2+ hour, 30+ min ago (449+ words) Brigham Young University ushered in the Christmas season Monday night on its campus with a new tradition. Approximately 10,000 people packed into Brigham Square to witness the university's first-ever Christmas tree lighting as part of the school's ongoing 150th anniversary celebration and its theme of celebrating gifts of light. Students counted down from 10, and a yellow luminescent glow then appeared from the towering tree standing between the Wilkinson Center and Harold B. Lee Library, prompting a loud roar from the crowd. "The whole point of this sesquicentennial celebration was to remind us of our unique mission as a university, but to do it in fun, celebratory ways," BYU Advancement Vice President Keith Vorkink said. "We'd done some research, and we don't think there's been a Christmas tree on campus, at least in recorded history, so we thought, what a cool way to celebrate…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (208+ words) The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a significant change to missionary requirements in a Friday news release. Effective immediately, women may begin full-time missionary service at 18 following high school graduation or an equivalent. The announcement comes just over a month after Dallin H. Oaks was called as the president and prophet of the church on Oct. 14, following the passing of President Russell M. Nelson on Sept. 27. Since 2013, women have become eligible for missionary service at 19, while men have been eligible to leave at 18. The change allows men and women to leave on missions at the same age. President Emily Belle Freeman of the Young Women's General Presidency said the change will allow young women to consider the options available to them as they reach adulthood. "We are so excited about this announcement as a Young…...

1+ week, 6+ day ago (214+ words) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Wednesday it will discontinue the Saturday evening session of its semiannual general conference. According to a news release, the decision was made by the First Presidency and will go into effect in April 2026. The church said it will increase the focus on the four daytime sessions of conference instead. A general session of conference has been held Saturday night since fall 2021. Traditionally, the Saturday evening time slot on general conference weekend was reserved for the general priesthood session, while the general women's session was held the week prior. In 2017, the church announced it would rotate between priesthood session on Saturday evening in the spring and the general women's session on Saturday evenings in the fall. Saturday evening sessions were held in April 2020 and October 2021 and have been held each conference since…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (226+ words) The reshaping of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" Presiding Bishopric was announced Friday following Elder G'rald Causs's appointment to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The church named W. Christopher Waddell the new Presiding Bishop, while L. Todd Budge was called as first counselor and Sean Douglas as second counselor. Waddell and Budge previously served as counselors under Causs' in the Presiding Bishopric. The Presiding Bishopric manages the church"s humanitarian aid, welfare programs, tithing and fast offerings, among other programs. Waddell, who was called to the Presiding Bishopric in 2015, is a Los Angeles native who received a bachelors degree from San Diego State and served as the vice president of investments at Merrill Lynch. In his role in the Presiding Bishopric, he has prioritized environmental sustainability, including conserving water in the Great Salt Lake, according to a church…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (283+ words) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" lineup for the 2025 Light the World Giving Machine kiosks includes the addition of a new Utah Valley location. According to a map of 2025 Giving Machines released Wednesday, the kiosks will be at Brigham Young University from Dec. 1 to Dec. 23. Natalie Ipson, a digital communications director for BYU, confirmed to the Daily Herald on Wednesday that the university will have Giving Machines on campus this December for the first time. Ipson said the school will receive six digital kiosks and that the machines will split time and locations between the Wilkinson Student Center and the Marriott Center. She added that the machines will be launched during BYU"s 150th: Night of Light event at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at Brigham Square. A Giving Machine will also return to its usual Utah Valley location at University Place in…...

2+ week, 6+ day ago (1041+ words) This is going to be another column where I start with: "I heard someone in church say" It happens every so often that someone speaking in church gets my attention and my mind activated. And I start thinking " about everything other than the main topic of the talk. In this case, a guy was giving a sermon about the simplicity of the gospel. Don't overcomplicate it. Master the basics. Focus on Jesus. Then he mentioned socks. Then I was lost. The "railroad lever was pulled," and my thoughts went down a "side-track." The speaker reminded us, about John Wooden, the legendary, former basketball coach at UCLA. He died June 4, 2010, at the age of 99. In his record setting career, he won 12 national titles, including seven national championships in a row (1967 " 1973). Famously, when new players, who were all cream of the crop…...

1+ mon, 5+ day ago (172+ words) Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the newest Utah Valley temple will open its doors to the public next spring. The Lindon Utah Temple public open house will run for one month, from March 11 to April 11, excluding Sundays and April 4 for general conference. The open house will be followed by a temple dedication on May 3, with a single dedicatory session broadcast to all units in the temple district, according to a church release. A media day will be held March 9, and invited guests will tour the temple March 10-11. Lindon City called the open house a "significant event in our community," and said it will coordinate closely with church representatives for planning and traffic control. President Russell M. Nelson announced the Lindon temple during the October 2020 general conference and construction began in April 2022. The three-story,…...

1+ mon, 1+ week ago (229+ words) Many readers from Northern Utah and Utah Valley responded to an invitation to share their favorite family history stories and experiences. Here is one of those stories: Looking back, I have realized that family history stories have had such a huge impact on me, and the way that I try to live my life. I [] Family History stories: The impact of learning about family Many readers from Northern Utah and Utah Valley responded to an invitation to share their favorite family history stories and experiences. Here is one of those stories: I also would like to have the fortitude of my Great, Great, Grandpa, Magnus Holm, who left his mother in Saxtorp, Malm'hus, Sweden, when he was only 13 years old, to join the saints in Utah. He made it to Logan, to live with an uncle, and helped build the…...

1+ mon, 1+ week ago (841+ words) Over a year and a half since the Provo Utah Temple shuttered its doors, the Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple being built in its place is beginning to take form. The building's foundation and framing " equipped with a spire on top " are in place, marking the return of a landmark view that was notably missing at this time last year. An Oct. 22 update from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said workers are installing windows on the south and east sides of the building, while sheathing boards are being attached to the exterior framing. Concrete is also being poured for parking lot curbing and sidewalks. Reconstruction is estimated to be completed by mid to late 2027, with an open house expected to follow several months later. Though disappointment lingers among many Provo residents who adored the old temple's quirky…...

1+ mon, 2+ week ago (513+ words) A collection of Brigham Young University devotional speeches, already translated into Spanish and Japanese, are now available in French and Portuguese. Every week, thousands of students gather on Brigham Young University's campus to be uplifted and inspired by remarkable devotional speakers. With the help of translators within BYU Speeches, thousands more across the globe can now access the spiritual reinforcement these speeches provide. Since 2023, more than 100 devotionals have been translated in Spanish and Japanese. But now, in BYU's 150th anniversary year, the speeches are now available in French and Portuguese as well, with possibly more on the way. "As we expand our translation efforts, we hope to share the unique light of BYU and bring messages of hope to people around the world," said Alayna Een, an editor with BYU Speeches. Since 1972, BYU has published its weekly devotionals for public access,…...