Church News

In his remarks to the Church and the world on Sunday, Oct. 4, President Dallin H. Oaks, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, invited all to come unto Jesus Christ.

“I pray for what our Heavenly Father wants for each of us — to be active members of the Church of Jesus Christ, proceeding forward on the covenant path into the eternities. We need one another’s prayers,” he said.President Oaks spoke during the Church’s 196th Semiannual General Conference, held Oct. 3-4 in Salt Lake City.

The two days of general sessions included counsel and teachings from members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and other Church leaders.

This special conference edition of the Church News podcast, hosted by editor Jon Ryan Jensen and reporter Mary Richards, features excerpts from each of the conference addresses and covers topics such as overcoming through the Savior, finding comfort, temple covenants, peacemaking, commandments and truth.

The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by Ellie Lewis.

On Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, violence targeted members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Four people died and eight others were injured when a man rammed a truck into a chapel, started a fire and began shooting.

Since the attack, members of the Grand Blanc Ward have received support from Church leaders and members all over the world, as well as love and aid from their own community.

“I have seen so much goodness, so much love and so much kindness,” said Grand Blanc Michigan Stake President Marcelino Sanchez.

President Sanchez joins Church News reporter Mary Richards on this episode of the Church News podcast to talk about what has happened in the past year and what is ahead.

The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by Ellie Lewis.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe in following the Savior’s two great commandments: to love God and to love their neighbors.

Loving one’s neighbors includes serving them, and opportunities are all around to serve each other, whether through organized efforts or individual acts.

The Church connects people around the globe to service opportunities with the JustServe platform. Stephen Bulpitt, JustServe global manager, and LaDawn Stoddard, JustServe senior strategic relationships manager, join Church News reporter Mary Richards on this episode of the Church News podcast to talk about how service unites people and builds disciples of Jesus Christ.

The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by Ellie Lewis.

President Dallin H. Oaks, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has taught that “essential to our doctrine on the family is the temple. The ordinances received there enable us to return as eternal families to the presence of our Heavenly Father.”

After the San Diego California Temple was originally dedicated in April 1993, Elizabeth and Giovanni Guanuna were the first couple to be married and sealed in the new temple. Three decades later, on the temple’s rededication weekend in August 2026, they met with Church News reporter Aimee Cobabe on the temple grounds.

On this episode of the Church News podcast, the Guanunas reflect on what their sealing means to them and what blessings they have seen as they have continued to build their faith in Jesus Christ and serve in the temple.

The Church News podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by Rex Warner and Ellie Lewis.

President Dallin H. Oaks, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has taught that the doctrine of the Church centers on the family. But marriages and birthrates are declining in places around the world — and so is dating.

The National Dating Landscape Survey, published earlier this year, looked at the opportunities and challenges of dating across the United States. Researchers found that young adults want serious relationships but are experiencing a dating recession, with only about 1 in 3 young adults actively dating.

Jason S. Carroll, the Family Initiative director at the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University and a marriage preparation teacher for 20 years, joins Church News reporter Mary Richards to talk about the patterns found in this research and what the positive outliers can teach about creating a better dating and marriage culture.

The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by Rex Warner and Ellie Lewis.