From the Church

15 Major Changes in the Church in 2017

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This year has been packed with big changes in the LDS Church, from updating temple policies to consolidating sessions of general conference. As we prepare for a new year, here's a quick overview of all the major changes in the Church from 2017.

Image from youngandmormon.com

From who can officiate in baptisms for the deadto new policies about temple service for single members and divorcees, the Church has made a lot of changes regarding temple work.

In August, the Church announced that single men over 30 and recent divorcees can serve as temple ordinance workers. Previously, divorced men and women underwent a waiting period before being able to serve as temple ordinance workers and single men could serve as temple ordinance workers through age 30.

In December,the Church announced that all priests holding the Aaronic priesthood and a limited-use temple recommend may officiate in baptisms for the dead and young women with a limited-use temple recommend may also assist with baptistry assignments previously reserved for sister temple ordinance workers.

Image from lds.org

In August, the Church announced some big changes for Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society Sunday meetings in 2018. As we wrap up the last year using the "Teaching of the Prophets" manuals, Relief Society and Melchizedek Priesthood meetings moving forward will focus on counseling together about local needs in addition to teaching gospel-centered lessons.

The first Sunday of each month the Relief Society and Melchizedek Priesthood will hold a council instead of a lesson to better know and respond to the needs of those in the ward, the second and third Sundays will be on recent general conference addresses, the fourth Sunday will be on a specific topic chosen by general Church leader, and the fifth Sunday will be on a topic chosen by local bishoprics.

For more details and answers to commonly asked questions about these changes, click here.

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Image from Mormon Newsroom

From updating missionary schedules and reporting to reducing the number of missions, the Church made several announcements about the missionary program this year.

In January, the Church announcedthat significant changes will be made to daily missionary schedules, changes which allow missionaries—with counsel from their mission presidents—to have more flexibility as they customize their daily schedules to better fit their unique place and situation. In addition, missionary preparation days will be adjusted to allow more flexibility.

In October, the Church announced that it will be making changes to the missionary program by standardizing interview questions for prospective missionaries, decreasing missions while trying to utilize tech savviness to locate like-minded religious people, and providing more help for early returned missionaries. 

Image from Mormon Newsroom

Just 15 minutes after the first session of October general conference concluded, Elder Robert D. Hales passed away. President Nelson had felt inspired to rush to his good friend during conference and was by his side when the 85-year-old apostle of the Lord took his last breath.

Just a few hours later during the last session of general conference, Elder Neil L. Andersen shared a message from Elder Hales:

"The First Presidency had told Elder Hales that he could give a brief message in the Sunday morning session if his health permitted it," Elder Andersen said. "While his health did not permit it, he prepared a message, which he finished last week and shared with me. Given his passing approximately three hours ago, I share just three lines from this talk. Quoting Elder Hales:

"'When we choose to have faith, we are prepared to stand in the presence of God. After the Savior’s crucifixion, He appeared only to those who had been faithful in the testimony of Him while they lived in mortality. Those who rejected the testimonies of the prophets could not behold the Savior’s presence nor look upon His face. Our faith prepares us to be in the presence of God.'"

For more inspiring stories of Elder Hales shared at his funeral, click here.

Image from Mormon Newsroom

In a message sent to Church leadership in October, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles announced changes for future general conferences:

"Beginning in April 2018, the general women's session will no longer be held on the Saturday preceding the other sessions of general conference. Rather, the general priesthood and general women's sessions will each be held annually, with the general priesthood session being in April and the general women's session being in October. These meetings will originate from the Conference Center on Saturday evening following the morning and afternoon sessions of the conference."

Church Dedicates 4 New Temples Around the World
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Image from Mormon Newsroom

The Church has been busy this year continuing the work of temple building by dedicating four new temples: President Henry B. Eyring dedicated the Paris France Temple in May (take a look inside this temple here), President Dieter F. Uchtdorf dedicated the Tucson Arizona Temple in August (take a look inside this temple here), President Dieter F. Uchtdorf dedicated the Meridian Idaho Temple in November (take a look inside this temple here), and President Henry B. Eyring dedicated the Cedar City Utah Temple in December (take a look inside this temple here).

The Church also broke ground on three temples this year: Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple, Arequipa Peru Temple, and Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple.

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Video Companion
President Monson Announces Five New Temples at April 2017 General Conference

In April general conference, President Thomas S. Monson announced five new temples, meaning soon we will have 182 operating temples worldwide!

The five temples that were announced will be built in Brasília, Brazil; the greater Manila Philippines area; Nairobi, Kenya; Pocatello, Idaho; and Saratoga Springs, Utah. Learn more about each of these temple sites here.

Image from Mormon Newsroom

On March 9, Sister Linda K. Burton, general Relief Society president, posted to Facebook, announcing that she and her presidency recently updated the Relief Society purpose, adding new wording to reflect several messages that are important for sisters to understand.

The purpose of Relief Society, which previously said, "to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need" now reads, "to increase faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement; strengthen individuals, families, and homes through ordinances and covenants; and work in unity to help those in need."

To read more about the reasons behind these inspired changes, click here.

Image from lds.org

In May, the First Presidency announced in a letter that the Church will no longer charter Varsity and Venture Scouting programs. "As part of the Church's ongoing effort to evaluate and improve its service to families and young people worldwide, the Church will no longer charter Varsity or Venturing units with the Boy Scouts of America and Scouts Canada effective January 1, 2018," the letter reads. Instead, they released a new Church program for young men ages 14–18.

Learn more about the new program here.

Church Condemns "White Supremacy Agenda"
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Image from Wikimedia Commons

Following the Charlottesville shootings, the Church released a series of statements: the first condemning racism and the second condemning "white supremacy agenda." The statements explicitly stated:

"People of any faith, or of no faith at all, should be troubled by the increase of intolerance in both words and actions that we see everywhere. More than a decade ago, the late Church President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) addressed the topic of racism when speaking to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He powerfully and clearly taught this principle: 'No man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ. Nor can he consider himself to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church of Christ.' For members of the Church, we reaffirm that teaching today and the Savior's admonition to love our neighbor. . . .
"It has been called to our attention that there are some among the various pro-white and white supremacy communities who assert that the Church is neutral toward or in support of their views. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the New Testament, Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37-39). The Book of Mormon teaches “all are alike unto God” (2 Nephi 26:33).
"White supremacist attitudes are morally wrong and sinful, and we condemn them. Church members who promote or pursue a “white culture” or white supremacy agenda are not in harmony with the teachings of the Church."

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Image from Twitter

"You're helping people," President Trump praised the LDS Church as he toured Welfare Square at the beginning of December.

“I know so many people that are in your Church,” Trump told LDS Church leaders. “The job you’ve done is beyond anything you could think of—180 countries, taking care of people . . . and the respect that you have all over the world.”

As part of his visit to Utah, Trump toured the Church's welfare hub and met with President Henry B. Eyring, President Russell M. Nelson, Presiding Bishop Gerald Causse, General Relief Society President Jean B. Bingham, and Utah Senator Orrin Hatch. During the meeting, Trump praised President Nelson's work as a heart surgeon, saying he was a “great heart surgeon; one of the best in the world” but “he decided to help even more people" by becoming a religious leader. Before President Trump left Utah, President Eyring presented Trump with a Christus statue.

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Image from Mormon Newsroom

During the Saturday afternoon session of conference, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf announced a new Relief Society general presidency that was sustained by the Church: Jean B. Bingham, Sharon Eubank, and Reyna I. Aburto.

Sister Bingham, who was called at the 17th general president of Relief Society, was recently serving as the first counselor in the Primary general presidency at the time of her call. Sister Eubank works as the director of LDS Charities, a role she will continue while serving as the Relief Society presidency first counselor. Sister Aburto was born in Nicaragua and served on the Primary general board from 2012 to 2016. Learn more about the new presidency here.

President Uchtdorf announced that Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, who was the second counselor, would become the first counselor in the Primary presidency and Sister Cristina B. Franco would become the newest member of the Primary general presidency. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sister Franco was serving with her husband in the Argentina Resistencia Mission at the time of her call. Learn more about her here.

Lead image from Deseret News

In 2018, the Church will be changing the monthly visiting teaching message to help sisters focus on ministering to each other in personal, individualized ways.

"Rather than providing a specific message, each month a 'Visiting Teaching Principle' will provide ideas to help sisters minister more effectively to each other,"LDS Church News says. 

“We want to help sisters understand how to really care for and strengthen each sister,” Sister Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society general president, told the Church News. “The [Church] handbook doesn’t talk about our responsibilities to teach a lesson. It talks about how ‘visiting teachers sincerely come to know and love each sister, help her strengthen her faith and give service. [Visiting teachers] seek personal inspiration to know how to respond to the spiritual and temporal needs of each sister they are assigned to visit.’”

In order to prepare for new garment styles and products that will soon be introduced, Beehive Clothing discontinued a few of the current garment styles for men and women beginning October 31, 2017.

For more about these changes, click here.

As Hurricane Harvey descended on Texas, many homes were flooded, including the house of the Lord—the Houston Texas Temple.

My sister, who lives in Texas, sent me these pictures of the #LDS temple in #Houston. #Harvey#Mormonpic.twitter.com/ZvhSAr1WZP

But this wasn't the only natural disaster that impacted the lives of Latter-day Saints and inspired relief efforts from the Church. From hurricanes in the Caribbean to mudslides in Sierra Leone to wildfires in California to earthquakes in Mexico, LDS Charities and Mormon volunteers jumped in to help those impacted by such horrible tragedies.

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