The organization of the Third, Fourth and Fifth Quorums of the Seventy was announced Saturday morning, April 5 by President Gordon B. Hinckley in his address at the opening session of the 167th Annual General Conference of the Church.
Members of the three new quorums are Area Authorities, and will now be known as Area Authority Seventies.President Hinckley explained that the Third Quorum is comprised of Area Authority Seventies residing in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific. The Fourth Quorum is made up of Area Authority Seventies living in Mexico, Central America and South America. The Fifth Quorum is made up of Area Authority Seventies residing in the United States and Canada. (See page 6 for a list of members of all three new quorums of Seventy, who were sustained during the Saturday morning session of conference.)
In announcing the new quorums, President Hinckley said: "We . . . have a faithful cadre of Brethren serving as Area Authorities. These have been called wherever the Church is organized. They are faithful and devoted men. They are men who love the Church and who have served in many capacities. As we have traveled at home and abroad we have worked with many of them and have been deeply impressed with their remarkable capacity.
"We have determined to present to the conference the names of these Area Authorities to be ordained as Seventies. They will then have a quorum relationship presided over by the Presidents of the Seventy. They will be known as Area Authority Seventies, to serve for a period of years in a voluntary capacity in the area in which they reside. They are called by the First Presidency and will work under the general direction of the Quorum of the Twelve, the Presidents of the Seventy, and the Area Presidencies in that part of the world in which they reside."
President Hinckley further explained that the Area Authority Seventies will continue with their present employment, reside in their own homes, and serve on a Church-service basis.
He said they may be assigned to:
Preside at stake conferences and train stake presidencies.
Create or reorganize stakes and set apart stake presidencies.
Serve as counselors in Area Presidencies.
Chair regional conference planning committees.
Serve on area councils presided over by the Area Presidency.
Tour missions and train mission presidents.
Complete other duties as assigned.
"Consistent with their ordination as Seventies, they become officers of the Church with a specific and definite tie to a quorum," President Hinckley said. "While there will be only limited opportunities for them to come together in quorum meetings, the Presidents of the Seventy will communicate with them, will instruct them, receive reports, and other things of that kind. They will now have a sense of belonging that they have not experienced up to this time. As Seventies they are called to preach the gospel and to be especial witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ as set forth in the revelations."
As President Hinckley spoke of Seventies, he referred to the then-existing two quorums of Seventy. "The First is comprised of those who serve to age 70," he said, announcing that four brethren would be sustained in that quorum later in the opening session. "Additionally, he said, "we are calling a group of wise and mature men with long experience in the Church and with freedom to go wherever circumstances dictate, as members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. These Brethren will serve for periods of from three to five years. In every sense they will be General Authorities." (See page 4 for names and biographies of those newly called to the First Quorum, and page 5 for those called to the Second Quorum.)
"Though all Seventies have equal scriptural authority, members of the First and Second Quorums are designated General Authorities while members of the Third, Fourth and Fifth are designated Area Authorities."
President Hinckley said that although the ordination to the office of Seventy is without term, a Seventy is called to serve in a quorum for a designated period of years. At the conclusion of this service, he will return to activity in his respective ward and stake and will meet with his high priests group.
"We welcome most warmly these Brethren into quorum membership and activity," President Hinckley said. "They have our confidence, our love and our esteem.
"With these respective quorums in place, we have established a pattern under which the Church may grow to any size with an organization of area presidencies and Area Authority Seventies, chosen and working across the world according to need.
"The Lord is watching over His kingdom. He is inspiring its leadership to care for its ever-growing membership."
President Hinckley spoke of the members' sustaining the General Authorities, Area Authorities and general officers of the Church. "I need not remind you that this is a very sacred and important matter.
"We are living in a wonderful season of the work of the Lord. The work is growing ever stronger. It is expanding across the world. Each of us has an important part to play in this great undertaking. People in more than 160 nations, speaking a score of languages and more, worship our Father in Heaven, and our Redeemer, His Beloved Son. This is their great work. It is their cause and their kingdom."
