This week on social media, Church leaders talked about trips to Brazil, England, Iceland and Guatemala.

Others shared messages of being welcoming to others at Church meetings, the miracle of endless opportunities to seek forgiveness and repent and the importance of treating others with respect despite differences.

At the Joseph Smith Papers Conference, President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, announced that the Church commissioned Richard E. Turley Jr., to author a new biography of the Prophet, titled “Joseph the Prophet.”

President Oaks also spoke of the completion of the Joseph Smith Papers project that has taken place over 22 years.

“In all of my reading and original research about Joseph Smith, I have never been dissuaded from my testimony of his prophetic calling and of the gospel and priesthood restoration the Lord initiated through him,” he said in a Facebook post, Sept. 15.

“Could we be better at the gathering in?” asked Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman in an instagram post on Sept. 13.

President Freeman noted that, “There’s a good chance someone new will walk through the doors of your chapel this Sunday” and it’s important to help them feel welcomed.

“How wonderful that the gospel of Jesus Christ provides second, and third, and fourth, and endless opportunities to retain a remission of our sins,” said Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, on Sept. 10.

While visiting a small village in Guatemala, Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, learned a powerful lesson about how much God’s children have in common.

And regardless of differences, Sister Wright said, “I pray that we may seek to follow the counsel of our beloved prophet and interact with one another in higher and holier ways.”

She continued, “Let us show that there is a peaceful, respectful way to resolve complex issues and an enlightened way to work out disagreements.”

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared how temples will be a “safety and protection for us in the times ahead.”

The Apostle and his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, are headed to Brazil for the Brasília Brazil Temple dedication. Elder Andersen said that he looked forward to sharing more about the dedication later.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a video on Sept. 11, of him and his wife, Sister Lesa Stevenson, in front of the Preston England Temple.

The two are visiting Preston, England, and Reykjavik, Iceland, on assignments to the Europe North Area.

What surprised Elder and Sister Stevenson the most during their visits, were the diversity of the members in Iceland.

“There were longtime Icelandic people, but also there were members there that live in Iceland now that were from Venezuela, Guatemala and Ghana,” said Sister Stevenson.

Elder Stevenson shared a scripture from Alma 26:37. “I think this is what we witnessed,” the Apostle said. “The love that [God] has for these people. A diversity of nations that are centered now in Zion, which is Iceland for them.”

On Sept. 13, Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a story of their family’s ancestors who had been buried in unmarked paupers graves. He and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, had worked hard to find the grave and have a grave marker placed on it.

Elder Gong noted that “Each of us deserves to be remembered.”