During the week of July 16-22, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to graduates from Brigham Young University–Idaho about how “see and believe” and “believe to see.” After a faith-filled life defined by dedication, service and testimony, Sister Patricia Terry Holland — the wife of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — died Thursday, July 20, at the age of 81.

Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon shared two videos about taking charge of technology on Facebook and Instagram. Sister Rebecca L. Craven, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency testified to missionaries at the Provo Missionary Training Center that strength in missionary work comes from one’s courage, desire to serve, trust in God’s plan and capacity to grow.

The latest episode of the Church News podcast explored history, heritage and faith with Ellis Ivory, the executive director of This Is the Place Heritage Park. A Church News roundup includes 10 Primary songs shared by Sister Tracy Y. Browning, second counselor in the general Primary presidency, and her thoughts on what the songs teach about the gospel.

Gail Miller, the owner of the Larry H. Miller Company, related her ancestral history and offered gratitude for pioneers. A special issue of the Church’s Friend magazine with a unique appearance and message was published online. The First Presidency of the Church released October 2023 groundbreaking dates for the Modesto California Temple and the Fort Worth Texas Temple.

Read summaries and find links to these nine articles below.

1. Elder Bednar tells graduates to both ‘believe and see’ and ‘see and believe’

BYU–Idaho graduates applaud the conferral of their degrees during commencement services held on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, in the BYU–Idaho Center Auditorium in Rexburg, Idaho.

Tanner Brown, BYU–Idaho

Prior to his call as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Bednar was immersed in a professional world governed by the principle that “seeing is believing.”

While the concepts and skills he learned in his career as a professor of business management — such as the scientific method and other conceptual and statistical analytical techniques — have their advantages and disadvantages, Elder Bednar offered a caution about these tools to graduates from Brigham Young University–Idaho on Wednesday, July 19.

2. Sister Patricia T. Holland, former general officer and wife of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, dies at age 81 after faith-filled life

Sister Patricia Holland poses at her home in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 14, 2022.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

After a faith-filled life defined by dedication, service and testimony, Sister Holland died Thursday, July 20, at the age of 81.

A former general officer in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister Holland — the mother of three, grandmother of 13 and great-grandmother of five — will be remembered for her constant support of her husband and their efforts to share love and light in nations across the world. 

3. President Cordon shares videos about taking charge of technology as a disciple of Christ

The Church has produced some animated videos to help youth in “Taking Charge of Technology.”

Screenshot from ChurchofJesusChrist.org

This year at For the Strength of Youth conferences, two new animated videos are being shown about taking charge of technology, as Young Men general presidency first counselor Brother Bradley R. Wilcox wrote about for the Church News earlier this month.

President Cordon shared the two videos on Facebook and Instagram on July 13 and 14.

4. Missionary strength comes from persistent efforts to live covenants, says Sister Craven

Sister Rebecca L. Craven, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during a devotional at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Missions are exciting, said Sister Craven to an audience of 1,770 new missionaries. Then she added a disclaimer that a mission can feel a little overwhelming.

“You will be doing things you may have never done before and going places that you have never been before,” said Sister Craven, who served with her husband, Brother Ron Craven, as mission leaders over the North Carolina Charlotte Mission from 2012 to 2015. “That might cause a little apprehension, maybe some lack of confidence or maybe even a little anxiety.”

She taught listeners that strength in missionary work comes from one’s courage, desire to serve, trust in God’s plan and capacity to grow.

5. Ellis Ivory, executive director of This Is the Place Heritage Park, on history, heritage and faith

Ellis Ivory, executive director of This Is the Place Heritage Park, in Salt Lake City, Utah, joins the Church News podcast to talk about the Church’s pioneer legacy.

Screenshot from YouTube

This episode of the Church News podcast — released near the anniversary of the Latter-day Saint pioneers’ entrance into the Salt Lake Valley — explores history, heritage and faith with Ellis Ivory, the executive director of This Is the Place Heritage Park.

6. Sister Browning shares 10 Primary songs that teach about the gospel

A Primary children’s choir sings at Riga Chapel in Riga, Latvia, March 7, 2023.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Since joining the Primary general presidency last year, Sister Browning has been sharing different Primary songs from the “Children’s Songbook” on her Facebook and Instagram accounts.

“I hope you’ll join me as I share Primary songs I’m learning, what they teach about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and some of my thoughts and feelings,” she said in a social media post last year. She invited others to share their thoughts and feelings with her in the comments.

This Church News roundup includes each of the 10 songs and comments she shared.

7. ‘We all have a story,’ said Gail Miller, honoring ancestors and pioneers at This Is the Place Heritage Park devotional

Gail Miller speaks at the SUPer DUPer day devotional at This Is the Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 17, 2023. President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints was also in attendance.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Gail Miller related her ancestral history and offered gratitude for pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during SUPer DUPer Day at This Is the Place Heritage Park on Monday, July 17.

“Everyone has a story,” she said, choking back tears. “Our stories connect us with each other, and they can bridge us to our fathers.”

8. Friend special issue focuses on baptism and confirmation

The August 2023 issue of the Church’s Friend magazine, released on July 20, focuses on helping children understand the importance of baptism and confirmation. friend.churchofjesuschrist.org

friend.churchofjesuschrist.org

Arriving in member homes in the coming days and weeks will be a special issue of the Church’s Friend magazine with a unique appearance and message.

Published online this week, this issue of the Friend contains messages focused on helping children understand the covenant of baptism. The special issue has an introductory message from the First Presidency in which they encourage newly baptized children “to remember the covenant you made at baptism and try to follow Jesus every day.”

9. Groundbreaking dates set for 2 temples in California, Texas

October 2023 groundbreaking dates have been set for the Modesto California Temple, left, and the Fort Worth Texas Temple, right.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released October 2023 groundbreaking dates for the Modesto California Temple and the Fort Worth Texas Temple.

The announcement was published Monday, July 17, on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.