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E General Conference | E4

Gathering of Israel accelerating around the world

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Highlights of Latter-day Saint athletes during past 6 months

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Maps of temples dotting the world, including 27 in Mexico

Heeding the Prophet’s call

Senior missionaries listen as the Provo Missionary Training Center missionary choir performs during a devotional at the training center in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

Isaac Hale, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson had called senior missionaries ‘irreplaceable’ and ‘often a literal answer’ to prayers By Kaitlyn Bancroft and Eastin Hartzell Church News

hen most people think of missionary service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they picture name-tagged young adults preaching the gospel on distant doorsteps. But increasingly, a quiet movement of seasoned disciples is changing the face of missionary work — one phone call, one online lesson and one bishops’ storehouse shift at a time. These are senior service missionaries: everyday Latter-day Saints serving the Lord close to home in powerful ways.

Unlike full-time senior missionaries who serve away from home, senior service missionaries live at home and serve in their local communities. Men and women aged 26 and older — single or married, retired or still working — are eligible to serve in assignments that align with their schedules, abilities and spiritual gifts. For instance, Elder Gary Futral and Sister Nancy Futral serve up to 30 or 40 hours a week in their home of Acworth, Georgia. “Even if you don’t think you can do it because you don’t know anything about it, there’s training for every senior service mission,” Sister Futral said, adding: “The Lord doesn’t want us to just sit around and do nothing. Senior service missions are the perfect opportunity to be of use to the Lord.”

A prophet’s call The late President Russell M. Nelson spoke about senior missionaries multiple times, calling them “irreplaceable” during April 2022 general conference and “often a literal answer to the prayers of bishops and branch presidents” during April 2016 general conference. In the same April 2016 address, he also said: “If you are tempted to think you’re not needed, let me reassure you that you are. There is not a mission president in the Church who would not love to have additional couples serving in his mission.” And during October 2004 general conference, while still a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, MISSIONARIES E2

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COVER STORY

How senior missionaries are heeding the Prophet’s call to serve

Senior missionaries of the Church deliver technology to students in Guatemala City, Guatemala, after a donation on Jan. 23.

MISSIONARIES FROM E1

President Nelson said senior missionaries are “young in spirit, wise and willing to work. … These dear members are willing to serve and strengthen the lives of others. Even if these seniors don’t know the local language, their accomplishments are great and their spirit of sacrifice is precious.” President Nelson isn’t the only Church leader who has encouraged senior Latter-day Saints to consider missionary service. In 2011, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “Our message to all of our mature couples is simple: we dearly need you. We are doing everything we can to make it as convenient as possible for you to go. The Lord promises unlimited blessings to His servants in the vineyard. So please — go. The times cry out for it. There are people who need you.” More recently, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during October 2023 general conference about the need for senior missionaries, stating: “There are so many ways senior missionaries can do what no one else can. You are a remarkable force for good, seasoned in the Church and poised to encourage and rescue God’s children.” Elder Rasband recognized the many sacrifices senior missionaries make, such as missing significant family milestones; but he reassured senior Latter-day Saints of the blessings that come from making such sacrifices to serve as missionaries, including blessings for their family members. He also encouraged seniors to consider the “smorgasbord of opportunities” available to them, from serving in mission offices or temples to providing humanitarian aid to working in FamilySearch centers, historic sites, institutes or more. “As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I ask you to serve as a missionary in the gathering of Israel and perhaps even serve again,” Elder

Rasband said. “We need you — we need you. We are grateful to you seniors for the lives you have led and the examples you have been in your homes, wards and stakes. I now invite you to take your know-how, coupled with your timehonored testimonies, and go on a mission.”

Heeding the call Senior missionaries past and present have countless stories of faith, miracles and witnessing the Lord’s love. Here are some of their testimonies, compiled by the Church’s Service Mission Office and recently shared through the “Joyful Senior Service” Facebook page. Sister Shauna Kay wrote that she “thoroughly enjoyed the privilege” of serving on the General Young Women History Preservation Committee, where she conducted monthly interviews with Young Women general presidency members and others in that office for the Church History Department. “There was a different spirit in my home when I was serving in this position,” wrote Sister Kay, who is still serving as a senior missionary. “I was able to listen to and record their stories of service all around the world. They are such loving, caring and kind women. They made me want to be better every time I talked with them. There were a lot of interviews full of both laughter and tears. I always felt the Spirit as I heard how God worked in their lives. … These are ordinary people living extraordinary lives as they serve the Savior.” Elder Kenneth Lougee wrote that he and his wife, Sister Jan Lougee, serve in the FamilySearch Library — an experience that’s been “nothing like I expected” and yet “perfect” for him. He continued that he and Sister Lougee work on a team that digitizes books, “a single, essential task in gathering Israel on both sides of the veil. Just as the Church authorities are bringing the temples to the people, by

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“We need you — we need you. We are grateful [for] … the examples you have been in your homes, wards and stakes. I now invite you to take your know-how, coupled with your time-honored testimonies, and go on a mission.” — Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

scanning books and making them available on FamilySearch, we are bringing the library to the people so that their search for ancestors can be done anywhere in the world.” Elder Lougee wrote that service is a mindset, not a specific role, and is about putting energy toward something meaningful. “Whether it’s a mission at home or abroad, in a quiet office or a bustling location, your service is needed and makes a difference in ways you might not even see,” he wrote. “It’s

an uplifting experience that can strengthen your own family while blessing others.” Sister Lesley Goeckeritz shared her experience serving at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for eight years until being released in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She now serves at the Church History Museum, which is “deeply spiritual,” she wrote. MISSIONARIES E3

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MISSIONARIES FROM E2

“I’ve learned so much about the history of the Church, and my testimony has grown in many meaningful ways,” Sister Goeckeritz wrote. “The people I serve with are wonderful examples of Christlike living, and I’ve been blessed with several opportunities to bear my testimony. … I feel incredibly blessed to have served as a senior missionary for many years. I truly love meeting and greeting visitors and sharing what I’ve learned about the Church with them.” Elder Steven B. Lloyd and his wife, Sister Vicki Lloyd, wrote about the both heartbreaking and beautiful experiences they’ve had serving women in addiction recovery at the Utah State Prison. Elder Lloyd particularly remembers the first time he and Sister Lloyd visited the prison: “As I looked around, I initially saw women serving time for their mistakes. But then the Spirit touched my heart. The Lord spoke clearly to my mind: ‘Steve, I love each of these women as much as I love you. You are no better than any of them. They are my daughters.’ “Tears filled my eyes then, as they do now, remembering that moment. The Spirit taught me something I will never forget: God’s love is the same for all His children — no matter what they’ve been through.” Sister Lloyd added that she’s amazed at the strength these incarcerated women show as they try to change. “It’s incredibly rewarding to witness real transformation in their hearts and lives,” she wrote. Sister Heather Nielsen, who serves at the bishops’ storehouse, wrote about assisting a woman with her food order. The woman was visibly distraught, Sister Nielsen said, and ultimately shared that she’d just learned about her father’s kidney failure. The woman asked for a blessing, and Sister Nielsen found two senior missionaries to do that. Afterward, the woman said it wasn’t a coincidence that she was headed to the bishops’ storehouse when she learned of her father’s health issues. “She said she felt at peace and knew that she would receive the physical, spiritual and emotional help that she needed,” Sister Nielsen wrote. “This experience strengthened my testimony that God knows each of His children, and He allows us to be His hands to bless others.”

Finding opportunities Mature members of the Church interested in senior missionary opportunities — as service missionaries with assignments close to home or serving as missionaries away from home — can go online to SeniorMissionary.ChurchofJesusChrist.org to look at options.

Tess Crowley, Deseret News Sister Janice Hylton, 88, works as a medical screener for senior missionaries at the Utah Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission in the Triad Center on Feb. 3.

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MISSIONARIES

The gathering of Israel is accelerating around the world

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints walk near the Fukuoka Japan Temple with a new member. The Church has reported having the highest number of convert baptisms in a 12-month period.

In June, Elder Quentin L. Cook announced a record number of convert baptisms; Church leaders around the world are seeing it firsthand By Aimee Cobabe Church News

The gathering of Israel is accelerating — with record numbers of converts joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and entering the waters of baptism in every region of the world. Speaking to new mission leaders in June, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said that in 2024, over 308,000 of God’s children entered the waters of baptism and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. This equates to about 50,000 more converts in 2024 than the previous year. It is also more convert baptisms than the Church has had in nearly 25 years. He said this “spiritual momentum” has continued to increase in 2025. Comparing the first quarter of this year with the first quarter of 2024, every region of the world has seen at least a 20% increase in convert baptisms. “This is remarkable,” he said. “In the last 12 months, ending May 31, the Lord’s hastening of His work resulted in the largest number of convert baptisms in any 12-month period in this dispensation.” This growth is evident around the globe,

like in Moriba Town, Sierra Leone, where 120 men, women and children were baptized in a single day on Aug. 23. In Papua New Guinea, stakes have been organized faster than buildings can be erected for Latter-day Saints to gather. On June 14, 107 people stepped into the Bangoho River to be baptized. And another 129 were baptized on the weekend of Aug. 2-3, in Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea. Months of work from the Makurdi Nigeria District presidency, full-time missionaries and members of the Church in Nigeria resulted in an unprecedented baptismal service on June 24, 2023 — 73 people were baptized that day, with another 37 people baptized on July 23, 2023. Elder Cook also made it clear in his remarks in June 2025 that the recent increase is also impacting sacrament meeting attendance. “As exciting as this increase in baptisms was in 2024, we were delighted to learn that the rate of increase for new members attending sacrament meeting was even higher. We thank the Lord for allowing us to witness His hand in these remarkable outcomes — He is the reason for the hastening,” Elder Cook said. Around the world, leaders of local wards,

stakes and areas of the world are seeing people’s lives change as they develop their faith in Jesus Christ, repent, are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. The work of salvation and gathering of Israel have especially accelerated as members of the Church have ministered to friends and new converts, focused on helping families and gone with new converts to the temple.

Missionaries, members linking arms In the Philippines, the local area presidency has focused on sacrament meeting attendance, along with strengthening the youth to prepare for missions and helping new members receive a temple recommend within the first month after baptism. Elder G. Kenneth Lee, an Area Seventy, said the area is on track to reach 20,000 baptisms in 2025. This steady growth has come as members and missionaries link arms in their efforts to minister to part-member families. As the members fulfill their ministry assignments, the missionaries will teach the family during the week. “So now you’re strengthening the whole family,” Elder Lee said. “It’s been one of the greatest things.”

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks at the 2025 Seminar for New Mission Leaders at the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on Thursday, June 19.

This linking-arms approach has also helped many members get more involved in missionary work. “They know they’re helping together,” Elder Lee said.

Creating a welcoming environment Young single adult members in and around Washington, D.C., have also found success in teaching friends and bringing them into the gospel as they’ve created what one stake president calls “an environment where Heavenly Father feels comfortable sending those that are investigating the Church.” According to President Alvin B. Jackson, president of the Washington D.C. YSA North Stake, the members are intentionally working at being extremely friendly and outgoing. “So when missionaries bring a friend, or someone brings a friend to church, it’s been working out great,” he said. “If we can get them to church, we have a chance of getting them to the waters of baptism.” And just like in the Philippines, new converts are continuing their activity in the Church when they go to the temple with a family name within 30 days of being baptized. “One of the things that we’re trying to do is as soon as that person gets baptized, when they come out of the water, they should have their ministering brother or sister there,” President Jackson said. He added that what he’s seen from covenant keepers gives him optimism for the future. “It’s a really special generation,” he said. “When President [Russell M.] Nelson says ‘the best is yet to come,’ I think he’s talking about our young people. Of course, he’s talking about the Savior coming back, but what a great young crop of people that we have in the Church.”

A constant source of faith and hope

Cody Bell, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

President Edson Douglas Silva Alves, president of the Santarém Portugal Stake, said missionary work in his area is “progressing with a spirit of faith and hope.” He too is seeing a growing unity between full-time missionaries and the members of his stake, “which is creating more opportunities for teaching and fellowship.” “The greatest strength comes when members live their faith with joy. That example naturally opens doors,” he said. “I had the blessing of baptizing many people here in Santarém, and each time I share the gospel of Christ, I feel my own testimony renewed and strengthened.” President Alves’ stake is diverse, with many nationalities coming from different parts of the world. But, he said, “Jesus Christ unites us all as brothers and sisters.”

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SPORTS

Highlights of Latter-day Saint athletes since April general conference

Olympic silver medalist and former BYU star Kenneth Rooks leads the pack in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the U.S. track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday, Aug. 2.

BYU

Abbie Parr, Associated Press BYU graduate Lexy Halladay-Lowry wins the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final at the U.S. track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday, Aug. 2.

headlines since last April. Here is a look back at some of those notable accomplishments.

By Trent Toone Church News

Former BYU star and returned missionary Kenneth Rooks added to his growing list of achievements by winning his third consecutive national title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the U.S. track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Aug. 2. “It feels amazing, it feels like an incredible blessing,” Rooks told reporters after the race, referring to his trio of U.S. titles. “Especially because nothing is given to you in track and field. ... I’m really grateful to come out with the win.” The Olympic silver medalist was joined by BYU graduate Lexy Halladay-Lowry, who won the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase the same day. “I’m so happy about this,” Halladay-Lowry said after the race. “So much has led up to this point. I’ll always represent BYU in my heart. I am so grateful for all the support.” Rooks and Halladay-Lowry are two of many athletic members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have made

Basketball Branden Carlson, a 7-foot center who served in the England Manchester Mission, ended his rookie season in June by winning an NBA championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Carlson went undrafted last season and ended up signing a two-way contract with the Thunder. He split time between the Thunder and their G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, during the 2024-25 campaign. Former Utah State basketball star Sam Merrill, who served for two years in the Nicaragua Managua South Mission, made NBA history in June when he signed a multiyear contract worth $38 million with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Merrill was the 60th and final player chosen in the 2020 NBA Draft, and the deal reportedly makes him the highest paid 60th pick in league history. ATHLETES E6

Matt Slocum, Associated Press Oklahoma City Thunder’s Branden Carlson plays during an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 14, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Matthew Hinton, Associated Press Kellen Moore, newly named coach of the New Orleans Saints, is introduced at an NFL football press conference in Metairie, Louisiana, on Thursday, Feb. 13. ATHLETES FROM E5 Associated Press Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) reacts after scoring a 3-point basket against the Orlando Magic, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Orlando, Florida. Merrill is a former Utah State University Aggie.

Merrill, a sharpshooting reserve guard, picked up a championship ring with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2020-21 season. He spent time with the Memphis Grizzlies organization before finding a more secure home with the Cavaliers. During the 2024-25 NBA season, the 29-yearold Merrill averaged 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 19.7 minutes per game.

Baseball

Sergio Estrada, Associated Press Athletics pitcher Justin Sterner throws a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, June 4, in West Sacramento, California.

After six years in the minors, former BYU baseball player Daniel Schneemann is enjoying success this season with the Cleveland Guardians. This season, the utility infielder has recorded 118 hits, including 16 home runs, and 60 RBI. He missed three games in August while on paternity leave to welcome a new family member. Oakland Athletics’ reliever Justin Sterner, a returned missionary who walked on at BYU, is also having a good season. In the month of August, Sterner posted a 1.98 ERA over 11 appearances, eight of which were scoreless outings. He racked up 17 strikeouts over 13-plus innings with just one walk, allowing just seven hits. Also in August, 95-year-old Vernon Law, a farm boy from Meridian, Idaho, who became the first Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher to win a Cy Young Award and help lead his team to the 1960 World Series title, was inducted into the organization’s hall of fame.

Football

playing or coaching for the National Football League and college football teams this fall. The following players made NFL rosters to begin the 2025 season: • Zayne Anderson, Green Bay Packers, safety, BYU. • Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos, OL, University of Utah, served as a missionary in Colorado. Bolles was nominated for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2023. • Brady Christensen, Carolina Panthers, OL, BYU, served in Hamilton, New Zealand. • Simi Fehoko, Arizona Cardinals, WR, Stanford, served in South Korea. • Matt Gay, Washington Commanders, K, Utah, served in Houston, Texas. • Alohi Gilman, Los Angeles Chargers, S, Notre Dame. • Tanner McKee, Philadelphia Eagles, QB, Stanford, served in the Brazil Curitiba South Mission. • Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams, WR, BYU. • Ryan Rehkow, Cincinnati Bengals, P, BYU, served in London, England. • Karene Reid, Denver Broncos, LB, Utah, served in Madagascar. • Noah Sewell, Chicago Bears, LB, Oregon. • Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions, OT, Oregon. • Kingsley Suamataia, Kansas City Chiefs, OL, BYU. • Khyiris Tonga, New England Patriots, DL, BYU, served in Wichita, Kansas. • Sione Vaki, Detroit Lions, RB, Utah, served in the Tonga Nuku‘alofa Mission and the Utah Salt Lake City West Mission. • Kyle Van Noy, Baltimore Ravens, LB, BYU.

A lengthy list of Latter-day Saints are

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Doug Benc, Associated Press Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Friday, Sept. 5, in São Paulo, Brazil. ATHLETES FROM E6

• Devaughn Vele, New Orleans Saints, WR, Utah, served in Samoa. • Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers, LB, BYU. • Zach Wilson, Miami Dolphins, QB, BYU. Signed to the practice squad: • Britain Covey, Philadelphia Eagles, WR/ RS, Utah, served in Rancagua, Chile. Covey, who had a brief stint with the Los Angeles Rams before rejoining the Eagles, was honored for his faith and community service last May. • Nephi Sewell, New Orleans Saints, LB. Players on injured list: • Tyler Batty, Minnesota Vikings, LB, served in Spain. • Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints, QB/TE, BYU, served in Sydney, Australia. Andy Reid is heading into his 13th season as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. Another Latter-day Saint, Kellen Moore, is the new head coach of the New Orleans Saints. In college football, Ken Niumatalolo, a former stake president and the U.S. Naval Academy’s winningest head coach, is in his second year as head coach at San José State University. Former BYU, University of Virginia and University of New Mexico head coach Bronco Mendenhall moved to Logan to be the head coach of the Utah State Aggies. University of Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is in his 21st season with the Utes. BYU head coach Kalani Sitake is entering his 10th season with the Cougars. Last year, Sitake and the football team connected with BYU–Pathway Worldwide students through technology to mentor students and foster global connections. Those efforts have continued in 2025.

Golf PGA Tour golfer and Latter-day Saint Tony Finau has competed in several tournaments and events in recent months. He spoke about his faith in a podcast interview in July, the Deseret News reported. “The gospel has blessed me in so many different ways, and I feel like the Lord has had His hand in my life in so many different ways,” he said. “Allowing me to see the blessings and know who I am, I think that’s a huge one. I think understanding who I am as a child of God first and foremost. All the other titles that I have, they come after that.” During the interview, Finau spoke about counseling with the Lord in prayer; his favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon, Mosiah 3:19, which teaches about “putting off the natural man”; and how dealing with his mother’s death strengthened his faith and testimony of the gospel.

Hockey Derek Ryan — the only active Latterday Saint in the NHL as far as he knows — announced his retirement from professional hockey on Sept. 5. The 38-year-old, who suited up for the Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers, appeared in 606 regularseason NHL games and participated in an additional 60 playoff games. Ryan and the Oilers advanced to the 202324 Stanley Cup Final, where they came a goal short of the championship in Game 7. Ryan, who joined the Church early in

his hockey career, was best known for his defensive play, spending significant amounts of time on the penalty kill his entire career.

Marathon In April, Conner Mantz, a former BYU runner and returned missionary, was the top American finisher in the Boston Marathon. Mantz ran the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 8 seconds to finish in fourth place — the second-fastest time ever by an American. He was also one of three BYU alums to finish in the top seven in the race. He was joined by fellow BYU alums Rory Linkletter, who finished in sixth place with 2:07:02, and Clayton Young, who was seventh with a time of 2:07:04. Mantz and Aubrey Frentheway, another former BYU runner, also both won the men’s and women’s U.S. 20K Championship in Connecticut on Sept. 1.

Soccer Lynette Hernaez Bryant, BYU women’s soccer star goalkeeper, surprised fans by retiring from the sport just before the beginning of the season in August. Bryant, who joined the Church as a high school student in Southern California and later served a mission, spent the past two seasons as BYU’s primary goalkeeper, starting in 35 contests with 129 saves and nine shutouts. She earned All-Big 12 Freshman honors in 2023 and was part of the Cougars’ squad that was one of the last four teams standing in the NCAA Tournament. She married Mark Bryant, a thrower on the Cougars’ track and field team, in June. Bryant said she felt inspired by the Lord to step away and may get into coaching soccer later, the Deseret News reported. “Soccer led me to all my big life accomplishments,” she said in the article. “It led me to the gospel. It led me to one of the best universities in the country, and it led me to my husband. So at this point in my life, ... soccer has given me everything that I needed, and it has done everything that it possibly could give me.”

Softball Jocelyn Erickson, a catcher for the University of Florida softball team, finished her junior season batting .303 (53-for-175) with 59 RBI, 55 runs, 15 home runs, two triples and three stolen bases. Nicknamed “Sister Clutch,” the Latter-day Saint lefty was one of four Gators to start all 65 games and received multiple postseason awards and honors. She helped Florida reach the Women’s College World Series and was one of three Gators selected to compete in this year’s MLB Home Run Derby X competition.

Track and field One year after making the U.S. Olympic Team, James Corrigan won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA track and field championships in June. Corrigan served in the Arizona Tempe Mission. For the second year in a row, Meghan Hunter, a recent BYU graduate and middledistance runner, was named a Big 12 Conference nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year on Aug. 4. She was a finalist for a national award in 2024.

Eli Lucero, The Herald Journal Utah State University head football coach Bronco Mendenhall claps after the Aggies score a touchdown against Air Force Academy in the second half Saturday, Sept. 13, in Logan, Utah.

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F General Conference | F2

| F6

Chart of the general authorities and officers

Activity page: bingo, matching, maze, word search

A PRAYER AND A PROPHECY

Photos by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Top: A marker, commemorating a prayer Elder Melvin J. Ballard offered in 1925 dedicating South America for the preaching of the gospel, is pictured in Tres de Febrero Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 13, 2024. Above: A small monument acknowledging a prophecy from Elder Ballard in 1926 about the growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South America is pictured in Buenos Aires on June 12, 2024. The marker is on the grounds of the Church’s Buenos Aires Argentina Temple.

A look at Church growth in South America over 100 years By Scott Taylor Church News

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA — Two small, monumentlike markers commemorating a prayer for and a prophecy about the preaching of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ throughout South America can be found in Buenos Aires. Both feature words pronounced in Buenos Aires by Elder Melvin J. Ballard, an early 20th century Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In late 1925, he offered a prayer dedicating South America for the preaching of the gospel; then in 1926, he followed with a prophecy of the Church’s growth from then on — small and slow at first, but increasing in size and strength. His phrase “as an oak grows slowly from an acorn” has been repeated and acknowledged in the decades since. A marker honoring the dedicatory prayer is found in Buenos Aires’

sprawling Tres de Febrero Park in the city’s northern Palermo neighborhood near the expansive Rio de la Plata. The larger monument commemorating the prophecy is located on the grounds of the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple, in the capital city’s southwest suburb of Ciudad Evita, with a distance of some 12 miles separating the two. However, the true monuments of that prayer and prophecy are not made of stone — rather, they are the nearly 4.4 million Latter-day Saints currently residing across the 12 South America nations and one territory, as well as past generations of their ancestors who helped establish and fortify the Church. The true monuments of the Church’s growth and strength over the past century are also the more than 100 missions spread across South America — and the current and past missionaries who have served — as well as the 61 total temples dedicated, under construction or announced for South America. SOUTH AMERICA F4

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General authorities and general officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints SEPTEMBER 2025

THE FIRST PRESIDENCY With the death of President Russell M. Nelson on Saturday, Sept. 27, the First Presidency was dissolved, and counselors in the First Presidency returned to their positions in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Dallin H. Oaks President

Jeffrey R. Holland

Henry B. Eyring

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

David A. Bednar

Quentin L. Cook

D. Todd Christofferson

Neil L. Andersen

Ronald A. Rasband

Gary E. Stevenson

Dale G. Renlund

Gerrit W. Gong

Patrick Kearon

Ulisses Soares

THE PRESIDENCY OF THE SEVENTY

Carl B. Cook

S. Mark Palmer

Marcus B. Nash

Michael T. Ringwood

Arnulfo Valenzuela

THE PRESIDING BISHOPRIC

Edward Dube

Kevin R. Duncan

W. Christopher Waddell First Counselor

Gérald Caussé Presiding Bishop

L. Todd Budge Second Counselor

GENERAL AUTHORITY SEVENTIES (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

GENERAL OFFICERS RELIEF SOCIETY Marcos A. Aidukaitis

Rubén V. Alliaud

Jose L. Alonso

Jorge M. Alvarado

John D. Amos

Steven R. Bangerter

Ronald M. Barcellos

Steven C. Barlow

W. Mark Bassett

Jorge T. Becerra

Hans T. Boom

Mark A. Bragg

J. Anette Dennis First Counselor Kevin G. Brown

David L. Buckner

Matthew L. Carpenter

Gregorio E. Casillas

Aroldo B. Cavalcante

Yoon Hwan Choi

Craig C. Christensen

Ahmad S. Corbitt

Valeri V. CordÓn

Joaquin E. Costa

B. Corey Cuvelier

Michael Cziesla

Camille N. Johnson President

Kristin M. Yee Second Counselor

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Robert M. Daines

Massimo De Feo

Sean Douglas

Michael A. Dunn

Alexander Dushku

Mark D. Eddy

I. Raymond Egbo

J. Kimo Esplin

Brik V. Eyre

James E. Evanson

Ozani Farias

Eduardo Gavarret

Chad H Webb Paul V. Johnson Gabriel W. Reid First Counselor President Second Counselor

Jack N. Gerard

Clark G. Gilbert

Ricardo P. Giménez

Christophe G. Giraud-Carrier

Patricio M. Giuffra

Carlos A. Godoy

Taylor G. Godoy

D. Martin Goury

Brook P. Hales

Aaron T. Hall

Allen D. Haynie

Mathias Held

Karl D. Hirst

Matthew S. Holland

Brian J. Holmes

David P. Homer

William K. Jackson

Jeremy R. Jaggi

Kelly R. Johnson

Peter M. Johnson

Christopher H. Kim

JÖrg Klebingat

Joni L. Koch

Erich W. Kopischke

YOUNG WOMEN

Tamara W. Runia First Counselor

Emily Belle Freeman President

Andrea Muñoz Spannaus Second Counselor

YOUNG MEN

Alfred Kyungu

Pedro X. Larreal

Hugo E. MartÍnez

Clement M. Matswagothata

James W. McConkie III

John A. McCune

Kyle S. McKay

Alvin F. Meredith III

Peter F. Meurs

Hugo Montoya

Isaac K. Morrison

Thierry K. Mutombo

David J. Wunderli Timothy L. Farnes Sean R. Dixon President Second Counselor First Counselor

K. Brett Nattress

Adeyinka A. Ojediran

Ryan K. Olsen

Eduardo F. Ortega

Adilson de Paula Parrella

Kevin W. Pearson

Anthony D. Perkins

Alan T. Phillips

Paul B. Pieper

John C. Pingree Jr.

James R. Rasband

Carlos G. Revillo Jr.

PRIMARY

Sandino Roman

Edward B. Rowe

Ciro Schmeil

Jonathan S. Schmitt

Steven D. Shumway

Vaiangina Sikahema

Denelson Silva

Vern P. Stanfill

Michael B. Strong

Benjamin M.Z. Tai

Brian K. Taylor

Michael John U. Teh

Amy A. Wright Susan H. Porter Tracy Y. Browning First Counselor President Second Counselor

José A. Teixeira

Sergio R. Vargas

Moisés Villanueva

Juan Pablo Villar

Takashi Wada

Taniela B. Wakolo

Alan R. Walker

Scott D. Whiting

Chi Hong (Sam) Wong

Wan-Liang Wu

SEPTEMBER 2025

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Elder Melvin J. Ballard said Church would be ‘as an oak grows slowly from an acorn’ SOUTH AMERICA FROM F1

The markers A small marker located in the 400-hectare (989-acre) Tres de Febrero Park commemorates the prayer offered by Elder Ballard on Christmas Day 1925, when he and two other Church leaders — Elder Rey L. Pratt and Elder Rulon S. Wells — knelt under a willow tree in the park to dedicate South America for the preaching of the gospel. The exact location is not known; the site of the tribute is a protected location just inside a fenced area. The marker was placed in November 2015 in conjunction with a visit to Argentina by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was accompanied to the park by Elder Walter F. González, a General Authority Seventy who was then president of the Church’s South America South Area. A plaque on a sizable rock bears a profile image of Elder Ballard, the title of “May peace be upon these nations” and an excerpt from the dedicatory prayer: “Bless the presidents, governors and leading officials of these American countries that they may kindly receive us and give us permission to open the doors of salvation to the peoples of these lands. May they be blessed in administering the affairs of their several offices that great good may come unto the people, that peace may be upon these nations that Thou hast made free through Thy blessings upon the valiant liberators of these lands, that righteousness may obtain and full liberty for the preaching of Thy gospel prevail.” The monument’s place also notes that in a small meeting in the same park in February 2014, the late Elder M. Russell Ballard — a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and grandson of Elder Melvin J. Ballard — offered a prayer specifically on the preaching of the gospel in Argentina. A larger monument sits on the grounds of the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple, acknowledging the prophetic statement of Elder Melvin J. Ballard during a small testimony meeting in Buenos Aires on July 4, 1926. The text on the marker reads: “The work of the Lord will grow slowly for a time here just

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News A woman carries a child as President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaks in La Paz, Bolivia, on Oct. 21, 2018.

as an oak grows slowly from an acorn. It will not shoot up in a day as does the sunflower that grows quickly and then dies. But thousands will join the Church here. It will be divided into more than one mission and will be one of the strongest in the Kingdom [Church].” That marker was placed in 2000, in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the 1925 dedicatory prayer.

The area leaders South America is included in four of the Church’s 23 global administrative areas. The South America South Area covers the

countries of Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. The South America Northwest Area oversees Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The Brazil Area administers the affairs of the Church in that country, with Brazil accounting for nearly half of South America’s 6.89 million square miles. And the northern nations of Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname are part of the Caribbean Area. During the centennial-celebration year of 2025, seven General Authority Seventies with strong ties to South America and the Caribbean have served as presidents of the four areas. Five are native sons — Elder

Jorge F. Zeballos, an emeritus Seventy from Chile, who served as president of the South America Northwest Area through the end of June; Elder Juan Pablo Villar, also from Chile, who has presided over the same area since Aug. 1; Elder Joni L. Koch of the Brazil Area throughout 2025, from that country; Elder Eduardo Gavarret, from Uruguay, who was president of the Caribbean Area until July 31 and has since been a counselor in the South America South Area presidency since Aug. 1; and Elder Joaquin E. Costa, from Argentina, SOUTH AMERICA F5

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‘As an oak grows slowly from an acorn’ SOUTH AMERICA — STAKES: 731, MISSIONS: 104, TEMPLES: 61 MEMBERS: 4.39 MILLION

Venezuela

Colombia

Guyana

Members: 217,514 Stakes: 31 Missions: 5 Temples: 4

Members: 7,033 Missions: 1

Members: 177,309 Stakes: 33 Missions: 4 Temples: 2

Suriname

Members: 1,887

Ecuador

Members: 269,200 Stakes: 44 Missions: 7 Temples: 2

French Guiana Members: 508

Peru

Brazil

Members: 648,045 Stakes: 115 Missions: 15 Temples: 10

Members: 1,626,436 Stakes: 287 Missions: 37 Temples: 24

Bolivia

Paraguay

Members: 229,006 Stakes: 33 Missions: 6 Temples: 3

Members: 102,395 Stakes: 11 Missions: 2 Temples: 1

Chile

Uruguay

Members: 613,054 Stakes: 79 Missions: 11 Temples: 6

Argentina

Membership numbers as reported on newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

Members: 491,160 Stakes: 80 Missions: 14 Temples: 7

Stakes as of end of 2024 Missions as of September 2025 Temples dedicated, under construction or announced as of September 2025

CHURCH NEWS GRAPHIC

SOUTH AMERICA FROM F4

who has been president of the South America South Area since Aug. 1. The other two are Elder Valeri V. Cordón, a native of Guatemala and president of the Caribbean Area since Aug. 1, and Elder Craig C. Christensen, from the United States, who presided over the South America South Area until July 31 and then returned to preside over the United States Southeast Area, beginning on Aug. 1. The latter sees himself as an adopted son of South America — the bookends for Elder Christensen are first coming to South America as a full-time missionary in Chile nearly a half-century ago and then concluding a three-year assignment as president of the South America South Area. “My life changed as a young missionary

Smiles

Members: 109,905 Stakes: 18 Missions: 2 Temples: 2

in Chile,” he told the Church News. “I grew to love the people and had many deeply meaningful experiences. The Church in 197677 was in its first generation, yet growing — still an ‘acorn.’ ” He recalled knowing Ricardo Garcia Silva, the first baptized convert in Chile in 1956, since Garcia and his family lived in Elder Christensen’s second area of missionary service. The country had just emerged from a military coup, and the missionaries were welcomed and loved, he added. “The rest of the South America South Area was similar in many ways. Argentina and Uruguay had more strength and experience among members, yet the work was very similar, mostly driven by missionaries.” As a General Authority Seventy and member of the Presidency of the Seventy,

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Elder Jorge F. Zeballos, then a General Authority Seventy and president of the Church’s South America Northwest Area, answers questions from a media member outside the Quito Ecuador Temple on Oct. 11, 2022.

Elder Christensen had been to South America on a number of assignments. But he looked forward to returning four years ago to lead the South America South Area. “I was anxious to reconnect and to be a witness to the progress made over time,” he said. “The members here are mature and multigenerational — like a mighty oak tree — and the strength of the Church is obvious on many fronts. Everywhere we travel, we are known and respected and have a presence with government and other religious leaders with whom we collaborate on many issues. As is the case throughout the world, we are ever present in times of needs, disasters and humanitarian issues. Elder Christensen said: “All four countries are becoming strongholds and are exemplary. It has been a pleasure to serve here.” Elder Zeballos’ roots also are tied to Chile — he joined the Church in 1968 at age 12. But from those roots have spread a life of service and a sense of appreciation across South America. “Throughout my youth, my perception of the Lord’s work was limited to what I could observe in my country,” he said, noting that as the years went by — especially in fulfilling positions of ecclesiastical responsibility — he came to know and understand Elder Melvin J. Ballard’s prophecy of the Church’s growth in South America. “As I have served for a total of 12 years in the presidencies of the Chile, South America South and South America Northwest areas, I have been an eyewitness to its fulfillment.” Elder Zeballos added: “I can only see a vibrant and bright future for the Church and its members in the years ahead. New generations, including thousands of returned missionaries, are taking advantage of the educational opportunities present to them.

This will enable them to better serve the Church in the future, as well as have a greater influence in society.” Building an ever-increasing number of temples “is a wonderful reflection of the growth and strength of the Church in our South American countries and the best evidence of the fulfillment of Elder Melvin J. Ballard’s prophecy,” he said. Brazil is setting an exemplary pace for its South America neighbors in membership, missions and temples. “Our main responsibility is to earn these blessings of so many temples across the country and continue to pursue the vision of bringing many more to where the ordinances are performed — in sacrament meetings and in the temple,” said Elder Koch. One way to do that is to start a focus on the retention of new converts at the moment they are found and starting to be taught, not beginning the fellowshipping after baptism, he said. Another way is “including more of the rising generation in our sacrament meetings and temple ordinances so they can feel the power of godliness being manifested.” Elder Koch told the Church News that “the realization of Elder Ballard’s prophecy is a powerful element that strengthens testimony and builds faith for the future among the Saints in our nation.” Brazil is still consolidating its economic and geopolitical position in the world, and the country’s population is projected to continue growing for several more decades, he said. “In this environment, we foresee the Church becoming even more established through the multigenerational cycle, with hundreds of thousands of new converts.”

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Kristin Murphy, Deseret News The Buenos Aires Argentina Temple is pictured in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 12, 2024. SOUTH AMERICA FROM F5

The countries Below is a brief look at the start of the Church in each country and territory, as well as a glance at some Church statistics. The membership numbers are through the end of 2023, the missions include those starting in July 2024 (marked with #), and the temple information is as of September 2025.

Argentina Beginnings: German immigrants Wilhelm Friedrichs and Emil Hoppe began preaching the gospel in Buenos Aires in 1923. Members: 491,160 Missions: 14 — Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires East, Buenos Aires North, Buenos Aires South, Buenos Aires West, Comodoro Rivadavia, Córdoba, Mendoza, Neuquén, Resistencia, Rosario, Salta, Santa Fe, Tucumán. Temples: 7 — Dedicated: Buenos Aires (1986) and Córdoba (2015), Salta (2024) and Mendoza (2024). Scheduled for dedication: Bahía Blanca (2025). Announced: Buenos Aires City Center (2022) and Rosario (2024).

Bolivia Beginnings: Missionaries serving in the Andes Mission arrived in Bolivia in November 1965 and baptized the first convert the next month. Members: 229,006 Missions: 6 — Cochabamba North, Cochabamba South#, La Paz, La Paz El Alto, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz North. Temples: 3 — Dedicated: Cochabamba (2000). Under construction: Santa Cruz (since 2024). Announced: La Paz (2021).

Brazil Beginnings: Missionaries began preaching in German in southern Brazil in 1928, with Portuguese proselytizing beginning in the 1930s. Of note: Brazil had South America’s first stake, in 1966, and its first temple, in 1978. Members: 1,626,436 Missions: 37 — Belo Horizonte, Belém, Brasília, Campinas, Cuiabá, Curitiba, Curitiba South, Feira de Santana, Florianópolis, Fortaleza, Fortaleza East, Goiânia, João Pessoa, Juiz de Fora, Londrina, Maceió, Manaus, Manaus South#, Natal, Piracicaba, Porto Alegre North, Porto Alegre South, Recife North, Recife South, Ribeirão Preto, Rio de Janeiro North, Rio de Janeiro South, Salvador, Santa Maria, Santos, São Paulo East, São Paulo Interlagos, São Paulo North, São Paulo South, São Paulo West, Teresina, Vitória. Temples: 24 — Dedicated: São Paulo (1978), Porto Alegre (2000), Recife (2000), Campinas (2002), Curitiba (2008), Manaus (2012), Fortaleza (2019), Belém (2022), Rio de Janeiro (2022), Brasília (2023) and Salvador (2024). Under construction: Belo Horizonte (since 2023), Ribeirão Preto (since 2024) and Londrina (since 2024). Announced: São Paulo East (2020), Vitória (2021), Maceió (2022), Santos (2022), Goiânia (2023), João Pessoa (2023), Natal (2023), Teresina (2023), Florianópolis (2024) and Campo Grande (2025).

Members: 217,514 Missions: 5 — Barranquilla, Bogotá North, Bogotá South, Cali, Medellín. Temples: 4 — Dedicated: Bogotá (1999) and Barranquilla (2018). Under construction: Cali (since earlier this year). Announced: Medellín (2024).

Ecuador Beginnings: The first four missionaries were sent to Ecuador in September 1965, with Elder Kimball visiting Quito in October 1965. Later that month, nine people were baptized. Members: 269,200 Missions: 7 — Guayaquil East, Guayaquil North, Guayaquil South, Guayaquil West, Quito, Quito North, Quito West#. Temples: 2 — Dedicated: Guayaquil (1999) and Quito (2022).

French Guiana Beginnings: The country’s first converts were baptized in France and then returned to their homeland — Charles Fortin in 1980 and Rosiette Fauvette in 1981 — to begin Sunday meetings together in Fortin’s home in Cayenne. Members: 508

Guyana Beginnings: Missionaries held the first sacrament meeting in the country in September 1988, with attendees including the Majid Abdulla family, baptized previously in Canada. The Church gained official recognition the following year. Members: 7,033 Mission: 1 — Georgetown.

Paraguay Beginnings: The first convert in Paraguay was baptized in 1948, the same year the country’s first official congregation was organized. Members: 102,395 Missions: 2 — Asunción and Asunción North. Temple: 1 — Asunción (2002).

Peru Beginnings: In 1956, an official branch was organized, missionaries began preaching, and a building was purchased to serve as the country’s first meetinghouse. Members: 648,045 Missions: 15 — Arequipa, Chiclayo, Cusco, Huancayo, Iquitos, Lima Central, Lima East, Lima North, Lima Northeast#, Lima South, Lima West, Limatambo, Piura, Trujillo North, Trujillo South. Temples: 10 — Dedicated: Lima (1986), Trujillo (2015), Arequipa (2019) and Lima Los Olivos (2024). Announced: Chiclayo (2022), Cusco (2022), Huancayo (2023), Iquitos (2023), Piura (2023) and Chorrillos (2025).

Suriname Beginnings: Expatriate Latter-day Saints living in Suriname held worship meetings as early as the late 1960s; however, the first converts weren’t baptized until Easter Sunday 1989, with a branch organized that same year. Members: 1,887

Chile

Uruguay

Beginnings: Parley P. Pratt of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles served a mission in Chile in 1851 and 1852, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that missionaries again arrived, with the Santiago Branch organized in 1956. Members: 613,054 Missions: 11 — Antofagasta, Concepción, Concepción South, La Serena#, Puerto Montt, Rancagua, Santiago East, Santiago North, Santiago South, Santiago West, Viña del Mar. Temples: 6 — Dedicated: Santiago (1983), Concepción (2018) and Antofagasta (2025). Under construction: Santiago West (since 2024). Announced: Viña del Mar (2023) and Puerto Montt (2024).

Beginnings: The first congregation was organized in 1944 for North Americans working in the country. Members: 109,905 Missions: 2 — Montevideo and Montevideo West. Temples: 2 — Dedicated: Montevideo (2001). Announced: Rivera (2025).

Colombia Beginnings: Elder Spencer W. Kimball of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles traveled with a small group of missionaries to Bogotá in May 1966.

Venezuela Beginnings: Elder Marion G. Romney of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles organized the first branch in November 1966; missionaries were sent from the Costa Rica Mission to Venezuela, with the first convert baptized in February 1967. Members: 177,309 Missions: 4 — Barcelona, Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia. Temples: 2 — Dedicated: Caracas (2000). Announced: Maracaibo (2024).

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25 years since Church’s 100th temple dedication

27 TEMPLES

IN MEXICO The Mexico City Mexico Temple shines in the early evening light in Mexico City, Mexico, on Friday, May 17, 2024.

Mexico’s legacy of temple building includes 8 dedications in a year and 4 announced in a day

By Joel Randall Church News

hen the Mexico City Mexico Temple was dedicated in December 1983, it was only the country’s first house of the Lord for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Yet when this same temple was rededicated 25 years later in 2008, Mexico was home to another 11 temples in operation. Nowhere is this growth more striking than the eight Mexico temples dedicated in the year 2000 alone. This legacy of temple building extends to October 2022 general conference, when the late Church President Russell M. Nelson in one day announced four temples near Mexico City, where long travel times through the metropolitan area can be a challenge to temple attendance. More than 1,530,000 Latter-day Saints live in Mexico in nearly 1,900 congregations. And today, almost 42 years after the Mexico City temple’s dedication, the North American country has 14 operating houses of the Lord, three under construction and 10 in planning stages, for a grand total of 27.

Brian Nicholson, for the Deseret News

Here’s a brief overview of Mexico’s 27 temples and each’s current status. For frequently updated information and for photos, maps and renderings on any Latter-day Saint temple, explore the Church News’ online almanac at TheChurchNews.com/almanac/temples.

Mexico City Mexico Temple Mexico’s first house of the Lord was the Church’s 26th in operation, announced April 3, 1976, by Church President Spencer W. Kimball. Ground was broken Nov. 25, 1979, with Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presiding, and President Gordon B. Hinckley — then second counselor in the First Presidency — dedicated the temple Dec. 2, 1983. After renovations, it was rededicated Nov. 16, 2008, by Church President Thomas S. Monson and rededicated again Sept. 13, 2015, by President Henry B. Eyring, then first counselor in the First Presidency.

Colonia Juárez Chihuahua Mexico Temple The second temple built from President Hinckley’s TEMPLES G2

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COVER STORY

Learn the history and status of the 27 houses of the Lord in Mexico

The Colonia Juárez Chihuahua Mexico Temple. TEMPLES FROM G1

smaller-temple design, the Colonia Juárez temple was dedicated just 364 days after its March 7, 1998, groundbreaking. It was announced Oct. 4, 1997, by President Hinckley, who also dedicated the edifice March 6, 1999, a year after Elder Eran A. Call, a General Authority Seventy, presided over the groundbreaking.

Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple The year 2000 saw eight temple dedications in Mexico, starting with the Ciudad Juárez temple. The First Presidency at the time — with President Hinckley as Prophet — announced the temple May 7, 1998, in letters to local leaders. Ground was broken Jan. 9, 1999, with Elder Call presiding. President Hinckley dedicated the house of the Lord on Feb. 26, 2000.

The Hermosillo Sonora Mexico Temple.

The Oaxaca Mexico Temple.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Hermosillo Sonora Mexico Temple

The Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The day after President Hinckley dedicated the Ciudad Juárez temple, he dedicated another in Hermosillo, on Feb. 27, 2000. This temple had been announced July 20, 1998, by the First Presidency, with Elder Call presiding over the Dec. 5, 1998 groundbreaking.

of the Lord in Tuxtla Gutiérrez on March 12, 2000. This edifice was announced Feb. 25, 1999, by the First Presidency, with its March 20, 1999, groundbreaking presided over by Elder Richard E. Turley Sr., a General Authority Seventy. It was the fourth of four temples dedicated in Mexico in a span of just 16 days.

time in Church history that three dedications happened on the same weekend. The Villahermosa temple was announced Oct. 30, 1998, by the First Presidency; held a groundbreaking ceremony Jan. 9, 1999, with Elder Turley presiding; and was dedicated May 21, 2000, by President Monson.

Oaxaca Mexico Temple

Tampico Mexico Temple

Mérida Mexico Temple

Announced on Feb. 23, 1999, by President Hinckley, the Oaxaca temple was the country’s first south of Mexico City. Ground was broken March 13, 1999, presided over by Elder Carl B. Pratt, a General Authority Seventy. Almost one year later, President James E. Faust — second counselor in the First Presidency — dedicated the temple on March 11, 2000.

Mexico’s seventh temple was announced July 8, 1998, by the First Presidency, and ground was broken Nov. 28, 1998, with Elder Call presiding. It was dedicated May 20, 2000, by President Monson, who had organized the first stake in Tampico in 1972.

The first temple built in the Yucatán Peninsula stands in Mérida, announced Sept. 25, 1998, by the First Presidency. Ground was broken Jan. 16, 1999, with Elder Pratt presiding, and President Monson dedicated the building July 8, 2000.

Villahermosa Mexico Temple

Veracruz Mexico Temple

The day after the Tampico temple’s dedication, two more houses of the Lord were dedicated — in Villahermosa, Mexico, and Nashville, Tennessee. It was the first

On July 9, 2000, the day after President Monson dedicated the Mérida temple, he

Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple The day after he dedicated the Oaxaca temple, President Faust dedicated a house

TEMPLES G3

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Visit acburger.com to find a location near you.

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Temples dotting the

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Russia (City yet to be announced)

ALASKA

world

TEMPLES FROM G2

dedicated a temple in Veracruz. This happened not long after its April 14, 1999, announcement by the First Presidency and its May 29, 1999, groundbreaking presided over by Elder Pratt.

Guadalajara Mexico Temple President Hinckley dedicated the Guadalajara temple on April 29, 2001, the day of his and Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley’s 64th wedding anniversary. This house of the Lord was announced April 14, 1999, by the First Presidency, then ground was broken June 12, 1999, with Elder Call presiding.

Monterrey Mexico Temple Although the Monterrey temple was the second announced in Mexico — on Dec. 27, 1995, by the First Presidency — President Hinckley wouldn’t dedicate the edifice until April 28, 2002, the delay due to opposition from adjacent property owners of the initial site. After the temple site was relocated, Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen, a General Authority Seventy, presided over the Nov. 4, 2000, groundbreaking.

Tijuana Mexico Temple The first Mexico temple announced in the 21st century was for Tijuana, with thenChurch President Monson announcing the location during general conference on Oct. 2, 2010. Ground was broken Aug. 18, 2012, presided over by Elder Benjamín De Hoyos, a General Authority Seventy. The temple was dedicated on Dec. 13, 2015, by then-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, who was the second

counselor in the First Presidency at the time.

Puebla Mexico Temple Puebla is home to Mexico’s most recently dedicated house of the Lord. It was announced Oct. 7, 2018, by the late Church President Nelson, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held Nov. 30, 2019, with Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela, a General Authority Seventy, presiding. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles then dedicated the structure May 19, 2024.

Torreón Mexico Temple The first of three Mexican temples currently under construction is in Torreón. President Nelson announced this location on April 4, 2021, and ground was broken Dec. 10, 2022, with Elder Hugo Montoya, a General Authority Seventy, presiding.

Querétaro Mexico Temple President Nelson announced a temple for Querétaro on April 4, 2021, in the same conference message he announced the Torreón temple. Ground was broken Jan. 7, 2023, with Elder Adrián Ochoa, a General Authority Seventy, presiding.

San Luis Potosí Mexico Temple After President Nelson announced a temple for San Luis Potosí on April 3, 2022, Elder Sean Douglas — a General Authority Seventy — presided over a March 9, 2024, groundbreaking ceremony. TEMPLES G6

R U R O U O Y Y P O R H T N PHILA MAKES A E C N E R E DIFF . D L R O W IN THE

The Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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Temples announced Under construction or scheduled for groundbreaking Operating or scheduled for dedication/rededication Under renovation or scheduled for renovation

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Temples dotting Asia

Sapporo Japan

Ulaanbaatar Mongolia Seoul Korea Shanghai People’s Republic of China

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Busan Korea

Temples dotting the Pacific

Tokyo Japan Osaka Japan Fukuoka Japan

Okinawa Japan Taipei Taiwan Kaohsiung Taiwan Tuguegarao City Philippines Laoag Santiago Philippines Bangkok Philippines San Jose del Monte Philippines Thailand Urdaneta Alabang Philippines Philippines Yigo Naga Philippines Manila Guam Tacloban City Philippines Philippines Cebu City Philippines Iloilo Philippines Cagayan de Oro Philippines Phnom Penh Davao Philippines Bacolod Cambodia Philippines Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Hong Kong

Dubai United Arab Emirates

Bengaluru India

Singapore

Laie Hawaii

Honolulu Hawaii Kona Hawaii

Tarawa Kiribati

Jakarta Indonesia

Savai’i Apia Samoa Samoa

Uturoa French Polynesia Pago Pago American Samoa

Suva Fiji

Temples announced Under construction or scheduled for groundbreaking Operating or scheduled for dedication/rededication Under renovation or scheduled for renovation

Nouméa New Caledonia

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Brisbane Australia Brisbane Australia South

Perth Australia Melbourne Australia

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Kahului Hawaii

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Sydney Australia Liverpool Australia Hamilton New Zealand

Auckland New Zealand Wellington New Zealand

Cuernavaca Mexico Temple

TEMPLES FROM G3

Culiacán Mexico Temple Announced Oct. 3, 2021, by President Nelson, the Culiacán temple is in planning stages, and a site location has already been released.

Mexico City Benemérito Mexico Temple A second house of the Lord for Mexico City was announced by President Nelson on April 3, 2022, with both a site and architectural rendering released since. The site is on the property of the Mexico Missionary Training Center and the Church’s former Benemérito de las Americas school.

On Oct. 2, 2022, President Nelson announced four temples near Mexico City, where long travel times through the metropolitan area can be a challenge in temple attendance. The first of these four was the Cuernavaca temple, whose site map and exterior rendering have been released.

2, 2022, by President Nelson — currently has a site location and rendering available.

temple, announced by President Nelson on April 7, 2024, have been released.

Tula Mexico Temple

Juchitán de Zaragoza Mexico Temple

The last of the four Mexico temples announced by President Nelson on Oct. 2, 2022, was the Tula temple, which is currently in its planning phase.

President Nelson’s first house of the Lord listed in his announcement of new temple locations in the October 2024 general conference was for Juchitán de Zaragoza — currently in its planning phase — on Oct. 6, 2024.

Pachuca Mexico Temple

Cancún Mexico Temple

Also announced by President Nelson on Oct. 2, 2022, was a house of the Lord for Pachuca, which is currently in its planning stages.

On Oct. 1, 2023, President Nelson announced a temple for Cancún in general conference. This house of the Lord is currently in the planning stages.

Toluca Mexico Temple

Chihuahua Mexico Temple

Toluca’s planned temple — announced Oct.

The site and rendering of the Chihuahua

Reynosa Mexico Temple Also in planning stages, the Reynosa temple is the most recently announced house of the Lord in Mexico, whose city was identified by President Nelson six months ago on April 6, 2025.

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Temples dotting Europe

Oslo Norway

Copenhagen Denmark

The Hague Netherlands

Dublin Ireland Birmingham England London England

Freiberg Germany Kyiv Ukraine

Vienna Austria Copenhagen Budapest Hungary Denmark

Paris France Bern Switzerland

Madrid Spain

Milan Italy

Rome Italy

Barcelona Spain

Lisbon Portugal

Praia Cape Verde Kumasi Ghana

Freetown Sierra Leone Monrovia Liberia Abidjan Ivory Coast

Cape Coast Ghana Accra Ghana

Temples dotting Africa

Abuja Nigeria Benin City Nigeria

Lagos Nigeria Aba Nigeria Uyo Nigeria

Calabar Nigeria

Kananga Democratic Republic of the Congo

Eket Nigeria

Nairobi Kenya

Mbuji-Mayi Democratic Republic of the Congo

Brazzaville Republic of the Congo Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Luanda Angola

Russia (City yet to be announced)

Hamburg Germany

Frankfurt Germany Brussels Belgium

Porto Portugal

Helsinki Finland Stockholm Sweden

Edinburgh Scotland

Preston England

Kampala Uganda

Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo

Harare Zimbabwe

Temples announced Under construction or scheduled for groundbreaking Operating or scheduled for dedication/rededication Under renovation or scheduled for renovation

Johannesburg South Africa

Beira Mozambique

Antananarivo Madagascar

Maputo Mozambique Durban South Africa

Cape Town South Africa

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Gathering hearts, nations and generations

Jeffrey Allred, Deseret News archive On Oct. 1, 2000 — the day this photo was taken — the Boston Massachusetts Temple became the 100th dedicated temple in operation for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This 100th house of the Lord lacked a steeple at dedication due to a height lawsuit. After a ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Court on May 16, 2001, the steeple was added.

From the first 100 to now 208, temples bless families and nations, standing as monuments of faith, sacrifice and prophetic vision The Suva Fiji Temple, the Church’s 91st dedicated house of the Lord in operation.

By Lynnette McConkie Church News

Tears streamed down faces and smiles filled the room as Saints who had once crossed oceans for temple blessings now entered a house of the Lord in their own homeland. Juliet Toro, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fiji, remembers that day she had long hoped for, when the Suva Fiji Temple was dedicated in the early summer of 2000, becoming the Church’s 91st dedicated house of the Lord in operation. For Toro, eternity felt closer to her family. Oct. 1, 2025, marked the 25th anniversary of a significant milestone reflecting prophetic vision, sacrifice and the joy of covenant belonging. On that day, less than four months after the dedication in Fiji, the Boston Massachusetts Temple became the Church’s 100th operating house of the Lord since the Restoration of the gospel — gathering hearts, nations and generations in sacred ordinances. Their legacy continues today as temples bring God’s children closer to Him, to family and to Zion.

Sacrifice and covenant belonging Similar to Toro’s experience, before temples were built in their homelands, many Saints endured long and costly journeys for temple blessings. Their faith exemplified President Thomas S. Monson’s words when he said “no sacrifice is too great” for the priceless blessings of the temple. Houses of the Lord, he said, “are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service.” Some families sold crops, heirlooms or other possessions to make the once-in-alifetime trip. With a temple in their own nation, everything changed. Covenants became accessible not only for individuals but

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

entire families. For Toro, entering the temple in her homeland was more than convenient — it was fulfillment. That same joy echoed across the world as Saints sacrificed to see temples rise. When the first 100 temples opened, families entered their doors with reverence and relief. Gathering was no longer only an idea but a lived covenant reality — a daily witness that God honors sacrifice with strength, joy and eternal promises.

Prophetic visions of gathering When the Prophet Joseph Smith declared in May 1844, “We need the temple more than anything else” (History of the Church 6:230), he set in motion a prophetic priority carried

forward by every generation of Latter-day Saints. Temples are more than buildings of stone, mortar and glass. They are the heart of the gathering of Israel. Within their walls, individuals and families bind themselves to God and one another. Through proxy ordinances for ancestors, whole generations are gathered on the other side of the veil. The story of the first 100 temples is a story of gathering: Saints gathering closer to home, nations gathering into Zion and families gathering across time. It is also a story of acceleration. What took the Church 150 years to accomplish — 50 dedicated temples — doubled within a few short years. Between 1999 and 2000 alone, 49 temples were dedicated, helping the Church reach the prophetic goal of 100 operating temples by October of 2000.

Milestones in temple worship The dedication of the St. George Utah Temple in 1877 marked a turning point. At President Brigham Young’s direction, sacred ordinances — previously transmitted by memory — were written down for the first time. This ensured accuracy, consistency and preservation for generations. Nearly a century later, as the restored gospel expanded across nations and languages, another milestone came. Prior to the 1955 dedication of the Bern Switzerland Temple — the first temple in Europe and the first where English was not the primary language — President David O. McKay assigned a young Gordon B. Hinckley to find a way for Saints to receive ordinances in their own tongues. His inspired solution — presenting ordinances on film — made it possible for worshippers from diverse cultures and languages to participate fully in temple worship.

Smaller temples, global reach The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The St. George Utah Temple, the Church’s first dedicated house of the Lord still in operation, circa 1877.

By the 1990s, prophetic vision again advanced temple building. President Hinckley, then leading the Church, introduced a smaller temple design that could be built more quickly

and in more places. In 1998, he set the bold goal of 100 operating temples by the end of 2000. That vision, fulfilled, represented not only construction progress but also the gathering of God’s people into sacred covenants worldwide.

Continuing acceleration Twenty-five years after the dedication of the Church’s 100th temple, the pace of temple building has only increased. Today, 208 temples are operating, and with those under construction or announced, the number will soon surpass 400. The vision that began with the first 100 has become a global reality. From Ghana to Guatemala, from the Philippines to Peru, Saints gather in holy places, and millions of ancestors are gathered on the other side of the veil. President Russell M. Nelson taught in 2018 that the gathering of Israel on both sides of the veil “is the most important thing taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, nothing else compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty.” Temples — past, present and future — are at the heart of that gathering.

The great work of the gathering The 25th anniversary of the first 100 temples is not only a reminder of what has been achieved but also a witness of what still lies ahead. The sacrifices of the past testify that the Lord magnifies every offering. The joy of those first temple dedications points toward the spiritual momentum President Nelson described. “Positive spiritual momentum increases as we worship in the temple and grow in our understanding of the magnificent breadth and depth of the blessings we receive there,” he said in 2022. Twenty-five years after the 100th dedicated temple, 208 dot the earth, with 174 others under construction or announced. With the promise of more to come, the great work of gathering continues — bringing God’s children home to Him.

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SPECIAL SECTION

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H General Conference | H3

BYU–Idaho celebrates 25 years as a 4-year institution

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Tabernacle Choir goes ‘throughout the world’

BYU celebrates th 150 anniversary

BYU vice president Keith Vorkink introduces a video of the late President Spencer W. Kimball at BYU’s sesquicentennial kickoff devotional in the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Christi Norris, BYU

An invitation to perform 150 hours of service, be ‘beacons of light’ among celebrations planned for BYU’s sesquicentennial By Rachel Sterzer Gibson Church News

Christi Norris, BYU BYU kicked off its 150th anniversary celebration with a devotional in the Marriott Center, Tuesday, Sept. 9.

PROVO, UTAH — On April 5, 1876, three gunpowder reserves in Salt Lake City ignited. The ensuing blast was felt as far north as Farmington, Utah, more than 15 miles away. Many homes and buildings were damaged, including the 20th Ward schoolhouse. Following the explosion, the schoolhouse’s principal, Karl G. Maeser, went looking for his bishop, John Sharp. He found him in conference with President Brigham Young. But as he began to report on the damages, President Young interjected. “Brother Maeser, I have another mission for you.” By the end of the month, Maeser was headed to Provo “to organize and conduct an academy to be established in the name of the Church — a Church school.” Before Maeser left for his new assignment, President Young told him: “I want you to remember that you ought not to teach even the alphabet or the multiplication tables without the Spirit of God. That is all. God bless you. Goodbye” (“Did You Know?” Ensign, May 2002). “Prophets have inspired BYU since its beginning,” noted BYU President C. Shane Reese after sharing the above story during the University Conference on Aug. 25. “And they continue to guide this enterprise during this our 150th year.” Just two weeks later, more than 13,000

Brigham Young University students, faculty and staff gathered in the Marriott Center for the first devotional of the semester, on Sept. 9. The devotional, titled “Celebrating Gifts of Light,” kicked off a year of celebratory activities and events surrounding the school’s upcoming 150th anniversary. University administrators, faculty, alumni and students all participated in the devotional program, which utilized music, stories, quotes from Church leaders — past and present — and video to share examples of “the special light” that characterizes Brigham Young University. It was apropos to begin “this incredible milestone” of the 150th anniversary by acknowledging the Lord’s Latter-day prophets, noted Keith Vorkink, BYU advancement vice president. “While 150 years of BYU would be cause for celebration all on its own, this milestone carries with it a weight and a sacredness brought by the words of prophets, seers and revelators who have seen the destiny of this place and who have taught us about your role in that destiny,” Vorkink said. The “gifts of light” theme for the devotional — and for many of the upcoming commemorations — draws from the words of Church President Spencer W. Kimball, who spoke during the university’s 100th anniversary in 1975, an address he titled “The Second Century of Brigham Young University.” BYU H2

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COVER STORY

BYU begins plethora of activities, events for its 150th anniversary

BYU President C. Shane Reese and Sister Wendy Reese speak in a video during the BYU 150th anniversary kickoff in the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

BYU FROM H1

In what Vorkink called “one of the most significant prophetic messages in the history of this university,” President Kimball taught that BYU would distinguish itself “not simply because of the size of its student body or its beautiful campus, but because of the unique light BYU can send forth into the educational world.” Now, 50 years later, the second century of BYU is half spent. “We find ourselves at a natural moment of reflection, a kind of midterm assessment. … What have we become? And more importantly, what are we still becoming? Do our eyes remain fixed on the destiny described by prophets?” Vorkink asked.

Sharing ‘gifts of light’ As Brigham Young University celebrates its 150th anniversary, the campus community can become “beacons of light” to a world that “desperately needs it,” President Reese declared in his opening address for the new academic school year. Speaking to students, faculty and staff gathered in the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, Sept. 16, President Reese reiterated the theme of the school’s sesquicentennial — “Celebrating Gifts of Light.” “My dear students, the answer to darkness is light. The answer to evil is Christ. He is the ultimate gift of light. And the goal for you and me this year — our 150th year as a university — is to grow, to celebrate, to share His light.” BYU just welcomed one of the largest classes of freshmen to ever enter the university. Graduates this year will join more than 466,000 living alumni around the globe, he reported.

“Alone, your light cannot be hid; together your light floods the earth.” On average, 70% of BYU graduates have served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Graduates are also more likely to carry the titles of mother, father, husband and wife, said President Reese. “There are few limits on your potential to influence this world for the better. But our light grows to its fullest brilliance only as we draw closer to the greatest gift ever given, even our Savior, Jesus Christ,” he said. Like any birthday, BYU’s 150th is about gifts — “the gifts of light given to us and gifts of light we can share with others.”

An invitation to serve 150 hours The campus devotionals were the first in a series of activities and events planned for the coming year to help celebrate the sesquicentennial. In his University Conference address, President Reese said, “We are in for an incredible birthday party this year.” Besides the devotional, the first week of classes also included a service fair and kickoff celebration, including “BYU 150”-themed cake, ice cream, games and service projects. A prime aspect of the 150th celebrations is an invitation to serve. “One of the main goals in celebrating this anniversary is to help instill the idea from President Nelson that ‘in the Church, obtaining an education and getting knowledge are a religious responsibility. We educate our minds so that one day we can render service of worth to somebody else,’¤” explained Natalie Ipson, BYU director of digital communications, who also serves on the 150th anniversary committee. It’s

a principle also encapsulated in the university’s tagline, “Enter to learn, go forth to serve.” With that in mind, organizers are challenging students, employees, alumni and friends to each perform 150 hours of service in honor of 150 years of the university. Service can be big or small — from participating in a large community project to doing family history research. As individuals share their light through service, they are encouraged to track their hours. As they hit benchmarks — 10, 25, 50, etc., service hours — they can unlock prizes, such as a free song download from BYU Music groups or adding a Lego piece to the BYU 150th anniversary mural at the bookstore. Those wanting to participate can also utilize the BYU 150 Passport, an app that allows them to log their hours as well as participate in an interactive scavenger hunt full of BYU-themed activities or share their thoughts and memories. Organizers are also taking the “Cougar spirit” of service on the road through the Traveling BYU Experience. As BYU sports teams and other groups participate in away games or performances, a service project will be hosted in conjunction to serve the local community. More service ideas can be found at yserve.byu .edu/byu-150-service-ideas. More information on the Traveling BYU Experience can be found at 150.byu.edu/traveling-experience.

‘Beacons of light’ During the recent University Conference, President Reese noted that each unit and department on campus contributes to the overall light of the university. In honor of the 150th anniversary, more than 100 BYU departments and colleges have found ways

Emma Thomas, BYU

to be “beacons of light” within their fields, expertise and relationships. The examples President Reese shared included: BYU law students signing the HOPE (Helping Others through Pro bono Engagement) Pledge, committing to perform at least 50 hours of pro bono service, emulating the roles the Savior carries as a perfect Advocate. The BYU Museum of Art is opening an exhibit sharing some of the most beloved religious artworks from the university’s collection. Current plans are to include art that have been in the university’s care since before the MOA existed. The BYU Marriott School of Business will host an internal case competition where students will prepare business solutions relevant to what it means to be a Christlike leader. “As Christ taught, ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven,’ (Matthew 5:16),” President Reese said. An ongoing list of ways departments are being beacons of light is being updated at 150 .byu.edu/beacons. The campus is also hosting Nights of Light on selected evenings throughout the fall 2025 and winter 2026 semesters, where the campus will be open late for “unique BYU experiences.” The details for the first Night of Light event during homecoming week on Oct. 15 will be made available closer to the event date. The website notes that each Night of Light event will be different from the previous. See 150.byu. edu/nights-of-light for more information. To read more about the history of BYU, including a timeline of 150 important events, as well as a calendar and up-to-date event and activity information, visit 150.byu.edu.

“The goal for you and me this year — our 150th year as a university — is to grow, to celebrate, to share [the Savior’s] light.” — BYU President C. Shane Reese Christi Norris, BYU Keith Vorkink, BYU advancement vice president, speaks during the BYU 150th anniversary kickoff in the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

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Friday, October 3, 2025 | Deseret News Weekend

EDUCATION

BYU–Idaho celebrates 25th anniversary of transformative announcement “I am pleased to announce that Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, will change from its present two-year, junior college status to a four-year institution. The new four-year school will be known as Brigham Young University–Idaho.” — President Gordon B. Hinckley, in a news conference on June 23, 2000

By Rachel Sterzer Gibson Church News

The world has transformed in many ways since the year 2000. At the time, less than half of American households had internet access. People had to wait for the printed newspaper or evening newscast to learn what was happening in the world. Social media did not widely exist, and Netflix was a monthly DVD rental subscription. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has also undergone many changes. In 2000, the Church had only 68 dedicated temples. The 21,000-seat Conference Center at Church headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City had not been dedicated. And the Church Educational System served roughly a third as many students. It was also that year, however, that Church President Gordon B. Hinckley made an announcement that would prove to be transformational to Church education and the Church. On June 23, 2000, the Prophet held a news conference from the Church Administration Building in downtown Salt Lake City. “I am pleased to announce that Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, will change from its present two-year, junior college status to a four-year institution,” President Hinckley

said. “The new four-year school will be known as Brigham Young University–Idaho, with the name change designed to give the school immediate national and international recognition.” After a little more than a year of substantial changes, on Aug. 10, 2001, the school officially transitioned to BYU–Idaho, offering 50 baccalaureate degrees its first year. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who served as the college’s president from 1997 to 2004, would later declare, “The creation of BYU–Idaho was one of the most important educational events of the Restoration.” Earlier this summer, BYU–Idaho kicked off some 18 months of events and activities honoring the 25th anniversary of that historic announcement and celebrating the growth and impact of the university. One sign of the university’s growing profile in higher education would be its inclusion in the Wall Street Journal’s list of 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. BYU–Idaho claimed the top spot in Idaho, third in comparison to colleges in Utah, and 32nd in the nation for best value. What does being best in value mean? Graduates achieve the same outcomes for a lot less cost. BYU–IDAHO H4

Deseret News archives Church President Gordon B. Hinckley and Elder Henry B. Eyring, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Church commissioner of education, announce on June 23, 2000, changes to Ricks College.

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ews’ BYU–Idaho Ricks College students smile during graduation ceremonies in May 2000. A month later, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the school would become Brigham Young University–Idaho. BYU–IDAHO FROM H3

Also, for the second year in a row, BYU– Idaho welcomed the largest incoming class in its history. “I think what we’re seeing is this wonderful convergence of a greater recognition in the membership of the Church, of what a great experience BYU–Idaho offers, as well as an increasing number of the rising generation, but nontraditional students as well, that are seeking for something that’s uniquely provided at BYU–Idaho, which is an institution that’s resolutely focused on its mission to develop disciples of Christ, provide a great education that prepares one for their life’s work at a very affordable cost and a very fun and vibrant environment,” said BYU– Idaho President Alvin F. Meredith III of the university’s continued growth. In the year 2000, Ricks College enrolled about 14,500 students annually. In 2024, BYU– Idaho enrolled more than 32,000 students. When adding in the number of online students served through its partnership with BYU–Pathway Worldwide, that number grows to close to 62,000 students enrolled in 2024. In an interview for the 20th anniversary of

the university, Elder Kim B. Clark, an emeritus General Authority Seventy who served as president of BYU–Idaho from 2005 to 2015 and later as the commissioner of Church education, explained that higher education in the Church Educational System has grown significantly over the past few decades and most of that growth has come through BYU–Idaho. Besides more than doubling the number of students on campus, BYU–Idaho is also the birthplace of BYU–Pathway Worldwide, which served close to 75,000 students in 2024. More students are being offered the opportunity for a Church education than ever before, “and it’s all because the Prophet of God, Gordon B. Hinckley, was inspired by the Lord to make Ricks College become BYU– Idaho and to set it on a path,” Elder Clark said.

“These first 25 years have been marked by perseverance, discovery and growth. We look back with gratitude and forward with confidence.”

Prophetically directed In his one-page, six-paragraph announcement, President Hinckley outlined the exact parameters for the university’s design, which past president Elder Clark G. Gilbert has described as the university’s “birthright.”

’ ’ s s w w e i e i v v g n i g t n e i v t i r e ‘ ‘riv — Sister Jennifer Meredith, wife of BYU–Idaho President Alvin F. Meredith III

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BYU–IDAHO FROM H4

In it, President Hinckley said the university would continue to be teachingoriented, with that being the primary focus of its faculty. The institution would emphasize undergraduate education only; graduate degrees would not be offered. Because faculty would not be focused on research and the school would not be offering graduate programs, the campus could operate “on an expanded year-round basis.” In addition, BYU–Idaho would take advantage of “advancements in technology,” which would allow it to serve more students. It would also discontinue intercollegiate athletics and “shift its emphasis to a year-round activity program designed to involve and meet the needs of a diverse student body.” In essence, the Prophet created a distinctive model in higher education that is unique across all academia in 450 words, noted Elder Gilbert, who now serves as a General Authority Seventy and Church commissioner of education. In his inaugural response in 2023, President Meredith reinforced the university’s mission of “building disciples of Jesus Christ” by reminding students, “We must, with great resolve and intentionality, remain a Christcentered, prophetically directed university.” In the opening devotional for the fall semester, on Tuesday, Sept. 16, President Meredith and his wife, Sister Jennifer Meredith, noted that as they look back on 25 years, their campus community are heirs to an honored heritage. “These first 25 years have been marked by perseverance, discovery and growth. We look back with gratitude and forward with confidence. The next 25 years are waiting to be written, and you will help write that chapter,” Sister Meredith told students and faculty. In July, the school released a special 25th anniversary logo to be featured across campus, on digital platforms and on merchandise. “These past 25 years have been about the fulfillment of prophecy,” said Stephen Mendenhall, media creation manager, in a BYU–Idaho news release. “This is a moment to boldly declare our identity and purpose, emphasizing how far BYU–Idaho has come in just 25 years and how bright the future looks as we continue building on a divinely guided foundation.” The celebration of the school’s metamorphosis will continue through 2026.

New BYU–Idaho students gather at the BYU–I memorial for a legacy photo in Rexburg, Idaho, on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.

Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, a General Authority Seventy, is inaugurated as the 18th president of BYU–Idaho on Aug. 1, 2023.

Christian Martinez, BYU–Idaho

Lydia Rumsey, BYU–Idaho

Friday, October 3, 2025 | Deseret News Weekend

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MUSIC

How the Tabernacle Choir has been going ‘throughout the world’

Tess Crowley, Deseret News Dancers and The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square stand as the audience applauds after their concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as part of the choir’s “Songs of Hope” world tour on Aug. 22.

The Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra’s ‘Songs of Hope’ tour, global singers at general conference and ‘Music & the Spoken Word’ help the choir reach people around the world By Christine Rappleye Church News

Virginia Campbell of Rio Negro, Argentina, watched videos of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and Orchestra at Temple Square perform. And then it was announced that the choir and orchestra would be performing in Buenos Aires, Argentina. “I’ve been dreaming of getting to the concert,” Campbell said after the choir and orchestra’s 2.5-hour concert in Movistar Arena on Aug. 22 that also celebrated The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 100th anniversary of preaching the gospel in South America. The concert was the first time she had heard the choir and orchestra in person, and it was exciting to hear them, she added. Campbell also said she felt many of the same spiritual feelings she did at her own baptism 30 years ago. Campbell was one of nearly 9,000 people who attended the concert. The choir, orchestra, guest artists, dancers, narrators and guest musicians also performed on Aug. 23. The concerts in Buenos Aires were part of the fifth stop on the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra’s “Songs of Hope” world tour. “In each of our visits on our world tour,

we testify of Jesus Christ,” Tabernacle Choir President Michael O. Leavitt said in advance of the choir and orchestra’s tour stop in Argentina. The choir and orchestra also help to serve “as an ambassador from the Church to open doors and open hearts.” The choir and orchestra’s shorter and more frequent travel assignments are one of three ways choir leaders are working to expand its reach. At the end of 2022, choir leaders announced that the words “throughout the world” would be added to the mission statement. The expanded mission statement now reads: “The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square performs music that inspires people throughout the world to draw closer to the divine and feel God’s love for His children.” The other two ways were through expanding “Music & the Spoken Word” into additional languages, starting with Spanish. Also, the choir would be inviting international musicians to sing with the Tabernacle Choir during the Church’s semiannual general conferences.

‘Music & the Spoken Word’ On July 13, the choir and orchestra celebrated the 5,000th episode of the “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast — the longest

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continuously running network broadcast in history. The milestone events included a preshow, the regular 30-minute broadcast and an encore musical celebration. In addition to the choir and orchestra, Bells at Temple Square also performed. During the final song of the 5,000th broadcast, music director Mack Wilberg used the baton director Anthony C. Lund used in that first broadcast on July 15, 1929. Also, former choir music director Craig Jessop, who served from 1999 to 2008, led “Consider the Lilies.” The post-broadcast encore celebration concluded with many former choir and orchestra members in the audience coming onstage to sing the final two songs. Also, a month earlier, the choir announced that the Spanish broadcast of “Music & the Spoken Word” would be broadcast on Telemundo in Utah on Sundays at 5 p.m. MT. The Tabernacle Choir first began broadcasting “Music & the Spoken Word” in Spanish — “Música & Palabras de Inspiración” — on its Spanish YouTube channel El Coro del Tabernáculo as a pilot in July 2023. Plans are still being made to expand to Portuguese, President Leavitt said in an interview prior to the 5,000th broadcast.

Global members at general conference

Since the April 2023 general conference, international musicians have been invited to audition to sing with the Tabernacle Choir. Each then goes through the multistep choir audition process with a recording, musical theory tests and live singing session with choir officials — a similar process for those who live within 100 miles of Salt Lake City. Also, they must be able to travel to the United States and demonstrate English proficiency. In April 2024, the program went from a pilot program to a permanent part of the choir. Each global member is initially recommended through area leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to the Tabernacle Choir’s website. “It’s been like a dream come true for all of us for sure. A dream that we never thought would be possible,” Rodrigo Domaredzky of Curitiba, Brazil, who sings baritone, said in an interview with the Church News when he came to Salt Lake CIty in April 2023. Those interested should visit thetabernaclechoir.org/global-participantprogram for information. CHOIR H7

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CHOIR FROM H6

‘Songs of Hope’ world tour President Leavitt said that as the choir and orchestra have traveled and performed with the multiyear, multicity international “Songs of Hope,” they hope that having “the choir come to their country — and to their continent — it adds to a sense of belonging to the Church.” Previously, the choir and orchestra’s tours or travel assignments were every few years, with stops in many countries or states during a single trip. They appeared mostly at smaller concert halls. Now, the choir and orchestra are traveling twice a year for shorter times, performing in larger venues for free and streaming at least one of the performances, as they “anchor and radiate.” At each stop, the choir and orchestra have performed a smaller interfaith or VIP concert and then a larger concert in an arena. On all of the stops, select concerts have been streamed live on YouTube, with area members and congregations encouraged to hold watch parties. The concerts from Peru and Argentina are available now on YouTube, and recent concerts have been available for up to a year. • Mexico City, Mexico: In June 2023, the choir and orchestra’s first stop was in Mexico, where they performed “Esperanza” concerts at the Toluca Cathedral and at Mexico City’s National Auditorium, the latter of which seats about 10,000 people. Sharing messages and songs of hope, the two concerts in the National Auditorium featured guest artist singers Alex Melecio and Adassa, one of the narrators for the Spanish “Music & the Spoken Word,” and radio host Mariano Osorio. Melecio is originally from Mexico. • Manila, Philippines: The Philippines was the second stop on the “Himig ng Pagasa” (“Melody of Hope” in Tagalog) tour, in February 2024 — the first time the choir and orchestra have performed in the country. The tour stop included a VIP concert at the Shangri-La Hotel, a sacred music concert at the University of Santo Tomas and two concerts in the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The concerts in SM Mall of Asia Arena featured singer and actress Lea Salonga, singer-songwriter Ysabelle Cuevas and TV personalities Suzi Entrata-Abrera and Paolo Abrera. Nearly 10,000 people filled the stadium. The tour overlapped with the ministry of Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the country. He attended the VIP and sacred music concerts and also spoke to the choir and orchestra members. • Florida and Georgia, United States: The third stop was in the southeastern U.S. in September 2024. The first concert was a bilingual Spanish/English concert in south Florida on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, with singers Adassa and Melecio, in Amerant Bank Arena.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Members of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square from past and present gather on stage to sing together as part of the post-show celebration of the 5,000th episode of “Music & the Spoken Word” in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on July 13.

Adassa grew up in southern Florida, and her parents are originally from Colombia. The choir and orchestra traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, and joined with the Morehouse College and Spelman College glee clubs on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, for a concert at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on the Morehouse College campus. On Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, the choir and orchestra performed during a 9/11 tribute in the Georgia State Capitol in the morning. In the evening, the choir, orchestra and both college glee clubs performed in Atlanta’s State Farm Arena with surprise guest artist Kristin Chenoweth. • Lima, Peru: The fourth stop of the “Canciones de Esperanza” (“Songs of Hope” in Spanish) tour was in February 2025 with the choir’s first concerts in Peru — and the second time in its history performing in South America. It first performed an interfaith/VIP concert featuring singers Adassa and Melecio at the Westin Lima Hotel and Convention Center in Lima, Peru. Melecio’s mother-in-law is Peruvian. The “Canciones de Esperanza” concert in the National Stadium was the largest open

air stadium the choir and orchestra have performed a full concert in — about 34,000 people filled the stadium where Colombian pop star Shakira performed earlier in the week and the national soccer team plays. The two-hour concert featured singer Fonseca of Colombia, Mauricio Mesones of Peru and a former member of the band Bareto, Adassa, Melecio and the Fabre family trio from Ecuador. The 17-member Bolivian band Los Kjarkas played a nearly hourlong pre-show, with youth dancers. Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles welcomed audience members at both concerts and also met with Peru’s president and other government, business and religious leaders during the choir’s tour stop. • Buenos Aires, Argentina: The fifth stop was in Buenos Aires with concerts that celebrated 100 years of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South America. It was the choir and orchestra’s first performances in Argentina. The concert at the Palacio Libertad auditorium featured guest artist and celebrated tango singer Raúl Lavié. The choir and orchestra performed two concerts — titled “Songs of Hope: A Century of

Sharing the Gospel in South America” — in Movistar Arena to audiences of nearly 9,000 each evening. The 2.5-hour concert featured Argentine singer-songwriter Soledad Pastorutti and Melecio. The nearly hourlong pre-show featured singers Maggie Cullen and Dos Más Uno. Several guest musicians were also featured. The choir and orchestra’s concerts celebrated the 100th anniversary of Elder Melvin J. Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicating all of South America for the preaching of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, in Buenos Aires on Christmas Day 1925. Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles welcomed the attendees to the concerts and also met with Argentina’s president and other government, business and community leaders. • Brazil: The sixth stop of the tour will be in Brazil in February 2026. The Tabernacle Choir first went to South America in 1981, when it performed in Brazil. President Leavitt previously said it’s anticipated the “Songs of Hope” tour will conclude with the Salt Lake Temple rededication in 2027.

Friday, October 3, 2025 | Deseret News Weekend

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