Elder Ronald A. Rasband announced at BYU on Tuesday that the Church now has more than 95,000 missionaries, its third new record in three months. The Church had 78,596 missionaries in 2025, and women missionaries passed 30,000 last month (Deseret News).
"Hurrah for Israel" at BYU. Elder Rasband called the Church's six charter members, ages 20 to 30, "the Gen Z of 1830," then had about 11,964 people in the Marriott Center stand and shout "Hurrah for Israel" three times, as Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball did in 1839 (Deseret News).
A witness at the World Series. Elder Rasband praised Brewers rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt as a witness of Jesus Christ "even playing shortstop for the Milwaukee Brewers." Pratt's father served in Elder Rasband's New York mission in the 1990s (Church News).
President Oaks on family. In a new Church News podcast recorded at his family's every-other-year reunion in Joe's Valley, Utah, President Dallin H. Oaks said, "our Church doctrine is rooted in the concept of family." He has attended the reunion for about 85 years (Church News).
"Rejoice over your heritage of noble men and women who put their lives on the line to do the Lord's will. That mandate is now yours."
— Elder Ronald A. Rasband, BYU devotional, Oct. 27, 2026 (Deseret News)
Oct. 28, 1890: President Wilford Woodruff dedicated the finished Brigham City Tabernacle, on the spot Brigham Young chose atop Sagebrush Hill. A fire gutted it in 1896, and it was rebuilt and rededicated in 1897 (Church Newsroom).
At the Waters of Mormon, Alma invited the people to "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death" (Mosiah 18:9). Elder Rasband said that invitation reaches every member: "we are all witnesses of the Lord in whatever endeavor we are involved in" (Church News).
Reflect: Where is one "place" this week where you can quietly stand as a witness?
Nicaragua's first temple was dedicated by Elder Rasband on Oct. 18 and serves 12 stakes and four districts. Members once traveled to Guatemala, Honduras and even Utah; now, as one said, "All temples are beautiful, but this one is ours" (official temple page, Church News).
"Why does this religion work so well?" Ken LaCorte's new 22-minute video notes that Latter-day Saints are often mocked, yet live longer, healthier and wealthier lives than most people, and asks why (via @KenLaCorte on X).
Ken LaCorte@KenLaCorte
They're one of the most mocked religions around.
But Mormons live longer, healthier, wealthier lives than the rest of us.
Why does this religion that seems so odd ... work so well?
Yesterday's answer: Mark. Mark 10:21 says, "Then Jesus beholding him loved him." Matthew and Luke tell the story without that phrase, and John doesn't include it (Mark 10).
Today’s question: Elder Rasband listed the ages of the six charter members of 1830. Who was the youngest?
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Tap an answer. We will share the correct answer in tomorrow’s issue.
(Answer in tomorrow's issue.)
Who would you invite to the Salt Lake Temple open house next year?
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