SALT LAKE CITY — A locket passed down through the descendants of Joseph Smith may be a photograph of the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

News of the pocket watch locket was released Thursday by the John Whitmer Historical Association in PDF and paperback versions of its journal, edition 42.

“Smith family members and historians have long believed that a daguerreotype, or photograph, of Joseph Smith, Jr., was made before his June 27, 1844, assassination. That daguerreotype has now been found. Learn more in the JWHA Journal Spring/Summer 2022 issue,” the JWHA Facebook and website state.

The claim that it is Smith isn’t definitive however and there are no other known photographs of him to compare it with.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a state about the discovery:

“Every few years, potential donors bring artifacts to the Church History Library for review, including alleged photographs of the prophet Joseph Smith. Such artifacts are, of course, of great interest to the church. Though it was not mentioned specifically in the article, church historians, archivists and artifact experts were provided — by the item’s owner and the article’s authors — the opportunity to analyze the locket and photo and to review their findings prior to publication. We concur that the daguerreotype and locket were created of the materials and methods appropriate to the 1840s. However, as nothing is definitively known about the locket’s history before 1992, we cannot draw a conclusion about who is pictured in the daguerreotype. We welcome the recent publication of the image and hope it will prompt the discovery of additional information helpful to determining its authenticity.”

Smith’s death mask survives, and paintings and descriptions of him are widely available.

According to Deseret News, Daniel Larsen, Smith’s great-great grandson, inherited the photo from his mother before her death in 1992. But the small image was inside a a pocket watch with a bent release mechanism. He didn’t look at it again until 2020 when he managed to get it open. Inside, he discovered the photo.

“In my opinion, there’s absolutely no question that it’s Joseph,” Larsen told the Deseret News. “I looked at it and I looked at it and saw those eyes. I told my wife to come in and look at this. We looked at it and … almost at the same time said, ‘This is a photo of Joseph Smith.’ ”

Larson said he believes a Lucian Foster was taking portraits like this one in New York in 1844, moved to Nauvoo and lived in the Smith mansion house for two months before Smith was killed in June 1844. Joseph Smith III claimed Foster made a daguerreotype of his father.

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PROVO, Utah — An award-winning director in Utah County has taken on the challenging task of writing and directing a Broadway-quality musical about Joseph Smith, prophet and founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife Emma. One he said was written in some ways as a counter to “The Book of Mormon” musical that hit Broadway 10 years ago.

“’The Book of Mormon’ musical presents us as tongue and cheek they laugh at us they make fun of almost everything we believe in,” said 66-year-old George Nelson, who is the head of Brigham Young University’s playwriting program and a professor in the school’s Theater and Media Arts Department.

The privately produced play is called “1820: The Musical,” which will open on Aug. 6 at the Covey Center for The Arts in downtown Provo.

“It’s the story of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ told through the love story of Joseph and Emma,” Nelson told KSL’s Dan Rascon during rehearsals in American Fork. “I want (the audience) to look at Joseph Smith and go, ‘Who is this guy?’ People called him a lunatic they called him a charlatan, they called him all kinds of things … We’ve tried to address in a non-apologetic way the things that Joseph has been accused of throughout his life and put the truth out there.”

George Nelson, head of BYU’s playwriting program and a professor in the school’s Theater and Media Arts Department. (KSL TV)

Zack Wilson, who plays Joseph Smith, said it’s really opened his eyes to what Joseph and Emma Smith went through.

“We see some of the weaknesses some of their strengths and struggles they went through,” he said.

That’s why Nelson wants to take the play to a much bigger audience. “I have a (Broadway) producer that is very interested in it. They are watching out this run, how it will go in Utah County,” he said.

Nelson is even taking on sensitive topics, like polygamy.

“Many people say, ‘Well, you can’t really deal with Joseph Smith and Emma without looking at plural marriage and the effect it had on their relationship.’ We don’t back away from that. We have a very poignant scene,” he said.

Tickets are now on sale here.

SALT LAKE CITY — A St. George, Utah man may have uncovered a decades-old mystery — the location of a tomb commissioned for Joseph Smith, prophet and founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — in the most unlikely of places in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Historians said Joseph Smith commissioned the family tomb before his martyrdom, but it was never used. He was buried elsewhere, yet its historical significance has endured.

“I think for every man, there’s always a little boy that’s wanted to be Indiana Jones,” said Brian Christiansen.

For Christiansen, the treasure hunt took him all the way to Nauvoo.

“Now, it’s just a lot of really cool coincidences that are leading us to it,” he said.

In the summer of 2020, Christiansen purchased the iconic gift shop Zion’s Mercantile near the heart of Nauvoo, but he never expected what we found below.

“We started digging the hole so we could see what was down in there,” he said. “We were actually expecting to see a tunnel maybe.”

Instead, they uncovered a vault.

“We found a vault that is underneath the sidewalk and it measures 7-feet wide by 27-feet long,” said Christiansen.

As it turns out, historian Joseph Johnstun said the vault had a unique resemblance to the tomb Joseph Smith commissioned of William Weeks, the architect of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple.

“It’s definitely something neat to look at,” said Johnstun. “It’s of a comparable size to what the William Weeks drawing show.”

Christiansen said the location of the vault and the use of red bricks also matched up with historical records.

“There’s journal records that talk about the tomb being off the Southeast corner of the temple, which is the direct line towards where the Mercantile is,” said Christiansen.

However, nothing is set in stone. There is no known official record of where Joseph Smith’s tomb was built.

As history has it, the tomb was not used for Smith since church and family members were concerned it would be desecrated. Instead, Joseph and Hyrum Smith were buried in secret in the basement of the Nauvoo House. Their bodies were later moved to an unmarked site near the Mississippi River on the Smith family homestead.

In 1928, the remains, along with Emma Smith’s, were exhumed and placed side-by-side in marked graves. The site came to be known as the Smith Family Cemetery.

“If you ask somebody, have you heard of the tomb of Joseph, most people say, ‘What are you talking about?’ or they think you’re talking about where Joseph Smith is currently buried, but we know the tomb is an important for Joseph to have a burial place that would include his family,” said Christiansen.

Smith was eventually laid to rest in what became known as the Smith family cemetery, so nothing was considered official, as excavation of the site continues.

“To be able to tell the story of the tomb, that’s good enough for me,” said Christiansen.

Christiansen owns the property and said his archeological excavation isn’t affiliated with the Church, but he is working on a documentary which follows the process of uncovering the vault and determining if it is indeed the tomb built for Joseph Smith.

Christiansen said plans were in the works to release the documentary in November and possibly build an exhibit around the vault for the public to visit.

For more information on Christiansen’s project: https://tombofjoseph.com/

For more information on Johnstun’s research: https://ensignpeakfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/MHS_FALL-2005_09-JOSEPH-SMITH-BURIAL-TOMB.pdf

The Joseph Smith Papers

The Joseph Smith Papers are a wealth and treasure of understanding. It is one of the most significant historical works of our generation. In History of the Saints, church historians talk about how many volumes have been released and more are coming in the years ahead. All of this work serves to affirm the faith of the Saints. Just released is the newest volume in the Documents Series—Documents Volume 9. It is different than previous volumes because of the short span of time it covers and is a wealth of information. If you have had questions about the origins of the Relief Society, or Joseph Smith as a Mason, or of the Prophet’s many and varied roles of leadership in Nauvoo—then this program will be of great help to you.

General Conference Documentaries

You can watch all of the General Conference documentaries like this on the KSL-TV app. The app is free with no cable subscription required. And it’s available for a variety of smart TV and smartphone platforms including Amazon Fire, Roku, iOS, Android and fourth-generation Apple TV boxes.

Jean Kennedy Smith, the last surviving sibling of President John F. Kennedy and a former ambassador to Ireland, died Wednesday, her nephew confirmed. She was 92.

Smith died at her home in Manhattan, her daughter Kym told The New York Times.

Smith was the eighth of nine children born to Joseph P. and Rose Kennedy, and tragically several of them preceded her in death by decades. Her siblings included older brother Joseph Kennedy Jr., killed in action during World War II; Kathleen “Kick’ Kennedy, who died in a 1948 plane crash; the president, assassinated in 1963 and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, slain in 1968. Sen. Edward Kennedy, the youngest of the Kennedy siblings, died of brain cancer in August 2009, the same month their sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver died.

Smith, who married Kennedy family financial adviser and future White House chief of staff Stephen Edward Smith in 1956, was viewed for much of her life as a quiet sister who shunned the spotlight. In her memoir “The Nine of Us,” published in 2016, she wrote that for much of the time her childhood seemed “unexceptional.”

“It is hard for me to fully comprehend that I was growing up with brothers who eventually occupy the highest offices of our nation, including president of the United States,” she explained. “At the time, they were simply my playmates. They were the source of my amusement and the objects of my admiration.”

Though she never ran for office, she campaigned for her brothers, traveling the country for then-Sen. John F. Kennedy as he sought the presidency in 1960. In 1963, she stepped in for a traveling Jacqueline Kennedy and co-hosted a state dinner for Ireland’s president. The same year, she accompanied her brother — the first Irish Catholic president — on his famous visit to Ireland. Their great-grandfather, Patrick Kennedy, was from Dunganstown in County Wexford in southeastern Ireland.

Three decades later, she was appointed ambassador to Ireland by President Bill Clinton, who called her “as Irish as an American can be.”

During her confirmation hearing, she recalled the trip with her brother, describing it as “one of the most moving experiences of my own life.”

As ambassador, she played a role in the Northern Ireland peace process. She helped persuade Clinton to grant a controversial visa in 1994 to Gerry Adams, chief of the Irish Republican Army-linked Sinn Fein party. The move defied the British government, which branded Adams as a terrorist.

Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Smith’s nephew, highlighted her role in the Irish peace process as the crux of her “enormous legacy.”

She later called criticism of her actions toward the IRA “unfortunate” and said she thought history would credit the Clinton administration with helping the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said in 1998 that “it is not an understatement to say that if (the visa for Adams) didn’t happen at the time, perhaps other events may not have fallen into place.”

In 1996, though, Smith had been reprimanded by Secretary of State Warren Christopher for punishing two of her officers who objected to the visa for Adams.

In December 1998, Smith again risked controversy by taking communion in a Protestant cathedral in Dublin, going against the bishops of her Roman Catholic church.

Her decision was a strong personal gesture of support for Irish President Mary McAleese, a fellow Catholic who had been criticized by Irish bishops for joining in the Protestant communion service.

“Religion, after all, is about bringing people together,” Smith told The Irish Times. “We all have our own way of going to God.”

When she stepped down as ambassador in 1998, she received Irish citizenship for “distinguished service to the nation.”

Diplomacy, along with politics, also ran in the Kennedy family. Her father was ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1938 to 1940. Niece Caroline Kennedy served as ambassador to Japan during the Obama administration.

“We’re the first father-daughter ambassadors,” Smith told The Irish Times in 1997. “So I can’t remember a time when we were not an actively political family.”

In 1974, Smith founded Very Special Arts, an education program that supports artists with physical or mental disabilities. Her 1993 book with George Plimpton, “Chronicles of Courage: Very Special Artists,” features interviews with disabled artists. The program followed in the footsteps of her sister Eunice’s creation of the Special Olympics for disabled athletes.

Smith and her husband had four children, Stephen Jr., William, Amanda and Kym. Her husband died in 1990.

Her son, Dr. William Kennedy Smith, made headlines in 1991, when he was charged with rape at the Kennedy estate in Palm Beach, Florida. He was acquitted after a highly publicized trial that included testimony from his uncle, Sen. Edward Kennedy, who had roused his nephew and son to go to some nightclubs that Easter weekend.

Among Smith’s other siblings, Rosemary died in 2005; and Patricia in 2006.

“Certainly a distinct characteristic of our family was its size,” Smith wrote in her memoir. “A child in a big family constantly feels surrounded and supported. For me, there was always someone to play with or someone to talk to just around the corner, out on the porch, or in the next bedroom. I never felt alone.”

PROVO, Utah – For as cold as downtown Provo can be on a January afternoon, Jen Smith figured her three young daughters would benefit from being outside for a little while.

“See if you can jump ten times in a row,” she said to them while they were playing. “It’ll help warm you up.”

She wasn’t trying to teach them about shivering.

Instead, they were outside because she wanted them to know about Joseph Shinners.

“You know, where we live here, it’s close to home,” she said with tears in her eyes.

Shinners, an officer with the Provo Police Department, was shot and killed last Saturday.

Smith watched his funeral on her phone while standing on the side of Center Street in Provo Saturday afternoon.

However, she wanted to make sure to see the procession in person.

“I don’t have any family members in law enforcement of anything like that,” said Smith. “I want my children to know that it’s important to support these men and women who go out every day of their lives to protect us and to keep us safe.”

She explained to her kids that when one of them falls trying to keep us safe, the least we can do is say thank you and show support.

“It was just heartbreaking,” she said.

For close to a half hour, police departments from all across Utah, and neighboring states, came through Provo as part of the funeral procession.

“That one is from Idaho. Boise,” Smith said pointing out the police car to her kids.

She also explained to her children that police officers are moms and dads, too.

As Shinners’ hearse passed under the large American flag raised between two Provo Power bucket trucks, it was a reminder this was his last ride.

“I just feel so bad for all of these guys. They lost a brother,” she said. “If you look at a lot of the wives riding in the passenger seat, they’re all, like, sobbing. Because they know that one day this could be them.”

Utah has dealt with similar tragedies several times in the past year, but residents say one of the positive things about being in Utah is every time something like this happens, there is a strong showing of support from the community.

Many people waved American flags.

Others had the thin blue line flag that is associated with law enforcement.

There were also ribbons, signs, and stickers showing support to the family of Shinners and the Provo Police Department.

“Supporting the police is very important,” Smith told her children.

That may be why, for as cold as it was, you could feel the warmth of just coming together.

“It’s a sense of pride,” said Smith.

In Sept. 1823, Moroni appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and the marvelous work and a wonder began.

As we approach the 200th anniversary of that event, what have we learned about the situation of the Smith family, and the Prophet Joseph Smith in particular, in 1823, just preceding Moroni’s appearance?

Many relevant and important details about those foundational events have come to light through the efforts of dedicated historians.

This History of the Saints special presentation shares what we have learned.

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Beehive House, the Lion House, and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in downtown Salt Lake City will be undergoing renovations beginning in 2023.

The Beehive House is set to close April 8, 2023, while the Lion House — which has been closed since 2020 — will remain closed.

“This project will address structural deficiencies, preservation of aging finishes, replacement of outdated mechanical systems, and updating the guest experience,” stated a Tuesday press release from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Renovations at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building will also begin in early 2023. According to the release, the building will have its electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems upgraded. Crews will also focus on improving guest and event spaces, adding more elevators, and upgrading its restaurants.

“The building and the restaurants and event spaces will be closed to the public while undergoing these renovations,” the release stated.

All three buildings are expected to reopen in 2025.

The Joseph Smith Memorial Building is described by the Church as a “multipurpose, ten-story administrative office building and social center.”

The building, once the Hotel Utah, was finished in 1911 and functioned as a hotel until 1987. The Church reopened it in 1993 with public dining and hosting options and with office and meeting space.

All three buildings are on South Temple in Salt Lake City.

The Lion House was the family home of Brigham Young, the first governor of Utah and second President of the Church. It was built in 1856, taking its name from a stone lion statue above the front entrance.

The Beehive House was built in 1854, by the same architect, Truman Angell, who designed the Salt Lake Temple. It was the official residence of three Presidents of the Church — Brigham Young, Lorenzo Snow and Joseph F. Smith.

Larry D. Curtis contributed to this report.

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has issued its sixth-ever proclamation to mark the 200^th anniversary of the First Vision of founder Joseph Smith.

President Russell M. Nelson announced the proclamation during his remarks at the end of a solemn assembly held during the Sunday morning session of General Conference.

He said Church leaders wanted to mark the bicentennial year with a monument of some sort, but they determined a physical memorial would not be accessible to members across the world.

Breaking: President @NelsonRussellM announces new proclamation to the world on the restoration. "God lives! Jesus is the Christ! His Church has been restored! He and His Father, our Heavenly Father, are watching over us." #GeneralConference @KSL5TV

— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) April 5, 2020

Instead, he said, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles decided a moment of words would be more appropriate.

The proclamation, titled “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World,” was read in a prerecorded video by President Nelson.

Following his reading of the proclamation, President Nelson led church members in a “Hosanna Shout.”

It was the sixth proclamation issued by the Church, and the last since 1996.

Read “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World.”https://t.co/gWlNg4eP8y pic.twitter.com/Vox50YE4P3

— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@Ch_JesusChrist) April 5, 2020

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – One local artist had expected to have a big day in downtown Salt Lake City before General Conference. He was scheduled to show off his incredible “tiny” artwork at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

That work includes hundreds of very detailed portraits, all in stamp size or a one-inch setting. In one piece of work depicting the teachings of Jesus Christ, artist Chris Creek managed to put 50 people in a crowd as they surrounded the Savior while he was teaching.

“I started painting these minis as a challenge,” Creek said. “My goal was to do one a day for a year. I have one inch. I would try and fill that inch before I go to bed.”

Who would of thought you could do this with an #oreocookie making a portrait out of the frosting! #tinyartist #QuarantineLife pic.twitter.com/8Pe9gy9teT

— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) April 3, 2020

Creek created hundreds of tiny pieces of art, most illustrating his faith as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“I’ve got all 17 of the latter-day prophets and they’ve really been a delight to do,” said Creek.

He didn’t stop there. He began bringing Oreo cookies into the mix. 

Creek is taking the delicious cream filling and turning it into a piece of art with the cookie as a background. The detail makes it look like porcelain on a black background.

“I’ve got Emma Smith here on an Oreo with what they call cream filling,” said Creek as he worked.

Recognize this face on an Oreo Cookie? A very talented “Tiny” artist whipped this up. #QuarantineLife @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/N8HHry7A5O

— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) April 3, 2020

Emma can now go right next to her husband, Joseph Smith, who he already finished.

“It’s been a lot of fun I enjoy this tight little challenge,” he said.

Creek has also become quite skilled at making some pretty amazing pancakes by turning them into works of art. 

“I like the challenge, and these little tiny brushes become my friend,” he said. “The quarantine has never been much of a problem for me because I can sit down and draw and paint for hours.”

To look at his work go to https://www.instagram.com/tokensoffaith.

BOISE — In many criminal trials, two weeks of testimony would build a pretty clear picture of what happened to the victims, why something happened and who is to blame.

In the murder trial for Lori Vallow Daybell, however, no matter how many questions seem to get answered, there are still many that remain unanswered. So much of the high-profile story remains hidden.

This is a largely circumstantial case with three killings at three different times in two different months, with no eyewitness accounts of the deaths shared with police or investigators. Those three people are Daybell’s children, 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, and Tammy Daybell, the wife of Chad Daybell, who married Lori Daybell 17 days after Tammy Daybell’s death.

Click here for complete coverage of the Lori Vallow Daybell trial

Lori Daybell’s trial resumes its third week of testimony Monday and is scheduled to last for eight to 10 weeks.

Among the most interesting evidence presented in the past week was a recording of a jail phone call between Lori Daybell and her son Colby Ryan that was played for the jury. The call was made shortly after the bodies of Tylee and JJ had been found and Ryan accused his mother of murdering his half-siblings. Daybell told him, “I’m sorry you feel that way,” and said, one day, he would know what happened.

“Tylee and JJ know what happened. They love me and they are fine, and they do know the truth and I know the truth,” Daybell said in the phone call, adding that the whole world judges her but doesn’t understand her.

She also indicated that God is on her side. “One day we will all stand there with Jesus … and you will know the truth of everything,” she told her son.

Ryan accused his mother of lying to him numerous times. He indicated he had been receiving text messages from Tylee but suspected someone else had been sending them because the conversations and punctuations were different than normal.

Ryan also testified that his mother called him on the day her then-husband Charles Vallow was killed and told him his stepfather had died of a heart attack. He soon learned Vallow had actually been shot by his uncle, Alex Cox.

Alex Cox

Cox — Lori Daybell’s brother — is a key player in the trial, even though he is dead. He died from what authorities say were natural causes in December 2019, the day after Tammy Daybell’s body was exhumed. He was never charged in connection with the case.

In addition to killing Vallow, which he claimed was in self-defense, prosecutors say Cox’s cell phone was in the area when a masked gunman confronted Tammy Daybell in her driveway. They also say Cox’s phone was in the Daybells’ backyard around the last time Tylee was ever seen, near the spot where her body was later discovered.

And David Warwick testified this past week that Cox was carrying a sleeping JJ to bed the last time anyone else reported seeing him alive.

Warwick and his wife were staying in Lori Daybell’s Rexburg apartment that night and said he woke up in the middle of the night with a bad nightmare and his wife suggested getting help from Lori and Chad Daybell. But the wife returned and said she couldn’t get anyone to come. Warwick said he had suspicions about Lori Daybell’s explanation for JJ being gone in the morning. He said she told him she had asked Cox to take JJ because she couldn’t handle the boy’s behavior, describing him climbing on top of high cabinets and knocking down a picture of Christ overnight. The guest said he saw no evidence of that alleged incident.

Prosecutors say Cox was close with his sister and his purpose in life was to protect her. Cox’s wife testified this past week that he had sought advice from his sister and Chad Daybell about every decision he made. The couple told him that in previous lives he had been the angel who visited Saul in the New Testament, an angel who appeared to Joseph Smith and a warrior whom Satan had animosity toward.

“Alex believed everything they told him,” Zulema Pastenes testified.

But Cox’s wife testified that shortly before he died, he expressed concerns that he might be Lori and Chad Daybells’ “fall guy.”

In June of 2021, a grand jury in Arizona’s Maricopa County indicted Lori Daybell of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in Vallow’s death.

Tammy Daybell

Lori Daybell was in Hawaii when Tammy Daybell died, and she returned to Rexburg, Idaho, on the day of her funeral. Prosecutors are claiming she was a conspirator in the death and say when she returned to Idaho, she acted like Tammy Daybell never existed.

Warwick also testified last week that Chad and Lori Daybell “were very loving with each other and affectionate” when he stayed at Lori Daybell’s apartment, even though Chad Daybell was still married to Tammy Daybell at the time. He said Chad Daybell told him that three years earlier he had a dream that Tammy Daybell would die before he turned 50, and said “her time was coming up.” He said Chad Daybell told him he and Lori were going to follow commitments they made with God together after Tammy Daybell’s death.

Investigators also testified this week that Amazon and Etsy purchase records show Lori Daybell bought rings matching those worn at her wedding to Chad Daybell before his wife’s death.

Initially, Tammy Daybell’s death was not ruled a homicide, but on the first day of testimony, prosecutors revealed for the first time that they now believe she died by asphyxiation. Her body was removed from her Springville grave in Utah for an autopsy in December 2019, after officers began searching for the missing children.

Lori Daybell is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft by deception in the deaths of her two children. The grand theft charge is for allegedly taking Social Security benefits for her children after knowing they had died. She is also charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in Tammy Daybell’s death.

Defense attorney Jim Archibald told jurors in his opening statements that prosecutors have charged his client with either killing her children, assisting in their deaths, encouraging someone to cause their deaths or commanding another person to cause their deaths.

“This charge is saying, ‘We’re not sure what happened.’ But they want you to be sure,” he told the jury.

Unusual beliefs

Friends of Lori Daybell testified last week about her unusual religious beliefs. Some testified about how she believed people’s spirits could leave their bodies and be replaced by demons and that people were on a scale between lightness and darkness. Some cited comments from Daybell that her children were dark or were difficult.

Melanie Gibb testified that right before JJ was killed, Lori Daybell had “indicated he was difficult to handle. And so it was hard for her to do that and be with Chad.”

Friend April Raymond testified that Lori Daybell invited her to join a group that she believes had changed Daybell’s belief system. She said Daybell told her that she “would need to be separated” from her children in order to join the group, and added that Raymond had fulfilled her role in her children’s lives and had a greater role with her — and that she should leave her children with their father.

‘Evasive and lying’

The estimated death date for Tylee is Sept. 9, 2019, when purchases on her account became sparse, and the estimated date for JJ’s death is Sept. 23, 2019 — around the time his mother withdrew him from school, according to trial testimony. The search for the two children, however, did not begin until Nov. 26, 2019, when JJ’s grandparents were able to find an address for Lori Daybell and asked local Rexburg police to conduct a welfare check.

Their bodies were found in shallow graves in Chad Daybell’s Salem, Idaho, yard — in his pet cemetery — months later on June 9, 2020.

Rexburg Police Sgt. David Stubbs testified last week that he responded to conduct a welfare check for JJ on Nov. 26 and described people in the home as “being evasive and lying.” His body camera video from two interactions with Lori Daybell and a search of her home was played for jurors.

He said Lori Daybell introduced Chad Daybell as Cox’s friend, even though they knew she had recently married him. In the video, Lori Daybell gave quick explanations for JJ’s absence and acknowledged that she looked “like a suspect.”

Stubbs said there were multiple other things she told the police that they later discovered were all untrue — including an allegation that another brother, not Cox, was trying to murder her for life insurance money; that JJ was with her friend Gibbs in Arizona so that he could go back to a special needs school there; that Gibbs and JJ were watching “Frozen 2” that night, which was likely why Gibbs wasn’t answering her phone right away when police called; and that Tylee was attending BYU-Idaho.

Stubbs went back a third time that day after finally reaching Gibbs, who had told him that JJ was not with her in Arizona. This time, however, no one was there and the home was nearly empty.

Although word of their missing children spread throughout the country, police say Lori and Chad Daybell remained in Hawaii until they were arrested almost three months later.

Electronic trails

Some significant evidence in the case has been found through analyzing electronic devices and financial and business documents.

Benjamin Dean, an intelligence analyst with the FBI, testified that Chad Daybell sent his wife, Tammy Daybell, an unusual text message on Sept. 9, 2019 — the day after Tylee was last seen. He said the text was longer than most texts between the couple and seemed unique.

Chad Daybell detailed burning limb debris and spotting a raccoon in their backyard, shooting it and burying it in their pet cemetery.

Later, officers searched the pet cemetery because of this text — and that is where the bodies of JJ and Tylee were discovered. Police say their bodies had been burned.

Prosecutors also introduced testimony about digital records showing that after the last time they had proof that Tylee was alive, Lori Daybell checked into a hotel without her, and Venmo transactions were sent from that hotel on Tylee’s phone.

What’s next?

There are still a few weeks of evidence to come, and some more questions will likely be answered.

As prosecutors finished questioning many of the investigators from the Rexburg Police Department over the last week, they said several officers would be called again to testify about a different part of the investigation.. So over the next few weeks, more will likely be made public about the time between the beginning of the search for JJ and Tylee and when their bodies were found.

Monday is likely to begin with more videos of apartments searched by officers on the day the search began, and a review of some business documents as Stubbs finishes his testimony.

Eventually, the case will be handed over to 12 jurors, just ⅔ of the 18 currently listening to the proceedings. Six are alternate jurors.

Chad Daybell’s trial has not yet been scheduled. His attorney has been attending Lori Daybell’s trial in Boise. Chad Daybell’s charges are similar to his wife’s, but he is also charged with first-degree murder in Tammy Daybell’s death and two counts of insurance fraud.

ATLANTA — A historically Black college honored President Russell M. Nelson here on Thursday night, awarding the Latter-day Saint leader a peace prize named for three legends of nonviolence — Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.

Morehouse College also unveiled side-by-side new portraits of President Nelson and Abraham Lincoln on a wall in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel building on campus.

“Because you, Russell Marion Nelson Sr., carry the light of truth in the great Morehouse leadership tradition, which recognizes the universal Christ and works for universal justice, we are honored to announce you as the inaugural laureate of the Morehouse College Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize,” said the dean of the chapel, the Rev. Lawrence Carter.

The prize honors a person who promotes peace and positive social transformation through nonviolent means.

The Rev. Carter said President Nelson had inspired radical inclusivity and solidarity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had remarkably linked arms with the Black community.

President Nelson watched a livestream of the event from Utah. In a prerecorded video, he said he was deeply honored by the award.

Other Latter-day Saints at the event included members of the church’s North America Southeast Area Presidency, Elder Vern P. Stanfill and Elder Matthew S. Holland, and Elder Peter M. Johnson, a general authority seventy.

I was privileged to be the recipient of the Morehouse College inaugural Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize this evening. I was unable to travel to Atlanta to be at the ceremony, but I recorded a short message that was shown at the event. I have included part of my video message… pic.twitter.com/mAlYOimbOq

— Russell M. Nelson (@NelsonRussellM) April 14, 2023

“The individuals for whom this honor is named establish its significance,” he said. “Each of these courageous individuals was a pioneer. Each championed human dignity for all men and women. Each lived up to the mission of this renowned chapel that stands as a citadel of peace.”

The awards ceremony was held 11 days after President Nelson delivered a landmark talk on peacemaking at the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“Contention is a choice,” he said then. “Peacemaking is a choice. You have your agency to choose contention or reconciliation. I urge you to choose to be a peacemaker, now and always.”

U.S. Sen. John Ossoff, D-Georgia, a surprise addition to the program, also recognized President Nelson.

“The level of hate and division in America is untenable and cannot continue,” Ossoff added. “We cannot be a society that divides itself based on our political affiliations or our race. The level of hatred that we’ve seen rising in this country in the last 10 years is a path to our own destruction.”

President Nelson received the peace prize five years into a vigorous administration marked by the way he has linked arms — in what many have called unlikely collaborations — with the NAACP, the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) and Black pastors.

With his new friends, President Nelson both has issued joint calls for racial harmony and acted on them, announcing church donations of $6 million to help inner-city Black communities and $3 million for scholarships for Black college students in Atlanta.

“You have led your church to invest mightily in the future development of African American, servant-scholar leadership at Morehouse College and our sister institution, Spelman College,” the Rev. Carter said.

Several scholarship recipients from each school attended the ceremony.

“Every now and again,” the Rev. Carter told President Nelson in a less-scripted moment, “people should do what you did, and that is get out of the box and surprise some folk, do something very different, what is needed to unite people, to bring harmony.”

“Thank you for being you,” he added.

President Nelson, 98, participated in the event virtually. In a prerecorded video, he said that as a heart surgeon, he literally had held the hearts of people of many races and nationalities all over the world. He said he learned they all are alike.

“In those operating rooms where life hung in the balance, I came to know that our Heavenly Father cares deeply for every one of his children,” President Nelson said. “That’s because we are his children. Differences in nationality, color and culture do not change the fact that we are truly sons and daughters of God, and as a follower and witness of Jesus Christ I have only come to understand that divine truth more deeply.”

Why Morehouse College honored President Nelson

The Rev. Carter said the award committee chose President Nelson as the award’s first recipient because he has led “noble efforts to heal and reunite the broken body of Christ.”

He also said President Nelson has championed “the moral cosmopolitan worldview of the religion of Jesus that is a hallowed blueprint” for worldwide nonviolent human rights struggles and called him an example of courageous, virtuous and ethical 21st-century leadership.

“You have inspired your church to radical inclusivity and solidarity by taking a stand for the rights of women and children and to preserve the intellectual, personal, social and religious freedoms and protection of all humankind,” the Rev. Carter said.

He presented President Nelson with a medallion bearing the profiles of Gandhi, the Rev. King and Mandela, and with a crystal obelisk representing God’s creative power and bearing three Biblical phrases:

• “Let there be light.”
• “And there was light.”
• “And the light was good.”

The Rev. Carter said President Nelson had “worked tirelessly to build bridges of understanding rather than create walls of segregation” and is a worthy successor to Joseph Smith.

What President Nelson said

President Nelson, who has called on Latter-day Saints to lead out in abandoning racism and prejudice, said the church honors Joseph Smith’s vision.

“I’ve stated before and repeat today, that racism, sexism and a host of other -isms are universally and tragically limiting in the way we regard and treat each other,” he said. “Any abuse or prejudice toward another because of race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, culture, or any other identifiers is offensive to our maker, and defies the first and second great commandments, that we should love God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves.

“We firmly believe in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.”

President Nelson repeated one of his constant themes, that all people are children of an inclusive God.

“May we as sons and daughters of God, as eternal brothers and sisters, do all within our power to build up each other, learn from each other and demonstrate respect for all of God’s children,” he said.

“We do not have to act alike or look alike to love each other,” he added. “We can disagree on a matter without being disagreeable.”

SALT LAKE CITY — KSL TV has produced a weekend of special programming for the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday and Sunday.

The programming includes several original documentaries that you’ll see only on KSL TV.

Saturday, April 1

9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. — I Am: The Journey (replay)

Several performers and artists from the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community unite to celebrate diversity, art, and the divinity in each of us. A cultural experience that showcases the talents of people from many different backgrounds and provides insight into the solidarity and connection we can feel as a human family.

10 a.m. – noon — Saturday Morning Session

Noon – 12:30 p.m. — All In, Episode 2 (new documentary)

What does it mean to be all in the gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days? The answers might surprise you.

“All In” is a popular podcast from LDS Living, where they explore this question with those who are striving to live their faith every day. And now, you get to experience it on TV.

In this episode, we talk with:

• Danny Ainge — NBA basketball player, coach and executive
• Cameron Smith — Co-founder of Kodiak Cakes
• Mary Vischer Elliot — Survived WWII concentration camp in Indonesia
• Astrid Tuminez — Utah Valley University President

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. — Shawn Bradley: Strangely Grateful (replay)

At 7’6”, Shawn Bradley is known for his height and athleticism. He is one of the tallest men in the world, and his 12 seasons in the NBA brought him fame and fortune.

Recently, a bicycle accident left him paralyzed. Confined to a wheelchair, his colossal size is a challenge without medical precedent.

His years as an athlete helped prepared him for the physical hardships he now faces, but it is his faith, family and friends that give him the courage he needs to push forward. While his life has been altered in ways he never could have imagined, he and his wife Carrie are carving out a new life together. Their new normal is anything but ordinary, and through it all, they remain strangely grateful.

1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. — Book of Mormon Videos: Behind the Scenes, Christ Visits the People of Nephi (replay)

A behind-the-scenes look at season four of the “Book of Mormon Videos” where Jesus Christ visits the Americas. This visual representation of the resurrected Savior’s visit and ministry to the people in the Western Hemisphere provides context to the scriptures found in 3rd Nephi in The Book of Mormon.

Filmed near Springville, Utah, this production brings together more than 1,000 actors, staff and crew members as they work tirelessly to bring these stories to life.

2 p.m. – 4 p.m. — Saturday Afternoon Session

4 p.m. – 5 p.m. — LDS World Report (new documentary)

5 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. — KSL 5 News

6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. — Saturday Evening Session

7:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. — A More Perfect Union (replay)

We are the United State of America, but today, our divisions seem to run deep. Many people from across the political spectrum believe the Constitution is in crisis.

From our rights and responsibilities to the guiding principles of the Constitution, join us as we seek understanding in order to form a more perfect union.

9 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. — KSL 5 News

Sunday, April 2

9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. — History of the Saints (new documentary)

In Sept. 1823, Moroni appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and the marvelous work and a wonder began.

As we approach the 200th anniversary of that event, what have we learned about the situation of the Smith family, and the Prophet Joseph Smith in particular, in 1823, just preceding Moroni’s appearance?

Many relevant and important details about those foundational events have come to light through the efforts of dedicated historians.

This History of the Saints special presentation shares what we have learned.

9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. — Music and the Spoken Word

10 a.m. – noon — Sunday Morning Session

Noon – 12:30 p.m. — Uvalde Angels (new documentary)

On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, the unthinkable happened at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. A gunman rushed the school, killing 19 children and two teachers.

That night, 1,300 miles away in Huntsville, Utah, 78-year-old JR Johansen was watching the news and saw the horrific story. He wondered what could be done for the grieving families.

Johansen, a Vietnam vet who has experienced his own grief, is an incredible artist. He has dedicated years of service, painting portraits of missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who lost their lives while serving — all free of charge.

He thought of these children in Uvalde, wondering if there was any way to capture their sweet images on canvas. Coincidently, his brother and sister-in-law lived in Texas, and called him days later to see if he would be willing to paint individual portraits for all 21 victims. They would make arrangements to get him photos of each child and a short bio to help Johansen get to know them better.

Immediately, Johansen went to work, and within months, was able to personally deliver the portraits to each of the 21 families. It was a massive undertaking that left an indelible impression on Johansen that will last forever.

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. — Jesus the Christ: The Mesa Easter Pageant (new documentary)

“Jesus the Christ: The Mesa Easter Pageant” is a documentary that follows the annual Easter Pageant in Mesa, Arizona — a production that retells the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through live performances, music, and special effects. The film takes viewers behind the scenes of the pageant, offering an in-depth look at the dedication and hard work that goes into producing such a large-scaled event.

The pageant is an annual event that is not only a religious celebration, but also a cultural one, bringing together people from all backgrounds, religions, and ethnicities to share in the message of faith and hope. Interviews with the cast, crew, and volunteers provide insight into the personal and spiritual significance of their roles in the pageant.

The pageant takes place on the beautiful grounds of the Mesa Arizona Temple and has been a tradition in the community for over 80 years.

Since it began, hundreds of thousands of people have seen it. Recently, the script and score have been rewritten under the direction of writer and composer Rob Gardner.

“Jesus the Christ: The Mesa Easter Pageant” is a moving and powerful film that showcases the dedication, hard work, and faith that goes into producing this annual event. It is an inspiring tribute to the enduring power of the Easter story and the impact it has on the lives of those who participate in the pageant, and those who watch it.

1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. — Fill the Pot Ministry (new documentary)

“Fill The Pot Ministry” is a powerful and inspiring film that shows the impact that one organization can have on the lives of many.

Fill The Pot Ministry was started 15 years ago by Reverend Jay Ragsdale and his wife, Toni. This documentary follows the compassionate work being done there.

Jay and Toni’s mission is to help feed and support the homeless and less fortunate. Rev. Ragsdale experienced homelessness in his own family and decided to take the heartache from that experience and transform it into hope. And now, every Sunday, hundreds of people line up to get a delicious, hot meal prepared by dedicated volunteers.

What began as just two people reaching out to help where they could has evolved into much more than just a Sunday meal — it is now an outreach effort that helps thousands. It is an inter-faith community that comes together in compassion and empathy.

The film examines the impact this ministry has on both those who serve and those who are served. It provides a firsthand look at the daily operations of the ministry, including the challenges and triumphs that come with running a grassroots organization.

Throughout the film, viewers will see how Fill the Pot Ministry is able to provide practical support, such as food and clothing, as well as emotional support through listening and showing empathy. The documentary also highlights the importance of community and the power of individuals coming together to make a difference in the lives of others.

2 p.m. – 4 p.m. — Sunday Afternoon Session

4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. — Washington DC Temple: A Sacred Monument in a City of Monuments (replay)

Towering 288 feet above the skyline in Maryland, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint Washington DC Temple has been a landmark in the nation’s capital for nearly 50 years. Originally dedicated in 1974, this temple had been closed to the general public since this time, but with the recent renovations, the world was welcomed to Come and See inside.

We share the remarkable history behind this beautiful structure and the faith-promoting stories about the people who attend this temple.

4:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. — Inspirational Messages (new documentary)

Short messages from leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

• President Russell M. Nelson talks about finding peace during turbulent times.
• President M. Russell Ballard reflects on the power of love and service amid uncertainty.
• Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and Michelle Craig of the Young Women General Presidency share how to draw closer to Jesus Christ.

5 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. — KSL 5 News

To watch the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and all of our special programming, tune into KSL TV, the KSL TV app, or watch live on staging.ksltv.com/live.

SALT LAKE CITY — Estimated completion of renovation work on the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been delayed once again.

According to a Thursday news release from the Church, the project is now estimated to be finished in 2026.

The original reopening date was 2024, then it was delayed to 2025.

“Construction on the renovation and seismic retrofit of the iconic Salt Lake Temple continues at a deliberate and measured pace. However, when working with historic structures such as this pioneer-era temple, unexpected challenges are inevitable,” the release stated.

Despite the delay, major work is moving forward on the iconic structure.

“A new milestone was reached with the seismic upgrade for the temple on March 7, 2023. Crews poured concrete for the footing of the first base isolator underneath the temple, an important step for the base isolation system. The installation of the first base isolator is anticipated in April.”

Church officials said a working concrete slab — which sits 35 feet below the former sidewalk — now surrounds the entire perimeter of the temple.

“Iron workers will use this surface to assemble reinforced steel cages, which will eventually be encased in concrete to become new footings along the existing foundations of the temple both inside and outside. Once completed, base isolators will rest on this new foundation,” the release stated.

Work is also moving forward on the surrounding Temple Square area, with Church officials saying the northwest corner is expected to be complete in early fall 2023. Once that work is done, the southwest corner — including the Assembly Hall and surrounding gardens and facilities — will close.

A view of the northwest corner of Temple Square shows the development of the area where the North Visitors’ Center once stood. It is estimated that new buildings and landscaping in the corner will be completed in early fall 2023 as part of the ongoing renovations to the temple and surrounding area in Salt Lake City, Utah, March 2023. (Intellectual Reserve, Inc.)

The Beehive House and Joseph Smith Memorial Building will also be closed soon for renovation, while the Lion House — which was closed in 2020 — remains closed. Those three buildings are expected to reopen in 2025.

A map shows access paths and building closures on Temple Square during the extensive renovation project in Salt Lake City, Utah, March 2023. (Intellectual Reserve, Inc.)

More of our coverage on the Salt Lake Temple renovations can be found under our “Religion” section.

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LOGAN, Utah — Police in Logan are investigating vandalism at a historic tabernacle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Logan Tabernacle, located in the middle of the city on Main Street, was streaked with paint over the weekend.

The front doors were spray painted with “F— Joseph Smith” and other paint streaks marred the sign on the building.

Logan Police Captain Curtis Hooley said there’s no video on the site, even though it’s under construction.

“When you look at the pictures… the tabernacle is fenced off with chain link. But it was inside on the front doors of the building that faced Main Street,” Holley said.

Brady Henderson was one of the workers hired to clean up the paint.

“…Starting to see it more and more. Not usually front and center downtown though,” Henderson said.

This is the second case of vandalism of a religious building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in November. Just over a week ago, on Nov. 13, a church building in Perry, Utah was badly vandalized.

Police identify teens believed to be responsible for church vandalism in Perry

Police in Perry said two teens smashed glass, damaged an organ and piano, and slashed paintings in a meetinghouse.

Construction began on the Logan Tabernacle in 1864 and was completed in 1891 and is primarily used today for semi-annual stake conferences, seminary graduations, musical concerts, and lectures.

SALT LAKE CITY — KSL TV has produced a weekend of special programming for the 192nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday and Sunday.

The programming includes several original documentaries that you’ll see only on KSL TV.

Saturday, Oct. 1

9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. — History of the Saints (new documentary)

The Prophet Joseph Smith declared, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book” Therefore, the more we can learn of it and about it, the greater will be our advantage. This History of the Saints special presentation is the scholars of the Joseph Smith papers explaining the story of the original manuscript of the Book of Mormon. It is a fascinating history.

10 a.m. – noon — Saturday Morning Session

Noon – 12:30 p.m. — I Am: The Journey (new documentary)

Several performers and artist from the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community unite to celebrate diversity, art, and the divinity in each of us. A cultural experience that showcases the talents of people from many different backgrounds and provides insight into the solidarity and connection we can feel as a human family.

12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m. — The Indy Effect (replay)

Influencer and blogger Terah Belle Jones broke the news to her Instagram followers that her 5-year-old daughter Indy Llew Jones had passed away following a battle with cancer. Terah and her husband, Brian Jones, have shared Indy’s journey with their 260,000 Instagram followers. Indy was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare disorder that can progress into leukemia. Her cancer went into remission twice, but in April 2021 her mom confirmed that Indy’s cancer had returned and there wasn’t much more they could do. In the weeks that followed, the family of four brought Indy home from the hospital and cherished every moment together, including celebrating her fifth birthday. “I have never known this kind of pain, but I’ve also never known this kind of triumph,” she wrote. “My Indy Llew has changed the world.” The effect Indy has left behind has been enormous. People around the globe have been touched by her incredible spirit and journey.

1 p.m. – 2 p.m. — October 2022 World Report

The October 2022 World Report, a biannual compilation of news from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, features rededicated historical temples in Washington, D.C., and Tokyo, and President Russell M. Nelson marking the announcements of the construction of 100 new temples over the last four years.

The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles ministry took Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf to Poland where he ministered to Ukrainian refugees. Elder David A. Bednar addressed the National Press Club — the first time the organization was addressed by a Church leader since President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke to the journalists in 2000.

The World Report also documents the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ historic contribution of $32 million to the World Food Programme to feed more than 1.6 million people facing extreme hunger. The Church is also supporting global efforts to improve educational opportunities for children and many other initiatives.

2 p.m. – 4 p.m. — Saturday Afternoon Session

4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. — A More Perfect Union (new documentary)

We are the United State of America but today our divisions seem to run deep. Many people from across the political spectrum believe the Constitution is in crisis. From our rights and responsibilities to the guiding principles of the Constitution, join us as we seek understanding in order to form a more perfect union.

4:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. — Deserae Turner: Tougher Than a Bullet (replay)

On February 16, 2017, Fourteen-year-old Deserae Turner’s life forever changed. The talented state-champion horse rider was shot in the head and left for dead in a canal in Smithfield. She laid in that cold wintery canal for 8 hours before being found by her schoolteacher. Her body temperature at the time was 78 degrees and she was not expected to survive. Today Deserae is beating the odds and thriving in miraculous ways. After spending 63 days at Primary Children’s hospital she told the media “I’m tougher than a bullet.” Her comeback story of faith, courage, and determination has allowed her to fulfil her dreams. She has been an inspiration to thousands of people along the way.

5 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. — KSL 5 News

6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. — Saturday Evening Session

7:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. — Found (replay)

Abandoned at a young age, some of Diane Call’s earliest memories still haunt her. She was born in a small village in India—her name was Vijaya. When she was 3 years old her mother left her at an orphanage near their home and told her she would return with food. She waited but her mother never returned. This was the beginning of a journey that would take Diane out of India and into a new home in Loa, Utah where she was adopted, and her name changed. Diane’s lifelong quest to understand who she is, and to find belonging, began in those moments at the orphanage and continues even now. Today she watches as miracles unfold before her and she discovers unexpected relationships with people from her past. It is through these miracles, and new relationships, that she finds her identity as a daughter of God.

9 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. — KSL 5 News

Sunday, Oct. 2

9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. — Someone at the Other End (replay)

An in-depth look at the work being done for Afghan refugees. Several agencies in the state have worked tirelessly to help with the transition for these new members in our community. Volunteers have stepped up to support those fleeing the violence in their country; and to show them there is truly someone at the other end who is willing to help. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has partnered with Catholic Community Services, The International Rescue Committee and many other agencies, to provide much needed help. This collective effort is giving hope and healing to those who are new here.

9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. — Music and the Spoken Word

10 a.m. – noon — Sunday Morning Session

Noon – 1 p.m. — Shawn Bradley: Strangely Grateful (new documentary)

At 7’6” Shawn Bradley is known for his height and athleticism. He is one of the tallest men in the world, and his 12 seasons in the NBA brought him fame and fortune. Recently a bicycle accident left him paralyzed. Confined to a wheelchair his colossal size is a challenge without medical precedent. His years as an athlete helped prepared him for the physical hardships he now faces, but it is his faith, family and friends that give him the courage he needs to push forward. While his life has been altered in ways he never could have imagined, he and his wife Carrie are carving out a new life together. Their new normal is anything but ordinary, and through it all they remain strangely grateful.

1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. — Book of Mormon Videos: Behind the Scenes (new documentary)

A Behind the Scenes look at season four of the “Book of Mormon Videos” where Jesus Christ visits the Americas. This visual representation of the resurrected Savior’s visit and ministry to the people in the Western Hemisphere provides context to the scriptures found in 3rd Nephi in The Book of Mormon. Filmed near Springville, Utah this production brings together more than 1,000 actors, staff and crew members as they work tirelessly to bring these stories to life.

1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. — Washington DC Temple: A Sacred Monument (new documentary)

Towering 288 feet above the skyline in Maryland, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint Washington DC temple has been a landmark in the nation’s capital for nearly 50 years. Originally dedicated in 1974 this temple had been closed to the general public since this time, but with the recent renovations the world was welcomed to Come and See inside. We share the remarkable history behind this beautiful structure and the faith-promoting stories about the people who attend this temple.

2 p.m. – 4 p.m. — Sunday Afternoon Session

To watch the 192nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and all of our special programming, tune into KSL TV, the KSL TV app, or watch live on staging.ksltv.com/live.

Just off I-80 in Parley’s Canyon hidden past a gate, a road winds away from the roar of traffic and into the tranquil babble of a canyon creek.

“It’s just a great place to be,” said John Felt, who has been coming up to Mt. Aire since he was a young child.

While breathing in nature gives the community of Mt. Aire its name and appeal, the people like Felt attached to the nearly 50 modest cabins lining the canyon really love it for its past.

“I think about my grandmother. She lived up here all summer,” Felt said. He explained how his grandmother bought the cabin he now lovingly keeps up 70 years ago.

But the hand-troweled stone walls go back much further than Felt’s own family history. Families influential in the founding of Utah, made Mt. Aire their getaway.

“It was built in 1890s, so it’s well over 100 years old,” Felt said. He described how one of the sons of Parley P. Pratt built the square stone structure, as part of three stone cabins built by the Pratt sons.

Parley P. Pratt was known as the man who surveyed the canyon that now bears his name, and building the first road through Parley’s Canyon. He was also an early leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was one of the first members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

The Pratt sons staked claims in the canyon along with Willard B. Richards and his family members. Willard B. Richards was the son of Willard Richards, who served as private secretary to Joseph Smith, and helped establish Deseret News– serving as its first editor-in-chief.

Richards was also known as surviving the attack in Carthage Jail that killed Joseph and Hyrum Smith.

Not only was Richards’ son involved in homesteading Mt. Aire, his daughter Sarah Ellen Richards Smith also had a cabin built. She was one of the wives of Joseph F. Smith, son of Hyrum Smith and nephew of Joseph Smith. Joseph F. Smith was President of the Church for nearly two decades and also served in Utah’s territorial legislature.

Over the years, the cabins multiplied as families grew. Today, somewhere around two dozen summer cabins built between the late 1800s to 1930s remain, many passed down from generation to generation in the Richards, Smith and Pratt families.

“Most of the cabins here are historic, and many of them have been preserved to be in the condition that they were in when they were built,” said Frank Nilson, standing next to a hutch filled with historical photos in the dining area of one of the Pratt cabins.

Frank Nilson doesn’t just appreciate the history, he comes from it.

He explained how his great-grandmother is Sarah Ellen Richards Smith. Her son Franklin Richards Smith was Nilson’s grandfather.

Nilson is the fifth generation to own a cabin up Mt. Aire, and while his cabin isn’t the original cabin his great-grandmother enjoyed on hot summer days, Sarah Ellen’s cabin is still standing up the road from his.

His family purchased one of the stone Pratt cabins when he was in high school. His kids grew up spending summer days playing by the creek that runs adjacent to the humble building, and now his grandchildren will.

“What a wonderful place to grow up, and to have a place where your family memories and your family ties bind you all together,” Nilson said, as tears welled in his eyes. “And that’s what we’ve enjoyed here for 130 years.”

But Nilson’s fondness for the past, is turning into fear for the future.

“It’s a very emotional thought to think that what we have here could be altered and taken away from us,” Nilson said, getting choked up.

He and other Mt. Aire residents are leery of a proposed limestone mining project over the ridge. The proposal is embroiled in controversy and a legal battle.

Controversial Parley’s Canyon mine proposal gets permit, but could become a legal battle

Worries expressed by residents range from impacts on air pollution, to water quality, to blasting.

“When we have these structures that have been here, some of them for 120, 125, 130 years, what is going to happen when we start having dynamite so close to us?” Nilson questioned. He and Felt explained that the stone cabins are not reinforced, and they worry about walls crumbling. Some cabins sit high in the hills on wooden stilts two stories off the ground.

That’s why Nilson and other cabin owners are coming together to apply for a National Register of Historic Places designation for the entire Mt. Aire community.

“We would have some backing to help us preserve what we have here,” Nilson expressed, as his hope.

Right now, they’re in the process of documenting each historic building, and the unique stories behind them as they begin the application process.

Owners and Mt. Air descendants share the hope that they can keep the area intact for the future.

“I just enjoy coming up here because it’s so peaceful,” Felt said.

“I want this to continue to be the beautiful, serene place that it is,” Nilson said. “Where I can bring my grandkids and they can have fun.”

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OMAHA, Nebraska (AP) — A Nebraska woman has been charged with helping her teenage daughter end her pregnancy at about 24 weeks after investigators uncovered Facebook messages in which the two discussed using medication to induce an abortion and plans to burn the fetus afterward.

The prosecutor handling the case said it’s the first time he has charged anyone for illegally performing an abortion after 20 weeks, a restriction that was passed in 2010. Before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, states weren’t allowed to enforce abortion bans until the point at which a fetus is considered viable outside the womb, at roughly 24 weeks.

In one of the Facebook messages, Jessica Burgess, 41, tells her then 17-year-old daughter that she has obtained abortion pills for her and gives her instructions on how to take them to end the pregnancy.

The daughter, meanwhile, “talks about how she can’t wait to get the ‘thing’ out of her body,” a detective wrote in court documents. “I will finally be able to wear jeans,” she says in one of the messages. Law enforcement authorities obtained the messages with a search warrant, and detailed some of them in court documents.

In early June, the mother and daughter were only charged with a single felony for removing, concealing or abandoning a body, and two misdemeanors: concealing the death of another person and false reporting. It wasn’t until about a month later, after investigators reviewed the private Facebook messages, that they added the felony abortion-related charges against the mother. The daughter, who is now 18, is being charged as an adult at prosecutors’ request.

Burgess’ attorney didn’t immediately respond to a message Tuesday, and the public defender representing the daughter declined to comment.

When first interviewed, the two told investigators that the teen had unexpectedly given birth to a stillborn baby in the shower in the early morning hours of April 22. They said they put the fetus in a bag, placed it in a box in the back of their van, and later drove several miles north of town, where they buried the body with the help of a 22-year-old man.

The man, whom The Associated Press is not identifying because he has only been charged with a misdemeanor, has pleaded no contest to helping bury the fetus on rural land his parents own north of Norfolk in northeast Nebraska. He’s set to be sentenced later this month.

In court documents, the detective said the fetus showed signs of “thermal wounds” and that the man told investigators the mother and daughter did burn it. He also wrote that the daughter confirmed in the Facebook exchange with her mother that the two would “burn the evidence afterward.” Based on medical records, the fetus was more than 23 weeks old, the detective wrote.

Burgess later admitted to investigators to buying the abortion pills “for the purpose of instigating a miscarriage.”

At first, both mother and daughter said they didn’t remember the date when the stillbirth happened, but according to the detective, the daughter later confirmed the date by consulting her Facebook messages. After that he sought the warrant, he said.

Madison County Attorney Joseph Smith told the Lincoln Journal Star that he’s never filed charges like this related to performing an abortion illegally in his 32 years as the county prosecutor. He didn’t immediately respond to a message from the AP on Tuesday.

The group National Advocates for Pregnant Women, which supports abortion rights, found 1,331 arrests or detentions of women for crimes related to their pregnancy from 2006 to 2020.

In addition to its current 20-week abortion ban, Nebraska tried — but failed — earlier this year to pass a so-called trigger law that would have banned all abortions when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

A Facebook spokesman declined to talk about the details of this case, but the company has said that officials at the social media giant “always scrutinize every government request we receive to make sure it is legally valid.”

Facebook says it will fight back against requests that it thinks are invalid or too broad, but the company said it gave investigators information in about 88% of the 59,996 times when the government requested data in the second half of last year.

MANCHESTER, N.Y. — Several shots were fired at or near the Hill Cumorah Visitors’ Center according to a release from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Finger Lakes Times reports that about 80 people were in the building when shots were fired and the Ontario County sheriff’s personnel said there were a total of more than 22 shots fired at the building.

Eric Hawkins, a spokesman with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, released the following statement to media Wednesday: “This afternoon, several shots were fired at or near the Hill Cumorah Visitors’ Center in Palmyra, New York. Gratefully, no injuries have been reported. At this hour, there is little information available. Inquiries about details should be directed to local law enforcement.”

New York State Police are over the area but have not provided any information at this point.

The Hill Cumorah is a site of religious significance for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and has a visitors’ center there for guests.

The site is believed to be the place where Joseph Smith, the first prophet and former leader of the Church, met with an angel to receive the gold plates with writings from which the Book of Mormon was translated.

SALT LAKE CITY — KSL TV has produced a weekend of special programming for the 192nd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday and Sunday.

The programming includes several original documentaries that you’ll see only on KSL TV.

Saturday, April 2

9:30 a.m.-10 a.m.

HISTORY OF THE SAINTS: Joseph Smith’s Greatest Sermon: The King Follett Discourse

On April 7, 1844, The Prophet Joseph Smith preached a funeral sermon for Elder King Follett before an audience of about 20,000 people in Nauvoo, Illinois. By the doctrines taught and the revolutionary ideas conveyed it remains one of the greatest sermons he ever preached. Indeed, it has been called “one of the truly remarkable sermons ever preached in America.”

Saturday, 10 a.m. – noon

SATURDAY MORNING SESSION OF GENERAL CONFERENCE

Saturday, noon – 12:30 p.m.

TOUGHER THAN A BULLET

On Feb. 16, 2017, 14-year-old Deserae Turner’s life forever changed. The talented state-champion horse rider was shot in the head and left for dead in a canal in Smithfield. She lay in that cold wintery canal for eight hours before being found by her schoolteacher. Her body temperature at the time was 78 degrees and she was not expected to survive. Today, Deserae is beating the odds and thriving in miraculous ways.  After spending 63 days at Primary Children’s Hospital, she told the media “I’m tougher than a bullet.” Her comeback story of faith, courage and determination has allowed her to fulfill her dreams. She has been an inspiration to thousands of people along the way.

Saturday, 12:30 p.m.-1 p.m.

SACRED IMAGES

During the pandemic, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints requested a new vision for the foyers or entryways of Church meetinghouses. They wanted art that reflects a deeper reverence for the Lord Jesus Christ. Many Church buildings have new artwork and others are in the process of change. A diverse group of Latter-day Saint artists is creating images that reflect the cultural and racial ‘peoples of the world.’ Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Church’s art collection and how copies of those works are made and sent worldwide. The Primary General Presidency has chosen art for its offices –see why they find those images sacred and why it is important that Latter-day Saint children experience art that moves them too. And finally, The Center for Latter-day Saint Arts in New York City. See the diversity of sacred art in an exhibit titled “Great Awakening.”

Saturday, 1 p.m.-1:30 p.m.

BLIND FAITH

For two nights a week over four months out of the year, the Stang Aquatic Center in Hyrum, Utah, is home to one of the best high school water polo teams in the state: The Cache Valley Kraken. Their offense is straight-up fire, and they’ve got a defense that may be even better. One of the key pieces to that defense is their senior goalie, Benjamin Lehnig. He’s 6-foot-3, with a wingspan nearly as long. Benjamin is good, treading water for almost half his life. But here’s the thing about life: whether it’s in the pool or out of the pool, in the middle of it all, there are simply some things you never see coming.

Saturday, 1:30 p.m.-2 p.m.

SOMEONE AT THE OTHER END

Here we take an in-depth look at the work being done for Afghan refugees. Several agencies in the state have worked tirelessly to help with the transition for these new members of our community. Volunteers have stepped up to support those fleeing the violence in their country, and to show them there is truly someone at the other end who is willing to help. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has partnered with Catholic Community Services, The International Rescue Committee, and many other agencies to provide much-needed help. This collective effort is giving hope and healing to those who are new here.

Saturday, 2 p.m. -4 p.m.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON SESSION OF GENERAL CONFERENCE

Saturday, 4 p.m.-5 p.m.

KSL RADIO 100 YEARS

Beginning on May 6, 1922, Utah became the broadcast home of the first clear channel radio station in the western United States. Heber J. Grant, then president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints delivered the state’s first radio message. At the time the call letters were KZN and broadcasts were done from a shack on top of the Deseret News Building. Being the first radio station in the area, the majority of the population didn’t even have radios. KSL sent out mobile “sound trucks” to public areas where people would congregate to get their daily news. In 1923, the first broadcast of LDS general conference aired. It’s a semi-annual tradition that still happens today. Mormon Tabernacle Choir broadcasts began in July 1929 and still continue today. Now known as the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, its Music and The Spoken Word program is the longest-running nationwide network radio program in history.

Saturday, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

WOMEN’S SESSION OF GENERAL CONFERENCE 

Saturday, 8 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

INSIDE CHURCH HEADQUARTERS

This program gives a look at the inner workings at Church Headquarters for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Attend an executive council meeting with Apostles and other leaders to hear what happens during these important gatherings and go inside other committee meetings to gain a better understanding of how things work. This is your chance to get an inside look at how decisions are made and see the people behind the scenes who help keep the church programs running.

Saturday, 8:30 p.m.-9 p.m.

A SHIFT OF HEART

If you own a t-shirt with a design on it, you have Ed “Big Daddy” Roth to thank for it. He was in southern California in the early hot rod days, doing custom graphics and pinstriping. He would airbrush jackets for car clubs and started making monster designs on them. In SoCal it’s often too hot for jackets, so he started painting designs on t-shirts, which were considered underwear at the time and not worn outside. Demand was too high for airbrushing, so he started mass screen printing them. Roth created the character “Rat Fink” as a counter to Mickey Mouse. Ed was a good guy but he also ran with tough crowds. He created crazy custom cars that became model kits for kids in the 60s and 70s. Revell Model Company gave him the nickname “Big Daddy.” These models helped inspire the guy who designs modern Corvettes. Missionaries converted Roth to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints later in life and he moved to Manti because it was quiet and had a temple. He died in 2001, and every year since then his widow hosts a Rat Fink Reunion in Manti on the first weekend in June. Finksters come from all over the world to carry on the automotive art and Roth’s legacy.

Sunday, April 3

Sunday, 9 a.m.-9:30 am

A GREAT WORK

The prophet for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has called upon the youth of the Church to lay the foundation of a great work. The power of these young people is seen in their faith and everyday actions as they live extraordinary lives. They are making a difference across the world and giving service to their communities. Hear stories of several youths who are having a powerful influence on those around them as they develop their talents and help their families succeed.

Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-10 a.m.

MUSIC AND THE SPOKEN WORD

Sunday, 10 a.m. -noon

SUNDAY MORNING SESSION OF GENERAL CONFERENCE

Sunday, noon-12:30 p.m.

THE INDY EFFECT

Influencer and blogger Terah Belle Jones broke the news to her Instagram followers that her 5-year-old daughter Indy Llew Jones had passed away following a battle with cancer. Terah and her husband, Brian Jones, have shared Indy’s journey with their 260,000 Instagram followers. Indy was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare disorder that can progress into leukemia. Her cancer went into remission twice, but in April 2021 her mom confirmed that Indy’s cancer had returned and there wasn’t much more they could do. In the weeks that followed, the family of four brought Indy home from the hospital and cherished every moment together, including celebrating her fifth birthday. “I have never known this kind of pain but I’ve also never known this kind of triumph,” she wrote. “My Indy Llew has changed the world.” The effect Indy has left behind has been enormous. People around the globe have been touched by her incredible spirit and journey.

Sunday, 12:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

REDEEMED: The Sione Havili Story

In the cool fall air, gunshots pierce the night.  It’s a drive-by shooting.  Two Tongan gangs, the Crips of Glendale and the Regulators from West Valley, fight for turf.  Before 19-year-old Sione Havili is able to process all that’s happened he joins five friends in a van bound on getting revenge. With two one-gallon containers of gas and rags for a fuse, they firebomb a rival’s house, burning it to the ground. Fortunately, no one is home. Without disclosing his involvement in the crime, three months later Sione—a BYU scholarship athlete—is serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His call had already been issued prior to that fateful night. But eventually, justice caught up to him and he returned home to pay the price. What happened afterward is a story of redemption. A journey that proves someone once broken can be redeemed.

Sunday, 1 p.m.-1:30 p.m.

ALL IN

What does it mean to be “all in” the gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days? The answers might surprise you. All In is a popular podcast from LDS Living, that explores this question with the help of authors and artists who are striving to live their faith every day.

Sunday, 1:30 p.m.-2 p.m.

FOUND

Abandoned at a young age, some of Diane Call’s earliest memories still haunt her. She was born in a small village in India—her name was Vijaya. When she was 3 years old her mother left her at an orphanage near their home and told her she would return with food. She waited but her mother never returned. This was the beginning of a journey that would take Diane out of India and into a new home in Loa, Utah where she was adopted and her name changed.  Diane’s lifelong quest to understand who she is, and to find belonging, began in those moments at the orphanage and continues even now. Today she watches as miracles unfold before her and she discovers unexpected relationships with people from her past. It is through these miracles, and new relationships, that she finds her true identity as a daughter of God.

Sunday, 2 p.m.-4 p.m.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON SESSION OF GENERAL CONFERENCE

Sunday, 4 p.m.-5 p.m.

WORLD REPORT

The World Report is a biannual compilation of news from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The April 2022 edition highlights some of the work being done by Latter-Day Saint Charities in Jordan to help families become self-sufficient through farming bees and goats. (See this page for the latest news on how the Church is helping refugees in Europe.) You will also see the impact JustServe is having in various communities. JustServe is a free community service platform sponsored by the Church and available in select cities. The World Report also offers a summary of the ministry of the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and General Officers, including a keynote address by President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency at the University of Virginia on religious freedom and nondiscrimination; and messages of hope from members of the Relief Society General Presidency when they were in Egypt and in Dubai. The April 2022 World Report also documents the progress of new temple projects and renovations around the world, including the extensive restoration of the historic Salt Lake Temple. 

Sunday, 5 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

KSL TV NEWS

SALT LAKE CITY – Thursday marks the 180th anniversary of the Relief Society – the women’s organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

KSL’s Carole Mikita talked with President Jean Bingham.

The Relief Society, called by Latter-day Saints the oldest and largest women’s organization in the world with more than 7-million members, was founded on March 17, 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, under the direction of Church prophet Joseph Smith. His wife, Emma, was the first president. 

Relief Society General President Jean Bingham called it a restoration and points to the women who were the first disciples of Jesus Christ as examples. 

“In the Savior’s time, the women were focused on trying to relieve suffering,” he said. 

When asked why it is important to mark this moment in the history of this women’s organization, Bingham said, “It’s significant because we have the exact same purpose today that they did 180 years ago. We are a society of women that are looking to relieve, to bring relief to those who are suffering. And there’s so many ways to do that. I think about some of the efforts that we’re focusing on now — literacy, for instance. There’s so many women around the world that need that skill. There are so many challenges with nutrition. How can we help children that have malnutrition and their mothers who are dealing with that?” 

The Relief Society is also helping refugees from many nations.  

“When you think about coming to a new country, you don’t know that, even how to buy groceries. How do you get around the city? What’s public transportation? It’s daunting, especially if you don’t understand the language yet,” Sister Bingham said about helping a family from Afghanistan some years ago. “And to get them to the point where they could become citizens of the United States was such a thrill for them. And it was a thrill for me to be able to have an impact and to see these newcomers be assimilated into the community.”  

They are still friends, she said, adding that they see each other every month. 

To each group of women she interacts with around the world, Bingham says she reminds them to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

“The motto of the Relief Society is ‘Charity Never Faileth.’ In other words, in today’s vernacular, charity is always the answer. I cannot tell you how joyful it has been to meet sisters in the Philippines, in Ghana, in Chile, many places around the world. We have the same needs and the same desires to help one another. And that’s the beauty of Relief Society.” 

Sister Bingham says she hopes that all Latter-day Saint women, young women, and girls who turn 12 in 2022, will participate in a special women’s session of General Conference, which will take place Saturday, April 2 at 6 p.m. 

You can watch that session on KSL TV.

KSL DOCUMENTARY – The Savior governs His Church through councils. This divine pattern is critical to the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at every level.

This Church News documentary, titled “Inside Church Headquarters,” examines the essential role of councils in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, beginning with the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and extending to stake, ward and family councils.

It highlights the need for women’s voices in councils. Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and general women leaders also speak about the purpose and functions of three of the Church’s executive councils: the Missionary Executive Council, the Temple and Family History Executive Council, and the Priesthood and Family Executive Council.

“In the abundance of counsel, there is wisdom,” said President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency. “When the Prophet Joseph Smith was called, he taught the world, and he taught all of us for the first time, the first principle about the plan of salvation is that our Heavenly Father introduced it in a great council in heaven. So, as Latter-day Saints, we begin with councils.”

The council system, said President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “is the way you move things safely and solidly from where it is to where it needs to be.”

SALT LAKE CITY — All 160 operating temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have reopened for worship services, according to President Russell M. Nelson.

The Kyiv Ukraine Temple, which reopened on Monday, was the final temple to reopen since all temples were closed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I will never forget the day near the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic when we had to make the excruciating decision to close the temples,” President Nelson said in a Facebook post Monday. “The rapid spread of the virus made this decision inevitable, but it was a painful one. I couldn’t help but wonder how the Prophet Joseph Smith and all of my predecessors would feel about the action we were taking.”

“But now, with the temples open, our work for those on both sides of the veil can be resumed. To have all our temples reopened, at least to some degree, is a cause for rejoicing.

“I am grateful for the many scientists, health care workers, and leaders who have stemmed the tide of this virus such that we can now safely gather in larger numbers. And I thank you, my dear brothers and sisters, for your patience and worthiness to serve.

“May we cherish the blessings of the House of the Lord and attend the temple as often as our circumstances permit.”

All 17 operating temples in Utah have moved to Phase 3 of the Church’s reopening guidelines, which allows for all ordinances with some restrictions. Another 10 temples have been announced or are under construction in the Beehive State.

The St. George and Salt Lake temples remain closed for renovation but will be listed in Phase 3 so patrons in those temple districts can attend nearby temples. Another six temples are currently closed for renovations, including temples in Washington, DC; Tokyo, Hong Kong, Mesa, Arizona; Columbus, Ohio, and Hamilton, New Zealand.

The Manti Utah Temple will close for renovations on Oct. 1.

Church officials said 10 temples have paused operations due to local COVID-19 restrictions as of July 5.