General Authorities of the Church

This guide explores the history of the General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and lists resources about them. The First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Presidency of the Seventy, the General Authority Seventy, and Presiding Bishopric are considered General Authorities, while the Relief Society General Presidency, Young Women General Presidency, Young Men General Presidency, Sunday School General Presidency, and Primary General Presidency are considered General Officers. Area Seventies are also not considered General Authorities.

This guide will focus on General Authorities. Other research guides have been created that focus on Church organizations and their leaders, including the Relief Society Organization Research Guide, Young Women Organization Research Guide, and Primary Organization Research Guide.

Each section in this guide contains a brief history, online resources, and Church History Library resources. Resources are divided into online and physical resources. Online resources are digitized content that you can access from your computer by clicking on the title. Physical resources can be viewed at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, by accessing the item (or collection) information in the online catalog and requesting to see it when you visit the library.

Church History Library Online Resources

General Authorities and General Officers

This is an official Church web page about the general leadership of the Church. It contains links to brief biographies and photographs of each of the current Church leaders.

Joseph Smith Papers: People of the Time

Contains brief biographical sketches for selected persons mentioned in the Joseph Smith Papers. This includes some of the early Apostles, members of the Seventy, and bishops.

General Church Officers, October 1835–January 1838

Charts listing the general leadership of the Church from 1835 to 1838. These lists are hosted online by the Joseph Smith Papers website.

General Conference Research Guide

A research guide prepared by Church History Library subject matter experts that links to many General Authorities’ talks given in general conferences throughout the years.

Conference reports of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (M204.1 A1 1880, 1897-)

Reports listing events, decisions, and talks given in general conference by General Authorities and other leaders of the Church. Reports include years from 1880 to 2017. Available digitally through the Church History Catalog.

Historian’s Office general Church minutes, 1839–1877 (CR 100 318)

Minutes and other reports kept as a record of general Church proceedings and the remarks, decisions, and activities of Church leaders. Minutes include information about Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, the Quorum of the Twelve, and other leadership quorums.

Deseret News Church almanac (M273.7 C561c 1974-2013)

The Church Almanac was written every year from 1974 to 2013. It contains information on temples, local units, the Church internationally, and leaders of the Church. Requires a Church account login to access digitally.

Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia

This is an online version of the four-volume Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Andrew Jenson, who was the assistant Church historian from 1897 to 1941. The online version is hosted by Brigham Young University.

Church History Library Physical Resources (Available at the Church History Library)

Historical Department files relating to the service of Church leaders, 1981–1986 (CR 100 263)

Lists of Church leaders with short biographical information. Includes information on the First Presidency, Church Patriarch, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Presiding Bishopric, First Quorum of the Seventy, and Assistants to the Quorum of the Twelve.

General Authority portrait collection, circa 1850–1985 (PH 700)

Contains individual portraits and snapshot views of General Authorities arranged alphabetically by name. Does not include those who served as Presidents of the Church. Available digitally through the Church History Catalog.

General Authorities, 1947 (PH 2285)

Photograph album containing portraits of Church leadership in 1947. Contains portraits of the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Assistants to the Twelve, First Council of the Seventy, and Presiding Bishopric.

Mighty Men of Zion: General Authorities of the Last Dispensation by Lawrence R. Flake (M270 F576m 1974)

This book provides biographical sketches of all General Authorities of the Church from its beginnings to the book’s publication in 1974. It is organized by office, including the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Patriarch to the Church, Assistant to the Twelve, First Council of the Seventy, and Presiding Bishopric. Available in the public area of the Church History Library.

Prophets and Apostles of the Last Dispensation by Lawrence R. Flake (M270 F576p 2001)

This book provides information about the lives of members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve up to the year 2000. A hardcopy is available in the public area of the Church History Library; a digital version is available through the BYU Religious Studies Center.

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In an 1831 revelation, Joseph Smith was given the title of President of the High Priesthood to preside over the whole Church (see Doctrine and Covenants 107). Joseph was subsequently sustained as President of the High Priesthood at a Church conference held on January 25, 1832. In March 1832, Joseph appointed two counselors—Jesse Gause and Sidney Rigdon—to the presidency. Others were called as counselors throughout Joseph’s lifetime as well, but Oliver Cowdery and Hyrum Smith stood in authority above any counselors as assistant presidents (see Doctrine and Covenants 124:94–95). Eventually, by 1835, the term “first presidency” was occasionally used to describe this group.

The First Presidency today is the governing body of the Church. Authority rests with the President of the Church, with his counselors assisting him in his duties and responsibilities, which extend over every person and all matters of the Church.

Online Resources

First Presidency Home Page

This is an official Church web page about the First Presidency. It contains links to brief biographies and photographs of each member of the First Presidency, as well as links to talks and articles found in Church magazines.

“First Presidency,” Encyclopedia of Mormonism

The Encyclopedia of Mormonism contains information about the Church and its history, beliefs, doctrine, and procedures. It is not published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but most of the sources used for writing its volumes were. This entry discusses the development and responsibilities of the First Presidency. The online version of the Encyclopedia of Mormonism is hosted by Brigham Young University.

“First Presidency,” The Joseph Smith Papers

Hosted by the Joseph Smith Papers, this site contains a list and a brief description of documents relating to the First Presidency.

The Journal of George Q. Cannon

George Q. Cannon was an Apostle from 1860 to 1901. During that time, he served in the First Presidency as a counselor to four Church Presidents: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow. This online resource has journals spanning from 1849 to 1901 and is hosted by the Church Historian’s Press.

“President of the Church,” Encyclopedia of Mormonism

This entry in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism identifies the Presidents of the Church until 1991 and discusses the responsibilities and tenure of each Church President; it also discusses the doctrinal basis for why a prophet must preside over the Church.

Presidents of the Church: Student Manual

This manual, a textbook for the Church’s university-level Religion 345 course, discusses the presidencies of all the Presidents of the Church from Joseph Smith to the recent past (2013) in detail. In addition to information about the Presidents of the Church, the manual also explains Church organization and governance.

Ensign Articles

Richard Lloyd Anderson, “The First Presidency of the Early Church: Their Lives and Epistles,” Ensign, Aug. 1988, 16–21

Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Quorum of the First Presidency,” Ensign, Dec. 2005, 46–50

Church History Library Online Resources (Available digitally through the Church History Catalog)

Brigham Young office files, 1832–1878 (CR 1234 1)

Documents relating to Young’s ecclesiastical and governmental activities. The time period reflects years in which he was President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1844–1847) and President of the Church (1847–1877). Available digitally through the Church History Catalog.

First Presidency (John Taylor) correspondence, 1877–1887 (CR 1 180)

Letters and telegrams received during John Taylor’s tenure as Church president. Available digitally through the Church History Catalog.

First Presidency (Wilford Woodruff) general correspondence, 1887–1898 (CR 1 171)

Collection of documents addressed or forwarded to President Wilford Woodruff and his counselors in the First Presidency. Available digitally through the Church History Catalog.

First Presidency (Lorenzo Snow) general correspondence, 1898–1901 (CR 1 170)

General correspondence addressed or forwarded to Church President Lorenzo Snow and his counselors in the First Presidency. Available digitally through the Church History Catalog.

Physical Resources Available at the Church History Library

Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1833–1964 (M251.211 F527m v. 1-6 1965-1975)

These six volumes contain official statements and circular letters of the First Presidency from 1833 to 1964. Available in the public area of the library.

Settling the Valley, Proclaiming the Gospel: The General Epistles of the Mormon First Presidency, edited by Reid L. Neilson and Nathan N. Waite (M273.4 S495 2017)

Contains the first 14 “general epistles” written by Brigham Young and his counselors in the First Presidency.

Counselors to the Prophets, compiled by Michael Winder (M270 C855w 2008)

Each chapter of this volume is a biographical sketch of some of the counselors who have served in the First Presidency. Available in the public area of the library.

Reed C. Durham, Jr. and Steven H. Heath, Succession in the Church (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1970) (M251.1 D961s 1970)

Covers the history of past succession to the Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Available at the Church History Library.

Presidents of the Church, edited by Leonard J. Arrington (M270 P9335 1986)

A collection of biographical essays on the Presidents of the Church up to 1986, which were written by several authors and edited by Leonard Arrington. Available at the Church History Library.

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Presidents of the Church are linked to the Prophets of the Restoration website which is hosted by the Church History Department and teaches about the life and ministry of each President of the Church through multimedia galleries. Most counselors were also members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (which are linked in the Quorum section).

President	First Counselor	Second Counselor	Additional Counselors
Joseph Smith (1832–1844)	Jesse Gause (1832) Sidney Rigdon (1833–1844)	Sidney Rigdon (1832–1833) Frederick G. Williams (1833–1837) Hyrum Smith (1837–1841) William Law (1841–1844)	Oliver Cowdery (1837–1838) Hyrum Smith (1837) Joseph Smith Sr. (1837–1841) John Smith (1837–1844) John C. Bennett (1841–1842) Amasa Lyman (1843–1844)
Brigham Young (1847–1877)	Heber C. Kimball (1847–1868) George A. Smith (1868–1875) John Willard Young (1876–1877)	Willard Richards (1847–1854) Jedediah M. Grant (1854–1856) Daniel H. Wells (1857–1877)	Joseph F. Smith (1866–1867) John Willard Young (1873–1877) George Q. Cannon (1873–1877) Brigham Young Jr. (1873–1874) Lorenzo Snow (1873–1877) Albert Carrington (1873–1877)
John Taylor (1880–1887)	George Q. Cannon (1880–1887)	Joseph F. Smith (1880–1887)
Wilford Woodruff (1889–1898)	George Q. Cannon (1889–1898)	Joseph F. Smith (1889–1898)
Lorenzo Snow (1898–1901)	George Q. Cannon (1898–1901) Joseph F. Smith (1901; never set apart)	Joseph F. Smith (1898–1901) Rudger Clawson (1901; never set apart)
Joseph F. Smith (1901–1918)	John R. Winder (1901–1910) Anthon H. Lund (1910–1918)	Anthon H. Lund (1901–1910) John Henry Smith (1910–1911) Charles W. Penrose (1911–1918)
Heber J. Grant (1918–1945)	Anthon H. Lund (1918–1921) Charles W. Penrose (1921–1925) Anthony W. Ivins (1925–1934) J. Reuben Clark (1934–1945)	Charles W. Penrose (1918–1921) Anthony W. Ivins (1921–1925) Charles W. Nibley (1925–1931) J. Reuben Clark (1933–1934) David O. McKay (1934–1945)
George Albert Smith (1945–1951)	J. Reuben Clark (1945–1951)	David O. McKay (1945–1951)
David O. McKay (1951–1970)	Stephen L. Richard (1951–1959) J. Reuben Clark (1959–1961) Henry D. Moyle (1961–1963) Hugh B. Brown (1963–1970)	J. Reuben Clark (1951–1959) Henry D. Moyle (1959–1961) Hugh B. Brown (1961–1963) N. Eldon Tanner (1963–1970)	Hugh B. Brown (1961) Thorpe B. Isaacson (1965–1970) Joseph Fielding Smith (1965–1970) Alvin R. Dyer (1968–1970)
Joseph Fielding Smith (1970–1972)	Harold B. Lee (1970–1972)	N. Eldon Tanner (1970–1972)
Harold B. Lee (1972–1973)	N. Eldon Tanner (1972–1973)	Marion G. Romney (1972–1973)
Spencer W. Kimball (1973–1985)	N. Eldon Tanner (1973–1982) Marion G. Romney (1982–1985)	Marion G. Romney (1973–1982) Gordon B. Hinckley (1982–1985)	Gordon B. Hinckley (1981–1982)
Ezra Taft Benson (1985–1994)	Gordon B. Hinckley (1985–1994)	Thomas S. Monson (1985–1994)
Howard W. Hunter (1994–1995)	Gordon B. Hinckley (1994–1995)	Thomas S. Monson (1994–1995)
Gordon B. Hinckley (1995–2008)	Thomas S. Monson (1995–2008)	James E. Faust (1995–2007) Henry B. Eyring (2007–2008)
Thomas S. Monson (2008–2018)	Henry B. Eyring (2008–2018)	Dieter F. Uchtdorf (2008–2018)
Russell M. Nelson (2018–2025)	Dallin H. Oaks (2018–2025)	Henry B. Eyring (2018–2025)
Dallin H. Oaks (2025–present)	Henry B. Eyring (2025–present)	D. Todd Christofferson (2025–present)

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The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was organized on February 14, 1835, at a meeting for those who had participated in the Zion’s Camp march. Joseph Smith and the Three Witnesses (Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and David Whitmer) selected 12 men to serve as Apostles. Thomas B. Marsh presided over the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles due to him being the oldest member of Quorum. These men were among the early missionaries of the Church.

Online Resources

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Home Page

This is an official Church web page about the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. It contains links to brief biographies and photographs of each member of the Quorum of the Twelve, as well as links to talks and articles found in Church magazines.

Meet Today’s Prophets and Apostles

This is another official Church web page about the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. It contains links to brief biographies and photographs of each member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

“Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,” Encyclopedia of Mormonism

This entry in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism covers the quorum’s history and its members’ duties in the Church.

Ensign Articles

Boyd K. Packer, “The Twelve Apostles,” Ensign, Sept. 2005, 16–20

Church History Library Online Resources (Available digitally through the Church History Catalog)

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles record, 1835 February–August (CR 2 178)

Account of meetings and travels of the Apostles during the early days of the Quorum of the Twelve. Available digitally through the Church History Catalog.

Historian’s Office histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861 (CR 100 93)

Biographical information about the early members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Available digitally through the Church History Catalog.

Quorum of the Twelve group photographs, circa 1985–1995 (CR 2 201)

Contains group photographs of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1985 to 1995. Available digitally through the Church History Catalog.

Church History Library Physical Resources (Available at the Church History Library)

“The Mormon Apostles” (M270 M8642 1877)

An article published in Harpers Weekly, a United States political magazine, in 1877 that gave short biographies of each member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at the time. Available at the Church History Library.

Lives of our leaders: character sketches of living presidents and apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (M270 L785 1901)

Character sketches on early Presidents and Apostles of the Church (up to 1901). Available upon request at the Church History Library.

Men with a Mission: The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the British Isles, 1837–1841 (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992) by James B. Allen, Ronald K. Esplin, and David J. Whittaker (M274.2 A427m 2009)

A book detailing the experience of the early Church Apostles and their missions in the British Isles. Available at the Church History Library.

The Emergence of Brigham Young and the Twelve to Mormon Leadership by Ronald K. Esplin (M270.3 E77e 2006)

A dissertation presented to the Department of History at Brigham Young University. This study focuses on Brigham Young and the Apostles in the 1830s. Available at the Church History Library.

Quorum of the Twelve group photographs, circa 1986–2015 (PH 10866)

A photograph collection of members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Available at the Church History Library.

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Several resources were used in linking members of the Quorum of the Twelve to a biography. For several of the early Apostles, the Joseph Smith Papers People of the Time profiles were linked. Each Apostle who later became a President of the Church is linked to his biography in the corresponding Teachings of Presidents of the Church manual. Entries from the Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center have also been used.¹

For further study we suggest using the Church History Biographical Database.

1. Thomas B. Marsh (1835)	53. Melvin J. Ballard (1919)
2. David W. Patten (1835)	54. John A. Widtsoe (1921)
3. Brigham Young (1835)	55. Joseph F. Merrill (1931)
4. Heber C. Kimball (1835)	56. Charles A. Callis (1933)
5. Orson Hyde (1835)	57. J. Reuben Clark (1934)
6. William E. McLellan (1835)	58. Alonzo A. Hinckley (1934)
7. Parley P. Pratt (1835)	59. Albert E. Bowen (1937)
8. Luke S. Johnson (1835)	60. Sylvester Q. Cannon (1939)
9. William B. Smith (1835)	61. Harold B. Lee (1941)
10. Orson Pratt (1835)	62. Spencer W. Kimball (1943)
11. John F. Boynton (1835)	63. Ezra Taft Benson (1943)
12.Lyman E. Johnson (1835)	64. Mark E. Petersen (1944)
13. John E. Page (1838)	65. Matthew Cowley (1945)
14. John Taylor (1838)	66. Henry D. Moyle (1947)
15. Wilford Woodruff (1839)	67. Delbert L. Stapley (1950)
16. George A. Smith (1839)	68. Marion G. Romney (1951)
17. Willard Richards (1840)	69. LeGrand Richards (1952)
18. Lyman Wight (1841)	70. Adam S. Bennion (1953)
19. Amasa Lyman (1842)	71. Richard L. Evans (1953)
20. Ezra T. Benson (1846)	72. George Q. Morris (1954)
21. Charles C. Rich (1849)	73. Hugh B. Brown (1958)
22. Lorenzo Snow (1849)	74. Howard W. Hunter (1959)
23. Erastus Snow (1849)	75. Gordon B. Hinckley (1961)
24. Franklin D. Richards (1849)	76. N. Eldon Tanner (1962)
25. George Q. Cannon (1860)	77. Thomas S. Monson (1963)
26. Joseph F. Smith (1867)	78. Boyd K. Packer (1970)
27. Brigham Young Jr. (1868)	79. Marvin J. Ashton (1971)
28. Albert Carrington (1870)	80. Bruce R. McConkie (1972)
29. Moses Thatcher (1879)	81. L. Tom Perry 1974)
30. Francis M. Lyman (1880)	82. David B. Haight (1976)
31. John Henry Smith (1880)	83. James E. Faust (1978)
32. George Teasdale (1882)	84. Neal A. Maxwell (1981)
33. Heber J. Grant (1882)	85. Russell M. Nelson (1984)
34. John W. Taylor (1884)	86. Dallin H. Oaks (1984)
35. Marriner W. Merrill (1889)	87. M. Russell Ballard (1985)
36. Anthon H. Lund (1889)	88. Joseph B. Wirthlin (1986)
37. Abraham H. Cannon (1889)	89. Richard G. Scott (1988)
38. Matthias F. Cowley (1897)	90. Robert D. Hales (1994)
39. Abraham O. Woodruff (1897)	91. Jeffrey R. Holland (1994)
40. Rudger Clawson (1898)	92. Henry B. Eyring (1995)
41. Reed Smoot (1900)	93. Dieter F. Uchtdorf (2004)
42. Hyrum M. Smith (1901)	94. David A. Bednar (2004)
43. George Albert Smith (1903)	95. Quentin L. Cook (2007)
44. Charles W. Penrose (1904)	96. D. Todd Christofferson (2008)
45. George F. Richards (1906)	97. Neil L. Andersen (2009)
46. Orson F. Whitney (1906)	98. Ronald A. Rasband ( 2015)
47. David O. McKay (1906)	99. Gary E. Stevenson (2015)
48. Anthony W. Ivins (1907)	100. Dale G. Renlund (2015)
49. Joseph Fielding Smith (1910)	101. Gerrit W. Gong (2018)
50. James E. Talmage (1911)	102. Ulisses Soares (2018)
51. Stephen L Richards (1917)	103. Patrick Kearon (2023)

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Organized on February 28, 1835, in Kirtland, Ohio, the Quorum of the Seventy were called to be “especial witnesses” of Christ and assist the Twelve in administering and building up the Church (see Doctrine and Covenants 107:23–38). Many of the initial members were participants in Zion’s Camp. Initially, there was a single quorum; over time, hundreds of quorums were created in stakes. Seven presidents presided over all the quorums and were known as the First Council of the Seventy.

General Authorities who had previously served in the First Council of the Seventy and as Assistants to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were organized into the First Quorum of the Seventy in 1976. Local quorums of the Seventy were discontinued in 1986. The Second Quorum of the Seventy was organized in 1989, and regional representatives were replaced by Area Authorities in 1995 to accommodate the growing Church. Area Authorities became Area Seventies in 1997 and now number 12 geographic quorums. All quorums work under the direction of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Online Resources

Presidency of the Seventy Home Page

This is an official Church web page about the Presidency of the Seventy, which oversees the Quorums of the Seventy. It contains links to brief biographies and photographs of each member of the Presidency.

Quorums of the Seventy Home Page

This is an official Church web page about the Quorums of the Seventy. It contains links to brief biographies and photographs of each current General Authority Seventy.

Quorums of the Seventy (Area Seventies) Home Page

This is an official Church web page about the Area Seventies. It contains links to the different quorums and the areas they serve.

The Unfolding Role of the Seventy: A Timeline

A timeline prepared by the Church highlighting important events throughout the history of the Quorums of the Seventy.

“Seventy,” Encyclopedia of Mormonism

This entry contains three relevant articles: “Seventy: Overview,” “Seventy: First Council of the Seventy,” and “Seventy: Quorums of Seventy.” The first article describes the office of Seventy and discusses its establishment in the 1830s and its subsequent development. The second article discusses the General Authority office of Seventy before 1975, when its functions and officers were incorporated into the current Quorums of the Seventy. The third article describes the organization and duties of members of the Seventy in the Church today.

“The Seventies’ Role in Worldwide Church Administration”

A chapter by Richard O. Cowan from the book A Firm Foundation: Church Organization & Administration. The chapter illustrates the history and current role of the Quorums of the Seventy. Available online through the BYU Religious Studies Center.

What is the difference between a General Authority Seventy, Area Seventy, and General Officer?

A Church News article published in May 2020 that explains the different roles each type of Seventy has: General Authority Seventy, Presidency of the Seventy, Area Presidency, and Area Seventy.

Ensign Articles

L. Aldin Porter, “A History of the Latter-day Seventy,” Ensign, Aug. 2000, 14–20.

Earl C. Tingey, “The Quorums of the Seventy,” Ensign, Aug. 2005, 48–50.

Earl C. Tingey, “The Saga of Revelation: The Unfolding Role of the Seventy,” Ensign, Sept. 2009, 54–60.

Church History Library Textual Resources (Available at the Church History Library)

Nauvoo Seventies List (M270 N314 199-? v. 1-3)

A three-volume resource containing biographical information about members of the Quorums of the Seventy who were called or ordained from 1835 to 1850. Available in the public area of the library.

Seventies’ Autobiographies (M270 S497 199-?)

A compilation of brief autobiographies written by Nauvoo-era members of the Quorums of the Seventy. It is located behind the reference desk and is also available digitally through the Church History Catalog.

Genealogical Society biographies of seventies, circa 1945–1952 (CR 226 113)

A compilation of biographical information on members of Seventies quorums. Many early autobiographical sketches are transcribed from Seventies record books.

Seventies Quorum records, 1844–1975 (CR 499)

Microfilm that contains records of the local Area Seventies quorums 2 through 560. Includes attendance rolls, genealogies, biographies, financial records, and quorum publications. Please request this collection at the reference desk inside the Church History Library.

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As the Church expanded, several Quorums of the Seventy were created in stakes around the world. A list for every Seventy ordained would be too large for this guide. For research purposes, we will include a list of the original members of the Quorum of the Seventy and the First Council of the Seventy.

We suggest using the resources listed in this section when researching members of the Seventy. The Joseph Smith Papers “People of the Time,” Church History Topics, and the Church History Biographical Database can be used for further research on the Quorums of the Seventy members, similar to how they can be used when researching members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Some Seventies’ names are unlinked due to scarce resources about them.

The Original Quorum of the Seventy

Alongside the calling of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Joseph Smith also restored the Quorum of the Seventy on February 14, 1835. The original quorum did not last long, as many went on to become presidents of other Quorums of the Seventy throughout the Church. These were those originally called:

1. Elias Hutchings	34. Joseph Harmon
2. Cyrus Smalling	35. Heman Tilton Hyde
3. Levi Gifford	36. Lorenzo D. Barnes
4. Stephen Winchester	37. Hiram Blackman
5. Roger Orton	38. William Dickinson Pratt
6. Peter Buchannan	39. Zerah S. Cole
7. John D. Parker	40. Jesse Huntsman
8. David Elliott	41. Solomon Angell
9. Samuel Brown	42. Henry Harriman
10. Salmon Warner	43. Israel Barlow
11. Jacob Chapman	44. Wilkins Jenkins Salisbury
12. Charles Kelly	45. Nelson Higgins
13. Edmund Fisher	46. Harry Brown
14. Warren Parrish	47. Jaazeniah B. Smith
15. Joseph Hancock	48. Lorenzo Dow Booth
16. Alden Burdick	49. Alexander Badlam
17. Hiram Winters	50. Zerubbabel Snow
18. Harpin Riggs	51. Hiram Stratton
19. Edson Barney	52. Moses Martin
20. Joseph B. Noble	53. Lyman Smith
21. Henry Benner	54. Harvey Stanley
22. David Evans	55. Almon W. Babbitt
23. Nathan Bennett Baldwin	56. William F. Cahoon
24. Burr Riggs	57. Darwin Richardson
25. Lewis Robbins	58. Milo Andrus
26. Alexander Whitesides	59. True Glidden
27. George W. Brooks	60. Henry Shibley
28. Michael Griffith	61. Harrison Burgess
29. Royal Barney	62. Jedediah M. Grant
30. Lebbeus T. Coons	63. Daniel Stephens
31. Willard Snow	64. Amasa M. Lyman
32. Jesse D. Harmon	65. George A. Smith
33.Jesse P. Harmon	66. Wilford Woodruff

First Council of the Seventy

The First Council of the Seventy was organized to act as the Presidents of the First Quorum of the Seventy. They presided not only over the First Quorum but also over all additional Seventies (see Doctrine and Covenants 107:93–98). This was discontinued in 1975 with the reorganization of the Seventies.

1. Hazen Aldrich (1835–1837)	28. John Morgan (1884–1894)
2. Joseph Young (1835–1837)	29. Brigham H. Roberts (1888–1933)
3. Levi W. Hancock (1835–1837, 1837–1882)	30. George Reynolds (1888–1933)
4. Leonard Rich (1835–1837)	31. J. Golden Kimball (1892–1938)
5. Zebedee Coltrin (1835–1837)	32. Rulon S. Wells (1893–1941)
6. Lyman R. Sherman (1835–1837)	33. Edward Stevenson (1894–1897)
7. Sylvester Smith (1835–1837)	34. Joseph W. McMurrin (1897–1932)
8. John Gould (1837)	35. Charles H. Hart (1906–1934)
9. James Foster (1837–1841)	36. Levi E. Young (1909–1963)
10. Daniel S. Miles (1837–1844)	37. Rey L. Pratt (1925–1931)
11. Josiah Butterfield (1837–1844)	38. Antoine R. Ivins (1931–1967)
12. Salmon Gee (1837–1838)	39. Samuel O. Bennion (1933–1945)
13. John Gaylord (1837–1838)	40. John H. Taylor (1933–1946)
14. Henry Harriman (1838–1891)	41. Rufus K. Hardy (1934–1945)
15. Zera Pulsipher (1838–1862)	42. Richard L. Evans (1938–1953)
16. Roger Orton (1845)	43. Oscar A. Kirkham (1941–1958)
17. Albert P. Rockwood (1845–1879)	44. S. Dilworth Young (1945–1975)
18. Benjamin L. Clapp (1845–1859)	45. Milton R. Hunter (1945–1975)
19. Jedediah M. Grant (1845–1854)	46. Bruce R. McConkie (1946–1972)
20. Horace S. Eldredge (1854–1888)	47. Marion D. Hanks (1953–1968)
21. Jacob Gates (1860–1892)	48. A. Theodore Tuttle (1958–1975)
22. John Van Cott (1862–1883)	49. Paul H. Dunn (1964–1975)
23. William W. Taylor (1880–1884)	50. Hartman Rector, Jr. (1968–1975)
24. Abraham H. Cannon (1882–1889)	51. Loren C. Dunn (1968–1975)
25. Theodore B. Lewis (1882)	52. Rex D. Pinegar (1972–1975)
26. Seymour B. Young (1882–1924)	53. Gene R. Cook (1975)
27. Christian D. Fjelsted (1884–1905)

Assistants to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The Assistants were General Authorities with similar roles to a Seventy, created in 1941 to assist with the demands of an expanding global Church. The Assistants were reorganized into the First Quorum of the Seventy in 1976, a year after the reorganization of the Quorums of the Seventy.

1. Marion G. Romney (1941–1951)	20. Boyd K. Packer (1961–1970)
2. Thomas E. McKay (1941–1958)	21. Bernard P. Brockbank (1962–1976)
3. Clifford E. Young (1941–1958)	22. James A. Cullimore (1966–1976)
4. Alma Sonne (1941–1976)	23. Marion D. Hanks (1968–1976)
5. Nicholas G. Smith (1941–1945)	24. Marvin J. Ashton (1969–1971)
6. George Q. Morris (1951–1954)	25. Joseph Anderson (1970–1976)
7. Stayner Richards (1951–1953)	26. David B. Haight (1970–1976)
8. ElRay L. Christiansen (1951–1975)	27. William H. Bennett (1970–1976)
9. John Longden (1951–1969)	28. John H. Vandenberg (1972–1976)
10. Hugh B. Brown (1953–1958)	29. Robert L. Simpson (1972–1976)
11. Sterling W. Sill (1954–1976)	30. O. Leslie Stone (1972–1976)
12. Gordon B. Hinckley (1958–1961)	31. James E. Faust (1972–1976)
13. Henry D. Taylor (1958–1976)	32. L. Tom Perry (1972–1974)
14. William J. Critchlow, Jr. (1958–1968)	33. J. Thomas Fyans (1974–1976)
15. Alvin R. Dyer (1958–1967; 1970–1976)	34. Neal A. Maxwell (1974–1976)
16. N. Eldon Tanner (1960–1962)	35. William Grant Bangerter (1975–1976)
17. Franklin D. Richards (1960–1976)	36. Robert D. Hales (1975–1976)
18. Theodore M. Burton (1960–1976)	37. Adney Y. Komatsu (1975–1976)
19. H. Thorpe B. Isaacson (1961–1965; 1970)	38. Joseph B. Wirthlin (1975–1976)

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The first bishop in the restored Church was Edward Partridge, who was called to serve on February 4, 1831. A few of the early responsibilities given to Bishop Partridge included helping provide food, clothing, and shelter for the members of the Church in need. The Prophet Joseph Smith soon received revelations to expand the duties of the bishop (Doctrine and Covenants 42:30–35; 58:17–18). When members of the Church began to settle in Missouri, Edward Partridge was called by the prophet to move and become bishop of the Missouri Saints. Newel K. Whitney was called as the second bishop for the Saints who had stayed behind in Ohio.

The concept and title of Presiding Bishop—the highest leadership position within the Aaronic Priesthood—was not established until 1847, when Newel K. Whitney was appointed to the position. Today, the Presiding Bishopric oversees several temporal matters of the Church: tithing; fast offerings; the recording, disbursement, and management of funds; and the welfare program of the Church.

Online Resources

Presiding Bishopric Home Page

This is an official Church web page about the Presiding Bishopric of the Church. It provides a brief description of the organization of the Presiding Bishopric and links to biographies of its current members.

“Presiding Bishopric,” Encyclopedia of Mormonism

This entry contains information about the organization and responsibilities of the Presiding Bishopric. The Encyclopedia of Mormonism contains information about the Church and its history, beliefs, doctrine, and procedures.

Ensign Articles

Keith B. McMullin, “The Presiding Bishopric,” Ensign, July 2005, 46–48

Dean Jessee, “‘Steadfastness and Patient Endurance’: The Legacy of Edward Partridge,” Ensign, June 1979, 40–47

Church History Library Online Resources (Available digitally through the Church History Catalog)

Presiding Bishopric bishops meeting minutes, 1851–1884 (CR 4 2)

Record of meetings with ward bishoprics and other ward and stake leaders during Edward Hunter’s service as Presiding Bishop.

Presiding Bishops’ records, 1851–1909 (LR 9629 21)

Consists of tithing and financial records from early Utah. Also includes letters from the Presiding Bishop of the time, Edward Hunter.

Presiding Bishopric bishop’s quorum minutes, 1841–1851 (CR 4 122)

Meeting minutes that span from the Nauvoo era of the Church to the early Salt Lake City era.

Minutes of the Aaronic Priesthood convention held in the Assembly Hall (M251.4 P933mi 1930-1937)

Contains the minutes for Aaronic Priesthood conventions that span from April 1930 to October 1937.

Presiding Bishops (PH 2592)

Individual portraits of the first four Presiding Bishops: Edward Partridge, Newel K. Whitney, Edward Hunter, and William B. Preston. Available digitally through the Church History Library Catalog.

Edward Partridge papers, 1818–1839 (MS 892)

Diaries, letters, certificates, memorials, and other documents that reflect Partridge’s early Church activities. Available digitally through the Church History Library Catalog.

William B. Preston Papers, 1883–1895 (MS 32749)

This collection consists mostly of correspondence between Bishop Preston and leaders of the Church (such as Wilford Woodruff and Erastus Snow). Available digitally through the Church History Library Catalog.

Church History Library Textual Resources (Available at the Church History Library)

Presiding Bishops / compiled by Michael K. Winder (M251.218 P933 2003)

An index to bibliographical sources about Presiding Bishops compiled by Michael K. Winder. Available at the Church History Library.

Newel K. Whitney papers, 1817–1910 (MS 17390)

Collection of personal papers of Newel K. Whitney, mostly from when he lived in Nauvoo, Illinois. This collection is available upon request at the Church History Library.

Edward Hunter collection (M201 B855 no. 49 1988)

Collection of documents compiled by David J. Whittaker. This collection is available upon request at the Church History Library.

Presiding Bishop	First Counselor	Second Counselor
Edward Partridge (1831–1840)	Isaac Morley (1831–1840)	John Corrill (1831–1837) Titus Billings (1837–1840)
Newel K. Whitney (1844–1850)
George Miller (1844–1847)*
Edward Hunter (1851–1883)	Leonard W. Hardy (1856–1883)	Jesse Carter Little (1856–1874) Robert T. Burton (1874–1883)
William B. Preston (1884–1907)	Leonard W. Hardy (1884) Robert T. Burton (1884–1907)	John Quayle Cannon (1884–1886) John Rex Winder (1887–1901) Orrin Porter Miller (1901–1907)
Charles W. Nibley (1907–1925)	Orrin Porter Miller (1907–1918) David A. Smith (1918–1925)	David A. Smith (1907–1918) John Wells (1925–1938)
Sylvester Q. Cannon (1925–1938)	David A. Smith (1925–1938)	John Wells (1925–1938)
LeGrand Richards (1938–1952)	Marvin O. Ashton (1938–1946) Joseph L. Wirthlin (1946–1952)	Joseph L. Wirthlin (1938–1946) H. Thorpe B. Isaacson (1946–1952)
Joseph L. Wirthlin (1952–1961)	H. Thorpe B. Isaacson (1952–1961)	Carl William Buehner (1952–1961)
John H. Vandenburg (1961–1972)	Robert L. Simpson (1961–1972)	Victor L. Brown (1961–1972)
Victor L. Brown (1972–1985)	H. Burke Peterson (1972–1985)	Vaughn J. Featherstone (1972–1976) J. Richard Clarke (1976–1985)
Robert D. Hales (1985–1994)	Henry B. Eyring (1985–1992) H. David Burton (1992–1994)	Glen L. Pace (1985–1992) Richard C. Edgley (1992–1994)
Merrill J. Bateman (1994–1995)	H. David Burton (1994–1995)	Richard C. Edgley (1994–1995)
H. David Burton (1995–2012)	Richard C. Edgley (1995–2012)	Keith B. McMullin (1995–2012)
Gary E. Stevenson (2012–2015)	Gerald Jean Causse (2012–2015)	Dean Myron Davies (2012–2015)
Gerald Jean Causse (2015–present)	Dean M. Davies (2015–2020) W. Christopher Waddell (2020–present)	W. Christopher Waddell (2015–2020) L. Todd Budge (2020–present)

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