Church Leaders Meet with Maryland Governor Larry Hogan

Two senior leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met Friday with Maryland governor Larry Hogan and then ministered Saturday and Sunday to Saints in North Carolina.

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency and Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave Governor Hogan a personal family genealogy (prepared by FamilySearch), invited him to the Washington D.C. Temple open house (the temple is being renovated and will reopen in late 2020), and thanked him for first lady Yumi Hogan’s recognition of the Church for its day of service in Maryland in September.

Downloadable video: B-roll | SOTs

The leaders discussed ways that the people of Maryland can use the Church’s JustServe platform for community service.

“I’ve been most impressed with the Church to promote volunteer opportunities in many communities,” Governor Hogan said. The first lady participated in a Church-sponsored service project this past summer. She and several other spouses of U.S. governors toured the Church’s Humanitarian Center and assembled hygiene kits.

“We love being partners with you in trying to do some good,” President Eyring said. In an interview afterward, the counselor in the First Presidency described Governor Hogan as “a man who really cares about the people” and who “really warmed to” the discussion about how to help people in need.

When they presented the governor his family history, the leader of Maryland was visibly moved. “Wow. Amazing. That is the only photograph I have ever seen of my great grandmother,” Governor Hogan said as the Church leaders gifted him his family history. “I can’t thank you enough.”

Maryland is home to nearly 45,000 Latter-day Saints, 78 congregations and one temple.

The Church leaders’ ministry continued Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina. They spoke to Church leaders, missionaries and members. Some 88,000 Latter-day Saints live in North Carolina, divided into 166 congregations. The Church has one temple in the state, which was rededicated after renovation four weeks ago by President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

“Their faith and their devotion was just palpable,” President Eyring said of his experience speaking to 175 full-time missionaries. “I don’t know what they got out of it, but I got a boost to think, ‘Woah, these are servants of God.’”

At a stake conference Sunday morning, Latter-day Saints from several congregations in the Charlotte area heard President Eyring speak of God’s love for them and the importance of doing a little better each day.

“It was an incredible experience” to hear from President Eyring and Elder Stevenson, said Katie Gustafson, a young adult in North Carolina.

Members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles administer Church affairs globally. Wherever they go, their priority is to carry out Jesus Christ’s charge to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19, NIV). They teach and serve Latter-day Saints and others; they also engage in constructive dialogue with community leaders, such as Governor Hogan.