Each member of the Church must build a deep faith in Christ, Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles told members in Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua during their assignments in Central America in January 2011. Along with other Church leaders, they counseled members to strengthen their families through prayer, scripture study, temple service, family home evening, observance of the Sabbath day, obedience to the Lord’s commandments, and sharing their faith with those around them.

Elder Christofferson and Elder Ballard presided over conferences in several stakes and participated in firesides for local priesthood leaders, parents and married couples, young single adults, and youth. They also met with 1,100 missionaries in four missions, stake presidencies, bishops, and branch presidents.

“You are some of the most precious children on earth, and God loves you,” Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles told Latter-day Saints of Mozambique while he was recently in the Africa Southeast Area. Eleven years after dedicating this country for the preaching of the gospel, Elder Scott returned in January 2011 to find that the Church has made great progress.

On Elder Scott’s first visit, there were only 40 Church members in Mozambique, and the country was part of the South Africa Johannesburg Mission. At the time of his second visit, the Church had grown to more than 5,000 members spread throughout 2 districts, 19 branches, and 3 groups meeting across the country. Mozambique is also the headquarters of the Mozambique Maputo Mission, which covers all of Mozambique and Angola.

Before leaving, Elder Scott took time to meet and thank doctors who were in Mozambique with the Church’s humanitarian aid program.

Church members and missionaries in the Pacific were recently instructed, uplifted, and edified by two members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Neil L. Andersen.

Elder Bednar met with missionaries and members in Tonga, New Zealand, Hawaii, and the Marshall Islands. For members in the Marshall Islands, Elder Bednar’s visit was an important event, as it is believed to be the first time a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had ever visited.

Elder Andersen fulfilled assignments in Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and French Polynesia.

“As we travel to the isles of the sea and the uttermost parts of the earth, we see the Church is everywhere,” Elder Bednar said. “It is firmly established, it is growing, and there are faithful, good people. It is truly miraculous.”