News Release

Apostles Teach Wellington Missionaries to 'Radiate the Love and Power of Christ'

President M. Russell Ballard and Elder Gary E. Stevenson, both apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, flew into Wellington on Friday 18 May to meet with full-time missionaries and local Church leaders.

President Ballard is the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church. Elder Stevenson is also a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. They both live in Salt Lake City in the United States.

         

Accompanying President Ballard and Elder Stevenson this weekend are Elder Carl B. Cook of the Presidency of the Seventy and members of the Pacific Area Presidency, Elder O. Vincent Haleck, Elder Craig A. Cardon and Elder Ian S. Ardern.

President Ballard told the missionaries: "It takes faith to be a full-time missionary, to get on your knees and call down the powers of heaven, to represent Jesus Christ."

"Telling people the experience of Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove in 1820 is one of the most important experiences we can share."

"Heavenly Father loves His children enough," he added, "to send a prophet to teach us how to draw closer to God and His Son Jesus Christ."

         

"There is a prophet of the living God upon the Earth today," President Ballard said. "And apostles, who all teach and testify of Jesus Christ." 

President Ballard urged each missionary to "radiate the love and power of Jesus Christ."

Elder Stevenson urged the approximately 120 young and senior missionaries in attendance to help those they are teaching to understand the promises that God has extended to individuals who obey His commandments.

He encouraged the missionaries to pray and to study the scriptures, especially The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. 

       

Elder Stevenson promised the missionaries that as they do these things they will be closer to God and those around them. These promises, he said, also apply to the people they teach.

During his remarks, Elder Cook invited two young missonaries to come to the stand and asked them to share with the group their feelings about the restoration of the Church and Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

He also talked about his service as mission president in Auckland from 2005 to 2008.

Elders Haleck, Cardon and Ardern were accompanied by their wives, Peggy Haleck, Deborah Cardon and Paula Ardern. 

Also in attendance at the meeting were Elder David J. Thomson and Elder Allistair B. Odgers who are both Area Seventies who live in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Wellington Mission President, Newman N. Soloai, and his wife Luisa Kava Kavea ‘Etuate Soloai also attended the meeting.

After the meeting, some of the missionaries shared what they heard and felt as they listened to the visiting apostles and other leaders.

Some of the comments focussed on the love God has for each missionary and all of His children around the world. Others shared that they learned more about their purpose as missionaries and ways they can teach and testify of Jesus Christ with more understanding, clarity and power.

On Saturday 19 May the visiting Church leaders will meet with Latter-day Saint congregational leaders in Wellington, in the morning, and Sydney, in the evening.

On Sunday morning, 20 May, they will speak to Church members in three special stake conferences in Sydney.

This will be followed by a Sydney missionary meeting and then a Facebook Live event on Sunday evening during which the visiting leaders will speak to Latter-day Saints across Australia and New Zealand.

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