Utah & U.S. Religion News

Mary Ellen Edmunds, Latter-day Saint author and BYU Women's Conference pillar, dies at 86

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What it takes to translate 'The Chosen' for a world that listens more than it reads

What it takes to translate 'The Chosen' for a world that listens more than it reads

Margaret Darby, Deseret News  |  Posted June 1 - 8:08 a.m.  |  Save Story

AI is helping propel "The Chosen " toward an ambitious goal: translating the series into hundreds of languages, many of which have long been overlooked by mainstream media.
Church of Jesus Christ delivers massive food donation to Tooele for America's 250th birthday

Church of Jesus Christ delivers massive food donation to Tooele for America's 250th birthday

Tamara Vaifanua, KSL  |  Posted May 28 - 7:11 p.m.  |  Save Story

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is marking America's 250th birthday with acts of service, such as donating roughly 20 tons of food to all 50 states.
New humanitarian center gives opportunities for local immigrants, while helping worldwide

New humanitarian center gives opportunities for local immigrants, while helping worldwide

Emily Ashcraft, KSL  |  Posted May 27 - 7:11 p.m.  |  Save Story

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is opening a new Humanitarian Center that provides jobs and classes to people in need, in addition to sending resources globally.
Muslim pilgrims perform Hajj rituals under intense heat as Eid al-Adha celebrations start

Muslim pilgrims perform Hajj rituals under intense heat as Eid al-Adha celebrations start

Baraa Anwer and Mariam Fam, Associated Press  |  Posted May 27 - 6:34 p.m.  |  Save Story

Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia threw pebbles at a large pillar in a symbolic ritual during the final days of Hajj. This act is seen as a symbolic stoning of the devil.
How does AI feel about faith? BYU-led research team finds major language models ignore religion

How does AI feel about faith? BYU-led research team finds major language models ignore religion

Logan Stefanich, KSL  |  Posted May 27 - 5:03 p.m.  |  Save Story

Research from a new Brigham Young University-led consortium found that large and widely known AI models have significant biases and gaps when it comes to faith and religion.
Muslims begin the annual Hajj in sweltering heat against a backdrop of war concerns

Muslims begin the annual Hajj in sweltering heat against a backdrop of war concerns

Baraa Anwer and Mariam Fam, Associated Press  |  Updated May 26 - 12:45 p.m.  |  Save Story

The annual Islamic Hajj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, began Monday in sweltering temperatures against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war.
Pope calls for robust regulation of AI in manifesto that ponders the future of humanity

Pope calls for robust regulation of AI in manifesto that ponders the future of humanity

Nicole Winfield, Kaitlyn Huamani and Paolo Santalucia, Associated Press  |  Updated May 26 - 7:15 a.m.  |  Save Story

Pope Leo XIV called Monday for robust regulation of artificial intelligence and for its developers to work for the common good rather than profit, issuing a sweeping manifesto on safeguarding humankind as the technology impacts everything from work to war.
Church of Jesus Christ makes $25M donation to UNICEF to support children's nutrition

Church of Jesus Christ makes $25M donation to UNICEF to support children's nutrition

Emily Ashcraft, KSL  |  Posted May 20 - 12:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a $25M donation to help children and mothers with nutrition around the world, which will be matched by the Bezos family.
Utah imam raises concerns about Islamophobia after deadly San Diego shooting

Utah imam raises concerns about Islamophobia after deadly San Diego shooting

Andrew Adams, KSL  |  Posted May 19 - 6:01 p.m.  |  Save Story

A Utah imam said a deadly shooting at a San Diego mosque Monday was not shocking news as he raised concerns about rising Islamophobia in the U.S.
'Anti-Islamic writings' found in car of California mosque shooting suspects, official says

'Anti-Islamic writings' found in car of California mosque shooting suspects, official says

Jana Winter, Helen Coster and Matt Silverstein, Reuters  |  Updated May 19 - 4:14 p.m.  |  Save Story

"Anti-Islamic writings" were found in a vehicle connected to the two ​teenage suspects in Monday's shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego that killed three people.
Idaho governor on track to win primary as opponent scrambles to respond to Latter-day Saint voters

Idaho governor on track to win primary as opponent scrambles to respond to Latter-day Saint voters

Brigham Tomco, Deseret News  |  Posted May 19 - 1:45 p.m.  |  Save Story

Idaho Gov. Brad Little will compete in a primary election against a critic who has drawn backlash over past comments regarding members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
New video highlights church's MTC experience as Temple Square Visitors' Center opens

New video highlights church's MTC experience as Temple Square Visitors' Center opens

Emily Ashcraft, KSL  |  Posted May 18 - 5:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a new video highlighting the Missionary Training Center in Provo as it prepares to open 55 new missions.
Teenage gunmen open fire on San Diego mosque, killing 3 men and then themselves

Teenage gunmen open fire on San Diego mosque, killing 3 men and then themselves

Julie Watson, Associated Press  |  Updated May 18 - 4:52 p.m.  |  Save Story

Police say a shooting at a San Diego mosque has killed three men and both shooters are dead. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said the shooters were believed to be teens.
Historic Salt Lake City church celebrates 120th anniversary

Historic Salt Lake City church celebrates 120th anniversary

Caitlin Keith, Deseret News  |  Posted May 18 - 3:30 p.m.  |  Save Story

One of Salt Lake City's historical churches celebrated a major milestone this weekend.
US-Mexico border wall construction is desecrating sacred sites, Indigenous leaders say

US-Mexico border wall construction is desecrating sacred sites, Indigenous leaders say

Julie Watson and Morgan Lee, Associated Press  |  Updated May 18 - 7:30 a.m.  |  Save Story

Indigenous leaders say that in the Trump administration's rush to build border walls, contractors are desecrating Native American sacred places and cultural sites at an unprecedented pace.
Church of Jesus Christ announces new temple to be built in Ecuador

Church of Jesus Christ announces new temple to be built in Ecuador

Emily Ashcraft, KSL  |  Posted May 15 - 11:33 a.m.  |  Save Story

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Thursday it is building its 385th temple in Otavalo, Ecuador.
Hindu statesman to lead invocations at 3 Utah meetings as part of effort to foster understanding

Hindu statesman to lead invocations at 3 Utah meetings as part of effort to foster understanding

Tim Vandenack, KSL  |  Posted May 12 - 7:15 a.m.  |  Save Story

Hindu religious leader Rajan Zed is to handle the invocations at three public meetings in Utah this week as part of his efforts to foster religious understanding.
Executive director of church missionary department dies of traumatic brain injury

Executive director of church missionary department dies of traumatic brain injury

Curtis Booker and Emily Ashcraft, KSL  |  Posted May 11 - 3:47 p.m.  |  Save Story

Elder W. Mark Bassett, a general authority seventy, died on Monday, according to church officials.
Guests joining Tabernacle Choir in California benefit concert to include Donny Osmond

Guests joining Tabernacle Choir in California benefit concert to include Donny Osmond

Emily Ashcraft, KSL  |  Posted May 11 - 12:19 p.m.  |  Save Story

Guest artists who will join the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square at the "Songs of Hope Benefit Concert" in California include Donny Osmond.