Elder Renlund Makes Visit to Mexico
Contributed By John Griffin, Church News contributor
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Elder Elder Dale G. Renlund greets local leaders as he arrives for the Aguascalientes Mission conference during a visit to México January 30–31, 2016.
“Remembering what God has done for us and making covenants to keep His commandments and remembering Him is what should happen in sacrament meeting each week.” —Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Busath.com
Elder Dale G. Renlund reports that he was uplifted by the faith and devotion of the Mexican members following his first visit as an Apostle to Mexico at the end of January.
At the end of a multiday trip through the Caribbean, Elder Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, accompanied by Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Presidency of the Seventy and Bishop Gérald Caussé of the Presiding Bishopric, spent a weekend in Mexico January 30–31, accompanied by their wives: Sister Ruth Renlund, Sister Nancy Maynes, and Sister Valérie Caussé.
The leaders met with hundreds of leaders, missionaries, and members in Léon, Querétero, and Aguascalientes, Mexico. They were accompanied by Elder Paul B. Pieper of the Mexico Area Presidency and his wife, Sister Lisa Pieper.
A missionary asks Elder Dale G. Renlund a question during an Aguascalientes Mission conference. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
Elder Dale G. Renlund greets members from the Léon Stake during a visit to Mexico January 30–31. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
Elder Dale G. Renlund greets members in the Léon Stake during a visit to Mexico January 30–31. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
Elder Dale G. Renlund and his wife, Ruth, greet members from the Léon Stake during a visit to Mexico January 30–31. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
Elder Dale G. Renlund greets members from the Querétero Stake during a visit to Mexico January 30–31. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
During the meetings, Elder Renlund commented how unusual it is to have a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, the Presiding Bishop, a General Authority Seventy, and multiple Area Seventies in one meeting to teach and train.
Elder Renlund and Bishop Caussé trained elders and sisters serving in the Mexico Aguascalientes Mission on Saturday morning, January 30. Elder Renlund thanked the missionaries for their service on behalf of the Lord, the First Presidency, and the Quorum of the Twelve. Elder Renlund and the other leaders answered many questions posed by the missionaries.
On Saturday afternoon, Elder Renlund, Elder Maynes, Elder Pieper, Bishop Caussé, and Area Seventies Elder Jose Pineda and Elder Alfredo Mirón instructed stake presidencies and bishops from the Queretaro and Aguascalientes coordinating councils. The focus of the meeting was how to best lead the Saints in Mexico. The question was asked, “What are the three most important concerns the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve have for Mexico, and what would they counsel Mexicans to do?”
Elder Renlund responded that the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve rely heavily on the Area Presidency to travel throughout the country and to receive the revelation for the specific needs of Mexico. Those needs are reflected in the Mexico Area Plan that is carefully reviewed and approved by those at Church headquarters. Elder Pieper then reviewed the three areas of emphasis of the area plan and the promised blessings.
The wives of the visiting General Authorities led a training meeting on Saturday afternoon for auxiliary leaders from the same coordinating councils. They discussed the importance of working together as auxiliaries and the interrelationship of each auxiliary in the work of salvation for members. The sisters also gave other counsel, such as how to prepare for callings and spiritual preparedness in callings.
Later that evening, Elder Renlund, Elder Pieper, and Bishop Caussé held a devotional for members in the Léon Stake, while Elder Maynes traveled to Aguascalientes for a meeting with the youth and young single adults.
On Sunday morning, Elder Renlund presided over and taught at a special stake meeting for the Queretaro Mexico Stake. A major focus of his teaching was preparing for and participating in the blessings of the sacrament.
“Remembering what God has done for us and making covenants to keep His commandments and remembering Him is what should happen in sacrament meeting each week,” he taught. “When we partake of the sacrament we are showing our willingness to take upon us His name, willing to always remember what Christ has done for us, keep His commandments, and then we can always have His Spirit with us. If we approach sacrament like baptism, as we renew our baptism covenants through sacrament, Christ renews the cleansing effects of baptism.”
Elder Renlund said, “Ruth and I very much enjoyed our time in Mexico. We were uplifted by the faith and devotion of the many members that we met there. It was a wonderful visit, and we look forward to returning to Mexico at some point in the future.”
Missionaries attend an Aguascalientes Mission conference where Elder Dale G. Renlund spoke while he was on assignment in Mexico January 30–31. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
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Elder Dale G. Renlund speaks to missionaries during an Aguascalientes Mission conference while he was on assignment in Mexico January 30–31. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
Elder Dale G. Renlund greets members of the Léon Stake during a visit to Mexico January 30–31. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Presidency of the Seventy greet local leaders during a priesthood leadership conference in Léon. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
Members from the Léon Stake attend a devotional where Elder Dale G. Renlund and other Church leaders spoke while on assignment in Mexico January 30–31. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
Elder Dale G. Renlund speaks during a devotional for the Léon Stake during a visit to Mexico January 30–31. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
Elder Dale G. Renlund greets members of the Léon Stake during a visit to Mexico January 30–31. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
Elder Dale G. Renlund speaks during a Querétero Stake conference. Elder Renlund visited Mexico January 30–31. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
Elder Dale G. Renlund greets members following the Querétero Stake conference. Elder Renlund visited Mexico January 30–31. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
Members from the Querétero Stake wave following a stake conference where Elder Dale G. Renlund spoke. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
A family attends the Querétero Stake conference where Elder Dale G. Renlund spoke. Photo by Dalene Griffin.
