11 Reasons the Quorum of the Twelve is More Hip than You
1. They’re Smoother than Smooth
While each member of the Twelve has a sweep-you-off-your-feet kind of love story, we think you’ll find these ones particularly swoon-worthy.
Elder “Good at Facebook… Before Facebook” Christofferson
Elder D. Todd Christofferson met his wife, Katherine, at a BYU Alumni football game. And by “met,” what we really mean is saw in passing… without speaking to her. (We’ve all been there. We feel you, Elder Christofferson.) While that may have deterred a man of a lesser caliber, Elder Christofferson didn’t let this minor setback ruin his chances for love. He waited a few months until the yearbook came out and quickly obtained a copy. He searched for Katherine, found her, and immediately got someone to set him up on a blind date with her. (Hence his title as a phenomenal Facebook sleuth prior to Facebook.) They got married several months later. If we had to grade this love story, we’d give it a solid A+.
Elder “French Truly is a Romance Language” Andersen
Elder Neil L. Andersen met his wife, Kathy, while he was campaigning for student body vice president at BYU. Yet Elder Andersen claims the way he won her heart was through speaking the language of love:
When I fell in love with Kathy, I wondered how an insecure Idaho farm boy could attract a beautiful, intelligent woman from Florida. I then remembered one talent I possessed: I had served my mission in France, and I spoke French. I had been told that young women loved to hear French spoken to them. But, to my dismay, I realized I did not know the French words of romance. I only knew missionary words. I won Kathy’s heart with ma chérie at the front, je t’aime at the end, and the plan of salvation in between.
It would have worked on us. Way to be smooth, Elder Andersen.
Elder “Ain’t Nobody Got Time for the Friend Zone” Rasband
Elder Ronald A. Rasband met his wife, Melanie, in a class at the U. Elder Rasband didn’t ask her out right away, instead opting to become friends first. Doubters may say you can never break out of the friend zone, but Elder Rasband proved those doubters wrong — and did it like a boss. He mentioned to Melanie offhandedly one day after class that they should go out sometime since they were “such good friends,” and began heading in a different direction. Melanie chased after him, pulled out her pocket calendar and asked, “When?!” They dated and eventually got married, unknowingly leaving us a very special gift: a picture of Elder Rasband wearing those pants on their wedding day.
And that’s the story of how Elder Rasband didn’t just break out of the friend zone, but flew out of it like a majestic eagle.
2. They’re Insanely Cultured
It’s almost laughable to hear people exclaim that the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve are out-of-touch. It’s 100% impossible to be “out-of-touch” when you travel to all of the places that the Quorum has, collectively and individually.
For example, during just this last April’s General Conference, member of the Seventy Elder Donald L. Hallstrom spoke about his then-recent visit to Africa with Elder David A. Bednar. The Quorum, collectively, has been to every continent excluding Antarctica, and visited with many individuals and families in each country they’ve visited.
We’d say they’re pretty cultured.
3. They Give Great Fist Bumps
‘nuf said.
4. They’re “Fit at Fifty”
Actually, they’re all older than 50, with the youngest apostle, Elder Gary E. Stevenson, coming in at age 61. But “Stalwart at Sixty” just didn’t have the same ring to it.
The members of the Quorum of the Twelve enjoy a wide expanse of athletic activities. Elder Stevenson is an avid skier, snowboarder, and hiker who also dabbles in “various water sports.”
Elder Nelson has also claimed that skiing is one of his greatest loves and that he enjoyed horseback riding with his children when they were in their youth. Elder Andersen loves basketball. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland is passionate about basketball and football, and even led his college basketball team to a championship. (BYU Football also earned the title of National Champions under his watch as BYU President.)
Elder Bednar was the quarterback on his high school football team. Elder Robert D. Hales played baseball as a boy and more recently enjoys golf, where he has played at events such as the Nokia Championships Challenge.
Those are just a few of their athletic hobbies, but just thinking about them makes us tired, so we’ll move on.
5. They’re Musical
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0SVPjHc8C0
Have you ever met anyone that has perfect pitch? It’s rare, but if you’ve met Elder Nelson, you can check that goal off of your bucket-list. Not only does Elder Nelson have perfect pitch, but he can play the piano and the organ. Elder Hales also enjoys playing the piano — but only if no one is listening.
“He was once asked to play the opening hymn in a Seventies meeting. He was so nervous that he gradually played faster and faster, with the Seventies struggling to keep up. Elder Hales says he finished “just barely ahead of the Brethren,” but it was a close race.”
And though he may not have composed the piece, Elder Bednar recently wrote lyrics that Paul Cardall set to music, leaving us in a teary-eyed, red-nosed mess. We’ve included the video just in case you feel the need to have a good cry.
6. They’re Ha-Ha-larious
Really though. The Quorum of the Twelve knows how to deliver a punchline.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks reportedly once told Fred Voros, a former lawclerk, that “The Lord made many heads, and those less beautiful he covered with hair.”
Elder David A. Bednar, in his October 2009 address “More Diligent and Concerned at Home,” described the family home evenings he and his wife held this way:
“Now and then verses of scripture were read amid outbursts such as “He’s touching me!” “Make him stop looking at me!” “Mom, he’s breathing my air!” Sincere prayers occasionally were interrupted with giggling and poking.”
Elder Stevenson joked about meeting his wife, “The teacher asked Lesa to role-play as Eve and for me to play the role of Satan to tempt her. As a result, it took a while for me to convince her to go out with me.”
If those stories don’t make you laugh, you may want to get your heart checked due to the fact that it might be made of stone. Just a suggestion.
7. They Have Great Nicknames
Elder M. Russell Ballard was, believe it or not, in a fraternity at the University of Utah during his college years. While there, he earned the nickname “The Bishop” from his frat brothers due to his strong integrity and desire to do what was right, regardless of the situation. Little did they know that one day “The Bishop” would be a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
In high school, Elder Hales was dubbed “Hard-luck Hales” by a local newspaper because of his losing streak as a high school pitcher. Luckily, (pun intended) Hales was able to shed the nickname by pitching a shutout the very next game. True, that nickname might not be the most flattering (Sorry, Elder Hales!), but the story behind it makes it worth telling.
Of course we can’t ignore one of our favorite President Monson nicknames: Nervous Willy. His mother ascribed Tommy this nickname as a kid because he always had to be doing something and couldn’t just rest or relax… A trait that has probably come in handy during his nearly 70 years of Church service. We tip our hats to you, Nervous Willy.
And, though he also may be in the Presidency of the Church, we can’t go without mentioning what is perhaps the greatest nickname of all: The Silver Fox, a.k.a. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. Why, you might ask? Well, we’ll let you figure that one out for yourself. (But if you need a hint, just look at a picture of him and you’ll understand.)
8. They’re Boss
Okay, so they weren’t literally always the boss, but they had pretty stellar careers prior to their callings as members of the Twelve, which is a lifelong full-time calling. While all of their careers are note-worthy, we’ll highlight just a few.
It’s no secret that Elder Oaks has a voice that you wouldn’t mind narrating your life. But what may be a secret is that years ago, probably before you had even heard of one of our favorite powerhouses, someone else agreed. At least, we assume that they did, because he earned a job as a radio announcer. During his high school and college years, Elder Oaks spent his time announcing for local radio stations and high school basketball games. Of course, Elder Oaks later went on to hold a career as a renowned judge, where his radio-announcer voice was surely put to good use, because c’mon — would you ever argue with a judge that had a voice of thunder like Elder Oaks’? We don’t think so.
Elders Russell M. Nelson and Dale G. Renlund had prolific careers as cardiologists. Elder Nelson played an instrumental part in creating the first machine that could perform the functions of a patient’s heart and lungs during heart surgery, which allowed him to become the first person to perform open-heart surgery in Utah in 1955. Elder Renlund, on the other hand, spent his notable career specializing in heart failure and heart transplantation. Reflecting on both apostles’ careers, we have only one thing to say: Be still, our beating hearts. ???
Prior to Elder Hales’ Harvard days and subsequent years as a prominent businessman, did you know that he was a jet fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force? Before becoming a jet fighter pilot, Elder Hales had taken flying lessons — and crashed a plane. Terrifying? Definitely. But did that stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a pilot? No! He later learned how to fly a plane and served as a jet fighter pilot in the air force for four years. Hard-Luck Hales? More like Heroic Hales.
9. They Hang Out with Cool People
When was the last time you hung out with the President and First Lady of the United States? Or met with British Parliament? If you’re anything like the majority of the world, your answer is probably, “What kind of question is this? Duh, never.”
But the answer for various members of the Quorum of the Twelve would be “Duh, within the last few years.” They probably wouldn’t say “Duh,” but you get the gist, right?
Elders Christofferson and Oaks have met with President Obama; Elders Cook and Ballard have met with Michelle Obama; and recently, Elder Oaks spoke with the British Parliament about governmental protection of religious freedom. In addition to this, Elder Cook has met past presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, and Gerald R. Ford.
Oh, and remember the last time you chilled with Han Salo AND the Candy Bomber? No? Neither do we.
10. Apostle Talent Show, Anyone?
If you don’t think that sounds like the coolest event ever, you’re wrong. It would be awesome.
In addition to English, Elder Andersen is fluent in French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Elder Nelson is likewise fluent in Spanish and French, but can also add Mandarin and Russian to his list of fluent languages. Elder Stevenson speaks Japanese, and of course Elder Renlund (who was born to Swedish immigrants) speaks fluent Swedish.
Elder Rasband could likely give you a tour of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, having spent a great deal of time in New York. He served in New York City once as a missionary and once as a mission president. During the latter calling, he had his missionaries in Manhattan devote several hours a week to giving tours at both historic sites. And plus, let’s be real: thriving in the Big Apple is a pretty noteworthy talent in and of itself.
When it comes to hide-and-go-seek, Elder Hales is something of a rockstar. When his children were young, Elder Hales recalls watching them while his wife was at a Relief Society meeting. Elder Hales was supposed to do the dishes and get the children into bed during Sister Hales’ meeting, but he was so busy playing with his kids that he had done neither by the time he heard his wife pulling into the driveway. Naturally, Elder Hales shooed the children into their beds (fully clothed) and quickly hid all of the dirty dishes in the oven. And it worked… Once. The next time he did it, his wife caught him and the jig was up. Even still, we think this dish-hiding feat qualifies him for the hide-and-go-seek hall of fame.
Is having cool cars a talent? If so, Elder Ballard’s got that one in the bank. His daughter recalls that during her youth, Elder Ballard (who worked as a business man in the auto industry for several years) would bring home various used cars because of his job. Among them was a yellow Cadillac with a white roof that probably looked a little something like this:
Wowza. Okay, okay, we know that one might not be a talent. But it’s so awesome that we couldn’t NOT tell you. Forgive us? Thanks.
11. One Word: Memes
Just in case you need a quick recap, Elder Holland used this meme last General Conference in a move that surely touched the hearts of all Tumblr and Reddit users:
Most grandpas probably don’t even know what a meme is. But this great-grandpa not only knows what a meme is, but actually used one. Really well. In General Conference.
If that doesn’t prove the Quorum is hip, we don’t know what does.