Seventy

Seventy is an office in the Melchizedek priesthood, and seventies have responsibilities as especial witnesses of Christ in all the world. Members of the Quorums of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serve in one of eight quorums, with members of the First and Second Quorums of the Seventy being designated as General Authorities. Members of the Third through the Eighth Quorums of the Seventy are designated Area Seventies.

History

In 1835 seven men were called as members of the Presidency of the Seventy. They were General Authorities to the Church.

In the early days of the restored church, General Authorities were called to be Seventies who had no leadership experience in bishoprics, high councils, or stake presidencies, since High Priests had to fill those offices. Some were mission presidents and district presidents, which are callings that can be held by Elders. Seventies who never were high priests could not ordain stake presidents or other high priests. Brigham Young was aware of this problem and tried to change it before he died. There is evidence John Taylor did, also.

Seventies in the early days of the restored church primarily presided over stake seventies quorums, which were in turn guided by stake seventy quorum presidents. They also accompanied apostles to stake conferences and trained and taught gospel principles.

In 1960 David O. McKay announced that members of the seventies quorum would be high priests. Someone asked if it were contrary to the order of the heaven for seventies to be high priests. Harold B. Lee said what was contrary to the order in heaven in 1840 may not be contrary in 1960. That change was made in order for them to ordain stake leaders and high priests.

Still, only men from stake seventies quorums were called to the seventy and occasionally elders were. In 1975 President Spencer W. Kimball announced the creation of the First Quorum of the Seventy with 4 additional members. Since 1941, Assistants to the Twelve, who aided the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, were high priests. The next year President Kimball said Assistants to the Twelve would be members of the First Quorum of the Seventy, since their duties were very similar. In 1978 some were given emeritus status in order for more brethren to serve and for health reasons.

In 1984 several members of the quorum were called for a period of years (usually 3 to 5) rather than for life. In 1989 a Second Quorum of the Seventy was created of those called for a period of years. They are presided over now by the Presidency of the Seventy whose membership rotates, as it is not a lifelong calling. In fact, many return to the first Quorum of the Seventy.

For many years Regional Representatives assisted General Authorities in training and conducting stake meetings. In 1995 they were released and replaced with area authorities; two years later, President Hinckley named them "area authority seventies" and installed them in quorums based on geography. They still keep their employment, live at home and serve for a period of years (usually five).

The stake seventy's office between Elder and High Priest was discontinued by President Ezra Taft Benson in 1986.

Individual Quorums

Members of the First Quorum now typically serve until the year they turn 70, though recently there has been flexibility, and many serve a few years beyond their 70th birthday. Many emeritus Seventies become temple presidents, also.

Members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy serve an average of 5 or 6 years and even longer. The number of Quorums of Seventy can expand as needed, easing the work of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Increasing the numbers of quorums of seventy has created a seamless way to manage a quickly burgeoning church membership.

First Quorum of the Seventy

Surname	Given Names	Sustained	Age Sust.	Born	City Born	State/Country	Children
Aidukaitis	Marcos A.	200804055 Apr 2008	48	1959083030 Aug 1959	Porto Alegre	Brazil	5
Alonso	José L.	200804052 Apr 2011	52	1959083017 Nov 1958	México City	México	2
Amado	Carlos Humberto	199210033 Oct 1992	48	1944092525 Sep 1944	Guatemala City	Guatemala	5
Ardern	Ian S.	199210032 Apr 2011	57	1944092528 Feb 1954	Te Aroha	New Zealand	4
Arnold	Mervyn B.	199210034 Apr 2009	60	1944092519 Jul 1948	Salt Lake City	Utah	6
Baxter	David S.	200604011 Apr 2006	51	195502077 Feb 1955	Stirling	Scotland	4
Bowen	Shayne M.	200604011 Apr 2006	51	1954080729 Aug 1954	Rigby	Idaho	7
Cardon	Craig A	2008040531 Mar 2012	63	1963052030 Dec 1948	Mesa	Arizona	8
Choi	Yoon Hwan	200604064 Apr 2009	51	1938050818 May 1957	Seoul	Korea	3
Clarke	Don R.	199704052 Apr 2011	65	1941090811 Dec 1945	Rexburg	Idaho	6
Clayton	L. Whitney	1992100331 Mar 2001	51	1940080824 Feb 1950	Salt Lake City	Utah	7
Cook	Carl B.	199210032 Apr 2011	53	1940080815 Oct 1957	Ogden	Utah	5
Corbridge	Lawrence E.	200804055 Apr 2008	58	194904066 Apr 1949	Moscow	Idaho	5
Costa	Claudio R. M.	2008040531 Mar 2001	52	1949040625 Mar 1949	Santos	Brazil	4
Curtis	Legrand R. Jr.	200804052 Apr 2011	58	194904061 Aug 1952	Ogden	Utah	5
De Hoyos	Benjamin	200504022 Apr 2005	52	1953020820 Feb 1953	Monterrey	Mexico	6
Dube	Edward	199504016 Apr 2013	50	1943070812 May 1962	Chiramanzu	Zimbabwe	4
Duncan	Kevin R.	197910033 Apr 2010	49	193510056 Oct 1960	Ogden	Utah	5
Echo Hawk	Larry J.	2005040231 Mar 2012	63	195108052 Aug 1948	Cody	Wyoming	6
Ellis	Stanley G.	2005040231 Mar 2012	65	1951080522 Jan 1947	Burley	Idaho	9
Evans	David F.	200504022 Apr 2005	53	1951080511 Aug 1951	Salt Lake City	Utah	8
Falabella	Enrique R.	2007030231 Mar 2007	56	195005099 May 1950	Guatemala City	Guatemala	5
Gavarret	Eduardo	200804055 Apr 2008	51	1956051111 May 1956	Minas	Uruguay	3
Gay	Robert C.	2008040531 Mar 2012	60	196102041 Sep 1951	Los Angeles	California	7
Godoy	Carlos A.	200804055 Apr 2008	47	196102044 Feb 1961	Porto Alegre	Brazil	4
Golden	Christoffel, Jr.	2001030531 Mar 2001	48	195206011 Jun 1952	Johannesburg	South Africa	4
Gong	Gerrit W.	200504023 Apr 2010	56	1949050523 Dec 1953	Redwood City	California	4
González	Walter F.	2005040231 Mar 2001	48	1949050518 Nov 1952	Montevideo	Uruguay	4
Grow	Cecil Scott	200504022 Apr 2005	55	194905055 May 1949	Moscow	Idaho	8
Hallstron	Donald L.	200004011 Apr 2000	50	1949070527 Jul 1949	Honolulu	Hawaii	4
Hamula	James J.	200804055 Apr 2008	50	1957112020 Nov 1957	Long Beach	California	6
Johnson	Daniel L.	200604011 Apr 2006	59	1942030515 Dec 1946	Colonia Juarez	Mexico	6
Johnson	Paul V.	200504022 Apr 2005	50	1941050224 Jun 1954	Gainesville	Florida	9
Kearon	Patrick	198904013 Apr 2010	48	1942050218 Jul 1961	Carlisle	United Kingdom	4
Klebingat	Jörg	199504015 Apr 2014	46	1942020519 Dec 1967	Zweibrücken	Germany	3
Kopischke	Erich W.	2007030231 Mar 2007	50	1956100520 Oct 1956	Elmshom	Germany	7
Maynes	Richard J.	2001030531 Mar 2001	50	1950100529 Oct 1950	Berkeley	California	4
Nash	Marcus B.	200604011 Apr 2006	49	1957030526 Mar 1957	Seattle	Washington	5
Nielsen	S. Gifford	199410016 Apr 2013	58	1939100625 Oct 1954	Provo	Utah	6
Nielson	Brent H.	199210034 Apr 2009	54	194003068 Dec 1954	Burley	Idaho	6
Packer	Allan F.	200804055 Apr 2008	59	194807077 Jul 1948	Brigham City	Utah	8
Pearson	Kevin W.	200804055 Apr 2008	50	1957041010 Apr 1957	Salt Lake City	Utah	6
Perkins	Anthony D.	200604011 Apr 2006	45	1960070622 Jul 1960	Cortez	Colorado	6
Pieper	Paul B.	200504022 Apr 2005	47	195710077 Oct 1957	Pocatello	Idaho	6
Pino	Rafael E.	200804055 Apr 2008	52	1955102727 Oct 1955	Valencia	Venezuela	3
Porter	Bruce D.	200304055 Apr 2003	50	1952070718 Jul 1952	Albuquerque	New Mexico	4
Rasband	Ronald A.	199704051 Apr 2000	49	194110076 Feb 1951	Salt Lake City	Utah	5
Renlund	Dale G.	200004014 Apr 2009	56	1952100713 Nov 1952	Salt Lake City	Utah	1
Ringwood	Michael T.	199410014 Apr 2009	51	1941080114 Feb 1958	Provo	Utah	5
Robbins	Lynn G.	200504021 Apr 2000	47	1958100227 Oct 1952	Cortez	Colorado	6
Sitati	Joseph W.	200504024 Apr 2009	56	1958100216 May 1952	Bungoma	Kenya	5
Snow	Steven E.	2005040231 Mar 2001	51	1958100223 Nov 1949	St. George	Utah	4
Soares	Ulisses	200504022 Apr 2005	46	195810022 Oct 1958	Sao Paulo	Brazil	3
Teh	Michael J.	2007030531 Mar 2007	41	1965060225 Jun 1965	Davao City	Philippines	3
Teixeira	Jose A.	200804055 Apr 2008	47	1961022424 Feb 1961	Vila Real	Portugal	3
Uceda	Juan A.	200703053 April 2010	56	1942100210 July 1953	Lima	Peru	5
Valenzuela	Arnulfo	199804056 Apr 2013	53	194612024 May 1959	Chihuahua	Mexico	3
Viñas	Francisco Jose	199804055 Apr 1998	51	1946120228 Dec 1946	Montevideo	Uruguay	3
Waddell	W. Christopher	200804052 Apr 2011	51	1943031928 Jun 1959	Los Angeles	California	4
Walker	William R.	200004016 Apr 2008	63	1940110225 May 1944	Lethbridge	Canada	5
Whiting	Scott D.	2008040531 Mar 2012	50	195507191 Apr 1961	Salt Lake City	Utah	5
Wong	Chi Hong (Sam)	200804055 Apr 2014	51	1955071925 May 1962	Hong Kong	China	4
Yamashita	Kazuhiko	200804052 Apr 2011	57	1955071915 Sep 1953	Sumida	Japan	6
Zeballos	Jorge F.	200804055 Apr 2008	52	1955071919 Jul 1955	Ovalle	Chile	5
Zivic	Claudio D.	2007030531 Mar 2007	58	1948120219 Dec 1948	Buenos Aires	Argentina	5
Zwick	William Craig	199504011 Apr 1995	47	1947060230 Jun 1947	Salt Lake City	Utah	4
Total	66

(See also Jorge Zeballos.)

Second Quorum of the Seventy

Surname	Given Names	Sustained	Age Sust.	Born	City Born	State/Country	Children
Andersen	Wilford W.	200304054 Apr 2009	59	19480722 Aug 1949	Mesa	Arizona	9
Aoyagi	Koichi	200804054 Apr 2009	64	1945121724 Mar 1945	Matsumoto	Japan	4
Bennett	Randall K.	200004012 Apr 2011	55	193902June 1955	Magrath, Alberta	Canada	4
Cardon	Craig A.	200604011 Apr 2006	57	19481230 Dec 1948	Mesa	Arizona	8
Christensen	Craig C.	200210055 Oct 2002	46	19560318 Mar 1956	Salt Lake City	Utah	4
Christensen	Shirley D.	200304055 Apr 2003	64	193901088 Jan 1939	Preston	Idaho	7
Clarke	Don R.	200604011 Apr 2006	60	1945120811 Dec 1945	Rexburg	Idaho	6
Dunn	James M.	200210055 Oct 2002	62	1940040816 Apr 1940	Pocatello	Idaho	6
Edwards	Keith R.	200604011 Apr 2006	64	1942030816 Mar 1942	Boulder City	Nevada	7
Ellis	Stanley G.	200604011 Apr 2006	59	1947010822 Jan 1947	Burley	Idaho	9
Garn	Daryl H.	200210055 Oct 2002	63	1938120828 Dec 1938	Tremonton	Utah	6
Gibbons	Larry W.	200604011 Apr 2006	63	1942070830 Jul 1942	Logan	Utah	2
Jones	Spencer V.	200210055 Oct 2002	57	1945090817 Sep 1945	Safford	Arizona	3
Ko	Won Young	200504022 Apr 2005	59	1945100815 Oct 1945	Pusan	South Korea	2
Lund	Gerald N.	200204066 Apr 2002	62	1939090812 Sep 1939	Fountain Green	Utah	7
Oaks	Robert C.	200004011 Apr 2000	64	1936020814 Feb 1936	Los Angeles	California	6
Parmley	William W.	200304055 Apr 2003	67	1936010822 Jan 1936	Salt Lake City	Utah	4
Paul	Wolfgang H.	200504022 Apr 2005	65	1940020828 Feb 1940	Munster	Germany	3
Shumway	W. Douglas	200304055 Apr 2003	62	194005088 May 1940	St. Johns	Arizona	8
Snow	Lowell M.	200504022 Apr 2005	61	194401022 Jan 1944	St. George	Utah	5
Steuer	Robert R.	2001030231 Mar 2001	57	194312066 Dec 1943	Milwaukee	Wisconsin	5
Sybrowsky	Paul K.	200504022 Apr 2005	60	1944080622 Aug 1944	Salt Lake City	Utah	9
Walker	William R.	200204066 Apr 2002	57	1944050625 May 1944	Raymond	Canada	5
Watson	Kent D.	200804055 Apr 2008	64	194305088 May 1943	Cedar City	Utah	5
Wood	Robert S.	199904033 Apr 1999	62	1936120625 Dec 1936	Idaho Falls	Idaho	4
Total	25

Source: Deseret Morning News 2008 Church Almanac, 42-59 and Deseret Morning News, "Brief biographies of new leaders called to LDS Church hierarchy", Saturday, April 5, 2008

Other References

• The Unfolding Role of the Seventy, by Elder Earl Tingey