Follow the Prophet
Our Prophets and Apostles Today


“Our Prophets and Apostles Today,” Friend, May 2018

Our Prophets and Apostles Today

getting-to-know-you cards for First Presidency and Twelve Apostles
picutres of the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles

Jesus Christ leads The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through prophets and apostles. Read about them below. Then cut out the pictures below and tape them in place on the chart. Put tape at the top of each picture so you can still read the facts underneath!

President Russell M. Nelson

President Russell M. Nelson

17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

  • Was a heart surgeon

  • Studied several languages, including Mandarin

  • Has 10 children—9 girls and 1 boy

President Dallin H. Oaks

President Dallin H. Oaks

First Counselor in the First Presidency

  • Cleaned a radio repair shop as his first job

  • Became a lawyer and Utah Supreme Court judge

  • Was president of BYU

President Henry B. Eyring

President Henry B. Eyring

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

  • Played basketball in high school

  • Learned physics from his father on their family chalkboard

  • Was president of Ricks College, now BYU–Idaho

President M. Russell Ballard

President M. Russell Ballard

Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

  • Was nicknamed “the bishop” in college because of his high standards

  • Owned a car dealership

  • Served as a missionary in England and as mission president in Toronto, Canada

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

  • Was a mission companion with Elder Cook in England

  • Worked for the Church Education System

  • Was president of BYU

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

  • Was a refugee twice as a child

  • Was an airplane captain

  • Enjoys skiing with his children and grandchildren

Elder David A. Bednar

Elder David A. Bednar

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

  • Was a quarterback on his high-school football team

  • After serving a mission in Germany, baptized his father a member of the Church

  • Was president of Ricks College when it became BYU–Idaho

Elder Quentin L. Cook

Elder Quentin L. Cook

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

  • Gained a testimony after studying scriptures and praying with his older brother

  • Saw his future wife at a junior-high talent show

  • Served as a Church leader in the Philippines and Pacific Islands

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

  • Baked homemade bread for his family growing up

  • Participated in the Hill Cumorah Pageant as a teenager

  • Worked as a lawyer before being called as an Apostle

Elder Neil L. Andersen

Elder Neil L. Andersen

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

  • Grew up on a dairy farm in Idaho, USA

  • Served as a missionary and mission president in France

  • Speaks French, Portuguese, Spanish, and English

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

  • Was mission president in New York City, USA

  • His motto is “It’s people that matter most”

  • Dedicated the first LDS Church building in the Czech Republic

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

  • Served as a missionary and mission president in Japan

  • Started a business manufacturing and selling exercise equipment

  • Served as bishop over the whole Church

Elder Dale G. Renlund

Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

  • His middle name, Gunnar, means “brave soldier”

  • Moved to Sweden as a teenager

  • Worked as a heart doctor

Elder Gerrit W. Gong

Elder Gerrit W. Gong

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

  • Likes animals, including penguins

  • Loves meeting people in every country

  • Has family history records back to First Dragon Gong in 837 AD

Elder Ulisses Soares

Elder Ulisses Soares

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

  • Is from Brazil, and served as a missionary there and mission president in Portugal

  • Learned about the Church with his family as a young boy

  • Started getting ready for a mission when he was 12 years old