ROME — In a major capital of Christianity on Monday, all 15 apostle-leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered together for the first time outside the United States in what some called a powerful statement about the church's role as a world religion.
The moment was captured in photos of them in front of the statues of Jesus Christ and his ancient apostles in the church's visitors' center at the new Rome Italy Temple. Their senior leader, President Russell M. Nelson, called "a modern Peter" by one of the faith's apostles and regarded as a prophet by members who believe the faith to be literally Christ's restored church, tweeted the group photo and a second of him alone next to a statue of Peter holding the priesthood keys to lead Christ's church.
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"The Lord stands at the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," the tweet said. "As modern-day apostles of Jesus Christ, the message we share today is the same that apostles shared long ago—that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that this is his church."
The Lord stands at the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As modern-day Apostles of Jesus Christ, the message we share today is the same that Apostles shared long ago—that God lives and Jesus is the Christ. pic.twitter.com/1fTyrRDl3I — Russell M. Nelson (@NelsonRussellM) March 11, 2019
Story by Tad Walch, Deseret News
Lead image: Every member of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints posed for an iconic photograph in the Rome Italy Temple visitors center in Rome, Italy on Monday, March 11, 2019. Front center are President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors in the First Presidency, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring. Also included are members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: President M. Russell Ballard, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Elder David A. Bednar, Elder Quentin L. Cook, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Elder Neil L. Andersen, Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Elder Dale G. Renlund, Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Elder Ulisses Soares. Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News.
