Role of the apostles in the latter days
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.
Early in this gospel dispensation, the Lord decreed the duty of the Quorum of the Twelve.
In an 1837 revelation to Thomas B. Marsh, then president of the quorum, He said the Twelve are "chosen to bear testimony of my name and to send it abroad among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people," (Doctrine and Covenants 112:1), that they are to send forth His word "unto the ends of the earth" (verse 4), feed His sheep (verse 14) and "unlock the door of the kingdom in all places" where the First Presidency cannot come (verse 17).
President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve, told the Church News, "The scriptures describe the Twelve as 'a Traveling Presiding High Council, to officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Presidency of the Church . . . ; to build up the church, and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations" (Doctrine and Covenants 107:33). The Twelve are 'to call upon the Seventy, when they need assistance, to fill the several calls for preaching and administering the gospel, instead of any others' (Doctrine and Covenants 107:38). The Lord has promised that He would reveal the way to fulfill these assignments as the need came.
"I remember when not too many years ago it could be said that every stake president in the Church had shaken hands with a member of the Twelve in the past year. Now that the Church has grown and spread abroad, as it was prophesied, we have organized a system that allows us to communicate with many stakes in a single assignment. In this way the world stays small enough so that we can keep contact with the members, particularly the priesthood leaders."
In fulfillment of this scripture, some of the older Brethren have logged millions of miles. For instance, President Packer has traveled well over 2½ million miles.
Elder M. Russell Ballard said, "A couple of years ago, the Twelve determined that continuing the present pattern of visiting stakes around the world would take 27 years for all the current stakes of the Church to be visited by a member of the Twelve. That is unacceptable."
While stake conferences will continue to be held twice a year, it was determined that a new type of priesthood leadership conference would be undertaken whereby members of the Twelve could visit with priesthood leaders on a more intimate, frequent basis. In this way, all the stakes and many of the districts in the Church will be reached within about four years.
In connection with those visits, Church leaders conduct two new kinds of meetings called "priesthood leadership conferences" and "area reviews." Stake presidencies, bishops and branch presidents are brought together within a designated area for training. The leaders also take an in-depth look at what is happening with the Church in a given ecclesiastical area, hearing presentations on aspects of the work such as humanitarian, welfare, missionary, family history and temple. In the process of these visits, the Brethren conduct many meetings with missionaries and members in general.
Articles in this week's Church News focus on the visits of three of the Twelve: Elders Russell M. Nelson and M. Russell Ballard in Europe and Elder D. Todd Christofferson in Peru.
After attending and participating in the dedication of the Kyiv Ukraine Temple on Aug. 29, Elder Nelson traveled to Russia, Sweden and Germany, where he met with area leaders, missionaries and members.
He went to six nations in the Balkans of Europe where he offered prayers of blessings on the lands and for the people of Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia, Sept. 6-9.
Traveling some 13,000 miles Elder Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve visited Church members in Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and then went to Rome, where he met with members and missionaries, and had a historic meeting with high-ranking Roman Catholic leaders at the Vatican.
Elder Christofferson visited several cities in Peru, meeting with government officials and offering blessings and counsel to thousands of LDS Peruvians.
"The backdrop on the European stage is rich with history, ranging from the tragic to the majestic," Elder Nelson told the Church News. "But front and center are many bright and energetic youth, searching for knowledge and eager to embrace the truth. Their enthusiastic spirit, added to the milieu from the past, makes this a day of exceptional opportunity for progress of the Church in Europe. It is indeed the dawning of a new day as the curtains part for these new people on that stage."
Elder Ballard and Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Presidency of the Seventy, who traveled with him, agreed that the word "resurgence" characterizes the condition of the Church in the nations they visited.
"A lot of this is beginning with the younger people," Elder Ballard said. "Outreach centers are catching on and making a big impact. We're introducing the gospel to a lot more young people who are looking for something. It is on the upswing."
In Europe, 92 such centers are located. They are gathering places for young single adults where socializing and friendship occur and the less-active are rescued, Elder Rasband said.
Elder Christofferson called Peru "a bastion for the Church in Latin America."
In addition to the travels of Elders Nelson, Ballard and Christofferson, other members of the Twelve have made visits this year as reflected in the information box on this page.
Countries Visited
Here is a listing of members of the Quorum of the Twelve and the lands for which they have conducted priesthood leadership conferences and area reviews this year as of Sept. 11 with the respective dates. Priesthood leadership conferences have also been held in the U.S.
Elder L. Tom Perry: Russia and eastern Europe, June 5-12
Elder Russell M. Nelson: Brazil, April 17-23; western Europe, Sept. 4-11
Elder Dallin H. Oaks: Asia, Feb. 6-13; May 22-29
Elder M. Russell Ballard: western Europe, Sept. 4-11
Elder Richard G. Scott: eastern Europe, June 5-12; Chile, Aug. 21-28
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: Africa, Feb. 20-27; Brazil, April 10
Elder David A. Bednar: Caribbean, Jan. 16-22; Mexico, May 15-22
Elder Quentin L. Cook: Australia and Pacific, Jan. 23-30
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: Pacific, Jan. 23-30; Peru, Sept. 4-11
Elder Neil L. Andersen: Central America, Feb. 13-19
