General and Area Authorities, Relief Society General Presidency Called

Newly called General Authorities, Area Authority Seventies, and members of the Relief Society general presidency were sustained on 6 April during the 172nd Annual General Conference.

Elder Gerald N. Lund and Elder William R. Walker were called to serve in the Second Quorum of the Seventy. Bonnie D. Parkin was called as general president of the Relief Society, with Kathleen H. Hughes as first counselor and Anne C. Pingree as second counselor.

Thirty new Area Authority Seventies were also called—13 from the United States, two from Brazil, two from Japan, and one each from Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, England, Ghana, Hong Kong, Korea, New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.

In his opening remarks during Saturday morning’s session, President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke of the continued growth of the Church. He referred to the positive impressions of the Church received by hundreds of thousands of visitors, government leaders, and media when they visited Salt Lake City for the Winter Olympic Games. He also spoke of the success of the growing Perpetual Education Fund announced last April, which is now helping some 2,400 young Latter-day Saints in developing nations to gain an education.

During the priesthood session, President Hinckley also spoke out strongly against abuse of spouses, the elderly, and children. “It is something that cannot be countenanced or tolerated,” he said.

Church members raise their hands to sustain new leaders during Saturday afternoon’s conference session.