During the week of Sept. 3-9, Church President Russell M. Nelson celebrated his 99th birthday on Friday, Sept. 8. The Church News launched a series of videos highlighting members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Missionary Executive Council speaking about each chapter of the second edition of “Preach My Gospel.” Exterior and interior photos of the newly renovated St. George Utah Temple were released on the temple’s media day.

The First Presidency released the site location for the Lethbridge Alberta Temple and an exterior rendering of the Austin Texas Temple. Fourteen members have been called to the Young Women general advisory council. BYU–Hawaii President John S.K. Kauwe III addressed students at the opening devotional for fall semester at Brigham Young University–Hawaii.

A member of the Church was one of several representatives of various faiths who spoke at an interfaith event hosted by Pope Francis in Mongolia. Loren L. Toussaint, president of The Forgiveness Foundation, joined the latest episode of the Church News podcast to discuss the benefits of forgiveness. General information about the 2024 For the Strength of Youth conferences was sent to local Church leaders in the United States and Canada.

Read summaries and find links to these nine articles below.

1. President Nelson turns 99

President Russell M. Nelson, celebrating his 99th birthday on Sept. 9, 2023, poses with birthday cards from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his office in the Church Administration Building.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

President Nelson celebrated his 99th birthday on Friday, Sept. 8, with his family and other Church leaders in the Church Administration Building.

As president of the Church, President Nelson has traveled to 35 nations, changed Church organization, utilized technology, led the Church through a pandemic, issued historic invitations and built bridges of understanding while overseeing the continuing restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“The Lord always has and always will instruct and inspire His prophets,” he declared while addressing Church members after being set apart as President of the Church. “The Lord is at the helm! We who have been ordained to bear witness of His holy name throughout the world will continue to seek to know His will and follow it.”

2. Apostles share insights from new ‘Preach My Gospel’

The second edition of “Preach My Gospel,” an updated guide for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, is pictured at the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on Thursday, June 22, 2023.

Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Explaining that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a “sacred and covenant responsibility to share the gospel of Jesus Christ,” President Nelson announced the second edition of “Preach My Gospel” on June 22.

“Our charge is much more than just inviting people to join the Church. We want each one to become a fully truly converted disciple of Jesus Christ and to follow Him, now and forever,” he said in a a videotaped message played during the opening moments of the 2023 Seminar for New Mission Leaders.

The Church News is launching a series of videos highlighting members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Missionary Executive Council speaking about each chapter of the revised missionary handbook.

3. St. George temple renovations come to a close with open house

The renovated St. George Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in southern Utah. The pioneer-era house of the Lord is ready to open for public tours. It has been closed for extensive renovation since November 2019.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Exterior and interior photos of the newly renovated St. George Utah Temple have been released in conjunction with the opening of house of the Lord to media representatives and special guests on Wednesday, Sept. 6.

The southern Utah pioneer-era temple — the oldest and longest-operating of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — has been under renovation since November 2019.

The public open house will run nearly two months, from Friday, Sept. 15, through Saturday, Nov. 11, excluding Sundays and excluding Saturday, Sept. 30, for October 2023 general conference.

4. First Presidency releases temple site in Canada, rendering for a Texas temple

The exterior rendering for the Austin Texas Temple.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The First Presidency released the site location for the Lethbridge Alberta Temple and an exterior rendering of the Austin Texas Temple.

Both the site and the rendering were announced Tuesday, Sept. 5, on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

5. Meet the 14 new members of the Young Women general advisory council

The new Young Women general presidency — President Emily Belle Freeman, center, Sister Tamara W. Runia, first counselor, left, and Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counselor — will begin their service on Aug. 1, 2023.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Fourteen members have been called to the Young Women general advisory council. They will work with the Young Women general presidency to help meet the needs of young women around the world.

6. Know Jesus Christ and live by Honor Code, BYU–Hawaii president and wife tell students

BYU–Hawaii President John S.K. Kauwe III, right, sits next to his wife, Sister Monica Kauwe, during the opening devotional for fall semester at Brigham Young University–Hawaii on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

Brigham Young University–Hawaii

Getting to know Jesus Christ and being prepared for opportunities were two major themes of the opening devotional for fall semester at Brigham Young University–Hawaii on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

BYU–Hawaii President John S.K. Kauwe III also reviewed the school’s Honor Code and the “sacred privilege” students have of upholding it.

“As a student in the Church Educational System or employee, you have a special ‘kuleana,’” President Kauwe said. “That word refers to stewardship and the fact that you have both privileges and responsibilities as a student here.”

7. Latter-day Saint testifies of Jesus Christ at interfaith event in Mongolia hosted by Pope Francis

Pope Francis invited representatives of other faiths to an ecumenical gathering in the Hun Theater in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. Tuvshinjargal “Tuvshin” Gombo, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, third from right (in yellow), spoke at the event.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was one of several representatives of various faiths who spoke at an interfaith event hosted by Pope Francis at the Hun Theater in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Sunday, Sept. 3.

Those at the event included other Christians and representatives of the Mongolian Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim and Shinto traditions, ChurchofJesusChrist.org reported. Each faith representative described their beliefs, their relationship with heaven and how each faith brings peace and harmony.

8. Episode 152: Forgiveness expert Loren L. Toussaint on the health benefits of forgiving

Loren L. Toussaint, a professor of psychology at Luther College, joined the Church News podcast to talk about the health benefits and blessings of forgiveness.

Luther College

Loren L. Toussaint is a professor of psychology at Luther College, the chair of the Discover Forgiveness Advisory Council for the Templeton World Charity Foundation and president of The Forgiveness Foundation. He joins this episode of the Church News podcast to discuss the benefits of forgiveness.

9. What Latter-day Saint parents and youth should know about FSY conferences in 2024

Latter-day Saint youth attend a For the Strength of Youth conference on the San Diego State University campus on July 6, 2022.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

After another successful year, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hold more For the Strength of Youth conferences in 2024.

General information — including stake assignments, registration, frequently asked questions and other instructions — was sent in a letter dated Sept. 7 to local Church leaders in the United States and Canada.

“We encourage every eligible youth to participate and hope that parents and leaders will give high priority to preparing youth through stake FSY activities held before and after the conference,” the letter said. “We know this experience has the potential to bless the youth, their families and their classes and quorums.”