Four Seventies Released

Four members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy were released October 5, after five and one-half years of faithful service, and new counselors in the general presidencies of the Young Men and Sunday School were sustained.

The changes came during the Saturday afternoon session of the Church’s 161st semiannual general conference.

Elders H. Verlan Andersen, George I. Cannon, Francis M. Gibbons, and Gardner H. Russell of the Second Quorum of the Seventy were released.

All four brethren were sustained to the Seventy on 6 April 1986.

Born in Logan, Utah, Elder H. Verlan Andersen received a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, a law degree from Stanford University, and a master of law degree from Harvard University. He was a certified public accountant and a professor of accounting at BYU. While in the Seventy, he served as a counselor in the Sunday School general presidency and in the Utah Central Area presidency.

Elder H. Verlan Andersen

A Salt Lake City native, Elder George I. Cannon graduated from Brigham Young University and was vice president of a life insurance company. Prior to his calling to the Seventy, he had served as a mission president, a regional representative, a stake president, and a patriarch. After being called to the Seventy, he served as president of the Philippines/Micronesia Area and the North America Southwest Area.

Elder George I. Cannon

Elder Francis M. Gibbons was born in St. Johns, Arizona. He graduated from Stanford University and received a juris doctorate from the University of Utah. Elder Gibbons worked as an attorney and then served as secretary to the First Presidency for sixteen years. While in the Seventy, he served as president of the Brazil Area and as counselor in the North America Southwest Area presidency.

Elder Francis M. Gibbons

Born in Salt Lake City, Elder Gardner H. Russell graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and became a manufacturer and financial consultant. He served as a mission president; a regional representative, and a district president. As a Seventy, he served as a counselor in the North America Southeast Area presidency and in the Central America Area presidency.

Elder Gardner H. Russell

In other action at conference, Elders LeGrand R. Curtis and Robert K. Dellenbach were released as first and second counselor, respectively, in the Young Men general presidency. Elder Dellenbach was then sustained as first counselor and Elder Stephen D. Nadauld was sustained as second counselor of that organization.

In the Sunday School general presidency, Elder H. Verlan Andersen was released as first counselor, and Elder Rulon G. Craven was released as second counselor. Sustained were Elder Hartman Rector, Jr., as first counselor and Elder Clinton L. Cutler as second counselor in the presidency.