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Thursday, June 30, 2016

2016 Mormon Tabernacle Choir Tour kicks off in Berlin

As the title of this post states, the 2016 Tabernacle Choir tour has kicked off in Berlin, a city known for its cold war history. Please see this link for all the details. Thanks.

Preliminary Report on the Seminar for New Mission Presidents

I am posting today with a preliminary report on the seminar for new mission presidents, at which all the apostles (in the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) and other general authorities spoke.

Church President Thomas S. Monson appeared at the Seminar via a prerecorded message. He instructed new mission presidents on their duties, citing his own experience as a mission president and outlining some of the sacrifices made and blessings received as mission presidents and their wives serve. For the full text of his address opening the seminar, please see this article.

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to the mission presidents on the subject of having faith to baptize converts. For a summary of his address, please see this article.

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, spoke to the new presidents about the importance of leading their missionaries and those taught by them to the Savior. To read a summary of his address, please see this article.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles urged new mission presidents not to be fearful of new technology. To read what he said on the subject, please see this article.

President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke on the miraculous miracle that the Book of Mormon is. In his addressed, he urged new mission presidents to encourage prayerful study of the book by their missionaries and those they teach. For a summary of his remarks, please see this article.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, reminded mission presidents that they are engaged in the Lord's work, and, in so doing, as President Monson has repeatedly reminded us, they are entitled to the Lord's help. For a report of President Uchtdorf's remarks, please see this article.

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reminded new mission presidents that the Lord is in the details of furthering the work of His kingdom, and that we are instruments in His hands in helping the work to progress. For a summary of his remarks, please see this article.

In his remarks at the Seminar, Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke on the subject of how the Lord is preparing people to receive the gospel and said that the mission presidents play an invaluable role in training missionaries on this important topic. For an account of his remarks, please see this article.

That's all this report will focus on. I will share more talk summaries as they become available. Thanks for your readership.

Historian Managing Joseph Smith Papers Project gives lecture on Zion's Camp

The historian managing the Joseph Smith Papers project gave a lecture on June 23 on the important role of Zion's camp. For an account of that lecture, please see this article. Thanks.

Update on flooding in West Virginia

The Church News reported an update on the flooding that has occurred in West Virginia. Over 1000 homes have been destroyed and 23 lives have been lost as a direct result of that flooding. To read more about this tragic upheaval of nature, please see this article. Thanks.

10 Church Members Lose Homes to Wildfires

Among the loses reported from a fire at Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada, 10 Church members have lost their homes. Please see this article for details. Thanks.