Did you recently see an email with the subject “Messages from the First Presidency” in your Inbox? The inaugural Inspiration and News email began with, “Dear Brothers and Sisters, We are pleased to announce this new Church email newsletter that we will regularly publish and share with members of the Church…” Beginning December 3 and 4, the Church began sending email from the First Presidency to members. The email explained, “This newsletter is part of an effort to find more effective ways to communicate with our growing global membership in order to share timely and valuable messages that can strengthen our love of Jesus Christ, for our families, and for those around us.” Newsletters will be translated into 10 languages and be sent to Church members who have email addresses listed in their LDS Account contact information.

For those of you who have yet to create an LDS Account, the process is easy...

...Go to LDS.org and select “Sign In/Tools” at the top. At the sign in window, click on “Register…” below the Sign In button. Use your membership number (MRN) and birthdate to create an account.

If you already have an LDS Account and need to update your profile with a current email address, sign in at LDS.org and select “Account Settings” from the “Tools” menu. If you have problems viewing the newsletter, a link at the top takes you online to view inside your web browser. If you prefer not to receive the newsletters, you may unsubscribe from the message as well.

This is a ground-breaking effort to make a more personal connection with members. What could be more direct, barring a personal visit, than for the First Presidency to contact members by email! Isn’t it great to live in a time when technology makes the possible?