Nearly 5,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints filled the Langley Events Centre for the visit by church president Russell Nelson and other international church leaders on Sunday
Nelson, 94, held a special devotional for more than 4,600 church members. Hundreds more joined the devotional remotely across the province.
“Listening to the prophet up close and in person like that was a thrill and an experience of a lifetime for me” said Jenny Friesen who was in attendance with her husband, Scott, and their three boys.
Dave Coleman who travelled from Quesnel to be in attendance commented that “listening to President Nelson speak to members here in B.C. will be a cherished highlight for me.”
Nelson, a former surgeon, spoke primarily about nurturing families and the important role parents have in teaching children, while they are young, to honour God. He stressed the importance of fathers in assisting in rearing children and promised blessings “to the third and fourth generations” of those who would “study the scriptures together” and who “would pray regularly with their families.”
Nelson held a similar devotional to members of the church in Washington State where he addressed nearly 50,000 people in Seattle Saturday.
Since January when he was named president, he has travelled to London, England; Jerusalem, Israel; Nairobi, Kenya; Harare, Zimbabwe; Bengaluru, India; Bangkok, Thailand; Hong Kong, China; Honolulu, Hawaii; Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; as well as other cities across Canada, including Edmonton, Calgary, Raymond, Winnipeg, Montreal, and Hamilton.
Nelson was accompanied by his wife, Wendy, and other dignitaries. The visit offered a rare opportunity to hear Nelson who is also revered by members of the church as a prophet of God.
In British Columbia, there are more than 30,000 Latter-day Saints. The temple in Langley is the only LDS church in this province.
Russell M Nelson was recently announced as a prophet and the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What does it mean to Mormons to have a living prophet? Glad you asked . . .
— Mormon.org (@MORMONorg) January 20, 2018
https://t.co/jyITsYDkYr
