GLASSELL PARK, Calif. - A brush fire spread to engulf a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California.

Officials said two firefighters were hurt while fighting the flames Tuesday afternoon.

California LDS church fire

A group of more than 100 fire crews worked to keep the flames to the attic of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but the roof collapsed.

According to KTLA, the church had significant damage to the kitchen and most of the classrooms are a total loss.

Authorities said the injured fire crews are in good condition Wednesday.

According to KTLA, the Glassell Park meetinghouse of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has more than 400 members and is 25 years old.

Church staff told the Fire Department no one was inside at the time of the fire.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Family, friends and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said their goodbyes to President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Friday.

Funeral services were held one week after 90-year-old Boyd Kenneth Packer died of natural causes at his home in Salt Lake City. Friday morning, loved ones shared memories of President Packer, and time and time again said they will see him again.

“He lived as he taught, after the pattern of the savior who he served,” said LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson.

For more than 50 years, Packer served as a leader of LDS Church.

“He is an apostle of the lord from the crown of his head to the souls of his feet,” said Elder M. Russell Ballard of the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Thousands of people filled the Tabernacle on Temple Square Friday morning to remember Packer's life and legacy.

"Those of us who had the privilege to know Boyd K. Packer personally were constantly impressed by his sense of humor and quick wit," Ballard said. "Somehow he would have an appropriate and humorous response to almost any situation."

Church leaders shared stories of Packer's love for nature and art, but most of all, they spoke of the love he had for his church and his family.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “Death can be untimely, even tragic, but not in this case. Where there is love, there is sadness at parting. When your hearts are heavy and your loneliness a burden, remember, oh, remember the words of the lord: 'Come unto me that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'”

Church leaders also spoke of Packer's love and admiration for his wife of 68 years, Donna.

“You have always been his beloved, Donna; You and he will be partners throughout eternity,” Monson said.

Oaks said: “Of course it is painful to part from our dear loved one and teacher, but your faith and your lives have prepared you for a separation that we know is only temporary."

Packer leaves behind his wife, 10 children, 60 grandchildren and 111 great-grandchildren.

“Grandpa willingly gave his agency to the lord. He committed to whatever the lord asked him to do,” said Packer’s son, Elder Allan F. Packer of the LDS Church's First Quorum of the Seventy.

“I testify that Boyd K. Packer lives still; all we knew and loved about him continues,” Monson said.

In lieu of flowers, Packer's family has asked contributions be made to the LDS Family History Center. You can view the funeral in its entirety on the LDS Church's website.

LEHI, Utah -- For years, the driving range has been a part of the Thanksgiving Point Golf Course in Lehi, and on its southern edge sits the Thanksgiving Point Village neighborhood.

"We bought into what is called a resort community, and we didn't anticipate having any kind of a monstrosity of buildings there with lots of asphalt," said Bill Conley, a resident in Thanksgiving Point Village.

He's working to rally support to oppose a plan to tear out the existing driving range and put in two office buildings. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bought the land and presented a conceptual plan at the Lehi Planning Commission meeting Thursday night.

"Two, four-story structures here on this property, one for the purpose of lease, one for the purpose of family search," said Steven Roll, a member of the Lehi Planning Commission, regarding the plans that were submitted.

He said it is a permitted use based on the way the land is zoned.

"The planning commission really is required to operate within narrow parameters, and we'll need to approve it unless there is some major problem," Roll said.

Neighbors like Conley do see a major problem on their horizon.

"Biggest concern would be traffic," Conley said. "Having an additional thousands of cars in this area."

The city understands it is no small development and said building the new development will add cars to existing roads. More than 750 parking spaces are included in the conceptual plans.

"I would anticipate that there could be some spot improvements, potentially the bridge, we'd probably want to look at that, that's maybe a narrow spot," said Kim Struthers, the Lehi Community Development Director.

He said the city will likely require a traffic study to identify problem spots. But, because the land is zoned to allow this kind of development, the city is not required to hear any public testimony on the project.

On Thursday night, the architect agreed with the planning commission to table the conceptual plan for 30 days to allow time to meet with neighbors and discuss the plans. It may be the only chance neighbors get to have their voice heard before the project goes from plans to construction.

Officials with the LDS Church told FOX 13 News it was unable to comment on development plans until next week.

Elder Russell M. Nelson was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 7 April 1984. © 2015 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Courtesy mormonnesroom.org

SALT LAKE CITY – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Wednesday Elder Russell M. Nelson has been officially appointed to serve as the President of the LDS Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

President Nelson was set apart (the term for an official appointment within the LDS Church) July 15, and he succeeds President Boyd K. Packer, who died July 3.

The LDS Church has a practice of naming the senior member, based on date of assignment, as the new president of the quorum when the prior president passes.

According to a press release from the LDS Church: “The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the second-highest presiding body in the government of the Church. Its members serve under the direction of the First Presidency, a governing unit of three men — the president and two counselors.

In addition to their primary responsibility to be special witnesses of the name of Christ throughout the world, the apostles have heavy administrative responsibilities as they oversee the orderly progress and development of the global Church.”

LEHI, Utah -- For the first time since plans were announced to plow under the current driving range at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, nearby homeowners got the chance to face the developer, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"It's a very emotional issue for you and you know it's a business issue for us, but it is also emotional because you are us--and we truly understand and believe that," said a representative from the LDS Church's special projects division at Thursday's meeting.

Thursday's open house, he said, is a chance for the LDS Church to listen to feedback.

"They're destroying the area."

That was the feedback given by Jared Asbury, who is serving as an informal spokesman for the Thanksgiving Village neighborhood, which borders the current driving range.

He said the goal is to educate the LDS Church about special requirements for building on the land, citing not just the city of Lehi development code, but also the Thanksgiving Point Area Plan.

He believes the conceptual plan put forth by the LDS Church falls short in terms of parking, landscaping, building design and infrastructure.

"I'm not sure what will happen," an LDS Church representative said. "I tried tonight to put myself in a few of your shoes."

He also told the crowd that the land seems destined for development, and they may want to consider that the LDS Church could be a good neighbor and that if the church cannot meet the development law, the project would not be built.

Those words may be too little too late for some neighbors, who feel like the LDS Church should have sought their feedback sooner.

"It gives us the impression that they are going to listen to us and then do whatever they want anyway," Asbury said.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Just two blocks from the global headquarters of the Mormon faith, the smash-hit musical "Book of Mormon" will open at the Capitol Theatre.

The show has been sold out for months, with many eagerly anticipating a chance to see the production (in "Sal Tlay Ka Siti" as the musical describes it) so close to Temple Square. The award-winning musical, about Mormon missionaries in Africa, will premiere Tuesday night.

A promotional image from the production of "Book of Mormon" (c) Joan Marcus, 2013

But how receptive Utah audiences will be remains to be seen. Some local theatre company performers and managers that FOX 13 spoke with on Monday wondered if the show -- which carries a heavy content warning for its profanity, sexual references and jokes about AIDS, poverty and genital mutilation -- might prompt some walkouts, even among those who should know what they're getting themselves into.

The producers of the show declined to comment in advance of Tuesday's premiere. The "Book of Mormon" is written by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, who also created the cartoon show "South Park."

In an interview with FOX 13's sister station, KDVR, when the show premiered on tour in Denver, Parker said the play still carries a message that resonates with audiences.

"The fact of the matter is, if at the heart of it it didn't have a story about two kids coming of age, and a sweetness and a happiness to it, it would never work as a Broadway musical," he said. "That's what we all want to see. That's what I love about Broadway musicals. I want to see dancing and happy and not some big two hour-long bash on some religion."

A promotional image from "Book of Mormon" (c) Joan Marcus, 2013

In response to questions about the Salt Lake City premiere of the "Book of Mormon" musical, the LDS Church referred FOX 13 to a statement it posted when the show premiered on Broadway.

"The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening, but the Book of Mormon as a volume of scripture will change people's lives forever by bringing them closer to Christ," the statement reads.

An LDS Church spokesman told FOX 13 that, like it did in New York, the church has purchased advertising space in the playbill.

See the ads here:

An ad being placed by the LDS Church in the playbill of the "Book of Mormon" musical showing in Salt Lake City.

An ad being placed by the LDS Church in the playbill of the "Book of Mormon" musical showing in Salt Lake City.

An ad being placed by the LDS Church in the playbill of the "Book of Mormon" musical showing in Salt Lake City.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Crowds poured into the Capitol Theatre to see "The Book of Mormon" in Utah, the first time the smash-hit musical has played here.

On both sides of the stage, people were excited and curious about how it was going to play in the global headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The theatre itself is two blocks away from Temple Square.

"I think it’s about time that we brought it here," said Ian Liberto, a "Book of Mormon" cast member.

Ever since FOX 13 first reported last year the musical was going to be staged in Salt Lake City, anticipation has been high. Tickets for the two week run sold out within hours. On Tuesday, people lined the street outside the Capitol Theatre for a chance to score 20 tickets available in a lottery.

A huge line outside the Capitol Theatre as people try to win tickets to "Book of Mormon" in a lottery drawing.

"I’m so excited to see it opening night here back home!" said Kate Hickam, who won a pair of tickets.

The show about Mormon missionaries in Africa has won nine Tonys and been heaped with critical praise. But the production, which is known for its vulgarity, has also caused some worry for crowds who may not realize exactly what they're getting themselves into (it is written by the creators of "South Park").

In brief comments to FOX 13 as he prepared to walk backstage, Liberto admitted he was both excited and "a little nervous" about performing in Salt Lake City. But he said the themes of the show will likely resonate more with local audiences, noting the great response nationwide.

Ian Liberto, a member of the cast of "Book of Mormon" talks briefly with FOX 13's Ben Winslow outside the Capitol Theatre on Tuesday.

"Because we’re in Salt Lake City, so many of our audience members are familiar with the religion itself. A lot of the humor, and a lot of the touching moments of the show resonate with people more because they have more of an idea of what we’re talking about in the show," Liberto said.

Beyond a statement it issued when the show debuted on Broadway, the LDS Church had no comment. It did purchase a series of ads in the playbill.

As she walked into the theatre, Olivia Custodio said she was excited to finally see "Book of Mormon." A local actress, she stars in another production that satirizes Utah, "Saturday's Voyeur."

"I feel like there’s a good chance some people who are trying to have an open mind and are going to give it a shot, but I don’t know if they’re quite ready for what lies in store. But I am ready. I am so ready," she said. "And I think it’s going to be so amazing! Who would have ever thought it would come here?"

SALT LAKE CITY -- The relationship between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Boy Scouts of America goes back a century, but, soon, it could all be coming to an end.

Following the BSA’s vote to lift its ban on gay leaders, the LDS Church has expressed an interest in leaving the organization and starting a similar group of its own.

“I do believe the impact will be on the youth,” said Drew Reese, a member of Scouts for Equality.

To date, the LDS Church is the largest scouting sponsor in the country, with almost 38,000 units and 437,000 youth members.  That accounts for approximately 18 percent of BSA’s membership, which would mean a significant loss in participation and funding.

However, due to the policy change, BSA may also gain new support.

“It’s a whole new future for the Boy Scouts,” Reese said. “We’re trying to build a better youth, a better generation, and we need all the support we can to do that.”

In 2013, Scouts for Equality petitioned several corporate sponsors of the BSA to drop their funding because of its ban on gay adults. Many companies, such as Intel, Caterpillar and Disney, all pulled their support for BSA.  But now that the policy has changed, Reese hopes they return.

“We invite them to come back; we want them to come back,” he said.

FOX  13 News reached out to several former BSA sponsors, but did not hear back from any of them.

A scout member until the age of 18, Reese believes BSA will see members and supporters who left scouting now make their way back to the group, like him.  He is already in the process of applying for a charter for a new troop, where he will now be allowed to serve as an openly gay leader.

“Having that door open up again is not only a dream come true,” he said, “It’s a blessing.”

PROVO, Utah -- Genealogy is often thought of as something done mostly by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but a professor at Brigham Young University said there are more people doing family history work outside of the LDS Church than from within it.

A conference held recently at BYU is a great place for beginners and experts to work on their family histories.

John Best, program administrator in conferences and workshops at BYU, described the appeal.

“Genealogy allows you to see some of your family heroes and to see who you are and see where you came from,” he said.

The 47th annual conference on family history and genealogy just wrapped up at BYU, and this year's theme was: "strengthening ties that bind families together forever."

About 750 people attended the conference, where they shared their enthusiasm for family history.

"It's exciting for them when they start to connect the dots and find their ancestors, to be able to find who a grandfather or a great-grandfather was and to put the story together, what that person did, and to step in their shoes for a time,” Best said.

The conference featured 150 classes, offering training to everyone from amateur to professional.

The event attracted 62 youth from Canada to Texas and California to Florida, who were camping for a week at BYU to learn about genealogy work.

“And that's exciting to see youth excited about family history," Best said.

Mary Hill was among the presenters at the conference, and she said many people don’t know where to start. She told the story of one woman who thought her family was from France or Germany and arrived with the materials available to her.

"She came to the family history center and brought a stack of old photos,” Hill said. “On the back of one of the photos was the name of a town where the picture was taken.  We went to a map and pinpointed it. We now know exactly in the Alsace-Lorraine area where that family came from."

And the purpose of genealogy is not just to learn about long-lost ancestors.

"Really, more than anything else, you get to learn about you, because the more you learn about your family the more that you learn about what makes you you, the more excited you get to realize that you're an amalgamation of many generations,” Genealogist Barry Ewell said.

For more information about family history and genealogy conferences carried out in conjunction with BYU, click here.  

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released never-before-seen images of the "seer stone" used by Joseph Smith to translate the Book of Mormon from golden plates.

The images of the small, smooth brown and black colored rock were published in a book containing the original printer's manuscript of the Book of Mormon, a central text of the Mormon faith. At a news conference on Tuesday, LDS Church leaders said the pictures of the object would be included as a part of their "Joseph Smith Papers" project, a collection of documents related to the founding of the Mormon faith.

"We wondered, what do you do with a sacred object like this?" Richard Turley Jr., an assistant LDS Church Historian, said in an interview with FOX 13. "On the one hand, we wanted to treat it with sacredness and respect. On the other hand, we wanted to make it publicly available. So we settled on the balance on having a full-color image available."

A picture of the seer stone the LDS Church said was likely used by Joseph Smith to translate the Book of Mormon. The image was published in the latest edition of the "Joseph Smith Papers."

The stone is believed to be one of many items Joseph Smith used when he translated golden plates into the Book of Mormon. The LDS Church has always possessed the object, LDS Church Historian Elder Steven Snow told FOX 13.

The publication of the printer's manuscript of the Book of Mormon is part of a collaboration between the LDS Church and the Missouri-based Community of Christ (formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

"The collaboration is almost 50 years in the making," said Lachlan MacKay, the Director of Historic Sites for Community of Christ.

The two faiths split after the assassination of Joseph Smith in 1844. Community of Christ obtained the original Book of Mormon manuscript in the early 1900s.

"On occasion, it's been made public," said Robin Linkhart, Community of Christ's President of the Seventy. "But very rarely and under heavy guard."

A picture of the printer's manuscript of the Book of Mormon, released by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Linkhart said her faith encourages "open, honest scholarship" of its shared history with the LDS Church. She said this latest edition of the "Joseph Smith Papers" gives people a primary source, as well as information of what went into the translation of the Book of Mormon -- including a transcription of the handwriting and annotated notes with historical context.

"It helps us understand the history surrounding the Book of Mormon, what was going on at the time," Linkhart said in an interview with FOX 13. "I find it incredibly enlightening to follow along those annotations to understand those people that were around Joseph and assisted with this process."

SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Friday the groundbreakings for temples in Tucson, Arizona and Concepción, Chile.

Both groundbreakings are scheduled to be held on October 17 at 10 a.m.  Attendance at the groundbreakings is by invitation only, but the general public is invited to view them via live video at local meetinghouses.

The Tucson temple was first announced at the October 2012 general conference. It will be the church’s sixth temple in Arizona.

The Concepción temple was first announced in the October 2009 general conference. It will be the church’s second temple in Chile.

Click here for more information from the LDS church.

SOUTHERN UTAH -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints broke ground Saturday on their temple in Cedar City, and members of the LDS Church in the area said the moment marks the arrival of something they've been praying for for years.

The LDS Church announced plans to build a temple in Cedar City back in 2013, and now, two years later, LDS Church leaders and local dignitaries gathered at the construction site for a ceremonial groundbreaking.

"It's a day that brings families together, that brings the communities together--everyone is rejoicing, there's a spirit of celebration here," said Elder L. Whitney Clayton, a member of presidency in the LDS Church's Quorum of the Seventy.

In addition to the formal groundbreaking with shovels, a backhoe was also used to get construction on the structure going. Hundreds of LDS Church members and others from the community attended. Speakers at the event referenced the early pioneers who settled the area and said temples are a testament to what those pioneers stood for.

LDS Church members in Iron, Beaver and Garfield counties currently travel to St. George to visit a LDS Temple, but that will change once the Cedar City Temple is finished. The structure will be the 17th LDS Church temple in Utah.

FOX 13 News' Zach Whitney was present for the groundbreaking, see the video above for his report. For more about the purpose of temples in the LDS Church, visit their website. 

SALT LAKE CITY – Thomas S. Monson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, turned 88 years old Friday, and many are reflecting on the man’s countless contributions to the Mormon faith and various charitable causes during his lengthy service.

When asked to describe Thomas S. Monson, almost everyone who spoke with FOX 13 News' Bob Evans pointed to Monson's concern for, "the one,” and that love is being returned to him on his birthday.

To celebrate his 85th birthday in 2012, there was a star-studded program put on in the LDS Church’s Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City, and there were thousands of well-wishers present on that occasion. This year, it was a much quieter celebration--a private affair with just family.

Monson has slowed down some in recent years, and he spoke only twice at the April session of the LDS Church’s semi-annual General Conference—a break from tradition for leaders of the LDS Church.

"The messages are filled with love, and that's essentially what he's all about,” said Heidi Swinton, who is a biographer for Monson.

And President Monson is a familiar and friendly face among other faiths in Utah.

“He'll ask me what I'm involved in,” said Pamela Atkinson, an Elder in the First Presbyterian Church. “He'll ask me, ‘Are we helping you enough?’”

Jon Huntsman Sr., a humanitarian and friend of Monson, also spoke highly of the man's devotion to his faith.

"I believe that President Monson is a man of complete purity in his love for the savior,” Huntsman said.

William Walker, a former director of the LDS Church's Temple Department, said Monson focused on individuals.

“He has an absolutely unique capacity to focus on one person at a time--even if it's in a crowd,” he said.

Jeffrey R. Holland, a member of the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said Monson cares for those who need help.

"The poor and the needy, the destitute and the disconsolate, are the ones who are on Thomas Monson's mind,” he said.

“Tommy” Monson was born August 21, 1927 in Salt Lake City.

“They didn't go in the delivery room in those days, but when his father went in to see the baby and the mom, she said to him, "I have a young bishop for you,’” Swinton said. “And he likes to tell how that was just, you know, premonition, because 22 years later he was the bishop of the ward in which he grew up."

And Monson has been leading ever since--in local, national and international assignments for the LDS Church.

“This is his work,” Monson said during the ‘Priesthood Session' of the April General Conference. “This is his church. Indeed, he is our captain, the king of glory, even the son of God."

Bishop John C. Wester is currently an Archbishop in Santa Fe, but he previously served in the Salt Lake City Catholic Diocese--which put him in contact with Monson.

“He's a wonderful leader in our community and throughout the world,” Wester said.

Despite Monson slowing down, the LDS Church says President Monson still comes to the office every day and attends all of his meetings.

And, at 88 years old, although his body isn't as strong anymore--those around him say his spirit still is.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints added women to three leadership committees, officials confirmed Tuesday.

Linda K. Burton, general president of the church’s Relief Society, will now sit on the Faith’s Priesthood and Family Executive Council — previously called the Priesthood Executive Council.

General Young Women’s President Bonnie L. Oscarson will join the Missionary Executive Council.

The General Primary President Rosemary Wixom will be on the Temple and Family History Executive Council.

Oscarson made the announcement on Facebook.

Wednesday, LDS religious scholar Melissa Proctor came to the FOX 13 News Studio to discuss the move, see the video below for her interview.

SALT LAKE CITY - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints just announced it has decided to continue to be a chartering organization of the Boy Scouts of America.

The LDS church said in a statement, "at this time, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will go forward as a chartering organization of BSA, and as in the past, will appoint Scout leaders and volunteers who uphold and exemplify Church doctrine, values, and standards."

In July, The LDS Church expressed concerns about the Boy Scouts of America’s decision to allow gay troop leaders, and there was talk the LDS Church might consider breaking their troops away from scouting to form their own group.

“There was a lot of uncertainty that we’ve been dealing with,” said Rick Barnes, a scout executive for Great Salt Lake Council.

David Pack is the scout executive for Utah National Parks council, and his council includes 90,000 youth and 47,000 leaders. He said 99 percent of their scout members are in troops chartered by the LDS Church.

“We're humbled and excited by the announcement coming from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,” Pack said of the announcement from LDS Church leaders.

Memebers of the LGBT community are also applauding the decision.

“I think the LDS Church is listening carefully and that they want all the citizens of the United States to feel accepted and feel safe,” said Marian Edmonds-Allen, who is the Executive Director for the Utah Pride Center.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement Wednesday from the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles regarding the Church’s relationship with the Boy Scouts of America:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints appreciates the positive contributions Scouting has made over the years to thousands of its young men and boys and to thousands of other youth. As leaders of the Church, we want the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to succeed in its historic mission to instill leadership skills and high moral standards in youth of all faiths and circumstances, thereby equipping them for greater success in life and valuable service to their country.

In the resolution adopted on July 27, 2015, and in subsequent verbal assurances to us, BSA has reiterated that it expects those who sponsor Scouting units (such as the Church) to appoint Scout leaders according to their religious and moral values “in word and deed and who will best inculcate the organization’s values through the Scouting program.” At this time, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will go forward as a chartering organization of BSA, and as in the past, will appoint Scout leaders and volunteers who uphold and exemplify Church doctrine, values, and standards.

With equal concern for the substantial number of youth who live outside the United States and Canada, the Church will continue to evaluate and refine program options that better meet its global needs.

In response to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' decision to continue its partnership with the Boy Scouts of America, Zach Wahls, co-founder and Executive Director of Scouts for Equality, issued the following statement:

"We are heartened by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' decision to continue working with the Boy Scouts of America and to continue offering the program to its young men. We have maintained from the beginning of our campaign that the values and life lessons of Scouting are universal, and we would have been saddened to see hundreds of thousands of youth denied the opportunity to participate in the Boy Scouts. We hope to continue to work to build a stronger and more welcoming Boy Scouts of America with friends and allies across the religious and political spectrum."

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is bringing an important issue to the forefront: addiction.

September is National Addiction Recovery Month, and in response the Mormon Channel is releasing a series of videos that focus on church members who have struggled with and overcome addiction.

The video series is called "12 Steps to Change." It will include 12 videos, each of them about four minutes in length, featuring a person or persons who struggled and overcame some sort of addiction, including drugs, alcohol, food, pornography and gambling.

The goal is to increase awareness that there is help available through the LDS Church's addiction recovery program.

"Much similar to an AA meeting only we are using scripture like, to help with our healing," said Wendy Stilson of St. Mary's Center for Recovery.

The LDS Church acknowledges that it's tough for people to admit they have an addiction and they hope these real life stories inspire others that they too can turn their life around.

People who work in the field of addiction and recovery say these videos can be very influential.

"By the church coming out with these videos it's going to give people permission to say, ' I am struggling and I see that others are struggling too,' and this isn't out of the ordinary, this is something that so many people are struggling with here in Utah," Stilson said.

Stilson said St. Mary's had 134 patients stay at their center for an extended period of time last year, and 40 of them were active LDS Church members.

"I think by the church doing these videos it's going to help them to be able to feel that they can come forward to their bishops or anybody else and reach out for help," Stilson said.

Stilson said the area she is most concerned about when it comes to addiction in Utah is moms on meth.

"I'll speak from a women's perspective, is we feel like we have to be perfect in everything: the clubs, and the sports, and the music and the schools and get our kids everywhere--and a lot of moms have become addicted to meth and called closet meth users because it gives them the energy to do what they need to do," Stilson said.

Mormon Channel posted a trailer for the series of videos on YouTube, see below for that video.

A missionary for the Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints has put together an original rap about his experiences on his mission.

Colby Ferrin recorded the first verse when he got his letter before he went on his mission in Aug. 2013.

He made the second verse after her returned from Mexico City two years later this August.

Ferrin posted the video Aug. 22 and it has been viewed almost 300,000 times.

In 2013, 16 men said they were molested by a Boy Scout leader in the 1970s and 1980s. They said both the LDS church and the Boy Scouts knew the leader was a danger.

The plaintiff’s claim it is a fraud case, saying the church and Boy Scouts told them the man who abused them was “a great guy” and “a wonderful man.”

A key element to the plaintiff’s case is when they discovered the fraud.

The limitations on fraud in three years after the fraud is discovered, whereas the statute of limitations on personal injury is two years in Idaho.

The Idaho Supreme Court ruled it is not up to them to decide if this is fraud of personal injury; instead it is up to a jury. The legal distinction makes a major difference because of the statute of limitations.

"Whether or not this scout leader hurt these boys or molested these boys is not as important as whether or not the church and the Boy Scouts of America had knowledge that he had that propensity," said Greg Skordas, legal analyst.

LDS Church spokesperson Dale Jones released the following statement:

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind, and works diligently to prevent abuse and provide support and assistance to victims of abuse. As a society, we’ve learned a great deal about abuse in the decades since these cases, and made large strides in recognizing and preventing this societal plague. Regarding this particular case, it’s difficult to provide information, as the cases are near 30-40 years old, many involved are now dead, and nearly half of the claims do not involve the Church or Church sponsored scout troops."

OREM, Utah – Utah Valley University started its fall semester more than a week ago, and they’re already seeing more students than last year. That’s a promising start after hundreds of students left to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints three years ago.

Jake Jensen served for two years as a missionary for the LDS Church in the Hawaii, Honolulu mission. Now, the 21-year-old is attending Utah Valley University, and he’s not alone.

“This is where my siblings have gone," he said. "It's convenient for where I live."

Utah Valley University is expecting to see a big increase in enrollment.

In 2014, they had 31,000 students. This year, they’re expecting an additional 1,000 students. That’s a roughly 3.2 percent increase.

“It's a safe bet that many of those will be returned missionaries,” said Melinda Colton, Spokesperson for Utah Valley University.

Eighty percent of UVU students are Mormon.

Enrollment numbers began dropping in fall of 2012. That’s when the LDS Church lowered the age to 18 for men to serve missions and announced women could serve at 19.

“We did see a decline as every other university in the state found,” Colton said.

UVU lost students and more than $5 million in tuition revenue.

Fast forward to fall of 2015, and returning missionaries like Jake and Cara are headed back to school.

“I realized more and more the importance of education while I was on my mission,” Cara Olsen said.

“Definitely a place where I could get started and see if I can transfer somewhere else,” Jensen said.

UVU administrators reached out to parents of returned missionaries early on and educated them about deferred enrollment and postponing scholarships.

“It's not just about numbers for us, ultimately it's about getting as many students as we can in our seats so that we can teach them and help them in our future careers,” Colton said.

Other universities and colleges in Utah won’t get final enrollment numbers for several more weeks, but Brigham Young University tells FOX 13 News they expect to see a 10 percent increase in their enrollment.

OAXACA, Mexico — A mission president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is recovering after being shot during an attempted armed robbery at a Subway restaurant in Mexico Monday.

Lynn R. Madsen, from Orem, is serving as a mission president in the Mexico-Oaxaca mission.

“President Madsen sustained injuries to both legs from a single gunshot. Fortunately, his wounds are not serious in nature,” LDS church spokesman Eric Hawkins said. “He is receiving medical treatment and is expected to make a full recovery.”