Five Seventies Added to First Quorum

The calling of five new members of the First Quorum of the Seventy was announced by the First Presidency during the opening day of the 163rd Annual General Conference.

Elders F. Melvin Hammond, Kenneth Johnson, and Lynn A. Mickelsen, all members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, were sustained as members of the First Quorum of the Seventy. In addition, Neil L. Andersen of Tampa, Florida, and D. Todd Christofferson of Charlotte, North Carolina, were called to serve in the First Quorum of the Seventy.

Elder Hammond, 59, had served in the Second Quorum of the Seventy since April 1989. He is currently serving as first counselor in the presidency of the Mexico South Area, having previously served as a counselor in the Mexico Area presidency. Prior to his call as a General Authority, he had been president of the Bolivia Cochabamba Mission. He has also served as a stake president, bishop, temple worker, and Sunday School teacher.

Elder F. Melvin Hammond

At the time of his call to be a General Authority, he was a professor of religion at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. He served eight terms in the Idaho State Legislature and was minority leader for three terms. He is married to the former Bonnie Sellers, and they have six children.

Elder Kenneth Johnson, 52, was called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy in March 1990. He is serving in the presidency of the Europe North Area. He earlier served the Church as a regional representative, stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, counselor in a bishopric, district missionary, and Sunday School teacher.

Elder Kenneth Johnson

Elder Johnson is a native of Norwich, England, and a graduate of Norwich City College. He did graduate work with the City and Guilds of London Institute of Printing, after which he became a college instructor. From 1964 to 1990, he worked with a British insurance brokerage firm and was a partner in the business at the time of his calling to full-time Church service. He and his wife, Pamela Wilson Johnson, have one child.

Elder Mickelsen, 57, was called to serve in the Second Quorum of the Seventy in March 1990. He is now serving as president of the South America South Area. Prior to his call to be a General Authority, he served as president of the Colombia Cali Mission, as a regional representative, as a stake president, and as a bishop.

Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen

Born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, he attended Ricks College and is a Brigham Young University graduate. He was an independent farmer and potato shipper in Idaho prior to his calling as a General Authority. He also served on a hospital board and in several farm associations. He and his wife, Jeanine Andersen Mickelsen, are parents of nine children.