Church News

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...

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...

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 r...

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...

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...

In early 2025, new mission presidents and their wives were called to serve in 167 missions around the world. In June, these new mission leadership couples gathered at the Provo Missionary Training Center to receive counsel and instruction from each member of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as well as other members of the Missionary Executive Council, before they reported...

The  Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square celebrates a historic milestone on July 13, 2025, when it airs its 5,000th broadcast of “Music & the Spoken Word .” This occasion will commemorate more than nine decades of inspirational sacred music and messages shared with audiences around the world. To discuss this achievement nearly a century in the making, Tabernacle Choir President...

The music in the youth-focused, ever-expanding Strive to Be library is helping strengthen young people around the world through Christ-centered music and messages. This music can be found through streaming platforms by Strive to Be and the youth albums produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This year, through regional concerts and the upcoming “Festival 2025: A Youth Co...

Former BYU Cougar basketball player Travis Hansen played professional basketball for more than a decade, spanning the NBA and internationally in Spain and Russia following his collegiate career. But basketball doesn't define Hansen; from a young age, he had many tender experiences that helped him build a strong spiritual foundation and know that Heavenly Father loves him. On this episode of the Ch...

One year ago, the first batch of new hymns was released for a new hymnbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “ Hymns — For Home and Church ” is for members to use as part of their worship and gospel study. As more new hymns are released, they can be found on the Church’s website at music. ChurchofJesusChrist.org and the Gospel Library app . On this Church...

President Russell M. Nelson has recently invited Latter-day Saints to make discipleship of Jesus Christ their highest priority . At Ensign College , an institution of higher education founded and sponsored by the Church, the school's mission to develop capable and trusted disciples of Jesus Christ reinforces this invitation even in secular degrees like social media marketing. On this episode of th...

Ministering assignments in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are made so that all members of the Church are remembered and cared for in ways similar to how Jesus Christ blessed those around Him . In this episode of the Church News podcast, Church News reporter Mary Richards is joined by Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and Elder Robert M. Daines , a General Authori...

In March 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acquired the Kirtland Temple and other historic buildings and artifacts. A new website now offers information and resources about visiting and learning about Historic Kirtland and the remarkable events of early Church history that occurred there. This episode of the Church News podcast explores Kirtland with historian Karl Ricks Anders...

Recently, the Church History Museum unveiled 150 works of art as part of its exhibition for the 13th International Art Competition . These pieces were chosen from nearly 600 artworks submitted by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world. The theme for this year’s contest explores the gospel invitation to “Lift Up the Hands Which Hang Down,” whic...

In June 2024, Emily Hellewell was named vice president of marketing and creative services at Deseret News. In this role, she leads the marketing and communications efforts for the Deseret News , Deseret Magazine and Church News as well as several other teams. Hellewell joins this episode of the Church News podcast to discuss how her extensive background in public relations and her faith in Jesus C...

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sustained 16 new General Authority Seventies during the Saturday morning session of the Church’s 195th Annual General Conference on Saturday, April 5, 2025. President Dallin H. Oaks , first counselor in the First Presidency, presented the new General Authority Seventies for a sustaining vote, along with the sustaining of the Church&r...

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has emphasized the importance of Easter, saying Easter Sunday “is the most important religious observance for followers of Jesus Christ.” In preparation of celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, host and Church News reporter Mary Richards is joined by Brigham Young University professor emeritus and hi...

Members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world tuned in to the 195th Annual General Conference held April 5-6, 2025. The two-day conference featured messages of encouragement and hope from the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and other Church leaders, including President Russell M. Nelson . This special conference edition of the Church Ne...

What some saw as a surprise move, Brigham Young University athletic director Tom Holmoe has decided that “this is the right time” to retire . Over the last two decades, Holmoe has been at the helm of BYU Athletics as teams have won national championships, garnered international attention, and shared their testimonies on and off the field, the court and the track. On this episode of the...

The Prophet Joseph Smith said the Doctrine and Covenants is “the foundation of the Church in these last days, and a benefit to the world, showing that the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom of our Savior are again entrusted to man.” In 2025, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints study the Doctrine and Covenants , to learn of Him, apply the stories found in its pa...

February 2025 marked the fifth anniversary of the announcement that LDS Business College would become Ensign College . The name change to the 139-year-old educational institution came with expanded educational offerings and symbolic and historical significance. The name change helped reaffirm the full name of the institution’s ownership, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and t...

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are encouraged to follow the Savior’s example of offering hope, understanding and love to those with disabilities . Hosted by Church News reporter Mary Richards, this episode features the Church’s disability specialist manager, Katie Edna Steed, who discusses how the Church encourages Christlike inclusion . This is done through...

RootsTech , a three-day global family history event, is scheduled for March 6-8. The gathering will reach a worldwide audience online while also featuring an in-person experience in Salt Lake City. This year's theme is " Discover ," and organizers hope to empower attendees to uncover their family history and make new, meaningful connections. The lineup for 2025 includes a variety of keynote speake...

Women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are also members of the  Relief Society , one of the world’s largest and oldest women’s organizations, celebrating its 183rd anniversary this year. To commemorate the founding and purpose of the Relief Society, women are invited to participate in a worldwide devotional and testimony meeting on Sunday, March 16. Elder Dale G....

Pew Research Center findings show many  parents and teens think it’s harder being a teen today than it was 20 years ago. They point to technology, especially social media, as having a particularly negative impact on teen life. But how can parents and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ease the pressures on today’s youth and help them to flourish during thei...