Elder Karl D. Hirst was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the April 2024 general conference. At the time of his call, he had been serving as an FSY session director.
Elder Hirst has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the England London South Mission, counselor in a bishopric, ward and stake Young Men president, bishop, stake president, and Area Seventy.
Elder Hirst received a bachelor of law degree in 1996 from Lancaster University and a master of business administration degree from Alliance Manchester Business School in 2016. Since 1997 he has worked as a barrister.
Karl Douglas Hirst was born in Bury, Lancashire, United Kingdom, on February 28, 1972. He married Claire Elizabeth Wright in 1993. They are the parents of six children.