During the week of Aug. 13-19, President Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught and testified of the joy sincere repentance brings during a devotional message at the Provo Missionary Training Center. Elder Clark G. Gilbert, Brigham Young University President Shane Reese and BYU–Idaho President Alvin F. Meredith III highlight both the importance of education and the strengths and advantages of their respective institutions in a devotional in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The First Presidency has called Alexander Dushku to be a General Authority Seventy. Lahaina Latter-day Saints gathered to draw strength after Maui wildfires. The Utah YSA conference reached its final events, a 5K fun run on Aug. 12 and a convention with several speakers and activities. Online reservations to tour the renovated St. George Utah Temple during the public open house became available online, and interior photos of the Feather River California Temple were posted online as well.

BYU runner Kenneth Rooks joined the latest episode of the Church News podcast to talk about overcoming hurdles and to share how his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made him a better athlete. Hundreds of community members celebrated the 100th anniversary of Utah’s first Spanish-speaking Latter-day Saint branch

Read summaries and find links to these nine articles below.

1. President Eyring dedicates the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple

President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, poses for photos prior to the first session of the dedication of the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple in Saratoga Springs, Utah, on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

President Eyring dedicated the Church’s newest temple Sunday, Aug. 13, and encouraged Latter-day Saints in the temple district to respond with faith and energy to the new house of the Lord.

Church members “have been given this temple as a sign of the Lord’s trust ... and His confidence that [they] will respond with greater faith and energy,” President Eyring told the Church News.

2. Elder Bednar teaches 3 fundamental truths about repentance and the ongoing remission of sins at the Provo MTC

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks to missionaries during a devotional at the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023.

Adam Fondren, for the Deseret News

Elder Bednar taught and testified of the joy sincere repentance brings to more than 1,800 new full-time missionaries in his Tuesday, Aug. 15, devotional message at the Provo Missionary Training Center.

“Trusting in and turning to the Savior are the ultimate sources of spiritual confidence, assurance and enduring joy,” he testified.

Two days later, he published a video on Facebook and Instagram to show what his typical day looks like when he is working from Salt Lake City.

3. Educational institution leaders highlight the importance of education

Church Commissioner of Education Elder Clark G. Gilbert speaks during an event for prospective college students and their families at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.

Ian Maule, for the Deseret News

Roughly 600 prospective college students and their parents from 26 stakes throughout the Las Vegas area gathered in the Church’s Charleston Boulevard meetinghouse to hear Elder Gilbert, President Reese and President Meredith III highlight both the importance of education and the strengths and advantages of their respective institutions. 

The purpose of the devotional, Elder Gilbert told the Church News, is to help youth and parents understand the importance of education and to invite them to learn more about “the wonderful range of options available to them across the Church Educational System.”

4. First Presidency calls Alexander Dushku to serve as a General Authority Seventy

Elder Alexander Dushku has been called as a General Authority Seventy by the First Presidency, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced on Aug. 15, 2023.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The First Presidency has called Alexander Dushku to be a General Authority Seventy. Elder Dushku will be sustained at the October 2023 general conference, according to an announcement posted on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Before his call as a General Authority Seventy, Elder Dushku served as elders quorum president, bishopric counselor, high councilor, bishop and stake president, and as a full-time missionary in the Portugal Lisbon Mission, according to the announcement.

5. Lahaina Latter-day Saints gather to draw strength after Maui wildfires

Elder Mark A. Bragg, General Authority Seventy and president of the North America West Area talks with members of the Lahaina 1st and 2nd Wards at a gathering at Hanakao’o Beach Park during his visit to Maui and the members and the youth in the area of the fire on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Standing on Hanakaoo Beach, Unaloto Taukeiaho did not look across the water at the charred and burned remains of his town. He looked at the faces of his dear friends and neighbors — beloved members of the Kahului Hawaii West Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he recently served as stake president. 

As they met on Friday, Aug. 18, everyone had a story to tell of where they were when the wind-whipped wildfires grew out of control, how they escaped and how they have been doing since then.

6. Utah YSA conference ends with a 5K fun run and convention

The Utah Area YSA Conference holds a 5K sunset fun run at the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

The YSA conference, themed “Together in Christ,” kicked off Aug. 5 with a concert, continued with a dance on Aug. 11 and a 5K fun run on Aug. 12, and ended with a convention on Aug. 19, with a Sunday devotional still to come on Aug. 20 featuring Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

The fun run started and ended at the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple, which was dedicated the following morning on Sunday, Aug. 13.

The Gather Together Conference was the main event of the 2023 Utah Area Young Single Adult Conference, held throughout the month of August with different activities each weekend for young adults ages 18 to 31. The conference featured keynote speaker Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson as well as several other activities, speakers and events.

7. St. George temple open house reservations available and Feather River temple photos released

The St. George Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is shown Friday, March 24, 2023 in St. George, Utah. Renovation work that began in 2020 is nearing completion. The spire of the new Red Cliffs Utah Temple can be seen rising over the roof of a house on the hill beyond.

Nick Adams, for the Deseret News

Online reservations to tour the renovated St. George Utah Temple during the public open house became available via reservations.churchofjesuschrist.org. Reservations, which are recommended, are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Also, the general public got its first look inside the Feather River California Temple thanks to special-guest and open-house tours as well as the posting of interior and exterior photographs of the house of the Lord located in Yuba City, California.

8. BYU runner Kenneth Rooks shares what he learned from winning the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in steeplechase

BYU’s Kenneth Rooks crosses the finish line to win the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase final during the U.S. track and field championships in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, July 8, 2023.

Ashley Landis, Associated Press

BYU runner Kenneth Rooks felt the Lord was able to use him for good on July 8 when he recovered from a fall early in the race to come back and win the 3,000-meter steeplechase crown at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Rooks joined the latest episode of the Church News podcast to talk about overcoming hurdles and to share how his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made him a better athlete.

9. Latino Latter-day Saints celebrate 100 years of Spanish-speaking congregations in Utah

Carlos Torres points at historical photos of himself and his family members on display at the “Celebración de 100 Años” at the University of Utah Institute of Religion in Salt Lake City, Friday, August 18, 2023.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Hundreds of community members celebrated the 100th anniversary of Utah’s first Spanish-speaking Latter-day Saint branch at the University of Utah Institute of Religion on Aug. 18 with Latin American food, music and dancing.

The event, “Celebración de 100 Años,” featured nearly two dozen presentations from wards around the Salt Lake Valley. Countries from Central and South America were represented through dance and song in each presentation.