Church News is now also accessible in French, making the living record of this Restoration available to millions of people around the world.
Church News is available online and on social media in French, making it the fourth language in which it is published in addition to English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Church News Editor John Ryan Jensen noted how the rapid growth of the Church in Francophone countries is impacting French translation efforts.
Of the 54 countries on the African continent, more than 12 have large French-speaking populations. Approximately 400 million people around the world speak French.
“We hope that French-speaking people will be blessed by having greater access to the words of Church leaders as they testify of the Savior and teach teachings that will inform others how to live faithfully in their covenants,” Jensen said.
French translators review and edit machine translations of articles published in English. Content in French is available on The Church News website (TheChurchNews.com) and apps (both App Store and Google Play Store), YouTube, and social media channels Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).
The number of articles available changes daily and increases as translation resources and demand evolve. Some content of Church News published before the launch of the French version will also be translated.
Valérie Gomm, French translation manager for Church News, said efforts to translate into French were “the tip of the iceberg.” “It opens up a world where there hasn’t been a lot of content before. And people are hungry for content.”
In addition to France, hundreds of people from Haiti, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada and African countries have already engaged with the content on social media, and the number of interactions is growing, Gom said.
As The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expands in French-speaking countries, members and others will have access to consistent, up-to-date and uplifting content.
The new translation allows church members to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with their French-speaking friends in a normal and natural way.
Gomme noted that although Church News is primarily aimed at members of the Church, the content is available to all native French speakers, making gospel doctrines more accessible, such as understanding the mission of Jesus Christ and his relationship with his Heavenly Father.
In addition to Church resources available in French, such as the canon, conference talks, and the “Come, Follow Me” instruction, news translations “bring the world together,” Gomme said.
The Church News app is free and available on the App Store and Google Play.
