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Elder Andersen on the growth of the Church in Philippines, including the arrival of the Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra’s ‘Hope’ tour

During sacrament meeting for Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra members, Elder Neil L. Andersen spoke about talents and their service in the growth of the Church

PASAY CITY, Philippines — Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, were in the Philippines when the 100th stake was created in 2017.

“We saw some of those early members, and we embraced them. Now there are 128 stakes here just in the last six and a half years,” Elder Andersen said.

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks at a sacrament meeting with members of the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square ahead of their concert at Quadricentennial Pavilion of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines, on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Elder and Sister Andersen, who have been ministering in the Philippines since Feb. 17, were present to see another milestone in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southeast Asia island nation — the first performances of The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.

The 323 choir members and 68 orchestra members are on the second stop of the volunteer choir’s world “Hope” tour and performed a special event on Friday, Feb. 23, and a sacred music concert on Sunday, Feb. 25. There are two more concerts planned for Feb. 27-28 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

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The Andersens were at a sacrament meeting on Sunday, Feb. 25, with the Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra and staff members at the SMX Conference center. Choir and orchestra members sat around circular tables in a large hall.

Joining them were Elder Steven R. Bangerter, a General Authority Seventy and president of the Philippines Area, and his wife, Sister Susann Bangerter; Elder Yoon Hwan Choi, General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the area presidency, and his wife Sister Bon Kyung Koo Choi; Elder Carlos G. Revillo Jr., General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the area presidency, and his wife, Sister Marites F. Revillo; and Tabernacle Choir President Michael O. Leavitt and counselors President L. Whitney Clayton and President Gary B. Porter, and their wives Sister Kathy Clayton and Sister Debbie Porter.

With 853,254 Church members across 1,272 congregations and 23 missions, the Philippines has the most members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Asia. Outside of the United States, only Mexico (1.5 million) and Brazil (1.4 million) have more.

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, talk with members of The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square after a sacrament meeting ahead of their concert at Quadricentennial Pavilion of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines, on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Elder Andersen noted the growth of the Church in the country, not just in stakes but also in the number of temples.

There are two dedicated temples in the Philippines — the Manila Philippines Temple (dedicated in 1984) and the Cebu City Philippines Temple (2010). The Urdaneta Philippines Temple is scheduled to be dedicated on April 28. Three more houses of the Lord are under construction — in Alabang (started in June 2020), Davao (November 2020) and Bacolod (December 2021). Seven other temples have been announced and are in planning but without published sites — in Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Laoag, Naga, Santiago, Tacloban City and Tuguegarao City.

“We see these temples emerging. We’re here with the Tabernacle Choir,” he said. “Progress is moving at warp speed. And we are seeing the Lord’s hand in a marvelous way.”

Elder Andersen, who has previously been to the Philippines several times, said “we never leave the Philippines without loving them even more.”

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles sits down for an interview after he and his wife Sister, Kathy Andersen, and others attended a sacrament meeting with the members of the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in the SMX convention center in Manila ahead of their concert at Quadricentennial Pavilion of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas in Manila on Sunday, February 25, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Sunday sacrament meeting

During sacrament meeting, Elder Andersen shared his gratitude for each choir and orchestra member for developing and sharing their talents.

“You each here, whether you are in the choir or orchestra, have been given a gift. It’s a gift you have magnified,” Elder Andersen said. The performers could be satisfied to sing in their wards or in the shower, but they have developed their musical gifts and committed themselves the the time to rehearse and perform with the choir and orchestra.

“This is a big commitment,” he said. “But in doing so, your gift has been magnified and multiplied and enlarged. And your gift fills the whole world. This week, it fills the Philippines.”

Elder Andersen personalized a scripture from Matthew 25:31-40 for the choir and orchestra members about serving others. Elder Andersen first read the words exactly as the scripture is written. He then, asking permission from the choir and orchestra, adjusted the words of the Savior to emphasize the righteous giving of the choir members.

“For I was lonely, and ye sang for me. I was having problems, and ye played for me. I was a stranger, and ye embraced me.

“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee lonely and sang for thee? or [having] problems, and played for thee? When saw we thee a stranger, and embraced thee?

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Elder Andersen noted their talents and also their efforts and sacrifice to come on the tour and that it will “reach across this land and bless so many lives.”

Sister Andersen shared her love and gratitude for the choir and orchestra members and shared several scriptures about the Savior.

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, talk with Tabernacle Choir President Micheal O. Leavitt as they and others attended a sacrament meeting with the members of the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in the SMX convention center in metro Manila, Philippines, ahead of their concert at Quadricentennial Pavilion of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines, on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

President Leavitt recounted some of the history of the Church in the Philippines, including the story of Maxine Grimm, an American nurse who was stationed in the Philippines as a Red Cross worker during World War II and helped with the growth of the Church there.

“In the 63-year history of missionary work in the Philippines, the arrival of the Tabernacle Choir will be an important part of that history, and we have the privilege of being part of that,” he said.

Elder Bangerter recalled several experiences from the time he and Sister Bangerter were assigned to the Philippines five years ago, the only predominantly Christian nation in Asia. “We want you to understand the Lord’s hand among these beautiful people the way that we do.”

Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square members attend a sacrament meeting where Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to them, in metro Manila, Philippines, on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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