Lifespan

Exact dates are unknown.

Ministry

Thomas was called as one of Jesus‘ original Twelve Apostles.

Preparation and Calling

Unknown.

Interaction with God

Unknown.

Social Situation

Same as other of the Twelve in general.

Key Teachings

Unknown.

Testimony of Christ

“Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed” (John 20:26-29). Keep reading →

Lifespan

Exact dates are not known.

Ministry

John is the author of the Gospel of John. He was one of three Apostles during Jesus Christ’s ministry who were witness to the raising of Jairus’s daughter, the Transfiguration, and the Savior’s agony in Gethsemane. Following Jesus’ Crucifixion and subsequent Resurrection, John continued to teach the gospel. After he was banished to the isle of Patmos for doing so, he continued writing and is responsible for having written what is now know as the book of Revelation. (more…)

Lifespan

Exact dates are unknown. Tradition holds that Paul was martyred by being beheaded during Nero’s persecution of the Christians in the mid-60s B.C.

Ministry

Paul became one of early Christianities most successful missionaries. Following his conversion, he preached throughout much of what is now the Middle East and southern Europe. He is perhaps best known for a series of lengthy missionary tours.

Preparation and Calling

Known as Saul prior to his conversion, he was a Pharisee and a student of Gamaliel. He vigorously persecuted Christians in his protection of Jewish traditions. However, while traveling to pursue some additional persecution in Damascus, he had a vision in which he saw Jesus Christ. This reversed his direction, he changed to his Latin name Paul, and he became as adamant about Christianity as he had been about his Jewishness.

Interaction with God

Paul was a visionary and very inspired man. He developed a close relationship with God and seemed to receive inspiration in a variety of spiritual ways.

Social Situation

Paul placed himself in an interesting position: prior to his position, he was a militant persecutor of Christianity, even taking part in the stoning of Stephen. He was apparently well known for his position. However, after his conversion, he began teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ among the very people he had so actively protected from its message earlier. He was a fearless proselyter and was often persecuted himself for his actions. He was arrested more than once and taken to Rome for sentencing. Tradition holds that he probably suffered martyrdom in the spring of A.D. 65.

Key Teachings

Although Paul is well known for his proselyting efforts, his numerous letters that make up what is now called the Pauline epistles in the New Testament are written to converts and congregations who had a fair understanding of the gospel already. In those letters, he covers a wide variety of topics, based on the needs of that particular congregation, but he was not shy about calling them to repentance for whatever was keeping them from proper gospel living.

Testimony of Christ

Paul bore fervent testimony of Jesus Christ. Here is just a sampling:

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:10-11).

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

“For Christ sent me . . . to preach the gospel” (1 Cor. 1:17).

Living with the Prophet

Paul’s dramatic reversal of his life’s direction is a witness that even the most committed persecutors of Christ’s followers can change their lives and become believers. Resolve in your heart today to never give up in teaching those around you about your beliefs. Don’t be obnoxious about it, but neither should you back down from your beliefs. Paul wrote: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Rom. 1:16). Join him today in that commitment.

Sources:

LDS Bible Dictionary

Oxford Companion to the Bible, edited by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan

Lifespan

Exact dates are unknown. Tradition holds that Peter was martyred in Rome in approximately A.D. 64 or 65.

Ministry

Peter, along with fellow Apostles James and John, formed the inner core or presidency of the Twelve Apostles. He was at the Mount of Transfiguration and Gethsemane with them. His ministry was also extended through letter writing (see the Epistles of Peter). (more…)

Lifespan

Born November 1, 1808 in Milnthorpe, England.

Died July 25, 1887 in Kaysville, Utah.

Ministry

President John Taylor was ordained an Apostle on 19 December 1838 by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball. He served missions in England (twice), Germany, France, and the Eastern United States. In 1877, President Brigham Young passed away, and President Taylor led the Church as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. On 10 October 1880, at the age of 71, he was sustained as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He died at the age of 78. Keep reading →

Lifespan

Born August 21, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Thomas S. Monson was sustained as a ward bishop at the age of 22. He also served at a relatively young age in the Temple View Stake in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1959, he was called to serve as president of the Canadian Mission. In 1963, at the age of 36, he was ordained an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was set apart as second counselor in the Church’s First Presidency in 1985 and as first counselor in 1995. In February 2008, Thomas S. Monson was sustained as President of the Church.

Preparation and Calling

At the young age of 22, Thomas S. Monson was ordained to be a bishop. His ward had a significant number of widows, and Bishop Monson learned much about caring for the elderly and the lonely at an early age. He was still in his 20s when he was called to serve in the Temple View Stake Presidency, and age 32 was called to be a mission president in Canada. At age 36, he was ordained an Apostle. When he was sustained as President of the Church, he had been serving as a counselor in the First Presidency for over 20 years.

Interaction with God

President Monson’s relationship with Deity seems to be simple but powerful. As he serves those in need and goes about the Lord’s business, God blesses him with His all-powerful Spirit. His ministry is one of service and influence among those judged by the world as both great and small.

Social Situation

The world is facing political challenges at every corner. Socio-religious conflicts run rampant in many societies. One of the greatest challenges of the generation is the availability of pornography via the home or the computer. At the same time, volunteerism and general optimism in a brighter future are generally on the rise.

See also: thomasmonson.com

Lifespan

Born June 23, 1910 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Died January 27, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Gordon B. Hinckley was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of eight in 1919. From 1933 to 1935 he served a full-time mission in Great Britain. Upon his return, he became employed by the Church, where he worked for the next 22 years. At age 47, he was ordained an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Four years later he was ordained an Apostle, and from 1981 to 1995, he served as Counselor to Presidents Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, and Howard W. Hunter. In 1995, at age 84, he was sustained as President of the Church, until his passing on January 27, 2008. (more…)

Lifespan

Exact dates not known.

Ministry

The New Testament does not provide a record of James’ ministry.

Preparation and Calling

Although there is speculation that this James is the same as James the younger, and therefore the son of one of the Marys at both the crucifixion and resurrection, we cannot know for certain how he was prepared to serve as one of Jesus’ Twelve Apostles.

Interaction with God

Unknown.

Social Situation

Same as other of the Twelve in general.

Key Teachings

Unknown.

Testimony of Christ

Unknown.

Sources:

LDS Bible Dictionary

Oxford Companion to the Bible, edited by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan

Lifespan

Born November 14, 1907 in Boise, Idaho.

Died March 3, 1995 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Howard W. Hunter was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of twelve. At age 51, he was ordained an Apostle by President David O. McKay. From ages 56-64, he was president of the Church’s Genealogical Society, the last two years of which he also served as the Church Historian. In 1988, at age 80, Howard W. Hunter was sustained as president of the Quorum of the Twelve, and was sustained as President of the Church at age 86, where he served for but nine months before passing away. (more…)

Lifespan

Born July 19, 1876 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Died July 2, 1972, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Joseph Fielding Smith was baptized a member of the Church at age 8 in 1884. He served a mission in England 1899-1901, and was ordained an Apostle at age 33. From age 44 to 93, he served as Church Historian. When he was aged 68-72, he served as president of the Salt Lake Temple, and in 1951 (age 74) became president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. At age 93, Joseph Fielding Smith was sustained as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served until his death in 1972. (more…)