The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is growing across the earth. As this occurs, local Church leaders and members are encouraged to focus on gospel learning in their homes and to participate in Sabbath worship and the Church’s supporting programs for children, youth, individuals and families. The goal of every activity in the Church should be to increase faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and to share His gospel message throughout the world. Local celebrations of culture and history may be appropriate. Larger productions, such as pageants, are discouraged.

With the popularity of The Book of Mormon musical, many people are becoming interested in LDS missionaries and what their experience is really like.

An LDS singer recently won an international singing award for the second year in a row, and she accomplished it by singing uplifting and faith-filled music and sharing her testimony. "We are so grateful . . . to be praising the Lord for the gifts we've been given," Chenille Saunders says. "Now, because of what our Savior has done for us, we will never walk alone."

Dear Dave,

When Niankoro Yeah Samake lands in Mali on Friday, following a successful California fundraising campaign, to register as a candidate in the country’s upcoming presidential elections, he will be carrying a lot of baggage. There will be the requisite suitcase stuffed with gifts from the U.S. for his family back home. He will have a sizable check from an American hair-products magnate to help fund his campaign. And he will have his well-thumbed copy of the Book of Mormon, scripture that has been a constant source of strength since he converted more than a decade ago. He is likely to need it. Aside from his wife and children, Samake is Mali’s only Mormon. He’s not even sure which will be more difficult: running as a Mormon in a country that is 95% Muslim, or being President of a nation so weakened by corruption that the past 14 months have seen the government felled by a coup and two-thirds of its territory overrun by Islamist militants. “I am not running for President because of my faith, but my faith will help me be President,” he says, via Skype on a layover in Paris.

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“Now there is a stake in the highlands of Guatemala,” said Elder Renlund. “You realize the Lord is hastening His own work. He’s causing these miracles to happen. He’s blessing the people with the leaders, the faith, and all they need to be established as a stake.”

Brigham Young University President Kevin J. Worthen appointed J. Spender Fluhman as the new executive director for the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. He will be replacing M. Gerald Bradford, who became the executive director in 2008.

With 224-mile-per-hour winds, flooding, and at least21 people killed, Cyclone Winston has been characterized as the most powerful tropical storm ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere, according toKSL.

Latter-day Saints revere and honor their prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, his two counselors, Elder Nelson and the 11 other apostles who preside over the church, each of whom is expected to speak at the faith's semi-annual general conference this weekend, but on occasion critics contend the faith's highest authorities are too old and out of touch.