The ''New Era'' was an official
magazine
A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...
of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...
(LDS Church) from 1971 to 2020. First published in January 1971 along with the
''Ensign'' and the
''Friend'', the ''New Eras intended audience was the church's youth. The magazine replaced the similarly themed ''
The Improvement Era
The ''Improvement Era'' (often shortened to ''The Era'') was an official magazine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) between 1897 and 1970.
History
The ''Improvement Era'' was first published in 1897 as a replacement t ...
'', a periodical published from 1897 to 1970.
In its first issue, the editor of the ''New Era'' explained the rationale for its creation, stating:
:''By direction of the
First Presidency
Among many churches in the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency (also known as the Quorum of the Presidency of the Church) is the highest presiding or governing body. Present-day denominations of the movement led by a First Presidency ...
, the ''New Era'' is the publication arm of the Church to the unmarried persons of the kingdom—those from twelve up to marriage. It will reflect those qualities that have given rise to the Lord's confidence in youth: sincerity, authenticity, intellectual stimulation, and inspiration.''
Regular features
The ''New Era'' regularly included articles written by
general authorities of the LDS Church on gospel topics, as well as articles contributed by other church members on topics such as preparing for marriage, media and entertainment, and the family. Poems, artwork, tips for coping with life's challenges, and true stories of inspiration, are also commonplace. Other regular features included questions and answers (a question for the youth (e.g., "How can I know I've truly been forgiven after I've repented?") and readers' responses), and the ''New Era'' poster (or MormonAd).
Replacement
In August 2020, the LDS Church announced that the ''New Era'' would cease publication in at the end of 2020 and would be replaced by a new magazine named ''For the Strength of Youth''. The final issue was dated December 2020.
Editors
*
Doyle L. Green (1971–75)
*
Dean L. Larsen (1977–78)
*
James E. Faust (1979)
*
M. Russell Ballard
Melvin Russell Ballard Jr. (born October 8, 1928) is an American businessman and religious leader who is currently the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He has ...
(1980–84)
*
Carlos E. Asay
Carlos Egan Asay (June 12, 1926 – April 10, 1999) was a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1976 until his death.
Early life
Asay was born in Sutherland, Utah, and raised in Monroe, Utah. In 19 ...
(1985–86)
*
Hugh W. Pinnock (1987–89)
*Rex D. Pinegar (1990–94)
[Rex D. Pinegar and Joe J. Christensen were co-editors in 1994.]
*
Joe J. Christensen
Joe Junior Christensen (July 21, 1929 – May 18, 2021) was a president of Ricks College (1985 to 1989) and a general authority in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1989 until his death. He was also president of t ...
(1994–95)
*
Jack H. Goaslind
Jack H. Goaslind Jr. (April 18, 1928 – April 27, 2011) was a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1978 until his death. He was the seventeenth general president of the church's Young Men organiza ...
(1996–98)
*
Marlin K. Jensen
Marlin Keith Jensen (born May 18, 1942) is an American attorney who has been a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1989. He served as the official Church Historian and Recorder of the church fr ...
(1999–2000)
*Dennis B. Neuenschwander (2001–04)
*
Jay E. Jensen (2005–08)
*
Spencer J. Condie
Spencer Joel Condie (born August 27, 1940) has been a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1989. Condie previously worked as a professor at Brigham Young University (BYU) and also served as a mis ...
(2008–10)
*Paul B. Pieper (2010–12)
*Craig A. Cardon (2012–15)
*
Joseph W. Sitati
Joseph Wafula Sitati (born 16 May 1952) has been a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 2009, when he became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He is the church's first black African ge ...
(2015–17)
*Hugo E. Martinez (2017–18)
*Randy D. Funk (2018–22)
*Randall K. Bennett (2022- )
[During Bennett's tenure as editor, Ricardo P. Gimenez serves as assistant editor.]
See also
*
''Liahona'' (magazine)
*
List of Latter Day Saint periodicals
This article lists periodicals published primarily about institutions, people, or issues of the Latter Day Saint movement.
Early periodicals
The following began publication before Joseph Smith's death on 27 June 1844, after which several follower ...
*
Young Men (organization)
The Young Men (often referred to as Young Men's) is a youth organization and official program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Its purpose is to assist the church's Aaronic priesthood-aged young men in their growt ...
*
Young Women (organization)
The Young Women (often referred to as Young Women's or Young Woman's) is a youth organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The purpose of the Young Women organization is to help each young woman "be worthy to ma ...
Notes
External links
''New Era'' Official site''New Era'' Online archive(2001–present)
{{LDSChurchpubs
1971 in Christianity
2020 disestablishments in Utah
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints periodicals
Magazines established in 1971
Magazines disestablished in 2020
Magazines published in Utah
Mass media in Salt Lake City
Monthly magazines published in the United States
Religious magazines published in the United States
Religious works for children
Teen magazines
Young people and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints