‘We weren’t alone:’ Spokane Latter-day Saints find faith, blessings in wildfire ashes

After visit from two Apostles, members who lost homes tell of tender mercies, answered prayers, acts of service and lessons in resilience since wildfires

Published: Aug 27, 2026, 10:47 a.m. MDT

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, greets Andrea Abeyta, during a special multistake meeting in Spokane, Washington, on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. Abeyta was one of the members who lost a home in the Spokane fires in early August. Brian Nicholson, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

SPOKANE, Washington — President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve joined with other leaders in addressing Latter-day Saints affected by the Spokane wildfires during a special multi-stake meeting on Sunday, Aug. 23.

Members who had lost their homes were invited to sit near the pulpit.

Andrea “Ann” Abeyta, an Eastern Shoshone woman from the Wind River reservation in Wyoming and a member of the Seven Mile Ward in the Spokane Washington North Stake, was sitting on the end of the front row and received warm handshakes from both Apostles as they entered the chapel.

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