International
Church donations target cataracts, Ebola, breast cancer and health needs
The Church announced humanitarian donations targeting cataract surgeries in Papua New Guinea, Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, breast cancer screenings in Chile and El Salvador, and other health initiatives in Australia and South Korea. The projects are part of the Church's ongoing global health partnerships.
August 21, 2026 at 10:06 AM MT · via Church News · 2 sources
Mexican Third Convention challenged Church authority while affirming the gospel
Nearly a third of Mexican Latter-day Saints broke away from Church headquarters in the early 20th century not because they rejected Mormon doctrine, but because they demanded the right to lead themselves, according to new research by Aidan and Tristan Caplan published on the Latter-day Saint history blog From the Desk.
August 21, 2026 at 3:06 AM MT · via Times and Seasons
American missionary freed after 9 months captivity in Niger
Kidnappers released Kevin Rideout, an American missionary pilot held hostage for nine months in Niger, last Friday, according to his missions agency Serving in Missions (SIM). Throughout Rideout's captivity, fellow missionaries gathered weekly on Zoom to pray for his release. Christianity Today reports the missionary community maintained consistent prayer vigils during the entire ordeal.
August 18, 2026 at 5:06 PM MT · via Christianity Today
Moriori: when extreme pacifism met massacre in the South Pacific
Times and Seasons draws parallels between the Book of Mormon's Anti-Nephi-Lehies and the Moriori people of the Chatham Islands, who maintained an oath of nonviolence even under invasion by mainland Maori. The Moriori outnumbered their attackers but refused to fight due to their sacred commitment to pacifism, resulting in widespread massacre, enslavement, and cannibalism. The essay examines what happens when a pacifist people face an enemy who does not stop — a scenario the Anti-Nephi-Lehies avoided when their attackers' conscience intervened, but the Moriori did not.
August 17, 2026 at 3:04 AM MT · via Times and Seasons
LDS Church reports 'friends' attending seminary nearly doubled in 2 years
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported that non-member "friends" attending seminary classes nearly doubled in two years, reaching approximately 85,000 students. Seminary, the church's weekday religious education program for teenagers, has traditionally been limited to members.
August 16, 2026 at 6:07 AM MT · via ABC4 Utah · 2 sources
Church leaders express love for Colombia earthquake victims
The South America Northwest Area Presidency issued a statement expressing love and support for victims of the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that hit Colombia on August 10, 2026. Church leaders offered condolences and pledged assistance to affected members and communities.
August 15, 2026 at 4:39 PM MT · via Church Newsroom · 4 sources
85,000 non-LDS students now study faith with Latter-day Saints
Deseret News reports that more than 85,000 students of other faiths now attend LDS seminary and institute programs worldwide, nearly double the enrollment from two years ago. Church officials attributed the growth to Latter-day Saint youth inviting friends to join them. The story frames the numbers as evidence of successful outreach and the programs' appeal beyond the LDS community.
August 15, 2026 at 5:05 AM MT · via Deseret News · 3 sources
US missionary kidnapped in Niger released after 9 months
KTVB reports that a US missionary kidnapped in Niger's capital city of Niamey has been released after nine months in captivity. Rideout was taken by three armed individuals on October 21, 2025, but no group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
August 14, 2026 at 7:06 AM MT · via KTVB Boise · 2 sources
Church leaders support education in Kenya
Senior leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited Kenya to support educational initiatives and meet with local members, according to Church News. The leaders emphasized the Church's commitment to education as a pathway to opportunity, telling Kenyan members and students "we are here because we love you." The visit included meetings with educational institutions and community leaders. The Church operates schools and sponsors educational programs in Kenya as part of its broader humanitarian and development work across Africa.
August 13, 2026 at 9:05 PM MT · via Church News
Elder Villar champions religious freedom at Peru's first symposium
Elder Cristóbal Villar, a General Authority Seventy, participated in Peru's first religious freedom symposium, calling religious liberty a "fundamental human right." Church News reports that Elder Villar emphasized the importance of protecting religious freedom for people of all faiths in a region where religious pluralism is expanding. The symposium brought together government officials, religious leaders, and civil society representatives to discuss legal protections for religious practice in Peru.
August 13, 2026 at 12:05 PM MT · via Church News
Church leaders support education initiatives during Kenya visit
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf and other Church leaders visited Kenya to support education programs and meet with local members and community leaders. The visit included discussions of the Church's educational partnerships in East Africa, where seminary and institute programs have seen significant growth. Church News reports the leaders emphasized the importance of education as a pathway to self-reliance and spiritual development, echoing themes from President Russell M. Nelson's Africa focus.
August 13, 2026 at 12:05 PM MT · via Church News · 2 sources
President Oaks to speak at Washington National Cathedral on religious freedom
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that LDS Church President Dallin H. Oaks will deliver a major address at the historic Washington National Cathedral, focusing on religious freedom—a topic he has championed throughout his career. The speech marks a significant moment: Oaks speaking in one of America's most prominent interfaith venues, and it precedes his first international trip as Church president at age 94.
August 13, 2026 at 11:07 AM MT · via The Salt Lake Tribune · 5 sources