Neil L. Andersen was named an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 4, 2009.
Elder Neil Linden Andersen was named an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 4, 2009.
Elder Andersen was serving as the senior member of the Presidency of the Seventy at the time of his call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was named a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy in April 1993, at age 41. He previously served as president of the France Bordeaux Mission and as president of the Tampa Florida Stake.
Elder Andersen married Kathy Williams in 1975. They are the parents of four children and seventeen grandchildren. They have served together for 10 years outside of the United States in Europe and South America. Elder Andersen speaks French, Portuguese, and Spanish in addition to English.
As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Andersen has at different times had supervisory responsibilities for the Brazil, Mexico, Pacific, Philippines, Africa South, Africa Central, Asia North, Central America, South America Northwest, South America South, United States Central, and United States West Areas of the Church. He has served on the Priesthood and Family Executive Council, the Missionary Executive Council, and as Chairman of the Temple and Family History Council and the Correlation Executive Committee, among other assignments.
Elder Andersen was born in Logan, Utah, and raised on a farm outside of Pocatello, Idaho. He graduated from Brigham Young University in economics and earned a master of business administration from Harvard University. After completing his education, he settled in Tampa, Florida, where his business interests included advertising, real estate development, and health care.