Elder David E. Sorensen

Of the Seventy

Elder David E. Sorensen, recently called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy, learned early the importance of listening to the counsel of Church leaders. He remembers his parents’ saving gas coupons during World War II so the family could travel from their farm in Aurora, Utah, to attend general conference in Salt Lake City.

“My father used to say that when you go to conference you learn how to conduct your daily affairs, which is part of your religion,” Elder Sorensen recalls.

Born 29 June 1933, Elder Sorensen says his family would pray for Church leaders three times a day. “Before every meal we would kneel around the table and pray. We always prayed for the First Presidency, the Twelve, and other Church leaders.”

Elder Sorensen’s experience as president of the Canada Halifax Mission reinforced the importance of praying for the success of the Church and its leaders.

“Before my wife and I left, we were given a blessing by Elder Neal A. Maxwell that if we worked, prayed, and diligently exercised faith, we would see the organization of a new stake in the area. A few weeks before we were released from our mission, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin organized the Saint John New Brunswick Stake,” he recalls.

In addition to serving as a mission president, Elder Sorensen has been a high councilor, a bishop, and a stake president. From 1954 to 1956, he served as a full-time missionary in the Central Atlantic States Mission.

When Elder Sorensen returned from his mission, he was met with a draft notice. He served two years in the army and gained valuable leadership experience.

He married Verla Anderson on 29 December 1958. They have seven children.

As a businessman, Elder Sorensen has been honored by the Brigham Young University Marriott School of Management. While living in California, he began a health services company. And at the time of his call, he was vice-chairman of Nevada Community Bank in Las Vegas.