Presidency of the Seventy

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Historically, seven members of the First Quorum of the Seventy are called to serve as the Presidency of the Seventy. This precedent was broken, however, when Elder Robert C. Oaks of the Second Quorum of the Seventy was sustained to the Presidency to fill the vacancy created by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf's call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

They provide direction for the seventies and serve the apostles and president of the Church. The Presidency of the Seventy is unique in that not only are there seven members but all seven hold the keys of presidency. The man with the longest tenure of uninterrupted service is called to preside over the other six.

With the release of all area presidencies in North America, the Presidency of the Seventy are now directly responsible for supervising the Church in North America. The Presidency (as of the April 2008 General Conference) consisted of:

Surname Given Names Sustained Age Sust. Born City Born State/Country Children
Clayton L. Whitney 199610055 Apr 2008   58 19340624 Feb 1950   Salt Lake City Utah 7
Hallstrom Donald L. 200510014 Apr 2009   59 1951080927 Jul 1949   Honolulu Hawaii 4
Maynes Richard J. 2005100120 Jan 2012   62 1951020629 Oct 1950   Berkeley California 4
Christensen Craig C. 200710063 Apr 2012   56 1949030618 Mar 1956   Salt Lake City Utah 4
Soares Ulisses 200710066 Jan 2013   54 194911062 Oct 1958   São Paulo Brazil 3
Robbins Lynn G. 200710065 Apr 2014   61 1952110627 Oct 1952   Springville Utah 7
Gong Gerrit W. 200804056 Oct 2015   56 1950020623 Dec 1953   Redwood City California 4

Source: Deseret Morning News 2008 Church Almanac, 40-41,43; Mormon Newsroom

At the October 2007 General Conference of the Church, Elders Charles Didier, Merrill J. Bateman, and Robert C. Oaks were released. Called in their place were Elders Claudio R.M. Costa, Steven E. Snow, and Walter F. Gonzalez. At the solemn assembly held as part of the April 2008 General Conference, D. Todd Christofferson was released as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy and called to be an apostle. L. Whitney Clayton was called to take Elder Christofferson's place in the Presidency of the Seventy at that time.