Four Called to First Quorum of Seventy, One Called to Second Quorum of Seventy

Following the Saturday, April 1, opening session’s solemn assembly sustaining of President Gordon B. Hinckley, his counselors in the First Presidency, and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as the Lord’s prophets, seers, and revelators, members of the Church then sustained the other General Authorities, as well as the general auxiliary leaders of the Church. Included in this latter sustaining was the calling of four brethren to the First Quorum of the Seventy, one of them a new General Authority, and the calling of one new General Authority to the Second Quorum of the Seventy.

Elder John B. Dickson

Called to the First Quorum of the Seventy were Elders John B. Dickson, Jay E. Jensen, and David E. Sorensen, each of whom has been serving in the Second Quorum of the Seventy. In addition, a new General Authority, W. Craig Zwick of Salt Lake City, was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy. Called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy as a new General Authority also was Bruce D. Porter of Provo, Utah (see adjacent articles on Elders Zwick and Porter).

Elder Jay E. Jensen

Elder Dickson, 51, was called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy in June 1992 and is serving as first counselor in the South America South Area presidency. Elder Jensen, 53, was called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy in June 1992 and has been serving as president of the South America North Area. Elder Sorensen, 61, was called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy in June 1992 and has been serving as president of the Asia North Area.

Elder David E. Sorensen

In another Church administrative development, President Gordon B. Hinckley announced in the Saturday evening priesthood session the release of the Church’s regional representatives on August 15 of this year. President Hinckley noted that in 1967, twenty-eight years ago, sixty-nine regional representatives were first called. Today there are 284. “As the work grows across the world it has become necessary to decentralize administrative authority,” he said. President Hinckley then announced “the call of a new local officer to be known as an area authority” to serve in appointed areas under the direction of area presidencies.

The new area authorities will continue their current employment, reside in their homes, and serve on a Church-service basis. Their term of call will be flexible, but will generally be for six years, said President Hinckley.