Elder Stevenson Speaks Japanese in Second Face to Face Broadcast in Asia
Contributed By Marianne Holman Prescott, Church News staff writer
From left, Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita, General Authority Seventy, and his wife, Sister Tazuko Yamashita; Sister Lesa Stevenson; Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and the two youth hosts, Miyu Nakiatania and Mashahiro Yoshikawa, during the Face to Face event held in Japan on August 15.
Youth in Japan received a special gift from Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during the first regional Face to Face broadcast in their country on August 15—the Apostle spoke entirely in Japanese.
“It’s the language of their heart, and it’s kind of become the language of my heart as well,” said Elder Stevenson, in a Mormon Newsroom release. “I felt it a great privilege to be able to testify of Jesus Christ and of His role as our Savior and Redeemer in Japanese to our Japanese Saints, especially these special young people. … They are the treasure of Japan.”
The broadcast, originating in Osaka, Japan, covered topics such as marriage, social media use, and finding balance and was the second Face to Face event with Elder Stevenson and his wife, Sister Lesa Stevenson, in Asia, the first occurring in the Philippines just a few days prior. (See related story.)
“I hope [the youth] realize how strong they are and how loved they are and how they are so important to the rise and the growth of this country and the Church in Japan,” said Sister Stevenson.
As a young man, Elder Stevenson served in Japan as a missionary and later traveled there often for his business career. The Stevenson family lived in the country for seven years while Elder Stevenson served as mission president of the Japan Nagoya Mission from 2004 to 2007, as well as when he was a counselor and president in the Asia North Area Presidency during his call as a General Authority Seventy.
Joining Elder and Sister Stevenson for the event were Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita, General Authority Seventy, and his wife, Sister Tazuko Yamashita, and two youth hosts, Miyu Nakiatania and Mashahiro Yoshikawa.
“It is a great, great blessing to have Elder and Sister Stevenson here,” Elder Yamashita said. “We feel how our Heavenly Father loves these young men and young women.”
For the one of the co-hosts, Miyu Nakiatania, being with the Church leaders made her “really happy.”
“This event will be one of the top experiences of my life,” she said.
Youth around the country submitted questions prior to the event through social media channels and then tuned in to the broadcast from their various locations.
To view the broadcast and past Face to Face events, visit ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Youth in Japan listen during a Face to Face event with Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Lesa Stevenson, on August 15.
Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Lesa Stevenson, speak with the youth in Japan during a Face to Face event on August 15.
Youth hosts, Miyu Nakiatania and Mashahiro Yoshikawa, during the Face to Face event held in Japan on August 15.
Youth in Japan listen during a Face to Face event with Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Lesa Stevenson, on August 15.
Youth perform at a Face to Face event held in Japan on August 15.
From left, Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita, General Authority Seventy, and his wife, Sister Tazuko Yamashita; Sister Lesa Stevenson and Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and the two youth hosts, Miyu Nakiatania and Mashahiro Yoshikawa, during the Face to Face event held in Japan on August 15.
