“News from General Conference,” New Era, May 2018
News from General Conference
7 new temples were announced: in Salta, Argentina; Bengaluru, India; Managua, Nicaragua; Cagayan de Oro, Philippines; Layton, Utah; Richmond, Virginia; and a major city to be determined in Russia
103,221 missionaries currently serving Full-time (67,049) and Church-service (36,172)
421 missions around the world
14 The age when both young men and young women can now participate in ministering opportunities
Melchizedek Priesthood holders will now serve together in one elders quorum
16,118,169 members of the Church worldwide
3 scriptures cited most during this conference:
Mosiah 18:9, D&C 84:20, Moses 1:39. Fun fact: All three of these scriptures are seminary doctrinal mastery verses.
74 The number of messages President Russell M. Nelson has shared in general conference
2 New Apostles Sustained The first Asian American and Latin American called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Elder Gerrit W. Gong was was born in California, USA, on December 23, 1953. He served in the Taiwan Taipei Mission. He graduated from Brigham Young University and later earned degrees from Oxford University. Elder Gong worked in international relations, including at the U.S. embassy in China. He also worked at BYU as assistant to the president for Planning and Assessment. He and his wife, Susan Lindsay, were married in January 1980. They have four children and three grandchildren.
Elder Ulisses Soares was born in São Paulo, Brazil, on October 2, 1958. He served in the Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mission. He graduated from the São Paulo Pontifical Catholic University, School of Economic Science, and later earned a Master of Business Administration. He worked as an accountant and auditor for multinational corporations and for the Church. He and his wife, Rosana Fernandes, were married in October 1982. They have three children and three grandchildren.