Hello, everyone! While I intend to continue my series of blog posts about potential future temple sites in each of the Church's geographical areas later this week, in addition to general temple developments, there have been a number of news stories in the last 7-10 days about the ministry of our apostles and prophets, which all deserve to be mentioned on this blog. Let's dive right in to those.
As some of you may recall, in an earlier Church news update on this blog, I mentioned that Gerry Avant, who has worked on the staff of the LDS Church News publication for several decades, retired from her role as editor of that publication several months ago. But she has graciously consented to continue her contributions to that paper as a senior contributing editor. In a new series of articles, she takes the opportunity to reminisce about her various travels with apostles and prophets. In this article, she shares experiences she had traveling with President Gordon B. Hinckley in Asia, and the story behind the photo she snapped that became an iconic cover of the Ensign several months later.
Now, before going on to talk about the other articles about the travels of our apostles, I wanted to note one thing: many of the links I will share in the rest of this post are related to the ministry of two particularly apostles: Elders D. Todd Christofferson and Ronald A. Rasband. I have very much enjoyed reading about the ministry of all apostles, but it has seemed significant to me that these two have received quite frequent coverage. So what has that coverage entailed? Let's move on to that.
First of all, in all of Elder Rasband's many travels lately, he frequently has referenced what President Monson advised him to say to the people he visited shortly after his call to the apostleship. Elder Rasband has been very consistent in acknowledging that the same message President Monson asked him to share has not changed. It is so refreshing to be reminded that, even in the wake of President Monson's advanced age and health-related difficulties, he is still very much concerned about the members of the Church, and wants to convey the love he has for us all through the apostles that are sent to represent him and the Savior worldwide.
That said, we have this account of how Elder Rasband, on assignment to a stake conference in the Eastern United States, was blessed to find out that his visit coincided with an important anniversary of the Church in an area that he ministered in both as a missionary, and later on as a mission president. He said that he didn't know at the time he got the assignment that it would enable him to be part of that celebration, but that the Lord knew, which was a tender mercy he will always remember.
Elder Rasband also was assigned recently, along with his wife, and Primary General President Joy D. Jones and her husband (who were residents of the area years ago) to minister to those in California affected by the wildfires. This was an especially touching assignment for all who were involved. Elder Rasband wept openly with members who had experienced such great losses. And this was very personal for the Joneses, whose son, a fireman in his late 30s, volunteered to come and help fight these fires, only to lose his life as a result of having done so.
Elder Rasband's ministry to the Californian Saints is recounted here, here, here, and here. That last one is the summary of his ministry in California from Mormon Newsroom.
Now, to switch gears as I finish this post, I also wanted to share this story, also from Mormon Newsroom, focusing on how Elder Christofferson delivered an address in Spanish to journalists from Latin America. He praised them for their journalistic integrity, and was in turn praised by one of the organizers of the event at which he spoke, primarily because he had focused on the relationship between freedom of the press and freedom of religion, both guaranteed by the First Amendment of the US constitution. It was great to read about that.
That does it for this post. Any comments are welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray the Lord's blessings upon each one of you in all that you do.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Apostles in the news
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
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In addition to my life-long love for the subjects which I cover in the posts of this blog, I have long held the belief that we can disagree without becoming disagreeable. Differences of opinion are natural, while being disagreeable in expressing those differences is not. And in that sense, I have no desire to close the door on anyone who earnestly desires to contribute to the ongoing dialogue on subjects covered in the posts on this blog.
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