Latter-day Saints move missionaries out of Hurricane Florence’s path
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is moving missionaries who are serving on the East Coast out of the path of Hurricane Florence. “Missionaries in the path of Hurricane Florence are taking necessary precautions to remain safe as the storm prepares to make landfall,” the Church said in a statement. “Missionaries serving in […]
Man who plays Nephi in upcoming Book of Mormon videos receives mission call
Last summer, Jackson VanDerkwerken spent his summer across the country from his family in the desert of Goshen, Utah — not a typical summer for the then-17-year-old teenager — but when you’re cast as Nephi for the Book of Mormon videos, it’s necessary. And it turns out his role of Nephi and separation from his […]
‘The Office’ actor posts picture of sister missionaries on Instagram
Mormon “The Office” fans have had a good day. On Wednesday, Rainn Wilson, who plays Dwight Schrute on “The Office,” posted a picture of two sister missionaries on Instagram along with a simple caption: “I was visited by some very nice Mormon missionary Sisters this morning.” I was visited by some very nice Mormon missionary […]
5 tips for adjusting to life after missionary service
When I returned home from a mission, I’ll admit it was hard for me to let go. For the first year, I struggled, feeling like I had gone from being someone that stood out, making a difference, to just another anonymous face in the crowd. I felt underutilized at times. I felt selfish for focusing […]
LDS missionaries joyfully rap explanation for missionary work
Two missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission found a unique way to tell people about what they are doing away from their homes. Elder Cavan Rutherford and Elder Joshua Newbold, from South Jordan, Utah, created a rap explaining what missionaries do and the principles they teach. “Somewhere […]
Everybody has a story: Love at First Flight
Mapleton’s Zane Hansen met his wife on an airplane. Since then Zane’s career has taken off, they have added five kids to the mix and they’ve landed back in Utah and taxied their way to peaceful living. I grew up in the tiny town of Fountain Green, Utah. I spent my days playing sports in […]
LDS sister missionary missing in Ogden
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints is asking the community for help in locating one of its young sister missionaries who has gone missing in Utah. Sister Heeji Nada Kang, age 20, was last seen Monday evening when she left her apartment in Ogden on foot. Sister Kang was emotionally distressed when she was […]
10 unexpected blessings of being the parent of a missionary
It was one of the toughest, most heart-wrenching days of my life. That was the morning we dropped off our oldest son at the Salt Lake International Airport so he could fly to the Mexico City Missionary Training Center to prepare for his mission to Ecuador. There were other families and missionaries at the airport […]
10 full-time senior missionary opportunities
In April 2006, Elder Robert D. Hales taught Church members about the greatly needed role of senior missionaries in the work of salvation. “Your Heavenly Father needs you,” he said, speaking specifically to members approaching senior missionary age. “His work, under the direction of our Savior Jesus Christ, needs what you are uniquely prepared to give. Every missionary experience […]
LDS Church releases video about first sister missionaries
The October 2012 general conference marks a historical shift in the world of missionaries, but what about April 1898? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a video June 30 that shares the backstory of President George Q. Cannon’s announcement that women could serve as full-time proselytizing missionaries in April 1898. The video shares the […]
14 signs your missionary comes home soon
You’ve done it — you’ve “waited” 2 years while your sweetheart served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now he is coming home and it’s time for you to get ready. Here are 14 signs you’re preparing for your missionary to take off his badge and tie. 1. You clean up […]
LDS missionaries pulled from Ukraine Donetsk Mission
The continued political disputes in Ukraine have led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to pull 67 missionaries formerly serving int he Ukraine Donetsk Mission and transfer them to their home countries. There were also 41 missionaries who had anticipated serving in Ukraine that have been reassigned to different missions. In April, 85 missionaries […]
Provo MTC expansion coming summer 2015-2017
PROVO — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released new details about its plans to expand the missionary training center (MTC) in Provo. Construction for the MTC campus extension will begin in summer 2015 and last for two years. The plan includes more space outdoors for missionary use, 300 underground parking stalls […]
Early-returned missionaries thrive with acceptance, love
Thomas Ferrin of Provo knew serving a mission would be difficult. He had a history of mental illness, which he indicated on his mission papers. For 15 months, Ferrin went to interview after interview while professionals and Church officials assessed his mental health and gauged his likelihood of success in the mission field. In the […]
What it’s like waiting for an LDS mission call
Since you were in primary, you’ve been waiting to grow an “extra foot or two” so you could leave on your mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now that you are finally ready “to teach and preach and do as missionaries do,” it is time to fill out those mission papers […]
LDS Church relocates more missionaries in Ukraine
Political uproar in Ukraine is once again causing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to transfer 85 missionaries from the Ukraine Donetsk Mission. A press release from the LDS Church said, “The well-being of missionaries is always our first priority, and every effort is being made to keep them safe.” The missionaries are being […]
152 LDS missionaries moved out of tumultuous Venezuela
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is moving non-native Venezuelan missionaries out of Venezuela because of political discord. A statement released by the LDS Church said, “Due to the unrest in Venezuela, the Church is transferring 152 missionaries who are not Venezuelan citizens to other missions in South America. Venezuelan missionaries are in […]
LDS missionaries teach the Restoration through ‘Cups’ parody
Two LDS sister missionaries created a parody song to explain the Restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sisters Emily Culp and Lauren Bundy, who are serving in the LDS Nashville Tennessee Mission, uploaded their video to their Facebook walls on Thursday, March 13, using the popular song sung by Anna Kendrick, […]
LDS missionary talks returning home early from Ukraine
In the last two weeks, Sister Kathryn Webber has been housed in four different cities, confined to a city once, stayed indoors for five days, returned to life as usual once and finally sent home from her LDS mission in L’viv, Ukraine two weeks early. “I was in shock when I got the phone call, […]
Where did they serve?: BYU basketball edition
With the recent mission calls of BYU Cougars Eric Mika and Graham Pingree (to the same mission, Italy Rome Mission), as well as recruit TJ Haws being called to France Lyon Mission, we’re taking a look back at some missionary Cougars — past and present. Here’s a list of 10 notable Cougars who served missions. […]
Mika and Pingree called to same LDS mission, T.J. Haws also receives mission call
[View the story “Eric Mika, Graham Pingree and T.J. Haws receive LDS mission calls” on Storify]
Bieber vs a typical Mormon missionary
Justin Bieber, age 19, was arrested yesterday by Miami police after he was discovered drag racing a yellow Lamborgini while intoxicated in a residential neighborhood. UtahValley360.com thought it would be interesting to compare the current lifestyle of The Biebs with a typical Mormon missionary. Enjoy.
18 awkward moments every recently returned missionary experiences
For everyone out there that wished there was an RMTC (Return Missionary Training Center) to phase back into day-to-day life so they could avoid these awkward encounters, best of luck to you. 1. When you forget how to speak English properly. Spanglish isn’t a real language, just in case you were wondering. 2. Going […]
5 New Year’s resolutions from the prophets
The most popular New Year’s Resolution in the United States last year was to eat healthy and exercise regularly. “Learn something new,” “get organized” and “read more” rounded out the list. As worthwhile as those goals might be, none of them are listed below as resolutions for 2014. We’ve dipped into recent General Conference […]
Book review: ’10 Questions to Ask While Preparing for a Mission’
You could say that Utah County seminary teacher Benjamin Hyrum White is passionate about missionary work. After serving his own full-time mission in Denver, he came home and taught at the MTC. He earned his master’s degree in religious education at BYU, where he wrote his thesis on the history of Preach My Gospel. His […]
LDS Church announces plan to expand Provo MTC
PROVO — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Thursday an expansion of the Provo Missionary Training Center to accommodate the increase in missionaries over the past year. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced plans to expand the Provo Missionary Training Center to the South of the existing MTC […]
First-hand accounts from Utah missionaries in Philippines
Jenny Pettibone’s son, Dax, left his home in Saratoga Springs and arrived in the Philippines Cebu Mission in early October — one week before a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit the area. Just a few weeks later, Super Storm Haiyan (Yolanda to the Filipinos) followed in the earthquake’s wake. “We first heard about the storm from our […]
5 ways to make your home a pre-MTC
More than 80,000 missionaries now serving in the field began their service in one of 15 missionary training centers. In the MTC, missionaries practice teaching, study the scriptures, “Preach My Gospel” and other materials, and (in some cases) learn another language. But there isn’t nearly enough time for missionaries to learn everything they need to […]
Top 10 cheesy LDS games you’ll secretly love
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a unique culture. They have their own lingo, a specific diet, long-held traditions and not-quite-normal norms. And they have their own market of games. Here we’ve compiled ten of the most fantastic board, card, video and party games made especially for Mormons. Anyone up […]
Jeopardy! has LDS Church category
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made an appearance on the popular game show “Jeopardy!” Wednesday night in the form of a category. “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek announced the categories and the contestants didn’t miss a beat, going down the column, answering question after question correctly. Topics included missionaries, the Tabernacle building on […]