Unified - and Mighty Redwoods
Unified – and Mighty Redwoods
President Quinn’s Weekly Message
California Santa Rosa Mission
February 3rd, 2025
Sister Quinn and I enjoyed being with many of you in interviews last week. We will finish interviews tomorrow in Napa. Thank you for taking the time to join us.
Redwood forests are found throughout CASRM. I am always impressed by these tall and majestic trees that can grow to over 300’. While visiting one of the redwood forests, I learned that despite their height redwood trees have a shallow root system of only 6’-13’ feet. With such a shallow root system, how does a top-heavy redwood tree not tip over at the slightest wind? There are two things redwood trees do: 1) redwoods stand together in a forest; and 2) redwoods intertwine their roots underground. These two strategies allow redwoods to stand tall and strong in a storm.
These facts about redwoods reminded me of a story Elder Uchtdorf shared several years ago in General Conference (October 2008):
“Some years ago in our meetinghouse in Darmstadt, Germany, a group of brethren was asked to move a grand piano from the chapel to the adjoining cultural hall, where it was needed for a musical event. None were professional movers, and the task of getting that gravity-friendly instrument through the chapel and into the cultural hall seemed nearly impossible. Everybody knew that this task required not only physical strength but also careful coordination. There were plenty of ideas, but not one could keep the piano balanced correctly. They repositioned the brethren by strength, height, and age over and over again—nothing worked.
“As they stood around the piano, uncertain of what to do next, a good friend of mine, Brother Hanno Luschin, spoke up. He said, “Brethren, stand close together and lift where you stand.
“It seemed too simple. Nevertheless, each lifted where he stood, and the piano rose from the ground and moved into the cultural hall as if on its own power. That was the answer to the challenge. They merely needed to stand close together and lift where they stood.”
I love this story – and the lessons of unity taught by the mighty redwoods of CASRM! I see great acts of “high love” everyday across CASRM. Thank you for these loving acts of kindness and encouragement that contribute so beautifully to our culture of serving in the Savior’s way. I invite you to continuously look for ways to stand tall together and to extend loving support to one another.
I testify that as we “stand close together” and “lift where we stand” we will continue to fulfill our missionary purpose. I pray that we will be united in standing with each other, members, and most importantly the Savior. I know that as we do, our work of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ will move forward “as if on its own power” – the power of God. I am grateful for the privilege of standing with each of you as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Love,
President Quinn
(630) 881-4030
