The Church in the News March 23, 2001 Stories from the news media that include reference to the Church. Winter Quarters Temple Dedication Date Set — Lincoln Journal Star / Additional story On April 22, the Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple will be dedicated as the 104th temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the second of three temples being built on Church historical sites. The first, the Palmyra New York Temple, was dedicated April 6, 2000. Completion of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple is expected in early 2002. Similar to the Palmyra Temple, a session of the Winter Quarters Temple dedication will be broadcast to stake centers in the U.S. and Canada. All baptized, temple-worthy members may attend by obtaining a special dedication recommend from their bishop or branch president. The open house will begin March 30 and last until the dedication. The Winter Quarters temple will be the first temple in Nebraska. "People are just thrilled," said Shauna Valentine, regional public affairs director for the Church. "It's a very special blessing to have a temple so close." Accreditation Candidacy Given to BYU-Idaho — Deseret News / Additional story Ricks College has received accreditation candidacy status in its move from a junior college to a four-year institution. The college plans to introduce 46 bachelor's degree programs during the next five years. However, the accreditation process is ongoing and candidacy is not equivalent to full accreditation. The tentative plan is to offer upper-division classes leading to integrated bachelor's degrees in 2003. Enrollment will increase from 9,000 to 11,600 with the school's track admission process, which allows some students to come for two semesters at a time, taking one off. For example, a student may attend in the summer and fall, with time out during the winter. That way the number of students each year can increase to as many as about 15,000, but facilities don't have to increase. Decline in 19-Year-Olds Affects Missionary Work — BYU NewsNet Although the Church continues to expand at high rates, United States demographics has led the First Presidency to consolidate several missions. A demographic anomaly of a decrease in 19-year-olds has made it necessary to adjust the number of missionaries assigned to various areas of the world, according to an e-mail from the president of the Bordeaux France mission sent to returned missionaries who served in the Bordeaux mission. The Germany Dusseldorf, France Bordeaux, and Japan Kobe missions are being consolidated to bordering missions. The First Presidency has planned for the consolidations to take place during the natural transition that will take place when the current mission presidents return home. "I think this is a very positive situation," Robertson said. "I see nothing negative about it. I believe the consolidation will help members recognize their duty to take an active role in the missionary effort," said Japan Kobe Mission President David F. Robertson. Carl Bloch's Art Has Church Connections — Utah County Journal Artist Carl Bloch's depictions of Christ have had a connection to the LDS community due partly to the efforts of Doyle L. Green, managing editor of the "Improvement Era" magazine from 1950-70. A series of readings on the life of Christ serialized in the "Era" between 1956 and 1958 were published by Deseret Book as "He That Liveth." Reproductions of the Bloch paintings also appear in meetinghouses, temples, and publications throughout the world. Danish artist and photographer Soren Edsberg believes that artist Carl Bloch (1834-90) has come closer to capturing the image of Jesus Christ than some of the other artists who have attempted to depict the Savior. Because of this, the paintings and etchings of the Danish-born Bloch have become a focus and a priority of Edsberg. BYU Has Changed, But Mission is Constant — BYU NewsNet / Additional story When President Brigham Young called Karl Maeser to lead Brigham Young Academy in 1876, President Young reportedly admonished him "not to teach even the alphabet or the multiplication tables without the Spirit of God." Built in Provo before the invention of cars, telephones, televisions, and microwaves, the academy opened its first official school year with an enrollment of about 271 students. The fledgling academy has evolved to an internationally acclaimed institution with 29,158 full-time students, 217 undergraduate programs, 105 graduate programs, and 1,540 full-time faculty. Alumni and students tend to agree that BYU's commitment to educating both the minds and the hearts of students has helped make the university what it is today. Although alumni agree that this spiritual aspect of the university has been a constant over the last 126 years, they are quick to point out the numerous changes BYU has undergone as well. Chinese Ward Celebrates its First Birthday — BYU NewsNet To celebrate the BYU Chinese ward's first birthday, the Provo Temple will have its first-ever Mandarin Chinese endowment session. The Chinese ward was created from three BYU Asian wards that consisted of students from China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam, and other Asian countries. The ward conducts its meetings in Mandarin Chinese, which provides a unique opportunity for these members. "They are having a chance to lead and serve in ways that they wouldn't have been able to in a normal Caucasian ward," said Fiona Robison, an American Fork, Utah resident who attends the ward. The ward began with about 80 or 90 members and has expanded to its current 140 members.