November 16, 2025, 10am MST
During the week of November 9-15, the family of President Dallin H. Oaks of the Church shared what they learned from him in a Church news video. President Oaks and President Jeffrey R. Holland, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, discussed their ties to BYU as it celebrates its 150th anniversary in a video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Additionally, the First Presidency announced a new Presiding Bishopric.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated a new MTC in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, serving members in Ethiopia and the Seychelles. Elder Gerald Caussé of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also spoke about stewardship of God’s creation at a stewardship symposium in Provo, Utah.
In Temple News, the Church announced groundbreaking for the Jacksonville Florida Temple, future sites for the Coeur d’Alene Idaho Temple and Calabar Nigeria Temple, and updates on Temple Square renovations.
On Nov. 12, the church announced the expansion of its “Machines that Light the World” initiative to 126 cities, and hosted its annual music festival, “Lus de las Naciones,” on Nov. 8 and 9.
In this week’s Church News podcast episode, the church’s historic site director and the Palmyra area’s site managers come together to discuss the significance of the site and the early history of the church. The church has also begun donating 250 truckloads of food to food banks across the country as the church prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Read the overview and find links to articles below.
1. Video: President Oaks’ family says he’s here to serve the Lord
In a Church News video titled “Father’s Influence: President Oaks Through His Descendants,” President Oaks’ family members talk about the principles they learned from him and the traits they observed in him.
Watch the video here.
2. President Oaks and President Holland talk about BYU from their lifelong connections as BYU celebrates its 150th anniversary.
As Brigham Young University celebrates its 150th anniversary, President Oaks and President Holland, each of whom served as president of the university, discussed BYU’s past half-century in a video posted on ChurchofJesusChrist.org on Sunday, November 9th.
Read more about this story here.
3. First Presidency Announces New Presiding Bishopric
Following Elder Caussé’s call as a new member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the First Presidency announced a new Presiding Bishopric.
On Friday, November 14, Bishop W. Christopher Waddell was announced as the church’s new presiding bishop. Bishop L. Todd Budge will serve as first advisor, and Bishop Sean Douglas will serve as second advisor.
Learn more about the new Presiding Bishopric here.
4. Elder Rasband Dedicates MTC in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Dedicates Pastors in Ethiopia and Seychelles
On Sunday, November 2, Elder Rasband dedicated a new missionary training center in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. MTC will serve one of the fastest growing areas of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to a news release from ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Last month, he visited Seychelles, an island nation off the coast of Africa, to send its first missionaries to the country. He also met with Ethiopian government leaders.
Click here to learn more about the new MTC. Click here to read about Elder Rasband’s visit to Seychelles and Ethiopia.
5. “Sacred Duty”: Elder Gerald Caussé talks about stewardship of God’s creation.
Speaking as part of the Stewardship Symposium at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, on Friday, November 14, Elder Kose testified that the Eternal Father created the earth for a divine purpose. This was the new apostle’s first public appearance since he was called to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on Thursday, November 6th.
Read more about Elder Kose’s speech here.
6. Groundbreaking date is set for Florida’s fifth temple. Ruins and renderings of temples in Idaho and Nigeria released
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the future construction sites of the Coeur d’Alene Idaho Temple and the Calabar Nigeria Temple, and has also released an accompanying rendering.
Additionally, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Jacksonville Florida Temple will be held in January 2026 and is currently planned as the first groundbreaking ceremony of this year.
The Church announced that the Joseph Smith Memorial Rooftop Restaurant has reopened to the public on Temple Square, as well as updates on other Temple Square renovations at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Learn more about the groundbreaking ceremony for the Jacksonville Florida Temple. Click here for renderings of the temples in Idaho and Nigeria. Click here for the latest updates on Temple Square renovations.
7. “Like the wise men of old”: Light the World Giving Machine initiative expands to 126 locations in 2025
On November 12, the Church announced the 126 cities of its “Light the World Giving Machine” initiative. Several Church leaders, including Young Women General President Emily Bell Freeman; Sister Christine M. Yee, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency. Elder Matthew S. Holland, a General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Church Communications Department, spoke about the impact of this initiative at the launch event.
Learn more about Light the World here.
8. “Luz de las Naciones” highlights 100 years of peace
The annual Luz de las Naciones music festival was held in Salt Lake City on November 9th. The festival featured song and dance performances showcasing Hispanic and Latin American culture.
This year’s event coincided with the 100th anniversary of the church in South America. Sister Andrea Muñoz Spanaus, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, spoke of God’s blessings in a prerecorded message.
Click here for more information about Luz de las Naciones.
9. Church News Podcast, Episode 266: Rededicated Hill Cumorah serves as “Cradle of the Restoration” and helps visitors strengthen their testimonies
Benjamin Pikeles, Director of Historic Sites at the Church, and Sam Palfreyman, Site Manager for the Palmyra Region, join us on the podcast to explore the sacred significance of the Hill Cumorah. They will discuss faith-promoting experiences visiting historic Church sites and how understanding the early history of the Church can help individuals gain and strengthen testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Listen to the podcast here.
10. Church donates 250 truckloads of food to food banks across the country
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States by sending 250 truckloads of food donations to food banks across the country. This week, the first five trucks will leave the Episcopal Central Depot in Salt Lake City for food banks in Oregon, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri and Michigan.
Click here for more information on donating.
