The Gospel of Mark teaches that the Savior chose and ordained twelve apostles "that he might send them forth to preach" (Mark 3:14).

That apostolic charge to "go forth" into the world to instruct and support those who serve continues today as the Quorum of the Twelve travels the globe to conduct Priesthood Leadership Conferences with stake presidents, bishops and other priesthood leaders. This new series of meetings has been happening throughout the church for about a year.

One or two members of the Twelve preside at each Priesthood Leadership Conference. They are typically accompanied by one or two members of the Seventy, along with an Area Seventy serving in the area where the four-hour leadership conference is being held.

"In the first two hours, the assigned authorities give instruction on subjects assigned by the First Presidency," said Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve, who returned June 22 from two Priesthood Leadership Conferences in Chile. "The second two hours follow a question-and-answer format that has the assigned authorities speaking on subjects chosen by the local leaders as helpful to them in fulfilling their callings in their local circumstances."