Davido Set to Open a Clothing Line

Davido, the young sensation Nigerian musician has a eye for the fashion industry, do you think so?

yes, this is what he has to say!

  Davido ‏@iam_Davido

My clothing line O.B.O coming next year!!!! Get ready!!! There will be a fashion launch!!

he tweeted this today!

we wish him the best of luck!

Longest Space Mission For U.S. Astronaut Set For 2015

By Elizabeth Landau, CNN

Capt. Scott Kelly, a veteran astronaut, will set the record for the longest single space mission for an American, NASA announced Monday. Kelly and Roscosmos cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko will embark on a one-year mission to the International Space Station in 2015.

The duo will help scientists explore the effects of living in space on the human body, NASA said. They will provide information regarding health and crew performance and help with determining and validating risk-reduction measures. All of this can help contribute to planning for missions to other celestial worlds, such as an asteroid or Mars.

Kelly is the brother of former space shuttle Cmdr. Mark Kelly, who is married to former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Giffords survived a shooting near Tuscon in 2011 and stepped down from public office in January 2012.

Only four humans have logged a continuous year or more in space on a single mission, and all of those missions involved the Russian Mir space station, said NASA spokesman Joshua Buck. The current record is held by Valery Polyakov, who spent 438 days in space between January 1994 and March 1995.
Kelly and Kornienko will depart in spring 2015 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, traveling aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

A native of Orange, New Jersey, Kelly has already experienced more than 180 days in space. On a 1999 space shuttle mission, he was a pilot; in 2007, he was a commander on STS-118. Kelly was a flight engineer in 2010 on International Space Station Expedition 25 and commander of Expedition 26 in 2011.
Kelly is a U.S. Navy captain with degrees from the State University of New York Maritime College and the University of Tennessee.

Kornienko hails from Russia's Syzran, Kuibyshev, region and has worked in the space industry since 1986. On the International Space Station, Kornienko was a flight engineer on the Expedition 23/24 crews in 2010. He has spent a cumulative 176 days in space.

"The one-year increment will expand the bounds of how we live and work in space and will increase our knowledge regarding the effects of microgravity on humans as we prepare for future missions beyond low-Earth orbit," William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for human exploration and operations at NASA headquarters in Washington, said in a statement.
-CNN

ANPP Chieftain In Borno Killed By Unidentified Gunmen

ANPP chieftain, Alhaji Tar Kusurambe was Monday killed by unknown gunmen at Magumeri  in Borno State.
 
The ANPP Chairman of Magumeri Local Government Area was shot dead at his residence at about 2am. He was killed barely two days after returning from Saudi Arabia where he had gone for Hajj.

Actress Jane Seymour reflects on performance with Mormon Tabernacle Choir, prepares to visit Utah

For Emmy award-winning actress Jane Seymour, performing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for last year's Christmas concert felt like being "part of a big family."

"It was awesome," Seymour told the Deseret News. "The choir was so wonderful. They were all lovely people and enthusiastic to be there. There's just a joy and a sense of collaboration of all the people involved."

During the performance, Seymour was the narrator for "Good King Wenceslas." The story she read has recently been published by Deseret Book, and she will be in Salt Lake City for two book signings on Nov. 26.

Seymour talked in depth about her admiration for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

"I think it's just a remarkable organization," Seymour said. "The fact that everyone there is donating and committing their time and efforts for such a long time is pretty extraordinary and unlike anything I've ever seen before. The quality of their musicianship is exceptional. They really are a choir rather than just a large number of good voices."

At Deseret Book, Seymour will be signing "Good King Wenceslas" along with other products from the 2011 Christmas performance.

"I am very excited to come to Salt Lake," she said. "'Good King Wenceslas' is a fantastic story, and I'm sure people are going to love it. I'm very happy to meet everyone and sign books for them.

"The message of 'Good King Wenceslas' is a powerful one. Regardless of faith, I think it's a beautiful message about bringing joy to those who have less by giving them more. It's a very special story for me."

Included at the beginning of the book is a piece of artwork created by Seymour, along with an added bonus Seymour was not aware of until her last book signing.

"No one told me that they had the artist paint the queen as me," she said. "They took a photograph of me and turned it into an element of surprise, which is pretty cool."

-desert news

Pres. Monson rededicates Boise's LDS temple

In the heart of "Treasure Valley," President Thomas S. Monson rededicated on Sunday morning the Boise Idaho Temple — a structure local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints here consider to be a priceless treasure.

 

The temple, originally dedicated in 1984, closed 15 months ago for extensive renovation.

The evening before the rededication, President Monson told a group of 9,200 young people, gathered for the youth cultural celebration, that the temple "shines as a beacon of righteousness to all who will follow its light."

"We treasure that light, and we thank our Heavenly Father for the blessings this temple and all temples bring into our lives," he said.

President Monson — accompanied by Elder David A. Bednar of the Church's Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Craig C. Christensen of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder William R. Walker of the Seventy and executive director of the temple department — then praised the young people for their goodness, asked them to never forget the feeling of standing together with other Latter-day Saints, and left them with a special blessing.

"My young brothers and sisters, I pronounce a blessing upon you tonight, that you may feel the love which we have for you," he said. "May you know, also, that our Heavenly Father loves you. I bless you that you will ever have a desire to serve Him and His son Jesus Christ. I bless you that you will always walk in truth and treasure the light of the temple."

The program highlighted the many things Church members in the Boise Idaho Temple district treasure: the light of faith, heritage, industry, families, youth, liberty, service and the gospel. In a grand finale, as they sang "True to the Faith" and "Carry On," the youth then celebrated the greatest light in their lives — the light of Christ.

On Sunday, Elder Bednar said there was enough energy during the program "to power every home in the United States for six months."

The production was less about dancing and more about preparing for the temple, said Gary Walker, Youth Cultural Celebration sub-committee chairman.

Walker said substantially more youth participated in the event than expected. Because of the large number, the youth filled the Taco Bell Arena on the campus of Boise State University and their families and others gathered in remote locations to watch the program, which was broadcast to stake centers throughout the temple district.

-desert news

President Jonathan’s younger brother dies

The younger half brother of president Goodluck Jonathan has died today. Meni Jonathan died today November 20th (the president’s birthday) at the State House clinic in Abuja.
Meni, who was said to be in his late 40s, was flown in from Bayelsa last week to receive treatment at the Aso Rock Clinic for an undisclosed ailment he had been battling with for a few months now.
 
Mena, until his death was the chairman traditional council of chiefs in Otuoke community of Bayelsa State.May his soul rest in the bosom of the LORD…amen.

Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez Ends Relationship

It was rumored initially that their relationship was about to end, Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez have finally broken up officially.
 
According to the source who broke the news to E! News, they ended the relationship “because of their crazy schedules, it was getting harder and harder to maintain a relationship.”
The rumors had been appearing for a while, especially after the duo stopped getting seen together in public. Justin was absent at Selena’s Halloween party with her friends, and he was also alone at the Victoria Secret Show on November 7.

11 year old saved 5 year old sister from Pit Bull dog attack

11 year old boy Maleik Carr was on his way to the bus with his 5 year old  sister Jalia Carr when one of the next door neighbors Pit Bull dog came through the fence barking, growling, and snapping at Jalia. At that point Maleik realized that the dog was going to bite Jalia if he did not do something so he kicked the dog and drew his attention off of Jalia and on to himself. 

 

At that point the dog turned on him and bit him and then another one of their Pit Bulls joined in. Maleik found one of Jalia's plastic chairs and used it to help fight the dogs off and told Jalia to RUN. He ended up with 18 bites on one leg 5 on the other 1 bite on one hand and 3 on the other. He had emergency surgery this morning and is in a lot of pain at this moment but he did survive the incident.

Tunde Kelani premieres Maami at London Today

The Movie "Maami" UK premiere in London  will hold this afternoon at British Film Institute, Belverde Road South Bank, SE1 8XT at 2pm. Tunde Kelani will also be present for Q&A after the screening.

 

The movie story is centered about a Single parent, MAAMi, and her young son who are desperately poor. Gifted with a living heart, enterprising spirit and brave soul, she is the center of her son’s world, until he longs for the father he has never known – a man with a terrible secret. Set over a two-day period, leading to the 2010 World Cup, MAAMI is an inspiring story of a poor, conscientious single parent’s struggles to raise her only child, Kashimawo who eventually, rises to international stardom in an English football club, Arsenal, and becomes a national hero.
Adapted by Tunde Babalola, from Femi Osofisan’s novel of the same name, this film about love, perseverance and fate unfolds through Kashimawo’s reminiscences of his hardscrabble childhood in the southern Nigerian town, Abeokuta

Kindness of Arizona high school QB Carson Jones and teammates has gone viral

To Carson Jones and his teammates on the Queen Creek High School football team in Arizona, it was no big deal.
 
Still isn't.
They befriended a sophomore girl with special needs in an effort to protect her from bullies.
Even so, few could have predicted how the details of their small kindness would reach the national media, be translated into foreign languages and warm countless hearts. Their actions have certainly made a difference in their school and community.
"These are great kids. They stand for what is great and they try to do the right thing," said Joe Germaine, head football coach at Arizona's Queen Creek High and a former Ohio State and NFL quarterback. "Because of what they have done for this young lady, a lot of attention has come to it, but I don’t think they have let that overshadow the fact that they just tried to do the right thing in the right situation. I think they need to be applauded for what they’ve done."
At the beginning of this school year, a concerned mother, Elizabeth Johnson, asked Jones, the Bulldogs' starting quarterback, to track down the names of some students who were bullying her daughter, Chy Johnson, who suffers from a brain disorder. The bullies were calling her daughter names and throwing trash at her.
Jones, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, started to investigate the matter until a better opportunity presented itself. One day he saw Johnson in the cafeteria and invited her to sit with his group. She accepted. As they visited, Johnson soon felt right at home with "her boys."
"It (confronting the bullies) probably would have created more problems than it would have solved," Jones said. "(Inviting her over) wasn't something I put a lot of thought into. It just worked out. She is always laughing and fun to be with. Now everybody knows Chy. They probably wouldn’t know her as well if this didn’t happen."
As their friendship deepened, Jones and his teammates took turns walking Johnson to class and looking out for her in the halls. No thought was paid to how it might affect their "social status."
In turn, Johnson, a much happier person, became the team's biggest fan. When Queen Creek played on Friday nights, Johnson proudly displayed her school colors and waved signs in the bleachers.
With her daughter's spirit renewed, Elizabeth Johnson was overwhelmed with gratitude for the team's thoughtfulness.

- Desert News

Puerto Ricans opt for statehood in referendum

A slim majority of Puerto Ricans sought to change their ties with the United States and become the 51st U.S. state in a non-binding referendum that would require final approval from Congress.
 

The two-part referendum asked whether the island wanted to change its 114-year relationship with the United States. Nearly 54 percent, or 922,374 people, sought to change it, while 46 percent, or 786,749 people, favored the status quo. Ninety-six percent of 1,643 precincts were reporting as of early Wednesday.

The second question asked voters to choose from three options, with statehood by far the favorite, garnering 61 percent. Sovereign free association, which would have allowed for more autonomy, received 33 percent, while independence got 5 percent.

President Barack Obama earlier expressed support for the referendum and pledged to respect the will of the people in the event of a clear majority.

It is unclear whether U.S. Congress will debate the referendum results or if Obama will consider the results to be a clear enough majority.

Puerto Rico's resident commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, who has championed statehood, did not return calls for comment. He received 48 percent or 874,914 votes, while his opponent, Rafael Cox Alomar, received 47 percent or 855,732 votes with 96 percent of precincts reporting.

The island is currently a U.S. territory whose inhabitants are U.S. citizens but are prohibited from voting in presidential elections. Its resident commissioner in the U.S. House also has limited voting powers.

The future of the island's political status, however, also is dependent on who governs the island.

According to partial election results, pro-statehood Gov. Luis Fortuno was ousted by a razor thin margin by an opponent who supports the island's current political status.

With 96 percent of precincts reporting, challenger Alejandro Garcia Padilla with the Popular Democratic Party received 48 percent or 870,005 votes. Fortuno, a Republican and leader of the New Progressive Party, received 47 percent or 855,325 votes.

Fortuno has not issued comment, while Garcia celebrated what he called a victory.

"I can assure you we have rescued Puerto Rico," Garcia said. "This is a lesson to those who think that the well-being of Puerto Ricans should be subjected to ideologies."

Election results also pointed to a major upset for Jorge Santini, who has been mayor of the capital of San Juan for 12 years. His opponent, Carmen Yulin Cruz, received 71,736 votes compared with Santini's 66,945 votes with 96 percent of precincts reporting.

The island's elections commission said it would resume counting votes late Wednesday morning.

- yahoo news

Bells on Temple Square to Present “Winter Festival of Sound”

Date:16 November 2012

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

In addition to its unique sound, the Bells on Temple Square produces a visual treat through its precise movements and exact timing.

Audiences will thrill to the visually fascinating Bells on Temple Square during its annual winter concert on Friday, November 16, 2012, in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. The concert, titled Winter Festival of Sound, will feature wintry holiday hymns and American folk songs.
“Think of all of the happy thoughts associated with the ringing of a bell—the announcement of the arrival of a friend ringing your doorbell, the holy ringing of church bells, the tinkling of sleigh bells,” conductor LeAnna Willmore said. “Winter Festival of Sound is a celebration of this most cheerful sound and the feelings associated with it.”
The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Free tickets are available beginning Tuesday, October 23, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. with a limit of four per person. Tickets can be obtained online at www.lds.org/events, over the phone at 801-570-0080, or from the Conference Center ticket office.
Audiences will find watching the 28-member, all-volunteer bell choir just as fascinating as listening to it, as the musicians’ arms move in fluid precision and exact timing. The evening will also include performances by Temple Square organists Bonnie Goodliffe and Linda Margetts and instrumental ensembles composed of members of the Orchestra at Temple Square.
“Our concert is always early in the holiday music season,” pointed out associate conductor Larry Smith, who will join Willmore in conducting portions of the concert. “For many families this is becoming a traditional way of beginning their year-end celebrations.”
Winter Festival of Sound will open with “Festa,” an introductory processional musical setting, followed by a selection of American folk hymns, including “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and “Simple Gifts.” The music will transition to a fast and exciting rhythmic section of the program, which will feature marimba in addition to the bell ensemble. The final portion of the concert will feature Christmas music, including such holiday favorites as “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “It Came upon the Midnight Clear,” and “Jingle Bells.” The program will conclude with “Bell Carol Fantasy.”

-church news and events

Guest artists announced for Mormon Tabernacle Choir for Annual Christmas Concert

Tony Award-winning tenor Alfie Boe and Peabody Award-winning news journalist Tom Brokaw will be the featured guest artists at this year’s Christmas concerts by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square on Dec. 13, 14 and 15 in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. The guest artists will also join the Choir and Orchestra for the weekly Music and the Spoken Word broadcast and a mini-concert on Sunday, Dec.

IRI

Tom Brokaw

“We are honored to have these two special guests collaborate with us in our Christmas celebration,” said Ron Jarrett, president of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in making the announcement Thursday morning, Oct. 11. “Alfie Boe is a fantastic artist, and we are thrilled to host a performer of his caliber. The narration delivered by Tom Brokaw with his iconic and powerful voice will perfectly complement the musical performances. Audiences are in for incredible performances of story and song.”

IRI

Alfie Boe

Today’s carefully guarded announcement was eagerly anticipated by thousands in the community who have attended the traditional Christmas concerts for over a decade. The free performances are arguably the hottest tickets in town during the Christmas season, and this year will be no exception. “The peace and joy the Choir and Orchestra bring to audiences is our gift at this time of year when the world stops to commemorate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” Jarrett said.
The Grammy Award-winning, all volunteer Mormon Tabernacle Choir is made up of 360 men and women who join their talents to create their trademark, instantly recognizable sound. That world-famous sound is under the direction of music director Mack Wilberg and associate music director Ryan Murphy. The Choir has appeared at 13 world's fairs and expositions, performed at six U.S. presidential inaugurals and sung for numerous worldwide telecasts and special events — all this while broadcasting Music and the Spoken Word, the oldest continuous nationwide network broadcast in America, for over 80 years.
Alfie Boe is perhaps best known to American audiences for his performance as Jean Valjean at the Les Misérables 25th anniversary concerts in London’s O2 Arena that were broadcast over PBS television. He is a celebrated British tenor who has years of formal opera training at such storied British institutions as The Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio. His talents landed him on Broadway, where he was the lead in a new staging of La Bohème, for which he won a Tony. He has toured extensively throughout the United States with a 17-city U.S. tour taking place this month. He has released a number of top-selling CDs, the latest being Alfie, a collection of timeless pop songs and musical theater favorites. Boe has been honored with such prestigious prizes as the Clonter Opera Prize, the John Christie Award, the Silver Clef for Classical Music, and the Tony Award for excellence in Broadway Theater.
One of the most popular news personalities in the United States, Tom Brokaw is perhaps best known for being the face and voice of NBC Nightly News, which he anchored for more than two decades. In fact, Brokaw has spent his entire distinguished journalism career with NBC News, beginning in 1966 in Los Angeles with KNBC TV. From there, he went to Washington as the White House correspondent and then to the Today Show, followed by his appointment as anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. Mr. Brokaw is no stranger to Salt Lake City or the Choir, having been here in 2002 for the Olympics and again in 2011 to record 9/11: Rising Above, a Music and the Spoken Word special broadcast commemorating the 10th anniversary of the events of September 11, 2001. (It was very soon after that successful collaboration that the Choir extended the invitation to Mr. Brokaw to return for the 2012 Christmas concerts.) In 1998, Mr. Brokaw published his first book, The Greatest Generation. His dedication to the field of journalism has earned him every major honor in his field, including the Peabody and several Dupont and Emmy Awards, as well as lifetime achievement recognitions.
Dates and Location
Thursday, Dec. 13 2012, at 8 p.m. (dress rehearsal)
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14 and 15, at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 16 at 9:30 a.m. Music and the Spoken Word broadcast plus mini-concert
Conference Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Tickets
Free tickets for these concerts and the Music and the Spoken Word broadcast are required. Because of very high demand for tickets to this event, tickets are distributed through a random selection process.
Those interested may register on the Internet at www.lds.org/events for the opportunity to receive tickets from Saturday, Oct. 13, at 12:01 a.m. through Monday, Oct. 22, at 11:59 p.m. Those without Internet access may register over the phone at 801-570-0080 (local) or at 1-866-537-8457. All registrations received during those two weeks will have equal chances at receiving tickets in the random selection process.
Not all registrations will be selected to receive tickets, and only one registration per household can be accepted. The maximum number of tickets that a household may request is four. Tickets will be mailed to those selected shortly after the registration process closes. Patrons not selected to receive tickets will be notified by email.
Standby tickets for those without tickets will not be issued. However, patrons are invited to stand by for last-minute seating each evening and on Sunday morning for the Music and the Spoken Word broadcast. The standby line will form at the north gate on Temple Square. Overflow seating will be available in the Tabernacle and the Assembly Hall.
The doors of the Conference Center will open at 6:30 p.m. for the evening performances and at 8 a.m. for the broadcast on Dec. 16 . The length of the evening performance will be approximately 90 minutes. The broadcast and mini-concert on Sunday should last roughly an hour. Seating is limited to those 8 years of age and older. Given the increase in traffic due to other scheduled downtown holiday events, guests are asked to allow extra time for travel and parking in order to be seated 30 minutes before the performance begins.

- church news(desert news)

Shopping mall collapses in Ghana, 3 confirmed Dead others trapped

A six-storey shopping mall collapsed in the Ghanaian capital Accra on Wednesday, with at least three people so far confirmed dead and dozens of victims feared trapped, sparking desperate rescues.
Police said around 50 employees were reported to be in the building before the collapse on Wednesday morning. It was not immediately clear if customers were also inside, with one worker saying the mall had yet to open.

People look at the scene where a six-storey shopping centre collapsed on November 7, 2012 in Accra, killing at least three people and trapping dozens of others. Police said around 50 employees were reported to be in the building before the collapse early on November 7. It was not immediately clear if customers were also inside, with one worker saying the mall had yet to open. AFP PHOTO

President John Dramani Mahama suspended his campaign ahead of December 7 elections and offered prayers for those trapped. Thousands thronged the site, including family members in search of relatives.
“My son, my son, my son! My son is going to die! Get him for me! He is my only son!” one woman could be heard screaming.
Assistant Police Superintendent Freeman Tettey told journalists that three people had so far been confirmed dead and six rescued, as workers rushed to find those buried with the west African heat bearing down.
“According to information that I gathered when I got here, about 50 employees were in the building before it collapsed,” Tettey said.
Family members could be seen at the site attempting to call relatives who may be trapped, while scores of rescue workers at the scene sought to clear debris and get oxygen masks to victims.
A man who saw his brother being put in an ambulance on a stretcher yelled out in agony: “He can’t move! He can’t move!”
The cause of the collapse of the Melcom shopping mall in the centre of the capital was not immediately clear. Workers from a nearby construction site were urgently called over to help dig through the rubble.
“They said, ‘please bring equipment’,” said one of the construction workers, Camille Moukarzel.
Stephen Ansah, a Melcom employee from another branch, said he had spoken with someone buried who had said he needed water.
“They are suffering,” he said. “The heat is too much.”
President Mahama issued a brief statement on his Twitter account about the disaster, saying: “My prayers are with the workers, shoppers and others who are trapped in the rubble of the collapsed Achimota Melcom building.”
Another tweet from his account said he was suspending his campaign ahead of the presidential and parliamentary polls next month because of the disaster.
“President John Mahama suspends his campaign tour of the Northern Region in the wake of the Achimota Melcom disaster,” it said.
Police rushed to the scene and were still seeking to confirm details while soldiers worked to help maintain order.
“They are still working to get to the root of the building,” Assistant Superintendent Juliana Obeng told AFP. “Meanwhile we have sent ambulances to the scene.”
Witness Ama Okyere told AFP: “I was very close to the mall because I was going to buy something, only for me to see the building coming down.
“I had to run for my life. I was so terrified. I believe there are lots of people trapped under this because this is a heavily patronised shopping mall in the area.”
Another witness said he heard a bang followed by the building falling in.
“I was on my way to school and all of a sudden heard a big bang and people shouting, only for me to see that the shopping mall has collapsed,” said John Owusu.
The Melcom Group of Companies, based in Ghana, includes extensive retail outlets, according to its website.
Ghana — a country of some 20 million people and a major producer of gold and cocoa which began significant oil production in 2010 — is viewed as a success story in often turbulent west Africa and a rare example of a relatively stable democracy in the region.

- vanguard

The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congratulate President Obama

 

The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement today:

We congratulate President Obama on winning a second term as President of the United States.

After a long campaign, this is now a time for Americans to come together. It is a long tradition among Latter-day Saints to pray for our national leaders in our personal prayers and in our congregations. We invite Americans everywhere, whatever their political persuasion, to pray for the President, for his administration and the new Congress as they lead us through difficult and turbulent times. May our national leaders reflect the best in wisdom and judgment as they fulfill the great trust afforded to them by the American people.

We also commend Governor Romney for engaging at the highest level of our democratic process which, by its nature, demands so much of those who offer themselves for public service. We wish him and his family every success in their future endeavors.

 - mormon newsroom

“Light of the Nations”: LDS Cultural Program Highlights Diversity

By Jason Swensen, Church News staff writer
Dancers participate in the final dress rehearsal for the LDS program “Luz de las Naciones” (Light of the Nations) at the LDS Conference Center.
Fili Sagapolutele is a busy man—a local attorney with a heavy caseload and plenty of professional and family obligations.
But when the Lehi resident was asked earlier this year to help choreograph the Samoan and Hawaiian dances for this weekend's Church cultural program, he eagerly accepted.
“It's been a big time commitment—but what better way to serve than to share your talents?” he said.
Brother Sagapolutele is just one of about 1,500 Utahns who were involved in the production of “Luz de las Naciones: Sus Promesas” (in English “Light of the Nations: Your Promises”). It's a colorful, festive program of song and dance that was staged Friday and Saturday night, October 26 and 27, in the Conference Center.
The cast included hundreds of volunteers from across the state performing songs, dances, and instrumental numbers from a variety of Latino and Polynesian cultures and traditions. The program was presented in Spanish, with a limited number of headphones available for those who wanted to listen in English or Portuguese.
The Church staged similar cultural programs in 2004 and 2006.
“Ours is truly an international Church,” said Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy. “Our members can be found in nearly every nation and represent many diverse cultures and backgrounds. Here in Utah, the Church recognizes and appreciates the great diversity found in the community.”
“Luz de las Naciones,” he added, reflects the Church's vast global family.
“While the program is produced locally by hundreds of volunteers, we hope its impact will stretch far beyond the boundaries of Utah through subsequent distribution and broadcast,” Elder Clayton said. “Our support of the event is another example of the Church's international outreach and inclusivity.”
The program recounted the varied traditions of a great white god that are prolific among the native inhabitants of North and South America and the Pacific Islands. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the prophesied return of Jesus Christ were also highlighted.
Cast members said they hoped audiences would respond to the program's inclusive message.
“This will be a wonderful event to help bring communities together,” said cast member Annya Becerra, an Orem resident and a native of Mexico.
The program was recorded for future international broadcasts via BYUtv International.
Prior to the event, visitors had the opportunity to view a Conference Center exhibit featuring the works of Latin American and Polynesian artists, as well as photographs of the first Spanish-speaking LDS unit in Utah.
- LDS NEWS

Mormon Missionaries Help With Storm Cleanup Effort

Local missionaries and leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spent Wednesday giving aid to communities affected by Hurricane Sandy. Local Church leaders dispatched hundreds of missionaries, including more than 500 in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to storm-damaged neighborhoods to help residents.

 Mormon missionaries from the New York New York South Mission clean up in a Valley Stream, New York neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy Wednesday, 31 October 2012


Mormon missionaries in the New Jersey Morristown Mission helped clear their neighbors’ yards of trees and debris.
“We’re just trying to find out where need is, and trying to assist in any way,” said Sister Liz Dicou, a New Jersey missionary from Sandy, Utah.
Missionaries in the New York area helped to bail out flooded homes, remove trees from roofs and clear yards in the mission area, which includes Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island. They first aided those with special needs, including elderly residents and those who needed access to power for medical devices.
Kevin E. Calderwood, president of the New York New York South Mission, said as missionaries and Church members went into communities to help, it quickly became a collaborative effort with neighbors wanting to work side by side to clear trees and debris.
President Calderwood said that the damage in the area is difficult to see. “Some homes are completely leveled, and people have lost everything,” he said. “You go from house to house, and people are really desperate at the moment.”
Elder Swede Storey, a missionary from Ogden, Utah, said it is hard to see people he’s come to love in such a difficult situation, but he’s grateful to be able to help. “I’ve grown to love this city so much, so it’s been tough to see the areas where I’ve served damaged and the families I know with so much damage.”
Elder Josh Munday, from Kent, England, another missionary in New York, was also thankful to be able to serve others during the disaster. “This is the calling of our Church, to help those who are in need,” he said. “It’s been so sad to see everyone with such hardships in their lives right now. We’ll be praying for the others who are in need.”
President Calderwood said missionaries will continue to provide whatever help they can in the coming days and weeks. “There’s more work here to do than anyone has capacity to do, but we’ll just take it one house at a time,” he said.
Missionaries, Church members and other volunteers will spend the next few days out in neighborhoods, helping meet immediate needs and assessing damage, then will make plans to return to help with larger, long-term projects. Some damage assessment and work must wait until roads are safe, downed power lines are cleared and flooded areas open up. As soon as first responders determine it is safe, local Church leaders will work with government and relief agencies to help organize assistance in those areas.
Relief efforts are being coordinated on both a local and regional level. Church leader Elder Jeffery E. Olson is helping coordinate efforts by Church members in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and said local leaders are eager to organize all the assistance they can. “Everyone expressed a willingness to go where they needed to go and help anyone who needed help,” he said. “In fact, they were willing to come from as far away as Buffalo if we needed them.”
The Church has equipment and supplies that are being distributed as needs are determined. The Church has pre-positioned supplies in warehouses in Indianapolis, Washington, D.C., New York and New Jersey. Those supplies include generators, food, water, blankets, hygiene kits, tarps, chain saws, shovels and wheelbarrows.
Elder Olson said Church members in the area were fairly well prepared for the storm and have been able to reach out to those who need help. “We’ve been teaching our members to be at a level of preparedness so that they are also able to help their neighbors and community recover after a disaster,” he said.
The missionaries used Church members’ homes as a starting point in their effort to help, then spread out in each neighborhood. As soon as members have ensured their own homes and families are safe, many of them will join the missionaries’ relief efforts.
- mormon newsroom

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf receives national German award

Praised as a great community leader and aviator, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany during a short ceremony at the LDS Church's headquarters in Salt Lake City on Oct. 30.

German Consul General Dr. Bernd Fischer, left, and President Uchtdorf pose following the presentation of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. 

The Order of Merit is the highest tribute that the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to individuals for service to the nation, recognizing exceptional charitable work as well as accomplishments in various other types of social, political and scientific endeavors.
German Consul General Dr. Bernd Fischer lauded President Uchtdorf for his lifetime of service and leadership, including his present work as the second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"For his service in the field of aviation and his selfless service to his worldwide community, it would be sufficient to qualify him for this special award," said Dr. Fischer. "But together, his service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his community service, and his service and leadership in the field of aviation, we are three-times pleased to present this award to President Uchtdorf."
In addition, "he has always shown the flag of Germany to the world," Dr. Fischer said to a gathering that included President Thomas S. Monson and President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency; Sister Harriet Uchtdorf and other members of President Uchtdorfs family; Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert and his wife, Jeanette; and German consular officials.
"Everywhere he goes, he is known as 'The German among us,' as he spreads good will and comfort to millions across the world. He is a marvelous ambassador of good will and hope to those with whom he speaks."
A former fighter pilot in the German Air Force, President Uchtdorf also served the church as a stake president in both the Frankfurt Germany Stake and the Mannheim Germany Stake. For 26 years President Uchtdorf was an airline captain for Lufthansa German Airlines. At the time of his call as a general authority, he was the senior vice president of flight operations and chief pilot for Lufthansa. He and his wife, Harriet, raised their two children in Germany.
President Uchtdorf said he was humbled to receive the "unexpected distinction."

- desert news