July 6, 2025, 10:00am MDT
This week’s Church News Podcast includes highlights from church leaders’ messages to new mission leaders.
President Jeffrey R. Holland, representative of the quorum of the 12 Apostles, spoke at the 2025 Utah Regional YSA Conference, and Elder Jerit W. Gong met with community leaders and local members in Central Europe to advocate for a covenant that falls within the responsibility of Jesus Christ and citizens.
Read a compilation of quotes from church leaders about the importance of religious freedom.
Temple News has seen the construction phase begin at the Lord’s first home for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Republic of Singapore, with the Joseph Smith Memorial reopening, and even more Temple Square construction renewals.
The church is involved in humanitarian projects for communities around the world, including Brazil and Ghana. Young people in the church live the gospel in a variety of ways, including visiting temples of the past, present and future, and organizing days of service. The Temple Square Bell also held a “celebratory journey” for the Midyear concert.
Read the overview and find links to these articles below.
1. Podcast Episode 247: Message from the 2025 Seminar for New Mission Leaders – Missionary Purposes and Personal Conversation
This episode of the Church News Podcast features excerpts from messages shared at a new mission leader seminar, including testimony from President Russell M. Nelson in the Book of Mormon.
Listen to this episode here.
2. President Jeffrey R. Holland announced as a prayer speaker at the 2025 Utah Regional YSA Conference
Organizers of the 2025 Utah Regional YSA Conference have been announced by President Jeffrey R. Holland, representative of the quorum of the 12 Apostles, as the final speaker at the conference.
For more information about the 2025 Utah Regional YSA Conference, click here.
3. In Central Europe, Elder Gongoo defends a covenant that falls under the responsibility of Jesus Christ and citizens.
Elder Jerit W. Gong of the 12 Apostles, Quorum, met with leaders and local members of five Central European countries to discuss building healthy communities and faith in Jesus Christ.
He told the members, “There is space for everyone at the inn.”
For more information about the Ministry of Elders of Gong in Europe, please see here.
4. 17 church leaders emphasized the importance of religious freedom.
Church leaders spoke at international, national and academic conferences on religious freedom, and developed interfaith relationships with faith leaders around the world to advance and defend religious freedom. There is a collection of several of these quotes.
Read what church leaders said about religious freedom here.
5. Broken ground for the first temple in Singapore
On Saturday, June 28th, the ground broke due to the Singapore Temple. Elder Kelly R. Johnson, 70, was the first counselor of the church’s Asian presidency, hosted services and dedicated the site.
“The temples here in Singapore make a difference to the entire community. It brings light to communities that have not been here before,” Elder Johnson said.
Find out more about the groundbreaking details of Singapore’s temples here.
6. Temple Square Update: Joseph Smith Memorial Building opens again to the public
2. After five years of construction, some areas of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Temple Square were reopened to the public. Construction of Salt Lake Temple has also reached a new milestone.
Please see this update here.
7. The church contributes to humanitarian efforts in Brazil and Ghana
The church is working with Operation Smile to provide life-changing cleft reconstruction lip and palate surgery in Brazil.
In the wake of a massive storm, the church provided relief to several communities in Ghana.
For more information about Operation Smile, click here. For more information about the Church’s humanitarian efforts in Ghana, please see here.
8. Young people win testimony of temples and service
From the historic Kirtland Temple to the future Cincinnati Ohio Temple, Ohio youths were witnessed to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ at a three-day Youth Conference.
Arizona youth have planned service days on four different projects as part of World Youth Service Day.
For more information about the Ohio Youth Conference, click here. Find out more about our day of service in Arizona here.
9. See photos of Temple Square bells performing “Celebration Journey”
Recently, Temple Square bells have made a “celebratory journey” at the Tabernacle in Temple Square.
Please see photos from this concert.
