Called to Serve:
An Historic Event—
159th Annual General Conference

In an historic announcement made during the Saturday afternoon session of general conference on April 1 in the Tabernacle on Temple Square, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles announced the organization of a Second Quorum of the Seventy. The continued rapid growth of the Church was cited as the reason for the move.

The First Quorum of the Seventy will continue to be a lifetime calling. The quorum, as of April conference, consists of 42 members, including two General Authorities initially called for five years—Elder John K. Carmack and Elder Hans B. Ringger—and four new members whose calls were also announced during the Saturday session. The current presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy will serve as presidents of both quorums. In the future, the First Quorum of the Seventy may be expanded with members called from the Second Quorum of the Seventy or from the Church at large.

The initial membership of the Second Quorum of the Seventy will consist of 28 General Authorities currently serving a five-year call, plus eight additional new members, announced during the reorganization, bringing the total to 36. Additional brethren may be added to the quorum from time to time, also under a five-year call.

First Quorum of the Seventy

The First Presidency announced the calling of four new members of the First Quorum of the Seventy.

Joe J. Christensen, 59, president of Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. He and his wife, Barbara Kohler Christensen, are the parents of six children.

W. Eugene Hansen, 60, of Salt Lake City, Utah, an attorney in private practice and chairman of the Utah State Board of Regents. He and his wife, Jeanine Showell Hansen, are the parents of six children.

Jeffrey R. Holland, 48, president of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He and his wife, Patricia Terry Holland, are the parents of three children.

Marlin K. Jensen, 46, attorney in private practice in Huntsville, Utah. He and his wife, Kathleen Bushnell Jensen, are the parents of eight children.

Second Quorum of the Seventy

The First Presidency announced the calling of eight new members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy.

Carlos Amado, 44, area director of the Church Education System in Guatemala City, Guatemala. He and his wife, Mayavel Pineda, are the parents of six children.

Benjamin B. Banks, 57, of Salt Lake City, serving as president of the Scotland Edinburgh Mission. He and his wife, Susan Kearnes Banks, are the parents of seven children and a foster son.

Spencer J. Condie, 48, professor of sociology at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He and his wife, Dorthea Speth Condie, are the parents of five children.

F. Melvin Hammond, 55, professor of religion at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. He and his wife, Bonnie Sellers Hammond, are the parents of six children.

Malcolm S. Jeppsen, 65, a physician in family practice in Salt Lake City, Utah. He and his wife, Marion Davis Jeppsen, are the parents of seven children.

Richard P. Lindsay, 63, managing director of Church Public Communications. He and his wife, Marian Bangerter Lindsay, are the parents of six children.

Merlin R. Lybbert, 63, an attorney in private practice in Salt Lake City, Utah. He and his wife, Nola Cahoon Lybbert, are the parents of six children.

Horacio A. Tenorio, 53, businessman and consultant in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. He and his wife, Maria Teresa de Tenorio, are the parents of three children.