“Conference News,” Friend, Nov. 2015, 3–5

Conference News

Three new members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were sustained in this conference!

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Elder Ronald A. Rasband was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on February 6, 1951. He has loved Jesus Christ since he was little and listened to his mom read scriptures and stories about Jesus.

When Elder Rasband got his mission call to the Eastern States Mission, he was disappointed. He had wanted to go to Germany, like his father and brother had. He prayed to feel OK about his mission call. After his prayer, he opened his scriptures and started reading. The scriptures he read (D&C 100:2–3, 5) let him know that his mission was exactly where Heavenly Father wanted him to go. After that, he was excited to serve a mission! He also learned that the scriptures could answer his questions.

He went to college at the University of Utah. Later he became the president of a chemical company. In 1973 he married Melanie Twitchell. They have five children and 25 grandchildren.

Elder Rasband served in many callings before becoming an Apostle. These callings helped him learn to rely on Heavenly Father. His favorite thing has been to meet Church members around the world.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

Can you imagine being bishop of the whole Church? That was Elder Gary E. Stevenson’s calling before he became an Apostle. Elder Stevenson was born in Ogden, Utah, on August 6, 1955. When Gary was young, his father was a bishop. Gary often went with his father to visit widows in their ward. By watching his father, Gary learned to care for others like Christ would.

Elder Stevenson served in the Japan Fukuoka Mission. After he got home, he studied business at Utah State University. In college he met Lesa Jean Higley. They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple in 1979. They have four sons and six grandchildren.

Before he became a General Authority, Elder Stevenson helped start a business that made exercise equipment. He served as a bishop, counselor in the stake presidency, and mission president in Japan before becoming a member of the Quorum of the Seventy. He was serving as the Presiding Bishop when he was called to be an Apostle. What he learned as a child continues to help him love and serve people around the world today.

Elder Dale G. Renlund

Before Elder Dale G. Renlund was called “Elder Renlund,” he was called “Dr. Renlund.” That’s because before he became a General Authority, he was a cardiologist, or heart doctor.

Elder Renlund was born on November 13, 1952 in Salt Lake City, Utah. His mother and father had moved there from Sweden and Finland so they could be married in the temple. At bedtime, Dale’s father often read a Finnish poem about a farmer who shared grain with a neighbor. It taught Dale how important it is to serve others. When he got older, Elder Renlund served a mission to Sweden.

Elder Renlund and his wife, Ruth Lybbert Renlund, have one daughter. They are a very close and loving family. When their daughter was four, Elder Renlund sometimes took her home teaching with him. Later, their family liked to learn about different countries by traveling together.

For five years Elder and Sister Renlund served in Africa. They learned from the great faith of the Church members they met there. Wherever he goes, Elder Renlund teaches people to keep trying and to believe in Jesus Christ!