Asia Area

'Days of truth' held

NAGOYA, JAPAN - Missionaries and Church members in the two stakes and two districts of the Japan Nagoya Mission have grown spiritually following the completion of a recent Book of Mormon reading program called, "10 Days of Truth," said mission Pres. David Broadhead. About 150 missionaries and 85 members read the entire book in the allotted 10 days. Another 15 members completed it in 20 days.

Pacific Area

Scouters to be honored

IPSWICH, AUSTRALIA - The Church's efforts in Scouting in Australia are being noticed. Queensland's governor, Sir Walter Campbell, will soon present the Medal of Merit to two Ipswich stake members. Alvin J. Holzworth and Ian C. Waters. Both are active in Church and Scouting. Waters, a former bishop and high councilor, is Scouting's assistant branch commissioner for leader training, and a member of the Australian national training team.

Mexico/Central America Area

Washing traded for books

TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS - A creative way for local members to become involved in missionary work has been developed in the Honduras Tegucigalpa Mission. Members volunteer to wash clothes for the missionaries, and the payment they would receive goes instead toward purchasing copies of the Book of Mormon for missionary work. Mission Pres. Manuel Najera estimates that this program alone will make 30,000 additional copies of the Book of Mormon available for placement during the year.

South America North Area

Wuechua session conducted

LIMA, PERU - the first-ever temple session in the Quechua language, the ancient language of the Incas, was conducted here Feb. 24. Temple Pres. Glen V. Holley reported that five Quechua-speaking members had the Spanish-language presentation translated for them simultaneously by bilingual temple workers. "I think everything was well understood," said Pres. Holley. "I saw tears streaming down their cheeks after the session was over." Quechua is the sole language spoken by more than 2 million Peruvians, most living in the Andean mountain highlands.

Brazil Area

A trip to the temple

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - A group of about 50 members traveled more than 1,300 miles from Maceio, Brazil, to the Sao Paulo Temple March 8, reported temple Pres. Wayne M. Beck. He said the group included seven couples and 31 children. Considering the size of the group and how far they came to receive their temple blessings, they made a significant accomplishment, said Pres. Beck.

South America South Area

400 young singles gather

LA SERENA, CHILE - More than 400 Young Single Adults from Santiago, Valparaiso, Vina del Mar and other Chilean cities met recently in this city, 250 miles north of Santiago, for a six-day conference. Among other activities, participants discussed setting higher spiritual goals, said Corina Bolivar of the Chile public communications department. Area president Elder Waldo P. Call of the First Quorum of the Seventy encouraged those attending to achieve spiritual self-sufficiency through activity in the Church. Participants enjoyed a music festival and folk dances with a colonial theme. The conference helped the young singles from many area to become acquainted, share testimonies and elevate their goals.

United Kingdom/Ireland/Africa Area

Youths play 'Touchdown'

PRESTON, ENGLAND - More than 100 young people in the Preston England Stake recently participated in "Touchdown!" - a Church-based challenge game that pits youths against youths, and winners against older winners. Bishops serve as game stewards and give the challenges: Answer questions on Church doctrine and general knowledge; complete a certain number of activities to demonstrate physical fitness, etc. After the game was over, the winning team was named. The Union Jack, Britain's flag, was unfurled and the national anthem was played for the winners. "This is an annual event, and is one of the most popular activities among our young people," said Peter J. Trebilcock, stake Young Men president.

Europe Area

LDS reach out to world

PARIS, FRANCE - Members in the Paris France Stake have been helping the less fortunate in other nations. At stake conference last year, stake Pres. Dominique Pichot spoke of the needs of the sick and undernourished people of the world. Stake members contributed to a special fund for medicine and other supplies, which have been sent to Zaire and Madagascar. One sister goes to India every year and uses money from the fund to help sick and forsaken children in Calcutta.

North America Northeast Area

Youth sacrifice to make trip

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA - For the first time, more than a dozen youths from Newfoundland, a province in the far northeast of Canada, will join the annual temple trip for youth from Nova Scotia to the Washington Temple, a distance of 2,000 miles. Pres. David E. Sorensen of the Canada Halifax Mission said the trip will include a ferry ride of several hundred miles from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Nova Scotia. "These young people are making impressive sacrifices to attend the trip," said Pres. Sorensen.

North America Southeast Area

Forum draws LDS businessmen

ATLANTA, GA. - James O. Mason, head of the Center for Disease Control and a regional representative, recently addressed LDS businessmen in Atlanta. The businessmen meet once a month as part of the LDS Business Forum. "It is an opportunity for LDS professionals to bring non-LDS friends to a meeting that's not Church-related," said Russell Osmond, regional public communications director.

North America Southwest Area

Reading rally held

GLENDALE, ARIZ. - About 1,500 members in the Glendale North and Peoria Arizona stakes met the challenge of their stake presidents to read the Book of Mormon in 1987. More than 1,000 readers from the two stakes recently attended a special celebration at Cactus High School in Glendale. "If it is important for a prophet of God to read the Book of Mormon every day, then it is important for enveryone," said Elder H. Burke Peterson, area president and a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, in his keynote address. President Ezra Taft Benson counsels the General Authorities to read the book daily, he said.

Utah North Area

'Romans versus Christians'

CLEARFIELD, UTAH - The North Davis Area Mutual for the Handicapped, which includes young men and women from 21 stakes, presented its annual musical production here March 10 and 11, and will preseent it again March 17 and 18 at the Promised Valley Playhouse in Salt Lake City. The production, "Do You Hear People Sing?" focuses on the ancient confrontation between the Romans and the Christians. The play was written and directed by Beverly Olsen of Kaysville, Utah.