Beyond broadcast and livestreamed conferences, devotionals and other messaging opportunities spanning international borders, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints travel the globe to reach and teach as many as possible.
As general authorities and general officers make these global ministries, trainings and visits, they strive to be present for as many of the Saints as possible. That is accomplished regularly through high-profile, large meetings, ranging from tens of thousands attending in stadiums, arenas and community centers to hundreds in stake centers and the largest meetinghouses available.
However, from reporting assignments with the Church News and Deseret News as well as in ecclesiastical service as a stake president and a mission president, I can witness that Church leaders look for as many small-group meetings and one-on-one interactions where circumstances and settings allow.
For example, sometimes an Apostle stays long after a meeting or gathering to shake the hand of each attendee. Other times, through inquiry and inspiration, leaders find those who can benefit from individual attention and then counsel, comfort, congratulate, correct or encourage as needed.
I’ve watched leaders go into homes to offer blessings, sit knee-to-knee in counseling or pull someone aside after a meeting for a face-to-face conversation. A few times, I’ve asked if the situation is something I could include in my reporting — but almost always I’m waved off, quickly learning these are private, personal moments between leader and individual. Instead, I simply observe in awe.
When Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles teaches of the resurrected Savior appearing to the Nephites and Lamanites gathered at the land Bountiful (3 Nephi 11), he underscores how Christ allowed each person there to come one by one and see, touch and feel the nail prints in His hands and feet and the wound in His side, allowing each a personal witness of His Resurrection and divinity.
Not only have I been a witness of modern-day leaders reaching out to the one, but my family and I have been recipients as well.
During President Russell M. Nelson’s August 2018 ministry in Canada, I covered his devotional with Saints in the Palais des congrés de Montréal auditorium and was told to follow the official party off the stage afterward to the back loading dock to be shuttled to an interview with him at his Montreal hotel.
There at the dock, President Nelson was standing at the bottom of a short flight of steps leading to the waiting cars, extending his hand of assistance and his words of appreciation to each member of the group as they stepped down.
When then-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles released me as a stake president in 2008, he spent time prior to the general session of stake conference conversing with my wife and children and expressing appreciation for their sacrifices.
While in Jerusalem two years ago, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Twelve Apostles penned notes of encouragement inside copies of “For the Strength of Youth” booklets for some youth.
When my wife and I were relatively new Arizona Phoenix Mission leaders, we met with Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Melanie Rasband, and other mission leaders during a mission leadership seminar. He learned that our 16-year-old son was struggling and feeling distant — away from hometown friends, starting at a new high school and dealing with mission-busy parents.
The Rasbands were empathetic, with a daughter having similar experiences when they presided over the New York New York North Mission. Elder Rasband asked that our son join the mission leaders for the evening activity and dinner.
There Elder Rasband spent time visiting with our son, encouraging him, congratulating him and listening to him.
Our family has treasured and talked about these one-by-one moments over the years, appreciative of the leaders and their examples.
And I will continue to observe with awe as the general authorities and general officers meet with the Saints and minister one by one, when opportunity permits. And I will apply my learnings in looking for one-by-one moments in my service, ministering and interactions with others.
— Scott Taylor is managing editor of the Church News.
