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Mary Richards

Mary Richards is a reporter for the Church News. Before that, she was a morning reporter/anchor for KSL NewsRadio in Salt Lake City. She graduated from BYU with a degree in journalism, and she and her husband have five children. Email her at mrichards@deseretnews.com.

BYU President C. Shane Reese places sports balls into containers for a Cougs Care tailgate project in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Members
‘Go forth to serve’ showcased at BYU football service opportunities all season
For BYU’s inaugural Big 12 season, each away football game had a service project in conjunction with the BYU Alumni Association.
Members of the Barcelos Ward wave to the camera during a service project.
Global
Recent humanitarian efforts from Latter-day Saints in Europe
Members of the Church responded after flooding, donated blood, cleaned homes, sorted supplies, sewed quilts and more in several European countries.
A list of 50 ways to shine light throughout December 2023.
Living Faith
50 ideas to share light for #LightTheWorld 2023
The initiative also includes playing a part in a modern Nativity as part of the theme, “Let your light shine.”
President Camille N. Johnson and President Susan H. Porter walk with shade umbrellas as they visit Rise and Rebuild Foundation in the Philippines.
Leaders & Ministry
Relief Society and Primary general presidents share the light of the Savior in Philippines ministry
President Camille N. Johnson and President Susan H. Porter saw child nutrition efforts, taught members and met with civic leaders during the 10-day visit.
Shepherds and others hold a candle as they look in to see the baby Jesus in this scene from “The Christ Child.”
Living Faith
2023 Light the World Christmas initiative invites all to ‘Let Your Light Shine’
New features this year include an online “service shuffler” to get service ideas and videos featuring beneficiaries of Giving Machines.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson greets Sheikh Chérif Ousmane Madani Haïdara, president of the High Islamic Council in Mali.
Global
Church of Jesus Christ forges relationship with Islamic community in West Africa
A Mali Muslim leader’s visit to Church sites in Utah is an example of strengthened interfaith relationships in the Africa West Area.
President Emily Belle Freeman smiles as she hugs young women in Lagos, Nigeria.
Leaders & Ministry
President Freeman and Sister Dennis testify of Jesus Christ through West Africa ministry
The Young Women general president and Relief Society general presidency first counselor taught and ministered in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Ghana.
JustServe volunteers and members of the Church clean up the beach in Humacao, Puerto Rico.
Members
JustServe efforts spread across Puerto Rico, with 31 projects, hundreds of volunteers over just 1 day
The Caribbean island saw a large response to International Day of Service through JustServe.
President Camille N. Johnson and President Susan H. Porter remove the red covering from a Giving Machine in Cebu, Philippines.
Living Faith
See locations, dates for Giving Machines in 2023
Giving Machines are in 61 locations this year in 7 countries. Find the operating dates, locations and ways to follow on social media.
An associate in the job-training program works in a Deseret Industries store.
Global
By the numbers: Church programs for education, employment
The Church of Jesus Christ emphasizes self-reliance and helping members feel empowered to meet their temporal, spiritual and emotional needs.
Elder Thierry K. Mutombo takes a fruit tree seedling to plant in Kenya.
Global
Trees, water, equipment and other humanitarian aid throughout Africa
“Our prayers have been answered,” said a school headmaster after a donation from the Church of Jesus Christ in Ghana.
Dave Forsyth and Royella Smith are two job-seekers who found new employment after using Employment Services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Living Faith
Employment Services leads to new opportunities for two job-seekers with different experiences
Two people shared stories of finding new employment, including “a dream job.”
President Dallin H. Oaks, center, and President Henry B. Eyring, left, sit at a table with Ibrahima Touré, Ivory Coast ambassador to the United States, at Church headquarters.
Global
Ivory Coast ambassador meets with First Presidency members in Salt Lake City
The visit also included a tour of Welfare Square and the Humanitarian Center.
Elder Dale G. Renlund and Sister Ruth Renlund stand outside the Belém Brazil Temple.
Leaders & Ministry
Today is Elder Renlund’s 71st birthday. Here are 9 of his quotes from the past year
Born Nov. 13, 1952, Elder Renlund has served as an Apostle since 2015.
A drawing of a man by a window in a video from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about emotional resilience.
Members
Developing emotional resilience can make it easier to perceive the Lord’s guidance
Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé offers encouragement and resources in a new “Hear Him” video from the Church.
Kahului Hawaii West Stake President Benjamin J. Hanks, hugs Unaloto Taukeiaho after the fires in Lahaina on Maui.
Living Faith
Mary Richards: Capacity, potential and revelation
Each child of God has the capacity and potential to “grow into the principle of revelation” and receive heavenly help.
A couple donates seeds, polio vaccines, ducks and diapers at the 2022 Salt Lake City Giving Machine.
Living Faith
Light the World Giving Machines opening in 61 locations in 2023
Giving-focused vending machines to be in 61 locations across the U.S. and around the world, with options to donate online.
Four-year-old Priscilla washes her hands in water collected from a spring in Gicumbi District, Rwanda.
Global
Having water ‘is like a dream’ in Rwanda
The Church of Jesus Christ and Water for People are working on completing water systems in Gicumbi District, Rwanda.
Two young men make wigs at a table as part of a JustServe Magic Yarn Project at the Saratoga California Stake Center.
Members
JustServe volunteers help Magic Yarn Project make wigs for children with cancer
A young man who received a wig in his own cancer journey joins in project to help in California’s Bay Area.
Women and children at a malnutrition screening session in the village of Ngolo, in the Northern region of Burkina Faso.
Global
The Church’s global effort to nourish children and mothers
The Relief Society is involved in a global effort to improve the health and development of children under five and their mothers.
President Camille N. Johnson, Sister Tracy Y. Browning, Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-TN, take a picture in Nashville, Tennessee.
Leaders & Ministry
President Johnson, Sister Browning and Sister Spannaus minister in Tennessee
The Relief Society, Primary and Young Women general leaders meet with a U.S. senator, held interfaith meetings and conducted training in Nashville.
Elder Gary B. Sabin, a General Authority Seventy, speaks from the pulpit in the Marriott Center.
Living Faith
Understand the plan with an eternal perspective, teaches Elder Sabin
In a devotional at Brigham Young University, Elder Gary B. Sabin spoke of graduating with honor from mortal life.
A map shows an area of Israel and Gaza in the Middle East.
Global
Church providing humanitarian aid in Middle East during conflict
A statement says the Church is devoting significant financial resources for critical needs.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Sister Harriet Uchtdorf share a laugh at the Mesa Arizona Temple.
Leaders & Ministry
Today is Elder Uchtdorf’s 83rd birthday. Here are 9 of his quotes from the past year
Born Nov. 6, 1940, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf has been an Apostle since 2004.
Performers reach out their arms to the audience at the conclusion of the 2023 “Luz de las Naciones” in the Conference Center.
Living Faith
See photos from Luz de las Naciones: ‘Nuestra Tierra’ (‘Our Land’)
This year’s celebration at the Conference Center included songs, dances from multiple countries.
Kristen Gardner is from Richmond, Virginia. She shares how she got help from a Family Services counselor.
Members
How Family Services counseling helped this single mother
“I’m so excited to start a life as a bigger, happier family.” said Kristen Gardner.
A dancer wearing white and green prepares for a number from Brazil during the dress rehearsal for the 2023 Luz de las Naciones.
Living Faith
‘Luz de las Naciones’ celebrates ‘Our Land’ with songs, dances from multiple countries
Brazil and Spain included with Latin American countries in this year’s celebration at the Conference Center.
Hands hold pictures of ancestors in a Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos letter.
Global
Day of the Dead is a time to remember ancestors
Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and the Church’s Mexico Area presidency invited others to reflect on lessons from their ancestors and do family history work.
JustServe specialist and volunteer Francisca Salgado speaks at the official launch of JustServe in Santiago, Chile.
Global
JustServe officially launches in Chile
An event in Santiago let organizations and volunteers know how to get started using JustServe in Chile — the 14th country to have the free community service platform.
The Church’s Africa West Area presidency meets with Muslim leaders at the Nigerian National Mosque in Abuja, Nigeria, Oct. 26, 2023.
Global
Nigerian stake president named peace ambassador; Church leaders visit Nigerian National Mosque
The Africa West Area presidency visited the Nigerian National Mosque and a Nigerian stake president was named an Eminent Ambassador of Peace.