New apostle's testimony has become 'more real'

He now has the privilege 'to bear witness of him'

When Elder Neil L. Andersen was ordained a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy 16 years ago at the age of 41, he had a firm and true testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and his gospel.

"I remember thinking, 'How could my testimony of the Savior be greater than it is today?' But yet it has grown to be much more," said Elder Andersen, sustained at general conference April 4 as the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve.

"Our understanding becomes more real," he added, "more totally encompassing to our soul. You understand not just that he is the Savior, but what it means for him to be the Savior. You realize the power of His atoning sacrifice. You sense his love for each person individually in a way I sense I didn't appreciate to its fullest 16 years ago. I am very humbled and overwhelmed that I will have the privilege to bear witness of him throughout the rest of my life."

Elder Andersen and his wife Kathy, whom he met when they were students at BYU in the mid-1970s, are very noticeably in love with each other. Elder Andersen explained: "Kathy is pure in every dimension of her life. She has brought me and our family a greater commitment to being obedient and treasuring the Lord's spirit. She, along with our children, have been willing to sacrifice in any way to fulfill the assignments given us."

And speaking of Elder Andersen, Sister Andersen responded: "He is a man of deep faith in the Savior and loyalty to the Brethren. He is a man with unquestionable belief in the destiny of the church being established throughout the world. We have seen the miracles of God in the lives of others and in our own family."

They have felt in some measure the love the Savior feels for his children throughout the world.

"We've lived 10 of the last 20 years outside of the United States," said Elder Andersen, who was the senior member of the Presidency of the Seventy at the time of his call to the apostleship. That includes his three years spent as president of the France Bordeaux Mission, 1989-92. As a Seventy, he was president of the Brazil South Area Presidency and served in the Europe West Area Presidency.

See the rest of this story on ldschurchnews.com.

This story is provided by the LDS Church News, an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is produced weekly by the Deseret News.