Twelve men were sustained as members of the LDS Church's Quorums of the Seventy on Saturday afternoon — six to the First Quorum of the Seventy and another six to the Second Quorum of the Seventy.

Elder Cláudio R. M. Costa, 52, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Elder Richard J. Maynes, 50, Oakley, Idaho, were already serving in the Second Quorum and were called to serve in the First Quorum, where members usually serve until age 70. Second Quorum members typically serve six-year terms.

Other new members of the First Quorum of the Seventy are: Elder L. Whitney Clayton, Irvine, Calif.; Elder Christoffel Golden Jr., Krugersdorp, South Africa; Elder Walter F. González, Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia; and Elder Steven E. Snow, Washington, Washington County.

Those called as new members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy are: Elder Keith K. Hilbig, Frankfurt, Germany; Elders Robert F. Orton, Wayne S. Peterson and Elder H. Ross Workman, all of Salt Lake City; Elder R. Conrad Schultz, Eugene, Ore.; and Elder Robert R. Steuer, Pleasant View, Weber County.

Members of the Seventy have responsibility for administering the work of the church throughout the world under the direction of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Some also have executive responsibilities in church departments.

Elder Costa, 52, has served in the Second Quorum since April 1994 and is president of the Brazil North Area. Prior to his calling as a general authority, he served in various positions in the Church Educational System. Elder Costa studied marketing at ESPM in So Paulo. He has served as a bishop's counselor, bishop, stake high councilor, stake president's counselor, mission president and regional representative. He and his wife, Margareth, have four children.

Elder Maynes, 50, has served in the Second Quorum since April 1997. He is first counselor of the North America Southwest Area Presidency and assistant executive director of the Priesthood Department. He has been chief executive officer and chairman of both private and public corporations. He received a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and a master's degree from American Graduate School of International Management. He has served as a bishop's counselor, stake high councilor, stake mission president and mission president. He and his wife, Nancy Jane Purrington, have four children.

Elder Clayton, 51, has served as an Area Authority Seventy for the North America West Area since August 1995. An attorney, he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and a law degree at the University of the Pacific. He has served as a branch president, bishop, stake executive secretary, stake high councilor, mission president's counselor and regional representative. He is married to Kathy Ann Kipp, and they are the parents of seven children.

Elder Golden, 48, has served as an Area Authority Seventy for the Africa Southeast Area since August 1995. An area director for the Church Educational System, he graduated from the University of South Africa in Pretoria with two bachelor's degrees. His business background includes banking, pharmaceuticals and optical marketing. He has served as a ward and stake young men president, bishop, stake president's counselor and stake president. He and his wife, Diane Norma Hulbert, have four children.

Elder González, 48, an Area Authority Seventy since April 1997, is second counselor in the South America North Area Presidency, and has served as CES director for that area. He received a bachelor's degree at Indiana University and a technician's certificate at CEMLAD Institute. He has served as a stake president, mission president, area public affairs director and regional representative. He and his wife, Zulma Anahir, have four children.

Elder Snow, 51, has served as an Area Authority Seventy in the Utah South Area since April 1999. He is a senior partner with Snow Nuffer and has worked as deputy county attorney for Washington County. He received a bachelor's degree in accounting at Utah State University and a law degree from BYU. He has previously served as a stake high councilor, bishop, stake president and mission president. He is married to Phyllis Squire, and they have four sons.

Second Quorum of the Seventy:

Elder Hilbig, 59, is a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy and has previously served an Area Authority Seventy for the North America West Area. He received a bachelor's degree from Princeton University and a law degree from Duke University. After some years as a trial attorney, he founded his own firm. In April 1998, he became an international legal counsel for the church, working with the Europe West and Europe Central areas. He has served as a temple ordinance worker, bishop, stake president, mission president and regional representative. He is married to Susan Rae Logie, and they have six children.

Elder Orton, 64, is an attorney for Fabian & Clendenin and has served as a director for the Foreign Language League and as an assistant to former Sen. Wallace F. Bennett. He earned a bachelor's degree from BYU and a law degree at the University of Utah. He has served as a bishop's counselor, stake Young Men president, bishop, stake president's counselor and mission president. He and his wife, Joy Eveline Dahlberg, have six children.

Elder Peterson, 61, has served as an Area Authority Seventy for the Utah North Area since August 1995. He earned a bachelor's degree and an MBA at Utah State University. He is a real estate developer and has served as a bishop's counselor, bishop, stake high councilor, stake president and mission president. He is married to Joan Jensen, and they are the parents of six children.

Elder Schultz, 63, is president of the Colorado Denver South Mission. Prior to his call as mission president, he was a self-employed attorney for 20years. He received his law degree at the University of Oregon. He has served as a stake young men president, bishop's counselor, bishop, stake high councilor, stake president's counselor, mission president's counselor and stake president. He and his wife, Carolyn Lake, have five children.

Elder Steuer, 57, a diagnostic physician, is founder and chairman of Inline Diagnostics. He received his bachelor's and medical degrees at the University of Minnesota. He has served the church as a full-time missionary, elders quorum counselor, young adult adviser, ward mission leader, bishop, stake mission president, stake high councilor and mission president. He and his wife, Margaret, have five children.

Elder Workman, 60, is president of the Hawaii Honolulu Mission. He is a retired attorney with Workman, Nydegger & Seeley. He received a bachelor's and law degree from the University of Utah. His previous church callings include full-time missionary, stake mission president's counselor, bishop's counselor, Aaronic Priesthood adviser, Young Men president, stake high councilor and bishop. He is married to Katherine Evelyn Meyers and they have four children.

View Comments

Also announced Saturday afternoon were the callings of 22 new Area Authority Seventies. Area Authorities give voluntary church service in support of Area Presidencies within their assigned geographic areas.

They are:

Salvador Aguirre, 47, Zapopan, México; Daniel P. Alvarez, 52, Buenos Aires, Argentina; David J. Barnett, 60, Johannesburg, South Africa; Oscar W. Chavez, 44, Pealolen, Chile; Craig C. Christensen, 44, Provo; Carl B. Cook, 42, Riverdale; R. Michael Duffin, 51, Hemet, Calif.; Timothy J. Dyches, 49, Reno, Nev.;

Michael H. Holmes, 59, Sandy; Richard D. May, 48, Birmingham, Ala.; Joel H. McKinnon, 55, Winter Park, Fla.; Jorge Mendez, 62, Tijuana, México; Marcus B. Nash, 43, Lynnwood, Wash; Timothy M. Olsen, 53, McAllen, Texas; Richard G. Peterson, 61, Sandy; Gary L. Pocock, 56, Provo; Armando A. Sierra, 44, Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Gary M. Stewart, 65, Eugene, Ore.; G. Perrin Walker, 60, Tacoma, Wash.; Robert B. White, 56, Edmonton, Alberta; Larry Y. Wilson, 50, Alamo, Calif.; Kazuhiko Yamashita, 46, Fukuoka, Japan.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.