Elder F. Michael Watson

Of the Seventy

Thirty-eight years of working with apostles and prophets on a daily basis has only strengthened the testimony of Elder Frank Michael Watson of the First Quorum of the Seventy.

Elder Watson served as Assistant Secretary, then Secretary, to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1970 to 1972. Beginning in 1972 he served as Assistant Secretary to the First Presidency and since April 1986 has served as Secretary to the First Presidency.

“What I have seen in that personal, day-to-day interaction through the years has only increased my testimony,” he says. “There is no question in my mind that God lives, Jesus is the Christ, and whomever He has called is His prophet for that time.”

Elder Watson was born on March 9, 1943, in Spring City, Utah, USA, to Frank C and Genniel Baxter Watson. He served a full-time mission to the Northeast British Mission from 1962 to 1964, followed by military service from 1966 to 1969, one year of which was in the Republic of South Vietnam. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Utah State University.

He married Jolene Mann on September 3, 1965, in the Salt Lake Temple. They are the parents of 12 children. He has served as elders quorum president, stake mission president, bishop, stake president, and sealer in the Bountiful Utah Temple.

“I’ve associated with General Authorities all these years, but being one among them is a humbling experience,” he says. After having worked with them for so long, Elder Watson is desirous of simply being in a position to strengthen others’ testimonies of the prophets and apostles and of the mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.