During the week of Oct. 22-28, a first-of-its-kind event allowed youth from around the world to gather and bear testimony of Jesus Christ, joined by the Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Bangkok Thailand Temple. In a devotional originating from the Provo Missionary Training Center and broadcast to MTCs around the world, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared words of testimony and encouragement.
The Church provided a first look inside the new Orem Utah Temple. Sister Kristin M. Yee, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, spoke during a Brigham Young University devotional. The Young Women and Young Men general presidencies announced a scripture from the Book of Mormon as the 2024 youth theme. The latest Church News video, titled “Daily Repentance,” featured Elder Kyle S. McKay and Keith A. Erekson of the Church History Department talking about prophets and their reliance on the Savior.
The latest Church News podcast featured Issac and Rebecca Goeckeritz, who shared how, in their marriage, they have overcome challenges and disappointment as Rebecca has dealt with health challenges. The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square and 30 singers from each of the Morehouse College Glee Club and the Spelman College glee clubs sang together during the “Music & the Spoken Word” in the Salt Lake Tabernacle
Read summaries and find links to these nine articles below.
1. ‘You can do all things through Christ,’ President Nelson promises youth during historic worldwide day of testimony
In a first-of-its-kind event, youth around the world gathered to bear testimony of Jesus Christ to fill the world with testimonies for a 24-hour time period.
At the beginning of the gatherings at 7 p.m. in each area on Oct. 22, youth heard a message and a testimony from the Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson.
“My dear young friends,” he said, “thank you for attending this most memorable meeting. I think about you and pray for you often.”
2. ‘Cradled in the arms of prophets, apostles’: Elder Rasband dedicates Bangkok Thailand Temple, the first on the Southeast Asia peninsula
The Southeastern Asian nation of Thailand is known as “the land of smiles,” and its capital city of Bangkok is called “the city of angels.”
Smiles extended worldwide and upward to heaven as Elder Rasband dedicated the Bangkok Thailand Temple in two sessions on Sunday, Oct. 22. The temple not only is the first for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bangkok, but also in Thailand and on the peninsula of Southeast Asia.
The Bangkok temple becomes the 185th dedicated house of the Lord for the Church, which has 335 total temples dedicated, under construction or in planning and design.
3. Elder Andersen speaks to youth in Cedar City and missionaries in Provo Missionary Training Center
In a devotional originating from the Provo Missionary Training Center and broadcast to MTCs around the world, Elder Andersen gave words of testimony and encouragement to those he called “my wonderful, fellow disciples of Jesus Christ.”
“When you don’t know what to say, you speak of Christ. And as you do, there will be a Spirit that comes into that room, into your voice. Because the knowledge of Jesus Christ is the most important knowledge you can share,” Elder Andersen said.
He also conveyed the love of the First Presidency to college-age young adults and shared his testimony of the senior Church leaders’ recent general conference remarks with Southern Utah University students attending the Cedar City Institute of Religion.
4. Take a first look inside the new Orem Utah Temple with photos and video
The Church provided a first look inside the new Orem Utah Temple, releasing more than a dozen interior and exterior images prior to media, special-guest and public tours of the new house of the Lord.
Located between Utah County’s Wasatch Front and the eastern shores of Utah Lake, the Orem temple will be the state’s 19th dedicated temple, with another nine temples awaiting dedication or under construction.
The interior and exterior images of the three-story, 71,998-square-foot sacred edifice built in a prominent, visible location just off Interstate 15 and near Utah Valley University were first published Monday, Oct. 23, on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The photos were accompanied by a three-minute video offering additional looks inside and out of the temple.
5. Sister Yee shares the ‘wellspring of relief’ that comes through covenants with God
As Sister Yee has pondered the blessings and power found in covenant relationships with God, she has come to know better how the Savior offers relief.
“Jesus Christ is at the center of our covenants. It is only through Him and His sacrifice that we can make covenants with God,” she said.
Speaking during a Brigham Young University devotional on Tuesday, Oct. 24, Sister Yee shared five thoughts on the relief that Jesus Christ brings through covenant relationships.
6. Young Women and Young Men general presidencies announce 2024 youth theme
The 2024 youth theme has been announced by the Young Women and Young Men general presidencies of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The youth theme chosen for 2024 is “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ” (3 Nephi 5:13).
7. Lessons from Joseph Smith’s desire to repent
Reflecting on the life and ministry of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Elder Kyle S. McKay, Church historian and recorder and a General Authority Seventy, spoke of the “marvelous Restoration.”
“One of the greatest messages of Joseph’s life is his need and his desire to repent and be forgiven,” said Elder McKay. “And then we see it repeated over and over again throughout his life.”
The latest Church News video, titled “Daily Repentance,” featured Elder McKay and Keith A. Erekson of the Church History Department talking about prophets and their reliance on the Savior, who leads The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
8. Issac and Rebecca Goeckeritz on dealing with disappointment and using talents to bring people to Christ
The latest Church News podcast featured Issac and Rebecca Goeckeritz, who shared how, in their marriage, they have overcome challenges and disappointment as Rebecca has dealt with health challenges.
For Rebecca, working with the Orchestra at Temple Square has become more than just a calling. It’s the organization that brought them together as a married couple and allowed them to use their talents to share their testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.
Rebecca is an inspirational violinist and a member of the Orchestra at Temple Square. Issac is a videographer who has helped document the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square’s work. He has also traveled the world, covering the ministries of senior leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
9. See photos of the Morehouse College and Spelman College glee clubs with the Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra during ‘Music & the Spoken Word’
The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square and 30 singers from each of the Morehouse College Glee Club and the Spelman College Glee Club sang together during the “Music & the Spoken Word” in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Sunday, Oct. 22.
The Morehouse College Glee Club, under the director of David Morrow, is the college’s premier singing organization and has traveled around the world. Similarly, the historic Spelman College Glee Club, under the direction of Kevin Johnson, has maintained a reputation for choral excellence since 1924.
