For Jill McAuley , a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, knowing her identity as a child of God has helped her both overcome and glory in her infirmities (see 2 Corinthians 12:9 ). Despite being paralyzed in a car crash at 18 years old, she has spent the last 20-plus years deepening her spiritual and emotional growth through service, study and grace through Christ. She joins Church News reporter Mary Richards to discuss this transformational journey of finding freedom and ...
Jan 20, 2026•33 min•Ep. 277
In President Russell M. Nelson ’s October 2023 talk, “ Think Celestial! ” he declared, “Mortality is a master class in learning to choose the things of greatest eternal import.” For aging members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this “learning” remains in force as they find themselves looking for the best ways to serve in the Church and with their families. On this episode of the Church News podcast, Norman Hill — BYU associate professor and author of the Deseret News series “...
Jan 13, 2026•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 276
As Latter-day Saints study the Old Testament as part of the 2026 “Come, Follow Me” curriculum , a General Handbook update provides guidance on using different editions and translations of the Holy Bible . On this Church News podcast, Brigham Young University associate professor of ancient scripture, Josh Sears , joins Church News editor Jon Ryan Jensen to discuss the flexibility in using Bible translations in home and Church studies, helping members understand doctrine and seek truth in the sacr...
Jan 06, 2026•46 min•Ep. 275
2025 was a year of milestones, mourning and inspiration for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Celebratory stories included President Dallin H. Oaks becoming the 18th President of the Church, the announcement of 55 new missions opening around the world, and the 175th anniversary of the Deseret News (from which the Church News began as a section in 1931). These stories were offset by stories of loss, including the death of President Russell M. Nelson at the age of 101, a ...
Dec 30, 2025•39 min•Ep. 274
President Jeffrey R. Holland , President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints died Saturday, December 27 at 3:15 a.m. MST , at age 85, from complications associated with kidney disease. Known for his words and the way he expressed them, President Holland will be remembered for the love he shared in nations around the world, where he taught and testified of the reality of Jesus Christ. An educator by profession, he inspired generations with his g...
Dec 27, 2025•51 min•Ep. 273
For more than 30 years, Richard Elliott has inspired audiences worldwide as an organist for The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square . Elliott was introduced to and baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while studying for his undergraduate degree. He later served a mission in Argentina, married his wife, Elizabeth, in the Washington D.C. Temple and taught as an assistant professor of organ at Brigham Young University. Today, Elliott is the Church’s principal organi...
Dec 23, 2025•31 min•Ep. 272
Noelle Pikus Pace is an Olympic medalist, speaker, author, Gospel Doctrine teacher, wife, mother and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her faith and understanding of her identity as a child of God have helped her through all her Olympian experiences, both trials and wins. She won a silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics , where she wore her Young Women necklace on the medals podium. She joins Church News reporter Mary Richards to discuss the thrill and danger of ...
Dec 16, 2025•45 min•Ep. 271
The Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints works under the direction of the First Presidency to oversee the Church's temporal affairs — or physical aspects. Following Elder Gérald Caussé’s call to serve as the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Church announced a new Presiding Bishopric on Nov. 14: Bishop W. Christopher Waddell as new presiding bishop, Bishop L. Todd Budge as first counselor and Bishop Sean Douglas as second counselor. The new...
Dec 09, 2025•48 min•Ep. 270
Elder Gérald Caussé is the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, Church President Dallin H. Oaks extended this call to Elder Caussé, filling the quorum's vacancy left with the passing of President Russell M. Nelson . At 62, Elder Caussé is the first member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from France and has served for the last decade as the Church’s presiding bishop , helping oversee the Church’s tem...
Dec 02, 2025•46 min•Ep. 269
Sister Kristen M. Oaks is the wife of President Dallin H. Oaks , recently set-apart President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her life has been a record of shifting roles and accepted opportunities to serve as a wife, member of the Church and daughter of God. She joins this episode of the Church News podcast to speak again with guest host Sheri Dew , executive vice president of the Deseret Management Corp. and a former member of the Relief Society general presidency. Sister O...
Nov 25, 2025•34 min•Ep. 268
In recognition of Brigham Young University’s 150th anniversary and its sesquicentennial theme of “Celebrating Gifts of Light” (see Doctrine and Covenants 50:24 ), students, faculty and alumni are invited to perform 150 hours of service each. Throughout the yearlong celebration, BYU continues its mission to nurture divine light in its students, who then share the Light of Jesus Christ with the world by honoring the past and envisioning the future. On this episode of the Church News podcast, BYU P...
Nov 18, 2025•41 min•Ep. 267
The recently refurbished and rededicated Hill Cumorah in Manchester, New York, is a historic and sacred site for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles called the reforested and refurbished area “the cradle of the Restoration .” The area was a pivotal place for the instruction of the young Prophet Joseph Smith, as well as the receiving and translation of the ancient gold plates that we now have as the Book of Mormon....
Nov 11, 2025•48 min•Ep. 266
President Dallin H. Oaks was set apart as the 18th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Oct. 14, 2025, succeeding President Russell M. Nelson after the latter's death . This calling continues the Lord's established pattern, confirming the longest-serving living apostle as the new Prophet through revelation and priesthood authority . On this episode of the Church News podcast, Church News editor Ryan Jensen explores the life of President Oaks with excerpts from intervie...
Nov 04, 2025•45 min•Ep. 265
Trusting in the Lord might not come easy to everyone, but those who develop that faith are promised, “He shall direct thy paths” ( Proverbs 3:5-6 ). For husband-and-wife team Porter and Carlie Ellett, much of their journey of trust has played out on the field of the biggest sport in the United States. In this episode of the Church News podcast, the Elletts join Church News editor Ryan Jensen to share their story of faith, family and the unique experience of working in the environment of the Nati...
Oct 28, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 264
Seminary and institute enrollment among youth and young adult members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is at a record high, following the late President Russell M. Nelson’s invitation to become closer to Christ through regular attendance and participation. On this episode of the Church News podcast, reporter Mary Richards is joined by Brother Chad H Webb , administrator for Seminaries and Institutes of Religion and the first counselor in the Sunday School general presidency, an...
Oct 21, 2025•44 min•Ep. 263
2025 marks the 30th anniversary of “ The Family: A Proclamation to the World ” from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This document teaches that marriage between a man and a woman and the creation of families are central parts of God’s plan. In Part 2 of a two-part series , Church News editor Ryan Jensen explores the principles taught in “The Family Proclamation.” This episode features quotes from Church leaders who testify that all are a part of God’s great family and that He has...
Oct 14, 2025•45 min•Ep. 262
On Oct. 4-5, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held its 195th Semiannual General Conference . The two days of general sessions included counsel and teachings from Church leaders, and included expressions of appreciation for the leadership of President Russell M. Nelson , who died one week before the conference convened. This special conference edition of the Church News podcast features excerpts from each of the conference addresses and covers topics like the family’s place in God’...
Oct 08, 2025•55 min•Ep. 261
President Russell M. Nelson , Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died Sept. 27 , at the age of 101. As the world mourns this loss, the Church News podcast dedicates this special memorial episode to his leadership, teachings, revelations and kindness. This podcast features just a small sample of his words from general conference talks, devotionals and more. President Nelson will be forever known as a man of science and faith . During his tenure as President of the Church,...
Sep 28, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 260
Sept. 23, 2025 , marked the 30th anniversary of “ The Family: A Proclamation to the World ,” also known by many in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as “The Family Proclamation.” This document teaches that marriage between a man and a woman and the creation of families are central parts of God’s plan. In this first part of a two-part special Church News podcast, Church News editor Ryan Jensen explores the gospel doctrine and principles taught in “The Family Proclamation.” The podca...
Sep 23, 2025•39 min•Ep. 259
September 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of “ The Family: A Proclamation to the World ,” which proclaims that “marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” On this episode of the Church News podcast, reporter Mary Richards continues the discussion of “The Family Proclamation,” as she is joined by Jenet Erickson , an associate professor of Religious Education at Brigham Young University . Eric...
Sep 16, 2025•43 min•Ep. 258
Thirty years ago, on Sept. 23, 1995, President Gordon B. Hinckley, then the President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stood at the pulpit in the Salt Lake Tabernacle and gave a proclamation to the world on the sacred importance of the family. Over the next three decades, this powerful document, titled “ The Family: A Proclamation to the World ,” has guided members of the Church, and others, in strengthening home and family by adhering to its prophetic principles i...
Sep 09, 2025•54 min•Ep. 257
Sept. 23, 2025, marks the 30th anniversary of the publishing of “ The Family: A Proclamation to the World ” from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members of the Church also refer to this proclamation as the family proclamation. For three decades, the principles and doctrine outlined in this document have helped members of the Church, as well as others, to strengthen and understand the importance of family in God’s eternal plan. In this episode of the Church News podcast, W. Bradf...
Sep 02, 2025•39 min•Ep. 256
During his nine-year tenure as president of Brigham Young University and roughly two decades serving the Church’s flagship university before that role, Kevin J Worthen has learned a lot from the school’s mission statement to “assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life.” Worthen and his wife, Peggy Worthen , join Church News editor Ryan Jensen in this episode of the Church News podcast to discuss their learnings about family, humility and trusting the revelations of scriptu...
Aug 26, 2025•46 min•Ep. 255
The " Together in Christ " Utah Area YSA Conference 2025 will once again bring thousands of young single adult members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from across Utah to Salt Lake City. They will gather together for this three-day event filled with devotionals , breakout sessions , concerts , socializing activities and even speed dating . Conferences like this are not the only places these members are gathering. Around the world, gathering places are being formed by the Churc...
Aug 19, 2025•51 min•Ep. 254
For Church News reporter Sydney Walker, the journey into journalism involved viewing challenges as opportunities and trusting the Lord would guide her to where she needed to be. A Brigham Young University journalism graduate in 2017, she interned for the Deseret News’ Faith section , worked as an assistant in the Priesthood and Family Department at Church headquarters and later became a reporter at the Church News. In this episode of the Church News podcast, Walker joins Church News editor Ryan ...
Aug 12, 2025•49 min•Ep. 253
In 2026, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will study the Old Testament again for “Come, Follow Me ” at home and church. According to Seminaries and Institutes of Religion teacher Aaron Coombs , focusing on gospel principles like covenants and the Atonement of Jesus Christ can help audiences understand thousands of years of history and cultural context found in these sacred texts. Coombs joins Church News reporter Mary Richards on this episode of the Church News podcast ...
Aug 05, 2025•39 min•Ep. 252
The Ulaanbaatar Mongolia Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was announced by President Russell M. Nelson on Oct. 1, 2023. For Sister Mary N. Cook , who served with her late husband, Elder Richard E. Cook , as the first mission leaders in Mongolia in 1995-1996, this announcement marked decades of challenges and miracles in this Central Asian country. Sister Cook joins Church News reporter Mary Richards on this episode of the Church News podcast to talk about the Church’s mi...
Jul 29, 2025•51 min•Ep. 251
Since the early days of the Restoration, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have championed the fundamental human right to religious freedom . In 2023, President Dallin H. Oaks , first counselor in the First Presidency, asked, “ Where would the absence of religious freedom lead society? ” To consider this important question, author, researcher and professor on religious law Steven T. Collis joins Church News reporter Mary Richards on this episode of the Church News podcas...
Jul 22, 2025•43 min•Ep. 250
The partnership of Young Men General President Steven J. Lund and his wife, Sister Kalleen Lund, has been an international one. Having met first in Frankfurt, Germany, while President Lund was enlisted in the U.S. Army after serving a mission, they reunited later as students at BYU in Provo, Utah, and married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1980. They have four children and several grandchildren, have served as mission leaders in the Georgia Atlanta Mission and have built a life of both religious and...
Jul 15, 2025•49 min•Ep. 249
Callie Jo Smith is a former collegiate tennis player, an 11-time Professional Pickleball Association Tour champion and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As pickleball is the fastest-growing sport several years in a row, she is using her influence to share not only tips for the court , but her love for the sport, her family and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Callie Jo Smith joins Church News reporter Mary Richards on this episode of the Church News podcast to discuss her a...
Jul 08, 2025•52 min•Ep. 248
