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Church Leader Linda K. Burton Throws Out First Pitch at Dodgers Game

Several thousand members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined other baseball fans in Los Angeles, California, on Friday, July 10, 2015, to see the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Milwaukee Brewers during the annual Mormon Night at Dodger Stadium.

Sister Linda K. Burton throws the first pitch at the Dodgers game in Los Angeles, July 10, 2015. Photo courtesy of Art Balena.

During the pregame festivities, the ceremonial pitch was thrown out by Sister Linda K. Burton, general president of the Relief Society, which is one of the largest women’s organizations in the world. Members of the Relief Society provide support for the temporal and spiritual needs of Mormon women, as well as serve those of other faiths.

Above: Helen Easterling Williams, EdD, dean of Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (left); Sister Linda K. Burton, general president of the Relief Society (center) and Reverend Rosalynn Brookins of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (right) meet after the ceremonial pitch at the Dodgers game. Photo courtesy of Nathan Petty.

Above: Area Seventy Elder Gary Wilde, Sister Linda K. Burton and Craig Burton wave to the crowd at Dodger stadium in Los Angeles on July 10, 2015. Photo courtesy of Nathan Petty.

Mormon Night has been held for more than 30 years, making it the longest running community event held by the Dodger organization. Baseball fans were treated to fireworks following the game.

Sister Linda K. Burton, general president of the Relief Society, meets with game attendees. Photo courtesy of Nathan Petty.

Sister Burton follows other leaders of the Church in throwing out the first pitch during Mormon Night in previous years. Last year, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had the honors. Others have included President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency; Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

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