Elder Robert D. Hales is is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was sustained to this office on April 2, 1994. He received his call as a General Authority on April 4, 1975. He served as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and later as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He was Presiding Bishop of the Church from April, 1985 until called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
He was a Regional Representative for five years prior to his call as a General Authority. He earlier served as a branch president, bishop, high councilor, and stake president’s counselor. He was president of the England London Mission in the late 1970s and has served as first counselor in the Sunday School general presidency.
Elder Hales was born in New York City. He is a graduate of the University of Utah and holds a master of business administration degree from Harvard. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a jet fighter pilot. Prior to his call to full-time Church service, Elder Hales had a distinguished business career, serving in executive positions with three major national companies. He and his wife, Mary Crandall Hales have two sons.
Quotes/Stories
I LOVED Elder Hales October (2008) conference address. Here is a quote from it that I particularly enjoyed:
"Surely our Heavenly Father is saddened—and the devil laughs—when we contentiously debate doctrinal differences with our Christian neighbors.
This is not to suggest that we compromise our principles or dilute our beliefs. We cannot change the doctrines of the restored gospel, even if teaching and obeying them makes us unpopular in the eyes of the world. Yet even as we feel to speak the word of God with boldness, we must pray to be filled with the Holy Ghost (see
Acts 4:29, 31). We should never confuse boldness with Satan’s counterfeit: overbearance (see
Alma 38:12). True disciples speak with quiet confidence, not boastful pride.
As true disciples, our primary concern must be others’ welfare, not personal vindication. Questions and criticisms give us an opportunity to reach out to others and demonstrate that they matter to our Heavenly Father and to us. Our aim should be to help them understand the truth, not defend our egos or score points in a theological debate. Our heartfelt testimonies are the most powerful answer we can give our accusers. And such testimonies can only be borne in love and meekness. We should be like Edward Partridge, of whom the Lord said, “His heart is pure before me, for he is like unto Nathanael of old, in whom there is no guile” (
D&C 41:11). To be guileless is to have a childlike innocence, to be slow to take offense and quick to forgive."
Another of my favorite talks by Elder Hales, as a mother of a wayward child, was his April, 2004 address. In it, he said,
"Moses’ mother, Jochebed, guided her son down the river with faith in the “Shepherd … of [our] souls.” As parents, we too can trust the Good Shepherd to guide and direct us. Isaiah promised He “shall gently lead” all those who bear responsibility for the young.
He will help us trust and honor the principles of agency, opposition, and the Atonement even when our children make unwise decisions. Through His Spirit, He will help us teach our children to meet every challenge, trial, and tribulation in life by remembering who they are—children of God. We will be inspired with ways to help them “put on the whole armour of God,” so that they can withstand the “fiery darts of the adversary” with the “shield of faith” and “the sword of the Spirit.” As our children are spiritually armed and strengthened, He will bless them to endure faithfully to the end and return home, worthy to stand and live in their Heavenly Father’s presence forever.
Through it all, we will sorrow to see our family members suffer the slings and arrows of mortality. But we will stand all amazed at the love our Savior offers them. Because of Him, the buffetings need not defeat and destroy them but can soften, strengthen, and sanctify them.
To parents and families throughout the world, I testify that the Lord Jesus Christ is mighty to save. He is the Healer, the Redeemer, the rescuing Shepherd who will leave the ninety and nine to find the one. If we are seeking the salvation of special “ones” in our own families, I bear testimony that they are within His reach. We assist Him in reaching them by faithfully living the gospel, being sealed in the temple, and living true to the covenants we make there."
Other Favorite talks
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You can listen to Whit on her podcast, The Mormon Mom-Cast. Or, read her personal blog, About Time.
Inspiration is inspiration, whether the end result is a painted masterpiece, a soul-searching sonnet, a richly coloured home-made quilt or a batch of freshly baked rock buns. We shouldn't diminish our creativity by despising the results of our inspiration, but instead celebrate and exploit the wonderful feeling of elevated energy and enthusiasm we experience when we feel inspired. That quickening of the senses and the heightening of the imagination are, I'm sure, just the same for the Matisses and Wrens and Brownings as they are for the rest of us. It's just that they can do different things with their inspired talents.
