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This week’s news stories celebrate President Dallin H. Oaks’ 94th birthday and highlight upcoming changes to the Sunday schedule and curriculum. Temple news includes the Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple open house, milestone dates for the Fort Worth Texas and Barcelona Spain temples, the groundbreaking of the Naga Philippines Temple, and volunteer opportunities for the Salt Lake Temple Celebration. Stories of service feature flood recovery efforts in Pakistan, wildfire assistance in Spokane County, and new opportunities for Australians to discover their family history.

ONE

President Dallin H. Oaks and his wife, Kristen Oaks, gather with family members in Utah as President Oaks celebrates his 94th birthday, his first since becoming President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

President Dallin H. Oaks Celebrates 94th Birthday
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
The First Presidency

President Dallin H. Oaks celebrated his 94th birthday on August 12, 2026. He marked the occasion with family in Utah on the evening of Monday, August 10. This is his first birthday since becoming the Church’s 18th President. READ STORY AND SEE PHOTOS HERE.

TWO

Latter-day Saint women participate in a Church class as members prepare for changes to the Sunday schedule, including 25-minute Sunday School, Relief Society, elders quorum, and youth meetings.

New Sunday Class Schedule: Videos That Members Should Watch
Monday, August 10, 2026
Church Communications

Wards and branches in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will have special Sunday instruction on September 6 during the new second-hour block of classes to prepare for the new Sunday schedule of second-hour classes. After sacrament meeting, members will watch a series of short videos and discuss how to implement the new schedule of 25-minute Sunday School classes and 25-minute Relief Society, elders quorum and youth meetings. Before this date, youth, their parents and their leaders will watch a video together on Sunday, August 30, explaining the new youth curriculum. READ STORY AND SEE VIDEO HERE.

THREE

President Dallin H. Oaks and his wife, Kristen Oaks, gather with family members in Utah as President Oaks celebrates his 94th birthday, his first since becoming President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Eav Family Legacy Comes Full Circle at the New Cambodia Temple
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Temples Rising

The Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple opened its doors to journalists on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Invited guests will tour the temple on August 13 and 14, followed by a public open house from Saturday, August 15, through Saturday, August 22 (excluding Sunday). Sister Eav is the fifth grandchild of Saroeun and Leang to serve a mission in Cambodia. The Eav family legacy has now come full circle. The Eavs are now part of the temple presidency of the Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple. READ STORY AND SEE VIDEO HERE.

FOUR

Latter-day Saint women participate in a Church class as members prepare for changes to the Sunday schedule, including 25-minute Sunday School, Relief Society, elders quorum, and youth meetings.

The Mental Health Case for Religion
Monday, August 3, 2026
In The News

Memes like “God is dead” and “Science is real” have become T-shirt banners of contemporary secularism. These statements make an implicit claim: the more seriously we take science, the less seriously we should take religion. But when the bantering subsides, one serious empirical question remains: What does the best science reveal about whether religion helps or harms us as individuals and as a nation? READ STORY HERE.

FIVE

A multigenerational family represents the importance of family, missionary service, and faith highlighted in the Eav family story surrounding the new Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple.

First Presidency Announces Milestone Dates for Fort Worth and Barcelona Temples
Monday, August 10, 2026
Temples Rising

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the open house and dedication dates for the Fort Worth Texas Temple and the groundbreaking date for the Barcelona Spain Temple. READ STORY AND SEE PICTURES HERE.

SIX

A woman prays while studying scripture at home, illustrating the role of religion, faith, and spiritual practice in a story examining the mental health case for religion.

Church Members Serve Neighbors as Spokane Wildfires Force Widespread Evacuations
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Humanitarian Outreach

As multiple wildfires continue to burn across Spokane County and surrounding communities in eastern Washington, USA, members of The Church are opening their homes, assisting with evacuations and providing support to those affected. Many Latter-day Saint families have evacuated, including members throughout the Spokane North Stake, which lies entirely within the evacuation zone. Some members of the Mt. Spokane Stake have also evacuated. READ STORY HERE.

SEVEN

Young volunteers near Temple Square represent new opportunities to participate in the 2027 Salt Lake Temple Celebration welcoming visitors to the renovated temple and Temple Square.

New Volunteer Schedule Options Open for Salt Lake Temple Celebration
Monday, August 10, 2026
Salt Lake Temple

Applications are open for individuals and groups who want to participate in the Salt Lake Temple Celebration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, taking place April 5 through October 1, 2027. This historic celebration will welcome guests from around the world to experience the renovated Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square. Through music, dance, storytelling and personal interaction, participants will help create experiences centered on Jesus Christ, faith and the purpose of temples. People from a variety of backgrounds, faiths, talents and experience levels are encouraged to participate. READ STORY AND LEARN HOW TO APPLY HERE.

EIGHT

Families affected by devastating flooding in Pakistan receive humanitarian supplies as Church-funded assistance supports vulnerable communities recovering from severe monsoon floods.

Hope After the Floods: How Church-Funded Assistance Reached the Most Vulnerable
Friday, July 31, 2026
Humanitarian Outreach

In 2025, Pakistan experienced exceptional rainfall, which caused some of the worst monsoon floods in its recent history. Over 4 million people were affected in Punjab province, especially low-lying riverine districts in the south. The Church provided funds to the local nongovernmental organization (NGO), Youth Development Foundation (YDF), to carry out its stabilization and early recovery efforts in Alipur, Jalalpur Pirwala, and Khanewal districts, where Baba Sardar resides. READ STORY HERE.

NINE

Ceremonial golden shovels stand ready for a temple groundbreaking, representing the beginning of construction on the Naga Philippines Temple in Naga City, Camarines Sur.

A New House of the Lord: Construction Begins on the Naga Philippines Temple
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Temples Rising

Ground was officially broken for the Naga Philippines Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on August 8, 2026, in Naga City, Camarines Sur.

Elder Steven D. Shumway of the Philippines Area Presidency presided at the event, which was attended by government, community and interfaith leaders, including Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, mayor of Naga City. READ STORY HERE.

TEN

Visitors explore their ancestry using interactive FamilySearch displays at a FamilySearch Discovery Center as National Family History Month encourages Australians to discover their family stories.

National Family History Month Invites Australians to Discover Their Family Stories
Friday, August 7, 2026
Family History

Melbourne is the third Australian city to open a FamilySearch Discovery Center designed specifically to help beginners, joining similar centers in Sydney and Brisbane. Designed specifically for beginners, the center removes many of the barriers people often associate with family history. Rather than expecting people to know how to research historical records or build a family tree, trained volunteers provide one-on-one guidance in a welcoming environment designed to help people begin exploring where they come from. READ STORY HERE.