Church members sustained 12 General Authorities to the First and Second Quorums of the Seventy during the Saturday afternoon session of the 171st Annual General Conference March 31. Included in the number were two members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy who were sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy.
Called to the First Quorum were:
Elder L. Whitney Clayton, 51, a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy, has served as an Area Authority for the North America West Area since August 1995. He is an attorney with Call, Clayton and Jensen. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and a law degree at the University of the Pacific. Elder Clayton has served as a full-time missionary, in an elders quorum presidency, as a gospel doctrine teacher, ward mission leader, stake mission president, high priests group leader, branch president, bishop, stake executive secretary, stake high councilor, mission president's counselor and regional representative. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Lindon Whitney and Madeleine McClellan Clayton. He and his wife, Kathy Ann Kipp Clayton, are the parents of seven children.
Elder Claudio R. M. Costa, 52, has served as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy since April 2, 1994. He is currently serving as 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 an institute and seminary teacher, ward Young Men president, elders quorum president, bishop's counselor, bishop, stake high councilor, stake president's counselor, mission president and regional representative. Born in Santos, Brazil, to Nelson Mendes Costa and Luzia Tassar Simoes Costa. He and his wife, Margareth Fernandes Morgado Mendes Costa, are the parents of four children.
Elder Christoffel Golden, Jr., 48, a member of the Third Quorum of the Seventy, served as an Area Authority for the Africa Southeast Area since August 1995. An area director for the Church Educational System, Elder Golden is a graduate of the University of South Africa in Pretoria, where he earned two bachelor's degrees. He has a varied business background including banking, pharmaceuticals and optical marketing. Elder Golden has served as a full-time missionary, stake missionary, ward and stake Young Men president, ward and stake young single adult leader, institute teacher, ward mission leader, elders quorum president, bishop, stake president's counselor and stake president. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Christoffel and Maria S. Oosthvisen Golden. He and his wife, Diane Norma Hulbert Golden, are the parents of four children.
Elder Walter F. Gonzalez, 48, a member of the Fourth Quorum of the Seventy since April 1997, is serving as second counselor in the South America North Area Presidency. He has served as Church Educational Systems director for the South America North Area. Elder Gonzlez 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. Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, to Fermin Gabino and Victoria Dolores Nunez Gonzalez. He and his wife, Zulma Anahir Gonzlez, have four children.
Elder Richard J. Maynes, 50, was sustained as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy on April 5, 1997. He is serving as first counselor of the North America Southwest Area and as assistant executive director of the Priesthood Department. He was president of the South America West Area and previously served as first counselor in the South America North Area Presidency. He has been chief executive officer and chairman of both private and public corporations. He received a bachelor's degree from BYU and a master's degree from American Graduate School of International Management. He has served as a full-time missionary, elders quorum president, bishop's counselor, stake high councilor, stake mission president and mission president. Born in Berkeley, Calif., to Stan and Betty Maynes. He and his wife, Nancy Jane Purrington Maynes, are the parents of four children.
Elder Steven E. Snow, 51, a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy, 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, Utah. Elder Snow received a bachelor's degree in accounting at Utah State University and a law degree from BYU. He has previously served as a full-time missionary, Sunday School teacher, Aaronic Priesthood adviser, stake high councilor, Boy Scout leader, bishop, stake president and mission president. Born in St. George, Utah, to Gregg Erastus and Viola Jean Goates Snow. He and his wife, Phyllis Squire Snow, are the parents of four children.
Called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy were:
Elder Keith K. Hilbig, 59, a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy, has previously served in the Third Quorum of the Seventy and as an Area Authority for the North America West Area. Elder Hilbig 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. Elder Hilbig has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary, seminary teacher, gospel doctrine teacher, Young Men president, elders quorum president, temple ordinance worker, bishop, stake president, mission president and regional representative. Born in Milwaukee, Wis., to Karl H. Hilbig and Mildred Bower Hilbig. He and his wife, Susan Rae Logie Hilbig, are the parents of six children.
Elder Robert F. 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 Senator Wallace F. Bennett. He earned a bachelor's degree from BYU and a law degree at the University of Utah. Elder Orton has served as a full-time missionary, bishop's counselor, Aaronic Priesthood adviser, Scoutmaster, stake Young Men president, high priests group leader, ward mission leader, bishop, stake president's counselor and mission president. Born in Reno, Nev., to Henry Franklin and Gwen Riggs Orton. He and his wife, Joy Eveline Dahlberg Orton, have six children.
Elder Wayne S. Peterson, 61, a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy, has served as an Area Authority for the Utah North Area since August 1995. Elder Peterson earned a bachelor's degree and MBA degree at Utah State University. He is self-employed, working as a real estate developer. Elder Peterson has served as a full-time missionary, gospel doctrine teacher, Scoutmaster, bishop's counselor, bishop, stake high councilor, stake president and mission president. Born in Ogden, Utah, to Rulon P. and Naomi Skeen Peterson. He and his wife, Joan Jensen Peterson, are the parents of six children.
Elder R. Conrad Schultz, 63, is president of the Colorado Denver South Mission. Prior to his call as mission president, he was a self-employed attorney for nearly 30 years. Elder Schultz received his law degree at the University of Oregon. He has served as a full-time missionary, stake Sunday School president, stake athletic director, stake Young Men president, bishop's counselor, bishop, stake high councilor, stake president's counselor, mission president's counselor and stake president. Born in North Bend, Ore., to Ralph Conrad and Dorothy Pearl Bushong Schultz. He and his wife, Carolyn Lake Schultz, are the parents of five children.
Elder Robert R. 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 as a full-time missionary, elders quorum counselor, young adult adviser, ward mission leader, bishop, stake mission president, stake high councilor and mission president. Born in Milwaukee, Wis., to Fritz and Hulda Hanel Steuer. He and his wife, Margaret Black Steuer, are the parents of five children.
Elder H. Ross Workman, 60, is president of the Hawaii Honolulu Mission. He is a retired attorney with Workman, Nydegger & Seeley. Elder Workman received bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Utah. He has served as a full-time missionary, stake mission president's counselor, bishop's counselor, Aaronic Priesthood adviser, Young Men president, stake high councilor and bishop. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Harley and Lucille Ramsey Workman. He and his wife, Katherine Evelyn Meyers Workman, are the parents of four children.
In coming issues, the Church News will publish articles about those newly called as General Authorities.
