Church Launches ‘A Savior Is Born’ Christmas Initiative

SALT LAKE CITY, UNITED STATES — 

A Christmas initiative that includes a video in multiple languages and outdoor advertising in New York City’s Times Square was launched today by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The 2015 initiative, “A Savior Is Born,” focuses on finding, knowing and following the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The Church anticipates the initiative will reach millions around the globe as people share the online content on their social channels during the month of December, when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

More at Mormon Newsroom.

LDS Primary School Graduation

LDS Primary, Samabula -

40 students from the LDS Primary School graduated from Class 06 on Tuesday 17 November and will be moving on to Form 1 at the LDS Church College next year.

Chief guest the ceremony, Michael Carthew the former Principal of LDS Church College spoke about how Nephi paid tribute to his “goodly parents” and about his education where he was taught all the learning of his father.

He counselled the graduates that they must learn like Nephi and understand the language of their fathers, (Fijian) but more importantly to learn and understand English the dominant language of our time. Only by learning and understanding both languages can they fully maximize their potential in this world.

 

 

He encouraged the students to use the books in the Library and develop a love for reading books. He also encouraged the parents to assist their children in this process by having their child read a book to them or vice versa.

He shared that on his travels throughout the Pacific schools, he’s noticed that most students are bright and capable in many areas of education such as sports and other extracurricular activities but because they struggle to understand English, it often contributes to them not doing too well academically.

According to him students can truly reach their potential and excel in their school and career goals are if they strive to do well in learning the English language.

Graduating Students Encouraged to Have the Right Attitude

LDS Church College, Tamavua -

Some of the 2015 Graduates of the LDS Church College

 Dr Michael Carthew the Assistant Area Director of the LDS Church Schools who was the keynote speaker at the graduation for Year 13 students of the LDS Church College today encouraged the graduands to have the right attitude in life so they can become young men and women of substance.

37 students graduated from the school today at the completion of their thirteen years of education. They had already sat and completed their Form 7 external exams last week. He counselled them to search diligently and to be prayerful and be believing that all things will work together for their common good. 

18 year old Shimran Sharma was the valedictorian for the school scooping the top honours for Biology, English, Institute and Maths.

In her speech, Shimran attributed her success to her hard working parents who had supported her throughout her school years and her older brother who was her hero and role model. Five years ago her older brother was also the Dux of the college and she wanted to achieve the same so she had worked hard the past 3 years to achieve this. The school gymnasium was full of parents, students, teachers and family members who came to support their children on their graduation.

Missionaries Speaking Their Native Language Now to Spend Three Weeks in Training

SALT LAKE CITY —

Sister missionaries at the missionary training center in Mexico City.

Beginning March 1, 2016, missionaries assigned to teach in their native languages will again spend three weeks in the missionary training center (MTC).

In October 2012, President Thomas S. Monson announced a reduction in the age for missionary service, making missionary service an option for a large number of additional young men and women. To accommodate this influx, the length of the MTC stay for all missionaries was reduced by approximately one-third. For missionaries speaking their native language, this meant a reduction in their time in the MTC from three weeks to two weeks.

"This was simply an issue of capacity," said Elder Brent H. Nielson, executive director of the Church's Missionary Department. "Three weeks is the optimal amount of time for these elders and sisters to spend in an MTC setting. It gives them an opportunity to understand how to be an effective, successful missionary."

The change to a three-week MTC experience will create some minor changes in transfer dates in some missions throughout the world and therefore may affect start or release dates for some missionaries. Families of missionaries will be contacted by the Missionary Department or the mission president beginning in December with information if there are any changes in dates.