This Year in Mormons 2022

Melissa and Matt give us their top stories of 2022. January: (Melissa) TONGA VOLCANO https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-60051524 https://www.sltrib.com/news/2022/01/22/church-jesus-christ/ https://www.thechurchnews.com/2022/1/21/23218744/first-presidency-tonga-volcano-letter-update Tonga is a very devout nation, with most Tongans belonging to a Christian church. Statistics from a 2016 census show about 19% belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as the Mormons - the fastest-growing religious group on the island.Jan 21, 2022 Tonga has the highest percentage of Latter-day Saints of any country in the world (nearly 63%) February: (Matt) UKRAINE SAINTS DEAL WITH WARTIME ISSUES https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/lds-missionaries-moved-out-of-ukraine-as-tensions-mount-with-russia-in-eastern-europe https://www.thisweekinmormons.com/2022/02/kyiv-ukraine-temple-closes-following-russian-invasion/ March: (Melissa) TEMPLE MASK REQUIREMENTS REMOVED https://ksltv.com/486974/church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-removes-mask-requirement-in-temples/ https://www.deseret.com/faith/2022/3/15/22979821/latter-day-saint-temples-may-begin-to-remove-face-mask-requirement-other-covid-19-precautions https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2022/03/15/lds-temples-worldwide/ April: (Matt) LDS MEDIA FEATURES… THAT AREN’T REALLY https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2022/4/29/23048558/the-rumor-involving-latter-day-saints-that-producers-of-the-chosen-want-to-squash-mormons-social https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/andrew-garfields-under-the-banner-of-heaven-embroiled-in-controversy-days-ahead-of-the-premiere.html/ May: (Melissa) D.C. TEMPLE REOPENING / OPEN HOUSE https://www.npr.org/2022/05/25/1100850964/mormon-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-temple-open-house https://www.deseret.com/2022/6/5/23144875/mormon-lds-church-washington-d-c-temple-open-house-hits-milestone https://www.thechurchnews.com/2022/8/13/23304018/washington-dc-temple-influence-closure-renovation-open-house-president-nelson-rededicate June: (Matt) IDK??? https://gephardtdaily.com/local/church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-announces-effort-to-reduce-water-use-at-meeting-houses-temples/ https://kslnewsradio.com/1970796/church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-reacts-to-roe-v-wade/ July: (Matt) FSY - FIRST YEAR https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/fsy-spots-open-to-more-graduating-seniors-this-year https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/youth/childrenandyouth/fsy/about/youth?lang=eng FSY BEGINS August: (Melissa) TITHING SETTLEMENT CHANGES https://ksltv.com/502338/church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-makes-changes-to-tithing-settlement/ https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-tithing-declaration Honorable Mention (but has been covered a lot already) https://www.abc4.com/news/religion/church-responds-to-ap-investigation-into-sexual-abuse/ September: (Matt) MISSIONARIES - SERVICE RETURNING TO ‘NEW’ NORMAL https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/area-breakdown-of-churchs-411-missions-worldwide https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/service-missionary/a-custom-experience?lang=eng October: (Melissa) NEW For the Strength of Youth https://www.ldsliving.com/elder-uchtdorf-announces-a-new-guide-for-youth/s/11035 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/for-the-strength-of-youth/01-message?lang=eng https://www.deseret.com/2022/10/1/23381979/10-new-things-to-know-about-the-new-for-the-strength-of-youth#:~:text=New%20chapter%20focuses,and%20Find%20joy%20in%20Christ. November: (Matt) RESPECT for MARRIAGE ACT https://www.deseret.com/2022/11/17/23464767/senate-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-marriage-equality https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/respect-for-marriage-act-statement https://www.ldsliving.