Friend, New Era Now 12 Issues Yearly

The New Era and the Friend, the Church’s magazines for youth and for children, will each publish twelve issues per year in 1986.

The change was announced in a letter to priesthood leaders from President Ezra Taft Benson of the Council of the Twelve.

In recent years, the two magazines have been publishing eleven issues annually.

“To help cover increases in paper, postage, and printing costs and the expense of the additional issues, the annual subscription rate will increase from $7.00 to $8.00,” the letter said.

“The addition of one more issue per year will help these two magazines to perform better their role of strengthening Latter-day Saints of all ages,” said Elder Carlos E. Asay of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy, Editor of Church magazines.

Probably the most important thing about the change, commented Brian Kelly, managing editor of the New Era, “is that it keeps the continuity; it keeps readers in touch with the Brethren and Church headquarters on an unbroken, monthly basis.”

Vivian Paulsen, Friend managing editor, said continuity in the flow of magazines will keep children from missing features they enjoy, especially during a period of the year when most readers are just returning to school.

The increase in subscription cost for the two magazines took effect September 1. Those who have paid subscriptions in advance, however, will not need to pay any additional cost until it is time to renew their subscriptions.