October 2017 General Conference News and Announcements
President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the opening session of the October 2017 general conference.
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Passing of Elder Robert D. Hales
During the afternoon session of general conference, President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency announced the passing of Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who died at 12:15 p.m. Sunday in the hospital at age 85 from causes incident to age. He was surrounded by his wife and family at the time of his passing.
“We will miss him. His wisdom and goodness have blessed our lives for many years. We express our love to his sweet wife and caregiver, Mary, and extend our heartfelt condolences to the family,” he said. (See related article.)
Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency announced the following changes to Church leadership at the Saturday afternoon session of the October 2017 general conference.
General Authority Seventies
The following General Authority Seventies were released and given emeritus status: Elder Stanley G. Ellis, Elder Larry R. Lawrence, and Elder W. Craig Zwick.
Area Seventies
The following Area Seventies were released: Pedro U. Adduru, Detlef H. Adler, Angel H. Alarcon, Winsor Balderrama, Robert M. Call, Christopher Charles, Gene R. Chidester, Ralph L. Dewsnup, Ángel A. Duarte, Peter F. Evans, Francisco D. N. Granja, Yuriy A. Gushchin, Clifford T. Herbertson, Aniefiok Udo Inyon, Luiz M. Leal, Alejandro Lopez, L. Jean Claude Mabaya, Declan O. Madu, Alexander T. Mestre, Jared R. Ocampo, Andrew M. O'Riordan, Jesús A. Ortiz, Abenir V. Pajaro, Siu Hong Pon, Robert C. Rhien, Jorge Luis Romeu, Jorge L. Saldívar, Ciro Schmeil, Alin Spannaus, Moroni B. Torgan, Steven L. Toronto, and Ricardo Valladares.
Torben Engbjerg was called as an Area Seventy.
Relief Society and Primary general boards
Nine new members have been called to the Relief Society and Primary general boards of the Church. The new members joined other Church leaders on the stand during the general women’s session September 23. All nine board members currently live in Utah. The four new Relief Society board members are Melinda (Mindy) Booth, Memnet Lopez, Rebecca Mehr, and Susan Porter. The five new Primary board members are Michelle Craig, Jennefer Free, Lisa Harkness, Salote Tukuafu, and Dana Wiest. (See related story.)
Left: Four new members of the Relief Society General Board. Right: Five new members of the Primary general board (three on the far left and two on the far right) stand with the Church's Primary General Presidency.
