A new Sunday School presidency, 10 General Authority Seventies and 55 Area Seventies have been called and sustained during the 189th Annual General Conference on April 6.
President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, announced the call of the new Church leaders during the Saturday afternoon session, where it was also reported that the Church’s membership is now more than 16.3 million.
President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, conducted the session and President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gave the first talk, opening the session with a message of the “peace, joy and happiness” that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“As we keep our testimonies simple and focused on the gospel of Christ, He will provide spiritual renewal as we share our testimonies with one another,” he said.
Other speakers included: Elder Neil L. Andersen and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Elder Mathias Held, Elder David P. Homer and Elder Takashi Wada, General Authority Seventies. Prayers during the session were offered by Elder Brent H. Nielson, a General Authority Seventy, and Sister Lisa Harkness of the Primary general presidency.
Brother Mark L. Pace will serve as Sunday School general president with Brother Milton Camargo and Brother Jan E. Newman as his counselors. Brother Tad R. Callister, Brother Devin G. Durrant and Brother Brian K. Ashton have been released.
New General Authority Seventies called and sustained during conference include: Elder Rubén V. Alliaud, Elder Jorge M. Alvarado, Elder Hans T. Boom, Elder L. Todd Budge, Elder Ricardo P. Giménez, Elder Peter M. Johnson, Elder John A. McCune, Elder James R. Rasband, Elder Benjamin M.Z.Tai and Elder Alan R. Walker.
Kevin R. Jergensen from the Church’s Auditing Department reported there are more than 65,000 full-time missionaries and more than 37,000 Church-service missionaries. A combined choir from Brigham Young University, directed by Rosalind Hall and Andrew Crane, provided music during the session. Linda Margetts and Bonnie Goodliffe accompanied the choir on the organ.
