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Mary Richards

Mary Richards is a reporter for the Church News. Before that, she was a morning reporter/anchor for KSL NewsRadio in Salt Lake City. She graduated from BYU with a degree in journalism, and she and her husband have five children. Email her at mrichards@deseretnews.com.

BYU Jerusalem Center
Global
BYU Jerusalem Center students returning home at the end of the month
The Oct. 18 update came after attacks in southern Israel moved students from Jerusalem to Greece.
Youth Sunday School students listen to a lesson at Church.
Members
Preparing for the Worldwide Day of Testimony for youth
Youth are invited to participate in a testimony meeting that will last 24 hours around the world.
Rabbi Joe Charnes, center, with his friend Michael Law and daughter Yael Charnes, take a picture with Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong, a General Authority Seventy, and Sister Carol Lu Wong after a session of general conference.
Living Faith
A rabbi shares how to be changed by general conference messages
To truly hear leads to understanding and then to change, explained Rabbi Joe Charnes.
A young man and a woman harvest vegetables in a greenhouse at Osage Nation Harvest Land in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
Living Faith
Oklahoma Latter-day Saints strengthen community relationships through service
JustServe volunteers and members of the Church took part in several service projects to help those in need.
A large group of Latter-day Saints of all ages from the Rivas Ward takes part in a service project in Nicaragua.
Global
Nicaragua Latter-day Saints celebrate 70 years of the Church in the country
Members of the Church took part in community service projects to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the gospel in Nicaragua.
An Afghan boy stands in front of his house that is now stone rubble and part of a frame.
Global
Church leaders express condolences after deadly Afghanistan earthquakes
The Church’s Middle East/Africa North Area presidency responds to latest deadly quake in Herat province.
Burundi Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca welcomes Rwanda Kigali Mission President N. Christian Mavinga as Elder Paul B. Pieper, General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the Africa Central Area presidency, observes.
Global
Church leaders meet with Burundi prime minister in Central Africa
“Our first mission is to help people come to Jesus Christ,” says mission president.
Members of the Church from Lahaina meet together for a counseling session with Family Services on the island of Maui.
Living Faith
Family Services provides emotional relief for Maui Saints
Counselors have been on the Hawaiian island of Maui giving support after the August wildfires.
Five African members of parliament take a tour of the Ghana Missionary Training Center.
Global
African leaders visit Ghana MTC and BYU in October
Delegates from several African nations took a tour of the Ghana Missionary Training Center while others attended the annual symposium on law and religion at BYU.
LaToyia Dennis shares her high-risk maternal journey at a MOMS baby shower in Dallas, Texas.
Living Faith
JustServe volunteers support MOMS baby shower in Dallas, Texas
JustServe volunteers helped before, during and after the community baby shower.
Elder Allen D. Haynie, General Authority Seventy, speaks about the temple during a BYU devotional.
Living Faith
How to meet Jesus Christ in the temple, teaches Elder Haynie
Temple ordinances and covenants and the garment of the Holy Priesthood all point to Jesus, taught Elder Allen D. Haynie at a BYU devotional.
A view of the Feather River California Temple in the morning of Oct. 7, 2023, in Yuba City, California.
Temples
Feather River California Temple dedicatory prayer: Read Elder Soares’s gratitude for the restored gospel and Savior Jesus Christ
“We also express our gratitude for the faith and devotion of those who were pioneers in this area and whose posterity have lived exemplary lives before Thee.”
Rabbi Joe Charnes, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, attends the Sunday afternoon session of October 2023 general conference.
Podcast
Episode 157: Rabbi Joe Charnes on the power of general conference as a member of a different faith
Rabbi Joe Charnes, an interfaith partner and religious studies lecturer, joins guest host Mary Richards on the Church News podcast.
Children play on new playground equipment on the House of Hope campus in Apia, Samoa.
Global
Giving hope to survivors of abuse in Samoa
Church support helps women and children fleeing domestic violence at House of Hope.
Brother Brady Browning and Sister Tracy Y. Browning at the London England Temple Arrivals Center in Lingfield, England, March 11, 2023.
Leaders & Ministry
Today is Sister Browning’s birthday. Here are 9 of her quotes from the past year
Born on Oct. 9, 1976, Sister Tracy Y. Browning has served in the Primary general presidency since Aug. 1, 2022.
President M. Russell Ballard, stands outside the historic Gould Barn in Topsfield, Massachusetts.
Leaders & Ministry
Today is President Ballard’s 95th birthday. Here are 9 of his quotes from the past year
President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was born on Oct. 8, 1928, in Salt Lake City.
A Pakistani woman named Ghulam holds her baby in temporary housing after flooding destroyed their home.
Global
Church support helps survivors of devastating Pakistan flooding
The Church is working with ShelterBox, Islamic Relief and UNHCR to get relief to thousands of people affected by last year’s flooding in Pakistan.
Members of the Twin Falls 20th Branch (Swahili) take a picture with Sister J. Anette Dennis in the center in Salt Lake City.
Living Faith
Swahili-speaking members feel ‘stronger than ever’ after Salt Lake City visit
Members of a Swahili branch of the Church in Twin Falls, Idaho, attended general conference and met Sister J. Anette Dennis of the Relief Society general presidency.
Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman talks about the ASL sign for repentance during her devotional at the Provo Missionary Training Center.
Leaders & Ministry
Jesus Christ is ‘the one thing’ that is the most important, says President Emily Belle Freeman
Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman told missionaries that as they teach the doctrine of Christ, they will be changed and they will change others.
Doctors, local officials and representatives from Project Hope and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attend the ribbon cutting of a new outpatient health clinic in Zahatlsi, Ukraine.
Global
Church helps open new health clinic in Ukraine
Project Hope provided a new outpatient health clinic in Kyiv region with Church support.
President Dallin H. Oaks shakes the hand of Hungarian President Katalin Novák in the Church Administration Building.
Global
Hungary’s president meets with First Presidency, speaks at BYU
Hungarian President Katalin Novák discussed faith and family at BYU and received a copy of the Book of Mormon at Church headquarters.
Cardinal Antoine Kambanda from Rwanda joins Elder Ronald A. Rasband and others at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City.
Global
Rwanda Catholic Cardinal visits headquarters of Church of Jesus Christ
“You are welcome in Africa,” Cardinal said in a meeting with Elder Ronald A. Rasband.
Two missionaries speak with two children volunteering at a Convoy of Hope service event in Pueblo, Colorado.
Members
Church members, missionaries join service effort for 5,000 people in Colorado
Members of Pueblo Colorado Stake, Colorado Springs missionaries and JustServe volunteers joined Convoy of Hope effort to serve the community.
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Rosana Soares, walk around the temple in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
Leaders & Ministry
Today is Elder Soares’ 65th birthday. Here are 9 of his quotes from the past year
Born Oct. 2, 1958, Elder Soares was sustained as an Apostle during the April 2018 general conference.
Attendees walk past a painting of Jesus Christ during the 193rd Semiannual General Conference.
Leaders & Ministry
A focus on faith in Jesus Christ at October 2023 general conference
Through faith in the Savior, people are able to press forward with “a steadfastness in Christ,” taught Church leaders during October 2023 general conference.
Attendees arrive for the Sunday afternoon session of the 193rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the conference center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023.
General Conference
Sunday afternoon session: See photos and talk summaries of October 2023 general conference
Speakers from the Sunday afternoon session of October 2023 general conference included President Russell M. Nelson, two Apostles and four General Authority Seventies.
Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman speaks during the Sunday morning session of general conference.
General Conference
President Emily Belle Freeman: ‘Walking in Covenant Relationship With Christ’
“No matter the heaviness of our story, or the current course of our path, He will invite us to walk with Him,” said Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman.
Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks in the Conference Center for October 2023 general conference.
General Conference
Elder Gary E. Stevenson: ‘Promptings of the Spirit’
“Exercising spiritual gifts requires spiritual exercise,” said Elder Gary E. Stevenson.
Elder Carlos A. Godoy speaks during the Saturday morning session October 2023 general conference.
General Conference
Elder Carlos A. Godoy: ‘For the Sake of Your Posterity’
You know there is a plan for us in this life. You know that families can be eternal. Why put yours at risk?” said Elder Carlos A. Godoy.
Relief Society President Camille N. Johnson hugs a woman affected by the Maui wildfires in Kahului, Hawaii.
Leaders & Ministry
Relief Society, Primary and Young Women leaders minister around the world in September
All nine sisters testify of Christ, teach to children, youth, young adults and women in the Americas, Africa and Pacific