Difference between revisions of "D. Todd Christofferson"

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Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, © 2018 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

David Todd Christofferson is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was sustained in that position on April 5, 2008.

Elder Christofferson addressed the general Church membership and welcomed friends of other faiths in the Sunday morning session of the 178 Annual General Conference of the Church. In that address, Elder Christofferson acknowledged his witness of the range and sacredness of the apostolic calling, which overcame him through the Spirit as he sustained a newly called apostle earlier in his service in the Presidency of the Seventy and for which words were insufficient to describe.

He also expressed gratitude for the influence of "goodly parents" and for generations beyond, whose legacy has influenced his life. Pledging his loyalty to the First Presidency, Elder Christofferson indicated that he would unflinchingly serve the Lord, recognizing his dependence on the Lord for power behind his native ability. He expressed his love for his wife, Kathy, who he said, was filled with "spiritual intuition, humor" and to whom he wished to manifest the depth of his love even "more convincingly" as the days and years go by. He hailed the faithfulness of his four sons and their spouses (and in the case of his youngest, of his soon-to-be spouse) and their commitment to the Lord. Elder Christofferson bore his divine witness of the work of the kingdom of God on the earth.

Elder Christofferson has served in many positions in the Church, including those of bishop, stake president, and regional representative. On April 3, 1993, he was sustained as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. On April 15, 1998 he was called as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, and was sustained in that position on October 3, 1998. While serving in the Presidency of the Seventy, Elder Christofferson had supervisory responsibility for the North America Northwest and North America West Areas.

Elder Christofferson is married to Katherine Jacob Christofferson. They have five children.^[1]

Christofferson was born in American Fork, Utah, on January 24, 1945, and raised in Pleasant Grove and Lindon, Utah. He graduated from high school in New Jersey and attended Brigham Young University as an Edwin S. Hinckley Scholar. After receiving his bachelor's degree from BYU, Christofferson earned a law degree from Duke University School of Law.^[2] After graduating from law school, he clerked for Chief Judge John Sirica of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. During Christofferson's tenure as a clerk under Judge Sirica, he worked on the trial of the Watergate burglars.^[3]

During his career, Christofferson practiced law in Washington, DC, North Carolina, and Tennessee. While in Charlotte, North Carolina, Christofferson was associate general counsel for NationsBank Corp. (now Bank of America). He has also worked in various civic capacities, including chairman of Affordable Housing of Nashville, Tennessee.^[4]

Apostleship

Elder Christofferson ministered in Armenia, the Republic of Georgia, and Kazakhstan among gatherings of Church members, missionaries, friends of the Church and local leaders during September 6-17, 2024. Church members in Russia and Belarus joined meetings in person or virtually as well. Elder Christofferson was accompanied by Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Presidency of the Seventy, their respective wives, Sister Kathy Christofferson and Sister Shelley Nash, and the Eurasian Area presidency: Elder Alexey V. Samaykin, and his counselors, Elder Nikolai Ustyuzhaninov and Elder Aleksandr A. Drachyov, all Area Seventies.

“I had not realized before, I think to the same extent, how beneficial it is — especially with our members dispersed so widely and fairly few in number for them — just to be together with each other,” Elder Christofferson said. “It just seemed to bring in a wonderful spirit, and I think it energized and renewed their feelings of faith and hope as well.”

And most importantly, Elder Nash added, it was gathering together to hear one who holds priesthood keys.

“When you have an Apostle there, it is elevating to the people, and it helps them feel connected to the broader Church,” Elder Nash said.

In a Facebook post, Elder Christofferson said, in part, "In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are experiencing two kinds of gatherings: the gathering of Israel into the Church and the gathering together of Church members and friends within our stakes and missions. It is very powerful when members, missionaries, and friends gather together in Christ."[4]

Earlier in 2024, Elder Christofferson and his wife, Sister Kathy Christofferson, had meetings in South Africa, Madagascar, Angola, and Mozambique. Elder S. Mark Palmer of the Presidency of the Seventy was with him in some of the meetings and countries as were members of the Africa South Area presidency: Elder Edward Dube, and his counselors, Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis and Elder Denelson Silva, all General Authority Seventies. Elder Christofferson met with youth, missionaries, young adults, members and their friends while there. He was also interviewed by television journalists in Angola and Mozambique about his role, his hope for each country and what he had been learning from the people.[5]

While there, the Christoffersons, Palmers, Dubes, and Silvas visited the Tambo Memorial Hospital in the Boksburg neighborhood, South Africa. Elder Christofferson shared that the Church would be making another substantial donation to the hospital. Previously, the Church has offered support to the 118-year-old public institution with funding that has purchased life-saving technology and equipment for the most vulnerable babies in the area. Dr. Londiwe Buthelezi observed the Church leaders and their wives listening to understand and exhibiting compassion. She told them, “I understand now why you do the things that you do. You cannot fake what I saw today.”[6]

Experiences

"Years ago I presided in a Church disciplinary council. The man whose sins were the subject of the council sat before us and related something of his history. His sins were indeed serious, but he had also been terribly sinned against. As we considered the matter, my soul was troubled, and I asked to be excused to think and pray about it alone before rejoining the council.

"I was standing in front of a chair in my office pleading with the Lord to help me understand how such evil could have been perpetrated. I did not see but rather sensed an immense pit with a covering over it. It seemed one corner of the covering was lifted slightly for just an instant, and I perceived within it the depth and vastness of the evil that exists in this world. It was greater than I could really comprehend. I was overcome. I collapsed into the chair behind me. It seemed to take my breath away. I cried silently, “How can we ever hope to overcome such evil? How can we survive something so dark and overwhelming?”

"In that moment there came to my mind this phrase: “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Seldom have I felt such peace juxtaposed to the reality of evil. I felt a deeper appreciation for the intensity of the Savior’s suffering, having a better, even frightening appreciation for the depth of what He had to overcome. I felt peace for the man who was before us for judgment, knowing he had a Redeemer whose grace was sufficient to cleanse him and also repair the injustices he had suffered. I understood better that good will triumph because of Jesus Christ, whereas without Him we would have no chance. I felt peace, and it was very sweet" (“Allegiance to God,” Ensign, Jan. 2005).

World Peace Prize

Elder Christofferson accepted a World Peace Prize in India on August 14, 2017. He is the ninth person to receive the World Peace Prize.

Michael Nobel, a great-grandnephew of the founder of the Nobel Peace Prize, joined the World Peace Prize Committee and the president of World Peace University as they conferred the award named for Saint Shri Dnyaneshwara, a revered 13th-century Hindu philosopher. World Peace University President Vishwanath Karad said the award honored what he called Elder Christofferson's "relentless mission of love, compassion and sacrifice." Karad said the World Peace Prize Committee chose to honor Elder Christofferson for his "noble mission of spreading the message of peace and harmony throughout the world."

"Elder Christofferson has personally visited and worked with church members and government, civic and religious leaders in 80 nations" since he began his service as a general authority of the church in 1993, said Elder Robert Kumar William, an LDS Area Seventy from Bangalore, India. . . .

"Why would they deserve (the prize)?" Nobel said. "The members of the church have shown us that it's possible to translate into worldwide action something that lies deep in the hearts of many of us, compassion for others. ... The Mormon church and its organizations richly deserve this commission for its outstanding humanitarian accomplishments."

Calling the honor one beyond his dreams, Elder Christofferson said he and the LDS Church and its members were grateful for the 2017 Philosopher Saint Shri Dnyaneshwara World Peace Prize. The prize has been awarded by Maharashtra Institute of Technology World Peace University eight times since 2006, generally to spiritual leaders from India. Elder Christofferson is the first recipient from outside Asia.

As of 2017, the Church has provided $1.89 billion in humanitarian aid throughout the world since 1985.[7]

Temples dedicated by Elder Christofferson

San Juan Puerto Rico Temple  · Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple  · Orem Utah Temple  · Salta Argentina Temple

Books by Elder Christofferson

• Seemingly Small Things (2022)
• The Good that Men Can Do (2017)

Quotes from Elder Christofferson

• "Our day is a replay of Book of Mormon history in which charismatic figures pursue unrighteous dominion over others, celebrate sexual license, and promote accumulating wealth as the object of our existence. Their philosophies “justify in committing a little sin”17 or even a lot of sin, but none can offer redemption. That comes only through the blood of the Lamb. The best the 'anything but Christ' or 'anything but repentance' crowd can offer is the unfounded claim that sin does not exist or that if it exists, it ultimately has no consequences. I can’t see that argument getting much traction at the Final Judgment."

October 2021 General Conference, "The Love of God"

• "Repentance is a divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it. It points us to freedom, confidence, and peace. Rather than interrupting the celebration, the gift of repentance is the cause for true celebration. Repentance exists as an option only because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

October 2011 General Conference, "The Divine Gift of Repentance"

• "We do not need to achieve some minimum level or capacity or goodness before God will help–divine aid can be ours every hour of every day, no matter where we are in the path of obedience.”

October 2014 General Conference, "Free Forever, to Act for Themselves"

• "Many things are good, many are important, but only a few are essential.”

April 2015 General Conference, "Why Marriage, Why Family"

Videos with Elder Christofferson

More on Elder D. Todd Christofferson

• D. Todd Christofferson
• "Elder D. Todd Christofferson: Prepared to Serve the Lord," by Elder Quentin L. Cook
• Special Witnesses of Christ, Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ
• All General Conference Talks by D. Todd Christofferson
• All Talks by D. Todd Christofferson
• Collected Talks of D. Todd Christofferson

References