Elder Wolfgang H. Paul

Of the Seventy

Growing up in Germany as part of the only member family in his town, Elder Wolfgang Heinz Jürgen Paul of the Second Quorum of the Seventy developed an ability to hold strong to a position and stand for it.

While he served in the military, Elder Paul’s testimony was strengthened through a more intense study of the Book of Mormon and prayer.

“After I received my own testimony, I put a maxim in my life to always put the Lord first,” Elder Paul says. “I know that when I put the Lord first, the rest will fall into place.”

Elder Paul also says that this increased testimony helped him focus on the things that were important to him in life. He made a commitment to marry a young woman who was a member of the Church, raise his children in the gospel, and focus on the right things.

Elder Paul proved firm in those commitments. He married Helga Klappert on April 2, 1964, in the Bern Switzerland Temple, and they raised their three children in the gospel. His focus to do what is right continues.

Elder Paul has served as an Area Seventy in the Europe Central Area. He graduated from the German Federal Government Administration Academy and worked as a government officer. Recently retired, Elder Paul was also employed by the Church in a number of managerial and administrative positions in Europe.

His Church experience includes serving as Second Counselor in the Europe East Area Presidency, regional representative, mission president, counselor in a stake presidency, stake Young Men president, bishop, high priests group leader, branch president, and elders quorum president.

In 1988, Elder Paul was called to serve as president of the Germany Hamburg Mission. In March 1989 his call was changed, and he served on the other side of the Berlin Wall until 1991 as the first president of the Germany Dresden Mission. He was born on February 28, 1940, in Muenster, Germany, to Johann Paul and Berta Starbati Paul.