Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | 
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Jason Swensen

Jason Swensen is a writer for the Church News and contributor to the Deseret News. He has won multiple awards from the Utah Society of Professional Journalists. Swensen was raised in the Beehive State and graduated from the University of Utah. He is a husband and father — and has a stack of novels and sports biographies cluttering his nightstand.

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Utah
Area 51 crowds may not see aliens, but could see lots of Latter-day Saint-owned cows
Church cattle ranch near weekend festival preps for potential large gathering
By Jason Swensen
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Faith
Almost a decade after Haiti quake, Latter-day Saints have rebuilt physically and spiritually
By Jason Swensen
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Utah
BYU unveils detailed diorama of sprawling campus
The 9-by-12-foot diorama of Brigham Young University copies not only almost all of the buildings and physical structures on the Provo campus — designers even attempted to 3D print almost every single tree.
By Jason Swensen
Josh Jones, 18, a priest from the Roxburogh Ward, Highlands Ranch Colorado Stake, was shot twice during the May 7, 2019, school shooting in Colorado. He was attempting to subdue one of the gunmen when he was injured.
Faith
Church News: Latter-day Saint ‘hero’ shot twice after rushing gunman at Colorado school shooting
A Latter-day Saint teen was shot twice while helping fellow students subdue a gunman in Tuesday’s school shooting in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
By Jason Swensen
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with his wife Sister Wendy Nelson, listen to speakers during a devotional held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018.
Faith
President Russell M. Nelson to Texans: An eternal perspective will help you endure ‘serious storms’
“That eternal perspective makes a huge difference in our comprehension of things that don’t seem fair in this life,” said President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
By Jason Swensen
Flames consume a car and building as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
Faith
Church News: Paradise Camp Fire hits Latter-day Saint families hard, destroys Church meetinghouses
Local Church leaders are relieved that all members and missionaries are safe and accounted for. But the so-called Camp Fire exacted an awful price in the Paradise Latter-day Saint community and beyond.
By Jason Swensen
President Dallin H. Oaks greets a Helping Hands worker Oct. 21 at the Panama City Florida Stake Center.
Faith
Church News: A Florida Sabbath Day defined by ministering via chainsaws and yellow T-shirts
President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency and a host of key Church leaders say they are uplifted by selfless Helping Hands workers.
By Jason Swensen
A North Carolina resident tells President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, about his experience of living through Hurricane Florence.
Faith
Church News: President Oaks, Elder Bednar visit Florida after Hurricane Michael and answer why bad things happen to good people
Joining the first counselor in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ First Presidency at a Saturday gathering in Florida is an apostle, a Seventy, a member of the Presiding Bishopric and the leader of the Relief Society general presidency.
By Jason Swensen
Shredded trees, derailed train cars and a sunken trailer are seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael in Panama City, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018.
Faith
Church News: Statement released on missionaries near Hurricane Michael
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement Wednesday regarding missionaries near the area affected by Hurricane Michael.
By Jason Swensen
The Church announced plans that they will supply families and community agencies with “finished good” such pasta, pancake mix and flour to be used for food storage.
Faith
Church News: Church announces updates to food storage, emergency preparedness
The Church announced plans Thursday to supply families and community agencies with “finished good” such pasta, pancake mix and flour — rather than raw wheat which can be difficult to process at home.
By Jason Swensen
Hurricane Florence damaged the road connecting Harkers Island to the North Carolina mainland, as seen on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018.
Faith
Church News: Waterlogged North Carolinians pleading for prayers that Florence ‘will speed up and move on’
An Area Seventy is pleading for Latter-day Saints — and anyone else, for that matter — to combine their voices and petition heaven on behalf of his fellow North Carolinians besieged Sunday by driving rain and rising floodwaters.
By Jason Swensen
In this photo released by the City of New Bern, N.C., a bear statue floats in flood waters on South Front street in New Bern, N.C. on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Hurricane Florence lumbered ashore in North Carolina with howling 90 mph winds and terrifying sto
Faith
Church News: Hurricane Florence floods, devastates 20 Latter-day Saint families’ homes
Hurricane Florence’s relentless first-day assault on the Carolinas is impacting a number of Latter-day Saints, with floodwaters inundating homes and transforming subdivision streets into canals.
By Jason Swensen
An onlooker checks out the heavy surf at the Avalon Fishing Pier in Kill Devil Hills, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast.
Faith
Church News: Former UVU President Matt Holland talks missionary safety in the midst of Hurricane Florence
The mid-summer skies were likely sunny and clear when newly arrived North Carolina Raleigh Mission President Matthew S. Holland conducted his first round of zone conferences.
By Jason Swensen
President Russell M. Nelson enjoys an individual moment with a woman who attended the Sept. 1, 2018, member devotional in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Faith
Church News: Q&A — President Nelson, Elder Renlund on overcoming challenges and finding joy
On Sept. 1, President Russell M. Nelson and Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles participated in a Caribbean Area member devotional in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
By Jason Swensen
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Faith
Church News: No more waiting for mission call letters with this new Church initiative — all it takes is the click of a button
This process has been tested in various parts of the world for the past several months and will now be expanded to all of Utah and Idaho.
By Jason Swensen
President Russell M. Nelson greets little boy following Sept. 1, 2018, member devotional in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Elder Dale G. Renlund is at left.
Faith
Church News: President Nelson delivers historic message to Dominican Latter-day Saints in Spanish
A simple phrase, translated: “With your permission, I would like to speak in Spanish.” But when uttered by President Russell M. Nelson on Sept. 1 to a standing-room only audience of Dominican Latter-day Saints, those words assumed unexpected, even historic significance.
By Jason Swensen
President Russell M. Nelson greets a young mother and her child following a member devotional in San Juan on Sept. 2, 2018.
Faith
Church News: President Nelson promises Puerto Rican Saints that ‘better days are ahead’ after last year’s deadly hurricane
On Sunday, Sept. 2 — almost a year after Hurricane Maria’s arrival — Esteban and Anali Ojeda traveled under sunny skies to San Juan to hear counsel from President Russell M. Nelson.
By Jason Swensen
President Russell M. Nelson greets a young mother and her child following a member devotional in San Juan on Sept. 2, 2018.
Faith
President Nelson promises Puerto Ricans their ‘best days’ are ahead
Church president visits with hurricane weary Latter-day Saints in San Juan. Offers encouragement and testifies in Spanish.
By Jason Swensen
Members of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus — including Steve Gallagher, front in purple, and Rocky Sharma, second row in purple — sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir during soundcheck at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, Calif., on Monday,
Faith
It’s all about the music: San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus performs with Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Music’s unifying power was on full display Monday on the stage of the Shoreline Amphitheater. Standing shoulder to shoulder for a sound check rehearsal was the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and several members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.
By Jason Swensen
Participants of the 2018 Mormon History Association Annual Conference gather Saturday, June 9, at the Boise Centre for a panel discussion on Latter-day Saints and race.
Faith
Mormon History Association conference says the past of the LDS Church is not frozen
Academic, history buffs gather in Boise for four-day Mormon history conference in a year defined by historic revelation of 1978.
By Jason Swensen
Firefighters carry a body recovered near the Volcan de Fuego, or "Volcano of Fire," in Escuintla, Guatemala, Monday, June 4, 2018. A fiery volcanic eruption in south-central Guatemala sent lava flowing into rural communities, killing at least 25 as rescue
Faith
Church News: Two Latter-day Saints counted among the missing from Guatemala volcano eruption
Two Latter-day Saints are counted among the missing following Sunday’s eruption of Guatemala’s Fuego Volcano that has killed at least 38 people.
By Jason Swensen
Originally opened in 2000, the Houston Texas Temple was rededicated on April 22, 2018.
Church News
Reopening a beloved temple: A key moment in Hurricane Harvey recovery
“Spirit of Texas” continues to be invoked as Latter-day Saints serve others; celebrate rededication of Houston temple.
By Jason Swensen
Participants in the April 22, 2018, rededication of the Houston Texas Temple file out of the temple following the ceremony.
Faith
Key moment in Hurricane Harvey recovery: Houston LDS temple rededicated
President M. Russell Ballard returned to the Lone Star State Sunday to preside over the symbolically-charged reopening of the LDS Church’s Houston Texas Temple that was severely damaged by Hurricane Harvey floodwaters.
By Jason Swensen
LDS Church President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, walk onto the stand prior to the Sunday afternoon session
Faith
News analysis: Historic weekend of conference marks LDS Church as a global faith
President Russell M. Nelson challenges Latter-day Saints to be inspiration seekers to minister in an increasingly global church.
By Jason Swensen
President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Russell M. Nelson: Introductory remarks
High priests and elders in each ward will combine to form a single elders quorum, allowing for more effective unity and ministering.
By Jason Swensen
Elder Gerrit W. Gong, front, and Elder Ulisses Soares walk to take their places with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church during a solemn assembly in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 31, 2018.
Faith
Church members rejoice at calling of first Asian American, Latin American apostles
Reflecting the ever-increasing diversity of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members worldwide sustained Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Elder Ulisses Soares to the faith’s senior leadership Saturday morning.
By Jason Swensen and Sarah Jane Weaver
President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency.
President Henry B. Eyring: ‘Inspired ministering’
The Lord’s people “receive the Holy Spirit best when we are focused on serving others,” said President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency in his priesthood session address.
By Jason Swensen
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Elder Ronald A. Rasband: ‘Behold! A royal army’
The modifications made to the Melchizedek Priesthood quorums are the will of the Lord, said Elder Ronald A. Rasband in his priesthood session remarks.
By Jason Swensen
Brother Douglas D. Holmes, first counselor in the Young Men General Presidency.
Brother Douglas D. Holmes: ‘What every Aaronic Priesthood holder needs to understand’
The young men of the Aaronic Priesthood don’t sit, figuratively, on “children’s chairs,” said Brother Douglas D. Holmes, during the priesthood session on March 31. Instead, they have been given a “sacred trust” from God.
By Jason Swensen
Mormon "Helping Hands" volunteers clean up an above-ground cemetery in Chosica, Peru, following a damaging flood in early 2018.
‘Graveyard’ shift: ‘Helping Hands’ volunteers in Peru clean, restore flood-damaged cemetery
Unusual service project at an above ground cemetery adds a new chapter to Church’s ongoing relief efforts in flood-weary Peru.
By Jason Swensen
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