World Briefs

Red Cross Honors Church in Bogotá

The Red Cross of Bogotá, Colombia, honored the Church in November 2007 for organizing a record blood drive in which 879 volunteers donated 605 units of blood, nearly three times the number of units most blood drives in Bogotá produce. The donations were timely in that the time of year the drive took place has the fewest donations but sees the greatest need for donated blood.

Youth from Four Stakes Gather at Base of Alps

Nearly 150 young men and women and 50 of their leaders from four stakes along the border of Switzerland and France enjoyed a four-day multistake youth conference at Schwarzsee (Black Lake), Switzerland, at the end of 2007. Temple work, workshops, activities, a ball, and testimonies brought to the feet of the beautiful Swiss Alps youth from the Geneva Switzerland, Lausanne Switzerland, Lyon France, and Nancy France Stakes.

Saints in Spain Celebrate Church History

Church members in Spain will hold an extended celebration from October 2008 through May 2009 to commemorate the Spanish Religious Liberty Law (passed in June 1967), the official recognition of the Church in October 1968, and the dedication of Spain for the preaching of the gospel on May 20, 1969. The first four missionaries were transferred to Spain in June 1969.

FamilySearch to Help Put Online National Archives Documents

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) of the United States and FamilySearch will digitize, index, and place major segments of NARA’s vast records collection online. The more than 1.28 million files include court, military, land, and other government documents from as early as 1754 to as late as the 1990s. FamilySearch will make the indexes available on the Web without charge.