During the week of Sept. 10-16, the First Presidency announced plans for a new biography, “Joseph the Prophet.” Following a hospital stay of more than a month for observation and treatment of ongoing health complications, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has returned home to recuperate. Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson visited leaders and residents of Indiana.

Sister J. Anette Dennis spoke in the latest Church News video, titled “Partnering With the Savior.” The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released site locations for two new temples in Nigeria and a new, updated exterior rendering of the soon-to-be-renovated Kona Hawaii Temple. Three Church colleges hosted their first devotionals of fall semester, Brigham Young University, Brigham Young University–Idaho and Ensign College.

Forgiveness and health expert Loren L. Toussaint spoke with the Church News about the benefits of forgiveness for physical and mental health. In the weekly Church News podcast, Church News reporter Mary Richards shared what she learned when she traveled to Hawaii shortly after a series of wildfires spread devastation on the Hawaiian island of Maui. The Brigham Young Center launched the first volume of “The Brigham Young Journals.” Wearing blue jeans and work boots and sporting a belt won at a rodeo by his father, Bronco Mendenhall, the former BYU and University of Virginia football coach, shared stories of his faith and how it directs his life.

Read summaries and find links to these 10 articles below.

1. First Presidency announces new biography, ‘Joseph the Prophet,’ at Joseph Smith Papers Conference

President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks at the Joseph Smith Papers Conference in the Conference Center Theater in Salt Lake City on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will publish a new biography about Joseph Smith, titled “Joseph the Prophet,” announced President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the Church’s First Presidency, during the seventh annual Joseph Smith Papers Conference on Friday, Sept. 15.

The new biography will be written by Richard E. Turley Jr., former assistant Church historian and recorder, with help from teams of historians and other professionals at Church headquarters, Brigham Young University and elsewhere.

2. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland released from hospital, returns home to recuperate

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Following a hospital stay of more than a month for observation and treatment of ongoing health complications, Elder Holland has returned home to recuperate.

The update is according to a statement released by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, Sept. 10.

3. President Johnson visits leaders and residents of Indiana

Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson, center left, greets members of various faith traditions at the Indy Festival of Faiths at University Park in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023.

Cristy Powell, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

A weekend of meetings and ministry in Indiana allowed Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson to share more about the Church with leaders and residents of that U.S. state.

“It was delightful to be here with the gracious people of Indiana. I truly felt their ‘Hoosier hospitality,’” President Johnson said during the Sept. 8-10 visit to Indianapolis.

4. Sister Dennis on learning about ‘Partnering With the Savior’

As she reflects on her life, Sister J. Anette Dennis, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, says she can see the Savior’s watchful care and influence. She shared her thoughts in the Church News video, “Partnering With the Savior.”

Screenshot from YouTube

As Sister Dennis, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, reflects on her life, she can see the Savior’s watchful care and influence.

“The Savior is the ultimate source of relief,” she said during a Church News interview. 

In this Church News video titled, “Partnering With the Savior,” Sister Dennis shares how the Savior stood beside her family as her daughter dealt with emotional and mental health challenges. 

5. New temple announcements for Nigeria and Kona, group appointments

A new temple scheduling feature allows families and friends to reserve group appointments online for all ordinances.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The First Presidency released site locations for two new temples in Nigeria and a new, updated exterior rendering of the soon-to-be-renovated Kona Hawaii Temple.

The sites and rendering were published Monday, Sept. 11, on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Another announcement stated that Latter-day Saints may now schedule group appointments for all proxy ordinances using the online system for temple appointments at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

6. Church education leaders speak at BYU, BYU–Idaho and Ensign College devotionals

President Shane Reese speaks during a BYU campus devotional held in the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Sept. 12, 2023.

Nate Edwards, BYU

Three Church colleges hosted their first devotionals of fall semester: Brigham Young University, Brigham Young University–Idaho and Ensign College.

In the first devotional of the semester, new BYU President C. Shane Reese offered his first warm welcome to students on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

As new BYU–Idaho President Alvin F. Meredith III and his wife, Sister Jennifer Meredith, addressed students Tuesday, Sept. 12, they extended a special welcome to freshmen “because [we] are freshmen, too,” President Meredith said.

In Ensign College’s first devotional of fall 2023, President Bruce C. Kusch and Sister Alynda Kusch related several stories, each from different circumstances but sharing several things in common.

7. 3 ways forgiveness can benefit your physical and mental health

Loren L. Toussaint, a professor of psychology at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

Luther College

About 25 years ago, social scientists knew virtually nothing about how forgiveness might be related to physical and mental health. Today, forgiveness and health expert Loren L. Toussaint can say there are tangible, positive benefits.

“I think everyone is innately interested and in need of forgiveness in some way, shape or form,” Toussaint told the Church News. 

8. Seeking and giving spiritual solace amid the Maui wildfires, with Church News reporter Mary Richards

Survivors of the Maui wildfires and those who provided relief joined the Church News podcast Sept. 12, 2023.

Screenshot from YouTube

In August 2023, a series of wildfires spread devastation on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Property and lives were lost, including five members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Church members and others in the community rallied to support each other and begin the long process of recovering from the disaster.  

Church News reporter Mary Richards traveled to the island shortly after the disaster, documenting the post-fire relief efforts and observing the Hawaiian people’s strength as they sought and gave solace in the wounded community.

In the weekly Church News podcast, she shares their stories of survival and spiritual fortitude, the Church’s Humanitarian response and the faith that can be found in the beauty of the ashes.

9. Historians introduce the Brigham Young Papers project and first volume of journals

Brigham Young was the second President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Brigham Young Center has launched the first volume of “The Brigham Young Journals.” The first volume covers April 1832 to February 1846.

The plan is to make the bulk of Brigham’s documents available online, with a small subset published in print, including journals, letters and personal writings. The project will also provide information about the man and the world he lived in.

10. Bronco Mendenhall talks about leaving UVA and how his faith directs his life

Bronco Mendenhall, former University of Virginia head football coach, joined the Church News podcast in August 2023 to talk about faith, family and football.

Screenshot from YouTube

Wearing blue jeans and work boots and sporting a belt won at a rodeo by his father, Bronco Mendenhall, the former BYU and University of Virginia football coach, shared stories of his faith and how it directs his life.

No one “likes to win more than I do, or as much,” Bronco Mendenhall said about football. “However, that and that alone isn’t enough.”