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Anticipating the Day—Calls to the First Quorum of the Seventy

In general conference on October 1, 1976, President Spencer W. Kimball announced that the First Quorum of the Seventy would be expanded and reconstituted so that there would be a majority of the 70 quorum members called.

He said: “With this move, the three governing quorums of the Church defined by the revelations—the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the First Quorum of the Seventy—have been set in their places as revealed by the Lord. This will make it possible to handle efficiently the present heavy workload and to prepare for the increasing expansion and acceleration of the work, anticipating the day when the Lord will return to take direct charge of His Church and kingdom.” (President Spencer W. Kimball, “The Reconstitution of the First Quorum of the Seventy,” Ensign, Nov. 1976, p. 9.)

Upon the reconstitution of the First Quorum of the Seventy, 16 brethren who had been serving as Assistants were called to serve with the Seventy.

The First Quorum of the Seventy was called originally in 1835 by the Prophet Joseph Smith. In 1844 members of the First Quorum of the Seventy were assigned to preside over other seventies throughout Salt Lake City; thus there was no longer a first quorum. By 1941, there was a need for more men to run the affairs of the kingdom on the general level, but the Church wasn’t large enough to need a full quorum of seventy, so four Assistants to the Twelve were called to help in the work. That number grew until there were 21 by 1976.

“Since the functions and responsibilities of the Assistants to the Twelve and the Seventy are similar, and since the accelerated, worldwide growth of the Church requires a consolidation of its administrative functions at the general level, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, with the concurrence of the Assistants to the Twelve and the first Quorum of the Seventy, have felt inspired to call all of the Assistants to the Twelve into the First Quorum of the Seventy, to call four new members into that quorum, and to restructure the First Council of the Seventy. … These changes … bring to thirty-nine the total number in the First Quorum of the Seventy, thus providing a majority for the transaction of quorum business.” (President Kimball, p. 9.)

Presidents of the First Quorum of the Seventy are Elders Franklin D. Richards, James E. Faust, J. Thomas Fyans, A. Theodore Tuttle, Neal A. Maxwell, Marion D. Hanks, and Paul H. Dunn.

The members of the First Quorum of the Seventy are Elders Alma Sonne, Sterling W. Sill, Henry D. Taylor, Alvin R. Dyer, Theodore M. Burton, Bernard P. Brockbank, James A. Cullimore, Joseph Anderson, William H. Bennett, John H. Vandenberg, Robert L. Simpson, O. Leslie Stone, W. Grant Bangerter, Robert D. Hales, Adney Y. Komatsu, Joseph B. Wirthlin, S. Dilworth Young, Hartman Rector, Jr., Loren C. Dunn, Rex D. Pinegar, Gene R. Cook, Charles A. Didier, William R. Bradford, George P. Lee, Carlos E. Asay, M. Russell Ballard, Jr., John H. Groberg, Jacob de Jager, Vaughn J. Featherstone, Dean L. Larsen, Royden G. Derrick, and Robert E. Wells.

Fishers of Men

A little initiative on their part netted four missionaries in Albuquerque, New Mexico, more than 70 referrals in two weeks and enabled them to place 100 copies of the Book of Mormon.

This outstanding work took place during the annual New Mexico State Fair, according to Elder Randy Smith from Elk City, Oklahoma, and Elder David Dorton of Lehi, Utah.

“We printed up an invitation for people to visit our display during the fair. We said if the person would bring us the invitation, we would provide him with a copy of the Book of Mormon,” Elder Smith said. Copies of the invitation were distributed throughout their tracting area, and many people responded.

“Man’s Search for Happiness” was shown throughout the fair. Another set of missionaries and several seventies helped to man the display. “That way we could continue to teach our contacts,” Elder Smith said.

The 70 referrals received at the fair came from persons living in various parts of the state and were forwarded to the proper mission homes.

New Temple Booklet “Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”

The ideal booklet for youth preparing for their temple endowments is “Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” The booklet has just been updated and reprinted to include all the new temples, including the Sao Paulo and Tokyo temples (architectural renderings).

Featured in this color-filled and durable booklet is a treasury of outstanding articles by present and former presidents and other General Authorities of the Church: President Spencer W. Kimball, President Joseph F. Smith, Elder Mark E. Petersen, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, Elder James E. Talmage, Elder John A. Widtsoe, Elder A. Theodore Tuttle, and Elder ElRay L. Christiansen.

The booklet could be used effectively to explain temple work to investigators or to members preparing to go to the temple for the first time. It is also ideal for preparing missionaries.

The booklet costs $1.00 and is available through Church Magazines, Subscription Fulfillment Department, 50 E. North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150.

Designing Homes at 18

Seeing 30 homes built from your own designs is quite satisfying, but when you are only 18 years old, it’s an outstanding accomplishment. Robert McArthur has had his own home designing business in the Salt Lake City area and has also worked for several builders and contractors even before his graduation from high school.

His love of home designing began early in his life—he was about 15 when he started sketching designs. While a senior at Bountiful High School (Bountiful, Utah), Robert won first place in architectural drawing in the State of Utah. This entitled him to a trip in the summer of 1975 to Washington, D.C., where he competed on a national level in architectural drawing. He took second place, with a gold medal in the skills contest. In 1975 he designed a home for the 1975 Parade of Homes in Salt Lake City, competing with professional builders and designers. The judges awarded him a trophy for second-best design in the show. In 1976 he designed a home for the 1976 Parade of Homes and again won second-best design and also the coveted award for “Best Home in the Home Show” (awarded by public vote).

Following graduation from high school he was awarded a full six-year scholarship from the Home Builders Association of Greater Salt Lake. But Robert decided it was time for more important things at that age—he decided he would complete a full-time mission, so he declined the scholarship.

Elder Robert McArthur is presently serving a mission in the Washington Seattle (Spanish-speaking) Mission. When he returns from his mission, he will have 30 homes, a challenging future career, and a very happy family waiting for him.

Twentieth-Century Robin Hood and His Bare Bow

Thwaaack! The aluminum arrow slammed into the 2.5-inch bull’s-eye, dead center. With methodical precision, the archer nocked another shaft and sped it into the same dark disk of the target so closely to the first arrow that the fletchings were crushed. Luck? Robin Hood?

No. Kevin Sant, 25, mild-mannered super-archer. Without parallel in recent years in inter-collegiate archery competition, Kevin has swept four collegiate matches in a row—four gold medals in four meets. His category, bare bow, prohibits him from using the technical regalia designed to improve the performance of the archer. Kevin fires with just the bow, the arrow, and gloves. He fires a 50-pound Bingham bow, which he hand finished himself in two weeks of painstaking labor. He was introduced to archery at Weber State College just three years ago.

During 1976 he competed in matches with different universities throughout the nation. Ranges and rules for matches varied, depending upon the size of the facilities and the desires of the officials. Archers may fire at distances ranging from 18 meters to 60 yards. (At 18 meters, the bull’s-eye is only 2.5 inches in diameter.)

Kevin and his teammates represent their school without any financial support. All participation is voluntary and self-supported. But he does enjoy excellent facilities at the University of Utah and has the advantage of an outstanding coach, Duane Erickson, 16-year veteran of the sport and national champion in 1963. Kevin’s coach was once reputedly capable of hitting a coin tossed into the air at 18 meters.

Kevin is a former member of his elders quorum presidency in Ogden Stake and is now instructing the 10th elders quorum of the Salt Lake City University First Stake.

Three Leading Brothers in Kokomo

Three brothers in the Kokomo Ward, Indianapolis Indiana North Stake, Dennis, Terry, and Dee Marler, were recently elected to student government positions at Taylor Junior-Senior High School, Kokomo, Indiana, for the 1976–77 school year. That’s worthy of coverage since there are only eight LDS students in the school of 1,200 students.

Dee was elected to the student council for the second straight year. He is in the eighth grade and is a member of the football team. He is currently the deacons quorum president in the Kokomo Ward.

Terry was elected as junior class president for the 1976–77 school year. He has served on the student council for two years and has participated in track, football, basketball, and school plays. He is a priest in the Kokomo Ward and has been deacons and teachers quorum president.

Dennis was elected as senior class president for the 1976–77 school year. He was eighth grade class president and has served on the student council for three years. Dennis was also recently elected as president of the Honor Society at Taylor High School. He has participated in track, wrestling, and football, and his Church assignments in the Kokomo Ward have included deacons and teachers quorum president, priesthood pianist, youth choir director, and assistant to the president of the priests quorum for two years.

Tony’s a Straight Shooter

Tony Harner, a priest from the West Shore Ward, Gettysburg Pennsylvania Stake, is a straight shooter. The 15-year-old convert of a year proved it by winning the overall title in the United States Junior Open Skeet shooting championships in Lordship, Connecticut. In that competition he hit 486 out of 500 targets, using four different guns. He followed up that triumph by taking first place in the second class 410-gauge competition at the World Skeet Championships in San Antonio, Texas.

Tony, who has been skeet shooting for only two years, entered ten registered shooting events between January and July of 1976 and won or placed in all but one of them. He defeated shooters from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland to win his zone championship. He finished second in the Pennsylvania championship. He won the mid-American championship and was the champion of the first and second annual Mack Truck meets, among other accomplishments. Tony, who loads his own shells, has several times broken every target during a competition.

Tony has a strong testimony of the Church and feels that his knowledge of the gospel has contributed to his desire to excel in his sport. He recently put in many hours helping to landscape the West Shore Ward’s new chapel and has been eager to teach skeet shooting skills to other young men in the ward.

Mark and Dad Do it Together

Mark Johnson is a young man striving to fulfill his duties as a deacon. But at times, it’s a struggle. Seven years ago doctors discovered that Mark had muscular dystrophy; Mark was given just two years of mobility. But he set a high goal for himself—he wanted to pass the sacrament when he was ordained a deacon. It seemed impossible, especially after Mark was forced into a wheelchair. But because of his undying desire to render service, Mark has found a way to fulfill his duties. His father, Lee Johnson, carries Mark in his arms every Sunday as Mark passes the bread and water.

In addition to deacon’s duties, Mark is earnestly pursuing the Eagle Scout rank. As a member of Troop 101 of the Ventura First Ward in California, he is a Life Scout and is working on the two remaining merit badges left to fill the Eagle requirements. Some of the badges have not come easy; take, for example, hiking, camping, swimming. But he claims his hardest merit badge was music.

Mark’s troop helps him every chance they get. They alternate backpacking with car camping so Mark can participate. He has a special friend in Ricky Johnson who pushes the wheelchair up the trail and through the streambeds on the walk-in camps.

Mark lives close to the Lord, and his diligence is an inspiration to others. He has been helped by many, but when asked how he has achieved his goals, his answer is, “My dad and I do it together.”

Eagles and Pines from Bullhead and Thunder Butte

Throughout the U.S. and Canada there are 2,775 Lamanite students representing 75 tribes on the Church’s placement program. The four Sioux Indians from South Dakota living in Burley, Idaho, have made a particular impression by sharing their culture and abilities with members of the Burley Idaho Eighth Ward. The four are Gertie Eagle from Bullhead, Charles White Eagle of Thunder Butte, and brothers Raymond and Donald Pine of McLaughlin.

Gertie is sharing her ceremonial dancing ability with the Perkins family where she lives during the school year. In exchange, her “sister” Jean is giving her lessons on the organ.

Gertie is a convert to the Church and was encouraged by her mother to join the program. “At home I am the only member of the Church in my family. Here we go to Church as a family and have family home evenings and family prayers.”

Charles, 12, is active in football, edging out his older “brother” Todd for a spot on the team. “That didn’t mean I was better, just a little bigger,” he said modestly.

Raymond, 15, has been demonstrating his carpentering skills for one of the area families. In addition to nine-year-old brother Donald, also staying in the Eighth Ward, Raymond has three other brothers and sisters on the program.

Ward members report that the program has been a two-way street for members of both cultures, and each has learned much about the other.