Message-laden tour
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
In recent days, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve traveled half-way across the globe to visit and share counsel with hundreds of LDS military personnel and other members. The Church leader's hopeful message at his many stops was simple and straight-forward: know you are loved, live the gospel and influence those around you for the better.
Traveling with Elder Jon M. Huntsman Sr., an Area Seventy and global businessman, Elder Ballard presided over member meetings in Kuwait, Italy, Germany and the United Arab Emirates. The gatherings marked a historic opportunity for an apostle to meet with faithful men, women and families who have few opportunities to interact with general Church leaders face to face.
Elder Ballard, who left for his trip Feb. 23 and returned March 2, said he was humbled to be with the many members during his trip — particularly those who wear the uniform and are away from their families. "When you stand in front of those who are willing to put their lives on the line in order to defend our freedoms and our way of life, you have to stand in awe."
The central message Elder Ballard hoped to communicate to the LDS servicemen and women is that they are remembered, loved and prayed for.
"My main purpose was to extend the love of the First Presidency, particularly President Hinckley, and the Quorum of the Twelve," Elder Ballard said after returning from his trip. "I reassured them that we remember them in our prayers and that the Church as a whole extends its love and gratitude for their service."
Elder Ballard said his multi-stop trip was made possible, in large part, by Elder Huntsman and his company, which has business affairs in many parts of the world he visited. He also expressed thanks for Frank Clawson of LDS Military Relations and other military and government officials who helped arrange and facilitate the meetings involving members serving on military bases.
Highlights of the tour included a multi-stake fireside for military personnel and others in Nurnberg, Germany, a spiritual meeting with deployed LDS servicemen and women at Ali Al-Salem Air Force Base in Kuwait, and a gathering attended by expatriate members living in Dubai, capital city of the United Arab Emirates. Elder Ballard also presided over a meeting with expatriate members of the Kuwait City Branch. His visit to Kuwait is believed to be a first for a member of the Quorum of the Twelve.
"The time with Elder Ballard was special," wrote U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Steven Merrill, an LDS chaplain who conducted the meeting at Ali Al-Salem. "To the men and women who serve in the military, far away from home and loved ones, the affirmation we received from an apostle of the Lord was monumental."
Elder Ballard, Elder Huntsman and the other visitors, which included Peter R. Huntsman Sr., (Elder Huntsman's son and Elder Ballard's son-in-law) and recently-returned missionary Peter R. Huntsman Jr. (Elder Ballard's and Elder Huntsman's grandson), greeted and shook hands with each of the 75 people in attendance.
A veteran himself, Elder Huntsman counseled the members to serve with honor and distinction, and to always remember the great blessing it is to have the gospel and priesthood in their lives. Elder Ballard, meanwhile, told his uniformed audience that "our greatest sermon will be the way we live our lives," according to Chaplain Merrill.
Elder Ballard's time in Kuwait was a mission reunion of sorts for Chaplain Merrill, who served under Elder Ballard when he presided over the Canada Toronto Mission.
"(Elder Ballard) wished me all the best and asked the to Lord bless me and my family," wrote U.S. Army Brigadier General Keith Lee Thurgood, who also attended the meeting. "I gave him one of my commander's coins, told him what it meant and thanked him for his visit."
Another 75 people attended the fireside at the Kuwait Branch, where Elder Ballard spoke about the importance of the family and the great knowledge Church members have of the nature of God, the plan of salvation and the Atonement, according to Matt Tueller, an acting U.S. ambassador in Kuwait and high councilor in the Arabian Peninsula Stake who also played a pivotal role in the recent tour.
Elder Ballard's visit to Dubai was the first for a member of the Quorum of the Twelve in the Middle Eastern nation of the United Arab Emirates since Elder Boyd K. Packer traveled there to organize the Arabian Peninsula Stake in 1983. Those who attended were touched by the direction shared by the visiting Church leaders, wrote Arabian Peninsula Stake President David Alexander.
"Elder Ballard spoke of sharing unselfish love in our families, scripture reading, keeping the Sabbath Day, the importance of family home evening, the law of tithing (and) self-reliance...The Spirit was strong and all were uplifted and will always remember the unique opportunity to hear from one of Christ's special witnesses," President Alexander added.
The Arabian Peninsula Stake stretches across eight countries, serving expatriate members.
More than 400 people attended the fireside in the Erlangen Ward meetinghouse in the Nurnberg Germany Stake. Again, Elder Ballard and Elder Huntsman taught the importance of being rooted in the gospel and serving God and country. Many of the servicemen and women in attendance are preparing to deploy to Iraq in the coming month. They will carry with them valuable direction, wrote President Michael R. Lund, second counselor in the Nurnberg Germany Stake Presidency.
"Elder Ballard spoke of the importance of the basics: repentance, prayer, scripture study, and then said, 'The simple things in your life and mine drive the roots of testimony deep in the soil of the gospel.' What a straight-forward and understandable paradigm to live by," President Lund noted.
Similar counsel was offered to the members and missionaries living and serving in Milan, Italy.
Elder Ballard said he wished he and the Brethren in the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve could meet with every member who wears his or her country's uniform. "Wherever they serve, whatever their circumstances are, they are precious to us."
If LDS military personnel strive to keep the commandments, Elder Ballard added, "they have nothing to fear. Whatever happens, they have the promised blessings of the gospel. The promised blessings of the gospel are the most precious knowledge that anyone in mortality can have."
E-mail to: jswensen@desnews.com
