CUERNAVACA, MEXICO
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve and Elder Jay E. Jensen of the Presidency of the Seventy were in Cuernavaca, Mexico, Sept. 10-11 to hold priesthood leadership training, missionary meetings and stake conferences. They were joined by Elders Benjamin De Hoyos of the Seventy and the Mexico Area Presidency and Elder Julio C. Gonzalez, an Area Seventy.
In greeting the members Sunday morning, stake president José Antonio Cortés noted that Diana Aurea Recio Téllez, the director of religious affairs for the State of Morelos, Mexico, was a special guest at the Cuernavaca Mexico Civac Stake conference where Elder Ballard presided. In June, Mrs. Recio Téllez directed the organizational meeting of the Morelos Interreligious Council with the intent of "creating a movement that seeks for peace and hope, uniting together in behalf of the family, education and the common good."
During the conference meeting Elder Ballard challenged members to participate fully in the law of the fast, including giving fast offerings to help meet the needs of those who have suffered. This, he said, is a great privilege for members of the Church.
He also spoke of the love that the Lord has for women. He recalled that it was with a woman at Jacob's well, a Samaritan, that He first spoke of "living water" that would be like a well unto everlasting life, thereby announcing His Messiahship first to a daughter of God.
Elder Ballard also spoke of the love God has for all of His children, emphasizing the nature of God as the Father. He reminded the congregation of God's love and support for His children during challenging times. He especially emphasized the power of a deep and abiding conversion through the Spirit, which will carry them through any storm they encounter in their lives.
After the meeting Mrs. Recio Tellez thanked Elder Ballard for his inspiring remarks and for the invitation to attend. Elder Ballard later said, "She paid us quite a compliment. I told her, 'We are so grateful that you came. Thank you for being so kind to come and worship with us.' She then replied, 'Oh, I know your people, and I love your people.' "
Director Recio Téllez has fully supported this new interfaith organization. President Raúl Rodríguez, president of the neighboring Cuernavaca Mexico stake, is the secretary of the Morelos Interreligious Council.
He indicated that the organization is planning to join together in support of a state-sponsored reforestation effort. In addition, more than 500 members from Cuernavaca, Cuautla and Jujutla recently participated in a government-sponsored project that gathered more than two tons of used batteries for recycling.
After the stake conference, Elder Ballard commented, "We need to work together with people of like minds. I am a great believer that there is work to be done shoulder-to-shoulder with the Catholic Church, the evangelical churches and the Protestant churches. We do not need to focus on doctrine. Our doctrine is our doctrine; we are not going to compromise on that. But when it comes to protecting religious freedom, the right to speak out, the right to believe, the right to worship, we have to stand together as a Christian community."
