Resources from the Church & Latter-day Saints

What is RootsTech Connect and How You Can Participate?

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 12:00:22 GMT

For the first time ever, RootsTech Connect (the world’s largest family history celebration event) will be entirely virtual and completely free.

Get ready to celebrate shared connections with people from around the world. Connect with friends, your family, your past, and your heritage and homelands—all from the comfort of your home and in your browser.

Below is a special video invitation from the director of events at FamilySearch.

Learn more at RootsTech.org.

The post What is RootsTech Connect and How You Can Participate? first appeared on LDS365: Resources from the Church & Latter-day Saints worldwide.

How to Refer Friends to the Missionaries

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 12:00:20 GMT

A feature on the Member Tools app and ChurchofJesusChrist.org lets you refer a friend to the missionaries and collaborate with them as they contact and teach your friend.

How It Works

When your friend agrees to meet with missionaries, you simply fill out a referral form using the Member Tools app or online at referrals.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. A missionary assigned to help with member referrals will contact you. She will assign the referral to the correct area and help you connect with local missionaries.

The local missionaries will also receive your contact information and you will receive theirs. That lets you and the missionaries discuss the best way to approach your friend. You will also be invited to participate in missionary lessons through technology as much as you want.

Watch the video below to learn how you and the missionaries can work together to help people come unto Christ.

Learn more:

See the article “Updated Referral Experience Helps You Connect Friends with the Missionaries” to read a story about how this works and watch a video about one family’s experience.
Read FAQs.
For step-by-step instructions to teach others, see the slides “Sharing the Gospel with a Friend.”

The post How to Refer Friends to the Missionaries first appeared on LDS365: Resources from the Church & Latter-day Saints worldwide.

Temple Square Christmas Concerts Cancelled, But You Can Submit Video for Virtual Christmas Concerts

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 12:00:40 GMT

Christmas celebrations on Temple Square in Salt Lake City are cancelled because of COVID-19. But you can participate in virtual Christmas concerts instead. You can submit your own Christmas video performances that will be edited into concerts and broadcast on ChurchofJesusChrist.org throughout the Christmas season.

Submit your video by November 15, 2020. Learn more in the article “Invitation to Participate in Virtual Christmas Concerts.”

Submissions will become part of the annual Light the World Christmas campaign.
Note that the annual Savior of the World (a musical drama celebrating the birth and Resurrection of Jesus Christ) will not be held this year.

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How To Import Sources from Church History Catalog into FamilySearch’s Family Tree

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 12:00:43 GMT

The Church History Catalog has a new feature that lets you import historical sources into FamilySearch’s Family Tree.

The Church History Catalog is an online resource where you can search the collections of the Church History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. The collections include the institutional records of the Church and its leaders, along with thousands of original manuscripts, letters, journals, and photographs of members of the Church.

When you find a source in the Church History Catalog that relates to a person in the FamilySearch Family Tree, just follow these instruction to attach it:

Step 1: In the source you want to link to, click on the FamilySearch icon on the right side to attach the page as a source to a record on FamilySearch.org.

Step 2: In the pop-up window that appears, enter the person’s FamilySearch ID. (If you need help finding the person ID, expand the window by clicking More Details at the bottom.)

Step 3: You will then be redirected to a page called Create and Attach Source. It will have prefilled information from your source’s catalog record. You can edit any of this information as well as add the reason you are attaching the source. Then click Save.

Instructions from the article “Church History Is My History: Connecting Church History and Family History.”

The post How To Import Sources from Church History Catalog into FamilySearch’s Family Tree first appeared on LDS365: Resources from the Church & Latter-day Saints worldwide.

Portions of General Handbook Now Available in 21 More Languages

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 12:00:52 GMT

Two portions of the Church’s new General Handbook that was published in English in February are now available in 21 additional languages online and in the Gospel Library app.

This publication includes chapter 32 (Repentance and Church Membership Councils) and several parts of section 38.6 (Policies on Moral Issues) are now available in the following languages in addition to English:

These updates are part of an ongoing revision that is being published chapter-by-chapter every few months in English as soon as revisions are made, and in languages as soon as the translations are completed.

Non-English-speaking units should continue to use the chapters in the existing Handbook 1 and Handbook 2 until translations of all the chapters in the new General Handbook are published.

The entire General Handbook will be available in 35 languages by mid-2021, with additional languages to follow.

Learn more:

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How to Be a Humanitarian

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 12:00:11 GMT

It seems that people with different ideologies find it increasingly more difficult to get along. We see it in politics and in other aspects of our life. In general conference, our leaders encouraged us to be kind and civil with others—especially those who don’t believe the same way we do.

Two articles recently published on the Latter-day Saint Charities blog provide practical ideas on how to demonstrate humanity and deal with others as children of God. Although the articles are written to humanitarian and nonprofit organizations, they contain many great ideas for all of us.

Here are three key points from the article “How to Be a Humanitarian, Part 1:”

See individuals as God sees them. Look past the obvious differences and see the divine in each person and the common humanity that is much stronger than our differences.
Seek to understand their experiences. Listen first. Question your assumptions. If something that the person says feels uncomfortable to you, ask yourself why you feel that way and whether what he or she says might be true.
Respect their agency as they define their own future. Honor each person’s right to create their own future.

The article “How to Be a Humanitarian, Part 2” explains several ways to deal with others.

Build bridges of understanding. Don’t engage in contentious behavior. Prioritize relationships over differences in perspective.
Be kind. Don’t engage in negative talk about others. Sometimes it is more important to be kind than to be right.
Respect others’ beliefs. Avoid pushing personal beliefs on others and let your good actions do the talking.

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FamilySearch Help Center and Research Wiki

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 12:00:47 GMT

Have you ever needed help with your own family history research or while helping someone else? The FamilySearch Help Center and Family Search Research Wiki are great tools to use when you need a hand.

In addition, Helper Resources is a FamilySearch web page created for those with temple and family history callings—and anyone else wishing to help others with family history. It has training, tools, and information about updates that you can use to help others discover ancestors and connect with their family. Learn more about Helper Resources.

Stay current on changes and new features on FamilySearch.org by reading the FamilySearch Blog.

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Leaders Explain in Videos How They #HearHim

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 12:00:31 GMT

Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have released video testimonies that explain how they “Hear Him”—how they hear God through the Spirit.

The videos are in response to President Russell M. Nelson’s invitation in February to consider the question, “How do you hear ‘Hear Him?’”

The #HearHim theme commemorates the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith’s First Vision, marking the beginning of the Restoration.

Below are a few of the #HearHim videos released to date.

Watch all the #HearHim videos.
Learn more at HearHim.org.

The post Leaders Explain in Videos How They #HearHim first appeared on LDS365: Resources from the Church & Latter-day Saints worldwide.

Facing Challenges: A Self-Help Guide

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 12:00:10 GMT

Do you understand how you’re feeling? Do you know what to call it and what to do about it?

This quick guide from the Church, “Facing Challenges: A Self-Help Guide,” may help you identify your feelings and get suggestions on what to do.

You may also find these resources helpful:

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Download General Authority Chart Updated October 2020

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 12:00:40 GMT

An updated chart of General Authorities and General Officers is now available to download. The chart reflects leadership changes announced during the October 2020 general conference. The chart appears in the November 2020 issues of the Ensign and Liahona magazines (conference issues).

Download a high-resolution image suitable for printing.

The post Download General Authority Chart Updated October 2020 first appeared on LDS365: Resources from the Church & Latter-day Saints worldwide.

October General Conference Broadcast on National TV or Radio in 50 Countries

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 12:00:41 GMT

For the first time, the October general conference was broadcast nationally in Brazil and Mexico on national television stations. In fact, it was broadcast on a public television or radio station in more than 50 countries, up from 30 countries for the April general conference.

As President Russell M. Nelson began the first session of the October 2020 general conference, he noted, “General conference last April was viewed by more people than any preceding it, and we have every expectation that will happen again.”

Members of the Church live in 196 nations and territories, and general conference is available in 100 languages.

Learn more about the broadcasts, and reactions from those who watched in the Church News article “Millions tune into TV and radio broadcasts of general conference in Brazil, Mexico.”

See “8 Ways to Watch General Conference.”

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Ideas for Learning and Teaching from General Conference

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 12:00:39 GMT

The Church has published a page of “Ideas for Learning and Teaching from General Conference.”

It includes the following:

Ideas for personal study
Ideas for family study (virtually or in person)
Ideas for teaching church classes (virtually or in person)

Find it in online and in the Gospel Library app in the General Conference collection and in the Come, Follow Me collection under Relief Society and Elders Quorum.

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Ideas for Tithing Settlement

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 12:00:55 GMT

From October 15 until December 31, bishops and branch presidents are asked to meet with members of the Church in a tithing settlement. This is a chance to meet with the bishop once each year, settle their tithing, and report that what they have paid in contributions constitutes a tithe.

All members should attend tithing settlement to make sure their contribution records are correct and to declare to the bishop their status as tithe payers. If possible, all members of a family should attend tithing settlement.

In addition to reviewing records of members’ tithing, fast offerings, and other donations, during tithing settlement the bishop can discuss the principle of tithing with them, encourage them to give a generous fast offering, and discuss other relevant matters. At the time of tithing settlement, a clerk or a member of the bishopric could also review the Individual Ordinance Summary with members. (General Handbook, 34.4.1.5)

This year, bishops are instructed that they may conduct tithing settlement virtually or safely in person, as local conditions allow.

Below are some tips gathered from bishops and clerks on how to hold effective tithing settlement meetings:

Tithing Settlement Tear-off Sheet. The line-up at the bishop’s office can get out of hand as members try to juggle their calendar in order to write down the appointment. An article in Latter-day Saint Life Hacker offers a downloadable tear-off sheet that allows members to quickly write down their name (for the bishop’s record) and tear of the slip (for the member’s record). Simple and neat.

Before the Appointment. In preparation for the appointment, ask members to review their donation history online at ChurchofJesusChrist.org/donations. On that site, members can see all their donations, regardless of whether they paid them online, directly to the ward, or to a previous ward. For those who don’t have online access, ask them to contact the finance clerk before the appointment to print their donation history.

Update Records. When members arrive for their appointment, the clerk should take the opportunity to review their membership records with them to make sure that recent ordinances have been recorded and that phone numbers and email addresses are up to date.

Take Photos. If the member doesn’t have a photo attached to his or her membership record, the clerk takes a photo and uploads it to the online directory. Having photos of all members really helps the leaders and other ward members to get to know everyone.

Church Account Set-up. If the member doesn’t have an account on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, the clerk helps him or her set it up at account.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The clerk demonstrates how the member can update his or her own contact information if it changes.

Tithing Settlement in Two Days. One ward dedicates a full Saturday and Sunday and schedules all appointments during that time.

Stay on Task. Stay on task for the purpose of tithing settlement. At the end of the scheduled appointment time, the clerk knocks on the door. If the bishop or the member wants more time to discuss other concerns, the executive secretary or clerk makes a follow-up appointment.

Appointments. The executive secretary reviews the Action and Interview List and sets up appointments for any interviews needed in the near future. He could also review the list of temple recommends and set up appointments for any that are about to expire.

Learn more:

“Tithing,” Gospel Topics
“Why Tithing Settlement?, Ensign article

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First Presidency Encourages Latter-day Saints in the United States to Vote

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 12:00:53 GMT

In a letter from the First Presidency, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reaffirmed its institutional neutrality regarding political parties and candidates and encouraged citizens in the United States to vote in the election on November 3, 2020.

Political Participation, Voting, and the Political Neutrality of the Church

Citizens of the United States have the privilege and duty of electing office holders and influencing public policy. Participation in the political process affects their communities and nation today and in the future. We urge Latter-day Saints to be active citizens by registering, exercising their right to vote, and engaging in civic affairs.

We also urge you to spend the time needed to become informed about the issues and candidates you will be considering. Along with the options available to you through the Internet, debates, and other sources, the Church occasionally posts information about particular moral issues on which it has taken a position at www.Newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in various political parties, and members should seek candidates who best embody those principles.

While the Church affirms its institutional neutrality regarding political parties and candidates, individual members should participate in the political process. Please strive to live the gospel in your own life by demonstrating Christlike love and civility in political discourse.

Sincerely yours,

Russell M. Nelson
Dallin H. Oaks
Henry B. Eyring

See the signed letter in English and in Spanish.

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Word Cloud for October 2020 General Conference

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 12:00:09 GMT

Above is a word cloud of the text from the October 2020 general conference. It shows the frequency of use of words (except common words like it, the, and and). The size of each word is based on its frequency. (More frequently used words appear larger than those used less frequently.)

You can read, listen to, or watch all the talks from the October 2020 general conference at conference.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

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Text of October 2020 General Conference Now Online

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 02:40:13 GMT

The official English text for the general conference talks is now available at conference.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and in the Gospel Library app. Text in many languages will be posted over the next several days.

At conference.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, click the title of the talk to read the text or watch the video. Click the icons at the top right of any talk page to download the audio or print the text. To listen, click the headphone icon in the lower right.

Learn about direct URLs to quickly access general conference.

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Family History Activity: Map Where Your Ancestors Are From

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 12:00:28 GMT

Find out where your ancestors are from—and where you are from—using FamilySearch’s new “Where Am I From?” activity. See your family’s movement on a map, discover the countries your ancestors lived in, and explore the heritage and traditions of those countries.

Pinpoint on a map where your ancestors are from
Trace the migration of your family
Learn about the countries you come from
See where your family was during major events

Learn more in the article “Where Are Your Ancestors From? Map Your Heritage with ‘Where Am I From’ Activity.”

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Hashtags and URLs for General Conference

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 12:00:14 GMT

Hashtags

Many social media sites let you categorize your posts by using hashtags. Hashtags consist of a pound sign (#) followed by a key word(s). These subject tags can be searched on sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Flickr, and Tumblr to find information about a given topic.

Here are suggested hashtags you can use when posting comments about conference:

#GeneralConference
#HearHim, #Restoration, #FirstVision (hashtags specific to this conference)
#‎inspiredby‬ (to share what you find inspiring)
#next6months (to share how you want your life to change over the next 6 months)
#last6months (to share how your life has changed since last conference)
#TabChoir (when referencing the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square)

Use this format when mentioning the names of Church leaders:

#PresNelson, #PresOaks, #PresEyring (First Presidency)
#PresBallard (President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles)
#ElderHolland, #ElderClayton, etc. (members of the Quorum of the Twelve and the Seventy)
#BishopCausse (Presiding Bishopric)
#SisterBingham, #BrotherPace (General Officers)

See a more complete list of suggested LDS hashtags you can use when discussing the Church on social media.

The free book 101 Ways to Hasten the Work Online also has ideas about using hashtags.

And remember the words of President Dieter F. Uchtdorf from the April 2011 General Conference:

With so many social media resources and a multitude of more or less useful gadgets at our disposal, sharing the good news of the gospel is easier and the effects more far-reaching than ever before. In fact, I am almost afraid that some listening have already sent text messages like “He’s been speaking for 10 minutes and still no aviation analogy!” My dear young friends, perhaps the Lord’s encouragement to “open [your] mouths” might today include “use your hands” to blog and text message the gospel to all the world! But please remember, all at the right time and at the right place.

Direct URLs

The Church provides a number of direct URLs (also called “vanity URLs”) that you can use to quickly access general conference online.

Conference Page

conference.ChurchofJesusChrist.org or gc.ChurchofJesusChrist.org take you directly to the main general conference site (ChurchofJesusChrist.org/general-conference)
conferenciageneral.ChurchofJesusChrist.org takes you to the general conference page in Spanish (ChurchofJesusChrist.org/general-conference?lang=spa)
conferênciageral.ChurchofJesusChrist.org takes you to the general conference page in Portuguese (ChurchofJesusChrist.org/general-conference?lang=por)

Conference Music

gcmusic.ChurchofJesusChrist.org takes you to the conference music playlist (ChurchofJesusChrist.org/general-conference/music)

Conference Children’s Activities

conferencegames.ChurchofJesusChrist.org takes you to general conference activities for children (ChurchofJesusChrist.org/general-conference/activities-for-children)

See a list of short URLs to find many other Church websites.

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Children’s Activities for General Conference

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 12:00:32 GMT

The Church provides General Conference activities for children at ConferenceGames.ChurchofJesusChrist.org in English, Portuguese and Spanish to help them enjoy and learn more from watching or listening to general conference.

A downloadable General Conference Notebook for children to write or draw about conference.
My General Conference Notes for children
Coloring pages of members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (with names and without names)
A coloring page with all members of the First Presidency and Apostles on a single page.
Conference Squares, consisting of 7 cards that encourage children to listen carefully, and when a speaker talks about one of the topics on the card, cover that square.
Games and activities from the Friend magazine.
Coloring pages by topic from the Friend magazine.
Scripture stories coloring books.
The Friend magazine offers videos about each of the apostles. If your children watch these, they will know more about them when they see them speak in conference.

Please download and share these materials with others. If you have any suggestions to improve the Church’s conference activities for children, please comment below.

There are also useful conference activities available on other websites, such as the following:

October 2020 General Conference Activity Packet by Maeser Art (see the Maeser Art home page for other free conference products)
General Conference Activity & Coloring Sheets- “FAVORITES” by HeyFriendShop.com
Conference Bingo Mobile app
Fall 2020 Conference Packet by Deseret Book
How to Prepare for General Conference With Kids – Minimalist Idea
FREE General Conference Activities from LDS Daily
Conference activity packet by Arie Van De Graaff, the Mormon Cartoonist (also in Spanish)
53 Conference Activities for Kids from LDS Living
General Conference Bingo – a site that randomly generates different bingo cards
General conference notes worksheet by Nathan Richardson (in several languages)
Making memories: 5 ways to make general conference fun for kids by Utah Valley 360.

If you know of others you want to share, please comment about them below.

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General Conference Resource: Apostle Infographics

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 11:54:18 GMT

The New Era magazine has created infographics of each member of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. These may be helpful for children and youth to become more familiar with these great leaders of the Church.

Download printable PDFs of all 15.

An example of three of them appear below:

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