Mormon Times briefs

Spanish LDS Bible released Sept. 1; orientation broadcast scheduled

With the new Latter-day Saint edition of the Holy Bible in Spanish available on Sept. 1, the First Presidency has invited Spanish-speaking members of the LDS Church to attend a 25-minute orientation about the new edition of the Bible. The orientation will be broadcast via satellite between the morning and afternoon sessions on both Saturday and Sunday of the upcoming October general conference, according to a news release from the LDS Church.

The broadcast will include messages about the coming forth of the LDS edition of the Spanish Bible and the effective use and benefits of it, along with a special message from President Thomas S. Monson, according to the news release. Information will be sent to units on how to access the orientation, which will be broadcast in both Spanish and English. Units are encouraged to record the broadcast to allow members to access it later.

The orientation will also be available online for members viewing general conference outside of a meetinghouse or for later review.

The LDS edition of the Holy Bible in Spanish is based on the 1909 Reina-Valera edition of the Bible, an earlier version of what Spanish-speaking members have used until now. The new edition will be titled Santa Biblia: Reina-Valera 2009, according to the news release.

This new edition of the Bible will be available in September in print, electronic and audio formats. The electronic text of this new edition, including the study helps, will be available at Escrituras.lds.org and additional information is available in Spanish and English at SantaBiblia.lds.org.

How to have fun at church sports

At the practical level, church sports is about having fun — everyday people getting together to enjoy some mildly competitive physical activity in a safe and familiar environment.

Also, church sports can help new Mormons with the social transition for those newly baptized, a transition that needs to accompany the doctrinal conversion.

More information on both topics is available in the September newsletter of the church's Utah Salt Lake Area sports committee. The newsletter is posted online at Mormon Times.com; look in the "special features" section near the bottom of the Web site's home page.

The newsletter also includes an explanation of responsibilities for sports programs within wards. The Salt Lake Area sports calendar includes basketball-officials clinics on Saturday mornings in October.

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