Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
SALT LAKE CITY — After being released from assignments and meetings to recover, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is now returning to work slowly. The 82-year-old member of the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had been relieved from all assignments in April to focus on his health.
Tuesday, Elder Holland wrote on social media how he has been away due to some serious health challenges. He said he and his wife, Sister Patricia T. Holland, have been touched by the cards, notes, thoughts and especially by the prayers people have offered in their behalf.
After having been away from Church assignments for several weeks due to some serious health challenges, I am pleased to begin slowly returning to work. Pat and I have been touched by the cards, notes, thoughts, and especially by the prayers you have offered in our behalf. Your… pic.twitter.com/aFwyklmLC8
— Jeffrey R. Holland (@HollandJeffreyR) June 6, 2023
“Your sweet gestures during this demanding time have reminded us that God watches over us, that we can always trust in Him, and that He very often answers our prayers through other people,” Elder Holland wrote.
In a statement April 6, officials noted that Elder Holland had been excused from general conference due to he and his wife, Patricia Holland both suffering from the effects of Covid. He had also recently began dialysis for a kidney condition. It was the first time the leader had missed the semiannual conference since being called to his current position in 1994.
Shortly after Elder Holland’s absence was announced during the first session of the conference, he posted on social media that he and his wife recently tested positive for Covid and were not able to attend. He wrote that while disappointed, he confessed to be looking forward to the fact that, for the first time in his ministry, he would get to sit back and enjoy conference while holding hands with his sweetheart.
In Tuesday’s statement, Elder Holland said often it is the difficult, demanding times of lives that are the growth periods and defining periods.
“On days when we feel we have been pushed to our limit, we are reminded that we won’t be pushed beyond our faith,” he wrote. “We won’t discover just how much strength we do have until it is tested, refined and tested again.”