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Dennis’ sermon saluted
In 2024, J. Anette Dennis, first counselor in the worldwide women’s Relief Society, drew flak when she proclaimed that “no other religious organization in the world that I know of … has so broadly given power and authority to women.”
This statement came within a faith that notably does not ordain women.
Days later, Dennis took the unusual step — at least for a top Latter-day Saint leader — of publicly addressing the criticisms, urging commenters to “please know we hear you, we need you, and we care.”
Fast-forward 19 months and Dennis was earning praise from Tribune columnist Gordon Monson and others for her recent General Conference address in which she acknowledged an earlier bout of deep depression that saw her struggle to attend church.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) J. Anette Dennis, first counselor in the worldwide Relief Society presidency, speaks at General Conference on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. Her talk, laced with her own personal struggle, won widespread praise.
“What I really needed during that time,” Dennis said, “was to feel genuine love, understanding and support from those around me, not judgment.”
Wrote Exponent II blogger Kara Stevenson: “How refreshing it is to hear such rawness, such vulnerability, on the most public stage that the church has to offer…. Sister Dennis’ compassion and love for those doubting and on the margins didn’t come in spite of her faith crisis; those Christ-like qualities came because of her faith crisis…. [She] spoke with true wisdom and understanding that can only come from a person who has experienced a faith crisis themselves. Dare I say, she spoke as a true prophetess.”
Added Ziff, the pen name for a blogger at the Zelophehad’s Daughters website: “I loved her imagery of people cheering each other on, and how she acknowledged how people can often feel like outcasts at church.”
Baby bust
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) A family reads scripture. Church leaders have expressed concerns over the declining birthrate among members.
Like others in the United States and around the world, Latter-day Saint couples are having fewer children, KUER’s Ciara Hulet reported for National Public Radio.
It’s a topic of concern to church leaders, including new President Dallin Oaks, who urged members in the recent General Conference to remember the “value of children.”
Latter-day Saints Ryan and Missy Allen have two kids and told Hulet that they wanted to have three, but they just couldn’t afford another child.
In the radio report, Brigham Young University family life professor Spencer James pointed to costly child care, rocketing housing prices and plunging community support as reasons for the sliding birthrate.
“If Oaks and the church truly want more babies, they need to openly support solutions for the issues that are causing the declining birthrate,” blogger Linda Hamilton argued in a recent Exponent II post. “It’s a lack of affordable housing, no child care, low wages, inflation, student loans, etc. If the church used just a sliver of [its] massive wealth and organizational base to support at least one of the issues, there would be changes, at the very least in Utah.”
The latest ‘Mormon Land’ podcast: The real Helmuth Hübener
(Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand) An undated photograph of Helmuth Hübener.
The new movie “Truth & Treason” tells the story of Helmuth Hübener, a Latter-day Saint German teen executed by the Nazis for writing and distributing anti-Hitler leaflets. What is fact and what is fiction in the film? And what can members take away from Hübener’s undisputed heroism and courage?
Listen to the podcast.
(Andrej Vasilenko | Angel Studios) Ewan Horrocks plays Helmuth Hübener in a scene of "Truth & Treason."
Bonus podcast: “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” vs. “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” — How is the church represented in these two reality shows?
Around the world
(Mark Vancleave | AP) Little remains of Latter-day Saint chapel the day the attack.
• The FBI has confirmed that the gunman/arsonist who attacked a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse in Grand Blanc, Michigan, was motivated by animosity toward the faith, The Associated Press reported last week.
The deadly Sept. 28 assault killed four people and injured nine.
• During his tour of five African nations — Kenya, Seychelles, Ethiopia, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo — apostle Ronald Rasband met with members, interfaith officials and government leaders.
On social media, Rasband highlighted his visits with Ethiopia’s president, Taye Atske Selassie, and Seychelles’ vice president, Sebastien Pillay.
From The Tribune
• Many Latter-day Saint bishops are stepping up to help those impacted by the loss of food stamp benefits. But not all.
• “We’re not apologizing for being Latter-day Saints” — How a new podcast aims to promote faith with facts.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Latter-day Saint husband and wife Neal and Jasmin Rappleye, at back right, have started a new podcast with friend and scholar Stephen Smoot, at front left, about academic research they believe supports the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are pictured at the Ancient America Foundation in Springville on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025.
• Latter-day Saints see the new sleeveless garments as a win-win, but many eager shoppers still have to wait, wait.
• BYU students plan a special fast to help the water-starved Great Salt Lake.
• A towering fixture for more than four years at the Salt Lake Temple renovation site is now gone.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Temple Square in Salt Lake City is pictured on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. A large crane on the north side has been removed.