Seated beneath portraits of past leaders, the newly appointed Primary general presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made their first appearance as a trio Saturday during a 5 p.m. news conference.
The presidency was sustained along with 12 new general authorities of the church during the afternoon session of the faith's 175th Annual General Conference.
Sister Cheryl C. Lant will now lead as the 11th president of the Primary, composed of nearly 1 million children from 3 to 12 years old. Sisters Margaret S. Lifferth and Vicki F. Matsumori will serve as first and second counselors, respectively, in an organization that also oversees tens of thousands of adult teachers worldwide.
"Truly, children have been my life. Their hearts are tender. They are young, but their spirits are mighty," Sister Lant said as the group spoke in the Relief Society Building after Saturday's conference. "We must never underestimate what they can do and learn."
Lant, who raised nine children and co-founded a private school with her husband, said she hopes to live up to the legacy of the previous presidency of Coleen K. Menlove, Sydney S. Reynolds and Gayle M. Clegg, who were released from their positions Saturday.
"They have been marvelous as leaders of the Primary and advocates for children in the church and around the world," she said. "It's humbling. It's so scary, that's probably more truthful."
Her advice for young mothers? "Give it your whole heart," she said. "Young mothers are drawn away from the home. Enjoy every moment, love every moment of being with your children."
Lant studied early childhood development at BYU and developed a phonics-based beginning reading program. In the church, Lant has served as a stake and ward primary president, counselor in the stake Relief Society presidency and ward Young Women president.
Sister Lifferth, first counselor, earned her English degree from Brigham Young University and has served as a ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president and volunteer docent at the Museum of Church History and Art.
Matsumori, second counselor, received her degree in journalism and English from the University of Utah and currently teaches at Salt Lake Community College. She has served as a ward Primary president, ward Relief Society president and on the stake Relief Society board.
All three women served on the church's Primary General Board.
Twelve new members of the Quorums of the Seventy were also sustained Saturday. They are responsible for administering the work of the church worldwide under the direction of the church's First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve.
Eight men were called as members of the First Quorum of the Seventy:
Elder Benjamin De Hoyos, 51, has served as an Area Seventy and as the second counselor in the Mexico South Area presidency. He has held a number of teaching and administrative positions in the Church Education System and has also worked as the church's public affairs director for Mexico. He and his wife, Evelia De Hoyos, have six children.
Elder David F. Evans, 53, served as president of the Salt Lake Emigration Stake prior to his call. He has been an attorney with several Utah law firms and an executive in an investment banking business. He and his wife, Mary Evans, have eight children.
Elder C. Scott Grow, 56, served as an Area Seventy in the Idaho Area. He founded his own accounting partnership after graduating from BYU in accounting. He and his wife, Rhonda Grow, have eight children.
Elder Richard G. Hinckley, 63, served as the president of the Utah Salt Lake City Mission until last summer and is now a temple sealer. He received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Utah and a master's from Stanford University. He and his wife, Jane Hinckley, have four children.
Elder Hinckley is the son of church President Gordon B. Hinckley. In Saturday evening's priesthood session, President Hinckley remarked on his son's calling.
"I make it clear that I did not advance his name. . . .," President Hinckley said. "I am sensitive to the matter of nepotism. However, I believe he's worthy and qualified in every respect. In the first place, he had a great and wonderful mother." Jokingly, he added, "I wish I could recommend his father. Please do not hold it against him for his relationship to me. He is powerless to help it."
Elder Paul V. Johnson, 50, had previously served as an Area Seventy for the Utah Salt Lake City Area. He graduated from BYU with a degree in zoology and botany, followed by a master's degree in counseling and has worked for the Church Education System. He and his wife, Jill Johnson, have nine children.
Elder Paul E. Koelliker, 62, has served as a high priest leader and temple sealer. He has been employed by the church in senior managerial positions where he directed several church programs. He and his wife, Ann Koelliker, have seven children.
Elder Paul B. Pieper, 47, has served as the president of the Russia St. Petersburg Mission. He has worked as an attorney and as an international development consultant. He and his wife, Melissa Pieper, have six children.
Elder Ulisses Soares, 46, has taught Sunday School since completing his service as a mission president. He has been employed by the church in several accounting and managerial positions in Brazil and the United States. He and his wife, Rosana Soares, have three children.
Four men will now serve as members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy:
Elder Won Yong Ko, 59, served as an Area Seventy and as second counselor in the Asia North Area presidency. He received his bachelor's degree from Seoul National University and worked as an executive for a telecommunications company. He and his wife, Eun Hee Ko, have two children.
Elder Wolfgang H. Paul, 64, has served as an Area Seventy in the Europe Central Area. He worked as a government officer in his native Germany and has been employed by the church in several European positions. He and his wife, Helga Paul, have three children.
Elder Lowell M. Snow, 61, was serving as an Area Seventy in the Utah North Area. He graduated from BYU with a degree in zoology and chemistry and earned a master's degree in counseling from Wayne State University and a law degree from the University of Utah. He and his wife, Tamara, are the parents of five children.
Elder Paul K. Sybrowsky, 60, completed his service last summer as president of the Canada Toronto West Mission. He worked as an executive for several information services and is now self-employed. He and his wife, Lynne Sybrowsky, have nine children.
Church officials also announced 38 new Area Seventies, who give voluntary church service in their geographic areas. They are:
Nelson L. Altamirano, 56, Managua, Nicaragua; Manuel Araiz, 56, Mexico City, Mexico; Sergio E. Avila, 41, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Marcelo Bolfarini, 45, So Paulo, Brazil; Shayne M. Bowen, 50, Idaho Falls, Idaho; David R. Brown, 48, Colonia Juarez, Mexico; Fernando E. Calderon, 46, Quito, Ecuador; Milton da Rocha Camargo, 47, Santana de Parnaiba, Brazil; Daniel M. Canoles, 49, Santiago, Chile; I. Poloski Cordon, 37, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Federico F. Costales Jr., 43, Baguio City, Philippines; John C. Dalton, 61, Yorba Linda, California; Heber O. Diaz, 62, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Luis G. Duarte, 43, Comayaguela, Honduras; Frerich J. Grts, 61, Dusseldorf, Germany; Ronald J. Hammond, 49, Rexburg, Idaho; Miguel Hidalgo, 56, Ciudad Jurez, Mexico; Patrick Kearon, 43, Clevedon, England; Donald J. Keyes, 54, Uintah, Utah; Christiaan H. Kleijweg, 55, oorschoten, The Netherlands; Larry R. Lawrence, 57, Clovis, California; Robert W. Lees, 62, Paradise Valley, Arizona; F. Rene Loli, 55, Lima, Peru.
Glendon Lyons, 51, Queretaro, Mexico; Juan A. Machuca, 58, Mexico City, Mexico; Raymundo Morales, 50, Crdenas, Mexico; Brent H. Nielson, 50, Twin Falls, Idaho; Carlos S. Obata, 49, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Alejandro M. Robles, 64, Lima, Peru; Gerardo L. Rubio, 46, Santiago, Chile; Gvido Senkans, 38, Riga, Latvia; Fabian L. Sinamban, 42, General Santos City, Philippines; Dirk Smibert, 49, Queensland, Australia; Hans T. Sorensen, 46, Auckland, New Zealand; Eivind Sterri, 43, Asker, Norway; Miguel R. Valdez, 41, Santa Rosa, Philippines; Gary W. Walker, 61, Eagle, Idaho; Richard C. Zambrano, 38, Arequipa, Peru.
Releases to be effective on May 1, 2005 were announced for the following 37 Area Seventies: Jorge O. Abad, Carlos E. Aguero, Marcos A. Aidukaitis, Gustavo A. Barrios, Rene J. Cabrera, Edison M. Cabrito, Tad R. Callister, Carl B. Cook, Reynaldo L. Cuyong, Jorge L. del Castillo, Benjamin De Hoyos, Lindsay T. Dil, Fred C. Dimaya, Enrique R. Falabella, Roberto Garcia, Larry W. Gibbons, C. Scott Grow, John A. Harris, Merrill F. Higham, R. Randall Huff, Michael L. Jensen, Paul V. Johnson, Won Yong Ko, Wilfredo R. Lpez, Ronald L. Loveland, Jeffrey J. Marchant, Hans H. Mattsson, E. Israel Perez, Holger D. Rakow, Alfonso Ramos, Carlos C. Revillo Sr., Manfred H. Schutze, J. Mitchel Scott, Jose A. Teixeira da Silva, Lowell M. Snow, Guillermo Torres, Roland N. Walker.
Contributing: Alan Edwards
E-MAIL: estewart@desnews.com