11. Church Update on Pacific Earthquake and Tsunami Crisis - News Release

SALT LAKE CITY 2 October 2009 Following the devastating earthquake and resulting tsunami in the central Pacific, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is determining a response from Church headquarters in Salt Lake City while local relief efforts are underway.  According to news reports, over 150 people have died in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga. Church reports indicate that 26 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have died. Twenty-two were in Samoa and four were in American Samoa.Full Story

12. Thousands to Attend 179th Semiannual General Conference - News Release

SALT LAKE CITY 2 October 2009 More than 100,000 Church members, friends and invited guests are expected to attend the 179th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with millions more watching or listening to conference proceedings via television, radio, satellite and Internet broadcasts. Five sessions of the conference will be held Saturday and Sunday, 3–4 October 2009, in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.Full Story

13. First-Time Conference Attendees Speak of Experience - News Release

SALT LAKE CITY 2 October 2009 Regardless of what country they live in, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who journey to Salt Lake City for the semiannual general conference meetings share similar reactions.Full Story

14. Church Report on South Pacific Earthquake, Tsunami - News Release

SALT LAKE CITY 30 September 2009 The Church is assessing the situation in Samoa and the surrounding area following the earthquake and tsunami there. Efforts are underway to determine the Church’s humanitarian response including coordination with government and disaster relief organizations.Full Story

15. Church Responds to Flooding in the Philippines - News Release

SALT LAKE CITY 28 September 2009 Tropical storm Ketsana struck the Philippines on Saturday, 26 September 2009, triggering the heaviest rainfall in 40 years and causing significant flooding. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is providing food, water, clothing, hygiene items and other relief supplies, which are being purchased locally and distributed to those in the affected region.Full Story

16. New Harrisville Welfare Services Center Dedicated - News Release

HARRISVILLE, Utah 25 September 2009 Bishop Richard C. Edgley, First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has dedicated a new welfare services center in Harrisville, Utah. The 54,817 square-foot facility will house multiple Church welfare services, including the Deseret Industries and LDS Family Services, as well as Church Distribution Services and a humanitarian service room, which will open in October.Full Story

17. Joseph Smith Papers Second Book Released - News Release

SALT LAKE CITY 22 September 2009 Coinciding with the anniversary of Joseph Smith receiving the ancient plates that he would later translate as the Book of Mormon, the second volume of The Joseph Smith Papers was released today. Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was presented one of the first copies by Elder Marlin K. Jensen, Church Historian and Recorder, in a special ceremony in the Church History Library attended by members of the media.Full Story

18. Church President Speaks of Opportunities and Difficulties for Students - News Release

PROVO, Utah 17 September 2009 Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke to thousands of Brigham Young University students at the Marriott Center on Tuesday. The 16th president of the Church said he looked forward to the assignment of speaking to the student body, telling them, “What a glorious sight you are.”Full Story

19. Church Edition of Spanish Bible Now Published - News Release

SALT LAKE CITY 14 September 2009 (comunicado de prensa en español) The Latter-day Saint edition of the Holy Bible in Spanish, a project that has spanned several years, is now available, and a print run of 800,000 copies has already been completed. It is one of the most significant scripture projects ever undertaken by the Church. The volume contains new chapter headings, footnotes and cross-references to all scriptures used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Full Story

20. Institutes of Religion Provide Young Mormons With Doctrinal Foundation - News Release

SALT LAKE CITY 4 September 2009 With the beginning of a new school year, hundreds of thousands of college-age Mormon students are enrolling in classes on religion in addition to their regular studies or employment. In addition to encouraging Mormons to acquire secular knowledge, the Church has established extensive programs to help young students gain religious knowledge. Accordingly, the Church provides numerous opportunities for postsecondary students to receive religious instruction through its institute of religion programs.Full Story

1. Sign Up for Breaking News Text Message Alerts

You can now receive breaking news text alerts on your mobile phone from Newsroom.lds.org. To sign up, text the word ldsnews to 29222 (United States and Puerto Rico). If you’re outside the United States, text the word ldsnews to 447624805710.Full Story

2. Statement Given to Salt Lake City Council on Nondiscrimination Ordinances

Full Story

3. Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple Site Announced

SALT LAKE CITY 19 November 2009 The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the site for the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple. The specific location is 1739 Vine Street in downtown Philadelphia.Full Story

4. Church Supports Nondiscrimination Ordinances

SALT LAKE CITY 10 November 2009 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has declared its support of nondiscrimination regulations that would extend protection in matters of housing and employment in Salt Lake City to those with same-sex attraction. The Church said the Salt Lake City Council’s new nondiscrimination ordinance “is fair and reasonable” and balances fair housing and employment rights with the religious rights of the community.

The remarks, representing the position of the Church’s leadership, were read by Michael Otterson, managing director of Church Public Affairs, as part of a public comment period discussing the ordinances at a Salt Lake City Council meeting tonight. (Read full remarks).

5. Reaching Out Around the World

SALT LAKE CITY 4 November 2009 Latter-day Saints believe that giving service to others is a lifestyle based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, who “went about doing good.”  The desire to serve others crosses cultural boundaries and has been manifested in recent months with stories featured on International Church Web sites.  From Brazil and El Salvador to Samoa and Guatemala, members of the Church are reaching out around the world to help those in need.  Below are some examples.Full Story

6. What You Will Find When You Step Inside a Mormon Chapel

SALT LAKE CITY 26 October 2009 Most first-time visitors to a Mormon church building comment on the number of rooms. Many expect to find one large interior space, such as in many other Christian denominations’ buildings of worship.Full Story

7. Natalie Cole and David McCullough to Perform in Annual Christmas Concert The Wondrous Gift of Christmas

SALT LAKE CITY 15 October 2009 Singer, songwriter and performer Natalie Cole and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough will join the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square for their annual Christmas concerts, titled The Wondrous Gift of Christmas. Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy will conduct the concerts.Full Story

8. Apostle Says Religious Freedom Is Being Threatened

SALT LAKE CITY 13 October 2009 An apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said religious freedom is being threatened by societal forces intimidating those with religious points of view from having a voice in the public square.Full Story

9. From Salt Lake to Samoa, Church Extends Humanitarian Help

SALT LAKE CITY 6 October 2009 A chartered cargo plane loaded with relief supplies is on its way to Samoa to aid victims of last week’s tsunami. “Dozens of villages were completely destroyed, resulting in hundreds of families losing everything," said Elder James J. Hamula of the Church’s First Quorum of the Seventy. Elder Hamula, the first counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency, said this shipment is expected to care for 2,000 people for 3-4 weeks.Full Story

10. Five New Temples Announced

SALT LAKE CITY 3 October 2009 Plans to build five new temples were announced today by President Thomas S. Monson, worldwide leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, during the Church’s 179th Semiannual General Conference in Salt Lake City. With 130 temples currently operating and with another 16 in some phase of planning or construction, these five temples bring the worldwide total to 151.Full Story

1. Farming for the Needy

SALT LAKE CITY 8 July 2009 The Church’s farms, factories and canneries exist to benefit those in need, but the acres of alfalfa on one Utah farm benefit some who don’t consume the commodity.Full Story

2. Mormon Youth Celebrate Temple Openings

SALT LAKE CITY 3 June 2009 Over the weekend, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held two youth Temple celebrations at the Conference Center in honor of the Draper Utah Temple, dedicated in March, and the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple, to be dedicated 21–23 August 2009. The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News covered the events.Full Story

3. Mormon Tabernacle Choir Helps Catholic Cathedral Celebrate 100 Years

SALT LAKE CITY 21 April 2009 The Cathedral of the Madeleine is celebrating 100 years in Salt Lake City. The renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square opened the Madeleine Festival with two concerts, 18 and 19 April. The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News covered the event.Full Story

4. Sacred Ceremonies: Latter-day Saint Temple Worship Must Be Experienced to Be Understood

SALT LAKE CITY 20 March 2009 An article from today’s Salt Lake Tribune discusses what temple worship means to individual Latter-day Saints.  Full Story

5. Relief Society United Worldwide in Faith and Service to Others

GIG HARBOR, Washington 13 March 2009 Sister Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, recounts her experiences of being a young girl in Brazil, where her father was a mission president and her mother was called to organize Relief Societies in the mission.Full Story

6. Salt Lake City’s Come a Long Way

HOUSTON 6 March 2009 Recently, the travel editor from the Houston Chronicle came to Salt Lake City for a ski trip and found herself intrigued by “this sparkling city in the valley.” Full Story

7. Video Biography of Church President Thomas S. Monson Available Online

SALT LAKE CITY 27 February 2009 President Thomas S. Monson said, “I always want the Lord to know that if He needs an errand run, Tom Monson will run that errand for Him.” On the Lord’s Errand: The Life of President Thomas S. Monson is now available online. The video provides a biographical overview of President Thomas S. Monson's life and service in the Church. It also includes interviews with President Monson, family members, colleagues and friends. Full Story

8. Spreading Kindness

BANGKOK, Thailand 26 February 2009 A recent story in the Bangkok Post reports that 27 years ago Her Majesty Queen Sirikit visited Welfare Square, which is owned by the Church. "The more I learn of the Mormon Church, the more I am impressed with its ideals," she said.Full Story

9. On a Mission

PITTSBURG 14 January 2009 The Morning Sun recently talked with two young men about their experiences serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Full Story

10. Local Churches Assist With Flood Relief Efforts in Washington

KITTITAS COUNTY, Washington 13 January 2009 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with other churches, organizations and volunteers, is cleaning up as floodwaters subside in Kittitas County.Full Story