LDS Church holds 178th Semi-annual General Conference

More than 100,000 church members, friends and invited guests are expected to attend the 178th Semi-annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today and Sunday at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. Millions more will watch or listen to conference proceedings via television, radio, satellite and Internet broadcasts. Five sessions will be held - 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. today and Sunday, and a priesthood session for men only at 6 p.m. today.

Both morning and afternoon sessions will be broadcast via satellite to church meetinghouses throughout the world. These sessions also will be broadcast locally on KTID (Channel 58 or Cable Channel 8), KTFT/KTVB (News Channel 24/7; must have digital converter or digital TV), KSL (Cable Channel 9), BYU Television through the Dish Network or DirecTV, and over the Internet at www.lds.org. KART 1400 AM Radio will air these four sessions. The priesthood session will be broadcast only by satellite to church buildings.

Members of the First Presidency and other general authorities will speak during the conference.

Roever speaks at Lighthouse Fellowship

Dave Roever will be the guest speaker at 6 p.m. today and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, 960 Eastland Drive in Twin Falls.

Roever will share an inspiring and uplifting story about his survival after a phosphorus grenade exploded in his hand during the Vietnam War. He returned to Vietnam years later on a personal quest and has begun several projects to help the Vietnamese people. He now travels the country sharing his story.

Everyone is invited. Admission is free. Information: 737-4667.

Burley Methodists welcome new pastor

The Rev. Karen G. Puckett is the new pastor at the Burley United Methodist Church. Puckett earned a bachelor of arts degree at Davidson College in North Carolina and a master of divinity and master of sacred theology at Drew Theological School in New Jersey. Her specific area of study and interest is worship in the context of loss. She says she believes worship and ritual can be healing to those who grieve, and she desires to create worship experiences that offer this healing.

Puckett served as assistant pastor for Mount Fern United Methodist Church in New Jersey and assistant director of admissions for the Drew Theological School.

Burley United Methodist Church, 450 E. 27th St., offers Sunday school for all ages at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. Sundays. A variety of opportunities for education, support, fellowship and mission is available during the week.

Information: 678-2184.

Wendell church hosts 'First Sunday' dinner

The Wendell Methodist Church will host its First Sunday of the Month Dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the church.

The menu features a potato bar with hamburger gravy, chili, onion, broccoli, cheese and sour cream.

Cost is a freewill offering; everyone is welcome. Information: Margaret Presnell, 536-5751 or Mary Lou Ruby, 536-6583.

Episcopal Church holds animal blessing service

Ascension Episcopal Church, 371 Eastland Drive N. in Twin Falls, will celebrate the Blessing of the Animals at 3 p.m. Sunday.

This annual event welcomes all types of pets, large and small, to come and receive a blessing from the priest. Owners will be able to have their pet's picture taken by Burbank Photography; 4 Paws & A Tale will have doggie treats for sale and the College of Southern Idaho Vet Tech group will provide pet care tips.

Admission is free, but donations are welcome and will benefit the Magic Valley Humane Society. Bring family, friends and pets.

Information: 733-1248.

Methodists hold all-church conference

The annual All-Church Conference of the Twin Falls First United Methodist Church will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at 360 Shoshone St. E.

Robert Flaherty, superintendent of the Eastern District of the Oregon-Idaho Conference, will conduct the meeting.

Information: 733-5872.

Life Church of Magic Valley hosts healing service

Life Church of the Magic Valley (formerly Lighthouse Assembly of God), 425 E. Nez Perce (100 South) in Jerome will host a healing service at 6 p.m. Sunday at the church. Pre-service prayer meeting starts at 5 p.m.

A service dedicated to healing the sick is held the first Sunday of each month. Church members say they have seen God heal fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, cancer, and back, knee, neck and muscle pain.

All services are open to the general public and anyone who needs to be healed. All faiths are welcome to come, learn and participate.

Information: 324-5876 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or www.lifechurchmv.com. Pastor Kevin Lindley: 731-8111.

Ladies fellowship holds luncheon

The Ladies Lifeline Fellowship will host a non-denominational luncheon from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday at Connor's Cafe, off Interstate 84 at Heyburn. The theme will be "Healing Power of T.L.C.," with the program by Ray Archibald, music by Dan Henrick and Alice Long as speaker. For reservations, call Lila at 438-5876; for prayer concerns call Ruth at 436-5380. Prayer Circle will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 15, with Leola Bailey as hostess. Directions: 438-5524.

Presbyterian Church begins LOGOS program

The First Presbyterian Church, 209 Fifth Ave. N. in Twin Falls will begin its second year of the 20-week LOGOS program Wednesday.

Sessions will be from 3:45 to 6:45 p.m. for kindergarten through fifth-graders and 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. for sixth through 12 grades. This year, a new session for 4and 5-year-olds will meet from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Scholarships are available. Themes for this month are "Harley Night," "Talk Like a Pirate Night," "Cookie Night" and "Carve a Pumpkin Night."

The program encourages youth, children and adults to participate weekly in church. Check the LOGOS blog at http://twinfallslogos.blogspot.com.

Communion Sunday is a time for Christians to reflect on their unity in Jesus Christ, and churches around the world, along with the First Presbyterian Church in Twin Falls, will celebrate Worldwide Communion Sunday this week.

The Scotch Shop has new items and will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays and after worship at 10 a.m. the second Sunday each month.

Parents of young children are invited to a "Game Night" from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Nikki and Miles Daisher's home on the corner of Gooding and Seventh streets. Free baby-sitting will be provided at the church. RSVP: Nikki, 737-9876.

Information: 733-7023 or Kathy Price at 736-6297.

Choir sponsors men's fashion show

The Rupert United Methodist Church's Chancel Choir, directed by Lucy Knos, is sponsoring a men's fashion show at 7 p.m. Friday in the fellowship hall of the church, 605 H St.

"Laughter is Good for the Soul" is planned as a benefit with proceeds going to the church's new sanctuary.

A freewill offering will be accepted when refreshments are served after the production.

The community is invited to–join in an evening of fun, folly and comic entertainment, including a mystery celebrity. Some who have left the community will also be represented.

Information: 436-3354.

Family History Library offers research classes

The Family History Library is offering free classes on research on Oct. 11.

An all-day series on Welsh research will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a lunch break at 12:30 p.m. Classes will be held in the auditorium of the Museum of Church History and Art. Topics include "Beginning Research," "Overview of Records," "Research Peculiarities" and "Probate and Land Records." A series poster is available online.

A series on researching Swedish ancestry will be presented in 90-minute classes from 9 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. in the classroom on the main floor of the library. Participants may take one class or several classes of interest. Topics include "Beginning Research," Church Records," "The Clerical Survey," "Emigration Records" and "Probate Records."

The library is located west of Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City. Free parking is available in the lot behind the museum at 119 W. North Temple St.

To view class schedules or other items online, visit www.familysearch.org. To register for the free classes, send an email to FHLClassReg@ldschurch.org or call 1-801-240-4950.

LDS Church hosts regional singles conference

The Multi-Stake Regional Singles (31 and over) will hold a conference Oct. 11 at the LDS Church on Elizabeth Street.

The theme is John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

The conference begins at 1 p.m. and includes time to work on humanitarian projects, open exercises and four speakers, with a couple of breaks in between. Speakers will be David Coleman (Wills and Trusts), Pauline Meyerhoeffer (Dealing with Challenges), Jim Gomm (Achieving Balance) and Pat Gomm (John 14:27). Dinner and entertainment will be at 5:30 p.m., and a dance with music by Fast Eddy's begins at 7:30 p.m.

Baby-sitting will be provided in individual wards, so contact your ward singles representative to let them know your needs. Bring your single neighbors and friends for an uplifting and inspiring day. Admission is free.

Information: Lynn Jaynes at 326-4428.

The Times-News welcomes news of church events. Send information to Ellen Thomason at ellen@magicvalley.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday for publication on the Saturday religion page.