Weekly news summary from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (March 9, 2025)
Below are some of the summarized weekly news headlines from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the week of March 3-9.
RootsTech 2025: Uniting Families Through Discovery and Innovation
The global family discovery event RootsTech is underway in Salt Lake City and online at RootsTech.org. It will run through March 8, 2025.
“Our ultimate goal is to simply unite families — past, present and future,” said Steve Rockwood, president and CEO of RootsTech sponsor FamilySearch, an international genealogy organization and popular website sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Speaking to news media on the morning of Thursday, March 6, 2025, in the Salt Palace Convention Center, Rockwood noted the “amazing thing” that happens when we find ways we are connected. “We’ve learned, as you have all learned, when we find out how we’re connected, we then treat each other differently,” Rockwood said. “You’re going to feel that and see that throughout the conference.”
The theme of RootsTech 2025 is “Discover,” which points to the potential of new technologies.
“[Genealogical technology is] something that’s happened in a significant manner in the last 100 years and now is at an accelerant pace in just the last 10 years,” Rockwood said. “Last year, we saw incredible potential of what generative artificial intelligence (AI) can do to accelerate this work of allowing people to discover who they are. This year, it’s not just buzz. You’re going to see actual applications. You’re going to see how it’s accelerating the work in the back office that you and I usually don’t see and how it’s allowing us to take these incredible records, oral or written, and digitize them and make them searchable and deliver them to individuals.”
More on this story can be found by clicking here.
Light the World: 490,000 Donations in 2024 Bring Hope to Many Worldwide
Through Light the World Giving Machines, millions will be fed, clothed, educated, strengthened and become more self-reliant
From November through December 2024, the bright red Light the World Giving Machines illuminated 107 cities across 13 countries on five continents, inspiring over 850,000 visitors to donate more than 490,000 items. Each donation will bring hope and support to individuals and families this year.
Launched in 2017 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Light the World Giving Machine initiative continues to grow, making an impact on millions of individuals and families. Since the first Giving Machine was switched on, nearly US$50 million has been donated by children, teens, and adults across the globe — each contributing what they can to “love one another” (John 13:34) as the Savior Jesus Christ commanded. And every donation, large or small, is for someone they’ll never meet but to whom they will always be connected.
In the small village of Cuamba, Mozambique, expectant mothers once had to fetch water from the river, boil it, and carry it to the clinic when giving birth. But for these women, that problem has been solved. Thanks to generous donations made through Giving Machines, mothers and babies now have access to clean, running water.
Shortly after delivering her first child, one new mother said, “Washing my baby with clean water ensured he would not get sick. It gave me great peace of mind. It is wonderful having clean water here. To the person who made this possible, thank you.”
Wherever Giving Machines are located, the spirit of love and selfless service is present, and volunteers witness uplifting moments every day. For many, visiting a Giving Machine has become a cherished family tradition, and first-time visitors often feel tender emotions. Regardless, all who come feel connected to someone and experience the Savior’s love and grace.
More on this story can be found by clicking here.
Over 6,300 People Donated Using 2024 #LightTheWorld Giving Machines in the Philippines
More than 6,300 people in the Philippines donated through the 2024 #LightTheWorld Giving Machines, an initiative by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that allows individuals to purchase essential items—such as meals, books, and scholarships—for those in need.
The donations were officially handed over during a ceremony on February 28, 2025, at EDSA Shangri-La in Manila. The event was presided over by Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and attended by Elder Carlos G. Revillo Jr., Philippines Area President, and his wife, Sister Marie Revillo.
Since 2018, thousands of Filipinos have had the opportunity to support those in need through these special vending machines. Instead of purchasing items for themselves, donors buy essential goods for others.
Among the partner organizations benefiting from the donations this year are UNICEF Philippines, Mabuhay Deseret Foundation, Ateneo de Davao University, Feed the Children Philippines, Alagang Kapatid Foundation, H.E.R.O. Foundation, Caritas Manila, and Cebu Caritas. Representatives from each charity partner attended the event.
Artists and influencers who contributed to the initiative, including Eric and Rona Tai, Jairus Aquino, Janella Renner, and Nevin Garceniego, the 2024 The Voice Kids Philippines Grand Champion, also supported the ceremonial handover event.
In his message, Elder Rasband said that “giving is a significant priority” for the Church as it blesses many lives, including the lives of the rising generation. He also congratulated the charity partners for their efforts and sacrifices to help fellow Filipinos. “I want you to know that the Church values your partnerships,” he said.
“I had a distinct impression, that this is why we are doing what we do. We do this for the benefit and blessing of the rising generation throughout the Philippines and throughout the world,” Elder Rasband added.
More on this story can be found by clicking here.
Finding ‘Greater Love’ Through Jesus Christ This Easter Season
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is focusing on the “greater love” of Christ this Easter season, a phrase from John 15:13 in the New Testament, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” This page provides a summary of publications by date throughout the Easter season, culminating on Easter — April 20, 2025.
March 5
- Easter.ChurchofJesusChrist.org web pages with various resources, study tools and activities published in 11 languages
February 16
First Presidency Announces April 2025 General Conference
Annual global broadcast will consist of five unique 2-hour sessions on Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the upcoming 195th Annual General Conference on Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6, 2025.
“General conference provides an opportunity to receive personal revelation as general Church leaders give counsel and direction from the Lord,” states a First Presidency letter to congregation leaders dated March 6, 2025, to be read aloud in sacrament meeting. “We encourage all to listen to, study, ponder and apply the counsel given. The messages will be published in the Gospel Library app, on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, and in Church magazines for further viewing and study.”
The conference event notice from the Church states, “The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches that He lives and that God loves, hears and speaks to His children. His personalized guidance and inspiration may be experienced through the counsel of living prophets, apostles and leaders … .
“All are welcome and invited to hear messages of hope, peace and the joy of eternal life made possible through the atoning sacrifice and Resurrection of Jesus Christ during the annual broadcast of general conference.”
The global broadcast, which originates from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, consists of five unique 2-hour sessions:
Saturday, April 5
Morning session: 10 a.m. to noon*
Afternoon session: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Evening session: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 6
Morning session: 10 a.m. to noon
Afternoon session: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
*Times listed are Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
All conference sessions will be streamed live on Swift 98.7 FM in Star Valley, on the broadcasts page of ChurchofJesusChrist.org in 80 languages. Participants may also watch and listen on the General Conference YouTube channel in 14 languages, the Gospel Stream app in 11 languages, Gospel Library in 80 languages, and other radio, television, satellite and digital channels.
More on this story can be found by clicking here.
The Church Brings a Sustainable Water Solution to a Mexican Community
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated a drinking water system to the community of Villa de Santa Ana Nichi in Mexico on February 18, 2025.
The donation addresses the critical need for access to clean and safe water, which has affected the health and well-being of residents for years. This project involved building a water system that includes a large concrete tank, durable pipes, and a solar-powered pump.
Proposed and implemented by the local organization Juntos Podemos Más, the infrastructure will provide drinking water to five neighborhoods, benefiting 2,500 people, elementary schools, the university and a hospital. Additionally, 88 solar panels will be installed to ensure a reliable water supply and reduce operational costs.
The community of Villa de Santa Ana Nichi has suffered health problems for a long time because of contaminated river and rainwater. Without access to drinking water, many residents — especially children and the elderly — have suffered from gastrointestinal and parasitic diseases. Before 2000, the region also had high rates of typhoid fever. With this donation, the Church of Jesus Christ aims to improve the quality of life for residents and promote their well-being.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to [collaborate] with Juntos Podemos Más and the community of Villa de Santa Ana Nichi to address this need,” said Elder Carlos A. Gabaldón, an Area Seventy representing the Church. “We believe in the importance of helping our fellow beings meet their basic needs and build a better future.”
The delegate of Villa de Santa Ana Nichi and president of the association Juntos Podemos Más, Octavio Alavez, said, “A million thanks to the Church of Jesus Christ for trusting and believing in the people who live in this beautiful land [and] for bringing water where it is needed most. Let us be a chain of blessings. Let us do good for others as it has been done for us.”
The project also includes a long-term sustainability plan. The community commits to covering the maintenance costs of the solar panels and the water system, ensuring that the infrastructure continues to operate efficiently and sustainably for many years.
Temple Square Renovation Update: February 2025
Open house celebration dates announced for the Salt Lake Temple and area south of Tabernacle reopens to the public
As renovation work on the Salt Lake Temple continues toward a projected completion in 2026, President Russell M. Nelson recently announced open house celebration dates, which will run from April 2027 to October 2027.
“We warmly invite our friends to come and learn about God’s plan for His children and rejoice in the love of Jesus Christ,” President Nelson said in a social media post on February 14, 2025.
To learn more about the latest construction updates, the open house celebration and to sign up to receive emails, visit the Temple Square website.
New Area Opens
The southwest corner of Temple Square has reopened to the public. Landscaping is still underway, but visitors can enjoy seeing three newly restored monuments. These are the Seagull monument (original, 1913) and two monuments depicting the restoration of the priesthood. The first portrays Joseph Smith receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood from Apostles Peter, James and John (original, 2006), and the other depicts John the Baptist giving Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery the Aaronic Priesthood (original, 1957).
With the reopening of this area, visitors can now walk through the entire west side of Temple Square. Other notable features include the Salt Lake Tabernacle and Assembly Hall and the neighboring FamilySearch Library and Church History Museum across the street.
More on this story can be found by clicking here.
