The great-great-grandson of Smith, Dan Larsen inherited the locket shortly before his mother's death in 1992. Its finial was bent and he was not able to open it, so he put it away for safekeeping. Read more

Nelson says the "Lord has impressed upon my mind the importance of the name he has revealed for his church."

The full name, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" was given by revelation from God to founder Joseph Smith in 1838, according to the faith's beliefs. Read more

The Mormans are presently planning to build a new visitor centre within a stone's throw of the Vatican. They aim to attract converts to their faith.

The visitor centre will include an approximately 3,700-square-metre temple with two spires, just inside the beltway that encircles Rome.

This will be the centerpiece of the complex that will also include a family history center and lodging for pilgrims.

The temple is made of expensive construction materials and gained worldwide attention earlier this year when a 200-kilogram gold-leaf statue of the Mormon prophet Moroni was put on a spire.

The finance for the complex has come from Mormon Church tithes from around the globe.

Building a temple in Rome is a major sign of growth the 25,000-strong Italian church members are looking forward to, according to one of the congregation.

"Right now Italians go to the temple in Bern (in Switzerland) for baptisms and marriages, and it's quite a trip.

"Building a temple in Rome is a major sign of growth of the church in Italy," the father of four says.

Source

• LMTonline
• Crux
• Image: Mormonnewsroom.com

That constitutes about 60 percent of the populace, independent Mormon demographer Matt Martinich told RNZ. But the number of "active" Latter-day Saints is much lower.

"It's more like about 20% because about two thirds of the members of the church in Tonga don't regularly attend church or they identify with some other religious group even though their names are still on the church records." Continue reading

This comes after a test programme last year which saw 6500 Mormon missionaries in the United States and Japan equipped with the devices.

Mormon leaders say using iPad minis has helped missionaries keep in touch with church leaders and with people who have expressed an interest in their faith.

Scholars say this is the latest example of the Mormon church's gradual embrace of the digital age, and its recognition that door-to-door proselytising is not the most effective way to expand church membership.

The program will extend to all missions in United States, Canada, Japan and western Europe.

The iPad minis are outfitted with several apps that help missionary work, including a gospel app that includes scriptures, manuals, magazines and other teaching materials.

Missionaries who come from developed countries will cover the US$400 cost of an iPad mini, which will remain theirs after their mission period.

Missionaries are encouraged to use Facebook to find new members.

Continue reading