Binary apostles – an amusing story related by Elder Dale G. Renlund
Elder Dale G. Renlund spoke at the Provo Missionary Training Center on Tuesday, May 23, 2017. He spoke at the regular Tuesday night devotional for all of the missionaries in the MTC. He shared the following story. Shortly after he was called to the apostleship, he received a text from his sister congratulating him on the fact the he was one of only four “binary” apostles in this dispensation. Not sure what she meant by “binary” apostle, he asked for an explanation. She pointed out that he was the 100th apostle to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve in this dispensation. In the base two or binary number system, the number 100 is the fourth number, with 001, 010, and 011 being the first, second, and third numbers. Merging the base 10 and base 2 numbers, she texted that apostle number 001 was Thomas B. Marsh, apostle number 010 was Orson Pratt, and number 011 was John F. Boynton. Elders March, Pratt, and Boynton were all excommunicated. Elder Renlund’s sister then texted: “#100 – Dale G. Renlund – ???”, implying that she hoped her brother would break the excommunication cycle of the other “binary” apostles. Note: Elder Gerrit W. Gong became the fifth “binary” apostle, he being number 101. The next binary apostles will be numbers 110 and 111. There will then be a very long hiatus until number 1000 is reached! Elder Renlund’s sister only counted apostles who served in the Quorum of the Twelve, not counting those who were ordained apostles but did not serve in the Quorum. Additional note: Elder Orson Pratt was only out of the church for a few months and was re-baptized and re-instated into the Quorum of the Twelve. Elders Marsh and Boynton did not return to membership in the Church.
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