See What the New Temples in Guatemala and Japan Will Look Like (Church Newsroom) (May 26, 2020)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released exterior renderings showing the planned design of two temples previously announced in 2019 by Church President Russell M. Nelson.

Latest temple updates: 66 temples in limited reopening as 14 temples start Phase 1 on June 1 (Church News) (May 26, 2020)
For the fourth time in as many weeks, more than 10 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been identified to reopen for limited husband-and-wife sealing ordinances.

As COVID-19 Restrictions Ease, Here's How the Church Is Reintegrating (Church Newsroom) (May 26, 2020)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is following the lead of governments and healthcare professionals around the world as it considers a measured return to normal operating procedures disrupted by COVID-19.

‘I have a little bit of crazy in me’: How BYU pole vaulter Elise Romney one-upped her football-playing husband’s heroics last fall (Deseret News - Utah) (May 26, 2020)
A senior, the former Elise Machen broke a school record in February before the coronavirus pandemic stopped her try for a national championship in March. She will return in 2021 for an NCAA-allowed extra year to compete in the outdoor season.

Small-Scale Groundbreaking Held for Layton Utah Temple (Church Newsroom) (May 25, 2020)
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the need to limit public gatherings, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints determined a traditional groundbreaking for the Layton Utah Temple, with invited guests, was not prudent. The First Presidency assigned the Utah Area Presidency to conduct a small-scale groundbreaking, held Saturday, May 23, so that construction could proceed.

Video Shows Behind-the-Scenes Look at President Nelson Filming Bicentennial Proclamation (Church News) (May 25, 2020)
In preparation for the 200th anniversary of the First Vision, President Russell M. Nelson retraced the steps of the Prophet Joseph Smith into the Sacred Grove and delivered a bold proclamation to the world declaring the ongoing Restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ.

More than 800 volunteers visit Midland to help flood victims despite pandemic (Click On Detroit - Michigan) (May 25, 2020)
Instead of gathering with loved ones this Memorial Day weekend, more than 800 volunteers traveled to Midland to take part in a massive cleanup effort. “It’s dirty, filthy muddy work, and no one who is actually working will go home today clean,” said Derrek Henrie with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sunday no day of rest for the faithful in flooded Midland area (Detroit Free Press - Michigan) (May 25, 2020)
Strangers arrived at Donald Martin’s home Sunday to toss bits of his drywall and furniture out of his windows and front door. As it landed in thuds on his green lawn, opposite a once beautiful lake, other strangers arrived to haul it away.

How Chris Burgess, a former Blue Devil and Ute, now pitches the BYU hoops program (Deseret News - Utah) (May 25, 2020)
Chris Burgess is a smooth, articulate, passionate basketball coach. He could recruit for Timpview High, Michigan State or the Flying Leopards of Liaoning, China, if asked. But today, Burgess recruits for BYU, a school he rejected for Duke out of high school, and again after leaving the Blue Devils for the University of Utah as a frustrated collegian in Durham.

Tabernacle Choir releases playlist of Restoration songs on Spotify and YouTube (Church News) (May 25, 2020)
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square has released a playlist on its Spotify and YouTube channels composed of hymns centered on the Restoration. The free playlist, “Hear Him! Music in Praise of the Restoration,” features songs performed by The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.

Latter-day Saints Around the World: Country Newsroom Websites, May 22, 2020 (Church Newsroom) (May 25, 2020)
In April, members of the Davao Interfaith Group representing Focolare Movement, Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with various businesses, assembled and delivered 1,300 face shields to the health care workers battling the global pandemic.

BYU-Idaho’s President and Sister Eyring Speak on Staying Family-focused and Journaling as a Tool of Faith (Church News) (May 25, 2020)
In a prerecorded campus devotional address, BYU–Idaho President Henry J. Eyring recalled his first three months living in Rexburg as a child, when his father, President Henry B. Eyring, served as the president of the school then called Ricks College.

How Live Social Media Events During COVID-19 Are Changing FamilySearch's Future (Church News) (May 25, 2020)
One of the reasons Wendy Smedley loves storytelling is because she grew up in a home where stories weren’t often shared. “Both of my parents grew up in disadvantaged childhoods,” she said. “It was so painful, they never talked about it. My dad had two or three stories that he would tell us on repeat.”

How to count missionaries on the 2020 census during COVID-19 changes (KUTV - Utah) (May 22, 2020)
The U.S. Census Bureau is providing clarifications about how to count missionaries on the 2020 census, something particularly useful in Utah.

Meet the new General Authority from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Church News) (May 22, 2020)
21 MAY 2020 2:00 PM MDT When Elder Thierry K. Mutombo was 10 years old, he witnessed the power the gospel of Jesus Christ has to change people’s lives. Before his family converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he felt a lack of peace and joy in his household, Elder Mutombo said.

Kalani Sitake Talks BYU Football, Coaching During a Pandemic, and His Gospel-Driven Goals (Church News) (May 22, 2020)
There’s a lot of stuff bouncing about Kalani Sitake’s brain at the moment. Yes, there’s an ongoing pandemic—but he’s still recruiting future Cougars and connecting with his players and staff while practicing social distancing.

First Presidency Provides Guidelines for Safely Returning to Church Meetings and Activities (Church Newsroom) (May 21, 2020)
The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have authorized a phased return to some of the faith’s weekly worship services and activities. A letter sent today to general and local leaders around the world says this can be done only when local government regulations allow and after the faith’s Area Presidencies provide additional guidance to local Church leaders.

First Presidency Announces the Creation of 4 Additional Quorums of Area Seventies (Church News) (May 21, 2020)
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced an increase in the number of quorums of the Seventy, adding four quorums for Area Seventies to the existing eight quorums and changing the geographic structure of quorum assignments.

President Cordon on ‘Women and Priesthood’ — Increased power through service (Church News) (May 21, 2020)
It is in giving that we receive. I learned this from Sister Amy Wright. In late 2015, Amy was diagnosed with stage four cancer and given a 17% chance to live. Her doctors explained that the current treatment for her cancer was so invasive and painful that even though it was their only hope for survival, many patients struggled to complete the treatment.

Latter-day Saints Rejoice in Dubai Temple Announcement (Church Newsroom) (May 21, 2020)
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Middle East are rejoicing at the announcement that a temple will be built in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Church President Russell M. Nelson announced the temple on April 5, 2020, during the Church’s general conference.

Beehive Clothing facilities worldwide will produce 200,000 gowns, 1.5 million masks in COVID-19 relief project (Church News) (May 21, 2020)
A half-dozen of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Beehive Clothing facilities in five different countries are being used to produce surgical gowns and masks for health care workers.

BYU, other Latter-day Saint colleges and universities turn down $54 million from CARES Act, start private aid for students (Deseret News - Utah) (May 21, 2020)
Despite facing significant pandemic-related financial losses, four universities and colleges owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have turned down more than $54.1 million in federal stimulus funding.

‘Mormon Land’: A Latter-day Saint artist’s take on the church’s move to display more paintings of Jesus (Salt Lake Tribune - Utah) (May 21, 2020)
A week ago, top leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints directed that all displays in foyers and entryways in the faith’s meetinghouses across the globe be reserved exclusively for artwork that depicts Jesus. They even included a list of 22 paintings for such use.

Angel Moroni Statue and Capstone Removed from Salt Lake Temple (Church Newsroom) (May 19, 2020)
In the latest stage of the renovation of the Salt Lake Temple, the angel Moroni* statue and circular capstone beneath its feet were removed from the temple’s central east spire. These historic items were carried Monday morning through the air to the ground via crane for preservation and refurbishing. This will prepare both items for a later reinstallation.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid and wife Tammy discuss faith, family and football in virtual fireside chat (ChiefsWire - Kansas) (May 19, 2020)
On Sunday evening, Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid and his wife Tammy Reid conducted a virtual fireside chat for the Latter-day Saints of Greater Kansas City. During the chat, they talked about faith, family and a whole lot of football.

Sister Joyce Taylor, widow of former General Authority, dies at 87 (Church News) (May 19, 2020)
Sister Joyce Taylor, widow of Elder Russell C. Taylor, died on May 4, 2020, in Sandy, Utah, at the age of 87. Sister Taylor served alongside her husband as he presided over the Georgia Atlanta Mission from 1976 to 1979 prior to his call as a General Authority Seventy.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donates to Kadu Care-Givers (Guam Daily Post - Guam) (May 19, 2020)
In the last seven weeks, the Kadu Care-Givers Program has donated nearly 4,000 meals to families who need a little help, according to a press release from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

LDS Business College chooses not to accept CARES Act funding (KUTV - Utah) (May 19, 2020)
LDS Business College announced Monday that despite experiencing significant financial loss because of the coronavirus pandemic that it won't be accepting any funding from the CARES Act.

Young Missionary Passes Away in Georgia (Church Newsroom) (May 18, 2020)
With heavy hearts, we share news of the death of a young missionary serving in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission. Elder McKay Bergeson, age 19, of Bountiful, Utah, died Saturday evening after getting hit by a vehicle while on his bicycle in LaFayette, Georgia.

Cyclist killed in Walker County hit-and-run (WRCBtv - Georgia) (May 18, 2020)
A cyclist was killed in a hit-and-run on U.S. Highway 27 in Lafayette, Georgia on the evening of May 16. Sergeant Chris Harris of the Georgia State Patrol said two men with a Mormon Church mission were bicycling north on U.S. 27 when one of them was struck from behind.

18 more Latter-day Saints temples will reopen for husband-wife sealings, bringing total to 52 (Deseret News - Utah) (May 18, 2020)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has reopened 34 temples for husband-wife marriages known as sealings, and it will reopen another 18 for that single ordinance on May 25.

Church Service Missionaries and Employees Work on Family History During Pandemic (Church Newsroom) (May 18, 2020)
More than 1,500 employees and service missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints displaced due to COVID-19 associated safety precautions have been reassigned to work virtually from their homes on family history and other several other related assignments until they can return to their regular assignments.

Yelm Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Plays a Crucial Role With Food Bank (Nisqually Valley News - Washington) (May 18, 2020)
The last two months have been a whirlwind for Anita Haywood. As a leading organizer of the Yelm Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ efforts to help coordinate services at the Yelm Community Services food bank, Haywood said the need has never been greater.