In an April 2022 general conference talk, President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said, “The gospel of Jesus Christ has never been needed more than it is today.” Impelled by that need, the Church’s Missionary Department has developed new resources , tools and invitations to reach God’s children on this earth. This expansion includes integrating service missionaries into teaching missions , a new edition of “ Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel o...
Dec 03, 2024•46 min•Ep. 217
Laurel Day became the president of Deseret Book in 2021 after 23 years with the publishing company. On this episode of the Church News podcast, Church News reporter Mary Richards interviews Day on her unexpected journey to Deseret Book, her writing , and insights shared on the “Magnify” podcast about creating faith-based resources and supporting female voices . While Day’s life has not gone as she had originally planned, she shares how the power and personalized process of revelation and the gif...
Nov 26, 2024•42 min•Ep. 217
FamilySearch International is celebrating its 130th anniversary this month, growing from its start in 1894 as the Genealogical Society of Utah to what now has become the world’s largest genealogical organization. While helping people worldwide interested in family history, FamilySearch has created a collaborative online family tree with more than 1.5 billion people in its branches, currently with 18 billion searchable historical records and images. On this episode of the Church News podcast, rep...
Nov 19, 2024•42 min•Ep. 215
On Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, the Church History Department celebrated the release of the fourth and final volume of the “Saints” historical series , chronicling the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “ Saints, Volume 4: Sounded in Every Ear ” is now available in 14 languages and various formats, appropriately as the volume follows the rapid growth in Church membership globally from 1955 to 2020. On this episode of the Church News podcast, Church History Department historia...
Nov 12, 2024•45 min•Ep. 214
Within a period of about 10 days in September and October 2024, two hurricanes made landfall back-to-back in the southeastern United States. Since then, more than 20,000 volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have donated their time to provide relief to thousands of impacted families in the area. In the process, they have seen miracles, witnessed the power of prayer and experienced joy because of this Christ-centered service. In this episode of the Church News podcast, r...
Nov 05, 2024•43 min•Ep. 213
Forty years ago, in 1984, Brigham Young University's football team was second to none. Against all odds, the Cougars finished the season undefeated and were named national champions after a series of big wins and nail-biting victories. This legacy of excellence continues decades later as BYU is having another winning season. Church News reporter Mary Richards interviews Deseret News sports columnist Dick Harmon and slice-of-life columnist Lee Benson on BYU football's incredible 1984 season and h...
Oct 29, 2024•27 min•Ep. 212
Research from Brigham Young University looks at the relationship between temple attendance , religious practices, and mental health in youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The evidence suggests scripture study, family prayer, church attendance and belief in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ are supported by and supportive of temple attendance. Professor Justin Dyer , a professor of religious education at BYU, joins this episode of the Church News podcast to talk about his ...
Oct 22, 2024•37 min•Ep. 211
As The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints nears the bicentennial of its founding in 1830, the Church History Museum and The Center for Latter-day Saint Arts have come together to celebrate nearly 200 years of the rich doctrines, history and culture in artwork. In the new exhibit entitled “ Work and Wonder: 200 Years of Latter-day Saint Art ,” a wide variety of works are presented, having been created by individuals connected to the faith around the world over two centuries. In this epis...
Oct 15, 2024•36 min
Millions tuned in to the October 2024 general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The 194th Semiannual General Conference featured messages from the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, other Church leaders, and President Russell M. Nelson who declared that now is the time for Latter-day Saints to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This special conference edition of the Church News podcast features excerpts from each conference address that emph...
Oct 07, 2024•52 min•Ep. 209
The new voice of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square , Derrick Porter , started his role as executive producer, principal writer, and presenter of the weekly “ Music & the Spoken Word ” broadcast in June 2024 . Porter, a 42-year-old bishop in Bountiful, Utah, took on this highly visible role from 34-year veteran Lloyd Newell , with the support of his wife, Rebecca, and their six children. Now, he joins the Church News podcast to talk about where he has come from and where he sees Music &am...
Oct 01, 2024•34 min•Ep. 208
On Palm Sunday in April 2023, President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invited individuals to be the “ Peacemaker Needed ” in what is sometimes a contentious world. In 2024, presidential elections will happen or have happened in nearly 50 countries around the world. These countries are home to more than half the world’s population. At times like these, we are reminded of the political neutrality of the Church, as well as the invitation to participate in the ...
Sep 24, 2024•52 min
On Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, individuals around the world joined in celebrating the 100th birthday of President Russell M. Nelson , the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. President Nelson’s family, friends, and fellow leaders commemorated his leadership and dedication to Jesus Christ with birthday greetings, music, and tributes to his century of service . On this episode of the Church News podcast, we share highlights from that live broadcast celebration to show appr...
Sep 17, 2024•30 min•Ep. 206
History will be made in the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 as President Russell M. Nelson turns 100 years old. He will be the first prophet of the Church’s restored era to become a centenarian. President Nelson was set apart as the 17th president of the Church on Jan. 14, 2018, after serving 34 years in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Before 1984, when he entered full-time Church service, President Nelson was a world-renowned heart surgeon, medical re...
Sep 06, 2024•25 min
For President Jeffrey R. Holland , acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the past year has been perhaps the most challenging of his life . President Holland, 83, faced an extended illness; spoke at the funeral of his predecessor, President M. Russell Ballard ; and dealt with the passing of his wife of 60 years, Sister Patricia Terry Holland . Speaking during the April 2024 general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Holland said he felt he ha...
Aug 30, 2024•49 min
On Sept. 9, 2024, President Russell M. Nelson , the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will turn 100 years old . In his six-plus-year tenure as Prophet and leader of the global faith, he has become the oldest President of The Church , reinforced the correct name of the Church , guided members through a worldwide pandemic , spearheaded a home-centered and Church-supported curriculum with the “ Come, Follow Me ” program, and announced168 temples worldwide while reminding...
Aug 27, 2024•28 min
In 2009, BYU–Idaho launched a program called Pathway . This one-year, reduced-cost online program was offered to students wherever they lived, without stepping on a university campus. Eight years later, in 2017, Pathway changed when the Church announced the creation of BYU–Pathway Worldwide . On this episode of the Church News podcast, we learn the stories of faith that have guided the growth and success of BYU–Pathway with its president, Brian K. Ashton , and Matt Eyring, the school’s vice pres...
Aug 20, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 200
In the Life Help section on the website for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are reminded that, “Everyone needs help sometimes. Life is like that. In fact, God planned it to be that way.” For social scientist, New York Times bestselling author and Church member, Joseph Grenny , helping others has become his career and a personal calling. Through thorough research, a variety of business endeavors and personal experiences , Grenny says he has learned the value of practical and s...
Aug 13, 2024•46 min•Ep. 201
In October 2020, the Church News launched the Church News podcast. For the next 199 weeks, the podcast featured leaders and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints talking about their experiences and sharing their testimonies of the restored gospel. In May 2024, podcast host Sarah Jane Weaver was named editor of the Deseret News . This appointment comes after nearly 30 years as a reporter then editor working to create “ a living record of the Restoration” of The Church of Jesu...
Aug 06, 2024•55 min•Ep. 200
President Russell M. Nelson donated the medical journals from his pioneering career as a heart surgeon to the University of Utah on Aug. 30, 2023. “I am deeply grateful for the important role the University of Utah played in my education and surgical career,” President Nelson said. Having “perhaps our most distinguished alumnus donate such a remarkable volume of records” marked a historic day for the university, said U of U President Taylor R. Randall . He joins this episode of the Church News p...
Jul 30, 2024•31 min•Ep. 199
Church Correlation is the process by which members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints become united through the covenants of the gospel to establish the kingdom of God in their hearts, in their homes, in their communities and throughout the world. Official Church publications, including the Church News, work with members of the Church Correlation Department to ensure that all published materials align with the doctrine of Jesus Christ and Church policies. This episode of the Chur...
Jul 23, 2024•46 min•Ep. 198
On Nov. 13, 2022, President Jeffrey R. Holland , acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, addressed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Finland during a special member meeting . President Holland promised Finnish Latter-day Saints that the prayers of the righteous will prevail. This episode of the Church News podcast features Finnish Latter-day Saint Mia Kemppaala , who also spoke during the meeting. She joins the podcast to discuss what it is like to be a...
Jul 16, 2024•46 min
Church leaders offered counsel and direction to almost 150 new mission presidents and their companions during the 2024 Seminar for New Mission Leaders for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 20 through 23. The mission leaders began their service in locations worldwide on or about July 1. During the four-day seminar every member of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke, as did the general authorities and general officers serving on the Missionary Executi...
Jul 09, 2024•47 min
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched the fifth and final season of the “ Book of Mormon Videos ” series in early 2024. Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles serves as the chair of the Scriptures Committee and has overseen the production of the “Book of Mormon Videos.” The Church recently hit a significant milestone in the distribution of the Book of Mormon, and Elder Renlund said the launch of this final season comes at an important time. “In an era marke...
Jul 02, 2024•45 min•Ep. 195
The First Presidency has asked the Relief Society organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to take the lead in a global initiative for women and children . This initiative seeks to provide the Savior’s relief through maternal and newborn care, child nutrition efforts, immunizations and education. Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and her counselors, Sister J. Anette Dennis and Sister Kristin M. Yee , join guest host Mary Richards, a Church News reporter, ...
Jun 25, 2024•36 min•Ep. 194
The welcoming sound of bells has heralded celebration and worship for centuries of Christian worshippers. This includes the music of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square since its pioneering start in 1847. In 2005, the inclusion of a handbell ensemble was officially organized under the auspices of the choir; the handbell group has evolved to 32 musicians who enhance choir concerts and recordings, as well as perform two handbell concerts each year. From its inception, LeAnna Willmore served as a...
Jun 18, 2024•40 min•Ep. 196
For more than three decades, Lloyd D. Newell has served as the voice of “ Music & the Spoken Word ” with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square . In recent years, he has been joined by his wife, Karmel Newell, who has served as the choir’s director of member support. They have traveled the world sharing the gospel through inspiring words and music . Now, the pair’s work with the choir is coming to an end as they embark on a new adventure. The Newells will begin serving as leader...
Jun 11, 2024•48 min•Ep. 192
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will dedicate the Salta Argentina Temple on Sunday, June 16, 2024. Having served as a full-time missionary in Argentina, his return is a joyous opportunity to reflect on his own service as well as the growth of the Church in South America. The Salta temple will be the third operating house of the Lord in Argentina and is one of seven dedicated, announced or under construction in t...
Jun 04, 2024•54 min•Ep. 195
Six years after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced in 2018 that it was working to create a new hymnbook for members to use as part of their worship and gospel study, leaders have released the first batch of hymns in four languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese and French. On this episode of the Church News podcast, Elder Isaac K. Morrison , a General Authority Seventy; Primary General President Susan H. Porter ; and Hymnbook Committee Secretary Brooke Hirst talk about this...
May 30, 2024•50 min•Ep. 190
During April 2024 general conference , President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said, “ The temple is the gateway to the greatest blessings God has in store for each of us .” Part of this continual focus on temple service is the extensive renovations of pioneer-era temples, including the iconic Salt Lake Temple, which closed in January 2020 for extensive renovations . This episode of the Church News podcast features an update on the renovations of the Salt L...
May 21, 2024•48 min•Ep. 189
As early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fled persecution in the mid-1800s and settled in the Salt Lake Valley, they put a printing press in a wagon and moved it across the United States — publishing the first edition of the Deseret News on June 15, 1850. The legacy of that newspaper continues today with editors and writers who still work to spread light and truth around the world on Deseret.com. Jay Evensen , the opinion editor of the Deseret News, joins this episode ...
May 14, 2024•30 min•Ep. 188
