Week in review: President Nelson health update plus 8 more stories

During the week of Sept. 24-30, the Church announced that both Church President Russell M. Nelson and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles would participate remotely in the October general conference due to health challenges. The Church News compiled a list of all 133 temples that President Nelson has announced since becoming President of the Church in January 2018. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles participated in the eighth annual Silicon Slopes Summit in Salt Lake City.

Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman ministered to Church members in Hawaii. Brother John G. Bytheway, member of the Young Men General Advisory Council, wrote an article for Church News detailing three attitudes to help youth understand principles in the For the Strength of Youth guide. The latest episode of the Church News podcast featured C. Shane Reese, new president of Brigham Young University.

Kahului Hawaii West Stake President Benjamin Hanks addressed students during a devotional at BYU–Hawaii. The Church announced plans to publish a new collection of hymns in 50 languages by 2030. In the latest Church News video, titled “Disciple of Christ,” Bronco Mendenhall, former BYU and University of Virginia football coach, and his wife, Holly Mendenhall, discussed the importance of conversations in the mentoring of young people. 

Read summaries and find links to these nine articles below.

1. President Nelson and Elder Holland health updates

After a recent fall that injured the muscles in his lower back, President Nelson, 99, participated remotely in 193rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this weekend.

In a message to Latter-day Saints posted on his social media, President Nelson said his “healing is progressing.”

Elder Holland also watched remotely in this weekend’s conference as he continues to recuperate from recent health challenges. 

2. What’s the current status for the 133 temples announced by President Nelson?

Since becoming President of the Church in January 2018, President Nelson has announced locations for 133 temples, beginning with seven identified during the April 2018 general conference and on through the 15 locations announced in the concluding session of April 2023 general conference. 

The Church News compiled a list of all 133 temples and each’s status as of the end of September 2023 — from dedicated and operational to scheduled for dedication, from under construction to scheduled for groundbreaking, and from those with site locations announced to those still in planning and design. Also noted were temples that have been renamed from the original city locations as announced.

3. Elder Bednar talks tech at Silicon Slopes Summit

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles participated Thursday, Sept. 28, in the Silicon Slopes Summit in Salt Lake City, which features technology and business leaders sharing the latest innovations in areas like artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and more.

Qualtrics cofounder and Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith sat down with Elder Bednar on a stage in the Delta Center for a question-and-answer session that touched on topics from technology’s role in the Church to how the Church uses its finances.

4. Relief Society and Young Women general presidents offer love and support in Maui ministry

President Johnson and President Freeman ministered to Church members in Hawaii, conducting training meetings for leaders, visiting with members, and holding devotionals for youth and women in both the Kahului West and Kahului stakes.

When President Johnson stood to speak to the women gathered in the Kahului Hawaii West Stake Center and those watching remotely on Sunday, Sept. 24, she told them how much she loves them and how much Heavenly Father and the Savior love them.

“They are aware of your needs, both temporal and spiritual, and you will not be left comfortless,” President Johnson said.

5. Brother John G. Bytheway: 3 attitudes to help youth understand principles in the FSY guide

Brother Bytheway wrote an article for Church News detailing three attitudes to help youth understand principles in the For the Strength of Youth guide.

In his article, he said, “Nowhere is our attitude more important than in our response to the words of the scriptures, words of the living prophets, and inspired counsel from Church leaders. Our attitude regarding the FSY guide can be life-changing and can affect whether we will soar to new heights or sink to a lower level.”

6. Getting to know President C. Shane Reese, the new president of Brigham Young University

On Tuesday, Sept. 19, C. Shane Reese was inaugurated as the new president of Brigham Young University, becoming the 14th president of the Church’s flagship university. President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, and Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles officially installed President Reese, who Elder Holland announced in March would lead the university. 

“The Lord has prepared him in profound ways,” said Elder Holland. “He has the confidence and trust of the Church Board of Education to lead BYU at this critical time.”

This episode of the Church News podcast features President Reese sharing his experiences, testimony and vision for BYU.

7. Maui stake president shares miracles and lessons learned from Lahaina fires

Wind-whipped wildfires grew out of control on Aug. 8 in the community of Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui, destroying the homes of 80 members of the Kahului Hawaii West Stake and killing nearly 100 people, including five members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In speaking during the weekly devotional at BYU–Hawaii on Tuesday, Sept. 26, Kahului Hawaii West Stake President Benjamin Hanks expressed love and gratitude for the support, faith, prayers, time and resources offered to members of his stake following the disaster.

“Each of the islands has poured out aloha in its truest form on us,” President Hanks told students and faculty gathered in the Cannon Activities Center on the Laie, Hawaii, campus, on Sept. 26.

8. New hymnbook seeks to unify members, bring Spirit into homes

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hopes to publish a new collection of hymns in 50 languages by 2030.

The new collection will contain up to 500 hymns and children’s songs in one printed hymnal. The same songs will eventually be available in 50 languages in the same order with the same hymn numbers. 

The project has involved members from all over the world in many different roles. Some contributed to the lyrics and music of more than 17,000 new songs submitted to the Church for consideration to be included in the new hymnbook. Some have participated in evaluating the content of current hymns, submissions and music from other faiths. 

9. How Bronco Mendenhall would help his football players find answers to questions

Bronco Mendenhall, former BYU and University of Virginia football coach, always had a bookshelf in his office. When football players came to ask him for advice or direction, he would share a book. 

“I would ask them, ‘How sincerely do you want the answer?’” he said. 

In this Church News video, titled “Disciple of Christ,” Mendenhall and his wife, Holly Mendenhall, talk about the importance of conversations in the mentoring of young people.