about 20 countries, making trips to many of them, including a total of nearly 40 trips to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In October 2015, he was sustained as an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve. As an apostle, he is accepted by the church as a prophet, seer and revelator. He was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve along with Ronald A. Rasband and Gary E. Stevenson, filling vacancies created by the 2015 deaths of L. Tom Perry, Boyd K. Packer and Richard G. Scott. This was the first time since 1906 that three new apostles were sustained. They are the 98th, 99th and 100th members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the church's history. In June 2017, Renlund and his wife spoke at an international forum on religious freedom in Costa Rica and advocated, "Religious beliefs, teachings and practices bring needed medicine to a society that would otherwise be aggressive and sick." In June 2018, Renlund was featured in a series of suicide awareness videos published by the church. The series was aimed at understanding suicide and taking measures to prevent it. Renlund also spoke at a medical conference held in Vatican City in April 2018, describing the church's views on religion improving the health of individuals. In August 2017, Renlund participated in a "Face-to-Face" online event with youth members of the LDS Church in Africa. In April 2019, Renlund dedicated the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple. In December 2020, Renlund and his wife tested positive for COVID-19. Personal life Renlund married Ruth Lybbert in 1977. She is a daughter of Merlin R. Lybbert, who was a general authority of the LDS Church. The Renlunds are the parents of one daughter. Ruth Renlund was a personal injury trial lawyer and a partner of the law firm of Dewsnup, King & Olsen. Ruth Renlund is an ovarian cancer survivor. Works Medical publications See also Quentin L. Cook, "Elder Dale G. Renlund: An Obedient Servant", Liahona, July 2016 "Elder Dale G. Renlund," Liahona, May 2009, p. 136 healthgrades report on Renlund References External links General Authorities and General Officers: Elder Dale G. Renlund 1952 births American cardiologists American general authorities (LDS Church) American Mormon missionaries in Sweden Area seventies (LDS Church) Johns Hopkins School of Medicine alumni Living people Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy (LDS Church) People from