Mormon Times Briefly

Missionaries are resuming work in Guyana after leaving last fall

GEORGETOWN, Guyana — The LDS Church is slowly rebuilding its public profile in Guyana after the government ordered dozens of its missionaries to leave last fall because of outdated documents.

Church spokesman Leslie Sobers said Saturday the church has resumed donations of medical equipment to charities in the South American nation.

Sobers declines to say how many missionaries are now in Guyana after some 40 church members left to comply with the government's Sept. 2 departure order. Police say no more than 20 missionaries remain.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officials have said they hope to replace the missionaries who departed. The church has been sending missionaries to Guyana for more than 20 years.

— Associated Press

Whitney Award finalists announced

Thirty LDS novelists have been nominated as finalists in six categories for the Whitney Awards.

For best romance, finalists are "Counting the Cost," by Liz Adair; "Illuminations of the Heart," by Joyce DiPastena; "All the Stars in Heaven," by Michele Paige Holmes; "Santa Maybe," by Aubrey Mace; "Previously Engaged," by Elodia Strain.

In the mystery/suspense category, finalists are "Lockdown," by Traci Hunter Abramson; "Methods of Madness," by Stephanie Black; "Murder by the Book," by Betsy Brannon Green; "Lemon Tart," by Josi Kilpack; "Altered State," by Gregg Luke.

In the youth fiction category, finalists are "Princess of the Midnight Ball," by Jessica Day George; "Fablehaven IV: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary," by Brandon Mull; "My Fair Godmother," by Janette Rallison; "Bright Blue Miracle," by Becca Wilhite; "The Chosen One," by Carol Lynch Williams.

Finalists in the speculative category are "Servant of a Dark God," by John Brown; "The Maze Runner," by James Dashner; "Wings," by Aprilynne Pike; "Warbreaker," by Brandon Sanderson; "I Am Not a Serial Killer," by Dan Wells.

In the historical category, finalists are "Tribunal," by Sandra Grey; "The Undaunted," by Gerald Lund; "Alma," by H.B. Moore; "The Last Waltz," by G.G. Vandagriff; "In the Company of Angels," by David Farland.