In case you missed it: President Nelson announces 20 new temples, plus 8 more articles
Here are 9 articles from the Church News from the week of Oct. 1-7.
Clockwise from top left: President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaks through video message during the 193rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023; President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, shakes the hand of Hungarian President Katalin Novák in the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sept. 26, 2023; Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and C. Todd Linton, director of the Church’s Military Relations and Chaplain Services Division, greet chaplains and spouses at the conclusion of the Chaplain Training Seminar at the Conference Center Theater in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023; Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman talks about the ASL sign for repentance during her devotional at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.
Clockwise from top left: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Scott G Winterton, Deseret News; Adam Fondren, for the Deseret News.
In case you missed it: President Nelson announces 20 new temples, plus 8 more articles
Here are 9 articles from the Church News from the week of Oct. 1-7.
Clockwise from top left: President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaks through video message during the 193rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023; President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, shakes the hand of Hungarian President Katalin Novák in the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sept. 26, 2023; Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and C. Todd Linton, director of the Church’s Military Relations and Chaplain Services Division, greet chaplains and spouses at the conclusion of the Chaplain Training Seminar at the Conference Center Theater in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023; Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman talks about the ASL sign for repentance during her devotional at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.
Clockwise from top left: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Scott G Winterton, Deseret News; Adam Fondren, for the Deseret News.
During the week of Oct. 1-7, Church President Russell M. Nelson announced plans to build 20 new temples, at the close of the Sunday afternoon session of October 2023 general conference. The First Presidency and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles met with Hungary President Katalin Novák, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, the Catholic Archbishop of Kigali, Rwanda, and Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, prime minister of the Independent State of Samoa.
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to hundreds of Latter-day Saint chaplains and their spouses at the 2023 Chaplain Training Seminar. Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman spoke to missionaries at the Provo MTC. Sister J. Anette Dennis, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, met with members from the Twin Falls 20th Branch (Swahili).
“Family of Faith,” the latest Church News video, features Church historians on the faith of Joseph Smith’s family. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square announced the guest artists who will feature at this year’s Christmas concerts. Ten vocalists from eight countries and territories came to Salt Lake City to sing with the 360-voice Tabernacle Choir for the October 2023 general conference. A new clinic in Ukraine from Project HOPE opened with funding and support from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Read summaries and find links to these nine articles below.
1. President Nelson announces 20 new temples during October 2023 general conference
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaks through video message during the 193rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
At the close of the Sunday afternoon session of October 2023 general conference, President Nelson announced plans to build 20 new temples, increasing the total number of temples for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to 335 worldwide.
The latest Church News podcast covered highlights of the messages from the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and other Church leaders, who spoke about faith in Jesus Christ, the happiness that comes from covenant keeping and the invitation to “think celestial.”
2. First Presidency and General Authorities meet with country leaders from Samoa, Hungary and Rwanda
President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, shakes the hand of Hungarian President Katalin Novák in the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sept. 26, 2023.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The First Presidency and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles met with Hungary President Katalin Novák, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, the Catholic Archbishop of Kigali, Rwanda, and Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, prime minister of the Independent State of Samoa.
While in Salt Lake, President Novák also addressed students at Brigham Young University, Cardinal Kambanda toured the Church’s Welfare Square and the Humanitarian Center and Prime Minister Mata’afa also visited Welfare Square, a complex located several blocks from Temple Square where the Church manufactures materials to provide assistance to the poor and needy.
3. Elder Soares shares his witness of the ‘God of all comfort’ with Church-endorsed chaplains
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and C. Todd Linton, director of the Church’s Military Relations and Chaplain Services Division, greet chaplains and spouses at the conclusion of the Chaplain Training Seminar at the Conference Center Theater in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Speaking to several hundred Latter-day Saint chaplains and their spouses, Elder Soares said the need for the ministry of chaplains has never been greater.
“Now, more than ever, your ministry is needed. In a time where religiosity is waning and secularism is gaining, the need for chaplains is paramount,” the Apostle said. “I would like to leave you with some words of comfort and my witness of the ‘God of all comfort.’”
Elder Soares delivered his message as the concluding speaker of the 2023 Chaplain Training Seminar, an annual event held in the Conference Center Theater each October following general conference for chaplains endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
4. Jesus Christ is ‘the one thing’ that is the most important, says President Emily Belle Freeman
Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman talks about the ASL sign for repentance during her devotional at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.
Adam Fondren, for the Deseret News
President Freeman spoke to missionaries at the Provo MTC about “the one thing” that was the most important to them from the recent October 2023 general conference, and the one thing to remember as they are training at the MTC.
Said President Freeman, “What is the one thing more important than they all? It is Jesus Christ.”
5. Swahili-speaking members feel ‘stronger than ever’ after Salt Lake City visit
Members of the Twin Falls 20th Branch (Swahili) meet with Sister J. Anette Dennis, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, after attending general conference in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023.
Jon Ryan Jensen, Church News
Members from the Twin Falls 20th Branch (Swahili), which was formed about two years ago, had the opportunity to meet Sister Dennis after the Sunday afternoon session of October 2023 general conference.
“This is such a privilege for me to be able to meet you and to know of your love of Jesus Christ,” Sister Dennis told the group. “I can feel His love for all of you.”
6. How Joseph Smith’s family was ‘A Family of Faith’
In this Church News video titled “Family of Faith,” Keith A. Erekson of the Church History Department and Elder Kyle S. McKay, a General Authority Seventy and Church historian and recorder, speak of the faith of Joseph’s family.
Screenshot, YouTube
In this Church News video titled “Family of Faith,” Keith A. Erekson of the Church History Department and Elder Kyle S. McKay, a General Authority Seventy and Church historian and recorder, spoke of the faith of Joseph Smith’s family.
“They had a confirmation, and they knew it was true,” said Elder McKay of the Smith family. “And so they followed in faith.”
7. Tabernacle Choir announces guest artists for 2023 Christmas concert
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square Christmas concert at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Broadway’s Michael Maliakel and British actor Lesley Nicol will join The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square as the featured guest artists at this year’s Christmas concerts, choir officials announced Friday, Oct. 6, on TheTabernacleChoir.com, ChurchofJesusChrist.org and live on Fox 13.
“We are delighted to have the talents of Michael Maliakel and Lesley Nicol at this year’s Christmas concerts,” said music director Mack Wilberg. “Together they will bring the holiday spirit into the hearts of our audiences through music and word celebrating the joy that is found in family and the celebration of the Savior’s birth.”
Maliakel and Nicol are best known for their roles as Aladdin on Broadway and Mrs. Patmore of “Downton Abbey” on TV and in films.
8. ‘Share our testimony through music’: 10 singers from around the world perform with the Tabernacle Choir in October 2023 general conference
The group of 10 global choir participants sang at the October 2023 general conference. They represent eight countries and territories. From left they are: Esteban Ojeda of Puerto Rico; JinHyoung Park of South Korea; Aaron Wi-Repa of New Zealand; Idaliz Santiago of Puerto Rico; Sundae Mae Indino of the Philippines; Hikari Harvey of Japan; Yanina Murga of Ecuador; Tin Kin “Tom” Lam of Hong Kong; Gianfranco Vizzini of South Africa; and Miguel Rodriguez of Puerto Rico. The photograph was taken on Sept. 28, 2023, in the Tabernacle on Temple Square.
Hunter Winterton, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Ten vocalists from eight countries and territories came to Salt Lake City to sing with the 360-voice Tabernacle Choir for the October 2023 general conference. They sang Sept. 30-Oct. 1 in the Saturday morning session and the two Sunday sessions as part of a pilot program to help support the choir’s expanded global mission.
It’s the second time international singers have joined the choir for general conference; the first was for the April 2023 general conference.
9. Church helps open new health clinic in Ukraine
Doctors, local officials and representatives from Project Hope and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attend the ribbon cutting of a new outpatient health clinic in Zahatlsi, Ukraine, Aug. 28, 2023.
Nikita Hlazyrin for Project HOPE
Thousands of people in the Kyiv region of Ukraine have access to a new outpatient health clinic from Project HOPE, with funding and support from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Project HOPE is a global health and humanitarian organization that has been working to rebuild Ukraine’s health system. The new clinic replaced an over-100-year-old building in the village of Zahatlsi.
