Church News

Gerry Avant, the former editor of the Church News, joins the Church News Podcast to talk about the 90-year history of the publication and recount her nearly 48 years reporting for this unique living record of the Restoration. Avant, who continues to write a Church News column, has spent decades recording the words and travels of the last seven presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, documenting Church growth, temple construction, important announcements and significant events. From following every Tabernacle Choir tour from 1991 to 2015, to witnessing the Church's first stake created in Brazil and the first two temple dedications in Africa, to snapping the now-iconic photo of President Gordon B. Hinckley and Sister Marjorie P. Hinckley’s historic visit to China, Avant looks back at her career covering the growth of the Church and shares her testimony strengthened through her unique experiences.  The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Host Sarah Jane Weaver, reporter and editor for The Church News for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience.  Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

In the year 2021, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints study the Doctrine and Covenants, it is important to remember that the book is a compilation of revelations given to early prophets in answer to prayer as they worked to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ. Understanding the people and historical context of the book is key to unlocking the vital spiritual lessons found in its pages. Guest Matthew J. Grow, managing director of the Church History Department, discusses how learning Church history and exploring resources like The Joseph Smith Papers, the “Saints” book series and “Come, Follow Me” can help members connect more to the historic and spiritual record — and discover that these early Saints are more like us than we may have thought before.   The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Host Sarah Jane Weaver, reporter and editor for The Church News for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

People worldwide celebrate shared connections every day. They connect with family and friends, their past, their heritage and their homelands. This year, the organizers of RootsTech — the world’s largest family history event — will help them to connect to others from home. Made possible by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,  RootsTech will be held Feb. 25-27 and is a free, virtual family history celebration. For the first time in RootsTech’s history, classes will be offered in multiple languages, and presenters will teach from international locations. This podcast features Elder Kevin S. Hamilton, a General Authority Seventy and Executive Director of the Family History Department, and Steve Rockwood, CEO of FamilySearch International, talking about family history and RootsTech Connect. Register for free at rootstech.org or on the Family Search App. The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Host Sarah Jane Weaver, reporter and editor for The Church News for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. 

The conditions of the pandemic are impacting people in significant ways across the world. While Latter-day Saint children have been away from Primary classes for almost a year, they are continuing to flourish in the gospel at home as they follow the Savior’s example of love and service. Leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have invited children, parents and leaders to join a special virtual Face to Face event on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, appropriately being called a Friend to Friend broadcast. The event will include music, activities, and messages from President Russell M. Nelson, Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and members of the Primary general presidency.   In this podcast host Sarah Jane Weaver is joined by Sister Lisa L. Harkness and Sister Cristina B. Franco, counselors in the Primary general presidency, to discuss the historic event and the challenges and opportunities children face as they are “Trying to Be like Jesus” in these complicated times.  The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Host Sarah Jane Weaver, reporter and editor for The Church News for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. 

This episode of the Church News podcast features anxiety — a problem that impacts all of us at certain times in our life, but that we often do not discuss with others. Anxiety is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences. Each of us feel different levels of anxiety. But when those feelings become ever constant, they can interfere with our lives or the lives of those we love. A Church resource can help individuals and families dealing with anxiety. It's called Life Help. Life Help is available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org and in the Gospel Library app.  Host Sarah Jane Weaver, Church News editor, is joined by Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis, a General Authority Seventy who oversees Life Help, Sister Carol Costley of the Young Women general advisory council, who is also a social worker with a background in mental health, and G. Sheldon Martin, the manager of special topics in the Priesthood and Family Department and a licensed mental health counselor who specializes in issues impacting members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Host Sarah Jane Weaver, reporter and editor for The Church News for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience.

In the year 2020, when many projects were put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints broke ground for 21 new temples in a powerful display of looking forward during a time of uncertainty. Today, R. Scott Taylor, managing editor of the Church News, joins the Church News Podcast to discuss how the Church handled temples during the global pandemic — first closures and then the phased reopening of temples — and the resulting greater appreciation for the blessings temples bring into the lives of members, families and communities worldwide. The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Host Sarah Jane Weaver, reporter and editor for The Church News for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience.

The “Come, Follow Me” gospel study curriculum, announced by the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2018, has enabled a greater home-centered, Church-supported approach to gospel living, learning and teaching. When the global coronavirus pandemic shut down a majority of in-person worship in March 2020, “Come, Follow Me” allowed for the continued blessings that come through study of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. This year, the “Come, Follow Me” resource focuses on the Doctrine and Covenants, a book of history, scripture, invitations and answers. This episode of the Church News Podcast features the Sunday School general presidency: President Mark  L. Pace and his counselors, Brother Milton Camargo and Brother Jan E. Newman. They offer insights about gospel study, the Doctrine and Covenants and “Come, Follow Me,” and share their testimonies of the power of the scriptures. The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Host Sarah Jane Weaver, reporter and editor for The Church News for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience.

BYU-Pathway Worldwide provides an accessible path to a spiritually-based degree at an affordable price without requiring students to step foot on a university campus. A prophetic effort 50 years in the making, the program is delivering online learning models that have benefited institutions across the world and assisted members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in tackling learning amid the coronavirus pandemic. BYU-Pathway Worldwide President Clark Gilbert joins the podcast to share his experiences in helping to develop the program as a deeply committed teacher, leader and innovator. He also discusses the evolution of education and communication technologies that allowed for Pathway to bless the lives of students of all ages around the world. The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Host Sarah Jane Weaver, reporter and editor for The Church News for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience.

In January 2020, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrates the third anniversary of President Russell M. Nelson serving as the leader of the Church. In this Church News Podcast, we celebrate this milestone as guest host Sheri Dew interviews President Nelson’s wife, Sister Wendy W. Nelson. They explore the life and ministry of the Prophet over the past three years.  The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Host Sarah Jane Weaver, reporter and editor for The Church News for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience.

In 2020 President Russell M. Nelson, leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, issued many important invitations to Church members and to the world. As this year comes to a close, Host Sarah Jane Weaver is joined by Deseret News Opinion Editor Boyd Matheson to discuss these historic invitations in the historic year of 2020. At the heart of each invitation in this turbulent year is President Nelson’s ultimate hope that all of God’s children will focus on the Savior Jesus Christ and draw closer to Him. The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Host Sarah Jane Weaver, reporter and editor for The Church News for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience.