The Perks of Living in Utah

You get to meet apostles at the grocery store.

I was at Smith's picking up my thyroid medicine and letting Emma and Josh pick out some candy for the movie we are going to see this afternoon. I forgot I needed some black pepper and headed back toward the baking aisle and lo and behold, I saw Robert D. Hales and his wife. I did a double-take, thinking "Did I really just smile and say "Hi" to Elder Hales?" I turned around and checked him out again and yep, it was him. I went to the next aisle and called my mom. She thought it was pretty neat. I told her how I wanted a picture with him and the kids and she said it would make a good blog post. That's all I needed to hear. I told her bye and went back to find him. I introduced the kids to him and he smiled and shook their hands and told them "You are lucky to have a mom who loves you so much." He asked our names and then I asked if the kids could get a picture with him (yes, I know... a little annoying. Jake already told me I'm probably one of the thousands who asks for a picture but I didn't care. What a cool thing for the kids to have to remember him!) His wife said she would take the picture so I could be in it, which was really sweet. I only had my cell which doesn't take the best pics, but at least it's something.

For those unfamiliar with the LDS faith, Elder Hales is an apostle in our church. There are fifteen Apostles in the LDS church, living on the earth today. They make up the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. President Thomas S. Monson is our prophet and his two counselors are Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf. These three men make up the First Presidency. Then there is the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Elder Hales is one of the twelve. Apostles are chosen as special witnesses of Christ to all the world and being an Apostle is a lifetime calling. The First Presidency, along with The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, govern all 12 million+ LDS members.

Below is Pres. Monson, Uchtdorf, and Eyring.
Below are the 12 apostles and Elder Hales is on the top row, second one in from the left.