Below are some of the weekly summarized news headlines from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the week of Feb. 3-9.

Elder Soares Calls for Compassion in Religious Freedom Advocacy

The Apostle addresses faith leaders for the second time in three days at the International Religious Freedom Summit

In his second speech in three days before global faith leaders in Washington, D.C., Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stressed the importance of compassion in religious freedom advocacy.

Compassion, the Apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said, takes root in the soil of a regard for the dignity and rights of every individual.

“Without compassion, we are merely strangers and foreigners to each other. With compassion, we see each other with new eyes, as brothers and sisters,” Elder Soares said during a lunch on the final day of the 2025 International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit at the Washington Hilton on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. “Compassion goes beyond tolerance — it calls us to understand and engage with those who are different. It should be the driving force behind our shared efforts for conscience and religious freedom. Compassion must not just be an ideal, but a practice we nurture through daily actions, guiding our efforts for greater religious freedom worldwide.”

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Elder and Sister Uchtdorf Encourage Young Adults to Trust in God

‘I urge you to believe your life will be infinitely better if you rely on God to guide your steps,’ the Apostle says

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife, Harriet, both urged young adults Sunday to trust in God and remain faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Trust in God,” the Apostle said. Life doesn’t come with “cheat codes,” and “God won’t give you a detailed itinerary for your life’s journey,” but “He trusts you to make the best possible decisions by following Jesus Christ.”

Addressing an audience of young Latter-day Saints gathered in the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, and around the world on Sunday, February 2, the Uchtdorf drew from their life experiences to offer encouragement and inspired counsel regarding agency and personal revelation.

View the devotional live and on-demand on YouTube (ASL YouTube) and for two weeks at Broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Study it later in Gospel Library.

Elder Uchtdorf organized his comments around five principles he hopes young adults will remember:

‘First, know that God’s answers to your most profound questions may take a little time, and they may come in ways you hadn’t expected. God’s answers are of eternal value. They are worth the wait.’

Elder Uchtdorf addressed the frustration of getting answers to difficult questions facing people of all ages, such as “Am I on the right path? Does God really notice me? Does He care?” and more.

In a time when Google can provide quick answers to most questions, “our most personal, important, and far-reaching questions” require more patience. “Heavenly answers — eternal answers — are priceless. Receiving these answers often requires sacrifice, work and repetition,” he taught.

‘Second: don’t get overwhelmed as you walk the path of discipleship. Just do the best you can with the small things, and the big things will fall into place.’

Elder Uchtdorf said our life experience is like a painting comprised of dots of color that seem unconnected and random until viewed as a whole. Similarly, when viewed from the eternal external perspective of the gospel of Jesus Christ, God’s grand design for us becomes more clear.

“You will see that He was preparing you for opportunities and possibilities far more glorious than you ever could have imagined or accomplished on your own,” he said.

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Sundance Celebrates Camille N. Johnson’s Humanitarian Leadership

The Relief Society General President has spearheaded efforts to help women and children worldwide

Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was recognized for her outstanding international humanitarian leadership at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival Women’s Leadership Celebration. The gathering was held at the Salt Lake Hilton on Thursday, January 30, 2025.

This event, now in its 12th year, highlights the contributions of women leaders who have made a significant impact in their fields. President Johnson, who leads one of the largest women’s organizations in the world (with nearly 8 million members), was one of seven women honored on Thursday.

The celebration is a collaboration between the Sundance Institute and Zions Bank.

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At Global Summit, Elder Soares Advocates for Peace Through Religious Freedom

The Apostle also participates in a Q&A with a Baptist pastor

Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles told global faith leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., on Monday, February 3, 2025, that protecting religious freedom is “a key to peace and stability” around the world.

The Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spoke at the opening reception of the 2025 International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit, held at the House of the Americas. This is an annual two-day summit that supports religious freedom worldwide. More than 90 organizations representing more than 30 faith traditions are participating to discuss ways to advance international religious freedom. According to IRF, nearly 80% of people around the world live in countries with high levels of restrictions on religion.

Elder Soares said the path to peace is dialogue and action. He pointed to his native Brazil as an example of how such peace can be achieved.

“Religious freedom scholar Brian Grim observed that, ‘Given the level of religious switching in Brazil, it is particularly notable that … there have been no reported incidents of hostility over conversions or proselytism,’” Elder Soares said. “Though far from perfect, tension has been managed through dialogue between the various religious communities.”

Religious liberty matters, the Apostle said, because faith helps people find purpose, fosters respect and encourages personal responsibility, hard work, and strong families.

“These virtues flowing from a flourishing and diverse religious landscape serve to mend and tighten the fabric of our shared world in ways perhaps nothing else can, leading in turn to the united and peaceful societies for which we yearn,” Elder Soares said.

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Interfaith Collaboration to Help Address Food Insecurity in London

The Church of Jesus Christ and Muslim Aid UK help The Felix Project provide millions of meals in West London

In a move to alleviate food insecurity for Londoners at risk of hunger, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Muslim Aid UK have joined forces with The Felix Project to provide millions of meals for those in need. This impactful collaboration will support The Felix Project’s mission to distribute 40 million meals across the capital in 2025, offering vital relief to struggling communities.

This interfaith support is linked to The Felix Project’s upcoming relocation of its West London depot to Acton Park, set for early 2025. With the current facility supporting 284 community organisations, the move will significantly increase capacity, enabling The Felix Project to rescue more food and deliver more meals annually.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Muslim Aid have collaborated to support with construction, new equipment, and the operational setup of the new depot. As part of this collaboration, the Church will contribute to support key elements of the new space.

This essential support will enable The Felix Project’s West London operation to continue providing around one million meals each month to those in need, even as they operate from a temporary setup within Acton Park, whilst the space is prepared for a more permanent facility.

Charlotte Hill OBE, CEO of The Felix Project, said: “It is joyful to see different faiths coming together to try and make a meaningful difference to the lives of people in London. Sadly, we know too many of them are struggling to put food on the table, 1 in 8 working families are having to turn to a food bank on weekly basis. It is vital The Felix Project does all it can to ensure high quality, edible and nutritious food goes to people rather than to waste, and donations like this one will ensure we can do even more to see that vision through.”

Elder Alan Phillips, a General Authority and senior ecclesiastical leader for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said: “We are honoured to unite with Muslim Aid UK and The Felix Project in this essential mission to relieve hunger and uplift London’s communities.

“This collaboration reflects our commitment to reach out with compassion and to make a meaningful, lasting impact on the lives of those facing food insecurity. Together, we’re building a foundation of support that will strengthen families and individuals across the capital.”

Khalid Javid, CEO of Muslim Aid, said: “Our partnership with The Felix Project and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to address the critical issue of food poverty in London. Our combined efforts are driven by a shared mission: to ensure that no family in London faces the distress of an empty table.

This collaboration exemplifies the power of faith communities working together under the shared principles of serving humanity. United, by our core values and our unwavering commitment to our community, we strive to serve all individuals, regardless of faith, race, age, gender, or creed, here in the UK.

Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of those in need and build a future where no one goes hungry.”

The depot’s relocation is more than a logistical move; it will ensure that vulnerable individuals across West London continue to receive essential food supplies, even during the construction phase.

A ceremonial opening of the new depot is planned for the third quarter of 2025, with further opportunities for faith groups, volunteers, and the public to engage with and support the initiative.

News for Temples in Madagascar and Brazil

The house of the Lord in Antananarivo will be the first in the Republic of Madagascar

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the groundbreaking ceremony for the Antananarivo Madagascar Temple. The future site of the Florianópolis Brazil Temple has also been released.

Antananarivo Madagascar Temple

The groundbreaking services for the Antananarivo Madagascar Temple will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Elder Denelson Silva, First Counselor in the Africa South Area Presidency, will preside.

The Antananarivo Madagascar Temple will be built on a 9.8 acre site located at Fokontany Andranoro, Ambohibao, Antehiroka, Andranomena, Madagascar. Plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 10,000 square feet, with patron housing and arrival facilities.

Church President Russell M. Nelson announced this temple during the October 2021 general conference.

“Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ,” he said during the same general conference.

The Republic of Madagascar is an island country off the southeastern coast of Africa and is the world’s fourth-largest island. This temple will be the first in Madagascar, which is home to more than 15,000 Latter-day Saints in over 40 congregations.

The preaching of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ formally began there in 1998, with the formation of the Madagascar Antananarivo Mission. In September 2000, the Antananarivo Madagascar Stake was organized.

Florianópolis Brazil Temple

The Florianópolis Brazil Temple will be built on a 5.5 acre site located at Rua Cassol, 1120, Kobrasol, São José, Santa Catarina, Brazil. This will be the city’s first temple.

Detailed designs for the temple are still being developed. Further information — including exterior renderings — will be made public later.

President Nelson announced this temple during the April 2024 general conference.

The Portuguese translation of the Book of Mormon, first published in 1940, signaled a new era for the Church in Brazil. As missionaries began preaching in Portuguese, the Church in Brazil grew faster than in any other country in South America.

Today, there are approximately 1.5 million Latter-day Saints in Brazil in nearly 2,200 congregations.

The temple in Florianópolis will be the 23rd house of the Lord in Brazil. Eight other temples have been announced in Brazil. They will be located in Goiânia, João Pessoa, Maceió, Natal, Santos, São Paulo East, Teresina and Vitória.  Eleven temples are in operation in Brazil: the Belém, Brasília, Campinas, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo Temples. The Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple, Londrina Brazil Temple and Ribeirão Preto Brazil Temple are currently under construction.

Temples differ from the Church’s meetinghouses (chapels). All are welcome to attend Sunday worship services and other weekday activities at local meetinghouses. The primary purpose of temples is for faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ to participate in sacred ceremonies that unite families forever.