Elder Stevenson Throws First Pitch at Kansas City Royals Game

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints threw the ceremonial first pitch during JustServe Night at a Kansas City Royals baseball game on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.

Elder Stevenson’s pitch was caught by former Royals World Series pitcher and Latter-day Saint Jeremy Guthrie.

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After the first pitch, 150 service and teaching missionaries in the Missouri Independence Mission sang the United States national anthem. Several American Sign Language missionaries signed the words.

Elder Stevenson, who turned 69 on Tuesday, was accompanied by his wife, Lesa, and some family and friends. The Royals shared birthday wishes and a birthday cake with the Apostle.

“It was a very special evening to be with local community and interfaith leaders, along with over 2,000 Latter-day Saints and missionaries,” said Elder Stevenson, who is the first Apostle to attend a Royals game. “This underscores the importance of JustServe and communities coming together to help others. I was especially grateful for the warm birthday wishes from everyone.”

Guthrie played for five Major League Baseball teams and, with his wife Jenny, led the Church’s Texas Houston South Mission (2018–2021). He called Tuesday night a “fantastic experience.”

“There is such an energy in Kansas City these days for the success of the 2024 team,” Guthrie said. “It brought back fond memories to see the missionaries singing the national anthem on the field, and it was all topped off by having an Apostle of the Lord, Elder Gary Stevenson, be there to throw the first pitch.”

Each year, one Royals baseball game is a place for Latter-day Saints from all around the Kansas City area to enjoy a night together. To highlight JustServe (a Church-sponsored service-organizing website and app), T-shirts were distributed Tuesday, and a service collection was organized for “Giving the Basics,” a nonprofit in Kansas City that provides basic hygiene products to people in need.

“Having Elder and Sister Stevenson join for a wonderful JustServe night at the Royals was a treat for the many members and friends of the Church,” said Elder Jeremiah Morgan, a regional Church leader in the Midwestern United States.

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