Did You Know?

It Happened in February

Following are a few significant events that happened in Church history during the month of February.

2 February 1833: The Prophet Joseph Smith finished translating the New Testament.

14 February 1853: President Brigham Young broke ground for the Salt Lake Temple, and President Heber C. Kimball, First Counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the site. Excavation began that day.

18 February 1979: In Nauvoo, Illinois, President Ezra Taft Benson organized the Church’s 1,000th stake.

February 2000: The Church printed the 100 millionth copy of the Book of Mormon.

26 February 2000: President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Ciudad Juárez México Temple.

27 February 2000: President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Hermosillo Sonora México Temple.

Leadership Tip

“When our desire to receive instruction is a greater force than our comfort in remaining as we are, we become teachable,” says Elder Robert R. Steuer of the Seventy (“Being Teachable,” Liahona, July 2002, 34). Great leaders strive to improve by learning continually and following the counsel of their Church leaders.

Christus Statues

Did you know that replicas of the Christus by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1768–1844) are located in several Latter-day Saint visitors’ centers? These white marble statues of the Savior represent an invitation offered by the Redeemer of the world: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).

A large (11 feet, 1 inch; 3.37 m) Christus statue was placed in Temple Square’s North Visitors’ Center in 1966. Additional Christus statues are located at the visitors’ center at the Hill Cumorah and in visitors’ centers adjacent to temples in Hamilton, New Zealand; Laie, Hawaii; Los Angeles, California; Mesa, Arizona; Mexico City, Mexico; Oakland, California; St. George, Utah; and Washington, D.C.

Keep Yourselves Worthy

“Young men and women, keep yourselves worthy. Stay away from those environments, the music, the films, the videos, the clubs, and the associations that draw you into immoral conduct.”
President Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Ye Are the Temple of God,” Liahona, Jan. 2001, 86.

From top left: Joseph Translating the Bible, by Robert T. Barrett; photograph of shovel by Craig Dimond; photography of Ciudad Juárez México Temple and Hermosillo Sonora México Temple courtesy of Church News; photograph of Book of Mormon by Matthew Reier; photograph of Christus by Steve Tregeagle