At the Church History Symposium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Church historian and recorder Elder Kyle S. McKay said the Church's memorials and historic markers have a bigger purpose than preserving the past: to help people see the Lord's hand and draw closer to Jesus Christ. Focusing on remarkable people or events without the One who made them remarkable, he said, is stopping "short of the mark" (Church News).
Rebuilding after the Palisades Fire. Latter-day Saints joined hundreds of volunteers in a three-day Habitat for Humanity build in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, that began Sept. 23, working on six homes and a community park for wildfire survivors. Habitat says 160 families are already rebuilding with its help (Newsroom, Church News).
"Love Without End" comes to the Tabernacle. The 2026 Church Music Festival is Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. MST in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. It is free with no tickets needed, and more than 300 singers and musicians will present 12 new hymns from "Hymns for Home and Church." Performances will also be posted for on-demand viewing (Church News).
Game day: No. 2 BYU at UCF. The unbeaten Cougars (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) play UCF (3-3) today at 1:30 p.m. MDT on FOX from the Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando. It is UCF's homecoming, and BYU leads the all-time series 4-1 (Deseret News, UCF Athletics).
"Jesus Christ is the central being of all human history."
— Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in a video shared on social media, Oct. 21, 2026 (Church News)
Oct. 24, 1841: Before sunrise, Elder Orson Hyde of the Quorum of the Twelve left Jerusalem, crossed the Kidron Valley and climbed the Mount of Olives. There he dedicated the land "for the gathering together of Judah's scattered remnants," then built a stone altar to mark the occasion (Church History Topics).
After Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground, Joshua set up 12 stones from the riverbed so future generations would ask what they meant, "that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty" (Joshua 4:24). Elder McKay called the sacrament perhaps the Church's most sacred memorial, where we promise to "always remember him" (D&C 20:77, 79, Church News).
Reflect: What "stone of remembrance" in your own life reminds you of the Lord's hand?
In 1847 Brigham Young wrote that "the shores of the Pacific may yet be overlooked from the temple of the Lord." This temple on Santa Monica Boulevard was announced in 1937, delayed by the Depression and World War II, and dedicated by President David O. McKay on March 11, 1956. Its open house drew 662,401 visitors, a record until 1974 (official temple page, Newsroom, Church News Almanac).
Yesterday's answer: Section 120. It says tithing "shall be disposed of by a council" composed of the First Presidency, "the bishop and his council" and the high council; Section 119 is the law of tithing itself (D&C 120).
Today’s question: In an 1840 dream, Orson Hyde saw his mission to Jerusalem pass through London, Amsterdam and which other city?
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Which Church history site would you most like to visit?
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Elder McKay mentioned all four on Friday.
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