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This story appears here courtesy of TheChurchNews.com. It is not for use by other media.
By Christine Rappleye, Church News
Since the Church Section first rolled off the press on April 4, 1931, its editors, reporters and photographers have covered events involving leaders and members around the world. This is a list of notable events from the pages of the Church News. Please note that this is not all-inclusive.
April 4, 1931: First edition of the Church Section is printed.
April 1936: Formal welfare program is introduced.
October 6, 1939: First Presidency delivers message on world peace.
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The first Church News Almanac was published in 1974. Photo from Church News archives, courtesy of Church News.Copyright 2021 Deseret News Publishing Company.June 5, 1943: Church Section becomes the Church News.
September 1945: Missionary work restarts internationally after World War II.
February 4, 1946: Elder Ezra Taft Benson arrives in Europe.
1947: Church reaches 1 million members.
1952: A Systematic Program for Teaching the Gospel is published.
September 11, 1955: The first temple in Europe, the Swiss Temple, is dedicated.
April 6, 1959: President David O. McKay issues the “Every member a missionary” slogan.
March 1960: Church Correlation starts.
1974: First Church News Almanac is published.
October 3, 1975: First Quorum of the Seventy is organized.
June 9, 1978: Revelation on the priesthood is announced.
April 6, 1980: Church celebrates its 150th anniversary.
October 3, 1981: Church satellite system is installed.
April 1, 1982: Church reaches 5 million members.
January 27, 1985: Churchwide fast is held for Africa.
1995: Church News launches its website.
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President Spencer W. Kimball in first satellite address. Photo by Dell Van Orden and Howard C. Moore, courtesy of Church News.All rights reserved.September 23, 1995: President Gordon B. Hinckley issues “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”
October 4, 1997: Small temple plan is announced.
November 1997: Church reaches 10 million members.
February 2000: The 100 millionth copy of the Book of Mormon is printed.
October 1, 2000: The 100th operating temple is dedicated.
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Dorothy Johnson, far right, of Appleton, Wisconsin, joins in on the Hosanna Shout during the dedication of the Conference Center in the Sunday morning session of the October 2000 general conference. Photo by Laura Seitz, courtesy of Church News.Copyright 2021 Deseret News Publishing Company.October 7-8, 2000: Conference Center is dedicated.
March 31, 2001: Perpetual Education Fund is announced.
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In the days leading up to the dedication of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple June 27-30, 2002, members of the Church News staff and a Deseret News photographer set up shop in the Printing Office of the Times and Seasons. From left: Shaun Stahle, Gerry Avant, R. Scott Lloyd, Jason Swensen and Jeffrey D. Allred. Photo by Elder Jay Price, courtesy of Church News.Copyright 2021 Deseret News Publishing Company.June 27, 2002: Rebuilt Nauvoo Illinois Temple is dedicated.
December 23, 2005: Church observes the 200th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Smith.
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The original Book of Commandments and Revelations, the new facsimile edition of the Joseph Smith Papers, the first edition of the Joseph Smith Papers and a triple combination Friday, September 11, 2009. Photo by Jason Olson, courtesy of Church News.Copyright 2021 Deseret News Publishing Company.November 26, 2008: First volume of the Joseph Smith Papers project is published.
October 2012: Missionary age change is announced.
October 2013: Church reaches 15 million members.
March 20, 2016: The 150th operating temple is dedicated.
February 2017: BYU-Pathway Worldwide is created.
May 9, 2018: Church News publishes its first video on YouTube.
April 2019: Ministering replaces home and visiting teaching.
March 2020: Temples worldwide close due to the COVID-19 pandemic; Church members worship at home.
April 2020: Church observes the 200th anniversary of the First Vision; a proclamation “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ” is announced.
May 2020: The angel Moroni and capstone of the Salt Lake Temple is removed as part of an extensive renovation, and the time capsule in the capstone is opened.
October 20, 2020: Church News launches its podcast.
Copyright 2021 Deseret News Publishing Company