Elder Craig C. Christensen discusses directing the work of the Church’s Utah Area during the COVID-19 pandemic, featuring Church News reporter Scott Taylor as guest co-host

<p>Beginning in 1984, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established areas to direct the work in geographic locations. There are currently 22 areas in the Church &mdash; six that span the United States and Canada, with 16 more outside those two countries. The Church&rsquo;s <a href="http://utah.churchofjesuschrist.org">Utah Area</a> serves more Latter-day Saints than any other area and geographically includes Salt Lake City and Church headquarters. <a href="https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2002-10-19/elder-craig-c-christensen-general-authority-seventy-2002-105673">Elder Craig C. Christensen, </a>a General Authority Seventy and president of the <a href="https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2002-10-19/elder-craig-c-christensen-general-authority-seventy-2002-105673">Utah Area</a>, has observed over many years of full-time Church service how the global Church has influenced the Utah Area and how the Utah Area influences the other 21 areas worldwide. Elder Christensen, joined by <a href="https://www.thechurchnews.com/author/taylordeseretnews-com">Scott Taylor of the Church News</a>, is featured in this episode of the Church News Podcast. Along with podcast host Sarah Jane Weaver, editor of the Church News, they discuss serving the large number of Latter-day Saints who live in the Church&rsquo;s Utah Area and the challenges of directing that area during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p> <p><a href="https://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast">The Church News Podcast</a> is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a> across the globe. Host <a href="https://www.thechurchnews.com/author/sarahdeseretnews-com">Sarah Jane Weaver</a>, reporter and editor for <a href="https://www.thechurchnews.com/">The Church News</a> for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, &ldquo;What do I know now?&rdquo; because of the experience. Produced by<a href="https://kellieannhalvo.com/"> KellieAnn Halvorsen</a>.</p>