After a stake president of the Church died, a Sikh leader in the United Arab Emirates has honored their friendship with an annual service project.

This week’s study guide includes the Lord’s promise that "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."

Here are nine stories from the Church News the week of Sept. 6-12.

Three stakes were created in Alberta, Guatemala and North Carolina; 26 stake presidencies were reorganized in Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, England, France, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Portugal and Venezuela, and in the U.S. in California, Indiana, Montana, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.