Church News Not Previously Reported

Hello again, everyone! In doing my last check of the Church websites I follow today, I noted a couple of Church News articles that I had read and by which I had been touched, but I had forgotten to focus on them in a blog post. This report has to do with general Church leaders that have shared important information with diverse groups.

First, Sister Neill F. Marriott (who, as the Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency is also the oldest currently-serving female auxiliary leader and the second oldest auxiliary leader overall (at 69 she is just younger than Sunday School General President Tad R. Callister, who is currently 71)) wrote a Church News article that was published yesterday on the subject of how all of us, regardless of age, can strike up conversations about the gospel with our peers (or coworkers). You can find what she wrote on the subject here.

Also, Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who was an attorney by profession (and who, as previously mentioned, will mark his 77th birthday exactly two weeks from today) spoke to members of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, community leaders and guests, on August 12 (which coincided with the 85th birthday of his apostolic colleague, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, who himself is a former attorney). Elder Cook covered the topics of faith, family, and religious freedom. To read a great summary of what he said in this setting, click here.

That does it for this blog post. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Comments continue to be welcome and appreciated. Until my next post, I wish you all the best.

Additional Church News

Hello, all! I found some additional news on Mormon Newsroom that I couldn't wait to share. The Church has published this commentary about how faith contributes to life-long learning. I can attest to that. My membership in the Church and devotion to the gospel has helped me learn many things I did not know, and has contributed to my desire to share the good news from the Church with each of you, my readers. The Church also issued this report about how Saints and friends of other faiths in Texas are bracing for the impact of Hurricane Harvey. I hope each of us will keep the Saints of Texas in our prayers, and also that those of us who can will volunteer in Church-related efforts that will provide relief in the aftermath of it. Efforts in that regard have already begun, with the Church getting ready to send any aid that might be needed. Let us get involved in such efforts and pray with all our faith that members and nonmembers alike in this area will be able to weather and triumph over this anticipated disaster. Any comments are welcome and appreciated. In the meantime, thank you for the privilege of your time, and may the Lord bless you all!

700th Blog Post: Dates for 2018 Church Events Announced

It snuck up on me, but this is my 700th blog post. I could not think of a better subject for this milestone than this: In keeping with the annual custom, Church leaders today announced the dates of important events and church-wide broadcasts for 2018. Here is an overview of that schedule:

In January, a Worldwide Devotional will be held for Young Adults on the 14th, while CES personnel will get to enjoy the Annual Evening with a General Authority on the 26th. On Saturday February 3 (when, if President Monson is still living at that time, will mark his 10th anniversary as Church President) President and Sister Nelson will be the featured speakers at a Face-to-Face Event for Youth (by which time President Nelson will have marked his 93rd birthday).

March will get a little busier, with the 3rd marking RootsTech Family Discovery Day (which typically features a keynote address by an apostle), and on the 23rd (my sweetheart Amy's birthday), the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will present Handel's Messiah. The next night will mark the General Women's Session of General Conference, with the other 5 sessions following on Saturday March 31 and Sunday April 8.

The events get more spread out over the next months, with Sunday May 6 marking another Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults, the annual Mormon Tabernacle Choir Pioneer Day Concert on Saturday July 21, and the final Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults on Sunday September 9 (which will coincide with President Nelson's 94th birthday, if he is still alive at that time).

The October General Conference will be next, with the Women's Session on Saturday September 29, and the other sessions following on Saturday and Sunday October 6 & 7. At some point in October, a Face-to-Face event for Youth will be held, with the date and speaker to be announced at a later date. Rounding out Church events in 2018 will be the First Presidency's Annual Christmas Devotional on Sunday December 2.

Sounds like the Church will be busy in 2018, and that is before considering any potential temple-related developments during the year. I am excited to have been able to learn and now post about these developments.

That does it for now. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Comments are welcome and appreciated. Until my next post, I wish you all the best.