During the week of April 12-18, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unveiled the doors of the new Temple Square Visitors Center to members of the media.
White House Senior Faith Advisor Paula White-Cain met with Elder Gerald Causé of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during a visit to Church headquarters in Salt Lake City.
The First Presidency of the Church has announced area leadership assignments for 2026-2027.
Primary President Susan H. Porter shared ways adults can treat children with dignity and help them understand their own worth at the 36th International Community Conference held at Brigham Young University.
This week’s episode of the Church News Podcast features testimonies of Jesus Christ from eight new 70 General Authorities and a new Primary General Presidency.
Elder Peter M. Johnson, a General Authority Seventy, addressed BYU-Hawaii graduates during the graduation ceremony. Brother Gabriel W. Reed, second counselor in the Sunday School general presidency, spoke to the Ensign College graduates.
Utah Correctional Facility’s first class has graduated from the Ensign University Prison Education Program.
The public was invited to tour the Bacolod Philippines Temple. This is the third temple open house in the Philippines in the past year.
Temple dedication dates have been announced for the Belo Horizonte Temple in Brazil, the Miraflores Temple in Guatemala City, and the Managua Temple in Nicaragua. Additionally, a landmark date was announced for the Missoula-Montana Temple.
Read the overview and find links to articles below.
1. “Come and see. Come and learn,” President Uchtdorf invites at the Temple Square Visitors Center.
After the Salt Lake Temple and much of Temple Square have been closed for more than six years for renovations, the Church has opened the doors to media members to the brand new Temple Square Visitors Center.
On Monday, April 13, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, dedicated the new visitor center during a closed session that morning. Young Women general president Emily Bell Freeman guided the group through the visitor center with President Uchtdorf.
The Visitor Center will open to the public on Monday, May 18th.
Learn more about the new Temple Square Visitors Center here.
2. White House Senior Faith Advisor Visits Church Headquarters
White House Senior Faith Advisor Paula White-Cain, along with the White House Office of Faith, visited church headquarters to continue the church’s regular activities with faith leaders.
During her visit, she spoke with area multifaith leaders, toured the Welfare Plaza, and met with Elder Coase.
Learn more about visiting the White House Office of Faith.
3. 2026-2027 Area Presidency Mission Includes “Adaptation”
New regional president assignments for 2026-2027 have been announced and will take effect from August 1st.
Adjustments were made to increase support and better meet the needs of a growing church, including increasing the number of members in some area presidencies from three to four and removing certain counselor assignments.
Learn more about new area presidency assignments.
4. President Porter teaches children that they have ‘intrinsic worth and dignity’
President Porter was the keynote speaker at the 36th International Conference on Social Sciences at Brigham Young University, where he taught how adults can help children realize their worth and dignity. She focused her message on the “divine trust” necessary for parents to nurture, protect, teach, and help their children progress in the gospel.
“This fundamental truth should be the basis of our relationships with our children, and we need to introduce a degree of humility,” she said. “We are not their bosses. We are not their property.”
Read more about President Porter’s speech here.
5. Church News Podcast, Episode 289: Learn about the new General Authority Seventy and Primary General Presidency through their testimonies
In this week’s episode of the Church News Podcast, listeners hear testimonies of Jesus Christ from eight new General Authorities of the 70 and a new Primary General Presidency.
They were maintained in the Saturday afternoon session of April 2026 general conference.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
6. Elder Johnson and Brother Reed speak to BYU-Hawaii Ensign College graduates
Elder Johnson told the BYU-Hawaii graduates that by following Jesus Christ, “we are on a lifelong journey to become His joyful disciples.”
Brother Reed exhorts Ensign College graduates: “As you grow, stay connected. As you rise, stay grounded. As you lead, be faithful.”
Read more about Elder Johnson’s remarks to BYU-Hawaii graduates here. Read more about what the Reed brothers had to say about Ensign University graduates here.
7. First graduating class of Ensign University Prison Education Program
The first class graduated from the Utah Correctional Facility’s Ensign College Prison Education Program. Elder James R. Rasband, a General Authority Seventy and Commissioner of Church Education, spoke as the commencement speaker.
“I truly believe that it is possible to bring light, because even in the darkest times of my life, the most important light in the world is the light that comes from Jesus Christ,” he said.
Click here to learn more about the Ensign University Prison Education Program Graduation Ceremony.
8. Open house begins for the Bacolod Philippines Temple, the third temple dedicated this year in the country.
The Bacolod Philippines Temple has begun public tours. The tour will run from April 16th to May 2nd.
This will be the third Lord’s House in the country to be dedicated in 2026.
Click here to learn more about the Bacolod Philippine Temple Open House.
9. Temple dedications are announced in Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Brazil. Groundbreaking ceremony announced for Missoula-Montana Temple
The dedication dates of the three temples have been announced.
The Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple will be dedicated on August 16th. The Miraflores Guatemala Temple will be dedicated on October 11 by Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The Managua Nicaragua Temple will be dedicated on October 18 by Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Additionally, the groundbreaking date for the Missoula Montana Temple was announced. This will be the third main home in Montana.
Learn more about the dedication dates of the three temples here. Learn more about the groundbreaking date for the Missoula-Montana Temple here.
