LDS Church Leaders Visits Fire Evacuees in Northern California

Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were in Northern California over the weekend to comfort those recently impacted by the deadliest wildfires in California state history.

Elder Carl B. Cook of the Seventy and Elder Paul H. Watkins, an Area Seventy, traveled to the Napa Valley Saturday, October 14, to visit with local Church leaders and residents. They came on assignment and were joined by Richard Long, welfare manager for the Church.

“I am delighted to be on an errand of the First Presidency and the Twelve to come and to listen and learn. I came and I’ve been inspired. I’m inspired by what I felt,” Elder Cook told nine congregations in Santa Rosa on Sunday morning during a special sacrament meeting that was broadcast to two other meetinghouses.

“I thank you for your goodness. I thank you for applying the principles of the gospel in your lives and looking to God and allowing Him to bless you,” he said.

The Church leaders also went to Napa in the afternoon for a combined meeting for several congregations. After the worship service, Latter-day Saints in Napa gathered for dinner.

“There’s faith generally that has prompted a lot of community interaction among members of the Church and people who are not of our faith. We’ve been very impressed with how easy it’s been to commingle our efforts,” said Elder Watkins, who has been overseeing five stakes in northern California impacted by 17 fires. “You have really good people that have done so much, and they’re all local.”

During their visit, the Church leaders met with members Bill and Jennifer Kastner and their 15-year-old son, Stephen, from Napa. The Kastners lost their two-story home in the Atlas Peak area.

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