Hundreds of members and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered in two European locations last weekend to be inspired and instructed by a member of the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. On Saturday, June 8. 2013, Elder Russell M. Nelson provided training to lay ecclesiastical leaders from Southern Germany, Austria, and the Germanic Switzerland in Munich. The following day, he attended a Church conference held in Munich for members and friends from Southern Bavaria and addressed the faithful during a special gathering in Padova in Northeastern Italy.
During his trip, Elder Nelson was accompanied by several senior leaders of the Church: Elder Ulisses Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy, Elder Patrick Kearon of the Europe Area Presidency, and Elder Christian Fingerle, an Area Seventy.
"Church members came prepared; they brought their friends and all were blessed. Those who met and were taught by Elder and Sister Nelson spoke of being lifted and having their questions answered. It was a privilege for me to see the faith of those who came and see their determination to act upon what they had experienced," said Elder Kearon.
Other Church leaders commented on the feeling from the conference as well. “I was deeply moved by Elder Nelson’s visit as a father. In his talk, he pointed out the simple Christ-like principles that we, as parents, get to teach our children. Elder Nelson expressed the desire for all children to be able to remember the voice of their father reading the Holy Scriptures to them out loud,” said Michael Auras, President of the Munich Stake.
The Munich training meeting included those with leadership positions from the Munich, Stuttgart, Zürich, St. Gallen, Bern, Salzburg, and Vienna Stakes. Concurrently, a special meeting was held for female Church members from the same locations. Stakes consist of several Church congregations in a set geographic area.
The same night, members of the Venice Stake met in Padova to hear from Elder Nelson.
An internationally renowned surgeon and medical researcher, Elder Nelson was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on April 7, 1984. He is listed in Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who in Religion. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one of the highest presiding bodies in the government of the Church. In addition to their primary responsibility to be special witnesses of the name of Christ throughout the world, the apostles oversee the development of the global Church.