Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy Reorganized

The First Presidency has announced the reorganization of the Presidency of the First Quorum Of the Seventy.

The reorganization shortens and strengthens lines of authority and administration within the First Quorum of the Seventy by appointing as members of the quorum presidency the executive directors of the Missionary, Curriculum, Priesthood, and Genealogical departments.

Released from the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy were Elder A. Theodore Tuttle, Elder Marion D. Hanks, Elder Paul H. Dunn, and Elder W. Grant Bangerter. Continuing to serve as members of the quorum presidency are Elder Franklin D. Richards, Senior President, and Elder J. Thomas Fyans and Elder Neal A. Maxwell.

The four new members of the Presidency are Elder Carlos E. Asay, Executive Director of the Missionary Department, Elder M. Russell Ballard, Executive Director of the Curriculum Department, Elder Dean L. Larsen, Executive Director of the Priesthood Department, and Elder Royden G. Derrick, Executive Director of the Genealogical Department.

Elder Carlos E. Asay.

Elder M. Russell Ballard.

Elder Dean L. Larsen.

Elder Royden G. Derrick.

New assignments have been announced for the four former members of the quorum presidency. Elder Tuttle is now serving as president of the Provo, Utah, Temple. Elder Hanks will begin serving July 1 as Executive Administrator of the Southeast Asia-Philippines Area, with headquarters in Hong Kong. He succeeds Elder Jacob de Jager, who will return to Salt Lake City to assume other responsibilities. Elder Dunn will succeed Elder Robert L. Simpson as Executive Administrator of the Salt Lake City Utah Area. Elder Simpson is now serving as president of the Los Angeles, California, Temple. Elder Bangerter has been appointed Executive Administrator of the new Salt Lake City Utah South Area.

The three members of the quorum presidency, Elder Richards, Elder Fyans, and Elder Maxwell, who will continue in their present assignments, were sustained to those positions 1 October 1976.

The new members of the Presidency were all called to be General Authorities in 1976.

In addition to the changes in the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy, the First Presidency has also announced other changes in assignments for some members of the First Quorum of the Seventy.

Elder Robert D. Hales will succeed Elder Theodore M. Burton as Executive Administrator of the Europe Area headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, effective July 1. Elder Burton will then return to Salt Lake City to assume other responsibilities.

Elder James M. Paramore will succeed Elder Hales as Executive Administrator of the Europe West Area headquartered also in Frankfurt, effective July 1.

Elder F. Enzio Busche will succeed Elder Paramore as Executive Administrator of the Northwest Area, effective July 1.

The First Quorum of the Seventy, which is under the direction of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is responsible for “building up the church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations” (D&C 107:34).

Some members of the quorum serve as executive directors or managing directors of major departments at Church headquarters and as presidencies of the Sunday School and Young Men’s organizations. Two members of the quorum are temple presidents, and Elder Busche has been serving as president of the Germany Munich Mission. The quorum also has seven emeritus members.

Members of the quorum also have responsibilities as executive administrators over geographic areas of the Church worldwide. Twelve presently reside outside the continental United States to fulfill these responsibilities. These General Authorities and their assignments are Elder William R. Bradford, Mexico-Central America Area; Elder Teddy E. Brewerton, Brazil Area; Elder Theodore M. Burton, Europe Area; Elder Gene R. Cook, Andes Area; Elder Loren C. Dunn, Australia-New Zealand Area; Elder Robert D. Hales, Europe West Area; Elder Jacob de Jager, Southeast Asia-Philippines Area; Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi, Japan-Korea Area; Elder Adney Y. Komatsu, Hawaii-Pacific Isles Area; Elder Rex C. Reeve, British Isles-South Africa Area; Elder Richard G. Scott, Mexico North Area; and Elder Robert E. Wells, Chile-Argentina-Uruguay-Paraguay Area.