During conference, the Presidency of the Seventy was changed and 10 General Authorities were released.
Newly sustained to the presidency were Elders Claudio R.M. Costa and Steven E. Snow, whose callings to this position were announced June 9, 2007. Elder Quentin L. Cook, who was also called to the Presidency of the Seventy at that time, was not sustained because he has since been called and sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve.
Called and sustained to the Presidency of the Seventy to fill the vacancy left by Elder Cook is Elder Walter F. Gonzalez, who was serving as president of the South America West Area.
Released from the Presidency of the Seventy were Elders Charles Didier, president of the Brazil Area; Merrill J. Bateman, given emeritus status and called as president of the Provo Utah Temple; Elder Quentin L. Cook; and Elder Robert C. Oaks, president of the Europe Central Area.
Given emeritus status from the First Quorum of the Seventy are Elders Bateman, Monte J. Brough, Gene R. Cook, Robert K. Dellenbach and W. Rolfe Kerr, who will retain his position as Commissioner of Church Education.
Released from the Second Quorum of the Seventy are Elders D. Rex Gerratt, called to be president of the Twin Falls Idaho Temple; Robert F. Orton, called as president of the St. George Utah Temple; Wayne S. Peterson, called as president of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple; R. Conrad Schultz, called as president of the Portland Oregon Temple; and H. Ross Workman, called as president of the Laie Hawaii Temple.
Elder Bateman was sustained to the Second Quorum of the Seventy on Oct. 3, 1992, at age 55, and as Presiding Bishop on April 2, 1994; he was sustained in the First Quorum of the Seventy on April 6, 1996, after which he served as president of BYU until 2003, when he was sustained to the Presidency of the Seventy. He is a former dean of BYU's College of Business and School of Management.
Elder Brough was sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy Oct. 1, 1988, at age 49; he was sustained to the Second Quorum of the Seventy April 1, 1989; and sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy April 6, 1991. He served in the Presidency of the Seventy from Aug. 15, 1993, until Aug. 15, 1998. He is a former president and founder of a computer services company.
Elder Gene R. Cook, the longest-serving member of the Seventy, was sustained to the First Council of the Seventy Oct. 3, 1975, at age 34, and to the First Quorum of the Seventy Oct. 1, 1976. He has served as area president or counselor in area presidencies around the world, particularly in Latin America. He is former executive secretary to the First Council of the Seventy, and was consultant, agency manager, and trainer for a life insurance firm.
Elder Dellenbach was sustained to the Second Quorum of the Seventy on March 31, 1990, at age 52; and sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy Oct. 3, 1992. Former president, vice president, and business manager of various universities, he was involved with a company that assisted agencies and scientific institutes in the Soviet Union.
Elder Kerr was sustained to the Second Quorum of the Seventy April 6, 1996, at age 60 and sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy April 5, 1997. He has been commissioner of Church Education since January 2005. He is a former Utah State Commissioner of Higher Education.
Elder Gerratt was sustained to the Second Quorum of the Seventy Oct. 5, 2002, at age 66. He is a former dairy farmer.
Elder Orton was sustained to the Second Quorum of the Seventy March 31, 2001, at age 64. He is an attorney, formerly with Fabian & Clendenin in Salt Lake City.
Elder Peterson was sustained to the Second Quorum of the Seventy March 31, 2001, at age 61. He was a self-employed real estate developer.
Elder Schultz was sustained to the Second Quorum of the Seventy March 31, 2001, at age 63. He is an attorney, formerly self-employed.
Elder Workman was sustained to the Second Quorum of the Seventy March 31, 2001, at age 60. He is formerly an attorney and former managing director for Workman, Nydegger & Jensen.
