Summary: <br> <br> The great Devin Thorpe is in the house!<br> <br> In case you were living under a rock, the Rome Italy Temple was dedicated over the weekend, and coverage within the Latter-day Saint news realm was wall to wall. President Russell M. Nelson dedicated the temple and was present with <a href="http://thisweekinmormons.com/2019/03/president-russell-m-nelson-to-dedicate-rome-italy-temple-with-entire-first-presidency-and-quorum-of-the-twelve-present/">all members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles</a>, a first abroad.<br> <br> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/03/09/after-decades-behind-the-scenes-diplomacy-leaders-catholic-mormon-churches-meet-rome/?utm_term=.9a2f5b985145" target="_blank" rel="noopener">President Nelson also met with Pope Francis</a>, the first time the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has met a pope. Nevermind that <a href="http://thisweekinmormons.com/2014/11/episode-250-hal-and-the-papal-states-henry-eyring-vatican/">President Eyring already met the pope many years ago</a>. Hal has it going on! Enterprising and sarcastic Mormons also made this meme:<br> <br> <br> <br> Also, Elders David A. Bednar and Ronald A. Rasband gave a video tour of the temple, the first time a video has been produced during an open house. It's a GREAT video. Give it a watch below.<br> <br> <br> <br> Keeping with our Catholic friends, a Latter-day Saint teacher in Utah got into hot water for <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/utah-teacher-forces-student-to-wash-off-ash-wednesday-cross/2019/03/07/79c53fb2-4120-11e9-85ad-779ef05fd9d8_story.html?utm_term=.e08cf8af93b3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forcing a Catholic student to clean his forehead</a> - on Ash Wednesday. Latter-day Saints don't do much for Ash Wednesday, but other Christians revere it, as it marks the first day of Lent, and the ash is to serve as a reminder that "dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return." Anyway, the teacher got in trouble. Imagine if someone did something similar to Mormons!<br> <br> Other huge news of the past week is the <a href="http://thisweekinmormons.com/2019/03/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-drops-lds-org-doman/">Church deciding to move on from the lds.org domain</a>. Lds.org has been around since the late 1990s and the Church has built its entire online presence around it, so this is no small shift. But what's behind it?<br> <br> In related news, the Associated Press has <a href="https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900059443/associated-press-updates-style-guide-on-references-to-church-latter-day-saints-term-mormon.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">finally decided to adjust its style guide</a> as it pertains to references to the Church, recognizing the Church's ongoing efforts to de-Mormonize everything.<br> <br> We also have some, uh, weird new missionary safety training videos that spoof sports commentary shows. Your results may vary, but <a href="http://thisweekinmormons.com/2019/03/church-missionary-department-embraces-angry-sports-show-culture-with-new-safety-videos/">Geoff was uncomfortable with it and openly said he wanted to punch the hosts</a>.<br> <br> Also in missionary news, two <a href="http://thisweekinmormons.com/2017/05/mormon-missions-in-russia-to-merge-in-wake-of-restrictions/">volunteers</a> in Russia were arrested and are <a href="https://www.ksl.com/article/46506597" target="_blank" rel="noopener">now to be deported</a>. Anecdotal reports from the Rostov Mission suggest entire areas are shutting down for fear of raids by local authorities. Things are not good in Russia.<br> <br> A slew of other temple news awaits you: <a href="http://thisweekinmormons.com/2019/03/open-house-and-dedication-dates-announced-for-lisbon-portugal-temple/">open house and dedication dates announced for the Lisbon Portugal Temple</a>; groundbreaking announc...
