The First Presidency announced new callings to the Quorums of the Seventy and offered other general authorities called in November for a sustaining vote during the Saturday afternoon session of conference.
Newly called to the First Quorum of the Seventy are Elder Dallas N. Archibald and Elder Dieter F. Ucht-dorf, both of whom have been serving in the Second Quorum of the Seventy, and Elder Bruce C. Hafen.New members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy are Elder L. Edward Brown, Elder Sheldon F. Child, Elder Quentin L. Cook, Elder Wm. Rolfe Kerr, Elder Dennis E. Simmons, Elder Jerald L. Taylor, Elder Francisco J. Vinas, and Elder Richard B. Wirthlin.
Elder Merrill J. Bateman was serving as the church's presiding bishop when he was called into the First Quorum of the Seventy in November. He was simultaneously named president of Brigham Young University, a post he assumed Jan. 1.
Bishop H. David Burton, first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric since 1992, was called as the presiding bishop, the First Presidency announced Dec. 27. Called to serve as first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric was Bishop Richard C. Edgley, who has been serving as second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric. Bishop Keith B. McMullin, who was managing director of Welfare Services, was called as the new second counselor in the bishopric.
Elder Archibald, 57, was named to the Second Quorum of the Seventy in June 1992. He is president of the Brazil Area. Prior to his call to be a general authority, he was an international business executive with Hallmark Cards and NHC Corp., an industrial chemical company. The Logan native has been a stake high councilor, mission president and regional representative. He is married to Linda Ritchie Archibald, and they have one child.
Elder Uchtdorf, 55, has been serving in the Second Quorum of the Seventy since April 1994. He is a native of Mahrisch-Ostrau, Czechoslovakia, and received an education in engineering. He worked for Lufthansa Airlines for more than three decades, holding pilot, management and executive positions. Elder Uchtdorf is second counselor in the Europe West Area Presidency and earlier served as stake president, stake high councilor and stake mission president. He is married to Harriet Reich Uchtdorf, and they have two children.
Elder Hafen, 55, is provost and professor of law at Brigham Young University. He is a former dean of the BYU Law School and a former president of Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. He is a native of St. George, a graduate of Dixie College and BYU, and earned a law degree from the University of Utah. Elder Hafen has served as a counselor in a bishopric and a stake presidency, and as a regional representative. He is married to Marie Kartchner Hafen, and they have seven children.
Elder Brown, 58, has been with the Church Educational System since 1963, first as a teacher and, since 1990, as an area director. He is a native of Preston, Idaho, and holds a bachelor's degree from Utah State University and master's and Ed.D. degrees from the University of Kansas. He has been a stake president and a counselor, stake mission president, bishop and area authority. He is married to Carol Ewer Brown, and they have eight children.
Elder Child, 57, is president of R.C. Willey Home Furnishings, a firm he has been with since 1966. He is a native of Syracuse, Davis County, and studied at Utah State University and the University of Utah. He has been an area authority, bishop, stake president and counselor, and mission president. He is married to Joan Haacke Child and they have six children.
Elder Cook, 55, an attorney, is vice chairman of Sutter/CHS, San Francisco, and is a former president and chief executive officer of California Healthcare System. He is a native of Logan, a graduate of Utah State University and earned a law degree from Stanford University Law School. He has been a bishop, stake president and counselor, regional representative and area authority. He is married to Mary Gaddie Cook, and they have three children.
Elder Kerr, 60, is president of the church's Texas Dallas Mission. He is a former Utah commissioner of higher education, executive vice president of Brigham Young University, president of Dixie College, assistant to the president at Utah State University and associate dean of students at the University of Utah. He has been a bishop's counselor, stake president, high councilor and member of the Sunday School General Board. He is married to Janell Raybould Kerr, and they have six children.
Elder Simmons, 61, has been a practicing attorney in Las Vegas since 1969. He earlier served as a legislative assistant to a U.S. senator. He is a native of Beaver Dam, Box Elder County, and earned a bachelor's degree from Utah State University and a law degree from George Washington University. He has been a stake president, mission president, regional representative and most recently an area authority. He is married to Carolyn Thorpe Simmons, and they have six children.
Elder Taylor, 59, is a self-employed rancher. He is a native of Colonia Dublan, Mexico, and earned a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University. He has been a bishop, stake president, mission president, regional representative and area authority. He is married to Sharon Willis Taylor, and they have six children.
Elder Vinas, 49, has been with the Church Educational System since 1977, most recently as country director in Spain. He earlier served as the system's coordinator in Uruguay. He is a native of Spain but grew up in Uruguay, where he earned his bachelor's degree. He has been a bishop, stake president, mission president, regional representative and area authority. He is married to Christina Gaminara Vinas, and they have three children.
Elder Wirthlin, 65, is chairman and chief executive officer of Wirthlin Worldwide, an opinion research firm. He is a native of Salt Lake City and earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Utah and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of California at Berkeley. He has been a bishop, stake president's counselor and regional representative. He is married to Jeralie Mae Chandler Wirthlin, and they have eight children.