On October 28, 2018, from a room overlooking the newly dedicated Concepcion Chile Temple, President Russell M. Nelson spoke about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“We are witnesses to the recovery process,” he said. “If you think the church is fully restored, it is only the beginning. There is much more to come.”
Then, with a gentle, knowing smile, he added:
“Wait until next year, and the year after that. Take your vitamins. Get some rest. It’s going to be very exciting.”
I will never forget the feeling in the room as President Nelson spoke these historic words about the growing reach and influence of the Church and its members. We were given a fleeting glimpse of what was to come, both for President Nelson’s fast-paced ministry and for the church he led.
But uniquely, President Nelson, who was sitting next to Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, immediately turned the conversation heavenward. “This is the Lord’s work and it is an honor for us to be a part of it in any way,” he said.
I’ve been thinking about this word often over the past few days while working with Church News staff to create a “living record of recovery.” Early in my career, there was a time in the weeks before general conference when things quieted down in the church and everyone could catch their breath and prepare for world events.
But that wasn’t the case last week.
Instead, as the Lord continued to accelerate His work on earth, covering the Restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints required a full-on effort of speed, energy, and flexibility. for example:
Temple: On Sunday, September 17, in a first for the Church, Elder David A. Bednar, Elder Quentin L. Cook, and Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles each visited one of three temples in one day. Consecrated one. These dedications were sandwiched between a press conference and media tour at the newly renovated St. George Utah Temple on Wednesday, September 6th, and a similar event at the Okinawa Japan Temple on September 21st. I was disappointed. The church currently has 315 consecrated temples. Temples under construction or announced, including 133 announced during President Nelson’s five-plus years as President of the Church.
education: Also on Sunday, September 17, Elder D. Todd Christofferson and Elder Ronald A. Rasband, along with Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson, will hold a conference in Mexico City, Mexico and will be broadcast throughout Latin America. Participated in BYU Pathway Worldwide devotional. America on the availability of education to church members. BYU–Pathway Worldwide enrolls more than 61,000 students each year from more than 180 countries. Students improve their English language skills and certificates and degrees are offered in partnership with BYU-Idaho and Ensign College.
Nowhere was the power of education more evident than in the life of BYU’s 14th president, C. Shane Reese, who was installed on Tuesday, September 19th by President Dallin H. Oaks, Elder Christofferson, and Elder Rasband of the First Presidency. There wasn’t. President Reese is an only child raised by a single mother and is a first-generation college student who rose to the position of university president.
history: On Thursday, September 21, the Church commemorated the 200th anniversary of Moroni’s visit to Joseph Smith and the beginning of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A heavenly messenger reveals that the Book of Mormon, an ancient record written on golden plates, is nearby. This book has now been translated into 112 languages, and the number of copies of this sacred book printed by the Church is approaching his 200 million copies. And earlier this year, the Church published the final volume of the 27-volume Joseph Smith Papers, ending a 20-year mission.
Humane: On September 19, the church announced it would donate $8.25 million to two organizations in response to Sudan’s unfolding humanitarian crisis. This funding will help feed hundreds of thousands of refugees in the region and provide key relief supplies. This donation follows a number of other important humanitarian efforts, including a $32 million donation to the World Food Program in September 2022, making it the Church’s largest contribution to a humanitarian organization to date. This is a one-time donation. Last year, the Church spent more than $1 billion caring for people in need around the world through projects in 190 countries and territories.
For me, the most unusual thing about this past week was how normal it was. Every day, the Church News staff produces a Church News Today video and newsletter that records his three events that happened in the church that day. Finding content for these products is not a difficult task. Rather, the challenge lies in choosing what can and should be included.
On September 9, President Nelson celebrated his 99th birthday. The year he was born, the church had just under 598,000 members. He operated six temples, 90 stakes, 25 missions, and 867 missionaries. Who could have imagined then that just a century after him, a church of 17 million people would dedicate three temples to him in one day, and simultaneously broadcast devotions from Mexico City to all of Latin America? .
It’s not just a miracle, it’s also the fulfillment of prophecy.
Yet, if we asked President Nelson about that historic day, I suspect he would just smile knowingly and say, “There’s a lot more to come.”
— Sarah Jane Weaver is editor-in-chief of Church News.
