For thousands of Mormons in the Carson City-Reno area, May 15-17 was a special weekend. Two apostles to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and two men from the Quorum of the Seventy visited the area.
The priesthood for the church consists of prophets, apostles, the Seventy, high priests, bishops, elders, priests, teachers and deacons.
The last time an apostle was in Carson City was several decades ago, according to David Johnson, an elder in the Carson City Clear Creek Ward.
Speaking at meetings in Carson City and Reno were Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Neil L. Andersen with of the Quorum of the Twelve, and Elder James B. Gibson and Elder W. Craig Zwick with the Quorum of Seventy.
Twice a year it is possible to hear members of the Quorum of Twelve on television during the General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but it is rare to see them in person, Johnson said.
Johnson met Bednar and Gibson and describes them as "genuine, spiritual and holy men of God."
"Again, it was a distinct experience that everyone should have at some point in their life," Johnson said, "that is, to receive instruction, encouragement, inspiration, warning and a blessing from a servant and apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ."