Week in review: Church News podcast on President Nelson as a father
During the week of January 8-14, a new Church News podcast featured three of President Russell M. Nelson’s children. They offered a glimpse into his role as a father. Fifteen people shared experiences of responding to President Nelson’s invitations, and Church News has compiled a list of 99 announcements and changes in the Church since he became President of the Church five years ago. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Patricia T. Holland shared hope with young adults around the world.
Three General Authority Seventies conducted pioneering services for the Querétaro Mexico Temple, and the location of the Barcelona Spain Temple was announced. New leaders for the 10 Church MTCs convened for the first time. Five Church school presidents spoke during their opening prayer service in 2023.
FamilySearch has announced a new name for the Salt Lake City Family History Library. Ukrainian members learn emotional resilience and coping skills in Church seminars. A Latter-day Saint Vietnam veteran has been reunited with his lost dog tag after 56 years.
Read the summaries of these nine articles below.
1. Church News Podcast: An insight into President Nelson’s role as a father
President Russell M. Nelson will mark his fifth anniversary as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on January 14, 2023.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
This episode of the Church News podcast features three of President Nelson’s ten children: Gloria Irion, Laurie Marsh, and Russell Nelson Jr. They discuss President Nelson’s leadership of the Church and offer a unique insight into his role as a father , husband and teacher.
2. 15 experiences of people who responded to invitations from President Nelson
President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the Sunday morning session of the 192nd biannual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints October 2, 2022 at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.
Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
Church News asked readers to submit their experiences of responding to President Nelson’s invitations, also focusing on the temple. Other readers shared experiences of taking charge of their own testimonies, building a spiritual foundation, increasing the capacity for revelation, and following the covenant path. They shared how accepting the invitations and making changes helped them.
3. Elder and Sister Holland encourage young adults to “shine out the brightness of your hope”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles addresses young adults worldwide on Sunday, January 8, 2023 from the M. Anthony Burns Arena on the Utah Tech University campus in St. George, Utah.
Nick Adams, for Church News
Speaking to young adults worldwide on January 8, Elder Holland and his wife, Sister Patricia Holland, issued a powerful message that young people must never lose sight of hope and their sister virtues—faith and charity. Hope, he said, is essential to receive the inheritance God has prepared for His faithful children (Ether 12:32).
4. 3 General Authority Seventies direct pioneering services for the Querétaro Mexico Temple
From left to right, Elder Benjamín De Hoyos, Elder Adrián Ochoa, Sister Nancy Ochoa, and Sister Pilar Valenzuela attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Querétaro Mexico Temple on January 7, 2023.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Led by a trio of General Authority Seventies from Mexico, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Querétaro Mexico Temple on Saturday, January 7 marked the start of construction for one of the 23 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in that country.
In addition, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the location of the Barcelona Spain Temple.
5. New leaders for the 10 MTCs of the church meet for the first time
President Mark O. Lords, newly appointed President of the Ghana Missionary Training Center, and Patrick Appianti, MTC Operations Manager, work on an app during the 2023 New MTC Leadership Institute in Provo, Utah, Tuesday, January 10. 2023
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
For the first time, all of the new leaders called to preside over the 10 missionary training centers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide convened at the same time and place before beginning their two-year assignment.
The 2023 three-day seminar for new MTC leaders began Tuesday morning, January 10 at Provo MTC, when the Missions Department welcomed the 10 couples who will serve as MTC presidents and MTC Relief Society presidents. And next to each pair sat the manager of the respective MTC.
6. What the five Church school presidents taught during opening devotional
On Tuesday, January 10, all five presidents of institutions within the church’s educational system began a new year and semester by addressing their respective students. Three of the five focused their comments on the counsel President Nelson gave during the worldwide devotional for young adults last May.
7. FamilySearch announces a new name for the genealogy library
Two women walk toward the doors of the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City on Monday, January 9, 2023.
Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News
FamilySearch publicly announced the name changes on Tuesday, January 10. A notice from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was sent to local leaders and those with callings related to family history.
“The name changes will better align the local centers with FamilySearch’s expanding global brand,” the FamilySearch press release said.
8. Ukrainian members learn emotional resilience and coping skills in Church seminars
A seminar on emotional health and coping strategies will be held in Ukrainian on January 8, 2023 via Zoom. Laura Maery Gold Post from France chaired the session with the help of Ukrainian interpreters.
In recent weeks, Ukrainians living as refugees in the country or elsewhere have tuned in online on Sunday evenings to hear presentations from professionals on emotional health and well-being.
A participant from Ukraine told the organizers: “For me, the seminar is God’s answer to my prayers. Thank you for your support during a very difficult time in my life. I have once again received evidence that God is very close.”
9. How this Latter-day Saint Vietnam veteran was reunited with his lost dog tag 56 years later
Shelly Skougaard holds a dog tag belonging to her husband Martin Skougaard, a Vietnam veteran of the Marine Corps and recipient of Purple Heart, at Scott McGavin’s home in southern Jordan on Friday, January 6, 2023. McGavin found Skougaard’s dog tags while doing humanitarian work in Vietnam some 30 years ago and recently tracked down Skougaard to return the tags.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Martin Skougaard was only about six months in Vietnam when a shell explosion in his foxhole badly injured his leg and sent him home.
His dog tag — a soldier’s metal tag worn on a chain around his neck — was somehow blown away in the blast.
More than 55 years later, the small engraved piece of metal that also identifies him as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was pressed into his hand again by a thoughtful stranger.
