This is the World Report for October 2020. Coming up: In a time of pandemic, the youth of the Church stay connected--sharing talents and testimony, the Tabernacle Choir celebrates 90 years of Music and the Spoken Word, and, after 128 years above the Salt Lake Temple, a time capsule from the past is opened. But first, the Church engages in the largest humanitarian effort in its 200-year history.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the world and its people, including members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In an effort to provide relief to those in need, Latter-day Saint Charities (the humanitarian arm of the Church), its charitable partners, and members of the global faith have participated in more than 815 projects in over 140 countries, acting as the Savior would, giving sustenance and hope. I believe that for every disciple of Jesus Christ, this is part of our DNA--that we go and find those that are in need and try to help them, whether it is in our own community or far away in other countries. This is really at the center of our religion. From providing personal protective equipment to much-needed food supplies, Latter-day Saints have found meaningful ways to be their brothers' and sisters' keepers. Let us unite our faith to plead for physical, spiritual, and other healing throughout the entire world. In March, Russell M. Nelson, President of the global faith, called on Church members to fast and make offerings to help the Church extend a helping hand to those impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. I know that during these challenging times, we can be strengthened and lifted as we call upon God and His Son, Jesus Christ--the Master Healer. Beehive Clothing operations in Brazil, Mexico, Paraguay, the Philippines, and the United States temporarily shifted gears to help with COVID-19 relief. Across those six facilities, we have about 1,000 employees. And we are donating our time, our labor, and our sewing capacity--diverting it from sewing sacred garments to sewing surgical gowns and cloth reusable masks for the community. I signed up and volunteered the first day. It's so great to have an opportunity to be able to provide something for other people--especially something that's needed as much as this. In the United States, the Relief Society organization helped organize "Project Protect." It's making medical-grade masks for the IHC and the University of Utah health systems, and we hope to make five million of them. Here are your instructions, and here are the masks. Volunteers in Utah signed up on JustServe.org and donated hundreds of thousands of hours to assemble nearly six million medical-grade clinical face masks that were gifted to state health care workers treating COVID-19 patients. I got online, looked at this project, looked at the pattern, and I thought: this I can do. Thank you so much! Latter-day Saint Charities turned over nearly 10 thousand face masks and other protective clothing and equipment to frontline workers and citizens of the Philippines, and nearly 2 million pieces to the health department of South Africa. In Brazil, Latter-day Saint volunteers cut, sewed, packed, and donated more than three million reusable face masks that were distributed to families, charitable organizations, and government agencies. And in Spain, Latter-day Saint Charities helped fund the manufacturing of thousands of 3D-printed splash-protective visors for health care and law enforcement workers. When we really try to help each other, when we try to follow the Savior's example and just put our heads together and our hearts together and our hands together, miracles can happen. In addition to providing personal protective equipment, the Church and its members have provided much-needed food and other supplies to those impacted by the pandemic. With government entities' help, the Church distributed live sheep and 10,000 pounds of flour to the Navajo Nation in Utah. Have a good day! The Navajo Nation has the highest infection rate from the COVID-19 virus in the United States, ahead of New York and New Jersey. So with these sheep, it has given people hope, and that somebody cares about them. And so sheep is very symbolic of hope and prosperity. Among the numerous projects, Latter-day Saints in central New Zealand extended a helping hand to their neighbors heavily stricken by COVID-19's economic impact. Members of the Church also joined forces with a local food pantry and social service agency to create a food support program for people in need. These special parcels that go out to the community is a huge blessing for those families to receive, especially when there's nothing in the cupboard. The Church has delivered tens of thousands of pounds of food across the United States and Canada since the early days of the pandemic--up to 15 loads a week, which adds to the Church's global humanitarian response--the largest ever. This load from the Bishops' Central Storehouse in Salt Lake City is headed for Southern California, an area impacted by a COVID-19 prompted lockdowns and related job losses. Demand for food has been unprecedented. The food that's just arrived from bishops' storehouse is invaluable for us. Dry goods, like beans, pasta, soup, and more. It's not just a box of food. It's also a little bit of hope. It's people recognizing that there's someone there who cares about them, and bishops' storehouse is helping us do that. In a week, Second Harvest, the Orange County Rescue Mission, and Mercy Warehouse-- Black beans, whoop whoop! --received deliveries of more than 52 tons of food to help meet the need that has skyrocketed more than 300 percent since March. Hi, how are you? How are you? Also stepping up to the rising need-- Things are looking good now, so thank you very much. --volunteers. So, we have the Latter-day Saints, we have the Episcopals, the Lutherans, the Methodists, the Catholics. It's been a wonderful interfaith effort, working side by side, a tremendous brotherhood and sisterhood--people of faith all wanting to serve each other. During the pandemic, it's kind of opened my eyes to see the need. We're here to help our brothers and sisters, and we do that any way we can, and in this case with food. We're all the hands and feet of God. We're all called to do this together and be united in serving the community. They come from all walks of life and different circumstances, seeking help. Lisa, a single mother of four, now living in a garage, said she never imagined needing this kind of help. I'm down to very little resources, and this is going to help me to be able to put gas in the car. It's hard for me to be in a position of taking, because for so many years we've been the ones volunteering and donating. John, a military veteran, now needs a helping hand. We're at the point now that I can't work. Food is sky-high. I'm just amazed what you've done here. Carrie, who takes care of her elderly mother, feels that she was divinely guided to the food pantry. I really need the food, and I use it. The Lord was directing me as to where to go and brought me here. It's wonderful. RSM Cares founder Chris O'Connor has a fitting motto and hope for all who pass through: "Come empty, leave filled."

COMING UP: Amid the global pandemic, tens of thousands of missionaries return to their home countries. AND: Whether it's from home or with regional safety guidelines, members of the Church find strength in the sacrament.

Throughout history, the religious faithful have looked heavenward in their quest to worship God. This journey has traditionally been by gathering together through assembling in synagogues, mosques, cathedrals, and other holy sanctuaries. But in 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, that abruptly changed as places of worship throughout the world closed their doors.

One thinks that everything will always be the same, but one day, it all stopped. This included services for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the global faith with a membership of more than 16 million members in nearly 200 nations and territories and 31,000 congregations. I was worried as to not knowing what was going to happen. The suspension of worship services in March put at risk the administering of the sacrament: the partaking of the bread and water, or symbolic remembrance of the body and blood of Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice. Partaking of the sacrament is the faith's most sacred weekly ritual. I was devastated to think that I wasn't sure if we'd get the sacrament. To think about the community that I share of faith and friendship--that I wouldn't be able to see them. With guidance from Church leaders, ministering brothers of the priesthood were able to prepare and offer the sacrament to their own families and others in their homes. I know of people who have struggled throughout the pandemic. But I feel it's an honor for me to hold the priesthood and to be able to serve people, especially with the sacrament. With me as a single mother, it has been a challenge. We haven't had a sacrament, but once in a while our ministering brethren are able to come. It's a huge blessing.

In recent months, the ability to worship again in meeting houses is gradually returning-- We welcome you to the sacrament meeting --varying from country to country and congregation to congregation, based on government regulations and Church leader direction. I was happy to come in here today and meet some of my friends that I've not seen for the longest time. It feels good to be here. The hardest thing for me in this situation: wear a mask and social distance and all this. But at the same time, I'm grateful that we can be here together to see our faces. One of the main reasons the Church was established was so that the Saints could meet together oft, and to fellowship together, and to feel the Spirit and the testimony of the other Saints is a wonderful thing to come back to. To come together--even though it's only a small body of Saints at this point--to feel that again, to feel that we're all united followers of Jesus Christ, has just uplifted my soul. For Latter-day Saints worldwide, worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ by partaking of His sacred sacrament, whether in homes or through renewed communal devotion, is keeping their faith flourishing during the difficulties of the pandemic. The sacrament is very important to me as a follower of Jesus Christ. It's the highlight of my week, and I look forward for this moment in which I can really feel close to the Savior.

In addition to affecting weekly worship services, the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the lives of Latter-day Saints in many other ways. Temples, the most sacred structures to members of the Church of Jesus Christ, were closed as a consequence of the pandemic and are now slowly reopening in phases, according to each country's specific circumstances.

And an army of 26,000 Latter-day Saint missionaries made the unexpected journey back to their home countries. Many of the representatives of Jesus Christ that returned early from their missions because of COVID-19 answered the call to continue to serve in new or familiar locations online. Hello, how are you? While the world continues to face the worst health crisis in just over a century, Latter-day Saints are continuing to embrace what they hold most dear--their belief and faith in the Savior Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of their faith.

STRAIGHT AHEAD: Honoring the first appearance of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, to Joseph Smith, a new proclamation is shared with the world. AND LATER: a 128-year-old door to the past is open.

In humility, we declare that in answer to his prayer, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph and inaugurated the 'restitution of all things' as foretold in the Bible. At general conference on Sunday, April 5, President Russell M. Nelson presented a proclamation titled "The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World," in honor of the 200th anniversary of the first time God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith. We gladly declare that the promised Restoration goes forward through continuing revelation. The earth will never again be the same, as God will "gather together in one all things in Christ."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a new symbol to better honor Jesus Christ and the name of His Church. Church President Russell M. Nelson announced it and explained its significance during the April 2020 General Conference. It will remind all that this is the Savior's Church and that all we do, as members of His Church, centers on Jesus Christ and His gospel. This symbol will be used as a visual identifier for official literature, news, and events of the Church and for other uses, as determined. It is proposed that we sustain as the new Young Men General Presidency-- Along with announcing nine new General Authority Seventies, in the April 2020 General Conference, President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency announced a new Young Men General Presidency. Brother Steven J. Lund is the new president, with Brother Ahmad Corbitt and Brother Bradley R. Wilcox as his counselors. Our Father loves us and yearns for each one of us to choose to return to His holy presence. He pleads with us to listen to the voice of Jesus Christ. Earlier this year, President Nelson launched a new initiative, extending an invitation to Latter-day Saints to consider the question "How do you 'hear Him'?" One of the ways I hear Him is in the scriptures. The scriptures are the prerecorded voice of the Lord. In response, various Church leaders have created videos sharing the ways in which they hear the voice of the Savior in their lives. I have felt peace and comfort from the Holy Ghost, and I have had testimony come to me from the Holy Ghost. For me, one of the ways that I feel the Spirit and I hear His voice is that warm assurance that I'm doing the right thing. Watch these videos and see ways to share your experience of how you hear the Savior's voice at HearHim.org.

STILL AHEAD: Though separated geographically, the youth of the Church connect as one with music and faith. AND: Church publications are updated to better unite Latter-day Saints the world over. Lift up your voice Hi everybody, I'm Ariana. And I'm Aaron. Tonight Elder and Sister Rasband will be answering questions you have submitted. In a worldwide Face to Face event for young adults, and on the set of ancient Jerusalem in Goshen, Utah, Latter-day Saints, ages 18 to 30, received answers and insights to questions and concerns submitted through social media. Every one of you has questions, and they need to be asked, and they need to be answered. Ana from Mexico said, "2020 has been very difficult. How can we keep firm in the faith, in the face of these events?" People of God have always seemed to face trials, and yet we can take comfort that the Lord Jesus Christ loves this people. And as He has said, in numerous times, "If you're going to stand on holy ground, you need not be troubled." The event also recognized 200 years since the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as revealed by the Prophet Joseph Smith. What truth do you hold most dearly that came as a result of that event It's simple: I love my Savior Jesus Christ. He died for us, but He lives All of these questions, and all of your questions, can be answered by the Lord Jesus Christ. He truly has the great answer. "When this world was created " Each year The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints releases a music album for youth with Christ-centered music that is used in youth conferences and Church activities. "He's the rock that you can stand on." But with the worldwide pandemic, all in-person youth gatherings are currently canceled or postponed. "I know that I can always feel His love--love!" Ammon and Liahona Olayan are just two of the many Latter-day Saint youth sharing their musical talents and testimonies of Jesus Christ in the Church's first-ever Youth Music Festival. Music has way more--like, a way bigger message than we realize. Because of the coronavirus outbreak and its impact worldwide, Church leaders decided to gather young Latter-day Saints ages 11 through 18 virtually, with more than 20 countries participating in music videos-- "And it's going to be a good day." --and prerecorded performances-- "Hanging from the heavens " --touching on topics that resonate with youth and giving messages about hearing the voice of Jesus Christ. "There is peace in Christ " I think this is the perfect time for us to be able to reach the youth of the whole world--the leaders of tomorrow--and to keep their focus on what really matters. "I know I'm not alone. I feel the Savior there beside me." The transition from in-person to virtual gatherings has extended to the youth around the world. Dear young men and young women, welcome to this For the Strength of Youth activity. This is Sydney Walker and Hadi Comacho Over 3,000 Latter-day Saint youth and friends of the faith from more than 27 countries and territories in the Caribbean participated in the Church's first-ever virtual For the Strength of Youth conference. In Zoom meetings we have classes about scripture study and family history, and we have interactive activities to get to know each other. Each day, youth conference-goers watched streamed sessions with the event's guest speakers and joined gospel-centered classes. We all can reach our divine potential to live again with our Heavenly Father and with Jesus Christ.

Feelings of loneliness in the world--I think that was eradicated just knowing that there's somebody else that's going through the exact same thing with the exact same faith.

The magazines provide an aid and a practical tool to help us learn the gospel of Jesus Christ and then apply its principles in everyday life. Beginning in January 2021, the Church will replace its four current magazines with three global magazines. We will have the Friend for children from ages 3 to 11. We'll have For the Strength of Youth for youth 12 to 18. And we'll have the Liahona for adults. These magazines are going to be available now in 47 languages. It's going to make it possible for people in so many countries who have not had access to magazines for their children and youth to now have that regularly. Location-specific materials will be in the magazines that will help them also to deal with their particular environment, because not everyone is the same. The magazine messages will be available both digitally and in print. We know that many still like to read, but many are looking at their devices as they go about their day. We'll also use social media. We'll email messages to them and make them aware of articles that may be particularly interesting to them. The new Liahona will bring articles that are specifically for sisters for adults. These Church magazines are going to provide such an opportunity to unify us as members--to help us feel a sense of belonging. We belong to a global church, and these magazines are going to help us bring people to the Savior.

Not everybody is a descendant of a pioneer that made their way across the plains into the valley. But all of us have forefathers, and regardless of our nation, our culture, or where we live, we all have pioneer heritage, and we ought to honor that. While Pioneer Day is officially celebrated only in Utah, the spirit of the day--which marks the arrival of Latter-day Saint pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24--can be shared by all. The pioneers in Brazil mean a lot to me because they paved the way for me.

I am the recipient of the blessings that they--through their example--bless me. Sometimes we forget to look back. Sometimes we forget to remember. And yet, we build upon all of the things that were done in the past and all of those wonderful people who sacrificed so much. The pioneers learned some great lessons by the mistakes they made, and that's true in everybody's life. Nobody is perfect. They weren't perfect, but that's the quest that all of us have. Though our circumstances are different, our environment is different, we share the same faith that they had. We are having our own journey; we are crossing our own trails; we are moving forward with faith in Jesus Christ just as they did. We should celebrate it as much as we can--not only on July 24 but every single day of our lives. Because they are our examples. We have a great story. We have the great pioneer story.

From Honduras to the Philippines, from Brazil to the United States, temple groundbreakings happen around the world. AND: Amid modern renovations, the secrets of pioneer temples are uncovered. We'll take you there.

When plans are announced to erect a new temple, it becomes part of our sacred history. Today we are pleased to announce plans to construct eight new temples. At the April 2020 General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson announced that temples would be constructed in: Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Tallahassee, Florida; Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Benin City, Nigeria; Syracuse, Utah; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Since the announcements in April conference, there have been several groundbreakings for temples that had been previously announced. In Utah, ground was broken for the Layton Utah and Orem Utah Temples on May 23 and September 5. Elder Craig C. Christensen of the Seventy presided over the ceremonies, modestly sized for COVID-19 safety guidelines. It's the faith we have in our Lord and Savior--that's what temples are all about. And so all that culminates for me in the beginnings and the construction of a holy temple. In the islands of the Philippines, ground was broken for the Alabang Philippines Temple on June 4 under the direction of Elder Evan Schmutz of the Seventy. As with other modified Church events related to COVID-19, a small, grateful gathering came together in this community of Metro Manila to share this special experience. And the increase in the number of temples announced are clear evidences that the Lord is hastening His work in the Philippines. Across the Pacific and to Central America, ground was broken on September 5 for the San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple. Elder José Bernardo Hernandez Orellana of the Area Seventy presided over the ceremony. Further south in Latin America we go, to the capital of Brazil and to the groundbreaking of the Brasília Brazil Temple, which was presided over by Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella of the Seventy on September 26.

Lastly, we return to North America, to the ongoing repairs and improvements of pioneer-era temples in the United States.

Crews remove the iconic angel Moroni statue from the Salt Lake Temple, part of the years long renovation project of Temple Square. The statue lost its trumpet during a 5.7 magnitude earthquake that rattled the Wasatch Front, including the temple site. But while the statue undergoes restoration and repair, the granite capstone he stood on is getting special attention. One hundred and twenty-eight years ago, a time capsule was placed inside the stone before being set atop of the temple. Now historians and stone masons alike work to recover the artifacts inside. We hoped it would be easy, that we could just pop the top off--but as we started excavating, we found out how difficult it was. There was no other option besides cutting it open. After painstaking and meticulous work, access was gained. Four chambers full of artifacts, placed north, east, south, and west, encased in concrete. And the First Presidency of the Church was there to see the first items removed.

AMONG THE ARTIFACTS IDENTIFIED: scriptures, popular religious books of the time, and a gold-leafed copper plate with the names of Church leadership inscribed. Everything was very damp. And part of that is because they had dumped concrete around all of the packets, and concrete will sweat and leach, and the books essentially were sponges. Some of the most interesting and surprising discoveries were objects placed in the time capsule by people attending the capstone ceremony so long ago. We found approximately 400--give or take--coins inside the concrete. About a dozen coins have inscriptions on them. Two sets of coins are from families. We also found notes. So we think that people are writing their name on a piece of paper and throwing it in the hole. While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped the renovation process, workers are following strict precautions. The primary purpose for this renovation is to install a base-isolation system, made up of huge bearings on which the temple will rest. This will allow the temple to better withstand possible quakes up to a 7.2 magnitude. It's anticipated that the Salt Lake Temple restoration project will be completed in 2024. The extensive renovation of the St. George Temple, now in its 10th month of a two-and-a-half-year project, visibly transformed, from demolition to rebuilding. The most noticeable change? The new north entrance addition, where crews pour concrete and install steel girders and beams. Steel pylons shore up the rock foundation outside and inside the basement of the temple. The original hand-milled wood beams are reinforced with steel. Combined with the columns, they provide the strength needed to withstand the load of the floors above. This temple has lasted 142 years on the existing foundations. After beefing this up, we're going to be able to ensure that the foundations last far beyond that. It's not all about the steel and concrete, but also about the trees, flowers, and foliage that adorn a new serene walkway around the temple. This idea that St. George will blossom like a rose is a very important part of this community. This town is very proud of its landscape--of its trees, of its plantings. When people come here for the open house, it will be green and lush and beautiful. As the necessary new is added, remnants of the past are discovered. Original construction workers left their signatures in some places. They left bits of poetry in the walls, and it's been really fun to go back and see those things. What was built by pioneer hands with very few architectural plans will soon meet modern-day construction as the old and new become one. The St. George Temple renovation is expected to be completed in 2022. Hey Google, open Gospel Voice. WHEN WE COME BACK: A new way to access gospel media comes to your smart speaker. The Church participates in the National Day of Prayer at the White House. And Music and the Spoken Word turns 90. These stories and more in the News.

For the third time in four years, residents along the gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana were hard hit with severe storm damage--this time from Hurricane Laura on August 27. When I pulled into the driveway I started crying. There was just trees everywhere. One, two, three. Cleanup efforts immediately followed the destructive 150 mile per hour wind as several thousand Latter-day Saints, wearing Helping Hands vests, canvassed the region to provide assistance to those in need. In early April in the South Pacific, the island nation of Vanuatu was hit by a Category 5 cyclone. Latter-day Saint Charities quickly moved to action, helping to restore power and rebuild over 170 homes. Partnered with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International, Latter-day Saint Charities provided food, fresh water, and supplies to Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Fiji.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Church is easing the financial burdens of some 100,000 students who benefit from the faith's Perpetual Education Fund, or PEF. Loan repayments have been deferred since May 1 and will be until November of this year. Sponsored by Church donations, the PEF provides financial assistance to students seeking higher education and career-related certifications. BYU-Hawaii has named Dr. John "Keoni" Kauwe as the university's 11th president. This university is, and will continue to be, a place where people from across the world gather to be one in Christ and educate and uplift each other. President Kauwe, who is a native of Hawaii, and his wife, Monica, were called to the position by the First Presidency. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles announced their appointment on May 12. For the first time, the Church Historian's Press has made the sermons of Eliza R. Snow available in a single publication. Her voice and her perspective as a Latter-day Saint woman and leader in the 19th century is now available free of charge at ChurchHistoriansPress.org.

Coinciding with August being National Women's Suffrage Month, the Church Historian's Press has also announced the online publication of six additional volumes of the diaries of Emmeline B. Wells. As a women's rights activist, Wells was involved in the suffrage movement in the late 1890s. She was called as President of the Relief Society in 1910. These diaries will also be available at the Church Historian's Press website.

Our dear Heavenly Father, we are grateful this day to be gathered together with representatives from many faiths. Latter-day Saint representative Debbie Marriott Harrison was among seven religious leaders who were invited to be a part of the White House National Day of Prayer service. Held in the Rose Garden in Washington, D.C., on the first Thursday in May, the event has been a tradition every year since 1952. Hey, Google. Open Gospel Voice. You last listened to Isaiah 11. Would you like me to repeat that chapter? Yes. "The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord " People who yearn for inspirational media can now quickly access their voice-activated smart speakers to find it. Beginning in July, the Church has made the scriptures, gospel music, general conference talks, and a host of other Latter-day Saint content available through Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant. All users need to do is say, "Open Gospel Voice." "Praise the Lord!" The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square celebrated a major milestone: 90 years of broadcasting Music and the Spoken Word. "There are angels among us " Held this past July, the program highlighted special guests who have appeared on the show through the years. We're going to be here, week in and week out, as we have for so many decades. You can count on us. Music and the Spoken Word is the United States' longest continuous network broadcast, originating in 1929. COMING UP: Making way for a temple, the retiring of a stake center brings blessings to an entire community. We walked the halls with different pastors, and they made a list of the things that they would like. It's the exact things that we need. Cabinets, doors, and even the gym floor are being pulled out of this beloved church, in Yuba City California and repurposed before it's razed to make way for what's regarded as the most sacred of structures for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: a temple, the Feather River California Temple. Yuba City, California. President Nelson announced plans in 2018 to build a 38,000-square-foot temple here, a location that has served Latter-day Saints well for more than 40 years. Many people have felt like this ground is sacred. And when you walk around it, you can feel it. It all began in the early 1970s, when Mehar Tumber and his family--devout Sikhs--owned and grew peaches on this land. Surjit and her children remember Mehar as a man of great faith. He was the gentleman's gentleman, and with that came his spirituality and his belief in God. During that time, the Church had difficulty locating the right property to build a house of worship, known as a stake center. Mr. Tumber was not intending to sell, but that changed when he was approached by the Church. When he walked into our house, through the slide door, and said, "We sold the property to the Mormon church." And he had the biggest smile on his face and was so happy. He thought it was a blessing to have a religious organization as an anchor to our property. For nearly 50 years, that relationship has grown in respect and admiration on both sides. There's a special spirit associated with their faith and our faith merging together. The roots are established here for this place, this location, and what's surrounding it, and with the new temple, it's just deeper roots. As with the Tumbers and their Latter-day Saint neighbors, a similar friendship has formed between the Church and the Yuba-Sutter community at large. This is a small town; we can't do it without each other. And our faith community is actually in an uptick--we're excited. We're excited about the new temple. That bond of fellowship was exemplified in the outpouring of service in May. More than a dozen different faith and charity organizations helped dismantle and repurpose valuable material from the Yuba City Stake Center, ensuring it has another chance to benefit others in the community. Really the neat part about it is that even the building's going away, a piece of it is living on in more than a dozen churches and then other several nonprofits and schools. These solid wood doors and cabinets are on their way to the Habitat for Humanity's ReStore. Most of these will go directly on the floor to be sold at modest prices to help fund the construction of new homes. Because it's in really good condition, it's going to benefit probably the next four families that we're putting into homes. This project is not unusual for the twin cities of Marysville and Yuba City. It's the result of a remarkable concept that dates back several years: the Yuba-Sutter Community Task Force. We walked the halls with about 12 to 14 different pastors and organizations, and they made a list of the things that they would like. And that was a cherished experience. Gwen Ford was part of that group, as the church administrator for one of the oldest African-American churches in California--dating back to the gold-rush era. We are planning to start a couple of nonprofits: economic development and education. The Bethel A.M.E. Church does a lot with very little. It's why these folding chairs, chalkboards, and display stands and cases are a welcome addition to the church's community efforts. This stone bench will also complement the church's entrance. It's not an overabundance of things, but it's the exact things that we need. "Abide with me." The Yuba City Stake Center's baby grand piano is exactly what the Faith Lutheran Church needed and will now accompany worship services and chorale performances in its sanctuary. We're not a money-making church with our concerts, but we certainly want to serve the community. So I was very happy for the Church to offer that for us. "Abide with me." Pastor Jim Carpenter says he was divinely inspired to create a church and event center as a refuge for the community. It's about our common ground and what we're doing and the change that we want to see in our culture, our community, our society. He says it was a tender mercy and a literal answer to prayer when he got a call from his Latter-day Saint friends. His newly organized church needed chairs--lots of chairs. What we need is the convenience of the folding chairs--and not only the folding chairs, but the carts to stack it up and make a smooth turnaround. And smaller items, too, but pricey to purchase on a ministry's budget. My wife had just made a list and said, "Lord, we need water pitchers, and we need salt and pepper shakers." I said I will take those! My faith grew immediately. What was cultivated by a gracious peach-grower more than 40 years ago has born amazing fruit and promises so much more to Latter-day Saints and their friends and neighbors, as they say goodbye to an old friend. This building is going to live on in so many different places. As this building is taken down and becomes a temple, to me it represents we gave them a piece of the temple.

This has been the World Report for October 2020. To watch the World Report online, visit newsroom.Churcho fJesusChrist.org.