On April 4-5, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held its 196th Annual General Conference.

The two days of general sessions began with a solemn assembly to sustain the new Prophet, President Dallin H. Oaks, and a new First Presidency.

This special conference edition of the Church News podcast, hosted by reporter Mary Richards, features excerpts from each of the conference addresses and covers topics such as Easter and Christ's Resurrection, walking His covenant path and sustaining His called prophet on the earth today.

The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

In 2026, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are studying the Old Testament and reading the words of prophets as they prepared for the first coming of the Messiah.

President Paul V. Johnson, Brother Chad H Webb and Brother Gabriel W. Reid joined the Church News podcast to talk about the Old Testament and how members of the Church can study it more fully this year in life’s different scenarios.

“The Lord says that ‘his mercies [are] according to the conditions of the children of men’ (Doctrine and Covenants 46:15),” President Johnson said. “He dealt with them according to the conditions that they were in. He deals with us according to the conditions we’re in.”

President Johnson and his counselors share this and other observations from their time together as a presidency. They also say they hope members of the Church will better understand the role of counseling together both at church and at home as individuals study the scriptures together.

Since the Israelites' liberation from 400 years of slavery in Egypt, Jews have commemorated the Passover that spared their ancestors from death and marked a new beginning for their people.

Exodus 12 describes the Passover as an ordinance. When the Savior and His disciples participated in the Last Supper, Jesus transitioned parts of the Passover to become the sacrament. In a way, the sacrament ordinance of today is a tie to both the Last Supper and the original Passover.

In this episode of the Church News podcast, Matthew Grey, a professor of ancient scripture and coordinator of Ancient Near Eastern studies at Brigham Young University, speaks with Church News editor Jon Ryan Jensen about the lessons that can be remembered during the Easter season from the Passover and the institution of the sacrament.

Grey shares how the sacrament helps demonstrate hope in the past, present and future, thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Around the world, young adults are finding community, discovering their divine identity and deepening their conversion to Jesus Christ by attending institute classes.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Institutes of Religion, an education program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Institute began in one building in 1926 near the University of Idaho and is now a worldwide program with more than 2,700 locations in more than 170 countries.

Brother Chad H Webb, administrator for Seminaries and Institutes of Religion and the first counselor in the Sunday School general presidency, said young adults can be "part of something historic" in this centennial year. He and Yaw Danso, an associate administrator for Seminaries and Institutes, join Church News reporter Mary Richards on this episode of the Church News podcast.

Although professional basketball player Parker Van Dyke has worn jerseys for the Salt Lake City Stars and Austin Spurs, he sees his first identity as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Parker currently plays for the NBA G League and broadcasts high school games. He’s also played professionally in Europe, after starting for the University of Utah Utes and serving a full-time mission in the Alabama Birmingham Mission.

Through all this, Van Dyke’s advice to others is to be builders — both on a team and in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He joins Church News reporter Mary Richards in the meetinghouse gym where he grew up playing in Salt Lake City.

RootsTech, a three-day global family history event, is scheduled for March 5-7. The gathering will reach a worldwide audience online while also featuring an in-person experience in Salt Lake City.

This year’s theme is "Together," and organizers hope to empower attendees to uncover their family history and make new, meaningful connections. The lineup for 2026 includes Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as other keynote speakers, hundreds of classes and new technologies.

In this episode, Jonathan Wing, director of events for FamilySearch International, joins Church News editor Ryan Jensen to preview RootsTech 2026 and discuss how family history can help individuals and families draw closer to the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Elder Clark G. Gilbert of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Christine Gilbert, have seen the hand of the Lord in their lives as they have strived to live the covenants they made at baptism and in the house of the Lord.

The Gilberts have grown closer as a family and learned how to give and receive the Savior’s relief while fulfilling professional and Church assignments.

As the newest Apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Gilbert knows he is to be a special witness of the name of Christ in all the world (see Doctrine and Covenants 107:23). Just a few days after being called by Church President Dallin H. Oaks, Elder and Sister Gilbert joined Church News reporter Mary Richards to share more about their family, faith and testimonies of Jesus Christ.

President Dallin H. Oaks was set apart as the 18th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Oct. 14, 2025. Since that time, he has carried the holy mantle as the Lord’s Prophet to the world, sharing the invitation to “be optimistic” and to “stay on the covenant path.”

On this episode of the Church News podcast, Church News editor Ryan Jensen shares recorded excerpts from President Oaks’ interview prior to the Jan. 11 dedication of the Burley Idaho Temple and his Feb. 10 devotional at Brigham Young University.

The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.