For the past 22 years, a team of historians has dedicated themselves to an unprecedented study of every historical document produced under the direction of Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Throughout his life, Joseph worked with scribes and secretaries to document the restoration of the Gospel.

The project, known as The Joseph Smith Papers, is now complete and all these documents are published in a multivolume set. This documentary is an insightful look at the scope of this project and an opportunity to understand the man whose legacy continues to influence millions of people worldwide. Individuals who were part of this project share valuable perspectives on Joseph Smith and his steadfast testimony of Jesus Christ.

For the past 22 years a team of historians has dedicated themselves to an unprecedented study of every historical document produced under the direction of Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Throughout his life Joseph worked with scribes and secretaries to document the restoration of the Gospel. The project, known as The Joseph Smith Papers, is now complete and all these documents are published in a multivolume set. This documentary is an insightful look at the scope of this project and an opportunity to understand the man whose legacy continues to influence millions of people worldwide. Individuals who were part of this project share valuable perspectives on Joseph Smith, and his steadfast testimony of Jesus Christ.

SALT LAKE CITY — A locket passed down through the descendants of Joseph Smith may be a photograph of the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

News of the pocket watch locket was released Thursday by the John Whitmer Historical Association in PDF and paperback versions of its journal, edition 42.

“Smith family members and historians have long believed that a daguerreotype, or photograph, of Joseph Smith, Jr., was made before his June 27, 1844, assassination. That daguerreotype has now been found. Learn more in the JWHA Journal Spring/Summer 2022 issue,” the JWHA Facebook and website state.

The claim that it is Smith isn’t definitive however and there are no other known photographs of him to compare it with.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a state about the discovery:

“Every few years, potential donors bring artifacts to the Church History Library for review, including alleged photographs of the prophet Joseph Smith. Such artifacts are, of course, of great interest to the church. Though it was not mentioned specifically in the article, church historians, archivists and artifact experts were provided — by the item’s owner and the article’s authors — the opportunity to analyze the locket and photo and to review their findings prior to publication. We concur that the daguerreotype and locket were created of the materials and methods appropriate to the 1840s. However, as nothing is definitively known about the locket’s history before 1992, we cannot draw a conclusion about who is pictured in the daguerreotype. We welcome the recent publication of the image and hope it will prompt the discovery of additional information helpful to determining its authenticity.”

Smith’s death mask survives, and paintings and descriptions of him are widely available.

According to Deseret News, Daniel Larsen, Smith’s great-great grandson, inherited the photo from his mother before her death in 1992. But the small image was inside a a pocket watch with a bent release mechanism. He didn’t look at it again until 2020 when he managed to get it open. Inside, he discovered the photo.

“In my opinion, there’s absolutely no question that it’s Joseph,” Larsen told the Deseret News. “I looked at it and I looked at it and saw those eyes. I told my wife to come in and look at this. We looked at it and … almost at the same time said, ‘This is a photo of Joseph Smith.’ ”

Larson said he believes a Lucian Foster was taking portraits like this one in New York in 1844, moved to Nauvoo and lived in the Smith mansion house for two months before Smith was killed in June 1844. Joseph Smith III claimed Foster made a daguerreotype of his father.

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PROVO, Utah — An award-winning director in Utah County has taken on the challenging task of writing and directing a Broadway-quality musical about Joseph Smith, prophet and founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife Emma. One he said was written in some ways as a counter to “The Book of Mormon” musical that hit Broadway 10 years ago.

“’The Book of Mormon’ musical presents us as tongue and cheek they laugh at us they make fun of almost everything we believe in,” said 66-year-old George Nelson, who is the head of Brigham Young University’s playwriting program and a professor in the school’s Theater and Media Arts Department.

The privately produced play is called “1820: The Musical,” which will open on Aug. 6 at the Covey Center for The Arts in downtown Provo.

“It’s the story of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ told through the love story of Joseph and Emma,” Nelson told KSL’s Dan Rascon during rehearsals in American Fork. “I want (the audience) to look at Joseph Smith and go, ‘Who is this guy?’ People called him a lunatic they called him a charlatan, they called him all kinds of things … We’ve tried to address in a non-apologetic way the things that Joseph has been accused of throughout his life and put the truth out there.”

George Nelson, head of BYU’s playwriting program and a professor in the school’s Theater and Media Arts Department. (KSL TV)

Zack Wilson, who plays Joseph Smith, said it’s really opened his eyes to what Joseph and Emma Smith went through.

“We see some of the weaknesses some of their strengths and struggles they went through,” he said.

That’s why Nelson wants to take the play to a much bigger audience. “I have a (Broadway) producer that is very interested in it. They are watching out this run, how it will go in Utah County,” he said.

Nelson is even taking on sensitive topics, like polygamy.

“Many people say, ‘Well, you can’t really deal with Joseph Smith and Emma without looking at plural marriage and the effect it had on their relationship.’ We don’t back away from that. We have a very poignant scene,” he said.

Tickets are now on sale here.

SALT LAKE CITY — A St. George, Utah man may have uncovered a decades-old mystery — the location of a tomb commissioned for Joseph Smith, prophet and founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — in the most unlikely of places in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Historians said Joseph Smith commissioned the family tomb before his martyrdom, but it was never used. He was buried elsewhere, yet its historical significance has endured.

“I think for every man, there’s always a little boy that’s wanted to be Indiana Jones,” said Brian Christiansen.

For Christiansen, the treasure hunt took him all the way to Nauvoo.

“Now, it’s just a lot of really cool coincidences that are leading us to it,” he said.

In the summer of 2020, Christiansen purchased the iconic gift shop Zion’s Mercantile near the heart of Nauvoo, but he never expected what we found below.

“We started digging the hole so we could see what was down in there,” he said. “We were actually expecting to see a tunnel maybe.”

Instead, they uncovered a vault.

“We found a vault that is underneath the sidewalk and it measures 7-feet wide by 27-feet long,” said Christiansen.

As it turns out, historian Joseph Johnstun said the vault had a unique resemblance to the tomb Joseph Smith commissioned of William Weeks, the architect of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple.

“It’s definitely something neat to look at,” said Johnstun. “It’s of a comparable size to what the William Weeks drawing show.”

Christiansen said the location of the vault and the use of red bricks also matched up with historical records.

“There’s journal records that talk about the tomb being off the Southeast corner of the temple, which is the direct line towards where the Mercantile is,” said Christiansen.

However, nothing is set in stone. There is no known official record of where Joseph Smith’s tomb was built.

As history has it, the tomb was not used for Smith since church and family members were concerned it would be desecrated. Instead, Joseph and Hyrum Smith were buried in secret in the basement of the Nauvoo House. Their bodies were later moved to an unmarked site near the Mississippi River on the Smith family homestead.

In 1928, the remains, along with Emma Smith’s, were exhumed and placed side-by-side in marked graves. The site came to be known as the Smith Family Cemetery.

“If you ask somebody, have you heard of the tomb of Joseph, most people say, ‘What are you talking about?’ or they think you’re talking about where Joseph Smith is currently buried, but we know the tomb is an important for Joseph to have a burial place that would include his family,” said Christiansen.

Smith was eventually laid to rest in what became known as the Smith family cemetery, so nothing was considered official, as excavation of the site continues.

“To be able to tell the story of the tomb, that’s good enough for me,” said Christiansen.

Christiansen owns the property and said his archeological excavation isn’t affiliated with the Church, but he is working on a documentary which follows the process of uncovering the vault and determining if it is indeed the tomb built for Joseph Smith.

Christiansen said plans were in the works to release the documentary in November and possibly build an exhibit around the vault for the public to visit.

For more information on Christiansen’s project: https://tombofjoseph.com/

For more information on Johnstun’s research: https://ensignpeakfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/MHS_FALL-2005_09-JOSEPH-SMITH-BURIAL-TOMB.pdf

The Joseph Smith Papers

The Joseph Smith Papers are a wealth and treasure of understanding. It is one of the most significant historical works of our generation. In History of the Saints, church historians talk about how many volumes have been released and more are coming in the years ahead. All of this work serves to affirm the faith of the Saints. Just released is the newest volume in the Documents Series—Documents Volume 9. It is different than previous volumes because of the short span of time it covers and is a wealth of information. If you have had questions about the origins of the Relief Society, or Joseph Smith as a Mason, or of the Prophet’s many and varied roles of leadership in Nauvoo—then this program will be of great help to you.

General Conference Documentaries

You can watch all of the General Conference documentaries like this on the KSL-TV app. The app is free with no cable subscription required. And it’s available for a variety of smart TV and smartphone platforms including Amazon Fire, Roku, iOS, Android and fourth-generation Apple TV boxes.

Jean Kennedy Smith, the last surviving sibling of President John F. Kennedy and a former ambassador to Ireland, died Wednesday, her nephew confirmed. She was 92.

Smith died at her home in Manhattan, her daughter Kym told The New York Times.

Smith was the eighth of nine children born to Joseph P. and Rose Kennedy, and tragically several of them preceded her in death by decades. Her siblings included older brother Joseph Kennedy Jr., killed in action during World War II; Kathleen “Kick’ Kennedy, who died in a 1948 plane crash; the president, assassinated in 1963 and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, slain in 1968. Sen. Edward Kennedy, the youngest of the Kennedy siblings, died of brain cancer in August 2009, the same month their sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver died.

Smith, who married Kennedy family financial adviser and future White House chief of staff Stephen Edward Smith in 1956, was viewed for much of her life as a quiet sister who shunned the spotlight. In her memoir “The Nine of Us,” published in 2016, she wrote that for much of the time her childhood seemed “unexceptional.”

“It is hard for me to fully comprehend that I was growing up with brothers who eventually occupy the highest offices of our nation, including president of the United States,” she explained. “At the time, they were simply my playmates. They were the source of my amusement and the objects of my admiration.”

Though she never ran for office, she campaigned for her brothers, traveling the country for then-Sen. John F. Kennedy as he sought the presidency in 1960. In 1963, she stepped in for a traveling Jacqueline Kennedy and co-hosted a state dinner for Ireland’s president. The same year, she accompanied her brother — the first Irish Catholic president — on his famous visit to Ireland. Their great-grandfather, Patrick Kennedy, was from Dunganstown in County Wexford in southeastern Ireland.

Three decades later, she was appointed ambassador to Ireland by President Bill Clinton, who called her “as Irish as an American can be.”

During her confirmation hearing, she recalled the trip with her brother, describing it as “one of the most moving experiences of my own life.”

As ambassador, she played a role in the Northern Ireland peace process. She helped persuade Clinton to grant a controversial visa in 1994 to Gerry Adams, chief of the Irish Republican Army-linked Sinn Fein party. The move defied the British government, which branded Adams as a terrorist.

Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Smith’s nephew, highlighted her role in the Irish peace process as the crux of her “enormous legacy.”

She later called criticism of her actions toward the IRA “unfortunate” and said she thought history would credit the Clinton administration with helping the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said in 1998 that “it is not an understatement to say that if (the visa for Adams) didn’t happen at the time, perhaps other events may not have fallen into place.”

In 1996, though, Smith had been reprimanded by Secretary of State Warren Christopher for punishing two of her officers who objected to the visa for Adams.

In December 1998, Smith again risked controversy by taking communion in a Protestant cathedral in Dublin, going against the bishops of her Roman Catholic church.

Her decision was a strong personal gesture of support for Irish President Mary McAleese, a fellow Catholic who had been criticized by Irish bishops for joining in the Protestant communion service.

“Religion, after all, is about bringing people together,” Smith told The Irish Times. “We all have our own way of going to God.”

When she stepped down as ambassador in 1998, she received Irish citizenship for “distinguished service to the nation.”

Diplomacy, along with politics, also ran in the Kennedy family. Her father was ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1938 to 1940. Niece Caroline Kennedy served as ambassador to Japan during the Obama administration.

“We’re the first father-daughter ambassadors,” Smith told The Irish Times in 1997. “So I can’t remember a time when we were not an actively political family.”

In 1974, Smith founded Very Special Arts, an education program that supports artists with physical or mental disabilities. Her 1993 book with George Plimpton, “Chronicles of Courage: Very Special Artists,” features interviews with disabled artists. The program followed in the footsteps of her sister Eunice’s creation of the Special Olympics for disabled athletes.

Smith and her husband had four children, Stephen Jr., William, Amanda and Kym. Her husband died in 1990.

Her son, Dr. William Kennedy Smith, made headlines in 1991, when he was charged with rape at the Kennedy estate in Palm Beach, Florida. He was acquitted after a highly publicized trial that included testimony from his uncle, Sen. Edward Kennedy, who had roused his nephew and son to go to some nightclubs that Easter weekend.

Among Smith’s other siblings, Rosemary died in 2005; and Patricia in 2006.

“Certainly a distinct characteristic of our family was its size,” Smith wrote in her memoir. “A child in a big family constantly feels surrounded and supported. For me, there was always someone to play with or someone to talk to just around the corner, out on the porch, or in the next bedroom. I never felt alone.”

PROVO, Utah – For as cold as downtown Provo can be on a January afternoon, Jen Smith figured her three young daughters would benefit from being outside for a little while.

“See if you can jump ten times in a row,” she said to them while they were playing. “It’ll help warm you up.”

She wasn’t trying to teach them about shivering.

Instead, they were outside because she wanted them to know about Joseph Shinners.

“You know, where we live here, it’s close to home,” she said with tears in her eyes.

Shinners, an officer with the Provo Police Department, was shot and killed last Saturday.

Smith watched his funeral on her phone while standing on the side of Center Street in Provo Saturday afternoon.

However, she wanted to make sure to see the procession in person.

“I don’t have any family members in law enforcement of anything like that,” said Smith. “I want my children to know that it’s important to support these men and women who go out every day of their lives to protect us and to keep us safe.”

She explained to her kids that when one of them falls trying to keep us safe, the least we can do is say thank you and show support.

“It was just heartbreaking,” she said.

For close to a half hour, police departments from all across Utah, and neighboring states, came through Provo as part of the funeral procession.

“That one is from Idaho. Boise,” Smith said pointing out the police car to her kids.

She also explained to her children that police officers are moms and dads, too.

As Shinners’ hearse passed under the large American flag raised between two Provo Power bucket trucks, it was a reminder this was his last ride.

“I just feel so bad for all of these guys. They lost a brother,” she said. “If you look at a lot of the wives riding in the passenger seat, they’re all, like, sobbing. Because they know that one day this could be them.”

Utah has dealt with similar tragedies several times in the past year, but residents say one of the positive things about being in Utah is every time something like this happens, there is a strong showing of support from the community.

Many people waved American flags.

Others had the thin blue line flag that is associated with law enforcement.

There were also ribbons, signs, and stickers showing support to the family of Shinners and the Provo Police Department.

“Supporting the police is very important,” Smith told her children.

That may be why, for as cold as it was, you could feel the warmth of just coming together.

“It’s a sense of pride,” said Smith.

In Sept. 1823, Moroni appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and the marvelous work and a wonder began.

As we approach the 200th anniversary of that event, what have we learned about the situation of the Smith family, and the Prophet Joseph Smith in particular, in 1823, just preceding Moroni’s appearance?

Many relevant and important details about those foundational events have come to light through the efforts of dedicated historians.

This History of the Saints special presentation shares what we have learned.

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Beehive House, the Lion House, and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in downtown Salt Lake City will be undergoing renovations beginning in 2023.

The Beehive House is set to close April 8, 2023, while the Lion House — which has been closed since 2020 — will remain closed.

“This project will address structural deficiencies, preservation of aging finishes, replacement of outdated mechanical systems, and updating the guest experience,” stated a Tuesday press release from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Renovations at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building will also begin in early 2023. According to the release, the building will have its electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems upgraded. Crews will also focus on improving guest and event spaces, adding more elevators, and upgrading its restaurants.

“The building and the restaurants and event spaces will be closed to the public while undergoing these renovations,” the release stated.

All three buildings are expected to reopen in 2025.

The Joseph Smith Memorial Building is described by the Church as a “multipurpose, ten-story administrative office building and social center.”

The building, once the Hotel Utah, was finished in 1911 and functioned as a hotel until 1987. The Church reopened it in 1993 with public dining and hosting options and with office and meeting space.

All three buildings are on South Temple in Salt Lake City.

The Lion House was the family home of Brigham Young, the first governor of Utah and second President of the Church. It was built in 1856, taking its name from a stone lion statue above the front entrance.

The Beehive House was built in 1854, by the same architect, Truman Angell, who designed the Salt Lake Temple. It was the official residence of three Presidents of the Church — Brigham Young, Lorenzo Snow and Joseph F. Smith.

Larry D. Curtis contributed to this report.

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has issued its sixth-ever proclamation to mark the 200^th anniversary of the First Vision of founder Joseph Smith.

President Russell M. Nelson announced the proclamation during his remarks at the end of a solemn assembly held during the Sunday morning session of General Conference.

He said Church leaders wanted to mark the bicentennial year with a monument of some sort, but they determined a physical memorial would not be accessible to members across the world.

Breaking: President @NelsonRussellM announces new proclamation to the world on the restoration. "God lives! Jesus is the Christ! His Church has been restored! He and His Father, our Heavenly Father, are watching over us." #GeneralConference @KSL5TV

— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) April 5, 2020

Instead, he said, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles decided a moment of words would be more appropriate.

The proclamation, titled “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World,” was read in a prerecorded video by President Nelson.

Following his reading of the proclamation, President Nelson led church members in a “Hosanna Shout.”

It was the sixth proclamation issued by the Church, and the last since 1996.

Read “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World.”https://t.co/gWlNg4eP8y pic.twitter.com/Vox50YE4P3

— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@Ch_JesusChrist) April 5, 2020

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – One local artist had expected to have a big day in downtown Salt Lake City before General Conference. He was scheduled to show off his incredible “tiny” artwork at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

That work includes hundreds of very detailed portraits, all in stamp size or a one-inch setting. In one piece of work depicting the teachings of Jesus Christ, artist Chris Creek managed to put 50 people in a crowd as they surrounded the Savior while he was teaching.

“I started painting these minis as a challenge,” Creek said. “My goal was to do one a day for a year. I have one inch. I would try and fill that inch before I go to bed.”

Who would of thought you could do this with an #oreocookie making a portrait out of the frosting! #tinyartist #QuarantineLife pic.twitter.com/8Pe9gy9teT

— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) April 3, 2020

Creek created hundreds of tiny pieces of art, most illustrating his faith as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“I’ve got all 17 of the latter-day prophets and they’ve really been a delight to do,” said Creek.

He didn’t stop there. He began bringing Oreo cookies into the mix. 

Creek is taking the delicious cream filling and turning it into a piece of art with the cookie as a background. The detail makes it look like porcelain on a black background.

“I’ve got Emma Smith here on an Oreo with what they call cream filling,” said Creek as he worked.

Recognize this face on an Oreo Cookie? A very talented “Tiny” artist whipped this up. #QuarantineLife @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/N8HHry7A5O

— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) April 3, 2020

Emma can now go right next to her husband, Joseph Smith, who he already finished.

“It’s been a lot of fun I enjoy this tight little challenge,” he said.

Creek has also become quite skilled at making some pretty amazing pancakes by turning them into works of art. 

“I like the challenge, and these little tiny brushes become my friend,” he said. “The quarantine has never been much of a problem for me because I can sit down and draw and paint for hours.”

To look at his work go to https://www.instagram.com/tokensoffaith.

SALT LAKE CITY – The 194th Annual General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will feature several sessions on Saturday and Sunday, meaning thousands of Latter-day Saints members will gather in Salt Lake City to watch in person.

While for some, it’s not their first time experiencing the General Conference in person, for others, the whole experience might seem overwhelming, especially due to the ongoing Salt Lake Temple renovation project.

Here are a couple of areas and events that are still open to the public during the weekend.

The Church History Museum

The Church History Museum features multiple exhibitions, including a celebration of the life and works of Latter-day Saint artist Minerva Teichert, “With This Covenant in My Heart: The Art and Faith of Minerva Teichert,” according to the museum.

“The Church History Museum offers immersive, interactive, and engaging experiences for individuals and families to connect with the history of the Church of Jesus Christ and the growing spiritual, artistic and cultural legacies of the Latter-day Saints,” the museum website states.

KSL’s Carole Mikita and Laura Paulsen Howe, director of the Church Museum of History and Art, admire artwork of Jesus Christ in the conference center. (KSL TV)

The museum also features historical artifacts recently acquired from the Community of Christ with a “Sacred History: Treasures from the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ” exhibit.

The museum is located at 45 North, West Temple Street. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday but will be closed on Sunday. Admission is free.

FamilySearch Library

The FamilySearch Library offers interactive displays for families and adults on family history, according to the library.

The library staff helps visitors learn about their ancestors by accessing millions of records, talking to the library’s experts, and exploring the visitor’s family tree.

Vanessa Newton, left, Lee Newton and Brice Newton get help starting a FamilySearch account for Brice from Diane Gomm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Family History Library in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)

FamilySearch Library will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and will be closed on Sunday. The library’s special collection hours will also be closed during the weekend.

The library is located at 35 N., W Temple Street. For more information on scheduling a visit, you can visit the library’s website.

Music and the Spoken Word

According to the Church, a special program of the weekly “Music & the Spoken Word” will be held in the Conference Center on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Attendees are asked to be seated by 9:15 a.m.

“For more than nine decades, nearly the lifetime of radio, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square has presented a weekly program — “Music & the Spoken Word” — without interruption, giving voice to peace, hope, inspiration, and the goodness of God. No other broadcast can claim such a heritage,” according to the website for Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

Members of the Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square rehearse before the 4,000th broadcast of the “Music and the Spoken Word” Sunday, April 30, 2006. The program originated in 1929 and is the world’s longest continuous network broadcast. (Jason Olson)

The Conference Center is located at 60 N., West Temple Street. The website allows you to learn more about the program and listen to past broadcasts.

The Brigham Young Family Cemetery

Near the northeast corner of Temple Square is Brigham Young Family Cemetery, the burial site of Brigham Young and several of his family members, according to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

According to the cemetery’s website, “Members of the Young family and others used a family cemetery on the property rather than providing a burial place in the large city-owned cemetery.”

A bust of Brigham Young on display at the Brigham Young Family Cemetery in Salt Lake City on October 22, 2022. (Intellectual Reserve)

The Brigham Young Family Cemetery reopened in 2022 after the Church’s major renovation. It is located at 140 E., First Avenue, just east of State Street near Temple Square. The cemetery is open daily to the public.

What is closed for the weekend?

According to the Church, The Church History Library will be closed during General Conference weekend.

Other buildings, such as the Lion House, The Beehive House, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and the Assembly Hall are closed due to the renovation project, according to the Church.

The Joseph Smith Memorial Building. (Intellectual Reserve, Inc.)

The Church stated that tours will not be offered at the Conference Center or the Church Office Building.

Traffic, parking and public transportation

The Church said North Temple between Main Street and West Temple will be closed for pedestrian traffic.

For those interested in using public transportation via Utah Transit Authority, General Conference admissions tickets are valid as UTA fare all day for the date of the ticket.

According to the Church, on Saturday, trains will depart every 15 minutes on each TRAX line. On Sunday, trains will depart every 30 minutes on each TRAX line. There will also be extra Blue Line trains before and after each session.

Parking is available at four major parking facilities: The Triad Center, The Parking Place, Eagle Gate Terrace, City Creek and Regent Street. More parking lots will be available for the event three hours before the start time of the event.

A map of parking areas available to attendees of General Conference. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

However, parking is not available at the Conference Center parking facility during the General Conference. The Church suggests carpooling with other attendees as parking lots fill quickly, and parking is not guaranteed.

General Conference sessions will be held on April 6 at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m., and April 7 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The UTA schedule for General Conference. (UTA)

SALT LAKE CITY — KSL TV has produced a weekend of special programming for the 194 Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday and Sunday.

The programming includes several original documentaries that you’ll see only on KSL TV.

Saturday, April 6

Maui Strong – 12:00-12:30 p.m.

When destructive wildfires burned through the beloved town of Lahaina, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rendered service to those who lost everything. Meetinghouses were transformed into shelters to provide care and comfort to evacuees. This, as LDS faithful faced their own tremendous losses. See the miracles they witnessed amid this tragedy, and their resilience to rebuild again on their island paradise.

The Giving Machines – 12:30-1:00 p.m.

Learn the history behind the inspiring Light the World initiative launched by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and how the Giving Machines have become an important part of this plan. In 2017 these machines ingeniously simplified the act of charitable contributions by making it as effortless as buying an item from a vending machine. Individuals and families embraced the concept, and since its humble beginnings this groundbreaking idea has experienced remarkable growth. In this documentary we share many heartwarming stories that illustrate how one simple act of kindness can impact lives for generations. We share perspective from both the givers and the receivers and show how the money is used by various non-profit organizations.

The Osmonds: Faith, Family, & Fame – 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Osmonds: Faith, Family and Fame is a heartwarming documentary that gives an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look inside the hearts and minds of the iconic Osmond Family. Through rare archival footage, and intimate interviews with all 8 siblings this documentary explores the challenges and triumphs of their extraordinary journey. From their humble beginnings as a barbershop quartet in Utah, to their enduring fame with worldwide reach, this family has been a part of the entertainment scene for over 60 years. Their legacy as a cultural phenomenon transcends generations and continues to inspire millions around the world. Throughout the decades the Osmonds have remained steadfast in their faith, family values and commitment to one another. In this documentary they share how staying true to their values and beliefs as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has enabled them to overcome personal struggles, professional setbacks, and public scrutiny. Osmonds: Family, Faith and Fame is a tribute to the enduring spirit of the Osmond Family and a celebration of their remarkable contributions to music, entertainment, and the world at large

LDS World Report – 4:00-5:00 p.m.

The World Report is a semiannual report of the news events around the world pertaining to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A More Perfect Union – 7:30-8 p.m.

We are the United State of America but today our divisions seem to run deep. Many people from across the political spectrum believe the Constitution is in crisis. From our rights and responsibilities to the guiding principles of the Constitution, join us as we seek understanding in order to form a more perfect union.

Sunday, April 7

Joseph Smith: A Witness of Jesus Christ – 8:30-9:00 a.m.

For the past 22 years a team of historians has dedicated themselves to an unprecedented study of every historical document produced under the direction of Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Throughout his life Joseph worked with scribes and secretaries to document the restoration of the Gospel. The project, known as The Joseph Smith Papers, is now complete and all these documents are published in a multivolume set. This documentary is an insightful look at the scope of this project and an opportunity to understand the man whose legacy continues to influence millions of people worldwide. Individuals who were part of this project share valuable perspectives on Joseph Smith, and his steadfast testimony of Jesus Christ.

Special Sunday Edition with Boyd Matheson – 9:00-9:30 a.m.

This special Sunday Edition with Boyd Matheson features a sit-down interview with President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and President Camille N. Johnson Relief Society General President.  In his interview with President Holland, Boyd asks him to reflect on lessons he has learned from his 30 years as a special witness of Jesus Christ to all the world. President Holland shares some of those important lessons he has learned since his childhood- and several important lessons he has learned over the last few years of his life. In her interview with Boyd, President Johnson shares what impact women have on the church, on the community and around the world. President Johnson also shares what she has learned from serving women around the world, as well as serving alongside other leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Faith in the Philippines – 12:00-12:30 p.m.

It’s been just over 60 years since missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were sent to the Philippines to do missionary work. During this time church membership has grown quickly, and today the Philippines has the fourth-largest population of Latter-day Saints of any country in the world. For this documentary we share stories that embody the Filipino spirit of resilience and the transformative power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Heritage of Holiness: The Kirtland Story of Faith – 12:30-1:00 p.m.

“Heritage of Holiness: The Kirtland Story of Faith” delves into the rich tapestry of history surrounding the transfer of ownership of the Kirtland Temple from the Community of Christ to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as other significant historical artifacts and buildings, such as the Red Brick Store in Nauvoo. This poignant documentary explores the sacred significance of these sites within the Latter-Day Saint movement. “Heritage of Holiness: The Kirtland Story of Faith” offers viewers a compelling narrative of faith, preservation, and reconciliation, illuminating the enduring legacy of these historic sites and the shared heritage they represent for believers worldwide.

Temples Now Dot the Land – 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Utah will soon have 28 operating temples. Some are still under construction, restoration or in the Open House period. A few have recently been dedicated. In this program we will focus on the 14 newest temples in Utah by telling the stories of the people connected to them. We will also provide an historic look at the other 14 currently operating temples. We will bring you the words of leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about this unprecedented time in temple building and what it says about the faith and worthiness of Church members who live in Utah.

HOPE: The Tabernacle Choir World Tour – 4:00-5:00 p.m.

This documentary offers an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the iconic Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square as they embark on a momentous world tour, with Mexico as their inaugural destination. Travel with the choir as they share a message of hope with the citizens of Mexico City. This documentary captures the magic of their performances at prestigious venues, their creative journey while filming a new music video, and the heartwarming service they offered while in Mexico. The program also highlights a significant moment in the choir’s history as they introduce a new Spanish-language version of their renowned weekly broadcast, “Music and the Spoken Word,” making their music and message more accessible to an even broader global audience.

Documentary schedule on KSL Saturday, April 6, 2024.

Documentary schedule on KSL Sunday, April 7, 2024.

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KIRTLAND, Ohio — A historic religious building that’s nearly 200 years old has reopened to the public. Monday was the first day of tours at the Kirtland Temple after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acquired the Ohio property earlier this month.

The temple was the first one Latter-day Saint pioneers ever built, dedicated in 1836.

For the last many years, the building has been owned and maintained by the Community of Christ. But earlier this month, news broke that the faith transferred the Kirtland Temple and other property and documents to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is based in Salt Lake City.

Public tours began at 10 a.m. Monday and ran every 30 minutes. Elder Kyle S. McKay, Church historian, told KSL TV the building will be maintained as a historic site open to the public.

“We’re still treating this as the Lord’s house. It’s not an operating temple. But we see it as a place where people can come and connect to the past and events and people of the past,” McKay said.

Church officials said they expect a steady stream of tourists to visit the temple this year, especially starting around Memorial Day.

The temple is three stories high. An hour-long tour takes visitors throughout the entire building, viewing original handiwork and furniture believed to have been used by Church founder Joseph Smith and other early Latter-day Saints.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acquires the Kirtland Temple

McKay said the sacred structure is important as a place where Smith was believed to have seen a vision of Jesus Christ not long after the temple was dedicated.

“We hope that from here on out, as it has been in the past, it will continue to be a sacred reminder of the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did there,” McKay said.

Reservations for tours of the Kirtland Temple are not required. They run Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Good morning from Kirtland, Ohio. We’re here for the public reopening of the Kirtland Temple, which is now owned by @Ch_JesusChrist. It was the first temple built by Latter-day Saints and was dedicated in 1836. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/8Tqf4iligf

— Daniel Woodruff (@danielmwoodruff) March 25, 2024

Nathan Johnson, a regional Latter-day Saint leader in the Kirtland area, called the reopening of the temple a “special day” at “one of the most significant religious sites in the world.”

Still, Johnson acknowledged not everyone was celebrating.

“We recognize and are just sensitive to our friends from the Community of Christ for whom today is a difficult day,” Johnson said. “This is a time really of mourning because they’ve been stewards of this sacred place for the last 100 years.”

Johnson said the temple’s reopening under new ownership “is a wonderful opportunity for us to just continue that stewardship to make sure that this sacred place continues to be cared for.”

SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unveiled a new exhibit Monday at the Church History Museum after a display of unique artifacts took a trip to Utah from Independence, Missouri.

The exhibit opened at 10 a.m. on Monday and will remain open until Oct. 26. Staff working there said seeing it in person helps them connect to the past and bring some of the history to life.

Church History Museum Director Laura Paulson Howe said the exhibit begins with portraits of Joseph Smith and Emma Smith. The paintings set the tone for the entire experience, and really all other portraits of the two. She said the portraits also mark their relationship together as rare companion portraits.

“All of the things we recognize (in) portraits of Joseph (like) the high collar, the neatly tied cravat of Emma, that embroidered chemise that she wears … this is what we see over and over in everything coming out,” Howe said. “These are the portraits upon which all other portraits of Joseph and Emma are based. They’re one of very few portraits that were done from life.”

Across the room, documents are neatly organized.

“This is one of the earliest attempts to write the history of the Church,” Spencer W. McBride, a historian with the Joseph Smith Papers said.

McBride said when church leaders could not get a hold of that record in 1837, they started a new church history, which is the one Latter-day Saints know best today. Sharing these pieces of history with others is something McBride cherishes.

“As historians, it’s very exciting to see it in person; have access to it in person, to do the research we need with the original documents,” McBride said.

Another display, behind glass, includes the original door from Liberty Jail, where Joseph Smith and five others were imprisoned.

“Some very important revelations come out of that experience. Joseph writes them in a letter from Liberty Jail,” said Riley M. Lorimer, director of the Church History Museum.

The door is a direct visual of some of the hardships the church’s earliest leaders endured, Lorimer said.

“As long as memory lasts, will remain in my mind the great creaking of the hinges as it closed upon the noblest men on earth,” Lorimer said, quoting the words of a visitor of Liberty Jail during Joseph Smith’s imprisonment.

Contributing: Mary Culbertson, KSL TV

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SALT LAKE CITY — Glenn Rawson, Historian and host of the popular documentary series “History of the Saints,” said the acquisition of dozens of historic sites, documents, and artifacts from Community of Christ, including the Kirtland Temple, is faith-affirming to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide.

“That’s our oldest temple artifact and it’s priceless to be able to go into that building and say it happened right there, it started right there,” said Rawson. “To be able to tell the full story and show them where the revelations like Section 137 (of the Doctrine and Covenants) came from, being able to show them where it actually happened will do as much to strengthen their testimony as any historical site that we have in the church, it’s priceless.”

On Tuesday, the Church announced the $192.5 million acquisition, which includes the Mansion House, the Nauvoo House and the Red Brick Store where Joseph Smith maintained an office and claimed sacred endowments for church members were given. It is also where Smith organized the Relief Society in 1842.

The Church will also receive the original door of Liberty Jail.

“Can you imagine walking up with a group of young people or older tourists and standing before that door and saying it was behind this door where prophet Joseph was incarcerated for those months of 1838-1839, and it was behind these doors where the prophet was held prisoner and sections 121, 122, 123 were revealed?” Rawson said. “Just to be able to put your hand on that door and say Joseph touched that door and was right behind it, I can’t wait, I just can’t wait.”

Glenn Rawson talks with KSL News about the recent acquisition by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. (KSL TV)

Other significant documents acquired from Community of Christ include manuscripts, notes of an 1879 interview with Emma Smith, a document with the title of “Caractors,” which “may contain sample inscriptions from the gold plates,” and the Bible used in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible.

“The Book of Mormon is tangible proof to hold in a man’s hand that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God but right there next to that is the Joseph Smith translation of the Bible, it does the same thing as the Book of Mormon, that document does almost as much as the Book of Mormon to authenticate the prophet Joseph’s calling,” Rawson said. “As one scholar, Robert Matthews once said, the Joseph Smith translation is the most correct of any Bible on earth and it reveals a greater Christ, a more perfect Christ, a more divine Christ, hence, I’m a student of the Joseph Smith translation, again, a priceless acquisition for the faith of the saints.”

When reflecting on the relationship between Community of Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ, Rawson said it’s one that’s been built over decades. He said he often works with the Community of Christ leadership and appreciates the love and respect they’ve shown to him and other members of the Church.

“They are my brothers, my sisters, my friends,” he said. “They’ve been good to us; we’ve been good to them, and I hope that with this acquisition our relationship will continue into the future.”

Rawson said he can’t wait to visit the newly acquired historic sites under the stewardship of the Church, including the Kirtland Temple, which will reopen to visitors on March 25. He believes the sites are some of the most sacred in Church history.

“To go into the mansion house in Nauvoo and talk about what happened there, to go into the homestead in Nauvoo and what happened there, testimonies will be strengthened, faith will be affirmed, people will weep, people will feel the spirit, they’ll be bonded to the prophet Joseph, they’ll be bonded to the Savior like very few other historic sites in the world,” Rawson said.

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced it purchased the Kirtland Temple and several other historic buildings and artifacts from the Community of Christ for an agreed-upon amount.

According to a release from the Church, discussions leading to this agreement began in June 2021.

“This exchange of assets is significant for our church,” Stephen M. Veazey, president of Community of Christ, said. “Through funding from increased endowments, Community of Christ will have greater capacity to pursue our mission priorities around the world, including continuing to fulfill the divinely envisioned purposes for our Temple in Independence, Missouri.”

The Church now takes responsibility and ownership for several historic buildings in Nauvoo, the Kirtland Temple, and various manuscripts and artifacts officially transferred from the Community of Christ.

“We are deeply honored to assume the stewardship of these sacred places, documents, and artifacts,” said Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “We thank our friends at Community of Christ for their great care and cooperation in preserving these historical treasures thus far. We are committed to doing the same.”

Together, we share an interest in and reverence for these historic sites and items and are committed to preserving them for future generations.

The release stated “The Kirtland Temple will remain an historic building. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints plans to reopen it March 25, 2024, for public tours at no charge. Likewise, in Nauvoo, the Smith Family Homestead, the Mansion House and the Red Brick Store will also reopen on March 25, 2024, for year-round public tours at no charge.”

Further details and information about the agreement will be “forthcoming,” the Church stated.

The Church said the historic transfer indicates the long-standing effort to preserve religious and cultural heritage.

The Church also included a page of frequently asked questions with additional information included below:

Today, Community of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the transfer of significant historical properties and artifacts related to the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The following answers address frequently asked questions about the details of the transaction and future plans for the historic sites and artifacts.

1. What was included in the transaction?

The transaction involves land, buildings, artifacts, and documents. The real estate, along with some artifacts, are in Kirtland, Ohio, and Nauvoo, Illinois, while artifacts and documents also come from Community of Christ Library and Archives in Independence, Missouri.

2. What are the most significant items?

The most significant properties are the Kirtland Temple, the Smith Family Homestead, the Mansion House, the Nauvoo House, and the Red Brick Store. Significant documents and artifacts include manuscripts and the Bible used in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, seven letters from Joseph Smith to his wife Emma, John Whitmer’s history of the Church, original portraits of Joseph and Emma Smith, the cornerstone of the Nauvoo House, the original door of Liberty Jail, and a document with the title of “Caractors,” which may contain a sample of inscriptions from the gold plates. (See the appendix for a more detailed list of items transferred.)

3. How did Community of Christ acquire these materials?

After the Saints left Kirtland in the 1830s, different parties controlled access to the temple over the years. In 1901, Community of Christ, then known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (“RLDS Church”) secured title to the Kirtland Temple through legal proceedings. The Smith family properties in Nauvoo remained in possession of Emma Smith after Joseph Smith’s death and she and her children eventually joined the RLDS Church. Thereafter, the properties passed through family connections to the RLDS Church. Other documents and artifacts were donated to the RLDS Church archives by their individual owners.

4. Why did Community of Christ sell these materials now?

As Community of Christ President Stephen M. Veazey noted in the joint statement, the transfer of materials at this time enables their mission and priorities around the world.

5. Why did The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchase these materials?

The sites and artifacts in this transaction relate to significant events and people in the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

6. What is the relationship between the two churches?

The two churches enjoy a strong, respectful, and friendly relationship. For many decades, we have collaborated on numerous historical and humanitarian projects.

7. Have there been previous transactions of historic materials between the two churches?

Yes. In 2012, Community of Christ sold to the Church of Jesus Christ several properties, including the Hawn’s Mill Massacre site and the Joseph and Emma Smith home in Kirtland. Five years later, Community of Christ sold the Printer’s Manuscript of the Book of Mormon to the Church of Jesus Christ.

8. What was paid for the properties, artifacts, and documents?

The Church paid US$192.5 million without assigning specific values to the properties and items.

9. Will the historic sites be open to the public?

Yes. The historic buildings in Kirtland and Nauvoo closed on March 5, 2024, to facilitate the transfer of ownership and will reopen to the public on March 25, 2024. Tours will be provided of the Kirtland Temple, the Smith Family Homestead, the Mansion House, and the Red Brick Store. Updated visitor information will be published on the historic site webpages for Historic Kirtland and Historic Nauvoo.

10. Will admission be charged to visit the sites?

No. All of the Church of Jesus Christ’s historic sites are open to the public at no charge.

11. Will members of Community of Christ continue to have access to the sites?

Yes. The sites will be open to the public generally. The Church has also made specific arrangements with Community of Christ to allow for special meetings and gatherings over the coming years.

12. Will the Kirtland Temple be converted into a functioning Latter-day Saint temple?

No. The Kirtland Temple will be maintained and presented as a historic building that is open to the public. President Russell M. Nelson announced a temple in Cleveland in April 2022, and the Church released its site address in December 2022 and a rendering in July 2023.

13. Will the Church continue to pursue development of its proposed new visitors’ center near the Nauvoo Temple?

Yes. The proposed visitors’ center in Nauvoo will orient visitors to the historic and contemporary significance of the Nauvoo Temple. The use of the other two visitors’ centers in Nauvoo will be determined in the future.

List of Items Transferred

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SALT LAKE CITY — On the final day of the RootsTech 2024 conference, attendees braved a windstorm to listen to Broadway actor Kristin Chenoweth speak about faith, family and her experience as an adopted child.

To end the conference, organizers shared a video of late President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, filmed just months before his death in November, speaking on the eternal nature of family.

The largest family history conference in the world — with the theme “Remember”— saw thousands of attendees at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, with an estimated 4 million more joining online, representing every U.S. state and over 240 countries and territories and being broadcast in over 20 languages.

Chenoweth, interspersed with performances of some of her favorite songs like “For Good” from the musical “Wicked,” used the final day of RootsTech 2024 to reflect on the role her adoptive parents and biological mother has played in her life.

“A week before I was born, the woman that was supposed to adopt me found out she was pregnant,” Chenoweth said, “And she wanted somebody else to have the opportunity to have a child. I don’t really ever talk about this.”

The Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor felt divine intervention played a role in her placement with “a darn good” set of parents, instilling a sense of self-esteem from an early age. “There’s nature versus nurture. I had nature and nurture,” she said.

While working on the set of the TV show “The Good Wife” in 2012, Chenoweth was seriously injured when lighting equipment fell and struck her, fracturing her skull. It was during the recovery she felt she needed to connect with her past and seek out her biological mother. When the two met, on Dec. 12, 2012, “it could not have gone better,” she said.

“We were very, very close from the minute I met her.

President Ballard’s family history

Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles introduced a 25-minute video of the late President Ballard filmed in September of last year, with many members of the Ballard extended family in attendance Saturday.

“We know in retrospect, how precious it was to film President Ballard when we did,” Elder Gong said. Days before he died, Nov. 12, 2023, he was to see the video. “He loved it,” Elder Gong said. “In some ways, it is President Ballard’s last testimony of Jesus Christ, eternal family, and remembering what matters most.”

President Ballard — whose great-great grandfather was Hyrum Smith and great-great uncle was church founder Joseph Smith — visited a series of historical church sites, including the Kirtland Temple and Carthage Jail with a film crew from RootsTech.

Late President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles M. Russell Ballard stands in front of the Kirtland Temple in Ohio, for a video presented to RootsTech 2024 attendees in Salt Lake City, Saturday. (Photo: FamilySearch)

“It’s very important for people to seek out and know what they can about those who laid the groundwork for them to have what they have in their lives,” he said. “It’s a wonderful thing to know about your forefathers, many of which paid a big price for our personal existence in this world.”

“Family history is just — ‘Who am I? What makes me M. Russell Ballard?'” said President Ballard, who was 94 at the time of filming, “If we ever lose sight of our forefathers and those who made it possible for us to have what we have, we will have lost something that’s irreplaceable.”

The family discovery day at RootsTech 2024 finished off with a shootout with former BYU basketball player Jimmer Fredette, and a professional exhibition pickleball game.

SALT LAKE CITY — Several plaza areas of Temple Square will reopen on Saturday, Jan. 6.

The areas to open include the plaza by the Church Office Building, the north part of the Main Street Plaza, and the northwest plaza area of Temple Square, according to a release from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The plaza on the south side of Main Street will reopen in mid-February.

As these plazas reopen to the public, the Assembly Hall and surrounding gardens will close as the restroom buildings and portions of the wall will be removed. The landscaping will also be updated.

First built in 1882, the Assembly Hall will undergo limited renovation including structural repairs, mechanical improvements, and interior plaster repair.

The renovation of the Assembly Hall is expected to be completed in 2026.

The plaza near the Church Office Building will feature an art installation of 92 flag poles. The flags will be added at a later date, represent “the global nature of the Church and its commitment to be a friend to all.”

The Church stated that while they recognize national and international days of mourning, the flags in the plaza will remain at full staff as an art installation.

The United State and State of Utah flag displayed at the Church Administration Building, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and the Conference Center will adhere to half-staff protocol for days of mourning.

Throughout the year, the Church will fly the flags of officially-recognized United Nations countries. The flags will be placed in alphabetical order and will always be illuminated.

Salt Lake Temple renovations now estimated to be complete in 2026

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SALT LAKE CITY — The funeral for President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles took place Friday at 11 a.m. at the Tabernacle at Temple Square.

The funeral was open to the public and available online, and it can be watched here.

President Ballard is survived by his seven children, 43 grandchildren, 105 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. He is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Bowen Ballard, who died in 2018.

President Ballard was sustained as an apostle on Oct. 6, 1985, following the death of Elder Bruce R. McConkie, whose passing left a vacancy in the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was sustained as the acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by President Russell M. Nelson on Jan. 14, 2018, following the death of President Thomas S. Monson.

The church invited members to post expressions of sympathy on President Ballard’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts. His family has requested donations to This Is The Place Heritage Park in lieu of flowers.

Following his call as an apostle, President Ballard said he felt “a great closeness” to his ancestors, including the first president of the church, Joseph Smith, who was his great-great uncle.

President Ballard helped with several church history preservation projects, including This Is The Place Heritage Park, during his time as a general authority. In 2021, Gov. Spencer Cox designated July 23 as “President M. Russell Ballard Day,” to honor his work to preserve Utah and pioneer history.

This story will be updated.

SALT LAKE CITY — A big loss and an amazing legacy, those are the words from the biographer of M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who passed away on Sunday night.

“I feel like I lost a dear friend,” said Dr. Susan Easton Black, who wrote President Ballard’s biography titled, “Anxiously Engaged.”

Black spent nearly 39 years teaching church history at Brigham Young University, and she has written close to 200 books. However, she considers “Anxiously Engaged” as one of her greatest accomplishments.

“I wrote a lot about president Ballard’s ancestors,” she said. “But suddenly to write about a living apostle that I had sustained for literally decades as a prophet, seer, and revelator, it was a choice experience, never to be forgotten,” she said.

Receiving the bad news

Black says she learned of President Ballard’s death early Monday morning. Even though he was 95 years old, she says it was still a shock and difficult to hear the news.

“Wow, that’s a big loss,” she said. “I lost someone that I very much admired.”

Writing his biography was a monumental task, Black says.  She poured over hundreds of pages of journals and interviewed dozens of people from church leaders to family and friends.

Dr. Susan Easton Black, who wrote President Ballard’s biography titled, “Anxiously Engaged.” She says she feels like she has lost a friend. (KSL TV)

“I just feel like he was somebody I knew that could see afar,” Black said. “And as I interviewed his friends and colleagues that was their most consistent response that he could see afar. Whereas I could see across the street, he could see the endgame. To me, he seemed fearless. He knew who he was.”

One experience that changed President Ballard’s life forever, was when he traveled to Ethiopia to distribute money that had been raised for the poor and needy.

“Once he had been in Ethiopia and had seen that poverty and that sorrow,” Black said. “That had a huge impact on him that he wanted to make a difference.”

A life-changing experience

And one story about President Ballard that changed Black’s life occurred in Thailand. His watch had broken and those who were with him bargained with a woman at  a market to buy him another one.

“Here’s the watch and we have it down to this price [they said], and he said to the young woman, ‘how much were you originally asking for the watch?’ And when she indicated it, [President Ballard] said, ‘that’s the price I would like to pay.'” Black said. “That just really struck me. Sometimes when you think you are making a good deal, it’s not a good deal for the other person. I was very touched by that. It’s had a huge impact in my life.”

President Ballard is the great great grandson of Hyrum Smith, the brother of Church founder Joseph Smith. As a church history expert, that’s a tender connection for Black.

“We have lost not only a great prophet, seer, and revelator, but we’ve lost a connection back to the first prophets,” Black said. “I love church history and wow I think he was the link to the past.”

President M. Russell Ballard dies at age 95

Black says President Ballard’s legacy will live on as a man who truly was anxiously engaged in the Lords’ work.

“I just hope I can live my life that I can be worthy to see him again someday,” Black said.

President Ballard’s funeral services are scheduled for Friday at 11 a.m. at the Tabernacle on Temple Square.

You can watch it live on the KSL Plus App, ksltv.com and on the KSL Facebook Page.

He and his wife, who passed away five years ago, are survived by their seven children, 43 grandchildren and 105 great grandchildren.

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SALT LAKE CITY – President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has died.

After a recent brief hospital stay, President Ballard returned to his home where he attended to duties as he was able to before he died at approximately 11:15 p.m. on Sunday surrounded by loved ones. He was 95.

“President Ballard was never indecisive,” said Church President Russell M. Nelson. “He knew exactly what the Lord taught and how it could be applied in one’s personal life and bring joy and happiness.”

“We worked together closely, and I always loved his warm manner,” said President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency, who sat beside President Ballard in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for more than three decades. “He was a man to be trusted. And he was a man who trusted you.”

President Ballard is survived by his seven children, 43 grandchildren 105 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Funeral details are pending.

President Ballard was born in Salt Lake City on Oct. 8, 1928, to Melvin R. and Geraldine Smith Ballard. After attending the University of Utah, he married Barbara Bowen in the Salt Lake Temple on Aug. 28, 1951. They are the parents of two sons and five daughters.

President Ballard couldn’t talk about his family without praising Barbara, who died on Oct. 1, 2018. “She was not only beautiful but had a sparkling personality. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to marry her, but she didn’t share the same feelings. It was a little hard convincing her. I kid her that getting her to agree to marry me was the greatest sales job I ever did.”

President Ballard praised Barbara as a wonderful mother whose calm approach made home life more like heaven. Their second child, Holly, agrees, saying her parents’ love and respect for each other influenced her and her siblings’ behavior in life-shaping ways.

“We felt like the best place to be was to come home and be there in that environment because our parents were very good with each other,” she said. “I learned that you need to treat everybody with respect. And they were very good about doing that with us as children.”

President Ballard’s ecclesiastical service included his time as a young missionary in England, bishop, president of the Canada Toronto Mission, a member of the Presidency of the Seventy and more than three decades as an Apostle.

"With great joy I humbly testify our Heavenly Father loves us, Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith restored the fulness of the everlasting gospel, and the Book of Mormon testifies of these truths. We are led by a living prophet today.” —M. Russell Ballard (1928-2023) pic.twitter.com/Y25SX582Iw

— M. Russell Ballard (@BallardMRussell) November 13, 2023

“I would not do this for money,” President Ballard said. “You could not hire me for money to do what I’m asked to do as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. But for the Lord, it’s the greatest privilege that could ever be given to a man. We are witnesses of the reality of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

President Ballard also served as chairman of the Church missionary council, which included work to develop the missionary instruction guide “Preach My Gospel.”

He was called as an Apostle on Oct. 6, 1985, and was sustained and set apart as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by President Nelson on Jan. 14, 2018.

Through all his experiences as a husband, father and Apostle, Church officials said President Ballard looked to Jesus Christ for inspiration and assurance in all things. In fact, he often carried a small image of the Savior in his lapel pocket for encouragement on difficult days.

“Whenever he would get discouraged, he would pull that out and look at [the image of Jesus Christ] and think, ‘I can do this. I can do anything for Him,’” Holly said.

President Ballard came to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is an anchor in a world of shifting values. “I have strong convictions that those who are really anchored in their faith in the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the mission of the Prophet Joseph and in the revelations that have come to the Church through him, which confirm and declare that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that the gospel is upon the earth, will be able to handle whatever life passes to them.”

Church members described President Ballard as leading a life of legacy.

“I love Joseph Smith and the Restoration, and so he kept bearing witness, and that really made a mark on me,” said Latter-day Saint Cheryl Gerstner. “He’s gonna be missed because he is kind of a gentle type of man and I do appreciate his character for that.”

Those KSL TV spoke with say they vividly remember President Ballard speaking in October’s general conference and said they will miss him greatly moving forward.

Sheri Dew shares thoughts on President Ballard

Sheri Dew, executive vice president of Deseret Management Corporation, spoke with KSL TV Monday night. She had known President Ballard for 35 years.

She said he loved all people.

“He loved people, he could connect to anyone. And I thought how interesting that his final message now, he testified of Joseph Smith, and he said, thank you to all these members that he’s seen around the world.”

Dew also said President Ballard had a passion for missionary work.

“He absolutely had a zeal for missionary work and for teaching, the restoration.”

Contributing: KSL TV’s Dan Rascon and Karah Brackin

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DAYBREAK — Wayne O. Ursenbach, a World War II veteran, explosives researcher, man of faith, husband, and father will turn 100 years old on Dec. 4, 2023. He currently lives a quiet, unpretentious life at Sagewood, a senior care facility in Daybreak, Utah. Despite his quiet life now, Ursenbach had harrowing experiences in World War II and an incredible life that followed.

Ursenbach was born in Alberta, Canada in 1923.

“I came down to the United States to go to BYU,” Ursenbach said.

Ursenbach had just been married to his wife Bernice, when he was drafted into the army on Nov. 6, 1943. He would spend two years fighting in World War II. Ursenbach said his wife wrote him a letter every day from home and that kept their marriage strong, despite the distance.

(Ursenbach Family)

“A lot of them I never really saw, but a lot of them I did.  I tried to write as many letters as I could but of course, in the infantry, we had no way of doing a good job of that so I just did the best I could,” Ursenbach said.

That love would go on to span 77 years of marriage.

While serving, Ursenbach fought in the Battle of the Bulge, which was the last major German offensive during World War II. The battle lasted five weeks from Dec. 16, 1944, to Jan. 28, 1945.

“We were headed to the North and we were gonna prepared to go with Montgomery’s army but then we ended up putting all of our stuff there,” Ursenbach said. “I pulled out my scriptures and left the rest of it and we ended up in combat in the Battle of the Bulge.”

The battle was the largest and deadliest battle fought by the United States in World War II. Approximately 19,000 Americans were killed in the battle, with 47,500 wounded, and 23,000 missing. It is estimated that over 1 million Allied troops fought in the battle, including 500,000 Americans.

“It was difficult, we weren’t properly equipped we didn’t have any field gear,” Ursenbach said. “We saw so many things and it was not easy.”

Ursenbach served in the 289th Infantry Battalion, in the 75th Infantry Division that played a pivotal role in the Battle of the Bulge. From his company of 178 men, only 42 returned.

“Never knew what was going to come next,” Ursenbach said.

Ursenbach recalled one experience when he narrowly escaped machine gun fire.

“A Machine gun opened up on us and I just flopped down on the dirt and I could hear it,” Ursenbach said. “I took off my glasses and touched my face and found fingers completely covered in blood.”

(Ursenbach Family)

Fortunately, Ursenbach survived the battle. But he did suffer frostbite on his feet.

“They had to put a needle in sixteen places in my foot and I didn’t feel it. So they said ‘you’re fortunate we caught it right now,'” Ursenbach said. “So I was at the aid station and the doctor examined me and he said ‘yup you’ve got problems.'”

Soon, feeling returned to his feet.

“In the morning, I guess my foot had thawed out enough and it just felt like somebody putting pins and needles through my foot, all the way through and my feet swelled up,” Ursenbach said.

He was transferred to a hospital where he said many others were in worse shape. Ursenbach said he asked the doctors what he would have to do to get out of there, and they told him he’d have to walk all the way down the aisle.

“I had to walk down between 25 beds on one side and 25 beds on the other side,” Ursenbach said. “Finally after about four days of that, they transferred me to rehab and just went from there.”

Ursenbach was honorably discharged because of his medical diagnosis on May 22, 1946.

He returned home first to Fort Douglas to finalize some things, and then reunited with his wife at the Hotel Utah, now the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

“I walked around the Hotel Utah and I wondered if I’d know her and she looked at me and we immediately knew each other,” Ursenbach said. “I was gone about two years.”

Ursenbach earned his bachelor’s and master’s in chemistry at Brigham Young University and worked conducting research with a team from the University of Utah, later leading innovations in the open-pit copper mining industry.

Ursenbach is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as Temple President for the Temple of The Church in Laie, Hawaii.

When asked how his faith helped him through the war he responded, “Well, here I am!”

His wife, Bernice, died in 2021 and Ursenbach still smiles when he talks about her and their marriage.

“We had a great love story,” Ursenbach said. “Nothing I’d like better than to see her again.”

He explained the cemetery where she’s buried and said, “that’s where she’s resting now, waiting for me.”

Ursenbach and his wife had seven children, and now many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Sagewood will be hosting a party for Ursenbach’s 100th birthday in a few weeks. When asked the secret to living to 100, “just keep breathing,” Ursenbach said.

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