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New Scriptures, General Authorities, and Temple Announced

Two revelations have been added to the Pearl of Great Price, four new General Authorities have been called to serve in the First Quorum of the Seventy, and plans for a temple in Mexico City were made known recently by Church leaders.

On April 3, Church leaders announced plans to build a temple in Mexico City. The temple construction will begin in a year, with a two-year building schedule.

At April general conference, two divine revelations were presented for inclusion in the Pearl of Great Price. President N. Eldon Tanner told conference visitors, “At a meeting of the Council of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve held in the Salt Lake Temple on March 25, 1976, approval was given to add to the Pearl of Great Price the two following revelations:

“1. A vision of the celestial kingdom, given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, in the Kirtland (Ohio) Temple, on January 21, 1836, which deals with the salvation of those who die without a knowledge of the gospel; and

“2. A vision, given to President Joseph F. Smith, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 3, 1918, showing the visit of the Lord Jesus Christ in the spirit world, and setting forth the doctrine of the redemption of the dead.” (See the May 1976 Ensign for the complete additions to the Pearl of Great Price.)

Called to serve as members of the First Quorum of the Seventy are: Carlos E. Asay, of Provo, Utah; M. Russell Ballard, Jr., of Salt Lake City; Jacob de Jager, of Nijmegen, the Netherlands; and John H. Groberg, of Idaho Falls, Idaho.

President Spencer W. Kimball announced last October that the First Quorum of the Seventy would be gradually organized with 70 members to assist in regulating Church affairs worldwide, especially in the area of missionary work.

Elder Carlos Egan Asay, born in Millard County, Utah, was executive assistant to the Presiding Bishopric prior to his call. He also served as president of the Texas North Mission, a Regional Representative, member of the Sunday School general board, bishop, and high councilor.

He was professor of education at Brigham Young University and assistant dean of BYU-Hawaii Campus before joining the Presiding Bishopric’s executive staff. Elder Asay is a returned missionary and former University of Utah varsity basketball player and doctoral graduate.

Elder Melvin Russell Ballard, Jr., prominent in Salt Lake business, is currently president of the Canada Toronto Mission. Having served a mission to Britain, he returned to Salt Lake where he accepted calls to the Holladay 12th Ward bishopric and the Mt. Olympus and Monument Park Stake high councils. Elder Ballard attended the University of Utah before entering business.

Elder Jacob de Jager served as a Regional Representative of the Twelve prior to his call to the quorum. A convert to the Church, Elder de Jager was an interpreter with the Canadian Army in Europe and later worked for an electronics firm in Indonesia, Toronto, Mexico City, and Istanbul before returning to the Netherlands. A former branch president, Elder de Jager served in the presidency of the Netherlands Mission.

In the priesthood session of conference, he said, “I testify to you as a happy Dutchman who found the gospel of Jesus Christ as a Liahona in his life that by living the commandments the joy is ours today, tomorrow, and in all eternity. And wherever you have come from, shout it from the rooftops.”

Elder John H. Groberg addressed priesthood members and said, “I want to ask for your help. I recognize that I am weak and I need your help. As I have done some deep soul-searching over the last few days, I have come to the inescapable conclusion that many, if not most, of my so-called accomplishments have been much more the result of the efforts of others than they have of my own efforts.”

Called as a Regional Representative of the Twelve in 1969, Elder Groberg has worked in real estate and construction in Idaho. Prior to 1969 he presided over the Tonga Mission and served as bishop of the Idaho Falls 26th Ward. Elder Groberg, a graduate of Brigham Young University and Indiana University, has done specialized course work at the University of Southern California and UCLA.

New members of the First Quorum of the Seventy are (from left) Elders Carlos E. Asay, M. Russell Ballard, Jr., John H. Groberg, and Jacob de Jager

British Isles, Europe, and Scandinavia to Host Conferences

Beginning this month Church members in the British Isles, Europe, and Scandinavia, will meet with General Authorities for eight area conferences.

Under the direction of the First Presidency, with members of the Council of the Twelve and other General Authorities in attendance, the conferences will be held in the following sites:

London, England—June 18–20, for Church members in southern England, Wales, and Ireland.

Manchester, England—June 18–20, for members in the English midlands and northern England.

Glasgow, Scotland—June 21–23, for members living in Scotland.

Paris, France—July 31 and August 1, for members living in France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and French-speaking Switzerland.

Helsinki, Finland—August 2–3, for members in Finland.

Copenhagen, Denmark—August 3–5, for members in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Dortmund, Germany—August 6–8, for members in Germany, Austria, and German-speaking Switzerland.

Amsterdam, Netherlands—August 6–8, for members in the Netherlands.

Each area conference will include a cultural program, mother-daughter session, priesthood meeting for fathers and sons, and general session.

The conference in Manchester will be the second in that city. The Church’s program of area conferences was first initiated in 1971 in Manchester. Since that time they have been held in Mexico, South America, Europe, Scandinavia, the Far East, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific islands.

Barking up the Right Tree

Some people enjoy digging up the past. That’s just what some 200 young Church members did last year, and an equally large and enthusiastic crowd is expected to show up this August.

Last year they came from such distant areas as Canada, Florida, Minnesota, and Australia and spent a week at Brigham Young University learning about genealogy. The youth subseminar of the Annual Genealogy Seminar acquainted young people with family group sheets, pedigree charts, diaries, library sources, and heraldry, among other things.

This summer youths from 8 to 18 will also study home resources, maps, family organizations, journal keeping, and genealogy crafts. Not to be buried is a trip to the cemetery for an afternoon of tombstone reading. There will also be classes on LDS sources, British and Scandinavian research, writing life histories, local libraries, and basic note keeping. In addition, instructors from the Church genealogy library will answer questions and direct research.

The dates for the seminar are August 2 through 6, and the cost is $14. You’ll be able to stay in dorms on campus for $3.75 per night. For more information contact BYU Special Courses and Conferences, 242 HRCB, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602.