Church News

The annual Vilazinha de Belem (Little Town of Bethlehem) has returned to the grounds next to the São Paulo Brazil Temple visitors’ center. The theme is “Follow the Star,” and the outdoor village celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ with a festival of lights and music, bringing to life the magic of Christmas. Those who do not live in São Paulo can take a virtual tour at http://vilazinhadebelem.org. Read more at TheChurchNews.com, found at the link in bio. 📷: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“I would hope this younger generation would have a sense of how much we care about them, how much we are working to help them and what we are investing — every kind of resource, including time and prayer and tears and love, and everything that we can bring to pass,” said Elder @dtoddchristofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles about supporting the youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Check out a special episode of the Church News podcast where guest host @sheri_dew sits down with Elder Christofferson and Elder @clarkggilbert8, a General Authority Seventy and the Church’s commissioner of education, to talk about the youth of the Church, the Institute of Religion program and more. Listen to the full podcast at the link in bio.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomed the Christmas season with the First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional on Sunday, Dec. 8. President @dallinhoaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, declared that “peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14) — the angelic herald of Jesus Christ’s birth — is the message of Christmas. The most important things in life are repetitious, he continued. “So it is that the repetitious message of Christmas is not a message to be revised but a message to be renewed in our lives.” Other speakers were Elder @quentinlcook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Elder S. Mark Palmer of the Presidency of the Seventy; and Sister Tamara W. Runia, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency. Read summaries of their messages at TheChurchNews.com, found at the link in bio. 📷: Brice Tucker, Deseret News

The Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price are now available in American Sign Language (ASL) videos in the Gospel Library, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Thursday, Dec. 5. The Book of Mormon Videos were also recently made available in ASL and descriptive audio. Additional ASL resources are available to members, including study helps, Scripture Stories and Bible Videos. Read more at TheChurchNews.com, found at the link in bio. 📷: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The grounds of several temples and visitors’ centers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be full of joyful Christmas lights to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ this December. In addition to the lights, hundreds of Nativities are on display and hundreds of performers will sing in choirs at Christmas events. Read more about these locations at TheChurchNews.com, found at the link in bio. 📷: Cristy Powell, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Scott P. Adair; Jud Burkett

Elder @gerritwgong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles welcomed community leaders, local charitable organizations, families and friends from the greater Kansas City, Missouri, area to the Saturday, Nov. 30, unveiling of the @lighttheworldgivingmachines inside the city’s historic Union Station. “In this world where there are many needs, none of us can do everything, but every one of us can do something,” said Elder Gong. This year’s Giving Machines unveiling was emceed by a pair of prominent philanthropists with ties to the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs organization — Tavia Hunt, the wife of owner Clark Hunt, and Tammy Reid, the wife of defending Super Bowl champion coach Andy Reid. On Friday, Nov. 29, Elder Gong and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, attended the @chiefs football game, where the Bonners sang the national anthem and performed the Light the World anthem during the halftime program. Read more at http://TheChurchNews.com, found at the link in bio. 📷: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

In an April 2022 general conference talk, President @russellmnelson 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 of Jesus Christ” and the most recent announcement of expanded opportunities for senior single missionaries. On this episode of the Church News podcast, Church News reporter Mary Richards is joined by Elder W. Mark Bassett, a General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Missionary Department, and David N. Weidman, managing director of the Missionary Department, to discuss how “if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.” Listen to the full podcast at the link in bio.

“Savior of the World: His Birth and Resurrection” is a musical drama presented by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center Theater each Christmas season. The show first premiered nearly 24 years ago on Nov. 28, 2000. Each year a group of cast and crew brings to life the sacred story of Jesus Christ, portraying both His birth and His Resurrection. Beyond the scriptural events, the production becomes a platform for personal testimonies and spiritual growth and a unique opportunity for all involved to experience Christ’s love. As the cast and crew reflect on their experiences, many speak of the deep spiritual growth that comes from portraying real people who struggled with faith, hope and trust in God’s timing. The production serves as a reminder that Christ’s birth and Resurrection are not distant historical events but important moments that can change individual lives today. Read more at TheChurchNews.com, found at the link in bio. 📷: Cristy Powell, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Having illuminated Salt Lake City’s Decembers since 1965, the lighted walkways and Christmas-card-worthy photo ops of Temple Square Christmas lights have become something of a family tradition — attracting thousands of visitors. “It’s like a treat for your eyes and your ears and your heart,” said Lisa Marion from Alpine, Utah. She visited the lights with her husband, Mike Marion, and their five children the first night these lights turned on. This year’s Christmas light display began Friday evening, Nov. 29, at 4:30 p.m. MST. They will continue through Jan. 1, 2025, from 6 to 8 a.m. and from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Read more about the Christmas lights on Temple Square at TheChurchNews.com, found at link in bio. 📸: Brice Tucker, Deseret News

Thanksgiving looks different for the 1,300 missionaries at the Provo Missionary Center. Instead of participating in the traditional Thanksgiving traditions, missionaries spent the day listening to an Apostle and packaging 500,000 individual meals for local food banks. In a Thanksgiving Day devotional, Elder @quentinlcook underscored the joy and thanksgiving of missionary service. “You are embarking on an inspiring experience to be full-time representatives of the Savior’s Church,” said the member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The devotional was broadcast to the Church’s 10 other MTCs worldwide. “On this day of Thanksgiving, we truly can rejoice and be glad as we work alongside the Savior in this sacred cause,” said Elder Cook. Along with Elder Cook's devotional, Thanksgiving lunch was served in three separate sessions. After lunch, for the third straight year, the MTC collaborated with Hunger Fight of Jacksonville, Florida, in packaging oatmeal-and-brown-sugar meals that would be donated to the Utah Food Bank. Read more at TheChurchNews.com, found at the link in bio. 📷: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Brice Tucker, Deseret News

While ministering in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ South America Northwest Area in November, Primary General President @susanhporter_ and Sister @j_anettedennis, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, spoke to missionaries, leaders, women, youth and children — and were also blessed and strengthened by them in return. “They ministered to us everywhere we went through their spirit and strength,” Sister Dennis said, calling the 11-day assignment in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, “a truly unforgettable experience.” President Porter said, “What a joy it was to meet with children, youth and adults.” Read more at TheChurchNews.com, found at the link in bio. 📷: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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 gift of agency have blessed her life in unexpected ways. Listen to the full podcast at the link in bio.