LDS News/Around the Church

Faith Conquers "Impossible Trek"

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 MST

It was 130 years ago, in October 1879, when early Mormon settlers in southern Utah left their base camp in Dance Hall Rock to embark on one of the most arduous treks in Church history. They had been called by President John Taylor to leave their comfortable settings in the Parowan, Utah, area to colonize the opposite corner of the state in southeastern Utah.

Scouting Anchored by Timeless Values

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 MST

Want to be the best youth or Scout leader possible? Start by following the example of President Thomas S. Monson. David L. Beck, Young Men general president, said President Monson embodies three characteristics that are vital to working successfully with young men: first, a positive attitude; second, a commitment to duty; and third, a desire to build relationships with others.

Latter-day Saints Make Salvation Army Donation

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 MST

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently delivered a shipment of bedding, clothing, household items, and assorted shoes to the Salvation Army in Athens, Georgia, to help the local charity restock after a fire in July.

Think Swan, Not Ugly Duckling, President Uchtdorf Says

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 MST

Like the ugly duckling in the Hans Christian Andersen story, young adults should become aware of who they really are, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf told them during a Church Educational System fireside Sunday evening.

Trust in the Lord and Serve Faithfully

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 MST

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, spoke to members in 77 stakes October 25 during a stake conference satellite broadcast emanating from Logan, Utah. He advised members to put the kingdom of God first in their lives and trust in the Lord for the rest, and that if they do so they will have the Lord's help while confronting life's inevitable difficulties.

Church Announces Site of Brigham City Temple

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

It will be temple and tabernacle, face-to-face across Main Street in Brigham City. The recently announced Brigham City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be built on the property directly west of and across the street from the Church's Brigham City Tabernacle.

President Uchtdorf to Speak at CES Fireside

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

A CES fireside for young adults will be transmitted over the Church satellite system on Sunday, November 1, 2009, with subsequent rebroadcasts to many areas of the world. The speaker will be President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency. The broadcast will originate from the Brigham Young University campus in Provo, Utah.

BYU-Idaho Devotional: Rely on Christ

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Christ will heal our feelings of fear, distrust, anger, self-doubt, sorrow, discouragement, and inadequacy. He will help us get through difficult days and trying times, if we but come unto Him in faith and humility and with repentant hearts. That counsel came from Carolyn Rasmus, a member of the Sunday School General Board, during a devotional at BYU-Idaho on Tuesday, October 27.

Hundreds Look to Sharpen Job-Seeking Skills in California

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

More than 300 people attended the free Performance Breakthrough Conference to receive advice on finding a job or starting a business on October 22. The conference was hosted by the Rancho Santa Margarita Management Society and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, and was open to the community.

Kids Flock to Collect Coats

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

A long line of families was waiting for at least an hour outside of the Chief Moses Middle School cafeteria for free jackets for children. The Rotary Club of Moses Lake members worked hard to prepare to provide the coats. There were also 600 hand-knitted hats available for children. The hats are a part of a project put on by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Lost Book of Commandments Witnesses Found

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Joseph Smith needed someone to step up and testify of his revelations. Eleven men had testified earlier of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. But in November of 1831 there was a new need for boldness. Who would stand up and let the world know that they knew that a collection of Joseph's revelations, the Book of Commandments, was true?

Centennial Observed for Northcutt Cove Chapel

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

More than 100 people braved the cold weather permeating the beautiful hilltops of Tennessee to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Northcutt Cove Chapel on Saturday, October 17. The little wooden-frame building with its bell tower and spire stands as a monument to Southern pioneers of the Church.

Hurricane Couple Called to Be Directors at Willie's 6th Crossing Handcart Site

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Gerald R. and Shirley Buckner have been called to be the new directors for the Willie's 6th Crossing Handcart Site, which is part of the Mormon Historic Martin Handcart Site in Wyoming. The Buckners, who have been serving a six-month mission for the second time at the site, will have their mission extended for another year through September 2010.

Leading with Integrity in All Areas of Life

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Recognized for his dedication to excellence and commitment to the highest principles, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, received the Pioneer in Leadership Award from the BYU Management Society on October 16.

Sun Sets on Trek through History

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Allee and Alan Hamilton and their eldest son, Troy, joined two dozen other family members to retrace the steps of ancestors who blazed a trail through southeastern Utah in 1879. Their kinfolk covered some of the West's most rugged and treacherous terrain in covered wagons, afoot, or on horseback. The modern-day contingent used five four-wheel drive vehicles and a couple of motorcycles.

Elder Ladd Was a Constant Example of Living the Gospel

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Elder W. Don Ladd, former member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, passed away peacefully in his home in Snellville, Georgia, on October 6, 2009. He was 76. At his funeral in the Lilburn Georgia Stake Center, family members and friends remembered him as a great leader in Church callings, work, and home.

Members in Kentucky Join with Other Groups to Clean Up after Louisville Flooding

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Members of the Louisville Kentucky Stake joined in relief efforts during two Saturdays in October to clean up homes damaged by floodwaters during the summer. Widespread flooding damaged more than 200 homes in the western and southern portions of the city, rendering many uninhabitable and others susceptible to dry rot, dangerous black mold, and structural dangers.

Mormon Church Helps Equip Kids to Learn, Near and Far

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

In a large auditorium decorated with rows of blue, tan, and green world globes, more than 50 Latter-day Saint women of all ages laughed and joked together in small groups as they made cutouts of cupcakes. They were coloring, cutting, laminating, and binding books for children to use to learn to count and to practice their ABCs.

Elder Nelson Dedicates Meetinghouse in Voronezh, Russia

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve dedicated the Voronezh Branch meetinghouse on October 20, a little more than 17 years after the first members of the Church from this Russian city were baptized.

BYU-Idaho to Premiere Sacred Music Work

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Brigham Young University-Idaho choirs and orchestra will premiere a new sacred work this November. Robert Cundick, a well-known Utah composer, has written the oratorio-like work entitled "God's Everlasting Love" based on text written by Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

More Fit for the Kingdom, More Used Would I Be

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Focusing on the importance of education, Sister Mary N. Cook, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency, shared personal stories from her life during a lecture held at Brigham Young University on October 22.

Church Revamps Respite Center

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

A respite center for adults with learning disabilities has been given a facelift by members from an Oxford church. Two hundred members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took part in the Mormon Helping Hands community project.

Elder Scott Answers Questions Asked by Young Single Adults

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Engaging a large congregation of young single adults in an interactive fireside Sunday evening, October 18, Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles discussed various topics, including relationships and marriage.

Elder Walter F. Gonzalez Counsels Hispanic Young Single Adults

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Be bold in defending the gospel and the Church, Elder Walter F. Gonzalez of the Seventy counseled young single adults in a regional Hispanic fireside. He reminded the young adults that they—as Latter-day Saints and as Hispanic members—are in a minority.

Look Inward to Become More Holy, Couple Says at BYU-Idaho Devotional

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Holiness describes the very nature of God and everything that is godlike, said Sister Susan W. Tanner, former Young Women general president of the Church, during a devotional on October 20 at BYU-Idaho. She spoke with her husband, John, an academic vice president at BYU.

Quilting, Sewing, and Crocheting "Threads of Love" in Washington

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

In one of the largest regional events of its type, more than 200 women from the Silverdale Washington Stake joined together to create over 1,500 art kits, quilts, hats, scarves, and smocks for three aid agencies. The activity they call "Threads of Love" is the local centerpiece of worldwide LDS Humanitarian Services.

Sacred Portraits: Photographer Makes Images for Joseph Smith Papers Project

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Welden C. Andersen says his career photographing Hollywood stars for movie posters and musicians for album covers pales in comparison to the portraiture project he is undertaking now. Andersen now takes the most important historical documents in the archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and makes "portraits" of them for the volumes of the Joseph Smith Papers Project.

Reach Out with Compassion, LDS Faithful Urged

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

President Thomas S. Monson asked Latter-day Saints in the Salt Lake Valley to reach out to the aged, the widowed, the sick, the handicapped, and the less-active members of the Church. "Extend to them the hand that helps and the heart that knows compassion," he said, speaking to members of 109 local stakes gathered in the Conference Center and in meetinghouses throughout the south end of the Salt Lake Valley on Sunday morning.

A Prophet's Visit

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

President Thomas S. Monson made brief visits to Nauvoo, Illinois, and Kirtland, Ohio, on October 9 and 10. It was the first time since he became President of the Church that he has visited the sites steeped in Church history.

Elder Scott Honored at New York Professional Banquet

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve was given the Visionary Leadership Award from the New York Metro Latter-day Saint Professional Association at the Annual Scholarship Banquet on Friday, October 9. The LDS Professional Association gives opportunities to students to become discipleship leaders through scholarships, networking, and mentoring.

A Tale of Two Saints: Catholic and Mormon

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Fred E. Woods wasn't looking for transformation when he and his wife, JoAnna, spent their 24th wedding anniversary riding mules down the 2,000-foot cliffs of Molokai. The Brigham Young University professor was in Hawaii in December 2003 researching the Mormon settlement of Laie. The former Hansen's disease colony on Molokai was just a side trip. But what Woods found on the Kalaupapa Peninsula below the cliffs did, indeed, transform him.

Relief Society: "A Serious Work"

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

All Relief Society meetings should fulfill the purpose of the organization—to help educate Latter-day Saint women and engage them in the Lord's work of salvation, said Sister Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president.

Natalie Cole and David McCullough to Perform in Annual Christmas Concert

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Singer, songwriter, and performer Natalie Cole and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough will join the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square for their annual Christmas concerts, titled The Wondrous Gift of Christmas, December 10–13. Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy will conduct the concerts.

Church Donates $1.5 Million to Help Build New St. Anne's Center

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Plans to move St. Anne's Center to a location outside of downtown Ogden got a huge boost with the announcement that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will donate $1.5 million to help build the new shelter complex. "Our purpose is to care for the poor and needy, and there are needs in Ogden that we want to help," Ronald G. Humphries, the Church's regional director for temporal affairs, said after announcing the donation.

Riding Temple to Temple: Bicyclists Relax, Enjoy Sights

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Mark Bolton's trips to Salt Lake City number few, but they are very memorable. "I've been a member 31 years, and I've been to Salt Lake twice," said Bolton, who joined the Church during U.S. Navy boot camp in Orlando, Florida. Both times he rode his bike there—the traditional two-wheeled, nonmotorized kind.

Inauguration at LDS Business College

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency and Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve spoke October 13 in the Assembly Hall at Temple Square during the inauguration of J. Lawrence "Larry" Richards as the 12th president of LDS Business College.

Mormon Teens Reenact Ancestors' 1,300-Mile Journey

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Wearing 1850s-style bonnets, dresses, and hats, about 200 Mormon teenagers from Mesa took a long step back in time Thursday to reenact the arduous trek of their pioneer ancestors. The teens worked to push handcarts loaded with about 800 pounds of supplies up and down hills for about 10 miles, the first leg of a 25-mile trek they will complete on Saturday.

Conference Brings Together More Than 800 Single Adults

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

"Stop Waiting and Start Moving" was the conference theme and the message given by Elder Dallin Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve and his wife, Sister Kristen Oaks, to more than 800 members at the All-Japan Single Adult Conference held at the Tokyo Olympic Memorial Center on September 21–23.

"Ponder and Pray" before Believing

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Thao Yang, 22, doesn't know where he will be in the next few years. He believes it is up to the Lord. Yang is an elder in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he wants to go on a two-year mission for the Church. "I want to give other families the doctrine of Christ, so they know that whatever happens in their life, they have a chance to be better," said Yang.

Mormon Fire-Knife Dancer Awes in "Sin City"

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Twice a week during the summer, Foi Tuitama is surrounded by hazards. There are fast-spinning hooked knives once used by Samoan warriors to decapitate enemies. There are swells of fire that have seared his skin on occasion. And there is downtown Las Vegas, otherwise known as "Sin City." This devout Mormon, however, knows how to handle them all.

Apostle Says Religious Freedom Is Being Threatened

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

An Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said religious freedom is being threatened by societal forces intimidating those with religious points of view from having a voice in the public square. Elder Dallin H. Oaks made the comments Tuesday in a major address to Brigham Young University-Idaho students on the importance of preserving the religious freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution.

Unity of Faith: Six Churches Combine for Choir and Program

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Unity was the goal when the St. Jude Catholic Parish brought together six different churches for a choir concert and program in the Redmond, Washington, area, with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints represented by the Redmond Washington Stake.

Preach My Gospel Continues to Help Members and Missionaries Alike

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Five years and nearly two million copies after it was first published, Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service continues helping missionaries and members in their missionary efforts.

Visiting Professor Says Book of Mormon Proves Own Validity

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

The Book of Mormon proves its own historical validity, BYU students learned at a lecture. Terryl L. Givens, a University of Richmond professor of literature and religion, spoke about how the Book of Mormon combines the familiar with the seemingly impossible. The lecture was the first Laura F. Willes Center Book of Mormon Lecture. These lectures will be held biennially.

Embracing the Family Tree's "Fruits and Nuts" in Las Vegas

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

More than 300 amateur genealogists recently invested their time learning how to do family history research. Hosted by the Las Vegas Nevada Sandstone Stake, the seventh annual Family History and Genealogy Jamboree gave participants up to six hours of class instruction including using Personal Ancestral File; researching immigration, census, ethnic, and military records; and organizing their information.

Alabama Mormons, Others Combine on Service Project

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Representatives of four Christian congregations—including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dilworth Church of God, Waterstone Baptist Church, and Red Hill Independent Church—linked arms recently to assist more than 1,000 deserving members of the community.

Church Using the Internet to Its Advantage

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Official LDS Church content on the Web now branches beyond LDS.org. And more is coming. There are Mormon Messages on YouTube, the Mormon Channel streaming online, and several sites designed specifically for search engine optimization. Future offerings may include personalized online general conference journals, upgraded ward directories, and content for mobile phones.

"A Chain of Testimony": 1841 Copy of Book of Mormon Stays Preserved

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

The book normally sits in a box, in a dark room with a controlled temperature and humidity level. It is seen as a "treasured artifact," almost two centuries old. But on Sunday, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke about the power of the Book of Mormon during the Church's 179th Semiannual General Conference with that very book in hand.

DVDs Bring Old Testament to Life

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

The Old Testament just got a lot more accessible.

The Spirit of Conference Is Incomparable, Says Lehi Couple

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

Waiting in line for the Sunday afternoon session of conference, Richard and Pam Norby huddled under an umbrella, shielding them from the cold October rain. In a line that wound its way along others in the Conference Center plaza, the couple from Lehi, Utah, acknowledged watching conference on television or listening to it on the radio would be much easier.

Mormon Teens Start Day with Faith Classes

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MST

It's not as if Jenna Reeder doesn't have anything else to do, given that she's president of the senior class at McKinney High School, serves on student council, and takes dual credit courses from Collin College. But at 5:45 a.m., five days a week, she's in yet another classroom, where she studies the Bible and other sacred texts with fellow youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.