Departing Young Men General President Steven J. Lund and Sister Kalleen Lund on patterns of sacrifice and service

The partnership of Young Men General President Steven J. Lund and his wife, Sister Kalleen Lund, has been an international one. Having met first in Frankfurt, Germany, while President Lund was enlisted in the U.S. Army after serving a mission, they reunited later as students at BYU in Provo, Utah, and married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1980. They have four children and several grandchildren, have served as mission leaders in the Georgia Atlanta Mission and have built a life of both religious and community service. They join Church News editor Ryan Jensen on this episode of the Church News podcast to discuss how patterns of service and sacrifice have blessed their lives as they serve their Church, community and family. The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

Callie Jo Smith is a former collegiate tennis player, an 11-time Professional Pickleball Association Tour champion and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As pickleball is the fastest-growing sport several years in a row, she is using her influence to share not only tips for the court, but her love for the sport, her family and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Callie Jo Smith joins Church News reporter Mary Richards on this episode of the Church News podcast to discuss her athletic journey, the power of prayer and how wholesome recreational activities bring her family closer together. The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

In early 2025, new mission presidents and their wives were called to serve in 167 missions around the world. In June, these new mission leadership couples gathered at the Provo Missionary Training Center to receive counsel and instruction from each member of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as well as other members of the Missionary Executive Council, before they reported to their missions in July. This episode of the Church News podcast features excerpts from these messages shared during the four-day seminar, which focused on inviting others to come unto Christ, the power that comes from studying the Book of Mormon and other sacred scriptures, and the need to develop deep and personal conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square celebrates a historic milestone on July 13, 2025, when it airs its 5,000th broadcast of “Music & the Spoken Word.” This occasion will commemorate more than nine decades of inspirational sacred music and messages shared with audiences around the world. To discuss this achievement nearly a century in the making, Tabernacle Choir President Michael O. Leavitt and the “voice of the choir,” producer, principal writer and presenter Derrick Porter join the Church News podcast — recorded inside the Tabernacle on Temple Square — to discuss the importance of sacred music. They explore how the choir’s music has touched the lives of members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide for generations past and will for generations to come.  The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

The music in the youth-focused, ever-expanding Strive to Be library is helping strengthen young people around the world through Christ-centered music and messages. This music can be found through streaming platforms by Strive to Be and the youth albums produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This year, through regional concerts and the upcoming “Festival 2025: A Youth Concert,” young people can worship Jesus Christ and find community with their peers through music. On this episode of the Church News podcast, Church News reporter Mary Richards is joined by three Strive to Be artists — Pearce Morris, Ashley Hess and Sister Ellie Barry, who is currently a service missionary. They discuss how good and wholesome music helps inspire, uplift and strengthen gospel testimonies for themselves and their listeners worldwide.   The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

Former BYU Cougar basketball player Travis Hansen played professional basketball for more than a decade, spanning the NBA and internationally in Spain and Russia following his collegiate career. But basketball doesn't define Hansen; from a young age, he had many tender experiences that helped him build a strong spiritual foundation and know that Heavenly Father loves him. On this episode of the Church News podcast, Hansen joins Church News editor Ryan Jensen to discuss his professional and spiritual journey, highlighting the positive influences that have shaped him. As a basketball player, a missionary in Chile, a husband, a father and currently a young adult leader in Orem, Utah, he shares how his faith and effort to "be in the right place" blessed his life and the lives of others.  The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

One year ago, the first batch of new hymns was released for a new hymnbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Hymns — For Home and Church” is for members to use as part of their worship and gospel study. As more new hymns are released, they can be found on the Church’s website at music.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and the Gospel Library app. On this Church News podcast episode, Church News reporter Mary Richards is joined by the Church’s Hymnbook Committee chair, music author and composer Steve Schank, to discuss an update on the size, scope and timing of the new hymnbook. They explore the sacred power of music in worship, the careful selection of new music in this ongoing project and the joyful singing of hymns.  The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

President Russell M. Nelson has recently invited Latter-day Saints to make discipleship of Jesus Christ their highest priority. At Ensign College, an institution of higher education founded and sponsored by the Church, the school's mission to develop capable and trusted disciples of Jesus Christ reinforces this invitation even in secular degrees like social media marketing. On this episode of the Church News podcast, Joseph Kerry, chair of the Communication Department at Ensign College, joins Church News reporter Mary Richards to share how to wisely use social media while increasing one’s discipleship of Jesus Christ. He stresses the significance of creating and consuming uplifting content, being a peacemaker online and how intentional technology use can help maintain spiritual and emotional well-being. The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

Ministering assignments in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are made so that all members of the Church are remembered and cared for in ways similar to how Jesus Christ blessed those around Him. In this episode of the Church News podcast, Church News reporter Mary Richards is joined by Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and Elder Robert M. Daines, a General Authority Seventy, to discuss how ministering is a vital way to help accomplish the work of salvation and exaltation — and how Saints can grow in their confidence before the Lord to become more like Him as they fulfill these assignments. The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

In March 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acquired the Kirtland Temple and other historic buildings and artifacts. A new website now offers information and resources about visiting and learning about Historic Kirtland and the remarkable events of early Church history that occurred there. This episode of the Church News podcast explores Kirtland with historian Karl Ricks Anderson, who has researched, presented on and lived at this important location. He focuses on the area’s spiritual significance and how learning about the city’s historic events can build faith in Jesus Christ and His restored Church and gospel. The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.