David NoyceThe Mormon Land newsletter is The Salt Lake Tribune’s weekly highlight reel of news in and about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Join us on Patreon to receive ad-free podcast episodes, the full newsletter and access to all of our religion content.
The volunteer spirit
Sharon Eubank, the church’s humanitarian services director, was on hand recently when the Utah-based faith delivered 20 tons of food to an outreach center in Irvine, California.
There, young Latter-day Saints and other volunteers helped load the commodities for distribution to nearly a dozen charities.
Such service is “definitely a better use of your time than just being on your phone,” blue-shirted JustServe volunteer Henry Takagi said in a news release.
The shipment was part of the church’s sweeping effort to provide 250 truckloads to 250 food banks across all 50 states this year in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
“In humanitarian service, we have cash, we have commodities like the food today,” Eubank said, “but the most powerful thing we have is people. Relationships are what make the difference.”
Helping others is a SNAP
Recipients of aid from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program face new work requirements.
OK, argues By Common Consent blogger Sam Brunson, then let their church volunteer hours count toward that mandate.
“This isn’t cheating the system,” he writes. “...Church members are doing service work that should qualify under the terms of the law. And they should get credit for the work.”
New hymns
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) The final version of the hymnbook will include songs from across the globe.
The church’s ever-expanding hymnbook grew by 12 songs last week.
Here are the new tunes, many with timely ties to Latter-day Saints’ course of study for the year: the Old Testament.
“My Covenants.”
“The Power of the Holy Ghost.”
“Elijah and the Still, Small Voice.”
“Build an Ark.”
“Lord, Accept Our Humble Fast.”
These additions raise the total tally of new hymns to 72.
New video
In commemoration of Christianity’s holiest season, the church has released a new Easter video titled “Greater Love for You.”
The latest ‘Mormon Land’ podcast: Serving at the church’s top tourist site
Salt Lake City’s Temple Square mission will cease come July. Learn from two alums what it’s like to serve in this truly unique mission — the smallest geographically in the world and the only one where women do all the proselytizing.
Listen to the podcast.
Uchtdorf’s shoutout to unity and diversity
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Dieter F. Uchtdorf speaks during a devotional at BYU–Hawaii on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
Delivering his first public sermon as acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Dieter Uchtdorf encouraged young Latter-day Saints to “stand close together, and lift where you stand” to build God’s kingdom.
In a speech Sunday at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, according to a news release, Uchtdorf praised the Laie campus as a “shining example” of unity amid diversity.
“Here you gather from various nations and cultures. Here you are learning to overcome this world’s artificial walls of separation,” the apostle said. “Here you learn how to stand in holy places even in the most challenging times. Here you see, every day, how the gospel of Jesus Christ unites hearts and minds.”
Tab Choir in Brazil
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square perform at the Ginásio do Ibirapuera in São Paulo, Brazil.
The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square’s recent performances in Brazil included a special guest: the Rev. Amos Brown, pastor emeritus of the Third Baptist Church in San Francisco and key ally in the faith’s alliance with the NAACP.
In an interview with choir President (and former Utah Gov.) Mike Leavitt, Brown recalled growing up listening to the church’s premier performing troupe and reveling in the hymn “Come, Come, Ye Saints.”
Apostle Ulisses Soares also joined the choir’s tour of his homeland, where he also met with Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin.
Gains in Africa
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Missionaries from the Ghana Missionary Training Center gather to hear apostle Quentin L. Cook at a devotional Feb. 17, 2026.
• Apostle Quentin Cook wrapped up a 10-day, four-nation tour in West Africa.
During stops in Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and Ivory Coast, Cook met with members and missionaries, along with government and religious leaders.
At the church’s Missionary Training Center in Ghana, a news release reported, Cook pointed to a surge in the faith’s proselytizing ranks, saying that in the week before his visit, the largest number of missionaries ever assigned in a single day in church history had been called.
• Farther south, apostle Gerrit Gong dedicated the Harare Temple, the church’s first in Zimbabwe, on Sunday.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Attendees wait for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple dedication on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
From The Tribune
• The church released a statement about the attacks and counterattacks taking place in Iran and across the Middle East, expressing “profound concern and heartfelt compassion for all those living in harm’s way.”
• Beware of increasing deception from artificial intelligence, an apostle warns BYU students.
(Ellie Alder | BYU Photo) Apostle Quentin L. Cook speaks about the power and influence of technology for good and evil in an address at BYU's Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
• From missionary teams to “church ball” and AJ Dybantsa — basketball holds a special place in Latter-day Saint history. Listen to the podcast. Read the excerpts.
• A new book features the discourses of one of the church’s most influential and celebrated women.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Portrait of Eliza R. Snow at an event marking the release of "Rise Up and Speak: Selected Discourses of Eliza R. Snow."
