Hello again, everyone! I am pleased to report that, effective immediately, the First Presidency has broadened Sunday School leadership opportunities. Going forward, a man or a woman may be called as Sunday School presidents in wards and branches. If a man is called, the entire presidency must be men as well, and if a woman is called, the entire presidency must be women. Sunday School General President Paul V. Johnson was quoted as follows on this change:
“This important change gives bishoprics additional options as they prayerfully consider who should lead the effort of teaching and learning in their wards. At the time of our call as Sunday School leaders in 2024, the First Presidency gave us a charge—as they have done with previous presidencies—to improve teaching and learning in the Church. There are many capable women and men who can help strengthen gospel instruction and foster spiritual growth.”
This comes as one of many recent adjustments reported to the Church's general handbook. This update was first announced in a First Presidency letter dated today. I am grateful for this inspired adjustment and can attest that, as soon as I read the announcement, I felt the spiritual confirmation that it is the right change at this time.
I invite you all to stay tuned here for my coverage of the latest updates from the Church News, Newsroom, and Church of Jesus Christ Temples sites. I’ll be sure to pass word of those along to you all as soon as I learn about them. In the meantime, that does it for now. All comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated on any post at any time, as long as all such feedback is made per the established guidelines.
I hope any of you who would like to share anything will take your opportunity to “sound off” in the comments below. If you liked what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly added posts and comments, please subscribe to receive the applicable updates. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
The Church News has also covered the most recent updates to the Church General Handbook. in addition to sharing thoughts about how youth and children can participate in service opportunities (which can be directed by parents and leaders of children and youth).
ReplyDeleteWith no other updates from the Newsroom, any temple construction status updates will be shared here ASAP. My thanks once again to you all.
I am pleased to be able to share that full-scale construction has begun on the Singapore Temple. This update now reduces the queue of temples for which full-scale construction is currently pending down to 9. My thanks once again to you all.
DeletePresident Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has been ministering in Hawaii, marking his first ministry trip outside of Utah since he became Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Thursday, the Church News has published one new report thus far. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News has shared three additional reports, with two additional Newsroom reports, all of which speaks for themselves.
DeleteMeanwhile, the Church Temples site has switched the Yorba Linda California and Willamette Valley Oregon Temples, and has moved the Smithfield Utah Temple from its former position between the Fort Worth Texas and Modesto California Temples to now being between the Cody Wyoming and Neiafu Tonga Temples. I am now projecting that the Smithfieled Utah Temple will be dedicated in late May to early June of next year. That is, of course, subject to change based on subsequent First Presidency announcements. My thanks once again to you all.
In my last comment above, the link to the third Church News report is not working correctly. Hopefully this fixes it. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News has also released a new video in which Elder Gérald Caussé testifies of the strength of temples in communities. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Friday, one report from the Church News speaks for itself, and the Church News has also published the latest edition of "This Week on Social", featuring content from the following general Church leaders:
DeleteActing President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Elders Quentin L. Cook, Neil L. Andersen (from whom two posts were shared), Ulisses Soares, Patrick Kearon, and Gérald Caussé of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; the Relief Society General Presidency (President Camille N. Johnsoo and Sisters J. Anette Dennis & Krstin M. Yee); Sisters Tamara W. Runia and Andrea Munoz Spannaus, the respective First and Second Counselors in the Young Women General Presidency; and Primary General President Susan H. Porter.
Additionally, the Church News posted the next 16 biographies of incoming new mission leader couples, each of whom has served separately and together with their spouses in a wide range of callings. Other than that note, I will let the biographies speak for themselves. My thanks once again to you all.
As previously reported by the Newsroom, Andy Reid will narrate "Music & the Spoken Word" on July 5, in honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Indpendence in the United States. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteConstruction status updates have been reported for the following temples: Tarawa Kiribati Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Vancouver Washington. Additionally, the newest update on the Viña del Mar Chile Temple may indicate that the Church is closer to a groundbreaking for that temple. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe First Presidency (Presidents Dallin H. Oaks, Henry B. Eyring, and D. Todd Christofferson) and Elder Gérald Caussé of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recently met with the ambassador of Thailand. This development may indicate that Elder Caussé has apostolic oversight for the Asia Area of the Church. And the Newsroomhas also shared the latest update on renovation efforts at Temple Square in Salt Lake City (including updates on the Salt Lake Temple). My thanks once again to you all.
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