In his first general conference address since being sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Gary E. Stevenson began with a tribute to his late predecessors — President Boyd K. Packer, Elder L. Tom Perry and Elder Richard G. Scott.
"Our memories of them are poignant, and I add my tribute to honor them, each so uniquely different, yet so harmonized in their witness and testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atonement," he said. "Furthermore, I, like you, find strength in and sustain President Thomas S. Monson as prophet, seer, and revelator, and I marvel at his faithful and dutiful apostolic service spanning over 50 remarkable years."
Elder Stevenson then spoke of his unexpected call to the Apostleship just days before his sustaining.
"I was called to meet with President Monson, along with his counselors. Moments later, as I walked into the board room, adjacent to his office, I must have looked nervous sitting across the table, as he kindly spoke to calm my nerves. He commented, noting my age, that I seemed quite young, and even looked younger than my age. Then, within a few moments, President Monson described that acting on the will of the Lord, a call to the Quorum of the Twelve was being extended to me"
Elder Stevenson accepted the call.
"And then, before I could even verbalize a tsunami of indescribable emotion, most of which were feelings of inadequacy, President Monson kindly reached out to me, describing how he was called many years ago as an apostle, by President David O. McKay, at which time he too felt inadequate."
President Monson then offered this assurance: "Bishop Stevenson, the Lord qualifies those whom he calls."
Those soothing words of a prophet, he said, "have been a source of peace, a calm in a storm of painful self-examination and tender feelings in ensuing agonizing hours which have passed day and night since then."
Elder Stevenson spoke of his "deepest love" for his wife, Sister Lesa Stevenson. "She is the sunshine in and of my life, and a remarkable daughter of God. Hers is a life punctuated by selfless services and unconditional love of all. I will strive to remain worthy of the blessing of our eternal union."
He expressed his love for his four sons, his daughters-in-law, his six grandchildren his parents and his siblings. "I love each of them and love how they love the Savior and the gospel."
"I have been blessed with a close association with the members of the First Presidency, the Twelve, the Seventy and the General Auxiliary Presidencies. I express my love and esteem to each of you sisters and brothers and will strive to be worthy of our continued association. The Presiding Bishopric enjoys an almost heavenly unity."
He concluded with a testimony of Christ and His gospel.
"As I agonized over my inadequacies this week, I received a distinct impression which both chastened and comforted me: to focus not on what I can't do, but rather on what I can do. I can testify of the plain and precious truths of the gospel."
