I don't remember another campaign like President Nelson's in just the immediacy of it catching on.

You know, it was like he released that video and then everyone was giving thanks.

And what's really interesting is President Nelson broke the algorithms, which was so fun and cool to see.

You see somebody who has the power to make a movement, like that was him in that time.

It opened connection again.

I'm Sarah Jane Weaver, editor of the Church News, and welcome 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.

One year ago on November 20, 2020, amid the throes of the coronavirus pandemic, President Russell M. Nelson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints extended a global invitation of hope, healing, and unity. He invited people everywhere, regardless of faith or circumstance, to hashtag give thanks. He asked them to do that through prayer and through posting on social media.

Within the first hour of the video release, it had been viewed more than a million times.

On Twitter within hours, hashtag give thanks was trending in the United States at number one,

and by the end of the day, it was trending at number two worldwide.

This episode of the Church News podcast features Deserate News Director of Content Promotion,

Stevie Ganalfi.

Stevie has responsibility for Church News social media accounts, including Church News, Twitter,

Facebook, and Instagram.

Today, she joins us to talk about social media as a

powerful communications tool and how President Nelson's historic gift thanks message actually

broke the social media mold. Welcome to the Church News podcast, Stevie. Thank you. Why don't we just

start and have you tell us a little bit about your job so we know how you

came to analyze and understand this very unique message?

Yeah.

...