During the week of Aug. 20-26, the latest Church News video, titled “My Mission Influence,” features Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Elder David A. Bednar, Elder Neil L. Andersen, Elder Gary E. Stevenson and Elder Dale G. Renlund — all of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — speaking about drawing closer to Jesus Christ as full-time missionaries. 

Elder Bednar dedicated the newly restored Joseph and Emma Smith Home in historic Kirtland, Ohio, on Saturday, Aug. 26. Elder D. Todd Christofferson spoke at the concluding event of the “Together in Christ” Utah Area YSA Conference.

Elder Renlund and the general presidencies of the Sunday School, Young Men and Young Women organizations spoke at BYU Education Week. The Church made a $1 million donation to the American Red Cross to help relief efforts on the Hawaiian island of Maui. The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles approved updates to the handbook used by full-time missionaries.

Gail Miller, owner of the Larry H. Miller Co., joined the most recent episode of the Church News podcast to talk about her family’s initial $10 million investment and the significant subsequent financial support devoted to the Joseph Smith Papers project. The Church opened its new house of the Lord in Texas with formal tours of the McAllen Texas Temple. The Church also updated expectations for students at Church schools.

Read summaries and find links to these nine articles below.

1. 5 Apostles testify of missions in new Church News Video ‘My Mission Influence’

This Church News video titled “My Mission Influence” features Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Elder David A. Bednar, Elder Neil L. Andersen, Elder Gary E. Stevenson and Elder Dale G. Renlund speaking about drawing closer to Jesus Christ as full-time missionaries.

Screenshot from YouTube.com

The latest Church News video, titled “My Mission Influence,” features Elder Holland, Elder Bednar, Elder Andersen, Elder Stevenson and Elder Renlund — all of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — speaking about drawing closer to Jesus Christ as full-time missionaries. 

“You are sustained, supported and strengthened by the living, resurrected Savior, by the power of the Holy Ghost,” said Elder Bednar. “It is the only way you can accomplish that work.”

2. Elder Bednar dedicates Joseph and Emma Smith Home in historic Kirtland

Elder David A. Bednar of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife, Sister Susan Bednar, look over a hymn book organized by Emma Smith, in the newly restored Joseph and Emma Smith Home in Kirtland, Ohio, on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Almost two centuries after the Prophet Joseph Smith and his family lived in northern Ohio, the Church has a new historic site in Kirtland.

Nearly 300 people gathered just down the hill from the historic Kirtland Temple on Saturday, Aug. 26, as Elder Bednar dedicated the restored home of Joseph and Emma Smith.

3. Elder Christofferson concludes Utah Area conference sharing how YSAs can be ‘armed with righteousness’

Elder D. Todd Christofferson speaks during the Utah Area YSA Conference devotional in BYU’s Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023.

Rebeca Fuentes, for the Deseret News

On Sunday, Aug. 20, Elder Christofferson spoke in the Marriott Center at Brigham Young University to conclude the “Together in Christ” Utah Area YSA Conference. He addressed the topic of unity and how young single adults can gather together in Christ by being armed with righteousness.

“To me, ‘Together in Christ’ suggests that our individual commitment and loyalty to Christ quite naturally draw us together,” said Elder Christofferson. “... Being ‘armed with righteousness’ (1 Nephi 14:14), we want to gather others likewise armed with righteousness and invite everyone who will to come together with us in Christ.”

4. Elder Renlund and general presidencies of the Sunday School, Young Men and Young Women speak at BYU Education Week

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks at BYU Education Week in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Brigham Young University’s Education Week featured hundreds of courses on various topics, as well as courses from general authorities.

Elder Renlund explained how observation and reason work synergistically with faith in a devotional, the Sunday School general presidency shared changes to the 2024 edition of “Come, Follow Me” and the Young Men and Young Women general presidencies shared how to strengthen “Zion’s youth in latter days.”

5. ‘We have the people ready and willing to help’: Church provides temporal relief on Maui after wildfires

Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, and Hawaii Gov.Josh Green visit the shelter at the Kahului Hawaii Stake Center, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

The Church made a $1 million donation to the American Red Cross to help relief efforts on Maui.

This donation will support the Red Cross’ efforts to provide shelter to survivors, food, bedding, hygiene kits and other supplies, as well as medical, mental health and family reunification services.

6. Missionary handbook updates include clarifications, answers to common questions from missionaries and their leaders

Elders Dallin Nevers and Moses Yeung study “Preach My Gospel” in London, England, on July 8, 2023.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles approved updates to the handbook used by full-time missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Changes to “Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ” include clarifications and additions, ranging from using time more wisely to communicating appropriately with friends, and from a new reference on prejudice to instruction on interactions with children and members of the opposite sex.

7. Gail Miller on helping millions to ‘Know Brother Joseph Again’

Gail Miller, owner of the Larry H. Miller Co., joined the Church News podcast last week.

Screenshot from YouTube

On June 27 — the 179th anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in Carthage (Illinois) Jail — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published the final volume of the Joseph Smith Papers. Much of the project was made possible by Gail Miller and her late husband, Larry H. Miller. 

Gail Miller, owner of the Larry H. Miller Co., joined the most recent episode of the Church News podcast to talk about her family’s initial $10 million investment and the significant subsequent financial support devoted to the project. “I don’t think you can read these papers without feeling like you know this man and that he sacrificed his life to bring the gospel back to the earth for all of us,” she said. “And that alone is a magnificent gift.”

8. See interior, exterior photos of the McAllen Texas Temple as media, VIP and public tours begin

The McAllen Texas Temple is pictured in summer 2023.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

A little more than 100 years after its first missionaries arrived in south Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, the Church opened its new house of the Lord in the area with formal tours of the McAllen Texas Temple beginning Monday, Aug. 21.

Local media representatives were invited to attend a morning news conference and to tour inside the new temple, followed by the first of several days of special-guest tours for local civic, education, business and faith leaders. 

9. Leaders update honor code and dress and grooming standards for Church schools

The Brigham Young University campus in Provo is pictured on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020.

Deseret News archives

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints updated expectations for students at Brigham Young University, BYU–Idaho, BYU–Hawaii and Ensign College on Thursday, Aug. 24 — revising Student Ecclesiastical Endorsement questions, the Honor Code, and dress and grooming standards.

The Church Educational System updates — like other recent initiatives and efforts by the Church — are principle based and designed to help students focus on the Savior Jesus Christ, according to a news release published on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.