I believe there's a segment, a large segment of the audience out there that is made up of people who believe, who believe in a higher power, who believe in Jesus Christ, may not be members of our church, but they're looking for news that is written from the perspective of someone who believes.

I think there's a real niche for the Deserate News out there among those people.

And so I know that Jesus Christ lives and that he's real,

and I know that he cares about everybody on earth.

And as I talk to people, as I do stories, I can see his light in people and understand

every issue that we deal with, I think, has to do with sons and daughters of our Heavenly

Father, who he loves and cares about. I think

that's become clear and clear to me the older I get.

This is Sarah Jane Weaver, executive editor of the Church News, welcoming you to the Church

News podcast. We are taking you on a journey of connection as we discuss news and events of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

As pioneers fled persecution in the mid-1800s and settled in the Salt Lake Valley, they put a printing

press in the wagon and moved it across the United States, publishing the first edition

of the Desert News on June 15, 1850. That legacy continues today, with editors and writers who

still believe in spreading light and truth across the earth. Jay Evenson, the opinion editor of the Desert News, joins this episode of the Church News podcast

to talk about the legacy and mission of the Desert News to inform and influence.

Jay, welcome today to the podcast.

Well, thank you, sir.

It's great to be here.

Well, I'm so glad you're here, both for you to share things about your life personally

and to help us get a glimpse into what you do professionally, because it is an important legacy

that dates back a long, long time, including to some really important church leaders like

George Cucannon, who actually served as an early editor of the Deserate News.

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