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In the Almanac
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Scott Taylor

On the Deseret News staff since September 1984, Scott Taylor has been managing editor, opinion editor, sports editor, Olympic sports editor and an assistant city editor as well as a reporter/writer covering events and issues for the News, Sports, Olympics, Church News, Faith/Ethics, City and Utah County departments/sections. From 2011 to 2014, he took a leave of absence to serve as a Church mission president in Phoenix. A BYU graduate and Pulliam Fellow/intern at the Arizona Republic, he has reported from five continents with coverage from high school sports to five Olympic Games and from local city government and law enforcement agencies to relief efforts following the 2010 Haiti earthquake. He has received numerous local, state, regional and national journalism awards in news, sports, features, columns, headline writing and section supervision.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and Sister Patricia Holland, record a presentation in St. George, Utah, as part of 2021 RootsTech Connect Family Discovery Day.
Living Faith
Scott Taylor: Set to rededicate the St. George temple, President Holland has already had an influence there
President Holland’s message in an introductory video shown before open-house tours underscores the blessings of eternal families through temple ordinances.
Visitors to the St. George Utah Temple walk to the temple grounds.
Temples
‘A special place with a special purpose’: Helping open-house visitors see a temple as the house of the Lord
“All temple events focus on our covenant relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ,” said St. George temple open house committee chair Russ Moody.
From left, Michelle Usselman, Mike Fjeld, Carson Fjeld and Teone Fjeld exit the St. George Utah Temple on the last day of the public open house.
Temples
Nearly 670,000 tour the St. George Utah Temple during its 9-week fall open house
Some 30,000 volunteers staffed the nine-week open house, drawing visitors from the region and participants in the Huntsman World Senior Games and St. George Marathon.
Exterior rendering of the Barcelona Spain Temple.
Temples
Sites are set for the Toluca Mexico and João Pessoa Brazil temples, with a rendering available for the Barcelona Spain Temple
Sites are set for the Toluca Mexico and João Pessoa Brazil temples, with a rendering available for the Barcelona Spain Temple.
Visitors to the St. George Utah Temple walk the temple grounds.
Temples
President Holland to rededicate St. George Utah Temple on Dec. 10
First Presidency assigns the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve and St. George native to preside at the rededicatory sessions.
The two-towers of the Manti Utah Temple are shown with a blue sky.
Temples
First Presidency sets rededication, open house dates for renovated Manti Utah Temple
The Manti temple is the second pioneer-era temple to be completed and ready for rededication after President Nelson’s April 2019 announcement.
Parke Cox, 102, and Emily Cox, 101, of St. George, stand for a portrait at the St. George Utah Temple.
Living Faith
Returning to the St. George temple 80 years after being sealed there
Centenarians Parke and Emily Cox of St. George visited the house of the Lord on the last day of its open-house tours prior to its Dec. 10 rededication.
President Jeffrey R. Holland stands in his home in 2022.
Leaders & Ministry
President Jeffrey R. Holland set apart as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Set apart on Wednesday, Nov. 15, President Holland succeeds President Ballard as Acting President following the latter’s Nov. 12 death.
Every member of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints poses for a photograph in the Rome Italy Temple Visitors’ Center.
Leaders & Ministry
Latest First Presidency, Quorum of Twelve Apostles together were the 6th-longest tenured in Church history
As of the Nov. 12 passing of President Ballard, the 15 apostles had served together for 5 years, 7 months and 13 days.
President M. Russell Ballard pauses during a special stake conference.
Leaders & Ministry
Highlights of President Ballard’s teachings, testimony in 2023
“I pray that someday when I pass to the next world, I may do so with my testimony burning brightly,” said President Ballard in April 2023 general conference.
The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple.
Temples
4 temples among top 20 ‘peaceful’ U.S. tourist spots, according to national survey
The Idaho Falls Idaho, Oakland California, St. George Utah and Mesa Arizona temples highlight in survey that looks at “peaceful” mentions in trip reviews.
President Russell M. Nelson is shown working in his office at the Church Administration Building.
Leaders & Ministry
President Nelson gives update on his health, thanks those praying for his recovery
In social media posts Friday, Nov. 10, the 99-year-old President of the Church said his recovery has been rigorous: “I have needed your prayers.”
A map of the 36 new missions being created in 2024.
Global
With 36 new missions coming in 2024, get to know the cities, states and countries a little better
Scheduled to start July 1, 2024, the 36 new missions will be in seven U.S. states and 20 other countries.
Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles talks about the Church’s missionary efforts.
Leaders & Ministry
What Church leaders are saying about increased missionary numbers and 36 new missions
Members of the Missionary Executive Council highlighted President Nelson’s prophetic call to serve and the enthusiastic responses by youth and seniors.
Grand Rapids Michigan Temple rendering includes a single-story house of the Lord, a single central spire and arched entryway.
Temples
First Presidency releases site location for Viña del Mar Chile Temple, rendering for Grand Rapids Michigan Temple
Site is set for the Viña del Mar temple, announced just last month by President Nelson; Grand Rapids temple rendering comes a year after its site was released.
The Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple at dusk.
Temples
See first images inside, outside of the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple, the Church’s 2nd in the metro area
The temple begins its open-house phrase, beginning with Monday’s media briefing and tours.
Jesus Christ sits with a young child in this image from the Bible Videos series.
Living Faith
Scott Taylor: Looking at others — and ourselves — as God does
Besides seeing others as God sees them, do we also pause to see ourselves as God sees us?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will create 36 new missions worldwide in 2024.
Global
With full-time missionary numbers exceeding 72,000, Church to create 36 new missions worldwide
Also, a policy adjustment now allows prospective missionaries to submit applications 150 days before availability date.
Church leaders and guests prepare to turn the soil at the Fort Worth Texas Temple groundbreaking.
Temples
Ground broken for Fort Worth Texas Temple — 1 of 8 in the state and 3 in the metro area
With the house of the Lord under construction, Texas is home to five dedicated temples and two more in planning; the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area alone has three temples.
Locator maps for three new temple site locations — Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Winchester, Virginia; and Vienna, Austria.
Temples
First Presidency releases 3 new temple sites — 2 in U.S., 1 in Europe
Locations are for the Harrisburg Pennsylvania, Winchester Virginia and Vienna Austria temples.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband greets local Church leaders from 11 Southeast Asia countries in Bangkok.
Leaders & Ministry
Elder Rasband meets with stake, district and branch presidents from 11 countries comprising the Bangkok temple district
The gathering the night before the temple dedication draws leaders from Cambodia to Indonesia to Pakistan, who are charged to help their members be “recommended to the Lord.”
The Orem Utah Temple, photographed in 2023.
Temples
Take a look inside the new Orem Utah Temple with photos, video
The release of the photos and video coincide with the temple’s media day, which kicks off the open-house phase.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband greets a few members outside the Bangkok Thailand Temple.
Temples
‘Cradled in the arms of prophets, apostles’: Elder Rasband dedicates Bangkok Thailand Temple, the first on the Southeast Asia peninsula
Elder Rasband paid special tribute to the roles of the last 3 Church presidents in the coming of the Bangkok Thailand Temple.
Apichat Choysrakoo and his mother and father — Kesorn and Somchit Choysrakoo — watch 4-year-old Kirin.
Global
How the Bangkok temple stands on the foundation of 6 decades of the Church in Thailand and multigenerational members
Temple dedication brings focus on missionary work and conversion in the ‘60s and ‘70s as well as the future generations of Thai Latter-day Saints.
Exterior rendering of the Kaohsiung Taiwan Temple.
Temples
Groundbreaking scheduled for Kaohsiung Taiwan Temple
Elder Tai, Asia Area president, will preside at the Nov. 25 event and offer the dedicatory prayer on the site and construction process.
A rendering of the Red Cliffs Utah Temple.
Temples
First Presidency announces dedication, open house dates for Red Cliffs Utah Temple
To be dedicated by President Henry B. Eyring, the temple will be the Church’s second house of the Lord in St. George, Utah.
Map of Israel and neighboring areas
Leaders & Ministry
First Presidency issues statement on Middle East violence
“We affirm that He calls upon all of us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and we pray for a peaceful resolution of all conflicts,” statement says.
Elder Gary B. Sabin and Sister Valerie Sabin lead the turning shovels of dirt at the Modesto California Temple groundbreaking.
Temples
Ground broken for Modesto California Temple, one of state’s 12 houses of the Lord
The house of the Lord in Modesto begins construction phase a day before the Feather River California Temple is dedicated.
Site location map for the Budapest Hungary Temple.
Temples
First Presidency releases site for Budapest Hungary Temple
Hungary’s first house of the Lord is one of 21 total temples in Europe and among the eight that are in planning and design.
President Russell M. Nelson speaks at the groundbreaking of the Heber Valley Temple.
Temples
A by-the-numbers look at all 153 new temple locations announced by President Nelson since he became President of the Church
Breakdowns include announcements by date and year; current status; and first, multiple and total temples in specific areas, countries, territories and states.