During a CES broadcast in May of this year, Elder M. Russell Ballard made the following comment:
"I have heard that some people think the Church leaders live in a “bubble.” What they forget is that we are men and women of experience, and we have lived our lives in so many places and worked with many people from different backgrounds. Our current assignments literally take us around the globe, where we meet the political, religious, business, and humanitarian leaders of the world. Although we have visited the White House in Washington, D.C., and leaders of nations throughout the world, we have also visited the most humble homes on earth, where we have met and ministered to the poor."
What true statements! We did a quick search of all the places The First Presidency or a member of Quorum of the Twelve have gone this year and ended up with an impressive 56 countries. Check out who went where and let us know in the comments which ones we may have missed!
Blue indicates a country visited by a member of the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve in 2014.
ARGENTINA: Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Elder M. Russell Ballard
ARMENIA: Elder David A. Bednar
AUSTRALIA: Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder Neil L. Andersen
BLEGIUM: Elder D. Todd Christofferson
BOLIVIA: Elder D. Todd Christofferson
BRAZIL: Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Elder Neil L. Andersen
Elder Nelson with his wife holding a young boy at the Brazilian Stake Conference.
CANADA: Elder D. Todd Christofferson
CHILE: Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Elder M. Russell Ballard
CHINA: Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
COLOMBIA: Elder D. Todd Christofferson
COSTA RICA: Elder Quentin L. Cook
CUBA: Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Elder Holland meeting with the Saints in Cuba.
CYPRUS: Elder D. Todd Christofferson
DENMARK: Elder M. Russell Ballard, Elder David A. Bednar
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Elder Quentin L. Cook
ENGLAND: Elder Quentin L. Cook, Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Elder Christofferson shaking hands with children in a meeting in England.
EL SALVADOR: Elder Quentin L. Cook
FIJI: Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder Neil L. Andersen
FINLAND: Elder David A. Bednar
FRANCE: Elder Quentin L. Cook, Elder Neil L. Andersen
GERMANY: Elder Quentin L. Cook, Elder M. Russell Ballard, Elder David A. Bednar
GREECE: Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Elder Christofferson tracing footsteps of the ancient apostle Paul on Mars Hill in Greece.
GUATEMALA: Elder Quentin L. Cook
INDIA: Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
ITALY: President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, President Henry B. Eyring, Elder L. Tom Perry
JAMAICA: Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Saints of the first stake organized in Jamaica by Elder Holland in June.
JAPAN: Elder Quentin L. Cook, Elder D. Todd Christofferson
LATVIA: Elder David A. Bednar
MEXICO: Elder Neil L. Anderson, Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Elder Oaks with other General Authorities at the Mexico City MTC.
MONGOLIA: Elder Russell M. Nelson
MOZAMBIQUE: Elder Quentin L. Cook
NAMIBIA: Elder Quentin L. Cook
NEW CALEDONIA: Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder Neil L. Andersen
NEW ZEALAND: Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder Neil L. Andersen
Elder Nelson and his wife, Wendy, with church members in New Zealand.
NIGERIA: Elder David A. Bednar
NORWAY: Elder David A. Bednar
PAPAU NEW GUINEA: Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder Neil L. Andersen
PARAGUAY: Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Elder M. Russell Ballard
PERU: Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Elder Neil L. Andersen
PHILIPPINES: Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Elder Oaks speaking with children after a cultural celebration in the Philippines.
POLAND: President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
PORTUGAL: Elder Quentin L. Cook
REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Elder Quentin L. Cook
RUSSIA: Elder David A. Bednar
SOUTH AFRICA: Elder Quentin L. Cook
Elder Cook delivered an address to young single adults in South Africa.
SOUTH KOREA: Elder Quentin L. Cook, Elder D. Todd Christofferson
SPAIN: Elder Quentin L. Cook
SWAZILAND: Elder Quentin L. Cook
SWEDEN: Elder David A. Bednar
SWITZERLAND: Elder M. Russell Ballard, Elder David A. Bednar, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Saints in Switzerland gather to meet President Uchtdorf and other General Authorities.
TAHITI: Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder Neil L. Andersen
TAIWAN: Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
TONGA: Elder M. Russell Nelson, Elder Neil L. Andersen
Elder Andersen and his wife with members in Tonga.
URUGUAY:Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Elder M. Russell Ballard
ZAMBIA: Elder Quentin L. Cook
ZIMBABWE: Elder Quentin L. Cook
Young church members at a meeting where Elder Cook spoke in Zimbabwe.
All Photographs retrieved from deseretnews.com.