EQ History - 2012

At the close of 2012, the Elders Quorum presidency consisted of Pace Barker as President, Ryan Peterson as first counselor, Daniel Harbuck as second counselor, Matt Kantorski as secretary and Yogendra Paneru as Assistant Secretary. During the year, the Elders Quorum leadership had changed to include Yogendra Paneru as Assistant Secretary.

The Elders Quorum was blessed to witness many miracles this year, including the baptism of Yogendra Paneru’s family. The year was marked with record high home teaching of 88% in November, with attendance as high as twenty-four in Elders Quorum. Tyler Green organized hurricane Sandy Relief over Thanksgiving Weekend, and Abraham Smith coordinated hunger-relief efforts in conjunction with the Stake and State’s day of service. Abraham continues the service by coordinating Elders Quorum support of hunger-relief service of the nearby Mount Olivet United Methodist Church.

Latter-day Saint volunteers from dozens of congregations spent Thanksgiving weekend helping families in New York and New Jersey neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Sandy. More than 6,500 Mormons answered the call to serve their communities by cleaning out flood-damaged homes and treating them against mold.

For the first time in known history, the majority of moves the Elders Quorum helped with (out of 13 total) were moves to remain within our ward boundaries – a testament to the family atmosphere of the ward.

Activities included a board game night, annual barbecue and "Turkey Bowl" Thanksgiving Football game, a temple trip for new members to perform baptisms for the dead, organizing the Ward’s Mongolian New Year and Halloween Parties, watching a BYU Football game, and meeting for dinner before Priesthood Sessions of General Conference.