it.”

Elder Bednar counseled with the stake presidents, bishops, elders quorum presidents and organization leaders to discuss how they are learning from those they serve with while preparing others for the next ordinance.

Read more about President Holland’s teachings here.

Read more about Elder Bednar’s teachings here.

3. Elder Renlund dedicates the Cobán Guatemala Temple

Elder Renlund dedicated the Cobán Guatemala Temple — the Church’s 193rd operating house of the Lord and the third in Guatemala — in two sessions on Sunday, June 9, five years since it was announced in 2019.

“Over many years, you have prayed to have a temple here,” he said. “God has heard those prayers. You have made the construction of this temple possible because of your faith and faithfulness. Thank you for your goodness.”

Read more about the temple dedication here.

Read the Cobán dedicatory prayer here.

A prophecy fulfilled: A look back at 45 years of faith as Guatemalan Saints prepare for dedication of the Cobán temple

4. A model of interfaith cooperation, New York Rev. A.R. Bernard receives leadership award from Elder Cook

Elder Cook was in New York to honor the Rev. A.R. Bernard, as the New York Latter-day Saint Professional Association presented him with its Visionary Leadership Award.

More than 400 people attended the sold-out dinner, including New York and New Jersey religious and government leaders. Those leaders included representatives of Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, African Methodist Episcopal, Greek Orthodox and other Christian denominational organizations.

Read the full story here.

5. ‘Joy in the journey’: Elder Soares ministers in Mongolia and Japan

Elder Soares ministered to members, leaders and missionaries in the Asia North Area. Prior to member devotionals in Mongolia and Japan, Elder Soares met with local stake presidencies in every place he visited to ask what concerns he could address for their members.

In his teachings, he explained that the answer to all of their concerns can be found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. “Even if we are stumbling or staggering, we can fall into His open arms, feel of His perfect love and know that the space between His arms has been consecrated, through His loving and perfect atoning sacrifice, as a place for us.”

Read the story from Asia here.

See Elder Soares’ invitation for Utah’s Portuguese-speaking Saints here.

6. Church donates $55.8 million to help women and children

Expanding its global initiative to improve maternal and child health worldwide, the Relief Society general presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a new combined donation of $55.8 million to help in this work.

Through this funding, the Church will collaborate with eight international nonprofit organizations to strengthen health and nutrition programs in 12 high-need countries.

Read the full story here.

Communities of compassion: Latter-day Saint service efforts in Italy, Hungary and Lithuania

7. Sister Spannaus, Sister Wright minister in Asia

Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, ministered in Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the end of May. At the same time, Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, met with religious and government leaders in Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam, visited with the Church’s humanitarian partners and also ministered to families, Primary children, youth and young single adults.

Read about Sister Spannaus’ ministry here.

Read about Sister Wright’s ministry here.

‘We are individually valuable,’ Sister Yee tells young single adults in 3 states

8. Groundbreaking updates for new temples in Bolivia, Brazil

On June 10, the First Presidency of the Church announced the date of the groundbreaking of the Londrina Brazil Temple. Elder Ciro Schmeil, a General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the Church’s Brazil Area presidency, will preside at the Aug. 17 groundbreaking and offer a prayer to dedicate the site and construction process.

Elder Jorge F. Zeballos, a General Authority Seventy and president of the Church’s South America Northwest Area, presided at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Santa Cruz Bolivia Temple, offering a prayer dedicating the temple site and construction process.

Read more about the Londrina Brazil Temple here.

Read more about the Santa Cruz Bolivia Temple here.

Salt Lake Temple renovation update: An emphasis on the project’s mission and mandates

9. Lloyd and Karmel Newell on their service with the Tabernacle Choir and their future as mission leaders

For more than three decades, Lloyd D. Newell has served as the voice of “Music & the Spoken Word” with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. In recent years, he has been joined by his wife, Karmel Newell, who has served as the choir’s director of member support. They have traveled the world sharing the gospel through inspiring words and music. Now, the pair’s work with the choir is coming to an end as they embark on a new adventure. The Newells will begin serving as leaders in the California Los Angeles Mission on July 1.

Listen to the Church News podcast here.

Learn about the choir’s new announcer here.

Tabernacle Choir announces guest artists for ‘Hope’ tour concerts in Florida, Georgia

Why the Kirtland Temple and other historic properties are so valuable to the Church

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke at the Religious Educators Conference at Brigham Young University. Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke at a devotional for Portuguese-speaking Church members. The Relief Society focused on leading the effort in a global initiative for women and children. Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and Sister Tamara W. Runia of the Young Women general presidency ministered to Church members living in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica.

The Church released updates about temples in Brussels, Belgium; Wellington, New Zealand; and Deseret Peak, Utah. On the Church News podcast, LeAnna Willmore, retiring Bells at Temple Square conductor, was interviewed about her experience with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. A new missionary training center will open in the Democratic Republic of Congo in August of 2024.

Read summaries and find links to these 10 stories below.

1. Church leaders teach at the new mission leaders seminar

Earlier this year, nearly 150 new mission presidents and companions were announced who would serve around the world beginning July 1. Before they begin their three-year assignments, they gathered at the Provo Missionary Training Center to receive instruction and training.

The 2024 Seminar for New Mission Leaders is held June 20-23. Over the four days, the new mission presidents and their wives were taught by each member of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, as well as general authorities and general organization leaders serving as members of the Church’s Missionary Department and Missionary Executive Council.

Read summaries of the talks given here.

President Nelson to new mission leaders: ‘The truths of the Book of Mormon are filled with power’

Teach young people to use Jesus Christ as their perfect role model, President Oaks tells new mission leaders

President Henry B. Eyring: Establishing the Church while helping missionaries become disciples of Christ

President Jeffery R. Holland: ‘Becoming lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ’

2. Elder Bednar dedicates the Layton Utah Temple

Elder Bednar dedicated the Layton Utah Temple on Sunday, June 16, and encouraged those who will worship and serve in it to establish and strengthen a “covenant connection” with Heavenly Father and His Son through what they learn there.

Pointing to the need for Latter-day Saints to learn through their experiences in the temple and in their weekly Church meetings, Elder Bednar asked: “Where do we learn about a house of order and a house of prayer? In the instruction we receive both in our Sabbath worship and in the house of the Lord.”

Read more about the Layton Utah Temple dedication here.

See photos from the Layton Utah Temple dedication

Read Elder Bednar’s prayer to dedicate the Layton Utah Temple

3. Elder Christofferson dedicates the Salta Argentina Temple

On a bright and sunny Sunday, June 16, when Elder Christofferson dedicated the Salta Argentina Temple as one of two newest temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the only thing warmer on the temple grounds were the feelings of friendship, fellowship, reunions and remembrances. All were magnified by the Spirit as Latter-day Saints joyfully and tearfully welcomed a house of the Lord in the northern Argentina city of Salta.

Read more about the Salta Argentina Temple dedication here.

See photos from the Salta Argentina Temple dedication

Salta Argentina Temple dedicatory prayer: ‘May it ever remain ... a place of holiness and joy’

4. Elder Renlund teaches at the Religious Educators Conference

Elder Renlund offered the keynote address of the first Religious Educators Conference sponsored by the Church Educational System on Tuesday. The event marked the first time religious educators have gathered together from all of the CES entities — Seminaries and Institutes of Religion, BYU, BYU–Idaho, BYU–Hawaii, Ensign College and BYU–Pathway Worldwide. “In total, these religious educators teach roughly half a million young adults across CES,” noted Elder Clark G. Gilbert, a General Authority Seventy and the Church commissioner of education, in his introductory remarks.

Read more about the Religious Educators Conference here.

5. Elder Soares invites Utah’s Portuguese-speaking Saints to focus on God’s love

What started four years ago as a way for Brazilian Latter-day Saints to share their testimonies together through the singing of Church music has grown from a small gathering at a stake center to now fill one of the Church’s most iconic venues.

At a devotional filled with music, Elder Soares spoke to an audience of nearly 3,000 Latter-day Saints and friends who came to hear him and to enjoy worshipful music in Portuguese at the historic Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square.

Read more about Elder Soares’ devotional here.

6. Relief Society global initiative for women and children seeks to provide the Savior’s relief

God’s covenant daughters are a conduit through which Jesus Christ provides His relief. Anytime someone does anything to bring relief to others — temporal or spiritual — they are bringing them the love of Jesus Christ.

Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson said that as people bring the Savior’s relief to others, they will find their own relief in Him. Then, they will desire a covenant connection with Him.

Because the Relief Society’s purpose has always been to bring the Savior’s relief to others, at the request of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Relief Society organization is leading the effort in the Church’s global initiative for women and children.

Read the full story here.

Video: How the Relief Society helps bring relief globally

7. ‘God’s work on earth’: What President Johnson and Sister Runia witnessed in Central America

This month, Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and Sister Tamara W. Runia of the Young Women general presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ministered in the Church’s Central America Area.

The global leaders held devotionals and training meetings, met with families in their homes and at Church meetinghouses, and visited locations of humanitarian projects in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica.

They saw firsthand the great faith of the people in each country — a faith that is centered in Jesus Christ, Sister Runia said.

Read the full story here.

Children have ‘capacity to do great things,’ Sister Wright says while ministering in Asia

8. Temple dedication, groundbreaking updates

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released the site location of the Brussels Belgium Temple, the first house of the Lord in the western European nation.

The First Presidency of the Church has announced the dedication and open house dates for the Deseret Peak Utah Temple in Tooele, Utah.

The First Presidency of the Church has released an exterior rendering for the Wellington New Zealand Temple.

Read more about the Brussels Belgium Temple site here.

Read more about the Deseret Peak Utah Temple dedication and open house dates here.

Read more about the Wellington New Zealand Temple rendering here.

9. Retiring Bells at Temple Square conductor describes her experiences

From the inception of the Bells at Temple Square, LeAnna Willmore served as associate conductor until she was named director in June 2011, until her final concert in June 2024. Willmore holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Utah, has served in many state and national music leadership positions and, importantly, fostered a love for music as a choir teacher for decades of students across Utah’s Wasatch Front. She joined this episode of the Church News podcast to discuss the importance of music in worship and daily life.

Listen to the Church News podcast here.

Bells at Temple Square conductor LeAnna Willmore to retire

How to stream the Bells at Temple Square's summer 2024 concert on June 14

10. New Missionary Training Center in Democratic Republic of Congo

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will open a new training center for full-time missionaries in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, in August 2024. With a planned capacity of up to 200, the new MTC will serve missionaries who already speak French or will be learning French for their assigned service.

Read the full story here.

Church to open a new missionary training center in Bangkok, Thailand — its 10th worldwide

Read about the new presidents and companions of 9 MTCs around the world — from Provo to Peru to the Philippines

The Church News reported on the ministry of Sisters Kristin M. Yee of the Relief Society general presidency, Tracy Y. Browning of the Primary general presidency and Andrea Muñoz Spannaus of the Young Women general presidency as they taught in Guadalajara, Mexico in early June. Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus spoke at a devotional at Brigham Young University-Idaho about the power of fasting and prayer. Updates were released for three upcoming temples in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil; Springfield, Missouri; and Santiago, Chile.

General Authority Seventies from Africa represented the Church at the 6th annual Strengthening Families Conference in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Derrick Porter, the new announcer for “Music & the Spoken Word,” released his first broadcast. Members of the Church performed acts of service in Washington, D.C.; Nevada and Utah; and Missouri and Texas.

Read summaries of these nine stories below.

1. ‘Find peace in Jesus Christ,’ Elder Uchtdorf teaches at Utah National Guard devotional

Elder Uchtdorf spoke at a Utah National Guard devotional on Sunday, June 23, thanking members of the military for their dedicated service and sacrifices “known in heaven,” and for carrying the light of the gospel in to dark places and circumstances.

Close to 400 — many dressed in military uniforms — attended the event at a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Draper, Utah. Elder Uchtdorf was accompanied by his wife, Sister Harriet Uchtdorf.

Read the full story here.

U.S. Army chief of chaplains meets with Elder Kearon and other leaders at Church headquarters

How the Church’s Military Advisory Committee is supporting service members and families worldwide

2. Elder Christofferson shares his ‘Basis of Testimony’

Elder Christofferson is both comfortable and adept in expressing his testimony in both English and Spanish. The latter is the language he learned as a young, full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in northern Argentina in the mid-1960s. He continues to teach and testify in Spanish in assignments as a Church leader across the globe.

Watch the full video here.

Episode 191: Elder Christofferson reflects on his own mission to Argentina and on returning to South America to dedicate the Salta Argentina Temple

Elder Christofferson emphasizes the power of covenants in South Africa

3. The Relief Society general presidency on the blessings of the global initiative for women and children

The First Presidency has asked the Relief Society organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to take the lead in a global initiative for women and children. This initiative seeks to provide the Savior’s relief through maternal and newborn care, child nutrition efforts, immunizations and education. Relief Society General President Johnson and her counselors, Sister Dennis and Sister Yee, spoke to a Church News reporter about how Relief Society sisters around the world are part of this global initiative.

Listen to the Church News podcast here.

25 ways to participate in the Church’s global initiative for women and children

Relief Society global initiative for women and children seeks to provide the Savior’s relief

Church donates combined $55.8 million to help women and children

4. Church leaders minister in Guadalajara, Mexico

Sisters Kristin M. Yee of the Relief Society general presidency, Tracy Y. Browning of the Primary general presidency and Andrea Muñoz Spannaus of the Young Women general presidency ministered in Guadalajara, Mexico in early June. Their time was split among visiting the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara, meeting with the Mexican Diabetes Association and meeting with local Church members.

Read the full story here.

‘We are individually valuable,’ Sister Yee tells young single adults in 3 states

Sister Browning and Sister Dennis answer the question, ‘Why I choose to stay’

5. Sister Spannaus shares how fasting and prayer lead to obtaining more light and truth

Fasting and prayer are a great source of power and knowledge and a tool to gain more light and truth, taught Sister Spannaus, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, during a BYU–Idaho devotional on Tuesday, June 25.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a mission to help prepare the children of God to receive Jesus Christ at His Second Coming. And in order to be able to do God’s will, each person will need to not only have a firm foundation and faith in Jesus Christ but also be able to receive more light and truth.

Read the full story here.

Sister Spannaus testifies in South, Southeast Asia: ‘It’s worth it to be a disciple of Jesus Christ’

6. Three upcoming temples receive updates

Elder Joni L. Koch, a General Authority Seventy and president of the Brazil Area, presided at the Saturday, June 22, groundbreaking ceremony for the new temple being built in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, offering remarks and a prayer dedicating the site and construction process. The First Presidency of the Church released the site location for the Springfield Missouri Temple. The First Presidency of the Church also announced announced the date of the groundbreaking ceremony for the Santiago West Chile Temple.

Read more about the Ribeirão Preto Brazil Temple here.

Read more about the Springfield Missouri Temple here.

Read more about the Santiago West Chile Temple here.

‘Strong in Cobán’: Stories of faith from the Cobán Guatemala Temple dedication

7. General Authority Seventies attend Africa’s Strengthening Families Conference

Last weekend, from June 21-22, more than 8,000 people met at the Abidjan Exhibition Center in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, for the sixth annual Strengthening Families Conference hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Representing the Church this year were four General Authority Seventies from Africa: Elder Alfred Kyungu, the second counselor in the Africa West Area presidency; Elder Thierry K. Mutombo, the second counselor in the Africa Central Area presidency; Elder D. Martin Goury and Elder I. Raymond Egbo. They were joined by Elder Tonga Sai, an Area Seventy in the Ivory Coast, and the mission leaders from the three missions in the Abidjan area.

Read the full story here.

Tents and mud-brick homes allow refugees in Cameroon, West Africa, to rebuild their lives

Vulnerable communities in Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia receive support from Church-led projects

New missionary training center coming to Democratic Republic of the Congo

8. Derrick Porter’s 1st Sunday as the ‘Music & the Spoken Word’ announcer, plus see photos from the broadcast

Derrick Porter, the new announcer for “Music & the Spoken Word,” greeted the audience gathered Sunday, June 23, for The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square’s weekly broadcast with “Good morning, everyone. Welcome to ‘Music & the Spoken Word.’”

Sunday was Porter’s first week as the announcer. On Sunday, June 16, Lloyd Newell gave a farewell message after being the announcer and primary writer for the weekly “Spoken Word” messages for 34 years.

Read the full story here.

As Lloyd Newell says goodbye to ‘Music & the Spoken Word,’ Derrick Porter introduces himself

Music & the Spoken Word: 'May peace be with you, this day and always'

Lloyd Newell reflects on nearly 35 years of sharing God’s love and hope with ‘Music & the Spoken Word’

9. Reports of service from across the United States

Members of the Church across the United States have been able to help serve their communities through planned and unplanned acts of service. In response to disasters in Missouri and Texas, communities rallied together to help those whose homes had been destroyed. In Nevada, youth and their friends came to paint the fences and areas around the Anthem Hills skate park in Nevada on April 27, while other teams of youth created hygiene kits for refugees. In Washington, D.C. more than 300 volunteers spent hours distributing personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, diapers, socks, school supplies and toys for children to families in need.

Read more about the service in Missouri and Texas here.

Read more about the service in Nevada and Utah here.

Read more about the service in Washington, D.C. here.

Interfaith volunteer opportunities bring community together

By the numbers: JustServe volunteers and service by Church members around the world

The Church News podcast interviewed Book of Mormon Videos producers Aaron Merrell and Jaelan Petrie about their experiences creating the videos. Primary children in Portugal and Colombia attended their very own “FSY Primary” and mission preparation classes. Refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and West Africa recover from their escape from dangerous situations and work on creating a new life in safety.

The Church News reported on Joanna Hiigel, a member of the Church, after she became the fourth woman selected to the rank of rear admiral in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. The Church News also reported on multiple members of the Church as they prepared to participate in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Dell Van Orden, former editor of the Church News from 1968 to 1999, died at age 88.

Read summaries of these nine stories below.

1. Elder Matthew Holland speaks at Freedom Festival in Provo, Utah.

Elder Matthew S. Holland was the keynote speaker at the 2024 Patriotic Service, part of the America’s Freedom Festival at Provo. In his remarks, given four days before the United States’ Independence Day, Elder Holland discussed three necessities required to “forge a future of freedom”: charity, hope and faith.

The service was held at the BYU Marriott Center in Provo, Utah. His wife, Sister Paige Holland; and his father, President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, were also in attendance.

Read more about this story here.

2023 Freedom Festival: President Lund urges others to ‘come together as a nation’ and ‘look out for each other’

Church News podcast: Elder Matthew S. Holland and Oxford’s the Rev. Dr. Andrew Teal on building bridges of interfaith friendship

2. Temple open house dates, renovation schedules released

Reservations are now available for the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple public open house, which runs Friday, Aug. 16, through Saturday, Aug. 31, excluding Sundays. Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the Tallahassee Florida Temple on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, with the two dedicatory sessions — at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Eastern — to be broadcast to all units within the new temple district. The Orlando Florida Temple is now closed for operations, 30 years after its 1994 dedication. The Toronto Ontario Temple is scheduled to reopen in December 2024.

Read more about the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple here.

Read more about the Tallahassee Florida Temple here.

Read more about the Orlando Florida Temple and Toronto Ontario Temple here.

Ground broken for Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple, the state’s second

Ground broken for new Tallahassee temple, the third in Florida

First Presidency announces renovation closure for Orlando Florida Temple

3. Change of plans: How following the Lord’s direction has blessed Elder Shumway’s life

“We’ve always had a plan in our lives,” said Elder Steven D. Shumway, who was sustained as a General Authority Seventy in April 2024 general conference. “But the Lord has had a way of providing a different and better way forward for us. Following His way has required us to act and take a step forward even when you are surrounded by darkness. Once we take that step forward, the light begins to appear. That’s been the story of our lives. We have needed to trust that the Lord is guiding us to a better place that we cannot see. And now that we look back, it’s easy to see how God has been in the details of everything we’ve done.”

Read more about this story here.

4. Episode 195: ‘Book of Mormon Videos’ producers on making the series and the truths found in sacred scripture

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched the fifth and final season of the “Book of Mormon Videos” series in early 2024. This episode of the Church News podcast looks behind the scenes with series producers Aaron Merrell and Jaelan Petrie to explore the storytelling process of creating the videos and the sacred book of scripture they are based on.

Listen to the Church News podcast here.

First video from the final season of ‘Book of Mormon Videos’ released

Season 5 of the Book of Mormon Videos has the ‘ultimate benefit’ of bringing people to Christ

5. Primary children have their own FSY and mission prep in Portugal and Colombia

Primary children in the Vila Nova de Gaia 1st Ward, Porto Portugal Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had their own “FSY children” activity this month. The event was inspired by FSY and adapted for younger ages, explained the Church’s Portugal Newsroom. The meetinghouse was filled with laughter and excitement — with group activities, games and competitions challenging the children’s creativity and cooperation.

Read the full story here.

Primary general presidency: Children contributing in and ministering to one another in Primary

Primary children invited to watch September Friend to Friend with President Holland and Primary general presidency

6. Refugee recovery in Democratic Republic of the Congo, West Africa

Refugees fleeing from dangerous situations in South Sudan and Nigeria have found shelter in neighboring countries. There, the Church partnered with other organizations, including the nonprofit organization ShelterBox and The United Nations Children’s Fund, known as UNICEF, to provide opportunities for displaced people to rebuild their lives and gain education needed to improve their situations.

Read more about the DR Congo here.

Read more about West Africa here.

The Church and ShelterBox helping people after war, violence, natural disasters

Church and UNICEF helping refugee children from South Sudan

Relief Society global initiative for women and children seeks to provide the Savior’s relief

7. How faith and resilience have propelled this Latter-day Saint woman to become a rear admiral in the Coast Guard Reserve

Joanna Hiigel has become the fourth woman selected to the rank of rear admiral in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. She was officially promoted on July 1.

Hiigel feels a great sense of responsibility for the 6,000 Coast Guard reserves and their families. She is grateful for the years of experience that have shaped her as a leader, wife, mother and Latter-day Saint. She finds inspiration in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Read the full story here.

How a Church-sponsored interfaith event — Sailors Devotional — at a U.S. Navy base is growing and blessing lives worldwide

‘Find peace in Jesus Christ,’ Elder Uchtdorf teaches at Utah National Guard devotional

8. Latter-day Saints competing in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games

As the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris approach, members of the Church prepare to compete in the games. From the United States, there are six Latter-day Saint athletes so far who are planning trips to Paris: marathoners Conner Mantz and Clayton Young; steeplechasers Kenneth Rooks, James Corrigan and Courtney Wayment; and Jimmer Fredette in 3-by-3 basketball.

Read more about Latter-day Saint Olympians here.

Latter-day Saint teen carries Olympic torch in French Polynesia

Former BYU athlete Courtney Wayment heading to Paris Olympics

BYU’s James Corrigan races to beat Olympic standard, qualifies for 2024 Paris Games

9. Dell Van Orden, former editor of the Church News, dies at age 88

Dell R. Van Orden, who witnessed — and documented — the news of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than 30 years, died Thursday, June 27, 2024, at age 88.

Van Orden was the editor of the Church News from 1976 to 1999 and originated the Deseret News Church Almanac in 1974. When he retired in October 1999, Van Orden reflected on his career and said it “has been great to stand at the window for the past 31 years and see the work of the Lord unfold.”

Read the full story here.

Glimpses of prophets through the window of the Church News

Robert M. Wilkes, former interim president of BYU–Idaho, dies at age 84

Elder Pearson asked young adults to remember sitting at his keynote address whenever they feel alone in their belief in the Savior. “You belong to a vast and a growing worldwide community of believers.”

Elder Pearson said many people in the world are suffering from tunnel vision. Rather than seeing all the good that members of the Church perform, people tend to focus only on perceived negative aspects of the Church and Church members.

The Savior used the phrase “eyes to see and ears to hear” eight times in the New Testament, Elder Pearson said. He reminded listeners that the Savior was not talking about physical impairments, but rather those who could not understand the lessons that He taught.

Elder Pearson then turned the question onto his audience. “Do you have the eyes and ears to see what’s really happening in the world today?” He noted that, in this dispensation, people have the greatest access to divine truth and sacred ordinances in the history of the world. “The knowledge of the Living Christ is filling the earth even as we speak here tonight.”

The potential for greatness

Elder Pearson said individuals can develop eyes to see and ears to hear the truth of the Savior through the Holy Ghost. However, developing an understanding of the Savior takes time and effort.

He quoted Church President Russell M. Nelson, stating that the young single adults of the Church “have the capacity to be smarter and wiser and have more impact on the world than any previous generation.”

Elder Pearson recounted a story about one of his children who joined the track team. During the first track meet, his son threw up on the track in front of the other runners. However, his son stuck with track, pushing himself harder and harder until he managed to set a school record for the fastest 800 meter sprint.

“Hard work reveals capacity,” Elder Pearson said. “The more he ran, the more he could run. The more he ran, the more efficient and effective he was at running.”

Elder Pearson asked audience members if they were willing to put in the hard work to become the kind of people that President Nelson believes they can become.

“You matter. You have always mattered. You will always matter.”

Elder Kevin W. Pearson, General Authority Seventy and Utah Area President

He also asked audience members to consider who they really are. Elder Pearson said identity impacts the values and beliefs a person holds. Those, in turn, impact the attitudes and behaviors of the individual, which impacts their actions.

“As soon as you begin to find out who you really are, everything changes,” Elder Pearson said.

He reminded listeners that they are children of God, and that the people around them have a divine identity, just as they do. As individuals better understand their divine identities, they can determine the plan that God has for them, Elder Pearson said.

“You are a beloved child of God,” he said. “You matter. You have always mattered. You will always matter.”

Find new ways to serve

Saturday morning kicked off with a keynote address by Sharon Eubank, director of humanitarian services for the Church and a former member of the Relief Society general presidency, as she encouraged young single adults to serve in their communities and deepen their covenant relationship with God.

She began by sharing the story of a man named Scott who went missing in a Kentucky forest. After 14 days of worry and prayer, he was finally found — and the first thing he asked for was a hug.

Sister Eubank said that, like Scott, “we all need a rescue.” She emphasized that the gospel is about rescuing each other: “We call it volunteer service. We call it humanitarian work. We call it ministering … but at its heart, it’s about helping somebody with their problem.”

So how can young single adults serve? Sister Eubank showed four videos of young single adults sharing their experiences serving those around them. From these examples, Sister Eubank highlighted several lessons such as, “You don’t need to wait to be generous,” and “If you trust in the Lord, He will guide you in the best way possible.”

Sister Eubank also asked everyone in the auditorium to answer a few survey questions about issues they’re concerned about in their communities. As over 2,000 answers rolled in, most revolved around mental health, societal division and loneliness. Other survey questions asked young single adults how they prefer to serve.

Sister Eubank then gave her first invitation to the young single adults: “Find a new way to serve and take somebody else with you.”

Her second invitation was for young single adults to be endowed with God’s power in the temple. “Marriage isn’t the passage into mature discipleship in this Church, … it’s the endowment,” she said.

She continued: “When we love God with all our heart, might, mind and strength, He invites us to His house, to the temple, where He gives us tools and He teaches us how to use them. If you work every day so those promises you made in the holy temple are kept, it’s going to transform your life, and it’s going to transform the society where you live.”

Sister Eubank said no one needs to worry about whether their life is meaningful or if they missed their chance. If they try to keep their covenants, “the Lord God, the whole universe, is going to take on the task of shaping your life and making it meaningful. He will open the doors that you need to walk through.”

‘You were made to soar,’ Elder Uchtdorf tells young adults in Utah Area devotional

What President Freeman said about road trips, Elder McKay about perfection, at young single adult conference

Utah YSA Conference convention day 2: Highlights from breakout sessions

‘I like the thought of being part of that’: YSAs gather for record-breaking activities at Utah Area conference

Lehi’s vision of the tree of life is one of many different witnesses of Christ found in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. This vision also tracks onto the life of Amos Makulu, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Makulu fled from his home in 2006, finding safety in a refugee camp in Lugufu, Tanzania. While there, he met a man named Mchumbe, who also fled to safety from Nairobi, Kenya. Makulu became friends with Mchumbe and asked him if he had anything that Makulu could read while they were in the refugee camp. Mchumbe gave Makulu a copy of the Book of Mormon.

Mchumbe had been given the Book of Mormon by missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nairobi, Kenya, and took it with him when he fled his home. However, Mchumbe had lost interest in the Book of Mormon and was looking for someone else to give it to.

According to Elder David Olson, a missionary who worked with Makulu, Makulu knew that the Book of Mormon was true the moment he first read it. He had been a preacher for Jehovah’s Witnesses before fleeing his home, but upon reading the Book of Mormon with another friend from the refugee camp, Denis Akulu, they both “started to learn, and we were very happy,” Makulu said.

Like Lehi before him, Makulu started to share what brought him so much happiness with others in the refugee camp, building a “family” of interested learners. While the Book of Mormon was an excellent teaching tool, he and “his family of 11 people” had many questions. “We had to find out the answers to those questions with the missionaries and Church leaders,” Makulu said.

Through the use of letters, Makulu and his family got in touch with the Kenya Nairobi Mission and spoke with missionaries. According to Makulu, they learned “many things about the gospel” over the next six years and wanted to be baptized and join the Church. However, the closest congregation to their location was in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, roughly 1,171 kilometers or about 728 miles away.

Makulu was undaunted by the distance. After he was unable to secure plane tickets, Makulu and two of his family members decided to walk across the country from Lugufu to Dar es Salaam. Makulu and his friends were baptized in 2014; shortly afterward, Makulu immigrated to the United States, settling in Buffalo, New York. He became one of the first Church members in the area who speaks Swahili, though he also knows French and Kibembe, a language spoken commonly in the DRC.

Elder Olson and Elder Abocha Ebakyelo, two Swahili-speaking missionaries serving in the New York Buffalo Mission, have worked extensively with Makulu as he has shared his testimony with those around him.

“From what I see in Amos, he just has such a passion,” Elder Olson said. “We’ve been working with him towards creating a branch with our Swahili group.”

Elder Ebakyelo agreed: “He is a good man, and he’s very comfortable with the gospel. We as missionaries have worked with him a couple times as he joins in on our lessons.”

There are currently 46 Swahili-speaking members of the Church who meet together, with 43 more people who are interested in attending. Makulu knows almost all of them and regularly attends missionary lessons with people, sometimes surprising the missionaries themselves when he shows up.

“He knows the gospel really well,” Elder Ebakyelo said.

“He knows that through the Lord anything is possible and that the group will be able to grow into a strong branch,” Elder Olson added.

Makulu has remained in touch with his friends in Africa, who have spread across Tanzania, Kenya and the DRC. “It has become a large group,” he said. He also said that “more than 30 families” living in Africa have been baptized and joined the Church.

“After knowing the truth of the restored gospel, I have changed, and my testimony has changed,” Makulu said. He said he plans to study “until I know this gospel fully,” and he encourages everyone to learn and “know the truth about our faith.”

“Our faith is good, and we have love for you and everyone,” Makulu said.

First FSY conference in Tanzania draws hundreds of youth

Elder Gary E. Stevenson’s testimony of Christ and outreach in Africa

Strengthened relationships lead to Church growth in Africa

In a another Church News podcast episode, President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, talked about his responsibilities with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the joy of temple worship and Latter-day Saint youth.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to members of the Church living in Peru about the importance of both integrity and discipleship. Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles rededicated the Logan Tabernacle after a 30-month renovation.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught attendees at a devotional on Brigham Young University campus during BYU’s annual University Conference. In temple news, the Casper Wyoming Temple open house began, and an update on the Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square renovations was released. Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, spoke at a devotional at the Provo Missionary Training Center, teaching missionaries about the traits of a successful missionary.

The Church announced a new initiative designed to provide support for military veterans and their families, organized by the Church’s Military Relations, Chaplain Services and Prison Ministries Division of the Priesthood and Family Department. The Church News reported on eight athletes with connections to the Church who are competing in the 2024 Paris Paralympics. A man named Amos Makulu shared his story with the Church News and his decision to walk 728 miles across Tanzania to be baptized as a member of the Church after reading the Book of Mormon.

Read more about these stories below.

1. Podcast episode 203: Exploring the legacy of President Russell M. Nelson ahead of his 100th birthday

On Sept. 9, President Nelson will turn 100 years old. To help put historic events of his life into context, Church News welcomed back historian Richard E. Turley Jr., who has worked with and observed President Nelson for decades, to talk about President Nelson’s years of selfless service in the Church.

Listen to the Church News podcast, episode 203, here.

Church announces special broadcast for President Nelson’s 100th birthday

Updated: 100+ announcements and changes in the Church since President Nelson became Prophet

2. Podcast episode 204: President Jeffrey R. Holland on the gospel of Jesus Christ and life’s challenges, with guest host Sheri Dew

In this special episode of the Church News podcast, President Holland and guest host Sheri Dew, executive vice president of Deseret Management Corp. and a former member of the Relief Society general presidency, discuss how the gospel can help provide comfort in trials and bring joy in triumphs.

Listen to the Church News podcast, episode 204, here.

3. Elder Bednar teaches at young adult conference, stake conferences in Peru

High in the Andes Mountains in Huancayo, Peru, Elder Bednar invited Church members to prepare spiritually to regularly worship in the house of the Lord when it is built there. The stake conference was broadcast to two other stakes on Sunday, Aug. 25.

In Lima, Peru, Elder Bednar spoke on Monday, Aug. 26, to young adults who were gathered for a multi-day conference. He encouraged them to shine the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the world through integrity and discipleship, and through the power that comes from covenants made in the house of the Lord with God the Father and His Son.

In Cusco and in Peru’s Sacred Valley, he blessed Saints to draw strength from their covenants with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and invited them to continue building firm foundations in Jesus Christ.

Read more about the stake conference in Huancayo here.

Read more about the young adult conference in Lima here.

Read more about his ministry in Cusco here.

Peru Latter-day Saints engage in interfaith, humanitarian efforts

Learn about the Huancayo Peru Temple

4. Logan Tabernacle rededicated by Elder Cook in city where he grew up

The Logan Tabernacle was rededicated on Aug. 25, 30 months after it had closed for renovations. Elder Cook dedicated the pioneer-era tabernacle after recalling his own memories of listening to talks given in his childhood.

“I remember listening to the leaders of the Church speaking in this tabernacle at stake conferences,” Elder Cook said as he spoke to a capacity crowd of nearly 1,000 individuals. “I loved hearing from these leaders when I was a little older. Most of them inspired in me a desire to live a more Christlike life.”

Read more about the Logan Tabernacle dedication here.

The path to 200 houses of the Lord: Temple Nos. 1-20

Logan's new FamilySearch center

5. ‘Look to our Prophet,’ Elder Rasband tells BYU faculty and staff

Speaking in the Marriott Center on Monday, Aug. 26, during BYU’s annual University Conference, Elder Rasband testified that President Nelson is the Lord’s Prophet on the earth and encouraged university leadership to follow President Nelson’s prophetic counsel. “Let me say this strongly: The prophetic governance of BYU is its comparative advantage in the whole world,” Elder Rasband said.

Read more about this story here.

See who’s speaking at campus devotionals this fall and how to watch

6. Temple news: Salt Lake Temple renovation update, Casper Wyoming Temple open house begins

An August 2024 update on the Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square renovations focuses on transfer girders, new pavilions and the reopened Church Office Building Plaza and Main Street Plaza. Earlier in the week, on Monday, Aug. 26, the Casper Wyoming Temple open house began with media day, the release of interior and exterior images, and a change in the dedication date.

See the video and images of the Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square renovation update here.

Find out more about the Casper Wyoming Temple here.

The path to 200 houses of the Lord: A look at Nos. 21-40

7. Sister Wright underscores traits of a successful missionary

By virtue of covenant connection, missionaries will receive help and strength from the Lord in the complex situations and challenging times they face, taught Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, at a devotional at the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, Aug. 27. She pointed to the example of Ammon from the Book of Mormon.

Read more about Sister Wright’s message at the Provo MTC here.

8. Church announces new initiative to provide support for military veterans

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is launching a new initiative to provide support for military veterans and their families. The veterans support initiative was organized by the Church’s Military Relations, Chaplain Services and Prison Ministries Division of the Priesthood and Family Department, which has advised the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for more than 75 years. This is a service the Church desires to provide for Latter-day Saint veterans worldwide, not just in the United States.

Learn more about the Church’s veterans support initiative here.

9. Meet the Latter-day Saints competing in the 2024 Paris Paralympics

The 2024 Paralympic Games began on Wednesday, Aug. 28, and several athletes connected to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are among those competing in Paris, France. One is making history as a five-time Paralympian, another is competing again after 12 years, and others are competing in their debut Games.

Find out more about these athletes here.

10. Refugee walks 728 miles to be baptized after reading Book of Mormon

Amos Makulu walked across Tanzania to be baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now in New York, he was instrumental in the creation of a Swahili-speaking branch.

Read more about Amos Makulu here.

Church donates $5 million to Edesia Nutrition to aid fight against malnutrition

‘The Rings of Power’ showrunner and Latter-day Saint J.D. Payne reflects on how mission lessons, faith shaped his career

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke at a devotional at an Especially For Young Single Adult Conference that was broadcast to two other YSA conferences happening across North America. Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. shared an analogy about mangrove trees and faith communities at the G20 Interfaith Forum. The Church News reported on the groundbreaking ceremonies for three temples and the media days and beginning of open-house period of two additional houses of the Lord.

The Church released an update of the General Handbook that includes direction on sealings, information on Sunday meetings and more. Elder W. Mark Bassett, General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Missionary Department, spoke at the Provo Missionary Training Center, teaching missionaries how to “bring people to the healing waters.” BYU–Pathway President Brian K. Ashton spoke on the Church News podcast about the growing legacy of the BYU–Pathway program.

Read more about these nine stories here.

1. President Holland teaches of the garment’s reminder and symbolism of the Savior as it is worn day and night

Dating back to Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden, wearing the garment of the holy priesthood has been “a sacred physical reminder of [our] covenants — a symbol of the Savior Himself.”

That teaching is from President Holland in the September 2024 Liahona magazine. In an article titled “The Garment of the Holy Priesthood,” President Holland discusses the importance of wearing the temple garment day and night. The September issue of the magazine is now available in the Gospel Library, including the full text of President Holland’s article.

Read more about this story here.

Emphasizing covenants, First Presidency updates temple recommend interview questions, shares statement on the wearing of the temple garment

Church-produced video explains purpose, sacred nature of temple garments

2. Then and now: A look at Elder Bednar’s invitation 10 years ago to ‘flood the earth’ with gospel messages on social media

Ten years ago Elder Bednar invited members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to “fill the earth with goodness” by using social media to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“What has been accomplished thus far in this dispensation communicating gospel messages through social media channels is a good beginning — but only a small trickle,” Elder Bednar said during Brigham Young University’s Education Week devotional on Aug. 19, 2014.

“I now extend to you the invitation to help transform the trickle into a flood. Beginning at this place on this day, I exhort you to sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth — messages that are authentic, edifying and praiseworthy — and literally to sweep the earth as with a flood.”

Read more about this story here.

Everyone is a pioneer, Elder Bednar says at Days of ’47 Parade

Elder Bednar: These days are ‘a remarkable season’ in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

3. Elder Andersen, other Church leaders speak at BYU Education Week

Elder Andersen’s topic for the keynote address during BYU Education Week was “profoundly important,” said the member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “and at the foundation of how we choose to live our lives.”

During the week of Aug 19-23, thousands of participants traveled to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, to participate in this year’s BYU Education Week. Among speakers were several Church officers, including members of the Relief Society, Primary, Young Women and Young Men general presidencies.

Read more about Elder Andersen’s keynote here.

Read more about BYU Education Week here.

How Relief Society — and its members — are engaging in the sacred work of bringing the Savior’s relief to the world

Primary general presidency at BYU Education Week: Developing lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ

Young Men and Young Women general presidencies: Using the ‘For the Strength of Youth’ guide to develop lifelong discipleship

4. Elder Stevenson broadcasts message to 3 young single adult conferences in North America

Speaking to young single adults in Idaho, Illinois and Canada, Elder Stevenson extended a call to action: to be peacemakers and build bridges of understanding.

Elder Stevenson’s message was broadcast to those participating in regional Especially for Young Single Adult Conferences from Aug. 14-16.

Read more about this story here.

Elder Stevenson throws 1st pitch at Kansas City Royals’ JustServe Night

Elder Gary E. Stevenson presents 12 U.S. governors with their pedigree charts

5. The ‘collective moral mangrove’ analogy Elder Soares shared at the G20 Interfaith Forum

The mangrove tree filters toxins and provides stability around tropical coastlines. Similarly, faith communities can serve as society’s moral filters and stabilizers, said Elder Soares at the G20 Interfaith Forum.

“As a collective moral mangrove, we can protect future generations from forces of addiction, isolation, narcissism and moral relativism that could consume them,” said Elder Soares. “A moral mangrove, and all the people who are part of it, are crucial to the fabric that strengthens and holds our society together and gives us faith in the future of the world.”

Read more about this story here.

‘Joy in the journey’: Elder Soares ministers in Mongolia and Japan

3 principles Elder Soares said must become ‘essential beliefs’ among missionaries looking for people to ...

6. Same-day groundbreakings for three temples, while two temples open to the public

Groundbreaking ceremonies for three future temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were on Saturday, Aug. 17 — for the Austin Texas, Londrina Brazil and Santiago West Chile temples.

During the week, two temples in South America were opened to the media and later to the general public. Church leaders — including Elder Soares and the South America South and Brazil area presidencies — welcomed media representatives to the Salvador Brazil Temple and the Mendoza Argentina Temple.

Read more about these temple groundbreakings here.

Read more about these temple media days and open houses here.

Groundbreaking signals beginning of construction for the Austin Texas Temple

Ground broken for Londrina Brazil Temple

Ground broken for the Santiago West Chile Temple

Salvador Brazil Temple opens for tours to media, public

Mendoza Argentina Temple opens for media, invited-guest and open-house tours

7. Church’s General Handbook updates include direction on sealings, Sunday meetings and more

The Church published multiple adjustments to its General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Monday, Aug. 19, on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

This is the second update of the year for the handbook that serves as a reference for “understanding of principles, policies and procedures,” according to the manual’s introduction. The first updates of the year came at the end of May and included modifications to sections on the Primary organization, missionaries and meetings of the Church.

The complete handbook is published digitally on ChurchofJesusChrist.org and in the Gospel Library app and is available for all members and friends of the Church to study.

Read more about this story here.

See handbook updates made in May 2024

8. ‘Bring people to the healing waters,’ invites Elder Bassett at Provo MTC

Elder Bassett spoke to new missionaries in the Provo Missionary Training Center on Aug. 21. The General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Missionary Department was joined by his wife, Sister Angela Bassett. The two testified that missionaries can bring many to Jesus’ healing as they invite them to repent and treasure the words of prophets.

Read more about this story here.

Elder Bassett at 2024 Seminar for New Mission Leaders: Confidently teaching the doctrine of baptism

Church News podcast episode 196: Excerpts from the 2024 Seminar for New Mission Leaders focus on missionary purpose of inviting others to come unto Christ

9. Podcast episode 202: President Brian K. Ashton and Matt Eyring discuss the growing legacy of BYU–Pathway

In 2009, BYU–Idaho launched a program called Pathway. This one-year, reduced-cost online program was offered to students wherever they lived, without stepping on a university campus. Eight years later, in 2017, Pathway changed when the Church announced the creation of BYU–Pathway Worldwide.

On this episode of the Church News podcast, one learns the stories of faith that have guided the growth and success of BYU–Pathway with its president, Brian K. Ashton, and Matt Eyring, the school’s vice president of advancement.

Listen to the Church News podcast here.

Episode 176: Elder Clark G. Gilbert on the expansive Church Educational System and the power of involving the Lord in learning

Episode 13: BYU–Pathway Worldwide President Gilbert discusses innovations blessing Church education

“I might be the only human being who’s ever seen this view,” she recalled. “No one gets this lost to see this view where I am. But God still made this view for me to see.”

After finding her bearings, she continued through the course outlined on her map, returning successfully to her cheering parents and team members. Of her teammates waiting for her, nearly 60% of the 33 team members are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After congratulating her on her successful run, the whole team turned back to the course, waiting for their other team members to finish.

What is orienteering?

Orienteering is a trail-running sport that uses detailed maps and compasses to navigate to checkpoints scattered around a large area. Depending on the course, the area could be a wilderness of bushes, trees and streams, an arid desert wasteland, or a local college campus. Runners follow brief instructions from checkpoint to checkpoint, using an electronic key to track the timing of the runners. This year, there were five runners on the varsity team, eight runners on the junior varsity team, and 20 runners from various middle schools around Tacoma.

“Orienteering is a sport for all ages,” said 16-year-old varsity team member Greta Leonard. “It’s honestly something that I want to do my entire life.” Leonard joined the orienteering club during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. She liked to run, and being alone on the course allowed her to run while avoiding close contact with other team members. Greta recently won the Orienteering USA’s 2024 Wilson Character through Competition Award through her dedication and excitement to the sport.

Many of the Church members joined the club during the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, encouraged by youth leaders and parents at their local congregation. Clara, Greta and 16-year-old varsity team member Bryce Winters have been racing for years, and each of them work together to support their teammates.

“I was super proud of the people who raced well,” said Bryce. “We cheer for our teammates a lot after races, we do course reviews, and we talk through the mistakes we made and talk about strategies, how not to do it in future, and share intelligence and praise.”

Each of the team members competes for the fastest time. The top three scores are then calculated per team, with the best overall team score winning. Both speed and accuracy in hitting each checkpoint are important factors in the best scores. Over the past three years, the Tahoma Orienteering Club brought home five first place victories in the Orienteering USA Junior Nationals — three for the varsity orienteering team and two for the junior varsity team.

Gospel applications of orienteering

Two of the team’s coaches — former coach John Brady and current coach Chris Cooper, who is Ben Cooper’s father — both saw that there was something different about the team members who belonged to the Church. Brady wrote in an email to the parents of Church team members that he “can’t help but be impressed and humbled by you guys. I just need to stop and tip my cap to you all and acknowledge what you guys have consistently done since I’ve known you ... selflessly help.”

Chris Cooper agreed with his predecessor, complementing Church team members. “I would say that they are more positive, more open, they share the experiences — both high and low — together, but they’re very much open to those who are not of the faith, and that speaks to me.”

Erin Winters, Bryce Winters’ mother, has often heard the youth use examples from their orienteering experiences to relate to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. “I‘ve heard a whole lot of sacred meeting talks using orienteering stories and experiences and parallels,” Erin Winters said. “So it’s always when an orienteering kid gets up to speak, we generally expect they’re gonna use some orienteering parallel.”

Greta shared an experience when she was lost in the forests of Washington state for nearly 30 minutes, unsure of where she was or where to go. “I felt alone and kind of ... helpless.” Rather than sitting down and giving up, Greta turned to God for help. “I said a little prayer, ... ‘I need courage to figure this out and perseverance so that I don’t just sit here crying,’ and I’ve just felt a lot of comfort from the Holy Ghost in those times, like ‘You know what, you might not know where you are, and you might not know where you’re going, but it’s going to be OK.’”

Examples for others

As these team members share their experiences while lost in the woods, they can be inspiring to their teammates, their family and their peers. Junior varsity team member Leah Jergensen had an older sister who first started orienteering. Even though her sister decided not to pursue the team after her first year, 14-year-old Leah decided to stick with it, in spite of it occasionally getting “really scary.”

“During the race, you can get lost, and it can get really scary,” Leah said. “I don’t know if I can make my way back or if I could finish the race. And so sometimes, I’ll say a little prayer, and then I take a few deep breaths ... And sometimes that just helps me to finish my race. I think how that builds my testimony is how I know that Heavenly Father will always be there for us, and He’ll make sure that we’re safe and that we always know what to do in difficult times.”

Thane Winters, Bryce Winters’ 14-year-old brother who competes on the junior varsity team, began orienteering when he was just 10 years old. Thane said that before each of his races, he says a prayer the night before. He prays “to be able to do well and not get super lost,” and in four years of racing, he feels like his prayers do help him.

Clara said, “One of the biggest parts of this sport is that you’re constantly going to fail at it. Even the best of us have bad races, and it’s about learning how to make those mistakes and move on from them.”

She said that some of her team members would occasionally let a mistake they had get to their heads. “Part of the strategy is learning how to move past a mistake without letting yourself fall apart.” After difficult races, team members would rally together to go over maps and reassure one another to encourage them to continue.

Ben Cooper said that he was really impressed with the members of their team, and especially members of the Church on the team. “I’m really impressed with the athletes, personality-wise and moral-wise. Plus they always do well on race day, so that always helps.” Ben Cooper was also honored with the 2024 Wilson Character through Competition Award.

“If someone wants to ask a question [about religion], the kids don’t shy away from that,” Chris Cooper said. “They’re very proud of where they come from, they’re very proud of what they believe in, they’re never afraid to discuss that with anyone. But yet they’re not overt, they’re not in your face. And I really respect that.”

Navigating towards the future

As these young orienteering members of the Church look to their future, they plan to keep competing as much as possible. Greta and another varsity team member, 17-year-old Jackson Rupe competed at the Junior World Orienteering Championships in Czechia, also known in English as the Czech Republic, in July. Greta has already made plans to continue competing until she turns in her application to serve as a full-time missionary. After returning from serving the Lord, she plans to start right back up where she left off.

“Orienteering is really a sport for all ages,” Greta said. “it’s honestly something I want to do my entire life.” She said that the lessons she has learned while competing transfers really well to everyday life, including trusting in the Lord. “Those are all things that I use in daily life and things that I need in daily life to get through it.”

U.S. ultimate frisbee team includes 3 Latter-day Saint teens

Latter-day Saint Australian teen lays it all out there in world ultimate championships

The governor of the state of São Paulo met with Elder Ciro Schmeil, General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the Brazil Area presidency, and other Church leaders to express their gratitude and appreciation to the Church and its members for their help in humanitarian and community programs. The Church News reported on the final days of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The correspondence of President Louise Y. Robison, seventh Relief Society general president, is now available in the Church History Library.

The weekly Church News podcast featured New York Times bestselling author and Church member Joseph Grenny to share his testimony about the positive influence that comes from the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. BYU–Pathway Worldwide President Brian K. Ashton spoke to adults in Kiribati about their place in the BYU–Pathway program. Members of the Church in California continued building their interfaith friendship with members of the Sikh faith.

Read more about these nine stories below.

1. Elder and Sister Renlund visit Festinord in Sweden

On Thursday, Aug. 1, Elder Renlund and his wife, Sister Ruth L. Renlund, visited the Young Single Adult Festinord conference in Göteborg, Sweden, accompanied by Elder Alan T. Phillips, General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the Europe North Area presidency; Area Seventies; and stake leaders.

Elder and Sister Renlund greeted each attendee before starting a devotional. Elder Renlund spoke about the time when he and his family lived in Göteborg while Elder Renlund was a teenager. It was during that time he began his journey to becoming a true convert and follower of Jesus Christ. Sister Renlund shared that behind each of Heavenly Father’s commandments is safety and happiness.

Read more about this story here.

2023: Nordic YSA conference cultivates ‘spiritual community’ through devotionals and parties

Young single adult events happening around the world in 2024

2. Send it in: How have you reached out to ‘the one’ in recent weeks?

Ahead of his 100th birthday on Sept. 9, Church President Russell M. Nelson invited everyone to minister in the Savior’s way to share His love.

“One of the places where the Savior used the number 100 in the scriptures was the parable of the lost sheep,” President Nelson wrote in a social media post on Saturday, June 1. “Though 99 of His flock were safely by His side, the shepherd went in search of the one who was lost.”

Church News wants to hear from readers: How have you reached out to “the one” in recent weeks? Or how have you been ministered to as the one in recent weeks?

Read more about this story here.

To celebrate his 100th birthday, President Nelson invites all to reach out to ‘the one’

How people have seen Christ’s love when someone reached out to them as ‘the one’

3. First Presidency releases site location for Tulsa Oklahoma Temple; Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple opens to media, public for tours

On Monday, Aug. 12, the First Presidency of the Church released the site location for the Tulsa Oklahoma Temple. This is the second house of the Lord to be built in Oklahoma, located in the state’s second-largest city.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened the new Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple — first to media tours on Monday, Aug. 12, and to the general public beginning Friday, Aug. 16, in an extended public open house. The temple open house will run through Saturday, Aug. 31, excluding Sundays.

Read more about the Tulsa Oklahoma Temple here.

Read more about the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple here.

A midyear look at temple milestones for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Church releases location, exterior rendering for Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple

4. Brazil Area Church leaders meet with governor and first lady of state of São Paulo

On Aug. 12, the governor of Brazil’s state of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, and first lady Cristiane Freitas received the visit of representatives of The Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints in Brazil at the Palácio dos Bandeirantes, which is the headquarters of the state administration and the couple’s official residence.

The news was first published Tuesday, Aug. 13, on the Self-Reliance Brazil Facebook page.

The governor and his wife extended the invitation to the Church leaders to express their gratitude and appreciation to the Church and its members. The Church has been actively involved in numerous humanitarian projects in the state, such as donations and services recently provided in partnership with the state government. This active involvement underscores the Church’s commitment to the community.

Read more about this story here.

Finding faith after the floods in Rio Grande do Sul

Donations and humanitarian efforts in Brazil help increase skills and self-reliance

5. Latter-day Saints in the Olympics: 3 medals in steeplechase, rugby sevens

Church News reported throughout 2024 Paris Olympics on athletes who are members of the Church. Now that the Summer Olympic season has come and gone for another four years, the Church News summarized the efforts of these competing athletes.

From the purple track to the basketball court to the shooting range, more than a dozen athletes connected to the Church competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics — most making their Olympic debuts.

Read about how these athletes did here.

Latter-day Saints in the Olympics, day 15: 2 former BYU runners race through Paris in the marathon, placing in the top 10

Kenneth Rooks receives congratulations from President Holland

How the Book of Mormon inspired Kenneth Rooks to Olympic silver medal success

Church donates funds for ambulance stationed at the 2024 Olympic surfing competition

6. Correspondence of Church’s Relief Society general president during Great Depression now accessible in Church History Library

Sister Robison served as the Relief Society general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1928 to 1939, a difficult period of economic downturn known as the Great Depression, when there were more than 64,000 members of the Relief Society worldwide in 1930.

Robison’s correspondence with members and Church leaders in now available in a digital collection in the Church History Catalog: Louise Y. Robison Papers, 1928–1939 (CR 11 30). The announcement was made in a news release on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

“Her collection offers readers a rich glimpse into the administration and discipleship of a devoted general president of the Relief Society,” the release said.

Read more about this story here.

Remembering the life and legacy of Latter-day Saint trailblazer Martha Hughes Cannon

What pioneer Edward Martin did after leading his handcart company to Utah

7. Podcast episode 201: Joseph Grenny on the power and positive influence of truth and covenants

New York Times bestselling author and Church member Joseph Grenny spoke on the Church News podcast about his desire to share his hope in the betterment of humanity and testimony of the unmatched, positive influence of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Through thorough research, a variety of business endeavors and personal experiences, Grenny said he has learned the value of practical and spiritual influences that spark change in even the most dire circumstances. In 2015, he and his colleagues founded The Other Side Academy, a free residential life skills program for those with long histories of crime, addiction and homelessness. And this work has recently expanded to the The Other Side Village project and more.

Listen to the Church News podcast here.

Episode 200: Sarah Jane Weaver on the sacred responsibility of working to create a ‘living record of the Restoration’

Episode 197: Finnish member Mia Kemppaala on the power of personal revelation

8. BYU–Pathway Worldwide to adults in Kiribati: ‘You will have a future here’

BYU–Pathway Worldwide President Brian K. Ashton had a simple message recently for Latter-day Saints and others within the greater community of Tarawa, Kiribati: “The Lord loves and favors you. He wants you to be established here in Kiribati with an education and a job.”

President Ashton and his wife, Sister Melinda Ashton, as well as other leaders from BYU–Pathway Worldwide and BYU–Hawaii, visited Tarawa earlier this summer to help adults and young adults interested in higher education become better acquainted with the opportunities afforded by BYU–Pathway and BYU–Hawaii and help answer questions, assist with registration or apply for online jobs.

Read more about this story here.

As the tiny island nation of Kiribati prepares for a temple, Elder Cook teaches principles of peace and unity

BYU–Pathway Worldwide to offer new scholarship to all students based on need

9. Interfaith friendship between Sikhs and Latter-day Saints in California continues to grow

An interfaith friendship developed decades ago between Latter-day Saints and members of the Sikh faith in northern California is continuing to blossom.

On Saturday, Aug. 3, more than 200 youth and 75 adults of the Roseville California Stake participated in a youth conference event that involved visiting a number of venues in the Yuba City area.

The city in California is home to one of the largest Sikh populations outside of India. One highlight came when the group visited the Sikh Temple Gurdwara, a short distance from the Church’s Feather River California Temple.

Read more about this story here.

Why Latter-day Saints were invited to host a booth at the Sikh festival in Yuba City

The Feather River California Temple will be a ‘beacon in this area,’ Elder Soares says at dedication

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles threw the ceremonial first pitch at the Kansas City Royals’ JustServe Night. Young Men General President Steven J. Lund and Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman spoke on an Instagram live video about the upcoming “Festival: A Youth Concert,” where youth can worship the Savior through music. The Young Men general presidency spoke about three things bishops can do to help the rising generation of youth.

In this week’s Church News podcast featured Sarah Jane Weaver, recently named editor of the Deseret News, and Church News editor Jon Ryan Jensen, who will be taking over as Church News podcast host. The Church News gave updates on members of the Church competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Church News also reported on donations from the Church in Honduras and in Toronto, Ontario.

Read more about these stories below.

1. Special broadcast for President Nelson’s 100th Birthday

On Sept. 9, 2024, President Nelson turns 100 years old. On that day, members and friends of the Church are invited to view a special birthday commemoration. The 60-minute broadcast will be on Monday, Sept. 9, at 4 p.m. MDT.

On June 1, President Nelson invited everyone to spend the 100 days before his birthday finding ways to reach out to “the one,” rather than to give him a traditional gift.

Read more about the upcoming broadcast here.

4 chapters released in new manual of teachings from President Russell M. Nelson

Sarah Jane Weaver: President Nelson’s powerful promises about time in the temple

2. Video: Elder Uchtdorf shares some ‘Plane Talk’ on gospel truths

Elder Uchtdorf spoke at a BYU–Pathway devotional on May 28, 2024, using his history of aviation and knowledge of aviation principles to empathize and encourage the school’s students. In the nearly 20 years since he had been called to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Uchtdorf has often related the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to principles of aviation.

In the video, he explained that his career of being a pilot helped him gain a perspective of the gospel as much as it did of the planet.

Watch the video here.

‘Find peace in Jesus Christ,’ Elder Uchtdorf teaches at Utah National Guard devotional

Elder Uchtdorf teaches importance of unity between missionaries and Church members

3. Church leaders address thousands at 2024 Utah Area YSA Conference

Elder Uchtdorf; President Freeman; Elder Kyle S. McKay, General Authority Seventy and Church historian and recorder; Elder Kevin W. Pearson, General Authority Seventy and Utah Area president; and former Relief Society general presidency member Sharon Eubank spoke at the 2024 Utah Area YSA Conference on Aug. 2-4.

These Church leaders addressed thousands of young single adults participating in the conference. While there, young single adults learned how to improve their lives in four areas, attended a gospel-centered concert and had the chance to gather with people who share their values in a wholesome and positive environment.

Read more about Elder Uchtdorf’s devotional here.

Read more about President Freeman and Elder McKay’s devotional here.

Read more about Elder Pearson and Sharon Eubank’s devotional here.

Read more about the world records broken here.

Utah Area YSA Conference day 1: Highlights from breakout sessions

Utah YSA Conference day 2: Highlights from breakout sessions

4. Elder Stevenson throws 1st pitch at Kansas City Royals’ JustServe Night

On his 69th birthday, Elder Stevenson threw out the ceremonial first pitch on JustServe Night at a Kansas City Royals Major League Baseball game on Tuesday, Aug. 6. The Apostle’s pitch was caught by former Royals World Series pitcher and Latter-day Saint Jeremy Guthrie. The pregame festivities also featured 150 service and teaching missionaries from the Church’s Missouri Independence Mission, who performed the United States national anthem, with lyrics signed by American Sign Language missionaries.

Read more about this story here.

9 quotes by Elder Stevenson on his 69th birthday

‘A wonderful spirit’: Missionaries sing U.S. national anthem at Colorado Rockies baseball game

5. Young Men and Young Women general presidents answer questions during live Instagram video about ‘Festival: A Youth Concert’

President Lund and President Freeman were joined by singer Halee Crowther, who performs under the name Halo Ray and sang during “Festival: A Youth Concert,” at an Instagram live video where they answered questions posed by youth.

“This is an opportunity the First Presidency has given up to worship together as young men and young women,” President Lund said. “It’s amazing what a powerful tool of worship music is. Music has a way of passing through our consciousness without any stops and [speaking] directly to our soul.”

Read more about ‘Festival: A Youth Concert’ here.

Read more about the Instagram live video here.

Youth invited to see how music can be a form of worship in ‘Festival: A Youth Concert’

‘The Lord gives me the strength’: Hear from a singer with autism about performing in youth concert

6. Young Men general presidency: 3 things every bishop can do to help the rising generation

The Young Men general presidency released a recommendation that bishops clarify the responsibilities the youth need to shoulder in leadership positions, meet regularly with the Young Women president to communicate plans and listen to concerns, and consistently spend time with youth under their charge.

As part of the recommendations, the general presidency shared a story from Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles when he wrote about the difference a bishop made in his life when he was 11 years old.

Young Men and Young Women general presidencies teach about prayer

Elder Ulisses Soares' general conference talk 'Feed my Sheep'

7. Church News podcast, episode 200: Sarah Jane Weaver on the sacred responsibility of working to create a ‘living record of the Restoration’

In May 2024, podcast host Sarah Jane Weaver was named editor of the Deseret News. This appointment comes after nearly 30 years as a reporter then editor working to create “a living record of the Restoration” of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Church News.

In her tenure at the Church News, Weaver has witnessed dozens of temple dedications, interviewed countless members around the world and written about living prophets and apostles. She now hands this podcast to Church News editor Jon Ryan Jensen, who takes the reigns to interview her on her years of service and her insight into the inspired organization of Christ’s restored Church.

Listen to the Church News podcast here.

Episode 67: Sister Nelson on being an eyewitness to President Nelson’s four years as Prophet

Episode 96: Approaching his 90th birthday, President Dallin H. Oaks reflects on the lessons learned in nine decades

Episode 138: In honor of his 90th birthday, President Eyring shares life lessons on service, modern prophets and his testimony of Jesus Christ

8. Catch up with members of the Church competing at the Olympics

Members of the Church have competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics for the past two weeks now. Steeplechaser Courtney Wayment earned a spot in the final race during her first Olympic Games, earning 12th place. Steeplechaser Kenneth Rooks advanced to the men’s final race and won the silver medal. Peter Bol ran in the men’s 800 meter race. Whittni Morgan raced in the 5,000-meter final, earning a personal best 10 seconds faster than her qualifying race. Other Olympian members of the Church also competed and shared their thoughts on social media.

Read how athletes with Latter-day Saint ties did in the Summer Olympics.

Read more about the Church News’ Olympic coverage here.

Meet Latter-day Saints competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics

Latter-day Saint Olympians talk about finding hope, strength in Jesus Christ

9. Church donates medical supplies to Honduras hospitals, funds to Toronto food bank

In Honduras, the Church donated medical equipment to two hospitals on July 31 to help improve health care in the city of San Pedro Sula and in northern Honduras. The Church donated an X-ray system to Tela Hospital and a digital mammography machine to Mario Catarino Rivas Hospital. Both medical facilities are in San Pedro Sula.

In Canada, the Church has donated $2 million (US$1.45 million) to Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank. The donation was announced by food bank CEO Neil Hetherington at an event on July 29.

Read more about the donations in Honduras here.

Read more about the donation in Toronto here.

How Latter-day Saints are serving others in El Salvador, Honduras and the Dominican Republic

Church collaborates with community organizations to help those in need in Canada

During the baptism of someone they taught, they posed for a photo with the person who was to be baptized. Twenty-nine years later, their sons would re-create that photo.

Elder Carter Clements, a missionary from Boise, Idaho, serving in the city of Dar Es Salaam in the Tanzania Dar Es Salaam Mission, was in a bind. His current companion, Elder Nashhon Mvanda, had just received his visa to serve in the London England Mission. Elder Clements would have been left without a companion on May 6, 2024, less than a week away.

Meanwhile, Elder Vincent Woods from Orange County, California, was serving his fourth transfer in the mission along the shores of Lake Victoria in Mwanza, Tanzania, over 700 miles (1,137 km) away. He had been placed into a trio of missionaries for that transfer, the only trio in the mission.

Weeks after Elder Woods was transferred to serve with Elder Clements, mission President Samuel Eghan explained in a zone conference that he did not know why he had originally put Elder Woods into a trio, but there was a purpose behind his decision. President Eghan moved Elder Woods to become a companion with Elder Clements on April 29.

“We connected instantly,” Elder Clements said. “I just felt like we were brothers, almost, and we just got to work. It was a lot of fun.”

Elder Woods and Elder Clements discovered their connection during their second day together. Elder Woods asked his companion if his father had served a mission; Elder Clements explained that his father had served in the Washington D.C. North Mission nearly 30 years prior.

“Woah, that’s crazy,” Vincent Woods said. “My dad served in D.C.” The missionaries reached out to their fathers to see if they knew each other.

Matt Woods quickly replied back to his son, saying that he had served with “an Elder Clements from Rexburg, Idaho,” while on his mission. They were never companions, but they had lived in the same apartment and occasionally worked together. He then asked for the name of Carter Clements’ father.

Matt Woods said that he was “mind blown” to realize that his son was serving with the son of someone who had served with him, halfway across the world, more than 29 years apart.

“It was yet another tender mercy in a never-ending string of mercies in my life,” Matt Woods said. “Heavenly Father’s earth is small. We are all connected. And every once in a while, He allows us to recognize how aware He is of us. The odds of our sons having this experience three decades later on the other side of the world defy all coincidence.”

After learning of their sons’ connection, Matt Woods had an idea. He sent them a photo of him and Reid Clements. In the photo, Reid Clements stood by Matt Woods as they were to baptize someone they had taught while on their missions in late 1995.

“We knew at that instant that we had to try our best to re-create the photo,” Vincent Woods said.

The two missionaries worked hard in their area, teaching the people of Tanzania and strengthening the branch they served with. As Carter Clements’ mission came to a close, they met William, a man interested in learning more about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. After meeting with the missionaries, William chose to be baptized.

On July 21, William was baptized. Carter Clements and Vincent Woods celebrated William’s decision with a photo, re-created to look like the photo their fathers had taken nearly three decades prior.

“While it was neat for them to be able to re-create the picture,” said Reid Clements, “what’s really special is their motivation [and] the love they have for William, for the people of Tanzania and for the Lord.”

“God has a plan,” Carter Clements said. “He cares about us, and He connects us for certain reasons, and we don’t always know those reasons, but I know we were meant to be put together.”

Siblings reunited in mission field see how ‘the Lord knows us individually’

First FSY conference in Tanzania draws hundreds of youth

Read more Church News coverage of missionary work

Spots on the bingo card ranged from “Loves romantic comedies” to “Was born in the same month as you” to “Shares the same favorite ice cream flavor.”

Attendees of the convention portion of the YSA conference — held Aug. 2-3 in the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City — got to know other YSAs in classes, activities and service projects as they signed squares on one another’s bingo cards.

“The young adult life is kind of lonely if you don’t know what you’re doing,” said Alissa Castro from Riverton, Utah. “And so I think that having ways for people to gather and meet each other and be comfortable in a place where maybe it’s easier to be open than if you just see somebody on the street, I think that’s a really important aspect.”

Isaac Ruff from Kaysville, Utah, said of the conference: “I hope that everyone’s able to make more friends and to feel comfortable and welcome and to just have a good time, just have fun. I think that’s why we’re all here.”

Read more about the 2024 Utah Area YSA Conference

Record-breaking birthday card

Saturday afternoon, Aug. 3, thousands of young adults beat the record “Most Contributions to a Greeting Card” from Guinness World Records. Throughout Friday and Saturday, young adults lined up to sign the massive card with their name and a short birthday message.

The card celebrates Church President Russell M. Nelson’s upcoming 100th birthday on Sept. 9. Participants amassed a total of 31,384 birthday wishes to celebrate the Prophet and pioneer heart surgeon. By 8 p.m. Saturday, and with the help of a virtual form, 83,000 people had written birthday wishes.

Among the myriad messages included:

• “Thank you for sharing your testimony. It’s changed my life.”
• “I hope this card shows as much love as you show us.”
• “Thank you for making me want to love God more.”
• “You’re loved more than words can express.”
• “Here’s to a century of inspired living.”
• “Our family loves and prays for you.”
• “I want to be a doctor just like you.”
• “We love you and your example.”
• “You radiate love.”

It wasn’t uncommon to see exclamation points, hearts or sentiment in another language.

The previous record for greeting card contributions was 20,482, which was achieved by Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi on Jan. 14, 2022, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Megan Peck from Hurricane, Utah, said: “The Prophet has done so many great, amazing things that have blessed my life. So I think it’s an awesome way that I can just give back and say that I’m grateful for him.”

Braxton Pickett — also from Hurricane — agreed, saying, “Just to know that we could all express our own gratitude for our Prophet and say happy birthday to him is pretty cool.”

Chris O’Brien from Alberta, Canada — now living in Holladay, Utah — said, “I imagine his reaction to seeing this, and the happiness that it’s going to bring him, and I like the thought of being part of that.”

O’Brien said President Nelson has inspired him and given him hope. “Whether you believe he’s a Prophet or not, he’s just a good man, and he just makes so many people smile.”

Record-breaking speed dating

The YSA conference also broke the Guinness World Record for “Largest Speed Dating Event,” with 2,060 participants.

This event broke the record by more than double the previous record, 964 participants, which was set in Dublin, Ireland, on Feb. 14, 2019.

Michael Empric, an official adjudicator for Guinness World Records, declared the previous record broken shortly before the final keynote speaker on Saturday afternoon.

In order to qualify for the speed dating event, participants were required to speed date with at least 20 individuals for three minutes. Conference volunteers acted as proctors to ensure that participants were fully engaged with the event.

Caroline Howell, a volunteer from Sandy, Utah, said that she wanted to be a part of breaking the world record. She signed up after receiving an email from her stake requesting volunteers. She said that the speed dating activity was a good way to get people out of their comfort zones.

“I think for a lot of people, they might feel lonely in their beliefs,” Howell said, “so this has been a good opportunity for people to connect with others and know they are not alone in their beliefs.”

Karina Blocker from Rancho Cucamonga, California, said it was “super awesome” that she was able to participate in the world record. “You can always click with certain people, and three minutes is enough time to do that,” she said.

Her sister, Paige Blocker, said that the speed dating event and the YSA conference itself made it “easy to meet people and to get to know people where you can have a good time and just have fun together and potentially lead on to deeper life friendships.”

Jeremy Rich from Huntington Beach, California, said, “It was super fun, and it was super engaging just to connect with other young single adults who center their lives in Christ but also make it fun, and just get to know people better quicker.”

There were two sections available for speed daters, allowing participants to interact with those closer to their age groups with some overlap between groups. The younger group, aged 18-28, had more participants compared to their older counterparts, ranging from age 25-35.

FamilySearch activities

The young adults’ experience in joining “Together in Christ” expanded generations as they engaged in several activities hosted by FamilySearch:

• Ordinances Ready: Young adults were shown how to use the “Ordinances Ready” feature of FamilySearch.org to find a name to take to the temple. Participants then wrote the name they found on a leaf-shaped sticky note to place on a large wooden tree. They also received a temple recommend holder with a depiction of the Savior and a QR code that leads to the Ordinances Ready feature when scanned.
• Record My Story: Soundproof booths provided a location for participants to tell and save their story for future generations.
• Writing station: Typewriters, cursive and drawing Chinese characters helped YSAs to experience writing like other generations and cultures.
• Together app: Information directed YSAs on how to try out FamilySearch’s experimental “Together” app — announced at RootsTech 2024 — to find activities, learn about ancestors and document personal histories.
• Picture My Heritage: A green screen and cameras virtually put young adults in locations where their ancestors lived.
• FamilySearch Discovery Experiences: Activities for participants let them explore famous relatives in their family tree, compared which ancestors they look most like and showed where they came from.
• Visit My Homelands: Virtual reality goggles put YSAs in virtual locations to experience where their ancestors lived.

ShelterBox tent competition

Teams of young adults competed to set up a tent from the international disaster relief charity ShelterBox, which donates emergency shelters to families displaced by disaster. The winning team completed its tent in eight minutes and 40 seconds.

Serena Kelsch, humanitarian director of strategic partnerships, was impressed by the young adults’ competitive yet fun spirit at the conference, as well as their enthusiasm to do good. “Every single person I met just automatically connected with what we were doing and really wanted to do good in the world,” said Kelsch.

Most people displaced by disaster and war, she said, are women and children. Yet with the support of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ShelterBox has served over 500,000 people in 20 countries since 2017.

“We’re putting their donation to the Church hard at work,” Kelsch said of young adults’ monetary donations to the Church. “They’re building the resilience of these families through working with us, and we know that these families no longer need help around the world because of the good work that [young adults] are doing.”

What President Freeman said about road trips, Elder McKay about perfection, at young single adult conference

YSAs learn about spiritual growth, emotional wellness, personal development and temporal well-being

Young single adults serve, dance and more, ahead of 2024 Utah Area YSA Conference

More photos of events at the 2024 Utah Area YSA Conference

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ages 18 to 35 were invited to attend the two-day conference Aug. 2-3 in the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.

In addition to choices that included participating in service, playing games and understanding family history, attendees had options of participating in breakout sessions on Friday and Saturday. Each session focused on a different topic, based on four main themes: spiritual growth, emotional wellness, personal development and temporal well-being.

Utah YSA Conference day 1: Highlights from breakout sessions

Utah YSA Conference day 2: Highlights from breakout sessions

Spiritual growth

Attendees interested in developing their spiritual growth were able to find like-minded individuals who also sought a spiritual boost. Speakers gave suggestions on how to improve scripture study, focus on the Savior Jesus Christ, understand covenants and develop spiritual resilience when facing difficult trials.

Naomi Brooks from Sandy, Utah, went to the classes looking to know how best to spiritually strengthen herself and others. “I think we all know somebody who’s struggling with the faith,” Brooks said. “Sometimes it’s us, and sometimes it’s someone that we love.”

Amber Squire from South Jordan, Utah, was able to gain a renewed witness that trusting in God and turning her struggles over to Him provides peace. “I know that no matter what,” Squire said, “nothing will permanently harm me when I’m yoked to the Savior through my covenants and when I’m seeking to turn my life to Him.”

Emotional wellness

For young adults looking to improve their emotional wellness, classes provided potential solutions to difficult questions and guidance on where to find personal answers. Speakers pointed the attendees toward Jesus Christ, encouraging them to utilize the Atonement of Jesus Christ to overcome past hurts, improve their mental health, develop better coping mechanisms and support others who may also be struggling.

After attending an emotional resilience class, Shannon Spencer from Provo, Utah, was able to recognize ways to be more forgiving of others. “I didn’t realize how much I needed this,” said Spencer. As she learned about healing pain through the Savior, she asked her Heavenly Father for strength in her efforts to forgive. “God wanted me to come here, and that’s why,” Spencer said.

Taylor Sorenson from Orem, Utah, said learning to overcome personal discouragement can help young adults better serve those around them. “If you’re not working on your own emotional well-being, then you can’t live a productive life or help others to live their best life,” said Sorenson. “You can’t help someone else until you help yourself.”

Personal development

Young adults were able to explore different aspects of their identity in the personal development classes. Speakers taught life skills such as improving personal communication, determining individual values, and focusing on a growth mindset with the help of the Savior.

Ethan Ball from Kaysville, Utah, said the personal development class he attended was really cool. The class made him want to spend some time pondering what he really cares about and connecting himself with Heavenly Father through temple attendance. “If I want to increase my relationship with Jesus Christ, then I should understand what my values are and live them,” Ball said.

Myan Schulze from Aurora, Colorado, said the class she attended helped her feel understood when it came to struggles she had faced with meeting young people her age. Schulze said she was “reminded of Christ’s power” in her desire to “overcome frustration, worry and fear” in the face of dating.

Temporal well-being

To better develop young adult’s temporal well-being, speakers discussing this topic shared the importance of getting enough sleep, eating the right foods, improving financial and technological skills and improving stress management.

Jenna Hancock from the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas had been talking with her friend about sleep schedules before attending the YSA conference. “This past semester was really hard,” said Hancock, “and a lot of it came from getting a lack of sleep, overwhelming myself with school and a lot of things.” She plans on making changes in her sleep schedule and said she was excited for the upcoming semester.

Ethan Carn from Midland, Michigan, said the temporal well-being class he attended was relevant for him and for young people today. “I think it’s important that we be educated on how we’re using our phones and be aware of the habits and the reliance we have on them,” Carn said. “If we don’t use that correctly, it really hinders our personal lives and our professional lives.”

The YSA conference allowed young adult members of the Church to gather with others who believe the same things they do. The theme of the conference, “Together in Christ,” allowed a positive environment to blossom and impact many of the participants. “I’ve loved all the music, I’ve loved all the classes I’ve been to. I just really enjoyed it,” said Sidomma Davis from Payson, Utah.

“I love the diversity and the choices of activities,” said Elizabeth Call from Omaha, Nebraska. “There’s really something for everyone here. And it just helps like the Church is a worldwide organization. It’s here for every age group, every type of person.”

“The conference has been a conduit of receiving rays of revelation and meeting young people my age that are firm on the gospel path,” said Schulze.

Ben Rector sings a Primary song, Rachel Platten shares her faith, and more moments from the Utah Area YSA Conference concert

‘I like the thought of being part of that’: YSAs gather for record-breaking activities at Utah Area conference

See Church News' coverage of the conference and other events for young adults

Members of the new Sunday School general presidency began their service on Aug. 1. The Church News published a midyear update on milestones of the different temples being built around the world. Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Presidency of the Seventy taught missionaries at the Provo Missionary Training Center about acting on the Savior’s commission to share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.

The Church News podcast interviewed University of Utah President Taylor R. Randall about the value of higher education. Olympian members of the Church shared their testimonies at a devotional as they prepared to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Church launched new social media pages to help young single adults connect and share their testimonies with one another.

Read more about these nine stories below.

1. 4 chapters released in new manual of teachings from President Russell M. Nelson

On Thursday, Aug. 1, the Church released the first of these collections to be published, in part, while a prophet is still alive. Four chapters from “Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Russell M. Nelson” are now available for study on ChurchofJesusChrist.org and on the Gospel Library app.

The newly released four chapters are not the first four, sequentially, in the digital manual. And other chapters will be released in batches, similar to how the Church’s new hymns are being released. This allows those who wish to study President Nelson’s teachings on specific topics to begin doing so immediately and to learn more from him on other topics as they are published. When complete, the Church anticipates this volume will include 28 chapters.

Read more about this story here.

Perspective: 40 years, two special witnesses

‘A century of living’: In celebration of his 99th birthday, President Nelson reflects on innovation, growth, political breakthroughs

2. When President Nelson reached out to ‘the one’ in Sydney, Australia

In May 2019 as part of his Pacific ministry, President Nelson was in Sydney, Australia, where he spoke to a capacity crowd of 8,000 Church members in the International Convention Centre. Roberta Brown of the Penrith Australia Stake was assigned to lead a stake choir and guided the congregation even when the words on the screen were not matching what the congregation was trying to sing and what Brown was trying to lead from the hymnbook.

Brown said it was a humbling and spiritually uplifting experience to meet the Prophet and to prepare a choir to sing at the event. Having him come up to meet her right afterward showed her how much he enjoyed the music and that it had touched his heart.

Read more about this story here.

How people have seen Christ’s love when someone reached out to them as ‘the one’

Video: Australian Church members share how they accept President Nelson's invitation to 'come unto Christ'

3. First Presidency announces new medical school for Brigham Young University

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that a new medical school will be created at Brigham Young University.

The full statement can be found on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The first paragraph of the statement reads:

“Brigham Young University is committed to academic excellence in targeted graduate disciplines, traditionally focused on business and law. The First Presidency is pleased to announce the decision now to create a medical school at BYU. A major focus will be on international health issues affecting members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Church’s worldwide humanitarian efforts.”

Read more about this story here.

What the Church’s doctrinal purposes have to do with education and eternal life, Elder Cook tells BYU faculty and staff

BYU works its way up U.S. News Best Graduate School rankings for 2023

4. New Sunday School general presidency begins service

New Sunday School General President Paul V. Johnson began his service Aug. 1, along with his first counselor, Brother Chad H Webb, and second counselor, Brother Gabriel W. Reid.

The new presidency was sustained during the Saturday morning session of the April 2024 general conference on April 6.

Former Sunday School General President Mark L. Pace and his counselors, Brother Milton Camargo and Brother Jan E. Newman, were released effective Aug. 1.

Read more about this story here.

Learn more about the incoming Sunday School general presidency

Incoming Sunday School General President Paul V. Johnson on what matters most in teaching and in life

5. A midyear look at temple milestones for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Just a little past the midpoint of 2024, a look at this year’s past and upcoming milestone events for the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

These include nine houses of the Lord dedicated in the first half of 2024 and at least seven more to be dedicated in the year’s second half; six temple groundbreakings in the first half and five more in the next two months alone; and 15 new temple locations announced at April 2024 general conference and possible additional new locations later this year.

Read more about this story here.

Elder Bednar says new house of the Lord in Layton to be a place of ‘covenant connection’ at dedication

At a glance: A reminder of the 50 temples between groundbreaking and dedication

6. Acting on the Savior’s great commission ‘is amazing to watch,’ says Elder Nielson

In his last address before becoming an emeritus General Authority Seventy, Elder Nielson — executive director of the Missionary Department from 2015 to 2020 — was joined by his wife, Sister Marcia Nielson, on Tuesday, July 30.

“In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we take the great commission very seriously,” said Elder Nielson to 1,944 missionaries in the Provo Missionary Training Center. “We are all about sharing the gospel to the world, and it is amazing to watch.”

Read more about this story here.

Elder Brent H. Nielson in April 2024 general conference: ‘A Record of What I Have Both Seen and Heard’

Elder Nielson shares at BYU Women’s Conference of the influence of covenant-keeping parents, leaders on missionaries

7. Podcast episode 199: University of Utah President Taylor Randall on the value of higher education

University of Utah President Taylor Randall spoke on the Church News podcast about President Nelson’s medical journals from President Nelson’s pioneering career as a heart surgeon that he donated to the University of Utah on Aug. 30, 2023. “I am deeply grateful for the important role the University of Utah played in my education and surgical career,” President Nelson said.

Randall joined this episode of the Church News podcast to discuss President Nelson’s gift, the value of higher education and the benefit of the Church’s institute program to college-aged students.

Listen to the Church News podcast here.

Episode 155: Getting to know President C. Shane Reese, the new president of Brigham Young University

Episode 176: Elder Clark G. Gilbert on the expansive Church Educational System and the power of involving the Lord in learning

8. ‘God is always there’: Latter-day Saint Olympians share messages of faith, trust in God’s plan at devotional

In a recorded message, Taylor Booth, a forward for the U.S. men’s soccer team, told a young adult audience at a devotional in Versailles, France, how his faith in the Lord and membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints guided him through those pivotal years.

Booth was joined by other Latter-day Saint Olympic athletes and one Church leader in addressing young adults on the topic of “Sports and the Gospel” at a devotional in a Versailles meetinghouse on Sunday, July 28. The devotional, streamed live in French and translated into English, is available for viewing on YouTube.

Read more about this story here.

Meet Latter-day Saints competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics

Following Jesus Christ will ensure a victory greater and more certain than Olympic gold, say Bishop Caussé and Latter-day Saint Olympians

9. Young adults invited to connect through new social media pages

YA Weekly readers now have new places to find inspiring messages and connect with others: the YA Weekly Instagram page and Facebook page.

YA Weekly is a weekly publication found in the Church’s Gospel Library. It has been written for young adults, by young adults, since 2018, according to its Gospel Library introductory page.

“Our goal is to help you find answers to your challenges and the strength to face them,” it states. “We’ll do this by exploring the gospel of Jesus Christ together and examining how young adults all over the world are striving to live it.”

Read more about this story here.

First Presidency announces changes to Church magazines — Ensign title retired, New Era renamed

Church’s trio of magazines free to subscribers around the world

The classes came between keynote addresses given by Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman and Elder Kyle S. McKay, General Authority Seventy and Church historian, on Friday, Aug. 2; and by Sharon Eubank, director of Humanitarian Services for the Church and former first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, and Elder Kevin W. Pearson, General Authority Seventy and president of the Utah Area, on Saturday, Aug. 3.

What President Freeman said about road trips, Elder McKay about perfection, at young single adult conference

The breakout sessions focused on four areas: spiritual growth, emotional wellness, personal development and temporal well-being. Here are highlights from the Friday, Aug. 2 classes in each category.

Spiritual growth

Trusting the Savior

Seminaries and Institutes of Religion administrator Devin Toma taught “Learning to Let Go of Control: Trusting the Savior.”

“I’m going to assume that there are some trials in this room,” Toma started. “Welcome to telestial living at its greatest.” After attendees submitted and discussed some current faith questions, Toma invited the class to look backward, look forward and look up.

Looking backward involves looking back to past spiritual experiences to when God’s influence was visible in an individual’s life, Toma said. This includes experiences of family, close friends or even ancestors being sustained and guided by the the Lord.

Looking forward requires seeking one’s divine purpose in the trial, and learning how one could use the trial to bless others, Toma said.

Finally, looking up refers to looking to God and acting in faith, trusting that help and happiness are ahead, Toma said.

Scripture study

During the “Intentional Scripture Study” class, BYU professor Jared Halverson taught listeners how to better understand the scriptures they were reading.

Rather than looking for the specific lessons taught in the situations people in the scriptures found themselves in, he encouraged them to look for the packets of principles that scripture stories contained. Halverson also told his listeners to focus on consistency and intensity in their personal study.

Rather than studying their scriptures a single time once a week, he encouraged the listeners to study every day. Once they have gathered a “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) from the scriptures, they can use those witnesses from ancient prophets to answer questions they might have in their daily lives.

Understanding covenants

Troy Virgin, a director at the Salt Lake Institute of Religion adjacent to the University of Utah, taught “Understanding Covenants.”

Prophets and apostles are emphasizing covenants today perhaps more than they have in the history of the Church, he said. In the most recent general conference, for example, the topic of covenants was addressed by almost every member of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

”Because of your covenants, you now have this unique relationship with [Heavenly Father], and He will never tire in His effort to help you,” Virgin said. “We’re never going to exhaust His patience and His love. He will never stop trying to connect to you.”

Covenants can strengthen a bond that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are already willing to strengthen, Virgin continued. “Their desire is to know you. They want to be a part of your life. And by keeping your covenants, you invite Them and allow Them to come to be a part of you.”

Conversion

Author Ganel-Lyn Condie taught about understanding “Conversion versus Crisis.”

Condie invited the class to reframe the idea of a faith crisis and, in fact, completely rename it: “We’re going to talk about this as a ‘conversion adventure.’”

This “conversion adventure,” Condie said, is a bit like a video game. There may be times when someone hits a wall or faces a big faith question that feels like “game over,” but they have to get up and try again.

“Do not quit this grand adventure,” Condie said. “We need your faith, and we need your faith questions.”

Emotional wellness

Perfectionism

“Building Self-Compassion to Deal with Perfectionism and Comparisons” was taught by licensed clinical social worker Rick Hill.

“I think everyone is challenged by perfectionism,” Hill said. “You cannot go through this earthly life experience without being challenged by it.”

He said perfectionism is a counterfeit of the commandment “be ye therefore perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Similarly, comparison is the counterfeit of observing.

Hill said the key to avoiding these counterfeits is to understand the innate worth of every child of God. “Love is what motivates change,” he said, adding that by practicing self-compassion, one can turn away from shame that isolates.

Hill closed by encouraging the class to “see through His lens to know that our worth is constant and that the Atonement [of Jesus Christ] never runs dry. … No matter how many mistakes we’ve made, we are not a mistake.”

Mental health

During “Involving the Savior in Your Mental Health,” seminary teacher and therapist Shawn Bills recounted his personal journey of combining professional mental health help with gospel truths.

Bills said after returning home from his mission as a young man, he was confused about why he wasn’t happy when he felt he was doing everything right: attending Church and the temple, reading his scriptures and praying, and trying to exercise faith.

He said he sought out therapy and medication, and was further confused when those things helped — why was this kind of mental health treatment helping?

Over time, Bills said he discovered that effective mental health treatments are rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ. For instance, the scriptures repeatedly teach that people need each other to be happy, while modern studies have found exactly the same.

“What they’re telling us [in] the social science and mental health world, prophets are saying the same things,” Bills said, adding, “Whatever questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.”

Healing through the Atonement

Nanon Talley-Rolim, a licensed clinical mental health counselor, taught “Healing Past Hurts Through Christ’s Atonement.” She explained practical and spiritual ways young adults can find healing, emphasizing that “whatever the hurt is — physical, emotional, anything — all healing is only possible because of our Savior Jesus Christ.”

Young adults can take five actions, Talley-Rolim suggested, when they are hurt by someone:

1. Recognize they have been hurt.
2. Experience the feelings.
3. Disclose feelings.
4. Forgive.
5. Endure to the end.

Talley-Rolim recommended two resources: First, Virtual Hope Box, a free app to help users cope when dealing with pain or feeling overwhelmed. Second, the “Tips for Improving Your Emotional Care” section of “Building Resilience” in the Gospel Library offers tips to find personal strength when facing difficult emotions.

Just as the Resurrected Christ blessed children one by one in 3 Nephi 17, she said, “He wants to bless you. He wants to heal you. But we have to go to Him.”

Overcoming discouragement

Jared Rees, a social worker, taught “Normalizing and Overcoming Discouragement.” He explained ways to prevent or treat discouragement, which he defined as a deprivation of courage, hope and confidence. He said possible causes for discouragement include:

• Comparing self to others.
• Having unrealistic expectations or unmet expectations.
• Demanding perfectionism of self or circumstances.
• Harsh criticism from self or others.
• Setbacks and unmet goals.
• Being let down by self or others.

He then offered ideas to embrace the hope and minimize discouragement:

• Prayer and scripture study.
• Being creative.
• Physical movement.
• Connecting to others.
• Attending the temple.
• Testifying of Jesus Christ and His gospel.
• Priesthood blessings.
• Finding meaning in what is being experienced.

Rees concluded: “I testify that Heavenly Father is our Father, that His desire is for us to have happiness. And I don’t believe that desire comes by excluding all things of pain and misery, but helping us to know how to hold to those things that are hard and to be able to still see the goodness.”

Personal development

Communication

“Communicating for Connection” was taught by licensed clinical social worker Stefanie Sparks. She invited everyone to think about a communication issue they had with someone, then explained that “we all engage in behaviors that are not helpful.” Since one cannot change family members, friends or coworkers, it is up to the individual to change the way they communicate by “developing skills to manage our behavior.”

In a diagram, Sparks introduced four key elements that influence the way people communicate: biology, early life experiences, core beliefs and assumptions. To improve communication, one needs to understand how each of these elements affects them, she said; and by practicing self-awareness and self-compassion, one can expand the parts that are helpful and minimize those that are not.

Overcoming indecision

Kyle Oswald, a mental health therapist with Family Services, taught “Building a Growth Mindset and Overcoming Indecision.” He discussed the differences between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset, then gave suggestions for young adults to have a growth mindset when making decisions.

“Our purpose on earth is to grow,” he said. “It’s why we chose to come here.”

Someone with a fixed mindset, Oswald said, refuses to receive criticism, feels threatened by others’ successes, shies away from unfamiliar things and avoids challenges. On the other hand, someone with a growth mindset embraces constructive feedback, is inspired by others’ successes, steps out of their comfort zone and views challenges as opportunities.

Oswald suggested three actions young adults can take when making big decisions:

• Recognize what they value in the choice, deciding if the choice will bring them closer to what they value.
• Define what fear they are trying to dodge, since “generally, fear is at the root of indecision.”
• Take the decision to God, trusting that He wants to and can answer them through the Holy Ghost.

“There are certainly wrong choices that we can make in this life,” Oswald said. “But if we adopt a different mindset, we are going to make decisions, and we are going to move forward in faith.”

Temporal well-being

Nutrition, exercise and sleep

Seth Bigelow, senior manager over health service for Church employees, taught “Eat Better. Move Better. Sleep Better. Feel Better.” He spoke to audience members about the importance of taking care of their bodies through proper sleep, nutrition and exercise.

He especially focused on the amount of sleep young adults need in order to be healthy enough to tackle the challenges they have each day. Young adults typically need about seven to eight hours of sleep every night, Bigelow said. Those that don’t get enough sleep often don’t recognize the effect that sleep deprivation has on them.

After discussing the importance of eating healthy and getting enough exercise, he ended the meeting with 60 seconds of focused breathing. Many attendees raised their hands to show that the exercise had helped lower their stress levels.

Technology use

Licensed clinical social worker David Pitcher taught “Unplugging: Healthy Relationships and Technology.”

Pitcher began his presentation by reviewing rapid changes in technology from the 1980s until today.

The change in perspective provided by technology can be good, he said, provided that it is a tool rather than a master. Those who use the tool to improve their connections with others can strengthen their relationships, he said.

Utah YSA Conference convention day 2: Highlights from breakout sessions

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What President Freeman said about road trips, Elder McKay about perfection, at young single adult conference

Elder Pearson and Sharon Eubank encourage personal and community development

The classes came between keynote addresses given by Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman and Elder Kyle S. McKay, General Authority Seventy and Church historian, on Friday, Aug. 2; and by Sharon Eubank, director of Latter-day Saint Charities and a former member of the Relief Society General Presidency, and Elder Kevin W. Pearson, General Authority Seventy and president of the Utah Area, on Saturday, Aug. 3.

The breakout sessions focused on four areas: spiritual growth, emotional wellness, personal development and temporal well-being. Here are highlights from the Friday, Aug. 3 classes in each category.

Spiritual growth

Covenants

BYU professor Barbara Morgan Gardner taught “Accessing God’s Power Through Covenants.”

Gardner began by sharing a picture of her family and asking the class what they saw. Most people commented on how large and happy the family looked.

But Gardner revealed that when the photo was taken, “my fiancé had just left me and my mother was dying of cancer.” So how does this picture show “unfeigned” happiness?

Gardner explained that choosing to make and keep sacred covenants makes it possible to experience joy, even during hard times.

“If the focus of your life is grounded in the Atonement of Jesus Christ, you will be able to access God’s priesthood power. … Then you can smile regardless of the circumstance,” she said.

Spiritual resilience

Lori Newbold, director of training services for Seminaries and Institutes of Religion, taught “Spiritual Resilience.” She started by explaining some purposes of mortality:

• Eventual immortality and eternal life (see Moses 1:39).
• Receive a body.
• Learn and grow line upon line to become like God (see 2 Nephi 28:30).
• Prepare to meet God (see Alma 12:24).
• Follow the Lord’s commandments (see Abraham 3:25).
• Learn through suffering and afflictions.

“If these are the purposes for which God is working in my life,” said Newbold, “then that means He’s not going to do anything that’s not accomplishing those purposes.” So, whenever Saints face trials, they can ask: “What purpose of mortality is being accomplished in this?”

Newbold said young adults will find opposition from the adversary, but because of Jesus Christ, nothing can permanently harm them (see Ether 6:10). ”Have you ever considered that part of the opposition and the intensity you feel is not from God?” she asked. “It’s because of your influence, your potential, the power of who you are and what you have to offer. The strength, the goodness of who you are, not the weakness.”

Temple attendance

Anthony Sweat, a professor of Church history and doctrine at Brigham Young University, taught “Making Temple Attendance More Meaningful.” He focused on five key principles:

• Looking for Christ in all aspects of the temple.
• Embracing rituals and symbols.
• Studying scriptures, doctrine and history.
• Taking questions to the temple.
• Attending the temple regularly.

Sweat noted how a person’s home says a lot about who they are. Similarly, the temple is the house of the Lord, and the more time a person spends there, the more they come to know Him — and the more they become comfortable in His home, even if it feels unfamiliar at first.

He also listed ways that symbols and ritual are part of everyday life, like caps and gowns at graduations or shaking someone’s hand upon meeting them. Similarly, temple symbols and rituals have purpose, he said; and like other types of symbols and rituals, they can have multiple meanings.

“This is why you can go to the house of the Lord and never cease learning,” Sweat said. “The temple is a gigantic parable. [And] if you go with a heart saying, ‘Teach me, I want more’ … the Lord can [teach you].”

Emotional wellness

Coping with depression

Social worker Stephanie Miner taught “Coping with the Burdens of Depression: A Christ-Centered Approach.”

Miner explained that while some worldly voices say pain and sadness should be avoided at all costs, the process of overcoming challenges can be just as important as the outcome.

She recounted the story of Nephi traveling in the wilderness. Rather than dwelling on his broken bow and difficult journey, Nephi focused on learning more about the Savior and becoming more like Him.

Supporting those with mental illness

Licensed clinical social worker Kris Hofeling taught “Supporting Loved Ones Living with Mental Illness.”

Hofeling asked the class what roadblocks they’ve been given related to struggles. The most popular answers were anxiety, isolation and comparison.

“It is normal to struggle and to have some grief and pain,” Hofeling said. “We have to start by taking care of ourselves.”

She shared three ways to support someone who is struggling: help them feel they belong, strengthen their sense of community, and genuinely care for and connect to them.

“That’s what we can do to help. … Help them come back and have some hope,” Hofeling said. “Hope is really what you have to offer.”

Personal development

Identifying values

Licensed clinical social worker Tyler Andrus taught “Creating More Fulfilling Relationships by Clarifying Your Personal Values.”

Andrus interacted with audience members, identifying values they felt were important to them. After determining which values were most important to them, Andrus asked the audience to rank those values on a scale of 0 to 10 for personal importance. Within relationships, values that had a score of more than 7 were considered vital to personal growth and happiness within relationships.

Getting unstuck

Therapist Jenni Turley taught “Changing Gears: What To Do When You Feel Stuck.”

Turley first introduced some common reasons people are stuck in life. Sometimes, people feel they aren’t good enough or that they don’t see results despite hard work; other times, they aren’t sure what steps to take or are unwilling to try something new.

With all of these barriers, Turley said, “It’s important to look at our thoughts and how they are impacting us. … We can learn how to take power back from these thoughts by either learning how to challenge them, or learning how to look at them differently so they don’t feel so heavy to us.”

One technique is called “unhooking,” where a person writes down a negative and unhelpful thought on paper and holds it directly in front of their face to read it. Then they set the paper down and notice all of the other things in the room that make that piece of paper feel small and less significant.

Temporal well-being

Anxiety to action

Kurt Olsson, who provides counseling and leader consultation at Family Services, taught “Embracing Tension: Transforming Anxiety Into Fuel for Success.” Emotion is a process, Olsson said; an event happens to cause the emotion, then that emotion drives a person to act.

However, human nature is to make emotions a result instead of a process. “We want them to be good emotions and not bad emotions,” Olsson said. “We want them to be the way we want them to be. And so, when they’re not that way, we think of it as a problem: ‘This is happening, and I don’t want this to happen.’”

Olsson explained that God doesn’t make His children suffer unnecessarily, so unwanted emotions will serve the purpose they’re supposed to have as young adults turn to Jesus Christ and His Atonement. ”Whatever I’m experiencing and going through, that has purpose. He knows it’s here, and it’s doing its job, and as soon as it’s done doing its job, it’ll be gone.”

Olsson testified: “Even the worst kinds of things that happen in people’s lives turn to their benefit when they turn to Christ.”

Sufficiency mindset

Shane Stewart, director of client services for Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators, taught “Investing and the Law of the Harvest.”

While serving a mission in Guam, Stewart said a friend sent him a postcard with a single sentence: “Don’t let what you don’t have spoil what you do have.”

Stewart developed a sufficiency mindset, allowing him to be content with what he had rather than focusing on what he lacked. He applied that concept to financial planning, encouraging listeners to develop a sufficiency mindset and set aside funds for the future instead of living paycheck to paycheck.

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The majority took place on Saturday, July 27, and were held in Logan, Ogden, Salt Lake City, Utah County and St. George.

Here are some highlights from the events.

Salt Lake City

A battalion of 124 volunteers arrived at the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Saturday, July 27, to photograph gravestones. The idea, originally proposed by young adult Eliza Stewart, involved using a new software program piloted by the cemetery to digitize the gravestones.

“Once I heard I was over the service project,” she said, “the first thing that came to mind was the cemetery.” She contacted the Salt Lake City Cemetery to ask how YSAs could help, and she was asked to try out the software program, which collects the image of gravestones and their exact location. “I think it will move the work forward a lot faster and a lot more efficiently as we use the resources that we’ve been blessed with.”

During the first 30 minutes of the orientation for the service project, the organizers ran out of flyers to hand out to volunteers. The participants went row by row within two plats of the cemetery, clearing away grass and dirt and taking photos of the gravestones. They then emailed the photos to coordinators to be uploaded to the software once they had better service.

Grant Beck, a young adult living in Salt Lake City, said family is important in his life. He wanted to help others learn about their families, to give them a sense of identity and help them connect to their roots. “When you’re done serving, you just feel great, and you feel just like a better person, and there [are] so many blessings.”

Mason Hawes from South Jordan, Utah, said it can be easy for young adults to feel there’s not much they can do to be involved with family history work. But they can change their perspective as they realize today’s technology allows young adults to bless their ancestors like never before, he said.

“We understand that we’re blessed today because of them,” Hawes said, “and there’s a lot of them in the past that might not receive the same blessings gospel-wise that we receive today. So it’s really important that we seek those same blessings for those that made it possible for us to be here.”

Zak Osgood from West Jordan, Utah, said he loves researching family history and is eager to see the effects of this project. “Doing this really helps ... people like me who are researching this kind of thing on the other end.”

He said love for family connects Latter-day Saint young adults in family history efforts. “We all have those shared beliefs and also the same goal, and it helps us to connect more that way.”

Utah Valley

July 27 also saw young single adults in Utah Valley joining the Turtle Shelter Project to create insulated vests for people who are homeless. Though the event was set for 9:30 a.m., over 100 people were diligently marking fabric, pinning and sewing before the event had officially begun.

As more young adults trickled in, many stopped at the happy chatter and efficient work — until they were quickly welcomed with a smile and an invitation to join a station.

As the room swelled with volunteers, the founder of the Turtle Shelter Project stood with a microphone to share her story.

“My name is Jen Spencer, and I am a daughter of God,” she said. “I am also a recovering meth addict.”

Spencer explained that while she grew up in a faithful Latter-day Saint family in Mountain Green, Utah, her misunderstanding of repentance generated an unbearable amount of shame. “I truly believed that God felt like I was spitting in His face every single time I would screw up.”

So she stopped trying to repent, and her poor coping methods led her to a full-blown addiction. For the next 20 years, Spencer struggled with depression and homelessness.

But with the help of friends, she began to understand and develop a relationship with God. She checked into a rehab facility, which is where she first learned about high-tech foam fabric that keeps a person warm in temperatures as low as 10 degrees below zero. Realizing its potential for the homeless, Spencer founded the Turtle Shelter Project to make vests from this fabric for homeless communities.

After Spencer spoke, volunteers jumped back into their tasks. “Getting to work with so many different people who play such an important part and are so loved by God means so much to me. ... [I] get to feel His love for people I’ve never even met before,” said Kalia Reyes, a student at Brigham Young University.

Spencer and her team of volunteers will personally deliver the vests to homeless camps once the weather turns cold, ensuring each vest is “fit like a tuxedo.”

Later that evening, young single adults piled into cars and made their way to Saratoga Springs to participate in a 5K race past the Saratoga Springs Temple. Runners were greeted with unlimited snow cones and leis, befitting the luau theme.

At the finish line, red-faced and smiling runners found food trucks, field games and Samoan fire dancers waiting. As the sun set, more young single adults joined, and the event turned into a dance party.

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Ogden

In Ogden on July 27, pouring rain didn’t stop hundreds of young single adults from turning out to help tie blankets for refugees and to enjoy food, a comedian and a dance.

The event began outside the Ogden Institute of Religion at Weber State University; and while inclement weather necessitated a hasty shift inside the building, the young single adults were in high spirits as they sat in circles throughout the hallways and rooms, laughing off the rain while cutting and tying hundreds of fleece blankets.

Aubree Nilson, a young single adult who helped plan the event, said the service project was picked through JustServe and would result in about 600 completed blankets for refugees around the world. Event organizers anticipated a turnout of 1,800 to 2,000 young single adults, she added.

Nilson said the event “truly is the spirit of service, the spirit of Christ. ... We really do believe that as we come together and serve each other, we can change the world in different ways.”

Nicole Hooker, a young single adult who helped tie blankets, said she appreciated being around other people who share her values, especially as the world becomes a more difficult place.

“You’re reminded that there are people that are out there that believe like you do, and it’s OK to be religious and active in faith,” she said.

The rain let up as young single adults enjoyed a dinner of loaded pork nachos and then a performance from comedian Sam Adams inside the Shepherd Union Building. After, the skies were clear as an outdoor dance started beneath Weber State University’s Stewart Bell Tower.

Andrew Barss, a young single adult who attended the dance, said he decided to come after receiving an invitation to the event via text. Even though he came alone, being with a large group of young single adults gave him a sense of belonging, he said.

“Even though nobody here knows me, I still feel like I’m just part of something,” Barss said.

Logan and St. George

In Logan, young single adults attended endowment sessions in the Logan Utah Temple on Friday, July 26, at sessions set aside specifically for the event.

On Saturday, July 27, young single adults helped with a service project in the morning, and all 115 slots filled days before the event. A group of participants cleaned up trails and campsites with the U.S. Forest Service in Green Canyon, while others cleaned up pine needles and trash and painted fences at the Logan City Cemetery.

Then in the evening, they enjoyed yard games, a dance and free Karie Anne’s Italian Ice and Custard.

In St. George, young single adults served in the Red Cliffs Utah Temple and the Cedar City Utah Temple on Friday, July 26.

On Saturday, July 27, they attended a party at the St. George Institute of Religion that included dinner, a service project, a dance and games.

About the 2024 Utah Area YSA Conference

The 2024 Utah Area Young Single Adult Conference will be Friday through Sunday, Aug. 2-4, in Salt Lake City, the Utah Area presidency and conference leadership announced Thursday, April 11.

“Following the excitement of the 2023 YSA conference, the Utah Area presidency is excited to invite young single adults ages 18-35 to the upcoming 2024 Utah Area YSA Conference,” the event’s website states.

At the conference, young single adults “can strengthen their faith in Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ,” the Utah Area presidency wrote in a letter to stake presidents, bishops, Relief Society and elders quorum presidents, and all young single adults.

Participants can expect a conference modeled after last year’s inaugural event. Activities will include:

• A two-day convention Aug. 2 and 3, with keynote speakers, service opportunities, classes and other activities.
• Concerts Aug. 2 and 3 in the Delta Center, featuring singers Ben Rector, Rachel Platten and Emma Nissen.
• Dances and other evening entertainment.
• A devotional in the Conference Center on Aug. 4 with Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Conference tickets are $50 and are available at utahysaconference.org. Conference registration includes the convention, concert and dances as one ticket.

The conference’s devotional requires a separate, free ticket, also available at utahysaconference.org. Conference registration is not required to obtain a ticket for the devotional.

Follow updates about the 2024 Utah Area Young Single Adult Conference at utahysaconference.org or on Facebook and Instagram at @utysaconf.

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